The Homesteading Cottage Dream

I’m a firm believer in declaring your dreams and releasing them into the world. Sometimes it’s so easy to hold tightly to the desires of our hearts, but never allow them to grow or become real. So today I’m releasing the dream of a homesteading cottage.

Over the years I've compiled lists, photos, ideas and goals, but decided it was time to keep everything in one place -"The Homesteading Cottage Notebook." While researching home plans and frugal building options, I came across some the most beautiful plans called Katrina Cottages and had to share them with you! (All of the photos in this post are specific to the KC 910 plan)

Marianne Cusato and a team of designers have partnered with Lowe’s to bring a collection of compact and efficiently planned designs along with material packages that are affordable and quick to build. Originally designed as an alternative to the FEMA trailer, the Katrina Cottage has evolved into a nationwide sensation finding popularity as affordable housing, guesthouses and small vacation homes hailed for their design, durability, versatility and affordability.

The cottages range in size from 308 to 1807 square feet and many of the designs have “grow options” that allow smaller cottages to be expanded over time as more funds are available. The plan I've selected costs around $45/sq ft, but the price for materials will vary depending upon size, style and current commodity prices.

I made a few tweaks to the plan above to make the living room and kitchen more open and windows were also added to break up the huge roof line. Below is the landscaping blueprint for the first phase in my "Homesteading Cottage Notebook." I'm visual and having a plan keeps the focus on the dream (:

The KC 910 plan starts out at 910 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 1 bath with the KC 1185 plan (the second phase) expanding the home to 1185 square feet with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a study. The KC 1807 plan converts the attic space into two more bedrooms and another bath for a total of 1807 square feet in the third phase.

The Katrina Cottage materials package from Lowe's includes all the products you'll need for the house from the foundation plate up. Studs, wall panels, insulation, fixtures, electrical, plumbing, even appliances are included. The homeowner need only supply the foundation, HVAC system and furniture...and of course a contractor to build the home if you're not a do-it-yourselfer.

This type of build allows the flexibility to pick and choose supplies which helps to keep costs low. Kitchen and bathroom cabinets come with the package, but let’s say you have some great trash-to-treasure finds and opt out of the cabinets included in the package. That’s a good chunk of money saved! Do this to enough and the savings can really add up!

The blueprints will run you $700, but purchase a minimum of $15,000 worth of materials from Lowe's and you'll receive a $700 gift card for additional materials to offset blueprint cost.

The Katrina Cottages caught my eye not only because of their versatility and frugal nature, but it was the way the square footage was embraced. Each and every nook and cranny has a purpose. I don't believe that living large really has anything to do with the space we consume...it's a state of mind.

My goal is to create a 10 acre homestead filled with fruit and nut trees, raised planting beds, solar panels, a rain water collection system and the studio of my dreams (: Going green isn't really the focus, but being a good steward of God's beautiful earth is. It just so happens, one thing blesses the other (:

I'm ready to get back to the basics my grandparents and parents held so dear...living off of the land and embracing the blessings that nature has to offer. I'm ready to be in a place of quietness where the crickets and frogs sing lullabies at night and the rain on a tin roof becomes a soothing whisper to the soul.

And so I cast my desires out into the world knowing that the time is coming closer...but until then, I'm happily living in my little homesteading apartment, preparing for the day when my dreams come true (:

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Tomato Plants and Peppers

Well, the growing of veggies is underway and I wanted to share some of the progress of my little patio garden.

There are lots of smaller green peppers on their way, but this one is the largest so far.

These are the cherry tomatoes!! I can't wait for them to start turning red!!! Have you ever smelled a tomato plant? I can't describe the scent, but it reminds me of summer. Each time they're watered it brings me back to my childhood (:

I'm using dowels left over from a project to stake the vines. It's working for now, but I'll need to go hiking in the woods to collect some longer branches as the plants grow taller

So many more new tomatoes growing, growing, growing!! Each cluster has at least 11 tomatoes and it will be exciting to see how much will be harvested when all is said and done.

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Earth Day...huh?

Well, yet another year of celebrating Earth Day has come and gone and with each year the concept of the "Green Movement" tickles me more and more. Well, maybe tickles isn't the right word...bumfuzzled maybe? Earth Day was first established in 1970 and designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. A good thing...but when did common sense need a specific day?

My great grandparents, grandparents and parents surprisingly practiced "green habits," but it was called being frugal out of necessity. I call it being a good steward of God's earth. I've been "green" for quite some time, but not because of a trend or some new environmental push. I'm "green" because it makes good sense.

I remember my grandfather's rain barrels...he said the rainwater made the plants grow stronger. I loved hearing the stories my grandmother shared about herbal remedies made by her mother and grandmother because there was no money to go to the doctor at the drop of a hat.

