The Gothic Homesteader

This year, my husband, Robby and I are celebrating Halloween Addams Family style, in that we are having a marathon of the 1960's Addams Family (on DVD) and the 1990s Addams Family Movies (also on DVD).  I made us Bat Cookies, we have Barq's Root Beer, which has Licorice in it.  I found Black Cat Peeps, my favorite as they too are Licorice flavored.  And I got us a large bag of Purple Caramel Pop Corn just for tonight.  This is such a treat, an evening all to our selves.  Rain pouring down outside... so dark and gloomy! Twas Halloween Evening " Twas Halloween Evening and through the abode,  not a creature is stirring, not even a toad.   Jack-o-lanterns are hung from the gallows with care,  to guide sister witch as she guilds through the air, dawn by 8 beautiful bat.  And she calls to them,  'Come Flitter! Come, Flutter! Come, Flapper and Flyer! Come, Chitter!  Come, Chatter!  Come, viscous Vampire!' " ~ Addams Family 1964 Season 1: Episod

In honor of this fine Halloween Season, I felt it only fitting to share with my fellow Gothic Homesteaders the delightful list of pumpkins and squash I have found while hunting for Black Plants and other Gothic Plants.  While the traditional orange pumpkins and normal squash are wonderful, I felt these deserved a nod and some attention as well! Blue Moon Pumpkins Silver Moon Pumpkins Full Moon Pumpkins Jack-O-Lantern Pumpkins Blue Banana Squash Table Queen Acorn Squash Butter Nut Squash ( It has a rich orange flesh inside! ) Navajo Gray Hubbard Squash ~ Morria

Fall is coming to our Gothic Homestead... and with it Harvesting season!  We have been picking and drying beans for some time now.  It is just awesome to be learning how to dry and string "Shucky Beans" the old mountain way.  Soon the corn will all be brought in, and the sweet potatoes dug up.  Wonder if I will find any arrow heads in the garden this year? This time of year excites me, for the days are growing longer and colder, and soon the snows of winter shall grace the landscapes.  Tis time to be pulling out the velvet, the corduroys, and the wools.  Tis time for fire in the fire place, pumpkin pies, and hot cider.   At last, colder weather is here! ~ Morria

This year beside our family gardens, and my deck garden, we have been honored to get to help out at the community garden hosted by Immanuel Baptist Church.    Community Gardens are so important, because they give those who might not have access to gardening space, a place to grow.  They provide food for those in need, enrich neighborhoods, bring people together who other wise might never rub shoulders, and just are fun! Are there any abandon lots around your area?  Maybe see if you and a few others can get together and purchase it for a community garden area. Are there any already in operation community gardens in your area?  Maybe join them and learn more about gardening and homesteading there. Are there local farmers markets?  Why not shop at them as much as possible to support those who are growing foods local? There are so many ways we can be Gothic Homesteaders, and we're just scratching the surface.  I cant wait to discover more! ~ Morria

A popping chicken dish! 3-4 cups cooked Chicken 1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup 1 8oz container of Sour Cream I tube of Ritz Crackers ½ stick of Butter melted 2 Tablespoons Poppy Seeds * Place Chicken in casserole dish.   * Combine sour cream and soup.   * Spread the sour cream/soup mix over chicken.   * Melt butter.   * Break crackers into crumbs.   * Mix cracker crumbs and poppy seeds into butter.   * Spread over the top of chicken and sour cream/soup.   * Beak uncovered at 350 F for 30 minuets.   * Serve at once! This is a tasty treat, my husband, Robby, and I just baked for the whole family, much to their great delight.  We had purple wonder potatoes and Navajo blue cornbread to the side.  Tasty! ~ Morria

I just lost a friend today, a young man my husband mentored, at the tender age of 17.  It is unknown as to why, but he committed suicide.  Please, my friends, if you are struggling or know someone who is struggling... Please, please, please get help.  Reach out. I will be honest, there were times years ago when I myself was a teen that suicide seemed the only option... but I am so glad I never succeed.   Things really do get better.  Today I have a wonderful husband, awesome plans for the future, joy and Hope!  It wasn't easy but it sure was worth it! If you need help, please call 1-800-273-8255 , asap! I dont want to lose anyone else... National Suicide Prevention's Website is also a great resource for help. ~ Morria

