"Lasagna gardening" worked like a charm. (Country conversation & feedback).

COUNTRYSIDE: My husband and I rent an old farm house in the country now, but our dream is to have our own land, build a rustic home and raise small livestock to feed our growing family. Our three children are small but we have every intention of homeschooling them (using the Charlotte Mason philosophy) and teaching them wholesome values. We've already begun that along with taking them to church and keeping the video games and tv out of our home.

We do fight the debt battle though, and I found the article in the Nov/Dec 2002 issue of COUNTRYSIDE on budgeting very helpful. We are always working on ways to become more self sufficient including heating with wood, using homemade soap, composting, gardening, canning, home-cooked meals, bulk food purchasing through co-ops and bag-your-own grocery stores.

My outdoor loves are my little helpers and gardening. Last winter I bought a book called Lasagna Gardening by Patricia Lanza. The idea appeals to my desire for neatness with no time to weed (not with three toddlers). It really does work. I worked like crazy making and preparing raised beds but I only maybe pulled a dozen weeds and watered twice this summer, with excellent results. I had loose thick beds of kitchen compost, rotted straw, shredded leaves from last fall, llama manure, and wood ashes topped with composted wood chips from the county compost. I did worry some about the pH balance in my soil. The wood chips might have been going too far. None of the seeds I planted were very happy at all. They germinated fine, grew an inch (more or less) then shriveled up and died, quite an expensive experiment, and very depressing. I'm assuming that I need denser matter for the tiny roots to retain moisture. I think next year I'll make a special soil for my seedlings to start in. Any tips are welcome on that aspect. But all of the plants I transplanted grew excellently. For me Lasagna Gardening is the way to go. All summer just under that top layer was rich, moist, black composting matter. I love it.

My inside loves are my little helpers, baking and sewing. We really try to eat healthy. It's not easy. I avoid sugar and white flour every chance I can using instead raw sugar, honey and stevia herb. I love Ezekiel bread. If anyone has a recipe for Ezekiel bread without flour and all sprouted grains or any hints on sprouting grains, please write. I would love to make it. We use homemade soap from my mother but I have been looking for a shampoo recipe. We make our own baby wipes and comfrey salve diaper rash ointment. Write for the recipe if you are interested.

My husband and I work together for this back to the basics lifestyle. We still have a ways to go and lots to learn. When we read COUNTRYSIDE, I feel this is a great tool to keep us focused and motivated. I consider the subscription cost an investment to improve our lifestyle, not just for the enjoyable reading experience that it is!--Jessica Chipps, 9562 St. Rt. 245, DeGraff, OH, 43318