Welcome to Willowbottom

Your Complete Guide to Modern Homesteading & Sustainable Living

Homesteading isn’t about having the perfect setup. It’s about using what you have, right where you are. Whether you’re growing a full garden, tending a few windowsill herbs, or just trying to live a little more sustainably, you belong here.

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Thinking about starting a garden but not sure where to begin? Or looking for a better way to plan and manage what you’re already growing? Wherever you are in the process, this is your space to learn, stay organized, and enjoy the experience of growing your own food.

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Three Sisters Gardening Method

Easy Homemade Crusty Rolls

Five reasons you should raise quail instead of chickens

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Building Great Garden Soil

Understanding Your Growing Zone

Organic Pest Control

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  • ❄️ FROST ADVISORY ❄️ If you have small plants or trees with tender leaves or newly planted rootstock like these raspberry bushes, and you're under a frost advisory like we are, now's the time to cover them! Frost cloth, old sheets, or buckets work great to keep the warmth in. If it's not in the ground, bring it inside!
  • We are out covering tenders to protect them from the frost tonight and it'll be the same story tomorrow night. While we were out I noticed a couple of garlic mustard plants which are extremely invasive. You want to make sure to pull these out immediately and dispose of them because they easily will create a monoculture because they produce a chemical in the soil that inhibits other plants from growing. They also produce hundreds of thousands of tiny seeds that will get everywhere and stay in your soil for 5 years. So if you see them pull them out right away.
  • Most people walk right past this and think it's clover. It's actually wood sorrel, and once you know what to look for, you'll start spotting it everywhere. The leaves are the biggest clue. Similar to clover but larger, with a distinct heart shape that sets them apart. The flowers are small and yellow with delicate petals. What makes wood sorrel really interesting is that it's completely edible. It has a sharp, lemony flavor that comes from oxalic acid, and it's been used in folk medicine for centuries to support digestion, ease inflammation, and even treat scurvy and fatigue, thanks to its surprisingly high vitamin C content. It's one of those plants that quietly grows in yards, sidewalk cracks, and garden beds all over the world, and most people have no idea they're looking at something with so much history behind it. Have you ever eaten something foraged from your own yard? Personally, I love snacking on wood sorrel while I'm gardening.
  • Making room for fruit trees and native plants! Putting in some American Hazelnut Hybrids here in a couple days. Putting in another plum and cherry tree soon as well. Gotta do what you've gotta do, can't hire out everything 😎
  • Three years ago, we planted milkweed in our garden hoping to attract and help protect Monarch butterflies. We didn’t know how long it would take… but today we finally saw them! Actual Monarch caterpillars munching away on the milkweed we planted. I legit squealed. These beautiful creatures aren’t just pretty to look at, they’re essential pollinators, and their population has been rapidly declining due to pesticides, habitat loss, and climate shifts. It’s heartbreaking. But here’s the good news, we can all help, even in small ways. Want to support Monarchs? Start by planting milkweed in your yard, garden, or even in a pot on your balcony. It’s the only plant Monarch caterpillars eat and without it, they simply can’t survive. Next, add native flowers next to the milkweed like bee balm, coneflowers, or black-eyed Susans, because thats what the adult Monarch Butterfly likes to eat. Attract them with these, then they can eat, rest, and lay their eggs on the milkweed. #MonarchButterfly #PollinatorGarden #MilkweedMagic #ButterflyLove #GardeningJoy #MonarchMiracle #EcoFriendlyLiving #PlantWithPurpose
  • Happy gotcha day to Isla! We picked her up 8 years ago today, and she's still as energetic and ornery as ever. The first photo is today, the beach pic is 12 weeks old, other pics are 8 weeks old (the day we picked her up). #beagle #beaglepuppy #gotchaday #petphotography #dogphotography