The Grand Ole Apiary

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Move over suburban homesteading. We’re Cottagesteading now.

Cottagesteading

24 May
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Nucleus hive in tomato patch

Have you ever thought about the word “homesteading”? It is a word that conjures up images of lovely farmhouses and paddocks full of every type of farm animal. There is usually a dairy animal of some sort, free range chickens complete with their tractors, a barn, and of course the massive vegetable gardens and orchards. For most who have a yearning to live a natural, homesteading life, it remains a dream to be achieved either much later in this life, or maybe even in the next one! What about “suburban homesteading”? Not very romantic sounding is it?

But, have you ever really thought about the word? Homesteading. HOME steading. What part of that word dictates that homesteading must take place how and where the internet says it does? Why is it considered a way of life that must take place on a farm or acres of land? Why has any attempt to homestead in a standard sized home been relegated to the sections of the internet reserved for the lesser thans? “Suburban homesteading”, “small scale homesteading”, “container homesteading”, etc.

Ok so I’m unlikely to change the homesteading (or suburban homesteading) world here

Now, I realise that the word homesteading has cultural and historical roots that will forever tie it to larger land parcel living. I guess it is a bit of a useless endeavour to try to change the meaning of a word. So I’m not. But neither am I going to any longer call my lifestyle by a term that makes it lesser than. I love my cottage life. But I certainly don’t love it being called something as impersonal as “suburban homesteading”. I don’t wish I had a dairy cow, or acres of orchards. Our cottagesteading life is one that would’ve been the norm for generations of cottage dwellers, with many of the same homesteading activities that our larger landed friends would’ve enjoyed.

Lemons on tree

But I can sure make up my own world! Who’s in?

I’m sure not missing out by being a cottagesteader instead of a suburban homesteader. I just see that we do things differently. They can have their cow, Ill have my farmers market. They can have their home made preserves, and I will too! I’ll also have honey & wax from my own hives, eat my home grown tomatoes, home made pasta, home canned organic meats, fruits & vegetables. I can sew, knit & darn. I make my own soaps and mix my own lotions. I’m walking barefoot through my little veggie garden with my apron on, saying hello to my bees and picking the passionfruit from the vine growing over my chook house. And while I’m doing it, my sourdough might be baking in my cottage kitchen (maybe soon in my wood stove!), or my home made yogurt might be setting in my Instant Pot.

Sourdough starter in jar with handmade spoon

So join us as we rediscover the old-fashioned ways of humble cottage life. We aren’t suburban or small scale or container any more. We are the Cottagesteaders!

  • sourdough balls on board with mixer
  • Sourdough bread on cooling rack
  • Basil in hanging basket
  • Close up of olives
  • Lemon slices fermenting in honey

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Take your boots off, make yourself a cuppa, and join us as we recreate an

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I was thrilled to receive these pics and feedback I was thrilled to receive these pics and feedback from my very first Sourdough Workshop. I can’t wait for my next one 31/7 at @studio_on_sunshine
Still 2 spots left!

“Hi Alison. Here is a picture of my first sourdough loaf. I’m really thrilled with it. I have already made a really lovely focaccia bread and I’m preparing to make a couple of sourdough pizzas. Thank you so much for your workshop. I had an amazing time.”
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Ok, I feel like I’m getting closer to figuring t Ok, I feel like I’m getting closer to figuring this out! Now I just have to remember every step I took to get to this point and repeat it perfectly every time 😂

#metters #metterscanberra #canberrastove #mettersstove #mettersoven #metterscooking #mettersstoverenovation #woodfiredoven #woodfiredcooking #cottagecooking #cottagestead #cottagesteading
#cottagelife #cottageliving #cottagekitchen #oldfashionedonpurpose #offgridaustralia  #simplelivinglifestyle #aussiesourdough #australiancottage #aussiecottage #youmeandjunee #waggawagga #waggafood #sourdough #woodfiredsourdough
Well it’s in!!! We finally have our gorgeous old Well it’s in!!! We finally have our gorgeous old Metters installed in the kitchen. Here she is, a bit rough looking yes - can’t wait to finish the tiling and the mantle! 
We are already LOVING our kitchen being so warm, and a kettle that’s always hot ❤️
We are still learning how to control the temp - so brace yourselves for some burnt, undercooked, flat or oddly shaped sourdough pics 😂 

