Ol' Jon's Homestead

09/13/2026

When testing a new tea, we go to great lengths for freshness. Still playing with the upcoming elderberry tea blend and wanted to try a bit of fresh dried lemon zest in it. That’ll take a minute to dry…

Still stress testing the current blend of elderberry, ginger and cinnamon. The ginger is really light and almost can’t tell it’s there, with the value added still there.
Just brewed a cup to cool and will pour it into my big outdoor cup with sweet sun tea. Squeezed the lemon wedges in that I zested so will get a little indicator of what the flavor will lean towards.
Should be a nice boost for lawn mowing breaks.
🌱❤️

09/13/2026

First trial batch.
We took the dried rosemary leaves that had been soaked in jojoba for our rosemary oil, pulverized them, added coconut oil and sugar.
That’s it.

A natural foot scrub that will exfoliate and should leave the tootsies soft.

The visual/texture makes me think it needs something like a little beeswax to thicken it a little. There’s no doubt we’ll get unbiased feedback from the ladies of the house. 🌱❤️

09/12/2026

Liquid gold.
Our rosemary grown at the farm, naturally dried, immersed in 100% cold pressed organic jojoba oil for 6 weeks.
That means all of the benefits to skin, scalp and hair are retained in a way that a commercial heating process simply cannot replicate.
Wonderful subtle rosemary aroma.

What next?
Beyond letting the remaining rosemary slowly drip out the remaining drops of healing gold…
-Winter skin healing salve (need to source some beeswax)
-A few bottles of rosemary oil scalp treatment

Update:
Didn’t want to just throw away the rosemary leaves after pouring off the oil. A quick bit of research revealed that pulverizing the leaves with epsom salt or sugar, etc., creates a wonderful exfoliating scrub.
Not something I need 🤣 but, the ladies were an immediate yes.
Should have plenty from this batch so there will be a jar or two available when we do that.
Speak up now on the scrub ladies since that will go fast and we probably won’t have another batch until next year.

Update to the update: 🤣
The consensus was reached that it will be a sugar based scrub. 🌱❤️

09/12/2026

09/12/2026

Available Saturday ~ Sunday in League City.

Homestead Calm (6 tea bags)- $3.00
Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Lavender, Sweet Mint

Classic Chamomile Tea (6 tea bags)- $3.00

Savory Sweet Mint Tea (6 tea bags)- $3.00

Loofah Seeds (50 seeds)- $3.00

Working on the elderberry tea blend …available in the future.

🌱☕️❤️

09/11/2026

First proper trial completed.
We won’t post every one because there will be too many to get it the way we want it.

Bad cup?
Impossible.
The good things in that cup make it where it was going to be ok.
Forward flavor of elderberry of course.
Ginger notes to smell were there as was the cinnamon. Didn’t get a ginger burn or strong flavor…which is good. That can be a put out off to some.
Cinnamon didn’t rise much in the flavor either, expected it to.
We always try without and then, with honey.

When it’s right for us, then it will be available to you to see if you like it.

Winter will be coming and this will definitely be ready in time to help fight off the cooties. 🌱☕️❤️

09/11/2026

Let the blending and testing begin!
Fresh ground elderberries, fresh ginger we dried ourselves and freshly ground, fresh ground cinnamon sticks. Thinking we’ll add other components to our yet to be named immunity boosting tea but, let’s start here to get the flavor balance right. Leaning towards an echinacea flower adder for respiratory clearing without notable flavor changes. 🌱☕️❤️

09/07/2026

Couple of new videos up on YouTube of the weekend activities at the farm. It was really hot but we got a little more done.
One day (and in the picture’s case, one hole) at a time. ❤️

09/07/2026

Was taking a break from working in the heat at the farm this weekend. It was really nice to sit there sipping and watching these little guys.
Definitely prefer life in the county.

09/07/2026

This.
Always.