I think every gardener knows by now that plants need three essential nutrients in order to grow and thrive: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. But just like everything else in life, getting too much of a good thing will quickly turn harmful, and that is certainly the case when it comes to nitrogen. All kinds of … Read more
Most gardeners, even the greenest of green thumbs, know by now that plants need the right ratio of nutrients in order to thrive, and specifically, they need the big three: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. All are important, but of the three, nitrogen is the most important when it comes to helping plants develop the foliage … Read more
Whether or not you prefer to maintain a traditional garden, container gardening is a great way to increase your available space, maximize versatility, and adapt to changing conditions. You can grow veggies, fruit, herbs, or ornamentals based on your preference, and keep them indoors or out. It’s the perfect way to experiment with new plants … Read more
You ever notice how whenever you look at gardening pictures in books and on websites it always shows this perfect, loose black soil? The kind that is perfectly well-drained, perfectly nutritious, and very easy to work with? That’s great if your land is fortunate enough to be blessed with it, or you’re working in containers … Read more
Mold is one of the most annoying and unsightly messes you’ll have to deal with around your home. It looks nasty, smells bad, and will usually set off people’s allergies. However, mold can also be quite dangerous! Certain varieties can cause serious illness if their spores are inhaled… One of the most common places you’ll … Read more
Has your house ever flooded before? Maybe you’ve had to clean up in the aftermath of an actual flood. Take a look at this: Maybe your dishwasher or washing machine betrayed you. Or maybe another incident at Thanksgiving knocked over the water cooler. Whatever happened, you already know water is extremely destructive. As damaging as … Read more
Mold is one of those things you’ll often detect before you ever see it. It makes your nose scratchy, your eyes water, your throat ticklish, and your sinuses throb. Then the coughing starts. Mold is nasty, and no matter where you live and how tidy you are, it’s always going to crop up now and … Read more
Keeping animals on your homestead safely and efficiently is mostly a matter of keeping them contained. With very few exceptions, if your animals aren’t properly housed, they will wander off and get into trouble, get hurt, or get lost. Different livestock require different approaches, and so when it comes to pigs specifically, you’ll have your … Read more
One of the very best things about owning chickens is how cheap they are. One quick trip to the tractor supply company and a swipe of a little debit card, and pretty soon you can be coming home with 12, 20, or who knows how many chickens with money left over for dinner. It’s wonderful! … Read more
Canned pork is one of the best and most versatile meats you can preserve yourself right at home. With a pressure canner and a little time, you can have a full shelf of delicious pork that is ready to eat as is or use as an ingredient in any number of recipes. Not only is … Read more
Goats are just like every other kind of livestock: they have specific dietary needs that must be met. They need the right kinds of foods that will supply the right amount of calories and all of the vitamins and minerals for them to thrive. But goats are fairly unique among mammals in that they need … Read more
Anytime you have an opportunity to plant veggies and herbs in a mutually beneficial way, you should. When plants support each other, they’re referred to as companion plantings. Sometimes they work in a sort of symbiosis to help keep the right nutrient ratios in the soil, and other times they keep pests away, provide shade, … Read more
For ages before the advent of the clothes dryer, people relied on clotheslines. A warm breeze and plenty of sunshine are all it takes to dry your clothes quickly and efficiently. And, not for nothing, there’s something undeniably charming about watching your clothes, rugs, and other textiles sway gently on the clothesline. It just has … Read more
More and more homesteaders are putting up clotheslines in their backyards. And believe it or not, this has nothing to do with getting some charming pictures for social media, though that is a nice perk. Turns out people want to save money on energy and equipment costs and opt out of buying increasingly expensive, over-engineered, … Read more
If you want goats on the homestead, pygmy goats can be a surprisingly inspired choice. They produce a lot of milk for their size, are very space-efficient, and easy to handle. They also have great personalities and tend to like people, meaning they’re perfect if you want to play with your herd. If you’re ready … Read more
One of the best skills that you can invest in is learning how to can. This is a time-honored technique that can help you preserve all kinds of foods, from fruits and veggies to meat and soups, at home yourself. But as anyone who’s been engaged in the practice for a time will tell you, … Read more