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Modern Desert Homestead

@MDHomestead

Real homesteading in the Sonoran Desert. 12 years, 2 homesteads. Systems that actually work. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 Arizona
moderndeserthomestead.com
Joined September 2022
  • Tweets283
  • Following179
  • Followers191
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Photo by Modern Desert Homestead (@MDHomestead)Photo by Modern Desert Homestead (@MDHomestead)Photo by Modern Desert Homestead (@MDHomestead)Photo by Modern Desert Homestead (@MDHomestead)Photo by Modern Desert Homestead (@MDHomestead)Photo by Modern Desert Homestead (@MDHomestead)Photo by Modern Desert Homestead (@MDHomestead)Photo by Modern Desert Homestead (@MDHomestead)Photo by Modern Desert Homestead (@MDHomestead)Photo by Modern Desert Homestead (@MDHomestead)
Overwhelmed by all the seed choices? Seed catalogs are packed with options—how do you make smart choices? ✅ The key: Days to maturity. I have 3 distinct growing seasons in the desert, so I choose shorter days to maturity varieties.
A close-up of two seed descriptions from the Territorial Seed Company catalog, highlighting the days to maturity. The first variety, "Little Gem," takes 75 days to mature, while the second, "Truchas," matures in 45-55 days. The days to maturity are circled in orange. A brown text box at the bottom states, "These two examples are from Territorial Seed Company Catalog." The Twitter handle @MDHomestead is displayed in the top right corner.

ALT A close-up of two seed descriptions from the Territorial Seed Company catalog, highlighting the days to maturity. The first variety, "Little Gem," takes 75 days to mature, while the second, "Truchas," matures in 45-55 days. The days to maturity are circled in orange. A brown text box at the bottom states, "These two examples are from Territorial Seed Company Catalog." The Twitter handle @MDHomestead is displayed in the top right corner.

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2025 Homestead Goals: 🌱 1️⃣ Build: Complete greenhouse, raised beds, hydroponics. 2️⃣ Grow: Year-round seed schedule, crop varieties, cover crops. 3️⃣ Organize: Inventory system & purchasing plan. Breaking these into seasonal tasks makes them achievable! What are your goals?
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Planning your garden? Start here: 1️⃣ Find your plant hardiness zone 2️⃣ Note avg. first/last frost dates 3️⃣ Record your own data and adjust I learned the hard way that the published information wasn't accurate for my garden.
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The homesteading lifestyle makes healthy habits natural: 🌱 Cooking from scratch avoids processed foods & seed oils. ☀️ Sunrise chores = sunlight to my eyes. 🚶‍♀️ Daily movement = steps from tending animals, gardening, & housework. The old ways truly are the healthy ways.
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My first indoor-grown cherry tomatoes! 🍅 You can grow food no matter where you live!
**Alt Text:** A close-up of a hand holding a vine with ripe cherry tomatoes grown indoors. The tomatoes are vibrant red, with green leaves and additional small green tomatoes and blossoms visible in the background. The plant is supported on a metal rack, and the wall in the background provides a neutral backdrop. The X handle @MDHomestead is displayed in the top-right corner.

ALT **Alt Text:** A close-up of a hand holding a vine with ripe cherry tomatoes grown indoors. The tomatoes are vibrant red, with green leaves and additional small green tomatoes and blossoms visible in the background. The plant is supported on a metal rack, and the wall in the background provides a neutral backdrop. The X handle @MDHomestead is displayed in the top-right corner.

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What I wish I knew 40,000 hours ago: Start with a vision → 5-year goals → yearly & seasonal plans. This framework helped me balance big projects across the year, instead of cramming them into 1 or 2 seasons. Do you plan your year seasonally, too?
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Looking for seeds to start your garden this season? Here are my top go-to seed companies: 🌱Territorial Seed Company 🌱Botanical Interests 🌱Johnny's Selected Seeds 🌱Hoss Want a comprehensive list? Check the comments for the link! 👇
**Alt Text:** A close-up of seed packets and a seed storage organizer. Featured seed packets include varieties from Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Hoss, Botanical Interests and Territorial Seed Company. The colorful organizer contains compartments for categorizing seeds. The background is a wooden table, and the handle of the storage box is visible. The seed packets highlight vegetables like peppers and greens. The Twitter handle @MDHomestead is displayed in the bottom-left corner.

ALT **Alt Text:** A close-up of seed packets and a seed storage organizer. Featured seed packets include varieties from Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Hoss, Botanical Interests and Territorial Seed Company. The colorful organizer contains compartments for categorizing seeds. The background is a wooden table, and the handle of the storage box is visible. The seed packets highlight vegetables like peppers and greens. The Twitter handle @MDHomestead is displayed in the bottom-left corner.

