Just My Thoughts

     I am starting this experience as a way to help others learn about herbs, gardening, gluten-free cooking, and just living a simple life, debt-free. Just 3 years ago, I was living in a college town, in a one-bedroom apartment, with a view of a Lowe's loading dock.  There was no where to go to be outside. Everything I did was inside: work, gym, shopping, and eating.  It was a concrete jungle. Daily, I wished that I could find a place in the country to call me own.  I had been in the apartment for over 2 years.  Before that, I had lived in the country, and had loved the freedom of simply walking out my door and enjoying nature.  Life happened and I had to leave the country and move to the city.
     In April 2013, I met Danny and my life changed.  God had given me the desires of my heart: a companion, a country life and a beautiful garden.  I am still amazed at the handiwork of God.  He knew I needed a simple life and that Danny needed me.  All I asked for was someone to spend time with.  I didn't ever want to remarry.  Be careful what you say, because you will do what you say you will NOT do.  We were instantly attracted to each other after a 6 hour phone conversation.  We didn't meet for 2 weeks, but talked nearly 8 hours each night. We married in July and have spent nearly every moment together since we met.
     Danny and I spent the first 6 months just talking and enjoying the beauty that God had put here for us to use.  We discussed plans for the future of the property and  started a small garden.  We picked the wild huckleberries and blackberries that grew in the woods we owned.  That year, most of what we canned was jelly.  We had an obsession with jelly.  We made huckleberry, wild blackberry, tame blackberry, dewberry, mulberry, peach, plum, apple, pear, strawberry, strawberry fig, and blueberry. 
After looking at our stash, we decided we needed to plant veggies and have something besides jelly to eat. 
     In 2014, we planted a variety of veggies: English peas, green bean, field peas, okra, cabbage, potatoes, corn, and many more that I fail to recall right now.  That provided us with more variety in our diet that we didn't have to purchase. We then decided we wanted a fruit utopia.  That lead to us planting more berries and fruit trees.  In the spring  and summer,  this place is a utopia.  At all times from February to October, we have something blooming, something producing, and always something to eat.  When you eat in season, you eat what is growing in your garden at that time. 
     In 2015, we added to our list of fruits, veggies and berries.  We wanted a way to share with others what we had growing and how beautiful it is.  In December, we started a YouTube channel called Deep South Homestead.  We are reaching people in all walks of life and in different countries.  God has blessed our journey.  We hope to share through YouTube and this blog our way of living the good life. 
Blessing to you all,
Wanda  from Deep South Homestead