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Welcome

I’m Rachel, I am truly grateful to have you here. This is where I share my passion for bringing old-world folk ways to life in our modern day: traditional food, traditional handicraft and traditional skills. Visit the about page to learn more.

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Spring has brought lots of new life to our homeste

Spring has brought lots of new life to our homestead 💓 Chicks are hatching, flowers are blooming, and Baby Berndt is growing! God is so good. We have prayed for this baby for nearly a decade and we are so grateful for this miraculous gift.

#pregnant #godisgood #neuflorawardrobe

Freshly washed goose eggs 🥚 🦢Geese are my fa

Freshly washed goose eggs 🥚 🦢Geese are my favorite of all the poultry we raise. But I have such a hard time figuring out what to do with their eggs! They are just so giant. @shayeelliott ‘s goose egg custard recipe is a favorite…but I can’t eat custard every day. Geese people, please share your ideas with me! 💛

#homesteadliving #domesticgeese #gooseeggs #traditionalfoods

Hello to all of you who are new here, and thank yo

Hello to all of you who are new here, and thank you for following along!

I’m Rachel. I am a homemaker and homesteader in lovely Iowa. I am a wife to my husband Nils. And above all I am a pilgrim on the King’s road, seeking after Christ and God’s truth.

I am passionate about bringing old world folk ways to life in our modern day. And that is why I started Verity Folk School. To help myself and others bring traditional foods, handicrafts and skills into our lives.

There is much to say and much to share, more than makes sense to put into a little Instagram square. So be sure to head to my blog and YouTube channel (and join my Traditional Living Community!). It is within those spaces that we can learn together and explore the importance of traditional food, handicraft and skills.

I’m truly very grateful to have you here.

-Rachel

#traditionalliving #homesteading #homemaking #iowahomestead #midwest

Hand knitting was the first traditional handicraft

Hand knitting was the first traditional handicraft that I learned to do. And it is something I have never grown tired of. I am so glad to be able to craft clothing for myself and others. From scratch, with just my hands, a couple of sticks and some wool. I find it incredibly satisfying to watch as each little stitch compounds to become a beautiful knit fabric, and then a wearable garment.

I often hear folks say they tried to learn to knit once but they just couldn’t get the tension right, or they couldn’t understand the patterns, or some other reason why it was too difficult. If you are one of those folks, or if you are someone who has never tried to learn, I would like to encourage you. Knowing how to hand knit is a very useful skill. It is absolutely worth the trial and error. The hardest part is always just getting started.

Today on my blog I’ve shared my basic mitten pattern. I think it’s a good project for new knitters because the techniques are basic, yet they will challenge and grow you as a knitter. Go to the link in my bio to download the free pattern! I’m happy to help too, DM me with questions.

#traditionalhandicraft #traditionalskills #handknit #knitting #mittens #memadewardrobe

I used to feel very intimidated by the idea of mak

I used to feel very intimidated by the idea of making my own dairy products. Even though I bake sourdough bread, brew kombucha and make fermented foods. Home dairying just seemed so complicated. And even though I homestead, I am just on an acre. I don’t have my own dairy animals. Furthermore, raw milk is illegal in Iowa (don’t get me started on this!) So I didn’t know, can I make my own dairy products with store-bought milk?

The answer is yes! And it is in fact very simple to do so.

Today on my blog and YouTube (link in bio) I am showing you how I make homemade yogurt AND mozzarella cheese!

Let me know in the comments - do you make any of your own dairy products? Is raw milk legal where you live? Do you have (or want) your own dairy animals?

#traditionalfood #fermentedfoods #homedairy #homesteading #traditionalskills #nourishingtraditions #WAPF

My garden is still keeping me very busy - usually

My garden is still keeping me very busy - usually by this time of year it is just about done. After so many years of gardening, I still never know what to expect, each year is always different. Despite having my attention pulled away from the garden earlier this summer with the sudden death of my father(…and despite fighting rabbits, moles, squash bugs and Japanese beetles…)I still managed to make this my most successful harvest yet. I will never stop being grateful to God for the abundance provided me from within this humble garden. It’s weedy and a bit shabby, but I do my best and it is still beautiful…And there is truly not much else that fills me with joy like seeing my cellar fill up with the garlic, onions, carrots, pumpkins, tomatoes, herbs and more that I labored so long for.

P.s. the birds always get mad that I won’t let them in the garden - I tried letting them in once and they dug up all of my beets in about five minutes 😂 never again.

P.p.s. These carrots are HUGE! I wasn’t expecting much since this was the first year doing no-dig.

#midwesthomestead #midwestgarden #homegrown #autumnsbounty #traditionalhomemaking #charlesdowdingnodig

I am happy to share with you my recipe for old-fas

I am happy to share with you my recipe for old-fashioned raspberry cordial. This recipe is made with fresh raspberries, lemon juice and sugar. It is sweet and delicious, plus it is non-alcoholic. So it makes a wonderful summertime treat for all.

Go to the link in my bio to get the recipe.

This same recipe works with any berry - I make this same recipe with elderberries!

#raspberrycordial #traditionalfood #homemade #preserving #canning

Today we finished processing our garlic harvest. I

Today we finished processing our garlic harvest. It has been curing for the past two weeks (ish) and is now ready to store. We grew only hardneck varieties this year, which we got from our friends @gradeagardens. We harvested approximately 15 pounds of beautiful bulbs. So here is our basket full of homegrown garlic, about to head down to the cellar.

#garlic #homegrown #homesteading #larder #traditionalskills

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