For most homesteaders, keeping animals of some kind is just part of the lifestyle. Chickens are overwhelmingly the most popular choice. Cheap, highly productive, available everywhere, and relatively easy to care for, you’ll rarely go wrong with a flock of yardbirds. But despite being one of the easiest livestock species to care for, tending to … Read more
If you are like me, you were mesmerized by the notion of farm-fresh eggs every morning, and that’s what set you on the path to getting a flock of your very own chickens. Imagine my surprise, then, when, after coming back from the local tractor supply with a double armload of chickens, the ladies in … Read more
For city-dwellers, high-quality food tends to cost more than the industrial-scale stuff you get at your local grocery store. Sadly, large cities are often rightly criticized for a distinct lack of outlets where you can get truly farm-fresh food. As ever, raising your own chickens for eggs and meat in the city is a great … Read more
What do you think you need to live off-grid? Your own power sources like solar, biofuel, or hydroelectric? A shed full of the latest and greatest power tools? Not hardly! Our pioneer ancestors did a whole lot more with a whole lot less than we have today, and it turns out they really did know … Read more
Canning food at home is a great way to increase your food security, and it’s also a rewarding hobby. Having a pantry full of canned fruits, veggies, meats, and more can make for easy meals and keep your family fed during times of trouble. And even if you’ve never done it before, it’s pretty easy … Read more
If you’re low on space, don’t have land of your own, or just want flexibility when taking care of your plants, container gardening is where it’s at. You can move things around to reorganize, protect your plantings from harsh weather, and even garden in your own home or greenhouse through the winter. But growing some … Read more
Whether you love them or hate them, roosters are important members of any flock of chickens. If you want to grow your flock the old-fashioned way and alert you of predators, roosters can serve as a partner to help you take care of your birds. Sadly, pretty much all of them come with a major … Read more
Everybody who has owned goats for any length of time knows that they love to eat. But, contrary to what most uneducated folks think, goats won’t eat just anything happily and be glad to get it. Oh no, these critters are surprisingly picky! And that’s because they are browsers. Browsers don’t eat just anything in … Read more
Canning is both a rewarding and fun pastime and a great way to minimize food waste while stocking your pantry with delicious, easy-to-prepare ingredients and meals. But if you aren’t already an experienced canner, it can be a little intimidating: there’s definitely a science to the process… Figuring out whether you want to use a … Read more
If you care for your own garden, you already know that giving your plants what they need to thrive is mostly a matter of adding the right stuff to the soil. Fertilizers, soil amendments, and more will increase available nutrients, improve soil texture, and keep harmful pests away from your plants. The downside is that … Read more
Is there anything better than fresh produce? I think not. Whether you grew it yourself and are enjoying the literal fruits of your labor, or are hauling home a big bounty from the local farmer’s market, the flavor and quality make it worthwhile. Likewise, there’s nothing worse than busting out your veggies a few days … Read more
Calves are bar-none the most adorable animal you can have on any homestead. They’re energetic, friendly, playful – and they look so darn cute! It’s so funny to watch them sucking on milk, too. It makes you wonder if they’re ever going to switch to other foods – especially given how big they are. If … Read more
No matter how diligent a keeper you are, in time your chickens will get sick. It turns out there are lots of common diseases that chickens have to cope with, and though most of them aren’t too bad, some of them are truly heinous. Sadly, one of the most common also happens to be one … Read more
Our hens are some of the hardest-working animals on the homestead. They have to lay eggs day in and day out, for years, and you can tell it takes a lot out of them even if they don’t have to hatch and raise their chicks. And no matter what breed they are, all hens have … Read more
If you want to preserve food at home and store it conveniently while keeping it instantly ready to heat and eat, nothing beats canning. And when it comes to home-canned foods, there’s hardly anything quicker and easier to fix than soup. I love soup, and if you’re like me, there’s nothing you look forward to … Read more
Chickens offer homesteaders tons of advantages when it comes to livestock. They are cheap, versatile, highly productive, and very easy to keep in a relatively small space compared to most other animals. Besides, chickens are just lots of fun! Having your very own flock of yardbirds running around is always entertaining for you and your … Read more