An Oregon Cottage Podcast: Simple Real Foods, Gardening & DIY

It's been three years since we bought our hundred year old farmhouse fixer in rural Oregon. It seems like it needed everything repaired except the location. In this episode we quickly review our progress over the first two years and then bring you up to date on what we've just completed in year three. 

In this special episode of Simple Homemade Life, we're bringing you a full farmhouse tour - the first we've done since the before tours! See what we've done, where we're at in the remodel, and even some spaces we haven't shown before. We're finally in the stages of finishing rooms instead of foundation, electrical, insulation, and such - in other words, the fun stuff!

By mid-fall (some prefer to say "autumn") most of your produce is harvested and your plants are starting to decline. Jami talks about how this is a great time to do some final tasks to get ready for winter and a healthy growing season next year. Plus we have a few things to show you as we renovate the farmhouse.

At the end of the garden harvest season you have a lot of vegetables coming in and you need to preserve as much as you can. No wonder posts about preserving are getting the most traffic on AnOregonCottage.com Jami shares her top five tips for easy preserving, things that will save you lots of time and ensure you can enjoy your produce year-round. Plus an update on saving thousands on bathroom tiling.

Meal planning not only saved us money and helped us to eat much more healthy food, but it saved Jami's sanity. When you know what you're going to have for dinner in advance you don't get that sinking feeling at 5 PM each day wondering what you'll come up with. Plus, your shopping will be streamlined and your family will quit bugging you with questions about what's for dinner. Jami shares her best menu planning tips and lots of free resources to get you started.  Then we both talk about the one supply every home remodeler needs: audiobooks.

If you can't tell, we love raised beds for gardening. They're especially good if you want to raise lots of vegetables while pulling hardly any weeds. Raised beds make it easier to create healthy soil. They save on watering. They save on space. They allow you to get higher yields and more variety in a small area. And they make it easy to add season-extending attachments like row covers. Jami discusses 7 materials you can use to create raised beds (we've personally used 6 of them). And then Brian talks about the one material you should never use.

Broken concrete is a great building material for garden stepping stones, raised beds, retaining walls, and patios. Gardeners who want to encourage concrete recycling have given it the name "urbanite." We discuss all the ways we've used broken concrete in our gardens, the pros and cons of using urbanite, and how to get it for free. Plus, Jami talks about the canning and preserving she's started for the year.

Moving to the country is a dream for a lot of people. We've done it and we can say that there are a lot of positives. But there are some negatives too. It's not for everybody. Find out the 7 pros and 7 cons (in our opinion) of moving rurally.

We talk about the big problems you can run into when you start doing major remodeling work. At the time they can be very discouraging and seem like they're going to shut down your project. But we've found ways to solve all of them. Plus, Jami talks about getting new lighting fixtures that look like they're old.

Learn why soaker hoses in your garden not only save water but also promote healthier growth. It's because they drip or finely spray water at the base of your garden plants, allowing it to soak down to the roots. But what do you do if you have three 6 foot beds and a 50 foot soaker? You cut it up and put it back together again. Jami and Brian also share about their faux marble countertop and metal table top projects.

We share what we've learned about harvesting and reusing old wood from our 1920s farmhouse. Reclaimed wood has a few drawbacks, but these are more than made up for by how cool it looks, the reduction in waste, and how much money you can save. Jami talks about what she did for the beds outside the garden and Brian shares his inspiration for the Garden Gate Arbor he made for less than $100.

Jami tells how she discovered cattle panels (metal fencing) for trellising tomatoes, and explains why they help the plants grow better and make harvesting easier. Then she describes how you use bungee cords to hold the plants up as they grow. Brian gives some tips on which kinds of posts to get to hold up the panels and how to attach them using zip ties. Plus tomato preserving ideas and more.

With the kitchen completely gutted, we talk about how we're planning for countertops, flooring, lights, and appliances. For example, we're doing an island and we want to make sure people can get past it. Brian also tells the story of installing the beam, which he can laugh about now. Plus, updates on some other parts of the house. See the video version of this on An Oregon Cottage YouTube channel.

