Blog Posts - Page 5 of 21 - Homesteaders of America

How to Get Started with Your Family Milk Cow | Shawn & Beth Dougherty

January 3, 2023
Podcast
0 comments
by Leanne Burchett

The family milk cow is quickly becoming the new backyard flock of chickens. More and more people are realizing the amazing benefits of adding a dairy cow to their homestead.

This month on the podcast, we are focusing on all things dairy cow. Shawn and Beth Dougherty are the perfect couple to lend their voice to this conversation as they have over four decades of experience farming and perfecting the art of grass conversion through dairy ruminants.

If you are considering adding a family milk cow to your homestead or are new to the world of home dairy, this discussion is for you. We dive into the most commonly asked questions when it comes to getting started with dairy cows: breed, acreage, feed, health, and more. If a dairy cow is in your future, start here!

The Cost of Raising Meat Chickens

December 31, 2022
Homesteading
6 Comments
by Beth Dougherty

Is raising meat chickens a money-saver? There are so many opinions out there! The truth is, like nearly everything to do with farming, it depends. There are lots of ways and reasons for raising chickens for meat, and the economics of doing so vary just as widely. Let’s take a look at the cost of […]

11 Tips for Homesteading on a Budget

December 29, 2022
Homesteading
2 Comments
by homesteadersofamerica

One of the comments that I hear often is that you have to be wealthy to homestead. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, land and infrastructure do require an investment, however, you can start homesteading without acres of land and without breaking the bank. If you want to start a homestead, but can’t […]

How to Control the Cost of Raising Chickens

November 28, 2022
Articles, Chickens, Homesteading, Livestock
13 Comments
by Beth Dougherty

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 […]

Fall Harvest Recipes Roundup

November 21, 2022
Food & Recipes
1 Comment
by homesteadersofamerica

The fall harvest has wrapped up and now it is time to make use of the bounty that you grew throughout the season! Take a look through this curated list of fall harvest recipes that utilize vegetables and meats that you may have ready to use during this time of year. Homestead Fall Harvest Recipes […]

The Egg Economy: Can You Save Money Raising Chickens for Eggs?

November 2, 2022
Chickens, Homesteading
10 Comments
by Beth Dougherty

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 […]

3 Steps for Preparing Honeybees for Winter

October 25, 2022
Bees, Homesteading
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by homesteadersofamerica

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 […]

How to Raise a Dairy Cow on Pasture

September 21, 2022
Homesteading
9 Comments
by Beth Dougherty

Raising a dairy cow on pasture is one 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 […]

The Different Colors of Honey

September 14, 2022
Homesteading
2 Comments
by homesteadersofamerica

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. Have you ever noticed that honey from different sources is often found in varying colors? The beekeeper at the Farmer’s Market might have lighter honey than […]

12 Heritage Meat Chicken Breeds

August 12, 2022
Chickens, Homesteading
8 Comments
by homesteadersofamerica

When you think of meat chicken breeds, your mind probably goes straight to the Cornish Cross broilers. This breed is most commonly 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 the […]

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