On January first, it is ideal to make a few New Year’s resolutions, and while I have participated in this tradition in the past, this year was a little different. Why make a list of goals in the middle of winter when it’s supposed to be a time of rest? When everything is so quiet and still, why make a goal that I’ll start on January first and then two weeks later, not see things through.

January is a time for rest and to recharge, to be in the middle of hibernation. Spring is a time for renewal and rebirth. Yes, in spring we still have rainy days, and in the mornings, it can still be a little chilly outside but now, in the beginning of May, the sun is out, spring cleaning is underway and it’s time to start getting back into the swing of things.

During the slow months of winter, I took the time to really think things over. I did some reflecting on 2023 and thought about how I would like 2024 to look. In winter, nature can look bare and gloomy, but underneath the soil, mother nature is stirring and getting prepared for the next season.

This is a great example of what we should be doing ourselves. Taking the time in winter to rest, look inward and giving our minds and bodies the time it needs to prepare for the seasons ahead. In January, I focused more on arts and crafts, reading, and staying warm.

In February, I focused on garden planning, laying out where the beds would go, what plants went where, and doing research on how to keep the garden chemical free. I slowly winter sowed some seeds and waited patiently for the first signs of green. Throughout the month I slowly started to defrost and by the end of February, I was ready to sit down and make some goals for the year.

This year, my biggest goal to achieve is actually the same as last year, to work toward self-sufficiency and create a suburban homestead. Self-sufficiency is a never-ending process, there are always things to do to get closer to that goal. Here are some tasks and challenges I will be putting into play this year to work toward creating a suburban homestead:

The kitchen is the heart of the home, so let’s start there with our first set of goals>

Coffee is a big part of my morning routine, in 2023 I made the switch from using a Keurig to using a ceramic cone topper for a pour over method. Grinding organic coffee beans every morning has changed the coffee game for me forever. This year, I hope to step up my coffee game by making homemade chocolate sauce and caramel sauce to spruce up my cups of coffee.

After doing some research and watching a few videos on pre ground coffee and seeing how some companies will also add in roasted soybeans, twigs, leaves, and dirt to their pre ground coffee; I have made the decision to only purchase whole organic coffee beans from the store. The flavor is incomparable, and it makes a big difference, my mornings will never be the same.

Buying whole organic roasted coffee beans from the store helps save on all of the plastic packaging pods can use, and the used grounds will go into the compost pile to give back to the garden. I am even considering the possibility of trying to grow a coffee plant at home (I will keep you posted on that thought).

I would like to enjoy organic, locally sourced foods while they are in season rather than depend on grocery stores and buy out of convenience (this might be a hard goal to achieve). I hope to get out of the pattern of spending my hard-earned money with stores whose values and morals may not align with mine.

Not only would I like to eat fresh, local, organic foods this year, but I hope to preserve as many fruits and veggies as possible to “put up” for wintertime as well. The goal is to not buy as many canned food items from the store this year, instead jar and can fruits and veggies myself at home.

The second goal for the year is gardening>

This year I would like to grow fruits and vegetables that I know my family and I will enjoy. Fruits like cucumbers, tomatoes, and watermelon will be great in late summer. Vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and pumpkins will be nice for the fall and winter.

Cucumbers are a staple in my household, great for snacking and juicing, they are such a refreshment. Tomato sauce is something we have on our pantry shelves at all times, I know it is a labor of love but I would like to can tomato sauce this year so we can use it in so many ways all year long.

Root vegetables like potatoes and carrots will store well in the winter months, if kept in the right temperature. Potatoes can be used to make country potatoes, French fries, and baked potatoes. Carrots can be eaten fresh, juiced, steamed, or roasted; and both can be enjoyed in soups and stews this winter.

I love the idea of having pumpkins to decorate the front porch with come fall. From big to small, it will be fun to see them grow and in winter it will add that extra touch to cook and bake with pumpkins and squash grown from the garden.

Herbs like rosemary, chamomile, and mint will hopefully be grown as well. Herbs can be used in so many different ways. I would like to dry them or use them fresh in my cooking. I regularly drink tea, so a long-term goal of mine is to make my very own tea blends from herbs I have grown myself.

Flowers are great to have in the garden to attract pollinators and add color to the back yard. I used to buy myself flowers from the store regularly, but this year I would like to try growing my own. Growing, cutting, and arranging fresh flowers from the garden not just for myself, but for others as well (as gifts or for celebrations or just because).

Last year I grew cucumbers for the very first time and the patience it required was one of the hardest things for me. There was a time I thought nothing would happen, then the next morning I saw some green popping out of the soil. I watered the plant and nurtured it for months; at the end of the growing season, I harvested two cucumbers (I was so proud :)).

That was the beginning of my gardening journey. Now I look forward to growing, cooking and preserving food that is home grown. Gardening will teach me patience, to find beauty in every day, and to be more thankful. I never used to think too much about where my food came from, but this year I’m looking forward to growing it in my backyard.