In this new series (available also as a video on YouTube) we focus on a single challenge or task that needs to be done and discuss its solution. For "Simple Homemade Life Episode 1" we're out in the garden, talking about what you need to do in the middle of spring to get your vegetable garden ready for a great growing season.

We're making a format change to An Oregon Cottage Podcast. Listen to this brief announcement for an explanation. Or just keep subscribing to hear what the new format will sound like.

Jami and Brian talk about a baking topic that's everybody seems to be interested in: How to make sourdough bread. They discuss the 5 Big Myths and then Jami answers some of her readers' most frequently asked questions. Get recipe ideas for other things you can make with sourdough, like some amazing dinner roles. Plus, find out about some cool new discoveries.

What's it like to be almost 8,000 miles from home as the world goes on lockdown? We'll tell you. Hear about our truncated trip to Australia. Find out what we've been doing on the farmhouse during our self-quarantine. Plus pantry meal ideas and some cool things we've recently discovered.  

Remember when we were told that eating fat made you fat? Brian & Jami talk about years of research that show just the opposite. People are eating much more added sugar than at any time in history, and the results are showing up in health statistics. They talk the latest findings and ways you can reduce your added sugar intake and your taste for added sugar--so you don't miss it. Plus, there are some farmhouse updates and the latest cool discoveries for travel.  

Brian and Jami review recent evidence that we're doing too much laundry. Clothes don't need to be washed each time you wear them (at least outer ones you haven't spilled spaghetti sauce on). Frequent washing wears your clothes out sooner. And now they're finding microfibers in a lot of marine life. We have some farmhouse updates, a winter dinner menu, and share some cool new discoveries.

It's tough losing weight at any age, but especially when you're over 50. Jami and Brian discuss the latest research on food and weight loss and break it down into the three big areas that might be sabotaging your efforts. Jami has a farmhouse update on trying to choose flooring. She shares her favorite recipes that help you gain a healthy weight. And then both she and Brian share some cool things they've discovered lately.

Recorded in the new master bedroom, which is super echoey, we review the progress we've made over the past two years on our century-old farmhouse. We've done a lot, but still have a lot to do. We talk about what we've learned and the pros and cons of being your own contractor. Plus, we have an entertainment suggestion for after a long day working on your house.  

We discuss the holiday debate for the ages: Should you get a real Christmas tree every year or buy and reuse an artificial one? The argument is getting more one-sided every year. We have some actual updates on the old farmhouse to share. Jami shares a week of easy dinner recipes for winter. And we both have a recent cool discovery to tell you about. 

Homemade Christmas gifts are not only a great way to stay within your budget, but they can be more meaningful than something you purchased. They demonstrate thoughtfulness and are unique, something that's hard to come by in our mass-produced world. Jami's video "17 Homemade Gift Ideas in 6 Minutes" recently got a big spike in viewership and we discuss what commenters were saying about. DIY food gifts are especially nice to receive. Learn which ones have gotten the best response. Plus cool things we've recently discovered.  

Everybody's family does Thanksgiving differently. So when you celebrate for the first few times at your in-laws, things that one spouse thinks are normal seem odd to the other. We share a few "surprises" we experienced. Then we actually have some farmhouse and garden updates. Jami lists her favorite Thanksgiving recipes for things that aren't on the usual list. And we both share our latest discoveries in "This Is Really Cool."  

 Learn why Austin, TX is a fun place to stay, with great food--like BBQ!--and lots to do. And surprisingly affordable (if you don't buy a house while you're there). And while you're in Austin, it's just a quick trip down the interstate to San Antonio, home of The Alamo. It's also got a wonderful river walk and just a few miles out of town is a series of missions dating back to the early 1700s. Well worth the visit. Plus, learn about a couple of things we've discovered that make travel easier.

