Sarah Rodriguez 
The coop is supposed to be a safe and healthy place for your chickens to live. In order for them to be healthy you need to allow for ventilation. With a poorly ventilated coop, your chickens can develop respiratory problems. Without proper ventilation the ammonia from the chicken droppings will accumulate and cause breathing problems … Read more
The blackberry is one of my favorite fruits. You can grow your own or forage for wild ones. Either are fine, I actually do both. When dealing with wild plants just leave them be, and let nature do its work. A tame blackberry bush is very easy to grow, but does require some care. In … Read more
The saying an onion a day will keep everyone away is understandable, especially when you are in my personal space talking to me. Onions are very healthy veggies that can be started from seeds, sets, and even the rooted bottoms from the ones you’ve picked. Onions are an easy crop to grow due to its … Read more
The jalapeno pepper can be used for lots of recipes to add a little spice to your dish. Using jalapenos in salsa is perfect for the ones that love the spiciness. Or, if you are like my family, just eating them fresh. I really don’t know how they have any taste buds left, I can’t … Read more
You have fed and raised a hog all spring, summer, and into the fall. It is now time to bring home the bacon. You got the pig to your ideal size to get the most out of it, I like ours to be right around 300 pounds, but go with your preference. A good butcherer … Read more
I have tried to start different types of fruit trees without much success. I mean, I was really getting angry at my inability to do so as I generally have a green thumb. After several failed attempts and then one accidental that worked, I decided I should do some research. The answer is stratifying your … Read more
Milk is a staple for every kitchen, it is used for so many different things from drinking to cooking many different foods. Milk needs to be kept in a refrigerator unless it has been canned to be shelf stable. You can process any type of milk that you have be it store bought, raw cow’s … Read more
Garlic, a healthy and tasty vegetable that is simple to grow, is more often used for flavor enhancement than for consuming in whole. The garlic plant is more of a bulbous plant that is generally classified as a spice. Garlic is generally grown outdoors in a garden bed, but it can be grown inside in … Read more
Clotheslines are not a thing of the past. I grew up using a clothesline, and still do to this day. When my cousin came home for a long weekend he was amazed at my awesome clothesline and had a good laugh at me for using it. That’s ok though, I know how awesome a clothesline … Read more
The gardening season is over, and it is time to put your vegetable garden to bed. Fall is the time to get your garden ready for the next springs planting cycle. The list of work can be long but it all doesn’t have to be done in one day. Do the work as it comes … Read more
There is a great sale at the market, or you had a lot of leftovers, maybe you have too many roosters or some hens that are finished, what do you do? Why you get busy canning chicken of course. Your family and your wallet will thank you later. There is nothing quite as good as … Read more
Sauerkraut, either you love it or you hate it. I love it, but my household has mixed emotions about it. It takes several weeks to ferment your cabbage, and to make it you need lots of cabbage and pickling salt. What is Sauerkraut? Sauerkraut is much simpler than it sounds, it is just finely chopped … 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
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
The chicken run, the hangout of your feathered friends. It serves as protection for your flock, and also encourages natural behavior to allowing them freedom and entertainment. It is always best to customize and build the run that will suit your birds. You need to take into consideration the size of your flock before building … Read more
To cut the tree down with an axe, you need to be sure that it’s sharp. A dull axe will take forever to chop it down, and it can be dangerous to use. Plus, it can bounce back off the tree instead of lodge into it making a cut. There are different items that you … Read more