Not everyone who wants to homestead can start out on a homestead. Some may start out in a friend or family members driveway living in an RV, others may start out in an apartment or small house. Regardless of where you start out, you can still find ways to homestead in the burbs while you’re … Read more
Chickens and ducks are both poultry birds and are often of nearly equal size. Since they typically eat the same feed and treats, many homesteaders have wondered if both types of birds can live together in the same coop and run. Yes, chickens and ducks can usually live together. How early the poultry birds begin … Read more
When you raise your own chickens or ducks to provide eggs for the homestead, there is no carton expiration date to rely on to determine freshness. Sell by or best by dates are a guide to help us to determine freshness, but not necessarily when the egg has gone bad. Rotten eggs have a distinctive … Read more
DIY carpet cleaners can remove dirt, grime, blood, food, and drink stains from your carpets and rugs without exposing your loved ones to potentially harmful chemicals. This natural carpet cleaner recipe is so mild that I even feel comfortable using it on our dog beds. If you have pets, children, and messy boots on your … Read more
In spite of living on a homestead, there are still times that we have to go into town and visit the grocery store. As I watch prices at the grocery store soar, I have also noticed that wages aren’t keeping up with this inflation. So I sat down and devised some ways to cut my … Read more
When you’re researching permaculture techniques, swales often rise to the top of the pile. Simply put, swales are rainwater harvesting devices that work by shaping the earth. The word ‘swale’ has often been used to talk about a diversion channel for water. In permaculture, the term ‘swale’ is used to refer to both on-contour swales … Read more
Chicken, it can be cooked in about any way imaginable and is a favorite meat for many. Everyone has their favorite way of preparing it and their favorite cut of meat they prefer to eat. The possibilities for eating chicken are pretty much endless. Usually you will see chicken prepared by cuts such as breast … Read more
Confession: this year is the first year I’ve grown enough peppers to preserve. Usually, our peppers end up being stringy, tough, and bitter – something that I have learned is the side effect of too little fertilizer, poor soil, and cold weather that doesn’t allow the plants to mature properly. However, this year I remedied … Read more
It is the time of the year that the race is on to beat the birds and the blistering sun. It is blackberry season. There are lots of things to do with all of them blackberries, from eating fresh, to cobblers, smoothies, and blackberry jam. My family likes to divide into teams and see who … Read more
When I first set out on my homesteading adventures my friends and even a few in my family gave me more than a few sideways glances. Some of them, I’m sure, thought I really needed some mental help while others secretly thought “Good for you!”. Personally, I embraced homesteading with all my heart. I’m just … Read more
At their best, electric fences are inexpensive, effective, and flexible. They can make permanent boundaries around or within a property. Electric fences can also be set up on a short-term basis to protect special crops or vulnerable animals, and they can also be used to create rotational grazing systems to maximize pasture yield. Fences work … Read more
There is nothing better than homemade spaghetti sauce! Whether you’re keeping an eye on your health – homemade spaghetti sauce has far less sugar and sodium than the storebought varieties – or you simply prefer the taste of fresh sauce, making and canning your own sauce is a great way to make the most of … Read more
Making natural dyes from plants, weeds, vegetables, and fruit is a fun way to repurpose harvested garden plants and make all natural non-toxic dyes for a myriad of sewing and fiber arts projects. Some homesteaders cultivate a “dye garden” just to have enough beautiful plants, herbs, and weeds on hand to dye the wool they … Read more
How much does it cost to buy a pottery wheel? Well, that depends. There are multiple varieties and sizes of potter’s wheels on the market. There are electric-powered pottery wheels and old-fashioned kick wheels that are fueled by your feet and legs. But, in general: Expect to spend between $400 and $2,000 for a pottery … Read more
Cleaning the oven and preventing the build up of bacteria causing old food absolutely does not require the use of caustic chemicals. The automatic cleaning features on many modern ovens can help prevent grime from forming in the oven to a decent degree, but just typically does not work well for a true (and natural) … Read more
Making your own all-natural body wash will not only help eliminate your family’s exposure to potentially harmful toxins, it will save you copious amounts of money as well. As an added bonus it can double as shampoo, a light hair conditioner, or even shaving lotion. Why make your own natural body wash instead of just … Read more