Casual Homesteader

  Painted Garden Rocks: A Fun Gardening Activity for Kids There's something special about getting kids involved in the garden, and it doesn't have to involve digging or planting. One of our favorite low-cost activities is making painted garden rocks. They're simple enough for toddlers with a little help, older kids can get creative with their designs, and the finished rocks can brighten up flower beds, vegetable gardens, or container plants. Whether you're spending a rainy afternoon indoors or enjoying a sunny day outside, this is an easy project the whole family can enjoy. Why Kids Love Painting Garden Rocks Painting rocks lets children express their creativity while spending time outdoors. It also helps develop fine motor skills and encourages them to take pride in the garden. Once they're finished, they can hide their creations throughout the yard or use them to mark where seeds and plants are growing. Supplies You'll Need Smooth rocks (washed and completely ...

🥝🍊 Homemade Kiwi Orange Popsicles (No Added Sugar, Kid-Friendly) As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.             If you're looking for a simple, refreshing treat that actually uses real ingredients, these homemade kiwi orange popsicles are it. They’re made with fresh-squeezed orange juice, real kiwi, and just a touch of local honey, no artificial flavors, no dyes, and no junk. Living in Florida, cold snacks like this aren’t just a treat… they’re survival 😅 🌿 Why You’ll Love These No added refined sugar Made with fresh fruit Kid-friendly Super refreshing in hot weather Easy to customize 🛒 Ingredients 6 fresh oranges (juiced) depends on the size of the oranges; I got about 1 3/4 cups of juice 4 kiwis (peeled) 1 teaspoon local honey 🥣 How to Make Kiwi Orange Popsicles Juice the oranges Fresh-squeezed makes a big difference in flavor here. I used my KitchenAid with a masticating juicer attachment, which made the process super easy an...

My Hydroponic Systems: What’s Working (and What I’ve Learned So Far) If you’ve ever tried gardening in Florida and felt like everything either burns, gets eaten, or dies… the feeling is mutual.  I didn’t start out as a “hydroponics person.” Honestly, I just wanted a simple way to grow fresh food at home without fighting Florida soil and bugs.  I currently have two hydroponic systems running, and I’ve learned a lot (some the easy way… some not 😅). Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. What Hydroponic Systems I’m Using Right now, I’m using 2 different types of systems: A hydroponic tower that I bought on Amazon [Check here for pricing] VIVIOSUN hydroponic system [Found here on Amazon] I like both these setups; they both have their advantages and disadvantages.  The tower: While very easy to set up, I have gone through 2 pumps already.  VIVIOSUN hydroponic system  I have had more success with l...

How I Built a DIY Paver Walkway (On a Budget!) 👉This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products I personally use and trust. There’s something incredibly satisfying about transforming your own space with your hands. What started as a simple idea, to improve our backyard, turned into a full DIY paver project that completely changed the look and feel of our home. Not only did we save thousands doing it ourselves, but we also created a space our family actually uses. If you’ve been thinking about doing your own paver project, I’m sharing exactly how mine went, from planning to finished result, plus what I learned along the way. 📸 Before & After Before: After:  🛠️ Materials I Used Here’s what I used for this project: Paver molds- I used these for the entire walkway and they held up great. [View on Amazon] Concrete mix Polymeric sand- I used this brand from Lowe's  Shovel Hand Shovel Level Tamper Whe...