Preserving the harvest is an essential part of being a homesteader, but you don’t want to rely entirely on canning. Fermenting is a simple, quick preservation method, and homesteaders are re-discovering this method. Trust me, fermenting for beginners isn’t as hard as you might think. I put off learning how to ferment for quite someRead more
It’s that time of year when the freezing temperatures outside might lead to you finding frozen chicken eggs in the coop. Eggs left inside of your coop too long between collections can freeze and crack. Are you wondering if frozen chicken eggs are still safe to eat? Are you trying to stop your chicken eggsRead more
I’m going to tell you a secret; I love winter on the homestead almost as much, if not more than the summertime. All of the winter homesteading activities make me feel cozy, and I’m a cozy addict. Seriously, I love everything that comes with being cozy in my house. Slipper, warm blankets, crafting time, bakingRead more
As the weather starts to get cooler, leaves start to fall, and so do the feathers from your chickens. Fall molting has begun in your flock. The first time I saw my chickens during fall molting, I was sure something was happening. Were my chickens sick? Did something attack them? Did I miss a chickenRead more
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