catherine pond

Real People. Real Stories. Real Land.

Winter's Coming  9 Ways to Prepare for the Darkest Season of the Year

Winter's Coming — 9 Ways to Prepare for the Darkest Season of the Year

Winter's coming...are you and your homestead ready for the months ahead? Farmwife Catherine S. Pond shares 10 ways you can prepare for the colder...

Celebrating The Wildflowers of Appalachia

Celebrating The Wildflowers of Appalachia

Wildflower season is in full bloom in much of the South. To celebrate, farm wife Catherine Pond shares a short essay with a series of images of...

How to Make Elderberry Syrup From Dried Berries

How to Make Elderberry Syrup From Dried Berries

Learn how to make a huge batch of elderberry syrup using purchased, or foraged, dried berries and just a handful of other ingredients.

The Appalachian Tradition of Old Christmas

The Appalachian Tradition of "Old Christmas"

In this spirit of this unique holiday season, we bring you the little-known story of "Old Christmas", a centuries old Appalachian custom wherein...

A Quiet Country Thanksgiving  Counting Our Blessings in 2020

A Quiet Country Thanksgiving — Counting Our Blessings in 2020

As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessing of our common everyday lives for which we should...

Make Good Use Of Late Garden Produce With This Veggie Tonic

Make Good Use Of Late Garden Produce With This Veggie Tonic

Don't let less-than-perfect tomatoes rot on the vine (or cucumbers, herbs, peppers, etc.). Use them up and put them up with this tasty and healthy...

The Woodstock Lavender Co.A MotherDaughter Herb Farm Thrives In Rural Kentucky

The Woodstock Lavender Co.---A Mother-Daughter Herb Farm Thrives In Rural Kentucky

One of the best things about owning rural land is finding a purposeful way to make that land work for you. Mother and daughter, Mary May and Allison...

The Victory Garden Makes a Comeback

The Victory Garden Makes a Comeback

Victory gardens were essential during war times as a means of providing food, community, and security to over 20 million Americans. Today, those...

The Twelve ways of Christmas in the Country

The Twelve "ways" of Christmas in the Country

No matter what you celebrate this time of year, there's nothing quite like enjoying the holidays amidst a rural backdrop. Farmwife Catherine Pond,...

12 Christmas tree farms in the south

12 Christmas tree farms in the south

Want an extra special tree this year? Then why not support a local Christmas tree farm? We've made it easy with this list of 12 beloved Southern...