Get Going with Kira King

Get Going with Kira King

Kira King has a 4-acre homestead in Savannah, Georgia with her husband, daughter, and menagerie of animals. After graduating from the University of Georgia with a journalism degree, she began her own social media marketing company which over time morphed into a homesteading blog and podcast.

The Homestead Kings treasure local and sustainable food practices beginning in the home, the simple lifestyle that homesteading provides, and the companionship they share with their animals. They didn’t grow up in the homesteading or farming way of life, but Kira says they got there as quickly as possible and still learn something new every day.

What to do this Winter

Just Start & Go

Winter

As humans, we tend to over-evaluate some things and ignore others altogether. Gardening, homesteading, and homemaking are some of these things. In a digital, convenience-driven world, it’s easy to see growing food, food preservation, and keeping a home as outdated practices, but I’m here to tell you, friends, outdated has made a comeback! It’s time to get back in touch with the traditions that our ancestors learned (through trial and error) and further our physical and mental health. The digital, convenient age can be fast-paced and entertaining, but I challenge you to slow down on purpose and try one thing a season that’s new (to you). Before you know it, you may be a veggie-growing, fermentation, house-organizing master. The time is now to just start and go!

In the Garden

What could possibly be happening in southeast Georgia gardens during the short winter months? Actually, a lot! Our cool winters are a great time to grow some of those cooler crops like kale, lettuce, broccoli, beets, turnips, radishes, and more. Leafy greens and brassicas tend to love cooler weather. These slower months are also a great time to prepare your vegetable beds or areas, even if it’s just a pot on your patio.

Grab a handful of soil. How does it look? Is it dark and black or light and sandy? Is it kind of squishy or does it fall through your fingers like sand? If it’s sandy and gray, it’s time to amend your soil. Plant health starts with soil health so soil health directly affects the nutritional value a certain plant will have and carry to us when digested. You can amend your soil in a number of ways. Savannah Victory Gardens sells

a wonderful compost potting mixture that can be bought in small to very large quantities at very reasonable prices. Or if you have livestock or chickens, you can compost their manure to use it in your garden beds.

Not ready for an annual vegetable garden? No problem! Late winter to early spring is the perfect time to plant those blueberry shrubs or fruit trees. The sooner you get your fruits in the ground, the sooner you’ll be enjoying their sweet deliciousness on a warm, summer’s day.

Overall, winter is the perfect time for planning your garden. Sip some warm tea while perusing those seed catalogs and try not to get carried away. Just kidding! Order as many seeds as your heart (& wallet) desires! Savannah Victory Gardens also hosts early Spring Plant Sales so leave some room in the budget to visit them for a fabulous selection of seeds, vegetable & herb transplants, and edible shrubs and trees! They single-handedly supplied our homestead’s food

forest, and I can still taste last year’s nectarines (because I’m literally still eating jars of them). Mmmm.

If you have chickens or livestock, now is a great time to do a big coop or pen cleanout. With the deep litter method, you don’t have to clean your coop regularly, but at least twice a year (depending on size) is a good goal to have. If you’re looking to add to your flock, have you ordered your birds yet or looked at local groups to find the chicks, ducklings, goslings, whatever?! Be sure to check your county’s animal ordinance before you commit to any animal.

In the Home

While you may not be harvesting large quantities of produce right now from the garden, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t plenty to keep you occupied on those blustery winter days.

Winter is designed to force you to slow down so make sure to soak in some good books and cozy time before the time changes. Intentionally slowing down doesn’t always mean slowing down. In fact, when you have ample time inside, it’s the perfect time to try some things out, like fermentation!

Fermentation is an ancient form of food preservation performed by humans dating all the way back to the Neolithic era. Did you know fermentation is not just for food? You can even ferment water into a kefir. healthline.com describes water kefir as, “a beverage favored for both its fizzy flavor and impressive health benefits. Besides packing a powerful punch of probiotics, this tasty drink has also been shown to amp up immunity, slow cancer cell growth, and improve overall health.” And, you can make it in your own kitchen! All you need is some water kefir grains, sugar, and a jar. (Grains can be found here: https://shop.culturesforhealth. com or if you know someone with grains and they’re willing

to share) It’s basically making your own healthy soda replacement that tastes good and is good for you. Winning.

Another item to experiment with while the temperature of your house is positively influenced by the oven on is bread-making. Bread-making can be intimidating, but if you do a quick, online search for easy, quick-rise bread recipes, you’ll be inundated with delicious go-to ways to make your own bread. Why would you do that you ask? Because it tastes so much better. Even loaves you may “mess up,” will still taste amazing, especially toasted with a little butter. If you’re interested in a more complex bread that doesn’t require store-bought yeast, try making a sourdough starter. After the initial set-up time, your

starter will help you achieve beautiful, crunchy, and naturally risen bread loaves.

On to homemaking. Homemaking is one of the noblest works. Making a house into a cozy, well-managed, and welcoming home, one that you enjoy so much that even Covid lockdowns can’t make you have cabin fever, is quite frankly a gift. It’s not just about the cleaning and the organizing, it’s about the atmosphere, and winter is the perfect time to intentionally look around your space and evaluate what needs to be done. Do the curtains need washing? Does the chest of drawers need sorting? Does the kitchen need to be reorganized? Will that lamp look better in another room? Maybe that wall needs a fresh coat of paint? How about music? Does your home have a soundtrack?

Music can make even the most simple, mundane things feel magical and fun. Turn on some good music while you’re dusting the fans or vacuuming, and all of a sudden, you’ve gone from a cleaning checklist to a dance party without an ounce of drudgery.

Winter is the perfect time to sit, look around and enjoy your home. Making it a place that you enjoy doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. It’s not about what design trend is next or if there isn’t a speck of dust. It’s all about comfort and hospitality. We are, after all, in the South.

So there you have it. Don’t spend all winter waiting for spring. Utilize this time. Learn something new and prepare for the whirlwind that is spring in the South.

Grapefruit Olive Oil Cake with Greek Yogurt Grapefruit Icing

• 2 3/4 cups brown rice or almond flour

• 3/4 cups coconut flour

• 3 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup coconut sugar

• 1/2 cup monk fruit sweetener or maple sugar

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed

• 1 grapefruit, zested

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt

• 5 large eggs

• 1 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Icing Recipe:

• 1 cup Greek yogurt

• 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

• 1/3 grapefruit juice (& some pulp or zest if you’d like)

• Splash of vanilla extract

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

• Combine dry ingredients in one bowl.

• Combine wet ingredients in another bowl.

• Slowly stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients until smooth.

• Grease your cake pan.

• Pour in batter & bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out of the center cleanly.

Icing Directions:

• Pour yogurt, grapefruit juice & vanilla into mixing bowl.

• Turn mixer on low.

• Slowly add powdered sugar until smooth consistency.