This section is for the buzz on the animals – bees, goats, poultry. How to care for them on many levels and why they’re so important to the success of your homesteading efforts.
Ever heard of “vermicompost,” or composting with worms? We asked our friend Jo at Homestead Chronicles to help us out with a Q & A session on the topic of making compost with worms. Here are some vermicompost points to ponder. Continue reading “Vermicompost Q&A”
You know it’s time. As the weather starts to warm after the chill of winter, the chicken house once again becomes a presence for your olfactory senses. Plus, your children are restless to get outside and have some fun. It’s the season for coop cleaning with kids. With a chicken house on hand it isn’t hard to teach your kids the value of hard work in the family and on the homestead. Continue reading “Chicken House: Coop Cleaning with Kids”
My mother raised me to believe that you can know God has a sense of humor because he created ducks. If you’ve ever seen a duck go butt up, flapping it’s little webbed feet on the surface of the water, you’ll understand what she meant. Even if you agree, though, there’s still a possibility that ducks may not be right for you. Continue reading “Why Ducks May Not Be Right For You”
Today we welcome Beth from DiatomaceousEarth.com as a guest! She’s written a fabulous 7 point list of the various ways we can effectively use diatomaceous earth on the homestead. What’s diatomaceous earth? Read on! Continue reading “7 Ways to Use Diatomaceous Earth on the Homestead”
Natural Weed and Feed for goats – that’s what this post is about. Not official sounding enough? Alright, how about Natural Dietary Supplements for Goats. Continue reading “Natural Dietary Supplements for Goats”
The most important thing to remember at this phase of your goat milking career is that it will all work out. Things always do. You WILL triumph. You WILL drink fresh goat milk. You ARE more stubborn than that goat. But first, you must learn how to train a goat to a milk stand. You’ve got this. And we’re here to help with four essential items, training procedures and tips for troubleshooting. Continue reading “How to Train a Goat to a Milk Stand”
Are you trying to provide fresh foods to supplement your dairy goats’ diet? Here are some simple goat forage ideas from your backyard. Continue reading “Goat Forage in Your Backyard”
The first-first thing I want to say is, read the directions to learn how to process raw honey with an extractor. It’s such a basic step and one I too often neglect in my zeal to try a new thing! We’ve processed quite a bit of honey over the years but this was our first time using a honey extractor and, may I just say, hallelujah! Can I get an amen?!! Here it is, how to process raw honey with an extractor… Continue reading “How to process raw honey with an extractor”
When you capture a swarm of bees, you end up with free bees. Free bees are always a good idea! Continue reading “How to Capture a Swarm of Bees”
Curious to know how the process of hatching chicks in an incubator works before you fork over the money to purchase one? Wondering if it’s worth your time to raise your own chicks? Let us answer a few of those questions! Also a consideration of controlling flock genetics and overall health when you learn to hatch your own chicks in an incubator. Continue reading “How to Hatch Chicks in an Incubator”