Homesteading

How much does it cost to buy a pottery wheel? Well, that depends. There are multiple varieties and sizes of potter’s wheels on the market. There are electric-powered pottery wheels and old-fashioned kick wheels that are fueled by your feet and legs. But, in general: Expect to spend between $400 and $2,000 for a pottery … Read more

Maintaining quality pastures and hay fields, as well as “grubbing” wooded survival homesteads to create more grazing and gardening space requires diligent tending to the land. Brush hogging is a method of landscaping that rids woodlots of heavy bush that inhibit grass growth, to clear it using a rotary cutter for various agricultural uses, or … Read more

Epsom salts are inexpensive, easy to find, and have copious amounts of uses in the garden, house, and around the homestead. The handy little carton or bag of magnesium sulfate should also be a part of any natural first aid kit. Epsom salts are named for the English town in which they were discovered bubbling … 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

As homesteaders, we are always preparing for the next season. Being sure you have enough wood to get you through the winter is a never-ending chore. There are a couple different ways to fell a tree, being a chainsaw or an axe. Whichever method you use to cut down a tree, it can still be … Read more

Living on the homestead means finding ways to use everything to its fullest extent. Eggshells are a useful resource, but most people toss them away without thinking. Before you decide to use eggshells throughout your homestead, it’s best only to use eggshells from healthy natural chickens if you or your animals will ingest the shells. … Read more

The Backyard Homestead by Carleen Madigan quickly made its way onto every homesteader and wanna-be homesteaders bookshelf. Full of inspiration and resources, Madigan does a fantastic job of painting a picture of what your property could be, despite its lack of space. Whether you have one-tenth of an acre or a full acre, Madigan shows … Read more

Chopping wood with a dull chainsaw does not only make the task far slower and more dangerous, it can also ruin one of your most essential homesteading tools. If your chainsaw is “bucking” during the wood cutting process, it is overdue for a sharpening. Sharpening a chainsaw yourself can save you hundreds to a few … Read more

Getting firewood is a vital part of homesteading if you heat with wood. If you are heating with a wood burner or fireplace then you will need to cut your wood up smaller than if you were heating with an outdoor wood burner. Either way it goes, you will need to obtain your wood by … Read more

If you’ve been lurking around the web for homesteading advice, I’m willing to bet you’ve heard about The Prairie Homestead. The blog is run by Jill Winger, who was kind enough to answer my interview questions. 🙂   1. What got you into homesteading, and how long have you been doing it? We started this … Read more

Hey everyone, Today I’m excited to give you another interview, this one is with Amy Stross from TenthAcreFarm.com. She’s an expert permaculturist, gardener and homesteader. As always, thes interviews are packed with real-life knowledge, so let’s not wast anymore time and start with the questions! 1) What got you into homesteading, and how long have you … Read more

Hey everyone, Today it is my pleasure to interview Teri Page from homestead-honey.com. Hopefully her answers to my questions will offer a new perspective, and will get you to rethink your homesteading plans.   What got you into homesteading, and how long have you been doing it? I started homesteading in 1999, after spending several months … Read more

Being frugal on the homestead is a way of life for most homesteaders. Learning vintage skills and frugal ways of doing things is often a way of survival. Many folks learn these skills from their grandparents, generations that were homesteaders from the start. There is a lot that grandparents can teach a new homesteader. Here … Read more

Do high tech and homesteading go hand in hand? Absolutely! When people think of homesteaders, they often envision people eschewing all modern conveniences, and living like they’re in the 19th Century. However, while simplifying your life is a key component of homesteading, that doesn’t mean you have to turn your back on technology. There’s no … Read more

So, you’re tired of the hustle and bustle and high prices of city living, and considering a move to the country. Maybe you plan on planting a large garden, buying some livestock, and raising your own food. And those Mother Earth News articles about off-the-grid living have piqued your interest, too. Good for you! Moving … Read more