There’s nothing I love more than letting my dog run around outside during the summer. Granted, he can run around any time of the year, but he likes the summer the most. In fact, I don’t think there’s anything that dog loves more than jumping off the deck and rolling around in fresh grass and … Read more
From zucchini to butternut, summer to acorn, I’ve never met a squash that I didn’t like. In fact, one of my favorite things about growing squash is that it produces delicious meal ideas for me to try during just about every season of the year. From early summer until first thing in the spring (thank … Read more
The New Hampshire chicken was the first chicken my husband and I decided to raise on our small farm – back when we thought we would “just have a few chickens” for the eggs. Today, we raise a flock of 75 laying hens along with more than 300 meat birds each summer, as our farm … Read more
Raising dairy cows is a good way to provide your family with all the milk, cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products you need – in fact, one cow is usually all you need to provide more than enough milk for most families. But what do you do when your cows’ milk production drops off? Besides … Read more
If you are new to raising chickens, the thought may have crossed your mind – is breeding chickens possible? It sure is! You can easily breed your own hens and roosters so that you have hatching eggs for adorable chicks. No doubt, you’re filled with questions. Before you can get started with hatching your own … Read more
I’m about ready to harvest my first watermelon! Not only my first watermelon of the season, but the first watermelon I have ever grown – ever! I’m incredibly excited to hit this milestone, as I’ve always had a hard time growing these delicious fruits. In a few weeks, I think my fruit will be all … Read more
If you’ve ever wanted to figure out how to get your chickens to lay more eggs, you aren’t alone. I’ve had this problem many times myself – often, due to a change in the seasons – and have more than once found myself researching how to boost production. There are a lot of factors that … Read more
When I first got started homesteading, I had no idea how challenging it would be – or how rapidly our backyard garden and “just a few chickens” would explode into something that became a lifestyle and later, for us, a full-fledged business. Today, on my farm, we have several large gardens, a 30” x 96” … Read more
Also known simply as the fisher, the fisher cat is a forest-dwelling mammal found in the northern United States and Canada. If you’ve never heard of one of this creature before, its unique nomenclature might confuse you. Is it a cat, or is it some other kind of mystical creature that hunts for fish? The … Read more
Raising chickens is a great introduction to homesteading. My husband and I jokingly refer to chickens as “the gateway drug.” We started with a flock of two dozen birds, and since then, have grown to raising several hundred chickens (including meat birds and dedicated layers) each year. When you think about popular chicken breeds, there … Read more
Composting with worms is one of the best ways to create your own fertile, nutritious soil – even if you don’t have a lot of room outdoors for a full-fledged compost bin. You can get rid of all kinds of garden waste as well as kitchen debris, like vegetable peelings. Plus, worm composting helps free … Read more
Growing tomatoes is simple. After all, isn’t that why so many gardeners choose to grow them as their first introduction to backyard growing? Unfortunately, it’s a bit more complicated than simply watering and fertilizing your tomatoes. You also need to truly know your tomato – and whether it is a bush or a vine. One … Read more
I’ve always been quite lucky to not have to worry about too many pests in my garden. I’m not sure how I’ve avoided this common predicament – it’s something I hear echoed by so many gardeners near me. They struggle with all kinds of garden pests, including cabbage worms, cutworms, and of course – aphids. … Read more
If you ever wanted to grow a vegetable in your garden that would have your friends and family stopping in their tracks, pointing, and exclaiming, “What is that?” then you’ve got to consider growing kohlrabi. Kohlrabi is a unique plant that many people don’t include in their cooking – let alone in their garden plans. … Read more
This might just be me complaining, but I feel as though, in my house, I’m always the one that gets stuck unclogging the toilet. I know my husband unclogs his fair share, too, but it’s such a chore that whenever I have to deal with it, I find myself groaning in aggravation. Added to this … Read more
For many people, parsley is nothing more than a garnish that rests off to the side of the dinner plate. For others, parsley is a necessary staple in the kitchen, providing a whole host of flavors and uses for home chefs. I happen to fall into the latter category. Although I wasn’t a huge fan … Read more