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Here is my comprehensive list of online seed companies: moderndeserthomestead.com/on…
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My first try at sourdough discard rolls. Can't wait to taste them!
Image from Modern Desert Homestead (@MDHomestead)
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Indoor seed starting setup complete. Let's get growing!
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I used to rip out perennials I thought were dead, only to learn later they just needed time. This spring, I planted artichokes. They “died” over summer, so I planned to replant. Then fall came—they came back. Gardening teaches me patience.
A healthy, thriving artichoke plant with broad, silvery-green leaves growing in a garden bed surrounded by dried leaves. The plant has a robust structure, indicating strong regrowth. The handle "@MDHomestead" is visible in the bottom-right corner.

ALT A healthy, thriving artichoke plant with broad, silvery-green leaves growing in a garden bed surrounded by dried leaves. The plant has a robust structure, indicating strong regrowth. The handle "@MDHomestead" is visible in the bottom-right corner.

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I rushed into gardening on my first homestead. It cost me time, money, and resources. This time, I observed for a year and planned carefully. The result? A garden I haven’t had to redo. Planning > Fixing
A desert garden with 2 garden rows with fruit trees, flowers, and annual vegetables. The paths between the rows have woodchips.

ALT A desert garden with 2 garden rows with fruit trees, flowers, and annual vegetables. The paths between the rows have woodchips.

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Just tucked these seedlings into their new home! Growing cabbage, kale, broccoli and purple bok choy.
Red cabbage, green cabbage, puple bok choy, broccoli and kale seedlings in rich soil in a tan raised bed.

ALT Red cabbage, green cabbage, puple bok choy, broccoli and kale seedlings in rich soil in a tan raised bed.

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Buffering coco coir before use is critical for healthy hydroponic plants, but finding data-backed methods is a pain. Here's a research-backed method (source linked in comments): • Dissolve 100g Calcium Nitrate in 15L water • Soak 1.5kg coir in solution for 36 hrs The buffered coir is then ready for mixing in perlite and planting!
One blue 5 gallon bucket filled with water and calcium nitrate solution. One orange 5 gallon bucket with a black 3 gallon grow bag with a dry 650 gram block of coco coir.

ALT One blue 5 gallon bucket filled with water and calcium nitrate solution. One orange 5 gallon bucket with a black 3 gallon grow bag with a dry 650 gram block of coco coir.

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Here is the link to the research paper: scirp.org/pdf/jacen_20210825…
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I met Atlas during a tough chapter of my life. At the time, I lived in an HOA neighborhood—a place that never felt like home. It was my dream house, but nothing about the neighborhood fit me. I felt out of place, like a square peg in a round hole. Atlas was a retired dressage horse at an equine therapy ranch. I spent time there while a family member attended sessions. He didn’t get many visits from his owner, and one day, someone asked if I’d like to groom him while he ate lunch. I said yes. That single word changed everything. Week after week, I brushed his coat and mane, savoring the quiet rhythm of his chewing. Slowly, I grew braver. I wrapped my arms around his neck, testing the waters of trust. Then came the surprise. One day, the ranch owner saw me and said, “Atlas doesn’t let anyone hug him.” Her words stopped me cold. She asked if I’d ever thought of owning a horse. I hadn’t. Horses weren’t part of my world—I’d grown up with cattle. But something in my heart stirred. Later, when Atlas’s owner decided to find him a new home, I said I was interested. Someone else was chosen. They wanted him for dressage competitions. But Atlas had other ideas. He protested. Loudly. The deal fell through, and in the end, he became mine. He was my first horse. My first step into a world where I finally felt like I belonged. Atlas became my anchor, my therapist, my guide. He taught me patience. He taught me love. And he taught me to listen—to him and to myself. Looking back, I know he was more than a horse. Atlas was my guide to a life where I fit. A life that fits me.
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How I feed high quality chicken feed on a budget:
Image from Modern Desert Homestead (@MDHomestead)
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🍅 Tomatoes and peppers? Indoors? Yes! This is my first experiment trying to grow them indoors. My setup: • Grow lights • 1020 trays and containers to fit • Sunshine mix • Game console fans • Standard shelving unit 🫑 This setup is perfect for small spaces.
Green tomato plants with vibrant yellow flowers growing on a standard metal shelving unit. Healthy green pepper plants thriving in bright orange containers, arranged neatly on a shelf indoors.

ALT Green tomato plants with vibrant yellow flowers growing on a standard metal shelving unit. Healthy green pepper plants thriving in bright orange containers, arranged neatly on a shelf indoors.

Image from Modern Desert Homestead (@MDHomestead)
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Love bags of cracked grain chicken feed but not the price? I buy bulk grains, crack them myself, and save BIG without sacrificing quality! Bonus: I ferment the mix for extra nutrition. Want to see my process? Let me know in the comments!
Three containers filled with whole grains: field peas, wheat berries, whole oats, and whole barley. They are lined up next to a white hand crank grain grinder, ready to be cracked for a homemade chicken feed mix. The setup showcases the simple tools used for cost-effective, quality feed.

ALT Three containers filled with whole grains: field peas, wheat berries, whole oats, and whole barley. They are lined up next to a white hand crank grain grinder, ready to be cracked for a homemade chicken feed mix. The setup showcases the simple tools used for cost-effective, quality feed.

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