TheMcLaughlin Homesteadis operate in a way that Maggie Roque describes as “ old - fashioned on purpose . ” Situated on 15 acres in northern Ontario and focused around a century - old farmhouse , Roque has used her background in environmental science and a belief in live “ a more sustainable and environmentally cautious life style ” to shape the venture .
“ I think it ’s a admonisher to take a footstep back , slow down and really inhabit in the here and now , ” says Roque as she tally up her homestead ’s endure mantra .
We mouth to Roque about pickling cucamelons and the benefits of slow down thing down . We also touch on the joys of floral - infused knock rummy .
The Importance of Slowing It Down
A post shared by • ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? • ( @mclaughlin.homestead )
After see her homestead , Roque says that people often tell her how they wish they could “ live a uncomplicated biography like you . ” But , she says , there ’s nothing simple about running the McLaughlin Homestead .
“ permit me tell you , it is the opponent of round-eyed , ” says Roque . “ I think the word they are looking for is slower . Nothing in this modus vivendi come chop-chop . You have to do thing from scratch , get a line the process , set the seed , feed the sourdough appetizer , tend to the fauna — and none of that can be race . When you taste to cut corner , that ’s usually when something goes wrong . ”
As for the pay - off ?
“ Slowing down and really learning where all our intellectual nourishment comes from and endeavor to grow [ and ] raise it all ourselves like our root used to do is so humiliating , ” says Roque . “ But even though it ’s a lot of work and takes more time , in the terminal , that feeling we get knowing we did all this ourselves is so gratifying . ”
Pickling Cucamelons
Earlier this yr , Roque station a photo to social spiritualist about an experiment to pickle a tidy sum of cucamelons .
“ They were so serious ! ” says Roque . “ I will definitely be growing them every year and pickle them . ”
Along with snack on the addictive diminutive cucamelons ( which in some region are also known as Mexican sour cucumbers ) , Roque says that adding them to salad and turning them into a relish for burgers attempt to be hits .
Read more : Farmer Ken lecture food for thought timber and his honey for cucamelons .
Pass the Lilac Honeysuckle Gin
Infusing noose with lilacs and Australian honeysuckle is another creative undertaking that Roque has set about lately . She say the concoction was a success and also a cinch to lash up .
“ If you have lilac or honeysuckles in your curtilage , just bestow them to some gin rummy or vodka . Let it engross for a few weeks or more and try it out ! If you like florals , you wo n’t repent it . ”
A Focus on Flowers
Flowers have become an eye - catching part of the McLaughlin Homestead . “ I was never really concerned in growing bloom , ” admits Roque , “ but in learning more about growing veggies , prime are a extremely crucial part because they bring in the pollinators that are involve for some veggies to make . And to my surprisal I loved growing them ! ”
While this year ’s stack was focused around a collection of calendula , nasturtium , sweet pea and zinnias , for next year Roque plan to add althaea , tulips , cosmos and poppy to the garden .
Reflecting on Progress
“ The most rewarding part of running a homestead has to be get to expect back at what we initiate with and seeing how far we have come , ” says Roque as she reflects on her journeying to escort .
“ All the hard work we have put in to make all of these bad amazing changes in our lives . Thinking about how little we knew three years ago about place renovations , gardening and raise animals . We have a sight of pridefulness when we appear at everything we have attain . ”
