Echinacea is my hands-down favorite herb, and I always have it in stock in my natural medicine cabinet. Unfortunately, people have misused this popular herb, and they also have over-harvested wild echinacea. People use echinacea in all the wrong ways. Adding echinacea to your soap isn’t going to do much, but when used correctly, it’sRead more
Keeping one of the best broody hen breeds is important to have a self-reliant chicken flock. Broody hens hatch and raise clutches of chicks throughout the year, so you don’t need to purchase chicks from your local farm and fleet store. That means no need to purchase an incubator or to care for chicks inRead more
Composting is one of the best things you can do for your garden, but a compost bin can cost you anywhere from $50 to $300. I don’t know about you, but I prefer not to spend money unless needed. So, I figured out how to make a $10 compost bin – and it works. CompostRead more
Winter is here, and currently, Winter Storm Harper is heading our way. This storm is supposed to dump up to 12 to 18 inches in my area, but some areas are expected to get 24 inches at a time. The best time to prepare for a winter storm is ahead of time. You never wantRead more
Tomorrow is 2019; I really can’t believe it! 2018 flew by as we added Jolene to our family, Andrew changed work shifts, and I grew my freelance writing career to new heights. Wow! It was a great year. Now, I’m looking forward to 2019. I love a new year. Everything is fresh, and you startRead more
Root cellars are a low-maintenance method of food preservation that requires no extra work on your end. Storing fruits and vegetables in a root cellar helps to preserve freshness in the least labor-intensive way possible. Doesn’t that sound awesome? One thing to know is that you want to store ONLY the freshest, best food possible,Read more
Different chicken breeds have different space requirements. Chicken owners with large farmers or homesteads don’t need to worry about the breed they select, but backyard homesteaders need to pick chicken breeds for small spaces. Picking breeds with smaller space requirements will keep your flock happen, which means happy chickens. Happy chickens lay eggs, which isRead more
Composting reduces trash output and provides an excellent soil amendment for gardens. Compost adds nutrients back into your soil, but not everything belongs there. In fact, understanding what not to put in a compost ensures that the end product is safe for your garden use. In your compost, you want to put brown and greenRead more
Seed buying and gardening planning time are upon us. The two popular choices for seeds are either heirloom or hybrid. I prefer heirloom seeds, for several reasons. Many home gardeners aren’t sure what to pick. Hybrid and GMO seeds work for many people. I know dozens of people who use these varieties for their smallRead more
The new year has arrived, and it is time to start preparing! I know I am ready for 2018; 2017 brought a lot of pain for us. We ended our year with a small house fire that displaced us for almost a month. We are ready for the new year. Part of the new yearRead more