What a delight, to know when the time comes to get a large garden going again, that I have so many varieties to chose from.  I know some of these will grow well out in the Desert Southwest where my husband and I plant to dwell.  A Goth in the desert you say? A straight up Desert Goth, is a Goth from any type, which has adapted to the desert.  Don't scoff.  I have dwelt out there before, and would consider myself a Desert Gypsy Goth, which is a kin to Hippy Goths, Dark Mori,  with just a few twinges of Wild, Wild West style Steampunk-Goth thrown in for good measure.. And why not?  Santa Fe, NM and Phoenix, AZ are both centers for art.  Phoenix itself has a Goth Scene to boot, as PhxGoth website proves.  Santa Fe has beautiful Gothic Chapels, and is the oldest capital in the USA dating back to 1607.  And with Day of the Dead (Dia del la Muertos), and all the items from that, is it any surprise there are Desert Goths and Desert Gypsy Goths? ~ Morria Disclaimer: I mean no

I am getting more and more excited as I find all these awesome foods that can be grown, why has no one complied list of these before?  I have been around the Gothic community for over 10 years now, and other than a few black flowers, I never knew just how much we had available to us... I not sure anyone did or does.  This is just exciting!   Today I want to share with you some of the Gothic Radishes, Turnips, and Potatoes I have found: Black Spanish Radishes Purple Plum Radishes French Breakfast Radishes White Globe Turnips Purple Turnips ( solid purple, not the purple top turnip s) Kohlrabi - German Turnips Purple Wonder Potatoes Mountain Rose Potatoes Okinawan Sweet Potatoes ~ Morria Please Note:   Many of these are rare and/or harder to get ones hands on, but still do-able.  Most are heirloom  varieties .  Patience  and a good determination to hunt for the plants is needed.    Enjoy!  I know I am!  Most 

As I have begun working on research for my future book: Gothic Homesteading , and if nothing else for my own Gothic homestead . Thus,   I thought I would share with everyone a short list of Gothic Beans I have discovered.  Enjoy! Royal Purple Beans Black Valentine Beans Orca Beans Anasazi Beans Hopi Black Beans Hopi Black Pinto Beans Hopi Gray Lima Beans Christmas Lima Beans Tarahumara Purple Star Beans Four Corner Runner Beans Scarlet Runner Beans Black Tepary Beans San Pablo Tepary Beans Yoeme Purple String Beans Black Beluga Lentils ~ Morria Please Note: Some of these beans, especially the Native American varieties are rare and hard to get ones hands on quickly. Most if not all are heirloom beans.

As I have been studying Black, Purple, Blue, and other "dark" Gothic Plants, I would like to introduce you to a personal favorite:  Navajo Blue Corn, also called Hopi Blue,  is a variety of Flour maize grown in northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States, particularly in the states of Arizona and New Mexico.  One of  the “Zea mays” corns  domesticated by Meso-Americans along the Rio Balsas of Mexico by at least 6,700 BC.  Corn is a staple food and has many ritual uses.    In my studies, I have found that Navajo Blue Corn was originally developed by the Hopi, and remains an essential part of Hopi and Navajo dishes.  Blue Corn Kernals are gound to make meal, and has a sweet flavore.  Blue Corn is also a staple of New Mexican Cuisine, where it is also known as Zuni Blue Corn.  The Navajo dry farm this corn below their canyons and mesas (near a flood plain to catch natural monsoon rains), thus making it a nice drought hearty addition to any Gothic Homesteaders list of

I have seen in my day alot of " You might be Goth if... " and " You might be a Homesteader if... " lists, but nothing like this.  So for the fun of it, I sat down and wrote out this list.  You most likely ARE a Gothic Homesteader if even a few of these are true... 1) You're a Goth who invested all your time and money into a piece of property most people wouldn't want. 2) You dont care about career or success, and are mostly interested in the size of your black carrots or the health of the bats in your bat houses. 3) You want your children ( if have any ) to learn to feed and milk the goats, and feel it is important skills to learn as they teach the value of hard work. 4) You know nearly every type of edible food that grows in black or purple, and you have tried/are going to try/are growing them. 5) You know all about the moon cycles and when is the best time to plant, harvest, and the likes. 6) You have very little money, but you know if

