A particular quote comes to mind when I think of the patience required for a happy, healthy homestead: “The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.” —A. H. Glasow I’ve been homesteading (in one way or another) since before I knew a term existed to
DIY House Winterizing
There’s useful knowledge that disappeared somewhere between these last couple generations. Maybe it’s just me, but there seems to be a lot of younger folks out there trying to figure out how to live in a harsh cruel world with bills to pay and things to do. Regardless of where or how you live, staying
Controlled Burns: Everything You Should Know
Fire has always been a part of our environment just like water, earth, and air. Believe it or not, fire is one of the most essential natural agents of change because it plays a vital role in maintaining certain ecosystems. Native Americans have understood this and used fire to maintain prairies, keep the ecosystem healthy,
Sustaining Survival Gardens
I’m not trying to sound apocalyptic with that title. Growing food has been a way of life for centuries. Long before farmers markets and grocery stores, people grew produce. It was a part of day-to-day living. Having enough food to sustain your family or household in times of need is security. If you’re like many
Preserving Jalapeño Peppers
My jalapeño peppers did terrific this year! Small harvests came in clusters or waves, and even though I ate these babies regularly, I had to start preserving them. It began with the dehydrator. Then some went in the freezer, a bunch were powdered, and eventually, pickled peppers were in my steam canner. Storing Jalapeño Peppers
Getting Rid of Squash Bugs
Am I the only one who had an all-out war with squash bugs this year? They annihilated most of my butternut and zucchini before the plants even had a chance to produce. I knew how to get rid of them, but the bugs had covered too much ground before I realized they were present. We’d
The Benefits of Raising Geese
When I was about 5 years old, my mom and us kids lived in a massive farmhouse with my aunt, uncle, and cousins. I loved being around all the farm animals but was always a bit skeptical of the loud, boisterous geese. One morning, while we were doing the morning chores, I had a nasty
The Surprising Benefits of Rabbit Manure
I love raising rabbits for many reasons, one being the many benefits of their manure. Rabbit manure is an incredible resource for organic gardens. It increases soil quality by improving both the soil structure and the life cycle of beneficial microorganisms living in the soil. Rabbits are an excellent source of poop, and it doesn’t
Homestead Stories: Our Murder of Crows
Here on our farm, we strive to live as peaceably as possible with the wildlife surrounding us. Now, I’m far from Sleeping Beauty in the enchanted forest (although I do love my sleep), but it is relatively normal to look out my windows, and witness a doe with her fawns grazing in the grass, and
An Introduction to Kunekune Pigs
Pigs are eccentric animals to have as pets, and they’re interesting animals to have on a farm. Considering their size, one might think it’s crazy to have a pig for a pet. However, you can find smaller breeds with incredible attitudes and huge personalities — if you have suitable accommodations for them. The kunekune pig
8 Best Plants for Clay Soil
Clay soil can be a challenge for gardeners. However, some plants can tolerate and benefit from those growing conditions. Shallow-rooted vegetables, for example, can tolerate clay, and others can benefit from the stability of heavy clay soil. Root crops like potatoes and daikon radishes help break up clay. One of the issues with rich clay
Growing Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
Hericium erinaceus, or lion’s mane, is among the commonly cultivated mushrooms on the market. Its distinctive fuzzy texture resembles a lion’s mane or pom-pom. Not only are these mushrooms prized in cooking, they’re used as medicinal mushrooms worldwide. Lion’s mane is used to treat inflammation, digestive issues, depression, anxiety, and more. Lion’s mane grows in
10 Ways to Upcycle Old Clothes
We can upcycle just about any type of clothing as long as we’ve got a vision, a bit of imagination, and some crafting skills. Clothing is one of the simplest things to upcycle. Old jeans can be transformed into shorts, household items, and tote bags. T-shirts can be made into reusable produce bags, hanging planters,
Raising Backyard Turkeys
Raising backyard turkeys has differences and parallels compared to other farm birds. With conscious care and management, they will assimilate pleasantly alongside other poultry endeavors. Staying Ahead of the Game Turkeys take about 16 to 22 weeks before they reach the desired market weight. Depending on your backyard’s climate and housing availability, turkeys can easily
Miniature Farm Animals for Smaller Homesteads
Miniature or diminutive breeds of farm animals have been around for ages. However, it hasn’t been until the last decade or so there’s been a new-found popularity, with more people interested in small-scale or hobby farming. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 🏞️ 🏖️ 🗺️ ✈️ 📷 🌞 ❄️ (@r.a.d.k.o._) Sometimes big
What Is Hobby Farming?
Hobby farms are small-scale farms with the focus on following that farming passion to produce several benefits. This type of farming is not mainly about making money, but there is a potential for financial side hustles. Before we jump into the exciting world of hobby farming, let’s start off by differentiating between some commonly confused
Water Glassing Eggs: Benefits, Applications, and More
When I learned about water glassing eggs (an excellent way to preserve these precious gems), I was beyond excited. Research led me down a rabbit hole, where I discovered that water glassing extends the egg’s shelf life — and they don’t require refrigeration. I was blown away! Let’s talk about it. What Is Water Glassing?
