Have you noticed that your nesting boxes look a little more barren than they did last week? If so, you might be asking yourself, “why have my chickens stopped laying?” There are a few reasons why you might be coming up empty-handed in the coop. Fortunately, most are easy to address. From a lack of … Read more
Hiking, camping, and orienteering were a huge part of my childhood. I was camping at least two or three times a month and on hiking trails almost every weekend. These hiking trips took me through many different game reserves, and it was great! I could watch a herd of wildebeest (water buffalo) – from a … Read more
Common / roundleaf Greenbrier, or Smilax rotundifolia, is a perennial woody vine growing abundantly through the eastern United States and Canada. Greenbrier can grow up to 20ft so long as it has a tall surface to climb up. Just about every part of the vine is edible. Foragers have compared the taste of different parts … Read more
When you think of vegetables, what comes to mind? Chances are, you’re thinking of something low in calories. After all, vegetables are generally considered a healthy option, and who wants to consume too many calories if they don’t have to? However, there are some high-calorie veggies out there that you may not have considered. Growing … Read more
Pears have been used as culinary treats for years, and the sugary flavor ensures that’s not going to change anytime soon. The soft texture can be quite pleasant, and the flavor makes it great for smoothies and desserts. With that in mind, I thought we’d look at 51 recipes for pear desserts and smoothies. Desserts … Read more
Lindera benzoin, better known as spicebush or wild allspice, is a deciduous shrub belonging to the Lauraceae, or laurel family. It earned its common names from its highly aromatic leaves and berries. Spicebush is easy to identify, edible, and even a host for butterflies, bees, and birds. Although not a common choice, spicebush is an … Read more
Toys… tools that can keep your child distracted for hours at a time. Every store you visit nowadays has a toy aisle and most of them are a treasure trove of childish distractions. Unfortunately, as the years have gone on, toys have become more advanced and, as a result, more expensive. This price increase can … Read more
Chickens are at the mercy of a number of common pests and parasites. The impact these unwanted tiny critters have on chickens ranges broadly from mildly irritating to severe and a painful death. The good news is, preventing or treating chicken parasites can be accomplished naturally and incredibly inexpensively – as soon as you learn … Read more
If you’re a homesteader or a forager, chances are you don’t pay too much attention to the shadier areas of the forests and fields you venture into. However, if you’re spending most of the time in patches of sun, you may be overlooking the handsome false Solomon’s Seal Plant. This native perennial is a great … Read more
Ducks have a language all their own. Learning how to interpret both the sounds they make and their behavior can provide keepers with a keen insight in how the ducks feel, what they need, and if predators are lurking about. The verbal language ducks use can vary widely by breed among both domesticated and wild … Read more
I love strawberries, they’re not the cheapest fruits you can get here in South Africa, so we don’t get them very often. When we do get strawberries, we enjoy them in a number of desserts and milkshakes/smoothies. With that said, I thought we’d look at some smoothie and dessert recipes which use strawberries. Let’s get … Read more
Is there a more satisfying meal on a cold winter day than a slice of warm bread and a bowl of hot soup? Growing up, we had a wood stove for central heat and some of the best days were when my parents would cook up a large pot of soup on the woodstove. I’ve … Read more
Learning the sex of ducklings can be a puzzling yet entertaining endeavor. All of the cute little baby ducks in your brooder or incubator might look and sound identical at first glance, but there are slight but distinct differences between the future drakes and hens. Although there are several different visual and audio cues that … Read more
Coloring homemade soap with mica powder is a quick and simple way to create a vibrant colored soap naturally. Using mica powder to make bold or pastel hues in homemade soap also allows the maker to match the color of the bar to the scented ingredients, season, or holiday celebration. You can use mica powders … Read more
Cooking oil is a pantry staple that has far more uses than just frying up some delicious fried chicken. Both the versatility and long-shelf life of cooking oil make it a fantastic multi-use item for preppers and frugal homesteading folks alike. Pouring cooking oil down the drain can cause clogging either quickly or over time. … Read more
Here are 11 tips to being more prepared for whatever lies ahead in our economy.