Each year around this time, my Pennsylvania friends start passing around the same meme on Facebook. 

 

You've probably seen it too. It's a list of the "actual" seasons. Starting with winter, then leading into spring of deception, then second winter, followed by false spring, third winter, all the pollen, and finally real spring. 

 

If I had to guess, I'd say we're currently in false spring. It was in the mid-60s nearly all week. But it seems we're all holding our breath and waiting for that one last snowstorm to sneak up on us. 

 

Last year, for us, it showed up in May and did a number on many of the fruit crops that were blooming at the time. It was a tough year for apples, strawberries and blueberries here in Central PA.
 

 

I got clobbered with a wonderful sinus infection this week, thanks to all the pollen. Hopefully, this means real spring is on its way. And of course, I hope you are all healthy and hale as well.

 

This week will be our final week interviewing the writers of Rural Sprout. Speaking of, did any of you grab a piece of Meredith's gorgeous chicken pottery yesterday? 

 

This week, I get the distinct pleasure of introducing you to Lydia Noyes. You'll enjoy hearing her story. I know I sure did. 
 

 

TB: Hey there, Lydia, as we always do, why don't you start by sharing a bit about yourself. 
 
I grew up in West Michigan in a lifestyle I'll call "homesteading adjacent." Though I lived in a small city, I always prioritized spending time outside and worked as a landscaper in the summers throughout high school and part of college. 

 

Some of my best memories from growing up include visiting my grandma on her old dairy farm—looking for arrowheads in the cornfields and hopping around the hay bales with my cousins.
 
TB: I think many of us who end up homesteading have childhood memories on a grandparents' farm. I, too, remember playing in the hay with my cousins. With your "homesteading adjacent" heritage, what made you take the step into homesteading? 
 
In college, I majored in environmental studies and developed a strong interest in sustainable agriculture. I interned on several organic farms around the country, including a botanical sanctuary on the Big Island of Hawaii. 

 

My first job after graduation was an AmeriCorps position at an ecological center in West Virginia. There, one of my duties was maintaining the property of a historic homestead site. 

 

This became the ultimate homesteading playground for my husband and me, and in the three years we spent there, we put in a huge garden, learned how to can, and raised and butchered our own chickens, meat rabbits, and a pig. 

 

We even built a home aquaponics system that let us raise tilapia in a rain barrel in our pantry.
 
Our time homesteading in West Virginia convinced us this lifestyle was one we wanted long-term, so when we moved back to Michigan, it was to a 33-acre farm. 

 

Here, we sell hay, maintain a massive garden, take care of a multi-fruit orchard with apples, pears, stone fruits, raspberry canes, and blueberry bushes, and try to keep on top of our menagerie of livestock. Right now, that consists of chickens, guinea fowl, Nigerian dwarf goats, and a dozen American guinea hogs.
 

 

 

We all know homesteading is a lot of work; what do you feel is the hardest part about living the homesteading life. 
 
Balancing the pacing of different seasons can be tricky. 

There are moments in the winter when it doesn't feel like much is going on with our property, but in the height of summer, I'll find myself outdoors past dark picking potato bugs off plants, only to have to can the week's crop of tomatoes as soon as I get inside. In the middle of the garden season, we are almost too busy to slow down and enjoy the food we're growing!
 
TB: You hit the nail on the head. I think this is why winter is my favorite season – it's a chance to rest and enjoy the fruits of your labor from the other season.

Do you have any advice for anyone considering jumping into homesteading?
 
Start slow! Homesteading projects have a way of snowballing out of control, and you're more likely to give up altogether if you feel overwhelmed.

 

I should take my own advice more often, as we seem to always start more seeds in the spring than we can possibly plant in our garden. Then I somehow still find room for them all and overwork myself all summer, attempting to stay one step ahead of the weeds. Maybe this year I'll learn.
 
TB: Hmmm, you're not the first one of our writers to say that, so it must be true. Are you listening, folks?  

And finally, do you have any interesting projects coming up you'd like to share with our readers? 
 
I'm really excited about our American guinea hogs. This heritage breed of pig is small enough for one family to manage their meat, and they love to eat grass (making great use of our hay fields).

 

These pigs are friendly enough to hang out near homes and love eating garden scraps. We've had three successful litters so far and look forward to selling some soon and processing our own sausage this fall.

 

 

Thank you so much, Lydia, for sharing with us.