Summer is over and it's time to get everything ready for winter. Learn about all the things we've been doing in our yard and garden, taking advantage of the  nice autumn weather before the Oregon rain sets in. And speaking of lousy weather, Jami has a seven day meal plan to make you feel warm inside. Plus, we both share recent discoveries that we think are "really cool."  

 We talk about our (almost) 14 year old dog and how we've been helping with some of his age-related problems through diet. For his weight, the vet told us he's the equivalent of 92 years old!  We share a few recipe ideas for "real" dog food. Plus, some cool things we've discovered lately.

Jami and Brian talk about progress on the 100 year old farmhouse fixer over the summer. And what's going on in the garden. Neither one is quite not finished--there's always something else to do in the summer--but they're getting there. Plus they share a coffee and travel discovery in the This Is Really Cool segment.  

 Jami and Brian talk about their recent trip to the Bahamas and how they were able to enjoy an extended stay while saving money. Accomodations, food and excursions can get really expensive, but there are ways have a great vacation without blowing your budget. They discuss some highlights of staying on the island and some things they brought along that turned out to be really useful.

 Jami and Brian discuss WHY it's so much easier to travel without checked luggage (especially when flying), and then give some tips on the things that have helped them travel with less stuff. They have a few updates on the garden. Jami shares a favorite June menu. And both of them talk about their latest cool discoveries.

Jami and Brian give the details on how they've been able to get major house and garden projects done by trading work days with family and friends. People come over and help for a day. Then you go and help them for a day. With more people on the job, the transformation is amazing. It's rhubarb season! So Jami shares her favorite recipes. Brian gives a couple farmhouse/garden updates. And they both share some cool discoveries they've made lately.

Jami and Brian talk about recent market research that confirms what you already knew--nice landscaping improves the sale price of your house. Jami lists off the easy ways you can transform the yard without spending a lot of money. Brian gives the farmhouse update. Jami shares her incredibly good celery salad (yes, celery!). They each share a cool thing they've discovered lately. And more.

Jami and Brian discuss an article that lists the most popular DIY projects that people take on, and then the ones they most regret trying themselves. Jami and Brian then list their own DIY projects they hope they never have to do again, followed by the ones they're actually looking forward to. Brian shares some farmhouse updates. Jami has some Easter/Spring menu ideas. And they both share some cool things they've discovered recently.

Jami and Brian talk discuss the benefits of having go-to meals you eat all the time (same idea as a capsule wardrobe). They talk about why they eat basically the same thing for breakfast every day and still enjoy it. Jami then goes through here three granola recipes, which have become family favorites. She has an update on the garden. Brian discovered some funny stuff in the layers of a ceiling. And they both share some cool things they've been enjoying lately.

Jami and Brian discuss research showing that Americans are using a lot more paper towels than the rest of the world. Is this a symptom of our throwaway obsession? Jami shares some paper towel alternatives that have allowed her to save a lot of money and generate less paper waste. Brian has some updates on the farmhouse remodel. Jami shares a week's worth of menus. Plus some cool discoveries and lots more.

Jami and Brian discuss all the research (study after study) that's demonstrated the benefits of purposely being grateful. They found both emotional and physical benefits to this practice. Jami shares her personal story on this subject. Brian has some progress updates on the hundred-year-old-farmhouse. Jami lists people's favorite comfort food recipes from the site. Plus, the cool things we've discovered recently.

Jami and Brian discuss why you don't have to feel guilty about eating bread. It just has to be the right kind. Brian talks the findings of a major study of health studies about the benefits of whole grains. Jami shares her most popular bread recipes, which also happen to be some of the most popular posts on An Oregon Cottage. Plus, farmhouse updates and cool things they've discovered.

Jami and Brian take a look back at 27 of the things they've recommended over the past 50 episodes in their "This Is Really Cool Segment." They explain why they still like 22 of them and why 5 of them are meh. This episode was recorded as a video and is posted on An Oregon Cottage channel on YouTube.

