Learning how to gather food from the wild can be an important survival skill, but it can also make for an interesting and affordable meal at home. Everything from mushrooms to berries can be gathered and prepared in a whole host of ways, and many wild-foraged foods are very comparable to their store-bought counterparts in … Read more
If you’ve ever been doing any projects around the homestead involving landscaping, digging, or building, in your travels to get materials you’ve probably seen advertisements or want ads for fill dirt. They’re all over the place, and depending on where you are it’s either ubiquitous or in very short supply. For those of us who … Read more
Unless you live someplace very cold, there’s one thing you can always count on to ruin your time outdoors, whether you are working or relaxing: mosquitoes. These biting little scumbags will cover you with red, itchy welts, and worst of all they can spread disease. If you live anywhere it’s warm, and especially near water, … Read more
If you picture all sheep as cute, cuddly little lambs, you might be surprised to learn just how big sheep can get. Although most domestic sheep way between 100 and 200 pounds, some breeds can actually clear 250 pounds, and some can reach a mammoth 350 pounds or more! And, believe it or not, these … Read more
A simple and delicious condensed tomato soup canning recipe made from fresh ingredients.
Based on what rabbits will typically poach out of backyard gardens, you’d think they can eat any kind of veggie there is. For the most part, you’d be right! Though they typically eat a diet of grass and hay, rabbits are still capable of eating most types of plant matter. However, that does not mean … Read more
Whether you use the good old Imperial system, what I like to refer to as “moon landing units,” or the metric system that the rest of the world seems enslaved to, there’s no arguing that there are some truly peculiar units of measurement out there. One of the most peculiar, naturally, belongs to my beloved … Read more
Most chicken owners already know that they’re precious birds can enjoy a very diet consisting of all kinds of wholesome foods. They can even eat many different fruits, though these are typically served as treats. However, not all kinds of fruit are safe or healthy for chickens, even some of the most seemingly wholesome ones … Read more
There are plenty of videos out there showing bunnies making a mess while munching away on fruit, and while the behavior is highly adorable it is also questionable: Most folks who own rabbits know that they shouldn’t get too much sweet stuff in their diet! Excess sugar has a way of causing big problems for … Read more
Mice might be cute and cuddly in controlled circumstances, but pretty much every homesteader knows by now that they are a giant problem when they are on your property. They can terrorize chickens and eat eggs, infest and ruin livestock feed, spread disease, and tear up your house- aside from making everything filthy. You need … Read more
Compared to most other livestock species, chickens can enjoy a surprising variety of foods. Yes, they subsist mostly on chicken feed but it’s possible they can have grass, bugs, meat, vegetables, and even fruit. But like most birds, chickens can only have fruit and limited quantities, and even then, only the kinds that are safe. … Read more
Rabbits, somewhat surprisingly, actually have a pretty narrow temperature range where they are comfortable. It’s not uncommon to see them running around in the middle of the summer and even when it’s starting to get very cold out in late fall. Nonetheless, rabbits can suffer from hypothermia and hyperthermia alike. What temperatures are too hot … Read more
Deer are amazing and majestic animals, and they also make for good sport when hunting, but if I’ve learned anything these past few years is that they’re among the most destructive, persistent, and difficult-to-stop and garden pests there are. Worse, deer eat almost anything. Anything that you’re growing in your garden for eating (corn, veggies, … Read more
Pigs are a study in contrast. The great thing about them is that they have such a varied diet they are easy to feed compared to other kinds of livestock that are strictly herbivores. Plus, it’s always in your best interest to feed pigs enough food so they grow big and grow quickly. Not difficult, … Read more
Chickens are omnivores, and as such, they can eat a really varied diet. They eat bugs, a little bit of meat, various kinds of plant matter, chicken feed of course, and even some fruits and veggies. The latter two in particular make great healthy treats for chickens. But it rarely fails that most owners want … Read more
For most of us, keeping a supply of fresh eggs going is the number one reason for owning chickens. It’s an exciting time when your girls start laying! Heading out in the morning to collect the bounty you work so hard for and- what’s this? An egg is broken! Worse than broken, it is mostly … Read more