I have been researching for the past two months "Gothic Plants" especially veggies, herbs, and fruits for the gardens and homesteads out there.  Much to my surprise 2 months in, I have thus far discover over 90 plants, and the numbers are still growing.  Sadly, due to work, my time to researching has been greatly cut, but I am continuing to work on info.  I wonder if anyone has done any books on this yet?  I will have to look into this more closely. One thing that has caught my eye is Shady Plant growing.  Where we are at now, we do have a large garden we share with family ( corn, beans, and potatoes ) and pots on the deck, but I am eyeing under the deck for more growing space.  According to my research, beans, broccoli, salad greens, beets, radishes, leafy greens, cauliflower, beans, are good for shade gardens.  In fact, I know beans are, as they grew well in the shade at our rented acre lot last year in New Mexico. This means one can grow have stunning Deriot Dar

My friends and I have just recently finished watching a post-apocalyptic show, and it got me thinking.  Having lived through 2 tornadoes and three icy storms which knocked out power, I know the importance of being prepared for an emergency. So I have been asking myself, what would any one, not just a homesteader, but any good goth need to be prepared, in case of bad weather, earthquakes or other disasters? Preparedness Checklist: Candles  ( the 24-72 hour prayer candles work will and come in glass ) Oil lamps and oil Matches, Lighter, and Fire Strikers Glow Sticks Flash Lights and Backup Batteries Radio with Backup Batteries Weather Radio with Backup Batteries Sleeping bags Pillows Blankets ( Wool and Cotton - for winter and summer ) Sturdy Clothing ( Wool, Denim, Cotton: lighter color for summer - gray? ) Sturdy Work Boots ( No heels ) Walk shoes or Moccasins Food ( enough for at least 72 hours, preferably 1 month - my goal 6 months to 1 year ) Coffee and Tea ( e

Spring is almost here! Spring is almost here! Spring is almost here!  Yes, I am excited for spring.  I am glad to be shaking off the heavy wools, and pulling out the lighter grays and blacks.  It also means it is time to start getting the new bat houses placed, figuring out which potatoes to grow this year at my mother-in-laws's, figuring out what kinda pots and stands I need to have a deck garden, and keep on researching more black, purple, gray, and dark blue seeds.   Thus far, in veggies and fruits alone, I have found over 60 plants which fall into this classification    Of those most are heirloom, and many are native to North America.  In fact, most of the dark corns are from Native American seed stock, and are drought hearty   Such an amazing journey!  Keep checking the Facebook page GothicHomesteading for more info... ~ Morria

When people thing of Goth's and gardens or even homesteads, one of the first images that comes to mind is Morticia Addams.  Love her, hate her, admire her, she is the First Lady of Gothic Gardening.  African strangler plant, rose's for their thorns, hemlock, hensban, and poison ivy, she grew at her bidding.  And grow they did. The Addam's Family house had a large greenhouse built on, as many Gothic style homes did.  These were known as a conservatory.    What is a conservatory?  It is typically a glass room connected to a house on only one side, and is used for a greenhouse or sun room.  They were first used in the 1600's to try to grow citrus and other non-native plants in colder areas.  Morticia used her's to grow exotic plants year round. While our Gothic homesteads might not look like Morticia's (who wants to grow poison ivy? Not I;  itchy, itchy, itchy !), but we are unique in our own rights.  Black Nightshade, umm, oops, I mean Black Tomatoes ( to

I grew up on the Kansas prairie and by 19 I was full on Goth.  But growing up in the garden and among animals, I could not get it out of my blood.  So I said, why try?  I will be a Gothic Homesteader...  only I thought no one else would be interested.  8 years later, after listening to friends talk... and looking around the web again after being away from easy internet access for a time, and I discovered... there is alot of interest in homesteading these day among my fellow Goth, but nothing geared to us. So here goes...  The Gothic Homesteader Blog and Facebook page are live...  please give me grace as I spread my batwings and share stories from my personal adventure in Gothic Homesteading... ~ Morria

I am not sure when exactly, but a few weeks or may be months ago, I began noticing my Gothic side coming back out.  Maybe it was always out, and I just tricked myself that it ,wasn't.  Sometime though, my wardrobe went from being perky and cheerful, to back to my normal grays, dark blues, deep browns and various blacks.  But, I guess I just really dont care anymore what others think so much. Homesteading?  Why homesteading?  Arn't I a Gothic Chick?  Wouldnt that mean I would get my skin get dark?  Isnt that just something hippies are into? I have been asked all of that and more since 2005, when I first started looking into Gothic Homesteading.  To be honest, if one looks at being a Gothic Homesteader as one who sees beauty in the midst of a dark and dying world, and thusly lives the homesteading lifestyle, how could I not be a Gothic Homesteader? ~ Morria