A Self-Sustainable Source of Homesteading Education, Support, and Events.
Whether the goal is eggs or meat, folks starting out their country journey seem to go straight for chickens. Managed well, chickens can fit right into the farm ecosystem, providing nutrient cleanup, pest control, and light tillage almost anywhere those services are needed – along with some eggs and drumsticks. But when these benefits are […]
If there is one thing almost universal to all homesteaders, it is the keeping of a flock of laying hens. Most of the time chickens are the first – sometimes the only – livestock on the farm. What says ‘homesteading’ more eloquently than a basket of newly-gathered eggs, still warm from the nest? It’s almost […]
The cold weather is creeping in and that means that it is time to start getting the homestead ready for the cooler months. If you are a beekeeper, then this includes preparing honeybees for winter. Bees do a good job of taking care of themselves, but it is still a good idea for you to […]
Raising a dairy cow on pasture is on of the best decisions you could make for your homestead… So, you’re beginning to get this homesteading thing down. You grew bushels of tomatoes this year, you’ve got chickens in a tractor, and, filled with inspiration, you’ve almost decided to take the plunge and buy a family […]
Honey comes in an array of colors. Today we are discussing where the different colors of honey come from and what they mean for the honey in your jar. Honey Color Varieties Have you ever noticed that honeys from different sources are often found in varying colors? The beekeeper at the Farmer’s Market might have […]
When you think of meat chicken breeds, your mind probably goes straight to the Cornish Cross broilers. This breed is the most common used for meat. The very fast growth rate of this breed is appealing, but there are plenty of heritage meat chicken breeds that can give you a good amount of meat without […]
Earlier this week the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released their recent data showing that the United States GDP fell by 0.9% in the second quarter, after declining 1.6% in the first quarter. Generally, two consecutive quarters of a negative GDP growth means that we are officially in a recession, or very rapidly headed into […]
Grow your own animal feed right on the homestead! Learn the benefits and how to grow tromboncino squash as a dual-purpose crop for man or beast. With purchased animal feeds going up in price and even getting scarce, maybe it’s time seriously to consider growing animal feeds ourselves. But if you’ve done any real thinking […]
Do you know how to start seeds for your garden? Seed starting doesn’t have to be complicated. Follow this how-to guide to get started! Is it really necessary to start seeds indoors? Well, no… you can grow food without starting seeds, BUT if you are looking to grow an efficient, sustainable, and highly productive garden, […]
Learn how to grow mangel-wurzel beets as a feed crop to slash your livestock feed bill and gain greater self-sufficiency on your homestead! On our farm, the Sow’s Ear, we hate paying for feed so much that we’ve worked out some terrific feed crops we can grow ourselves. They save us money, which is great, […]