6 Ways to Preserve Summer Squash
Summer squash is an excellent garden vegetable that can produce large harvests in small spaces and a short period of time. One zucchini or crookneck plant can provide an abundance of deliciousness — sometimes more than we can handle. When you and the family have eaten your fill of squash, the kitchen counter is full,
Winter Foraging: 20+ Edible Greens, Nuts, Seeds, and Fruits to Forage For in Cold Weather
Foraging food and medicinal plants at temperatures below 30 degrees Fahrenheit may seem impossible, but you simply need some knowledge and know-how. Watch The Video Of course, winter foraging isn’t going to bring home the bounty that you find during the warmer seasons, but there is still a lot of beautiful goodness to be found,
How To Grow Bamboo
Bamboo is an amazing plant! It has so many benefits to offer on so many levels. Not only does bamboo produce oxygen, which helps to clean the area where you grow your plants, but many varieties are edible! And above all, gardening is just great for your health in general. Unfortunately, growing bamboo is often
20 Cozy Fall Soup Recipes to Try When the Weather Gets Cool
There is just something about the crisp air of autumn that brings out a desire for a delicious hot fall soup. Butternut squash is ripe and abundant, pumpkins are in their prime, and so many other delectables are available — leading to crockpots full of fresh soups and stews. Some soups are thick and creamy
21 Comforting and Irresistible Summer Squash Recipes
Summer is here and with it has come an abundance of summer squash varieties. It is pretty common to see yellow squash and the common zucchini squash in produce stands throughout the colder months. But patty pan, tromboncino, and some members of the zucchini family fade out as the colder months hit and we don’t
15 Delicious Sous Vide Recipes
Translating to “under vacuum” in French, sous vide is a process where food is vacuum-sealed in a bag and cooked at a precise temperature in a water bath. There are a few different reasons people chose this method or style of preparing food. Consistency Taste Flexibility Waste Reduction There are two main types of sous
Different Types of Firewood To Use & To Avoid
It’s that time of year again! The birds are heading south, and the hearth fires are ablaze. Having a campfire out under the stars on a chilly night is one thing. Trying to heat your home with a wood stove or fireplace is quite another. Have you ever been around a fire when the wood
20 Festive Holiday Dessert Recipes
If you’re in search of some holiday dessert recipes for the festive and chilly season, you’ve come to the right place. From traditional classics, classics with a twist, and maybe some things you’ve not thought of, we’ve put together a list of recipes that are sure to be family favorites in no time. Old-Fashioned Gingerbread
13 Fall Crafts Ideas for the Family
The evenings are getting cooler, and I can sense that special, autumn crispness all around me. If you haven’t already done so, check your crafting supplies, because here come the autumnal-themed crafting ideas for you and your whole family. There’s something for everyone on this list. Grab your hot cocoa or warm cider, gather your
Preparing for Cold Weather Predators
Predators are just trying to live their best life. As the weather turns from summer to autumn, the temperatures begin to drop, and as winter creeps in, it becomes more difficult for predators to find food. We go to the markets to buy whatever it is we need to care for ourselves. Unfortunately, humans have
20 Fun and Useful DIY Paracord Projects
These days you’ll see paracords used for all sorts of crafting projects. It is durable yet lightweight. A lot of survivalists and homesteaders make use of paracord because it’s easy to work with. Let’s check out some fun and useful DIY paracord projects to try at home.