The third goal is going to be focused on natural green cleaning>

This year I would like to clean the house without using harmful chemicals. The book, The Revolutionary Guide to: Easy Green Cleaning, by Elizabeth Hemmings has great information on this topic. Elizabeth goes over the importance of green cleaning and shares recipes to make the switch easier. The recipes are quite simple, and I already have most of the ingrediencies in my pantry.

In 2023 I made a few candles for Christmas gifts, and it got me thinking about all of the synthetic fragrances that are put into candles. All of the air plug ins we use and the sprays to keep our homes smelling “fresh”, they all have synthetic fragrances. It made me think about the toxic load I put on my body.

In 2024, the goal will be to make candles at home with essential oils and local beeswax. Instead of air plug ins and sprays, use candle wax warmers or a simmer pot to give off a fresh smell. Keeping a clean home can also help, so this year I will try to have a regular cleaning routine.

**If you have pets in the house, please do your own research to see which essential oils are okay for your pet, their noses are sensitive, so just be cautious!

The fourth set of goals are for toiletries, makeup, and perfume>

I am finally down to one bottle of perfume, and this year I will finish the bottle and learn to make perfume myself with natural products. I like the idea of making a product personalized just for me. I have completely ditched deodorant and have gone all natural for four years now. It has been quit the adjustment, and it took my armpits all four years to detox themselves, but I have gotten to a place where I am now okay with my natural odder (we’ll see how things go this summer).

This year I will use up what makeup I have left and invest in nontoxic brands or learn to make it myself. I think it will be fun making a few simple products. I also like the idea of focusing on a more natural, minimal look rather than feeling the need to cover everything up.

In August (2023), I attended the local cotton festival. There were a lot of booths set up by small businesses and one of those businesses was Ray Ray’s Natural Soap, since I had just run out of face wash, I decided to purchase a bar. I was very happy to support a small local business and I’m glad to say I will be a returning customer.

Ray Ray’s Natural Soap makes different types of soaps to help with all different types of skin. The owner was very involved with my purchase, she answered all of my questions and helped me pick something out. Her products are made with all natural ingredients, which is just up my alley.

In the fall of 2023, my mother purchased a bar of goat milk soap from a small local business at the farmer’s market (Vintage Farm Suds Goat Milk Soap). My mother is a very hard woman to impress, so when I heard her rave about this goat milk soap, I knew I had to try it out as well. So, once I finished my body wash, I went to the farmers market and purchased one for myself. They have different scents, it lathers well and leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean, I will definitely be going back for more.

I never used to think about the products I put on my skin, but then I started to read the ingredients on the back of the packaging and realized I didn’t know what any of it meant. Our skin is the largest organ of the human body, whatever we put on it, it will absorb. In 2024 I would like to have the mindset of, “if you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin”.

Now I do have a few goals that are unrelated to homesteading>

1. Take more pictures with an actual camera and put the printed pictures in a photo album. Our phones today take great quality pictures but I’m looking for more nostalgia. I love looking at my grandma’s photo albums, hearing stories and laughing about the good old days.
2. Once a month, plan a me day. Get dressed in something that makes me feel comfortable, treat myself to a meal, and pick an activity to do. Go see a matinee, find a used bookstore, or find a garage sale and see if I find anything interesting. The point of this goal is to spend the day out, with just myself.
3. When both my parents have the evening off from work, I would like to eat dinner with them both in the dining room and have more game nights. I love the idea of making personal pizzas and having fun with a good old fashioned board game.
4. Last on the list is, to host a bible study. Anyone who wants to learn or brush up on the bible can join, no matter the religious background. The whole point of this goal is to form community and let people know, they are not alone on their journey with Christ.

The importance of these goals is trying to work at it every day. Make things simple, so I don’t get to overwhelmed and want to throw in the towel. This year I would like to be more present and live a simple life. Not a trendy one, not a fast one, but one with meaning.

I hope the year for everyone has been wonderful and what are your goals for 2024? Let me know in the comments down below. Happy spring, stay safe and let’s enjoy this New Year! 🙂

Book mentioned above: The Revolutionary Guide to: Easy Green Cleaning by Elizabeth Hemmings. I constantly go back to this book to make the recipes for cleaning products. This book has recipes for everything you need to clean, from the kitchen to bathroom to laundry and everything in between. If you’re interested in making the switch to green cleaning but don’t know where to start, this book is for you.

Soaps mentioned above:

Ray Ray’s Natural Soap, they have natural soaps and body scrubs, and you can find them on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube as well as www.rayraysnaturalsoap.com. They also have two locations, one in Los Banos and they have a booth at the San Jose Flea Market where they attend regularly.

Vintage Farm Suds, you can find them on Instagram and www.VintageFarmSuds.com. They are regularly at the Merced Farmers Market and have wonderful products.