You can read part 1 of this series here, and part 2 here. Now you have a finished animal hide, what are you going to do with it? Your options are limited only by your creative imagination and your skill set. You will need to purchase leatherworking and/or sewing tools to make garments and gear out … Read more
It has been a combination of a very exciting and a very frustrating week here on the homestead. The weather keeps fluctuating between spring storms (and mud) and then winter rears its ugly head and we get two to four inches of snow – that turns the ground into a skating rink. A big snow … Read more
Hello fellow homesteaders, The mystery about what exactly happened to Flock Leader Jr. just took another strange twist. The wretched arctic chill finally evaporated here in my part of Appalachia. The ice and snow-covered ground rapidly turned our land into a mud bog, but at least we not longer had to pack water and crack … Read more
Baby goats are about the cutest little things you will ever have romping about in the barnyard. They are bundles of energy and want to investigate every single new sight, sound, and smell. The days and weeks after the new kids arrive are full of fun, but getting them here isn’t always easy. Goat does … Read more
You can read part 1 of the hide tanning series here, and part 3 here. During the first segment in the New Life on the Homestead hide tanning series we shared some particulars about why and how the process is done and an overview of the tools necessary to get to work on hide tanning … Read more
Disclaimer: neither the author nor this website shall be held responsible for the misuse, and side effects resulting from using the info in this article. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your physician before putting health advice into practice. … Read more
It was a fabulous weekend on the homestead this week folks! Not only did I get three volunteers (or “volunteered”) loved ones helping me scrap and de-fur a cow hide, but a quartet of guineas arrived on the homestead! Guinea Carol was overjoyed – and vocal about the new arrivals, to say the least. Photo … Read more
You can read part 2 of this series here and part 3 here. So, you live on a homestead and raise your own meat. That’s great. You get extra self-reliance points if you butcher the meat yourself. But, your journey to a sustainable life, an existence where you always use resources wises and for optimal benefit, … Read more
Hello, fellow homesteaders! Today was an odd day on the homestead. Morning feed time made me feel more like I was on a backstage tour of the circus instead of my very own barnyard. We will get a sad bit of news out of the way first. Flock Leader Jr. appears to have lost his … Read more
My chickens are in complete and open revolt, and I have no idea why. The entire free range flock attempted a chicken coop coup three nights ago – which also happened not only to be the coldest night of 2017, but also the evening we discovered a pack of coyotes taking up residence beneath the … Read more
Does the smell of frying bacon make your mouth water? Is snacking on a deliciously cooked whole ham after Easter dinner something you look forward to every year? If so, raising pigs should be part of your homesteading plan. Pigs, or hogs as we refer to them in Appalachia – the two labels are completely … Read more
Meet the newest member of the Dodrill Hill barnyard – Rooster! Pearl FINALLY had her first kid a little after midnight. I worried and stressed over all the things that can and often do go wrong during goat births for the past month, but my sweet Nigerian Dwarf girl did it all on her own! … Read more
Hello, fellow homesteaders and folks dreaming of living on their very own homestead! This is the first installment in the occasional column about the lighter side of living off the land Dan and I thought y’all would enjoy. I will be sharing with you our great success stories, hilarious failures, and a little bit of … Read more
There is now officially less than a week to go before Christmas day, but it is still not too late to save money and warm hearts with homemade gifts straight from your prepper retreat, survival compound, or homestead. The gifts will cost you nothing or next to nothing, but look like a million bucks! If … Read more
Note: this is not medical advice. Neither the author nor www.newlifeonahomestead.com shall be held liable for any misuse of the advice given in this article. If you get hurt, call 9-1-1 or your doctor. Homesteading life is full of all kinds of joy, hard work – and accidents. Agriculture accidents can be gruesomely deadly. The majority … Read more
There are numerous uses for wood ash around the homestead. Throwing away this useful material when cleaning out the wood burner or fireplace is almost inexcusably wasteful. Wood ash is the powdery residue that is left in the wood burner collection tray or beneath the firewood grate after wood is burnt. It has been used … Read more