I’m sure we all enjoy a nice, sugary drink every now and then; maybe you like to put loads of sugar in your tea or coffee. Maybe you eat a lot of sugary foods/sweets. Whatever the case, it’s clear that humans have developed quite the sweet tooth since we first started using sweeteners/sugars in our … Read more
Ancona ducks are both rare and beautiful poultry birds. These domesticated ducks have unique and broken – colored feathering patterns that makes them both easy to identify, and engaging to watch. Ducks of this breed are classified as multi-purpose or dual-purpose because they are raised for eggs as well as meat. The beauty and friendly … Read more
If you are looking for ways to reduce your trash, you are not alone! People around the world are looking to create a positive impact on the planet by reducing their waste that ends up in landfills, oceans, etc. According to the EPA, of the over 290 million tons of solid waste produced in 2018, … Read more
Keeping your homeschooled children learning during breaks is probably a whole lot easier than you think. In fact, the kiddos will most likely not even realize they are still being educated as you work in mind and imagination enriching activities outside of the regular homeschool environment. Parents and educators in public school frequently worry about … Read more
When little Titus was 12 mos. old, he finally started signing to me! I was so excited when I saw his little hands form together to tell me “more”! Signing with a baby is so important to me. I taught signing to Jada and Titus as infants, and I plan on teaching baby Xia when … Read more
Raising ducks is practical as well as entertaining. Not only will ducks produce more eggs than chickens annually, the eggs are significantly larger. Unlike chicken hens, duck hens lay well into their sixth to even ninth year of life – making them perhaps the most sustainable small livestock one could keep on a homestead. Getting … Read more
Winter is the precious time when we have reaped the rewards of the previous season and are getting ready for a new one. But it isn’t the time to just sit back and relax! Whatever the size of your homestead, there are plenty of things that need doing to prepare for winter. I expect you … Read more
It’s been snowing for three days straight, and it is impossible to keep my solar panels clear. Without my solar panels, I have no electricity. As you might expect, that’s a huge problem! For those living in houses connected to the grid, power is rarely an issue. However, there are countless people living off-grid and, … Read more
Hot peppers are literally the spice of life. Left with the decision of leaving my mother-in-law or my hot peppers behind at the end of the world…. Well, I’d at least ask her to carry a case of peppers on her lap. I love fresh hot peppers, but what is the best way to enjoy … Read more
When I was a kid, we used to go to this place in Johannesburg called Zoo Lake. It was a tea garden with a park playground, and a popular picnic spot. The highlight of these trips was always the lake itself, and the ducks and geese that called it home. We used to take bread, … Read more
Solar panels are an almost free way to generate electricity, but in some cases, you don’t want to keep your panels outdoors. This could obviously lead to efficiency issues, which is what I want to investigate and test out in what follows. The question I’m trying to find and answer to today is: Do solar … Read more
The other day, I was looking at some old pictures of my grandfather. He was one of the early pioneers who started a homestead on the Canadian prairies. Wow, it was a hard life for those early pioneers! Things were certainly different in those days. It is difficult to see how they managed to survive. … Read more
Quiet books, whether it is the no sew version or a sewn/embroidered book are educational and interactive toys that are geared to toddlers through kindergarten age children. They first popped up in the hands of young children sitting in church pews. Homemade quiet books kept the children engaged and quiet when required to sit still … Read more
Are you thinking about moving to a homestead or off-grid lifestyle? If so, you might want to consider keeping rabbits – a popular choice for homesteaders because they are quiet and don’t need a lot of space. When you’re homesteading, you probably have a few primary goals in mind. You need to be able to … Read more
Cedarwood essential oil has long been appreciated for its aromatic, woodsy smell, but what you may not know is that it has antiseptic and preservative properties. If you’re a homesteader, or are just looking for a great, easy to find oil to help you address multiple challenges in and around your home, this is a … Read more
Farm fresh duck eggs are creamy, delicious, and are typically more durable than the thinner eggs laid by chicken hens. Raising ducks for eggs is not any more time consuming or difficult than raising chickens for the same purpose. In fact, I truly believe it is actually easier to raise ducks for eggs – or … Read more