- Garden Notes
- Posts
- Road-Trip Dreaming
Road-Trip Dreaming
Big ideas tend to show up somewhere between mile markers and coffee stops.
The Grounded Homestead
November 13, 2025
The 2026 garlic crop was planted, mulched, and covered for winter
Settling Back In After the Road
I just got back from a weeks-long cross-country road trip with my Grandpa, getting him settled into his winter home. Before we left, I planted the garlic. The last task before the season shut down. It’s funny how distance brings clarity - you can be thousands of miles away from your soil and still think about what’s happening beneath it.
Walking back onto the homestead this week, everything was calm. Cover crops holding, beds resting, no surprises waiting. Late fall is quiet like that. It gives you space to step back in without rushing, and honestly, after all those miles, the quiet felt good.
When and How to Plant Garlic for Big Bulbs USDA growing zones Garlic rewards early preparation. If you want full, healthy bulbs next summer, focus on timing and planting depth. Garlic needs cool soil—about 40–50°F—and a few weeks before the ground freezes, so roots can anchor deeply. Most growers plant 4–6 weeks before their hard freeze:
Once soil is cool, plant cloves pointy side up:
|  Garlic thrives in loose soil with a pH of 6.5–7.0. Mix in compost and a phosphorus amendment like bone meal to support early root growth. After planting, cover the bed with 2–6 inches of straw or shredded leaves to protect against frost-heave. Get the timing right, tuck the cloves in deeply, and the soil will do the rest. See the full guide here: |
Project in the Works
Charting a Future Angus Herd Somewhere Between States
When most people picture beef cattle, they’re imagining Angus, and there’s a reason they dominate both backyard herds and commercial operations. Grandpa and I talked about them on the road, reminiscing about how they made great mothers on the farm, and about how adaptable they really are on a homestead scale.
There is a reason Angus dominate pastures across the West. The low birth weight means fewer calving difficulties.
Angus are calm, easy to handle, naturally polled, and thrive in almost any climate. They put on weight efficiently on pasture, and their beef is known for premium marbling—something customers immediately trust. For homesteaders considering future direct-to-consumer sales, that name recognition alone is a real asset.
They do need slightly better forage than a Hereford or Longhorn, but the tradeoff is exceptional meat quality and strong maternal instincts. If you’re looking for a breed that checks nearly every box, Angus is always on the short list.
See where Angus compares among all six top breeds:
Closing Tip
Late fall is when small tasks make the biggest difference. Top off mulch, drain hoses, and clean tools before winter locks things down. Next spring will go smoother because of what you do this week.
The Grounded Homestead