Homesteading with pigs offers a plethora of delicious and money-saving possibilities. With proper shelter and sturdy fencing, pigs don’t require much space and can be raised even on small homesteads, and not merely on large rural farmland where I am blessed to live. Pigs (or hogs as we call them in my part of Appalachia) … Read more
Gourds are one of the first plants ever cultivated. They were grown not only as a food source, but perhaps primarily to make eating utensils and make portable storage containers for a multitude of items – water in particular. There are multiple different varieties of gourds. Some boast edible young fruit and seeds, others are … Read more
Grandma was very frugal, and I recall one year asking her why she saved everything. She told me that everything should be repurposed on the homestead. Grandma had an entire shelf in the root cellar that was full of reusable containers and other things. One thing that grandma never threw away was sawdust. The fact … Read more
Passing down family traditions while teaching skills in the kitchen is all part of the homesteading lifestyle for American families. Children can and should be an integral part of this process. The key to kids in the kitchen success requires parents take into account both the age and the maturity level of the children before … Read more
Most homesteaders choose to keep chickens as part of an effort to put quality, humanely raised, and incredibly inexpensive food on the table. Whether you are raising chickens (and other poultry birds) for their meat and eggs or solely for the eggs, doing so as cheaply as possible helps the birds pay for themselves over … Read more
Adding to your poultry bird flock during the twice-annual chick days event – or any time, is always an exciting event. So exciting in fact, some folks enter “chicken addiction” mode, and forget to carefully look over each baby bird before agreeing to purchase. Even those rare folks who can resist the urge to box … Read more
Pygora goats are a relatively new addition to the fiber goat industry. They were developed in the United States during the 1980s – and became hugely popular with keepers both large and small. These miniature goats are one of the smallest of all 300 or so goat breeds on the planet and are the smallest … Read more
DIY foaming hand soap is simple and cheap to make – and your kids might just even wash their hands more diligently because they enjoy all of the little bubbles so much. To reduce your family’s exposure to plastic, and to the harsh chemicals it contains, you can buy nominally priced glass foaming soap dispensers … Read more
I dedicate this column to my homesteading friend and fellow New Life On A Homestead writer, Sarah Rodriguez. I once received a text from her as she traveled back from a doctor’s appointment – passing Rural King on the way. The text read, “I tried to call you. I was just as Rural King and … Read more
Drip irrigation, sometimes called trickle irrigation, has become popular with many gardeners as an easy way to conserve water without sacrificing plant growth. Drip systems use less water than sprinkler systems and can also help prevent some plant diseases. How hard is it to install a drip irrigation system? The simple steps for installing a … Read more
Exactly why do we have kids do things on the homestead? Free labor – sure. Big farm families were once commonplace for just that reason in America. But then as it is now, there is a lot more behind assigning kids copious amounts of chores on a homestead or farm than just a need to … Read more
It’s easy to get caught up in trying to make your garden the best one on the block, however, it can quickly get very expensive. Grandma had some great tips and tricks that she used to help keep her garden on budget. Using the tips and tricks that grandma taught me have helped me to … Read more