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Countryside Contributor
Articles by Countryside Contributor
Winter Cover Crops And Green Manure Strategies
Cover crop strategies refer to cover crops scheduled into a crop rotation plan. Organic farming relies on soil health and cycling of nutrients through the soil using natural processes.
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Using Natural Fertilizers on the Homestead
Gardens are hungry creatures, demanding endless applications of fertilizer to keep vegetables, fruits, and flowers growing throughout the season. Unfortunately, many find their plot’s needs increase each passing year despite frequent feedings.
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Dexter Cattle – The Ideal Family Cow
Homesteading is about simplicity, self reliance, and doing as much as you can with as little as possible, always with an eye on the bottom line.
So when it comes to considering large livestock, selecting an animal species or specific breed that provides multiple benefits should be the goal.
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Sea Buckthorn: It Started With a Prayer
Studies have shown sea buckthorn is able to actually remove cholesterol from arteries. The seed and berry oil are used topically after radiation exposure due to medical treatments, accidental exposure or severe frostbite/sunburn.
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Heritage Sheep Breeds: Shave ‘Em to Save ‘Em
Heritage sheep are rare, but their wool is special. The Livestock Conservancy’s new Shave ‘Em to Save ‘Em project is focusing fiber artists on using rare breed wool and yarns to draw attention to their unusual and fine qualities.
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Are Rams Dangerous? Not With Proper Management.
Many people who are interested in keeping sheep hesitate because they have heard that rams are dangerous and hard to keep. So, are rams dangerous?
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DIY Rotel-Style Tomatoes and Fish House Relish
Do you ever end up with so many tomatoes that you start running out of ideas of what to use them for? Worry no more!
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Beginning Blacksmithing
Some of the best advice on self-reliance I’ve received was given to me by my grandfather while we worked in his blacksmith shop. “Never buy something that you can make,” he told me.
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Hunting for Food in the Wild
Recent food shortages at grocery stores around the country got me thinking. In this age of pandemics, when the food supply we’ve taken for granted is suddenly disrupted, having the ability to stock your freezer with wild game during hunting season is a comforting thought.
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Artisanal Sheep Cheese: Shepherds Manor Creamery Part 2 of 2
The Histons considered producing “mixed milk” cheese (where goat or cow milk is added to the sheep milk), but have found that their niche in sheep is what makes them stand out. All of the artisanal sheep cheese produced at Shepherds Manor Creamery is made from 100% sheep milk.
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Growing Cold-Hardy Vegetables
Many of us put our gardens to bed once winter arrives. However, by using an abundance of strategies and knowing which cold-hardy crops to plant, we can harvest food, even in snow-driven territories where temperatures may drop to zero degrees F.
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Planting Bulbs in Fall for Early Spring Flowers
You will find that planting bulbs in fall will bring great joy come spring. Discovering the first crocus emerging from the barren ground in late winter gives us a clear message that spring is not far behind.
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Springing Through Fall and Winter With Cover Crops
Cover crops are named because of the role they play in preserving soil health. They cover the ground to reduce exposure and the negative impacts that come with it.
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Building Our Debt-Free Home
We had been married for six years when we became debt-free. Like many couples starting out we had a vehicle loan, a loan for our mobile home, and a few other debts.
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Keeping it Cool With a DIY Walk-in Cooler
The time was drawing near to process lambs. My husband and I had processed our own venison for years. We were ready to venture out and try something new.
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