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Countryside Contributor
Articles by Countryside Contributor
The Shocking Truth About Electric Fencing for Sheep
People have mixed feelings about the use of electric fencing for sheep and other livestock. For people unfamiliar with them, the word “electric fence” conjures up images of a well-done corpse hanging off a prison fence.
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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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Creating An Evergreen Christmas Wreath
An old-fashioned Christmas tradition is to hang an evergreen wreath on your door to welcome family and friends.
Wreath making is quick and very inexpensive.
Wintering Pigs on Pasture
What could be more fun and exciting than seeing a group of pasture piglets running through the warm, green grass of summer? Not much in my opinion!
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Stop with the Chop
The Farmers’ Almanac is predicting “the winter of the great divide” for the 2020-21 season – cold and snowy in the north with drought in the west.
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How to Build Your Own Rabbit Hutch (Diagrams)
I recently saw a letter in Countryside and Small Stock Journal from a lady who was seeking plans for a rabbit hutch. After sending her the plans for my design, I realized that some of the other readers out there may find it useful as well.
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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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Growing Fruitful Apple Trees
Forget pumpkin spice. Apples are where it’s at in autumn. It’s too late to get your apple tree to produce a bountiful harvest this year, but growing fruitful apple trees next year can be a whole new story.
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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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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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When Limping is Not a Sign of Sheep Foot Rot
Don’t you just love how sheep keep teaching us what we never knew we needed to know? The past lambing season was one in which I got an advanced education in “Sheep Feet 101.”
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How to Build A-Frame Pig Shelters
We have found that our A-frame pig shelters are the best protection for our pigs when raising pigs on pasture. Whether farrowing outdoors or just providing shelter to your adult pigs, some of the important things to consider are shape, space, dryness, and function.
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3 Dog Sleeping Positions: What They Mean
We all love to watch our dogs sleep — from tiny twitches to full-out sprints, their adorable mannerisms can bring a ton of joy. But have you ever wondered about dog sleeping positions and what your dogs might be signaling by their naptime postures?
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Black Currants: America’s Delicious Forbidden Fruit
Black currants are easy-to-grow, requiring very little care, which was perfect for us! One spring, we were buying baby fruit trees at our local nursery and were excited about starting a small orchard on our 10-acre homestead.
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