In the Garden (and Orchard, and Vineyard)

Garden Upgrades 2019, Part 2

July 31, 2019 18 Comments

Let me start by saying that I have had mixed feelings about my veggie garden, pretty much since I put the first beds in six

The Greenhouse Returns

May 15, 2019 12 Comments

This thing… I’m not sure if I’ve had a single project on the farm that has brought me such varying levels of joy, frustration, and

Garden Upgrades 2019, Part 1

May 6, 2019 7 Comments

Last year I used the word “manageable” to describe spring on the farm, and, I mean… that’s hilarious. I didn’t know that was even an

Spring on the Farm: 2018

June 14, 2018 18 Comments

It only took six years, but I think I’ve finally figured out how to manage spring on the farm without completely losing my shit, and

In The Garden: All The Zucchini (and all the ways to eat it)

August 2, 2017 24 Comments

Every spring as I’m starting work in the vegetable garden– hours upon hours spent planting seeds, weeding, building garden boxes, mulching, composting, transplanting, watering, and

Building a Vineyard Trellis

June 16, 2017 12 Comments

When I first considered adding a few rows of grapevines to the farm, I figured building the trellis to grow them on would be the

Spring Garden Tour

June 7, 2017 20 Comments

For so many of the early years on the farm spring was a daily, relentless battle against grass and weeds. One I almost always lost.

Orchard: Spring Maintenance 2017

May 23, 2017 9 Comments

My little orchard is still in its early years– which means it’s still a fair amount of work– but there’s such an amazing sense of

Building Days: Raised Beds and Laundry Storage

January 30, 2017 9 Comments

Most of the time when I’m building things around the farm it’s just me, my tools, some loud music (and, if we’re being honest, also

Vineyard Update: Summer 2016

August 15, 2016 9 Comments

If you asked me to summarize what starting a small vineyard on my property this year has been like I’d say roughly 50% digging holes and

Orchard Update: Summer 2016

August 14, 2016 22 Comments

At pretty much any point in my life prior to living on this farm, my thought process around learning and/or doing new things went something

That Damned Vegetable Garden

June 13, 2016 26 Comments

Of all the things I talked about working on over my “break” a couple of weeks ago, the vegetable garden was noticeably absent. Or, as I’ve

In The Garden – 2015

May 15, 2015 24 Comments

You might think now that I have a perfect lounging spot on my porch I’m just going to loll about all summer, drinking wine and

2014 Lessons Learned: The Garden Edition

January 13, 2015 38 Comments

I miss my garden so hard right now, you guys. When the temps in Michigan start getting down to, oh, a million degrees below zero,

In The Garden: The Most Delicious Egg Recipe Ever

September 19, 2014 10 Comments

When things start to get a little fall-like, I start baking. Well, first, obviously, I start panicking. Then I start baking. I actually like baking,

I'm not interested in a mediocre life. I'm here to kick ass or die.

(formerly DIYdiva.net)

THE STORYTELLER

Back in 2004 I started writing about my adventures in fixing up houses on the internet. A lot of things have changed since then, with me, with my houses, and with the internet. These days I am basically a cranky old man trapped in a slightly less old woman’s body. The internet has changed and I am staunchly refusing to change with it. You won’t find any algorithms here, or feeds, or ads, or social media. Just good old-fashioned stories about a woman drinking beer and building shit, and living an unexpected life.

(While you won’t find updates on social media, you can sign up to receive new posts via email here.)