#metters #metterscanberra #canberrastove #mettersstove #mettersoven #metterscooking #mettersstoverenovation #woodfiredoven #woodfiredcooking #cottagecooking #cottagestead #cottagesteading
#cottagelife #cottageliving #cottagekitchen #oldfashionedonpurpose #offgridaustralia  #simplelivinglifestyle #aussiesourdough #australiancottage #aussiecottage #youmeandjunee #waggawagga #waggafood
This sweet girl, drowning in rocket! I think she m This sweet girl, drowning in rocket! I think she may be in chicken paradise 🤤

#chooks #chooksofinstagram #isabrown #isabrownchickens #backyardchickens #chickensofinstagram #freerangechickens #cottagestead #cottagesteading #cottagegarden #cottagestyle #cottagelife #chickensinthegarden #permaculture #permaculturelife #permacultureaustralia #homesteading #urbanhomestead #suburbanfarming #countrylife #countrycottage #aussielife #aussiechickens #australiancottage #gardeningwithchickens
Two spots left in my Sourdough Starter to Scoring Two spots left in my Sourdough Starter to Scoring Workshop - Sunday 22nd May 🌾 

Message to book if you would like a spot!
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These are definitely among the last of the gorgeou These are definitely among the last of the gorgeous tomatoes coming out of our garden this season 😭 Bye home grown tomatoes, next stop Zucchini Relish town! 

#cottagestead #cottagesteading #cottagelife #cottageliving #cottagegardener #potagergarden #oldfashionedonpurpose #simplelivinglifestyle #youmeandjunee #waggawagga #offgridaustralia #countrynsw #livinginthebush #aussiesummer #aussiebushliving #rurallife #organicvegetablegarden #homegrowntomatoes #sanmarzanotomatoes #zucchinirelish
Very excited to have some of my beeswax & sourdoug Very excited to have some of my beeswax & sourdough goodies available at Studio on Sunshine again! ❤️❤️❤️

Kids going a little stir crazy this bit of school holidays?🤪🤪

We have 2 🐝BEESWAX making kits. $25 each each kit

We also have "sourdough" starters for $20.

And 1 whole SOURDOUGH STARTER KIT $94.95 even includes the bowl!

Why not teach the kids a little something, learn a little something about making your own sourdough🥣🥖 

All popped together by talented local sourdough maker  Alison  of @the_grand_ole_apiary 🙌🏻

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I just adore how much kids love chooks - and their I just adore how much kids love chooks - and their Grandmas!

#chooks #chooksofinstagram #isabrown #isabrownchickens #backyardchickens #chickensofinstagram #freerangechickens #cottagestead #cottagesteading #cottagegarden #cottagestyle #cottagelife #chickensinthegarden #permaculture #permaculturelife #permacultureaustralia #homesteading #urbanhomestead #suburbanfarming #countrylife #countrycottage #aussielife #aussiechickens #australiancottage #kidswithchickens
Always happy to@see my bread going to a loving hom Always happy to@see my bread going to a loving home 😂❤️ @acwoodworkss 

AC Woodwork made chopping board, AC Woodwork made knife and @the_grand_ole_apiary made sourdough. Nice surprise delivery this morning! 
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Haven’t posted a sourdough for a while! Can’t Haven’t posted a sourdough for a while!  Can’t wait to tuck into this one 🤤🐝🌾

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#cottagelife #cottageliving #oldfashionedonpurpose
How gorgeous are these Zucchini flowers? A boy and How gorgeous are these Zucchini flowers? A boy and a girl right next to each other. The bees will find these this morning, *cue Barry White* and a baby zucchini will be along in a few weeks. Ain’t love grand?

