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Meet our (TWO) highland×jersey calves!
One of our milk cows recently had her calf! And we are waiting on another.
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What do love that you use most?
What products do you use most in the kitchen, in your garden, in your yard, on your acreage or your farm? Can you list 10 to 15 things in order of importance? What can you just not live without because it is so perfect for your purposes? To spark some ideas... • Go through our categories and perhaps think of one item per…
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Chemical-free vole control?
We have about 5 acres of grassy fields with fruit trees and berry bushes. We also have a pile of pine mulch and a compost pile. And this year, we have a huge infestation of voles everywhere. Most of the online chemical-free "solutions" we've found are appropriate for a small garden or yard, or have to be applied after…
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Texas Wildseed Farm
It sounds beautiful. I wonder how many medicinals would be grown here by default?
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What to look for/avoid when purchasing property?
Morning everyone, It's hard for me to believe the time for looking for property is here but after selling our house, in less then 12hrs after it was listed, yesterday my husband and I are seriously looking to see what we can find. We've been researching ways to find land/property for cheap and certain things to be careful…
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Animal hospital housing?
Does anyone have a special place made for their sick or injured animals? I usually just grab a cage and bring them in the basement for a few days. In the summer I can just put them in a separate pen with a small house but in weather like we have now I need another option. A small shed or building could also store any aids…
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A serious danger to bees
Warning: I was just given a couple of lantana plants that were left over from a friend's yard. The plants were still in store pots. I noticed a plant marker in one of them that said you don't have to worry about aphids because the plant was pre-treated with neonicotinoids and the EPA says they are safe. The label stuck to…
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Anyone looking for help? :)
Hi everyone! My name is Irina. I wanted to ask if anyone needs help on their homestead or an organic farm anywhere around the southwest like CA, AZ, NM? I love working the land, grow food and want to do much more 😊 Please let me know. Thank you!
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Elderberry Workshop 2/21-25/2022
This just turned up on my email, a free four-part workshop on raising and marketing elderberries. It seems to be pitched to the small-scale commercial grower, but with information the home grower can use as well.
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Victorian pharmacy 1906
Oooooh, look what I found! How better than to make your own medicine than with The National Formulary from 1906? You could set up your own Victorian pharmacy in your kitchen!
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Muscovys
Does anyone raise Muscovy ducks? I had my first pair about 5 years ago. I heard mixed reviews on them as they have claws and are hard to catch. They are not as friendly as some ducks, although mine seem pretty nice. You don't get as many eggs from them because the ducks will not give them up without a fight - great moms!…
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Have a first aid kit for the Animals?
Here's a good blog post from Timber Creek Farm. She does include injectable penicillin, but add the recommendation that you clear with the vet first.
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Animal personalities
Many people say animals do no have personalities. I know when mine are happy or sad. They are non stop laughter, even when they are trying to be serious. I let my one smaller chickens out to forage today. Not an easy feat with ice patches but they still love it. They are out doing happy dances and I think having races. My…
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Our own little wilderness
Yes, the name suits the property well. It's wild and thoroughly overgrown. But it has so much to offer and a lot of what I'd like to try/do/grow has already been started in some form or fashion. The house hasn't been taken care of well and not lived in the last few years. We're basically gutting it for the most part and…
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Imagine a multi-level farm unpacked on a city lot
What an interesting concept.
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Various layouts on different acreage
Here's some nice layouts for designing a farm. I can only look at it and wish. Dad's lawn will not be tainted by such as these. Sigh......
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Tips to do after purchasing land
So, you found your land, what do you do next? Here's a good article about starting.
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Four free rabbits and a photo hog
When I picked up my goats they were also getting rid of their rabbits and offered them to me free. So I took them. Overall they are in good shape. There are two meat type rabbits and two lionhead. The lionheads are really cute. As with any new animals they go in to quarantine. But, one lionhead had mites in the ear bad…
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Animal feed is soaring in price in my area
Chicken feed has gone up $1 in a week here. I went in to shock when I looked at goat feed. I hope I can get theses guys out foraging for the better part of their food soon I started micro greens today and they get the soil and roots when I am done. I'll plant fast growing micros and I'll start some sprouts with them in…
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Tips about expectations with homesteading
Article about those of us on the edge being realistic about our goals.
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Gardening
Question: How do, for example, squash vine borers know when to become lively to be attracted to plants’ roots within the soil to inflict harm to the plant/s? I mean, does the plant produce some sort of sexual energy magnetic vibration?
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Garden beds
What can you plant along with fennel?
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Fighting chicken boredom
We are finally getting a long cold snap. Luckily we are going to miss the snow dump but I think its 6 days of cold. My chickens have become spoiled this winter so I figured I need to go the extra mile to keep them happy. All outdoor animals have been deep mulched to hold in warmth. Waterers have been filled and placed in a…
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Earthbag Houses
As I do my research while I'm waiting to retire and relocate, I've been collecting info about various housing styles. These range from concrete block plans to cob to earth bag. Thought I'd share this link to earthbag houses.
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Article about the early years of homesteading
It touches on what she expects in the future. Also, asks you to consider some pretty relevant questions.
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homesteading ideas and links
I found a variety of how to's or homestead ideas today. Many I need to save for future reference Off grid water ideas: https://morningchores.com/off-grid-water-systems/ Cool root cellar ideas: I need one of these https://morningchores.com/root-cellars/ Barrel wood stove:…
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I was a Five Hour Cattle Farmer
On our small ranchette we have had most animals at one time or another, but never cows, until... My mother and I went shopping one day, It was one of those hot airless days and we were both looking forward to a cold tall glass of ice tea. As my mother pulled in to the lower drive I burst into laughter and tears. I was…
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Rural life - Boring?
When I had my one career I lived in cities. I walked away from that one job and returned to the country. My work related friends would ask, "How can you live in the country - its boring." Boring? If I told half the stories of what happened around here they would lock up. My one rooster one spring went from nice to total…
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Planning for the seasons
When I first got my chickens I put my coop and pens up in the fall. I did take into consideration sun path and wind for cold winter months but I never thought about how I put the roof up (the snow would fall off the roof and either block the door if it was an icy mess or it would take me 20 to 30 minutes to shovel it out).…
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simple and effective watering systems
I just finished the Simple and Effective Watering systems for small animals on the academy done by @Marjory Wildcraft . I have been planning to do a watering system for my animals so that I can go away for a few days and not worry as much, Thank you for the class. Great tips Its very difficult to leave your animals and…