11 Fun DIY Dremel Projects to Try This Weekend
While the term “Dremel” has become a catchall for just about any rotary tool, Dremel is actually a brand. They were the first company to produce the popular rotary tools we know and love today. A Dremel is a handheld rotary multitool with various attachments and accessories. It can be used for wood, glass, metal,
18 Robust Rabbit Recipes
Rabbit meat is tender and lean. It is one of the healthier meats out there, containing a lot of protein in a few ounces of meat. If you’re searching for new rabbit recipes, you’ve come to the right place. Traditionally, there were only a couple of ways people prepared rabbit. Due to the power of
Free Ranging: The Pros & Cons
When I brought my first animals home to the farm there was no question in my mind as to whether they would live the life of free range animals. I wanted my animals to be just as free as I was, free to explore, roam, hunt for food, and live their own life while coexisting
How To Store Potatoes Properly For Year-Round Use
Potatoes have been a staple food for centuries all over the globe. They seem to be extremely versatile and a survivor of ages. When you think of potatoes, I bet there are several different ways to cook them that come to mind. Boiled, broiled, baked, roasted, fried, or mashed — and that’s just the different ways
9 Beneficial Uses For Grass Clippings
Many people around the world cut their grass, and either leave the clippings right where the lawnmower spits them out, or toss them into the yard waste bin. While those are perfectly fine ways to dispose of them, there are several beneficial uses for grass clippings around the homestead. Ever since I was a little
Homestead Stories: The Burglar Bear
We were living down the canyon in a big, round house with a 45-minute drive one way just to get to the grocery store. So we grew some of our own produce and raised chickens (and a duck) for eggs. Living out in the woods with gardens surrounding your house and a small flock of
20 Delicious Green Tomato Recipes You Should Try
Do you know the two different types of green tomatoes? There are traditional green tomatoes (that are usually an heirloom plant) in addition to un-ripened, red tomatoes. Both are delicious and can be used to make dishes like the Southern cooking classic, fried green tomatoes. However, when it comes to traditional green tomato recipes, you
20 DIY Wall Art Ideas To Give Your Home Some Personality
Wall art provides the finishing touch to a room and can pull an entire space together. The addition of wall art creates a focal point, adds texture, offers a splash of color, and shows the unique personality that makes your space feel like home. Here are 20 amazing DIY wall art projects to spruce up
17 Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipes To Save You Money
It wasn’t until I began my journey toward a more eco-friendly lifestyle, that I found out there are many things you can make yourself. Many common household items that you can make, will save you money and are good for the planet. If you take a look at the ingredients in major brands of laundry
12 Refreshing Natural Air Fresheners
My mother survived stage IV lung cancer (!) but the effects of the disease forced her to be on oxygen 24/7. Needless to say, she’s had to make adjustments to her lifestyle. One thing she had to give up was traditional air fresheners. She loves a clean-smelling house and used chemical-ridden sprays and plugins regularly.
20 Dutch Oven Camping Recipes for Your Next Outdoor Adventure
I’ve always loved camping, and one of my favorite parts is the outdoor cooking experience. Food cooked over a campfire is something you just can’t replicate at home in your kitchen. A lot of times, you will see what I call traditional camping food. Hot dogs, hamburgers, various salads (prepared before the trip) and an
How To Store Radishes
Radishes come in several shapes, sizes, and colors, all with their own unique flavor. The radish is an easy to grow vegetable that is great for beginning gardeners. This cool weather root vegetable is hardy, grows quickly, and can be planted multiple times within a growing season. Radishes can be enjoyed raw or cooked. There
Raising Champagne d’Argent Rabbits
I’ve raised a few different breeds throughout the years and I’m currently waiting for a pair of Champagne d’Argent rabbits. This breed is said to be one of the oldest from France. I love their temperament and disposition as well as their beautiful coats. The Champagne d’Argent breed makes great show rabbits and pets, and
Edible Flowers
Flowers are becoming a very popular ingredient among chefs, bakers, and home cooks around the world. There are many species that are not only edible and delicious but contain nutritional value as well. More often than not, when a person thinks of roses and nasturtiums they’re most likely going to think of a floral arrangement
What to Feed Ducks Instead of Bread
When the weather starts to get warmer, lots of people enjoy feeding waterfowl at local parks, lakes, and ponds. Unfortunately, we have all been making a common mistake by tossing them bread and other flour-based products! In this article, I will explain why we shouldn’t be doing that, and what is actually safe to share
DIY Pokeberry Ink
I love experimenting and creating things! The very first time I made pokeberry ink I was just playing around and had no real instructions. I suppose you could say I was just going with the flow. I had so many poke plants in my yard, and I didn’t want to see them just shrivel up
How To Upcycle Broken Dresser Drawers Into A Shelf
My brother had a dresser he was looking to get rid of. It was no longer usable … as a dresser that is! I could see the DIY potential, so I upcycled and repurposed what I could salvage and made some shelves for the kids’ playroom. This project is super simple and doesn’t require too
Natural Anti-Fungal
A few weeks ago we noticed a rash on my little nephew’s foot. One look at his foot and I knew it was ringworm. Ringworm can be recognized by the round, worm-shaped rash. The area is usually red and the worm-like fungi are somewhat raised and bumpy. Sometimes it can be dry and scaly. I
Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Too many cleaning products contain chemicals that are extremely harmful to the environment and its inhabitants, including humans. Eco-friendly cleaning products are an easy alternative and solution! The ozone, water, air, land, and the entire ecosystem are all affected by the choices we make as humans, including what products we use. Today I am going
10 Homesteading Games You Should Play Tonight
Having fun on the homestead is an essential part of life! At least, in my opinion, it is. I see the truth in the proverb that says, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!” We all need a little downtime, and for those of you who enjoy board games and/or video games,
How To Make Tinctures
Tinctures are used for many different medicinal purposes. You can find tinctures for congestion, coughs, cold & flu, arthritis and so much more. It really comes down to the herbs and medicinal plants you’re using and what their healing properties consist of. Before I begin the how-to portion of this article, I’d like to share
Jerusalem Artichokes
I first discovered Jerusalem artichokes about four years ago in Arkansas. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me when I saw the 5-foot stalk with a yellow flower that looked like a miniature sunflower without the seeds. I flipped through my edible plants book, surfed the web, did some research and was pleased