#cottagestead #cottagesteading #cottagelife #cottageliving #oldfashionedonpurpose #simplelivinglifestyle #youmeandjunee #waggawagga #offgridaustralia #countrynsw #livinginthebush #aussiewinter #aussiebushliving #rurallife #sexyplants #organicvegetablegarden
This perennial leek was almost too pretty to pick! This perennial leek was almost too pretty to pick! I just love leek and garlic flowers, it’s worth growing them just for that! They make great additions to the flower garden too!

#perennialleeks #perennialvegetables #permacultureaustralia #junee #vegetablegarden #organicgardening 
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We have a few Frankentrees here at the Apiary, but We have a few Frankentrees here at the Apiary, but this new graft is the one I’m most excited about! I have been trying to get Cox’s Orange Pippin scions to take for the last 3 seasons with no luck… 😩 I purchased two scions from @la_petite_pomme_orchard and guess who has a successful graft???? 🙋‍♀️Me!!! I am pathetically excited about this scraggly looking twig!🍎🍎🍎

#cottagestead #cottagesteading #cottagelife #cottageliving #oldfashionedonpurpose #simplelivinglifestyle #youmeandjunee #waggawagga #offgridaustralia #countrynsw #livinginthebush #aussiewinter #aussiebushliving #rurallife
#grafting #graftingfruittrees #coxsorangepippin #mead #ciderapples #cider
BEFORE & AFTER I am so in love with my gorgeous co BEFORE & AFTER
I am so in love with my gorgeous copper #fowlersvacola preserver! I gave it a quick strip and polish to clean up the tarnish and OMG 😍😍😍😍😍

#cottagestead #cottagesteading #cottagelife #cottageliving #oldfashionedonpurpose #simplelivinglifestyle #polishedcopper #copperporn #copperpots #preservingfood #bottlingfruit #aussiepreserver #fowlers
This little apiary was feeling pretty naked today! This little apiary was feeling pretty naked today! I feel very guilty removing any original part of this old beauty 😟 But when the rain starts threatening the pressed metal ceilings, it’s tough decision time. I hope this new roof will protect our home for many, many years to come! One century under her belt, I reckon she can do another century…

#cottagestead #cottagesteading #cottagelife #cottageliving #cottagegarden #oldfashionedonpurpose #springgarden #aussiegarden #aussiecottage #aussiecottagegarden #riverinagardens #juneensw #renovation #cottagerestoration
So many swarms this season, the old Bob Ross bee b So many swarms this season, the old Bob Ross bee box has been put to work! 🐝

#beekeepingaustralia #aussiebeekeeper #swarm #swarmtrap #swarmcatching #backyardbeekeeping #waggabeekeeper #nswbeekeeping #suburbanbeekeeping #cottagebeekeeper #cottagebeekeeping #beekeeping #backyardbeekeeper #aussiespring #aussiebees 
#youmeandjunee #waggawagga #cottagestead #cottagesteading #cottagelife #cottageliving #cottagegarden #cottagekitchengarden #oldfashionedonpurpose #bobrosswouldbeproud #permacultureaustralia #aussiebush #countrynsw #livinginthecountry
That’s it ladies, in you go 🐝🐝🐝 #beeke That’s it ladies, in you go 🐝🐝🐝

#beekeepingaustralia #aussiebeekeeper #swarm #swarmtrap #swarmcatching #backyardbeekeeping #waggabeekeeper #nswbeekeeping #suburbanbeekeeping #cottagebeekeeper #cottagebeekeeping #beekeeping #backyardbeekeeper #aussiespring #aussiebees 
#youmeandjunee #waggawagga #cottagestead #cottagesteading #cottagelife #cottageliving #cottagegarden #cottagekitchengarden #oldfashionedonpurpose #offgridaustralia  #permacultureaustralia #aussiebush #countrynsw #livinginthecountry
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