During the week I got to wondering why it is that so many things in life have become so complicated. I guess it started when I was trying to find something for dinner (being the very end of the pay period before I go shopping) and ended up making very simple meals. Those meals turned out to be some of the most satisfying meals we have had in a long time. That got me to thinking about how nice simple is sometimes. But choosing what to buy in the stores or online ... [ Read More ]
GMO or Not to GMO What You Need to Know AND a Free Gift!
I will get back to my garden planning series in the next couple of days, a forum member was gracious enough to supply a very special gift for all of you, and it inspired to me to create a post to go along with it. The term GMO has certainly had its share of press over recent years, enough so that many of us know that it is something we need to be concerned about. This fact in and of itself has created a battle between consumers and the companies that use GMO products. ... [ Read More ]
Garden Planning Series – Getting Organized
This article is part 2 in a series about getting ready for gardening season, you can find part 1 here - Making Sure you have the Right Tools and Resources I am not a very organized person, never have been, but I have found over the years that a bit of organization can easily make the task of planning the garden easier but it can also make it more cost effective and efficient. Planning a garden demands a certain amount of organization and planning. I don’t care if ... [ Read More ]
Garden Planning Series – Making Sure you have the Right Tools and Resources
Spring is not here yet but for those of us that love to get their hands dirty growing food, the time is soon approaching to start planning for this year’s garden. While late winter is not one of my favorite times of year, it is a good time for one of my favorite tasks, planning out this year’s garden. It was only natural for me to write a full series on garden planning, I have been doing this task for 25 years and it never gets old. When the snow is flying and the temperatures ... [ Read More ]
Looking Forward to 2013 – Homesteading Goals and Plans
I have to admit, 2012 was not the glorious year that I wanted it to be, too many things happening getting in the way of our plans and goals, and just generally one of those years where all one could really do is hang on for the roller coaster ride. 2013 is going to be different, or at least that is what I keep telling myself, and the firm belief in my head is that if I keep thinking it will be so, it will be. I have a lot of plans, not all of them are focused on my homesteading ... [ Read More ]
4 Elements of a Good Predator Proof Chicken or Turkey Coop
With a warm start to our late fall/winter I worry about the possibility of predators getting to my chickens. Hungry predators getting ready for the long winter are on the prowl looking for food and if my chickens are not secure it is just as likely as not that they could be on the menu. Losing chickens or for that matter ducks and turkeys, to predators of all kinds (that includes dogs who find your coop an easy meal) is common and it is heartbreaking. It only takes one break in to ... [ Read More ]
Caring For Turkeys
This year we decided that aside from our chickens and ducks we would try to raise some turkeys for our holiday table. Turkeys are not any harder to raise than chickens are and although they do require some special considerations it can be well worth your time to raise a few turkeys and enjoy the pure pleasure and satisfaction of eating a fresh turkey for Thanksgiving. There is more than one reason to raise turkeys, not only can raising your own turkeys give you a source of healthy ... [ Read More ]
Weekend Homestead Windup – Is Fall Here?
Hi everybody it is time for another homestead update, and this time my mind is wandering to the leaves on our lawn and the cool temperatures we had this morning. As I drank my coffee I found myself wondering whether fall was on its way, whether a long Indian summer was not in our future. I am of two minds about the prospect of an early fall, as hot and dry as it has been this year, I am probably not the only one who is welcoming cooler temperatures, but at the same time I worry a bit about ... [ Read More ]
Weekend Homestead Windup – School is In!
School starts tomorrow and with it a lot of thoughts about this past season and plans for the days ahead. School starting means fall is on its way and that leaves time for new projects. It has been a while since I have done a homestead update, and a couple of weeks ago I decided that I need to try to make weekly updates as long as there was something for me to say each week. To that end I have decided to do a weekend homestead windup which will encompass all of my ... [ Read More ]
Is Hand Milking Taking Too Long? This Non-electric, Hand Operated Milker Makes it Fast and Easy
Today we have a guest post by Marg D., long time friend and admin at the OFF forums, Marg and her husband designed, created and tested the Easy Hand Milker in response to their own needs and are now making this innovative and much needed tool available to other home hobby farmers that face the same issues they do. The Need In the spring of 2011 I finally realized a dream, we got a milk cow! With the help of my son and husband, we were milking her by hand. Since this was our first milk cow, ... [ Read More ]