 Brian shares some statistics on the high failure rate for most New Year's resolutions, and then what research has shown really works to achieve personal change. Jami and Brian talk about setting the right goals and the tools to use for doing better in finances, personal health, and other important areas. They give the latest farmhouse updates--some big milestones. And Jami lists her favorite soup recipes for cold weather.

This is a special edition of the podcast that's also available as a video on YouTube. Jami and Brian talk about the progress they've made in the last 12 months on their century-old farmhouse fixer, and they specifically discuss things they learned and what they'd do differently. Plus, how their family pitched in to get the farmhouse ready for a small wedding.

In Episode 48 Jami & Brian talk about what to make for last minute gifts. Jami highlights several easy projects from her video "17 Homemade Gifts In 6 Minutes." They discuss quick and easy holiday recipes, and Christmassy things to do with family that don't take a lot of planning. They give the latest updates on the farmhouse--with the wedding happening days away. And finally, share some cool discoveries they've made.

Jami and Brian talk about when hoarding meets Marie Kondo--what makes people want to keep everything? They discuss all the updates to the hundred year old farmhouse as their nephew's wedding date approaches. And Jami shares recipes for the family's favorite cookies (some holiday). Plus some cool discoveries.

In Episode 46 Jami and Brian discuss why they just spent two weeks traveling to southern Ohio and then southern Arizona, and cool stuff they discovered in both states. Jami share her best Thanksgiving recipes, the ones that have gotten rave reviews. Then they both share the coolest things they've discovered lately: Batdorf & Bronson Coffee, and the world's most comfortable booties.

Jami and Brian discuss the challenges of maintaining (or getting back down to) a healthy weight after you turn 50. They talk about "the beach picture" from the 1970s and theories why obesity has become so widespread since then. Jami talks about her real food recipes for weight loss. They discuss all the things being completed on the farmhouse, cool things they've discovered, and more.

 Jami and Brian talk about the walk-behind stump grinder, the commercial size wood chipper, and the tractor with backhoe that they recently rented. Brian had never used any of it before and in each case was handed the keys with about two minutes of instructions. Jami shares her fall apple tasting tradition. They discuss some updates on the farmhouse, and cool things they've discovered.

 Jami and Brian discuss what happened when some of the books they've really enjoyed got turned into movies. Some were great adaptations. Others they couldn't watch all the way through. Jami shares tips for making the ultimate food for movie-night-at-home: Pizza. Plus, farmhouse remodel updates and some cool new things they've discovered.

 Jami and Brian detail their ongoing struggle to eliminate a huge gopher colony that has taken up residence on their property. The only thing that has worked so far is too expensive. Jami talks about how much you can change recipes and still have them turn out--when canning, this can be dangerous. Plus updates on the farmhouse fixer, a phone app for blocking robocalls, and more.

Jami and Brian discuss the positives and negatives of being your own general contractor to oversee your remodeling project. It all really depends on your budget and what you hope to do. They have some farmhouse updates. Jami lists her top 6 recipes to can or freeze in September. And Brian talks about surfing in Oregon.

 Jami and Brian talk about what they found as they removed the vinyl siding from most of the old farmhouse: Missing windows, a phantom door, and what did the original trim look like? They discuss restoration vs. renovation and how to have modern updates while being authentic to the house style. Jami shares her best zucchini recipes, and during recording Brian spots the neighbors removing a major eye-sore. Plus lots more.

Jami and Brian remember the TV cabinet they bought that Brian thought was great because it was cheap and Jami was disappointed because it was so beat up. Now fixed up and one of their favorite pieces of furniture. They discuss their favorite TV shows from the very late 80s to today. What's the common theme here? Jami gives a real-life example of a week of menus, plus lots more.

Jami lists her favorite cookbooks, the ones that have survived both recent moves and that she still finds favorite recipes in. She discusses with Brian about how well cookbooks survived the ebook and online recipe revolution. They share some happy farmhouse updates and some sad garden updates. And then talk about some cool things they've discovered. Leave your feedback for the podcast on a voicemail by calling (541) 658-0215.