You never had a light on in a room that was unoccupied. The water was never left running while you brushed your teeth. Composting was a given and scraps carried outside by the grandchildren was a common activity. Gardening was the only way to get the best organic veggies and making your own ice cream wasn't just a throw back to enjoy the simple days of the past...it was economical. Run out of toothpaste? Baking soda and salt was always on hand. And with the same formula you could clean your bathroom while you were at it (:

You never threw anything out because it could be used later...for something. Hand washing clothes and drying sheets in the sunshine wasn't just a way to save energy, but when ya don't have the appliances it makes saving energy a whole lot easier (: Plus the sunshine made the whites whiter and offered the sweet smell of summer when brought indoors.

In following the common sense traditions of generations gone by, I make our natural cleaning products, toothpaste and body care products. Our bulbs are all CFL's (can't wait for a better LED version because the mercury thing seems counter intuitive), the temp in the house is kept at a consistent level and I always bring bags when going to the store...they were called totes long ago (:

I make our butter, ice cream and salad dressings, prefer home grown veggies, local free-range meats and will never eat a packaged meal over a home cooked one. Glass is used over plastic and filtered water is a must instead of wasting money on bottled. I recycle, buy used and save the difference and love turning discarded items into usable finds. Sewing, designing our home decor and creating new furniture from old instead of buying a finished item from the store is a passion.

So yes...I guess I'm "green"...or maybe I'm just being mindful of all the blessings God has given on this place called Earth. With such a beautiful gift, why would anyone choose not to be a good steward? (By the way...the photos above were from our Earth Day journey)



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Laundry and Dishwasher Detergent Recipes

Last week I posted recipes on how to make your own cleaning products and received several emails from those wanting more info and possibly pictures. These are really simple recipes...I'm all about the simple way (: The photos should help you know what to expect as you're preparing your own detergents.

I know there are several recipes out there for liquid laundry detergent. I've tried all of them, but found the process took too much time, not to mention the space needed to hold large quantities of the stuff (: I prefer the dry detergent because it takes up less space and can be made within 10-20 minutes at the most!

Laundry detergent

• ¼ cup liquid castile soap
• 1 cup borax
• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup washing soda

Use a fork to blend the liquid castile soap with one of the dry ingredients first. A hand pastry blender works even better and the process goes much faster. Then add the rest of the dry ingredients and mix.

Once all of the ingredients are added and the clumps have been blended out it should look like this.

Make as much as you need! I keep mine in this plastic container that fits perfectly above the washer.

1 Tablespoon does an entire load! If you have a really large load or one that’s extra grungy, use 2 Tablespoons.

I prefer not to use essential oils in the laundry detergent because the castile soap has such a beautiful scent all on its own. But feel free to add oils if you like. Just make sure they are clear oils, as those with any color will end up coloring your clothes. On my first batch I got a little trigger happy with the lemon essential oil and quickly found white towels to be a lovely soft yellow (: If you have a favorite essential oil, just add several drops on a cotton rag and toss it in the dryer with the clothes. Instant dryer sheet! Not only will your clothes smell great but the scent will fill your home too (depending on the location of your dryer).

Dishwasher detergent

• 1 cup borax
• 1 cup baking soda
• 10-20 drops of lemon, lavender or tea tree essential oil

Add borax and baking soda to the bowl. Then sprinkle essential oils on top and blend with a fork.

Store in an airtight container. I use this type and keep it under the kitchen sink. All it takes is 1 Tablespoon per load! Use vinegar instead of products like Jet Dry and pour into the rinse compartment of your dishwasher. Dishes come out sparkling!

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Homesteading

Mother Earth News defines 21st century homesteading as "Self sufficiency — wherever you live. It’s about using less energy, eating wholesome local food, involving your family in the life of the community and making wiser choices that will improve the quality of life for your family, your community and the environment around you."

To me homesteading is a lifestyle of simple self-sufficiency. For years I've dreamed of building a quaint cottage and studio off the grid (solar/wind power and rain water collection system) on a 10-30 acre piece of land, growing vegetables and herbs, handmaking most of the things we need, enjoying the peacefulness of reconnecting with nature and getting back to basics. But right now I'm living in a 1200 square foot apartment in the city. I am blessed that we have natural areas within the complex and we're very close to the lake so reconnecting with nature isn't as challenging as living in the middle of a concrete jungle. But the call to the homesteading lifestyle is still there nonetheless.

I know most people dream of traveling the world and experiencing new places, but I'd rather master the "the art of being" and journey outward later. Sounds strange, I know. I guess all of the traveling in my teens and 20's has tied me over until another day (:

So...until dreams of becoming a full time homesteader occur, I've decided to create my own little apartment homestead. I'll be sharing my journey of getting back to basics by posting tips on how you can have the homestead lifestyle no matter where you live. I'll also be sharing my faith and how God has been leading in this homesteading path. I'd love to hear from you if there are any tips and tricks you'd like share. The more the merrier!!