Pine Ridge Steading
About Us
The beginning:
Early spring of 2012 brought us to this small homestead in Crow Wing County. Myself, my two sons, many pets and livestock, have adjusted to a down-scaled lifestyle of the homestead life. Our move has been a humbling and exciting experience, changing from full time ranching and homesteading to each of us holding full time jobs in the area workforce.
Homestead living the past 25 years, is and always will be in our hearts. We continue to hone our skills and build on a sustainable lifestyle. Downsized considerably from acreage of 270+ to 15, a more leisure style of homestead has been refreshing...but challenging to say the least.
Updates through the years:
After 13 years settled on this homestead, we have embraced the many changes and acclimated to working and living in this Central Brainerd Lakes community. We have learned new ways of stewardship on this beautiful but much different landscape from where we moved in Aitkin County.
My oldest son, is enjoying a new life with a partner and her family. He continues to work and excel in the care for mentally challenged adults in Group Homes.
My youngest son, continues working as large machine operator , and managing this homestead. He is enjoying a bit more free time to fish and hunt, since we downsized by selling the goats, Llamas and Emu Sydney.
The last 6 years I have been semi-retired and work part-time as an Administrative Assistant, Bookkeeper and Office Manager at a local church.
We continue organic gardening, offering hand-crafted personal and health care products, meat rabbits, seasonal produce, and free-range eggs.
Many wild botanical medicinal plants grow well in this soil and are welcomed for their healing properties. Each year we discover another plants. Mullien grows on our property each year as well as Bull Thistle, Yarrow, Wormwood to name a few.
We planted 24 Elder bushes in 2014 and again added 6 more in 2015. 2018 we harvested a few berries, 2019 enough to make immune enhancing Elderberry Extract for the family. Continuing through the years we have had bumper crops to also make jelly and dried for tea blends as well!
