10 Reasons to Keep Rabbits on the Homestead
Although meat may be a top reason to keep rabbits on the homestead, there are plenty of other benefits to having these furry friends around. Here are 10 advantages to raising rabbits.
Produce
Setting Up Automatic Coop Lighting: Everything to Know for Chickens or Ducks
If you have chickens or ducks for eggs you are going to want to do your best to maximize their egg production. This is most easily achieved by installing automatic supplemental coop lighting to create more consistent patterns of routine for your birds.
10 Small Homestead Skills: Ideas to Focus On
If you’re a beginner to homesteading, trying to get started can feel overwhelming and intimidating. Even if you’ve been learning small homestead skills a while, knowing where to focus is difficult, and growing both knowledge and access can feel out of reach. These 10 small homestead skills are a great place to start.
Automatic Chicken Feeder or Duck Feeder: Everything to Consider
If you have poultry of any kind, you know what daily chore it can be to attend to their basic care. Setting up an automatic chicken feeder or duck feeder is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to automate your coop. Some things to think about are: Size of feeder, location, size of poultry, size of flock, type of poultry, feed wastage from spill or birds, access for pests, and the refilling process. Let’s take a look at each of these options.
Where to Get Seeds When You Can’t Buy Them
For anyone new to gardening the priority will be sourcing a piece of ground and finding out where to get seeds. That is literally all it takes to get started growing your own food. It’s like magic! Those who have the time and resources will be able to order seeds from one of the many excellent seed companies that exist. But you aren’t here to find out where to order seeds, are you? You want to know where to get seeds when you can’t buy them.
Easy Tips to Improve Soil for Potted Plants
Do you find your potted vegetables dry out way too fast in the heat of the summer sun? Feeling like your plants are lacking, but want to improve soil health without commercial fertilizers? Finding yourself watering them once or twice a day? Afraid to miss a day and have your plants shrivel up and …
10 Real Benefits of Keeping Muscovy Ducks
Muscovy Ducks can be found all over the world as domesticated waterfowl, and we’re ready to talk about what these birds are really good at. There are many great reasons for keeping Muscovy Ducks on the homestead, or as small backyard pets—although these reasons do not include maximizing on meat and egg production. If you …
5 Reasons Muscovy Ducks May Not be Right for You
Muscovy ducks are often a top choice for many first-time duck owners as they are a well-known breed. They were among the first ducks that we kept here on our homestead. It is true there are some benefits to having muscovies on the farm (see 10 Real Benefits of Keeping Muscovy Ducks), but I wouldn’t …
5 Reasons Muscovy Ducks May Not be Right for You Read More »
A Simple Guide to Tying Up Raspberries
On our homestead we like to tie up raspberry canes after the snow is gone, but before the buds come out. We have had some debate around here about the value of tying up raspberries. It is a small time investment, but we have decided the benefits are worthwhile. Tying up raspberry canes keeps fruit off the ground, which …
How to Calculate When to Plant Seeds
You’ve poured over the seed catalogs and placed orders for cute little heirloom vegetables. The mail finally delivers the nice thick envelope. You have your up-cycled seed trays ready and a space cleared out by a sunny window. You, my friend, are a master gardener—protector of the environment and organic superhero. Now you just need to plant. This …