Countryside Contributor, Author at Countryside

Keeping it Cool With a DIY Walk-in Cooler

August 17, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Homesteading

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.

Go Fish!

August 17, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Homesteading

Remember catching your first fish? I do. Mine was hooked using a wooden stick baited with a nightcrawler — a backwoods fishing rig if ever there was.

Anatolian Shepherd Dog: Guardian of the Livestock

August 17, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Sheep

Need a good guardian for livestock? You might consider the Anatolian Shepherd dog. The breed originated in the Anatolia area of the nation of Turkey, hence the name, and is still used in Turkey’s and western Asia’s rural areas as a defender of livestock.

An Easy Peasy Start to Seed Saving

August 5, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Growing

Add to Favorites By TJ King – When I started gardening years ago, I did a terrible job harvesting shelling peas (Pisum sativum). Each season, I missed peas on every …

A Salute to the Mighty Come-Along Tool

August 4, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Tractors & Farm Equipment

Thanks to the fabulous come-along tool, an endless variety of monumental pulling tasks can be performed by one individual. In countless sheds and barns across this nation is one of the greatest tools known to man.

Is Your Livestock Barn at Risk for Fire?

July 27, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Fences, Sheds & Barns

No one wants to see their barn wrapped in flames. But that’s exactly what occurred at one of the oldest dairy farms in New York, when firefighters from 15 departments responded to the scene.

Detecting and Treating Lump Jaw in Cattle

July 25, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Cattle

Lump jaw in cattle is a bacterial infection of the jawbone. Bacteria are often present in the mouth of cattle, so anything that punctures the mouth tissues may open the way for infection, which can lead to lump jaw.

How A Solar Powered Car Could Drive Your Homestead

July 20, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Homesteading

In 2014 when my wife and I decided to power our five East Texas acres with solar, a solar powered car was not part of the plan. But a couple of thoughts we had, changed our minds.

Adding New Dogs Into an Existing Livestock Guardian Dog Pack

July 18, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Sheep

Many operators incorrectly start their LGD experience by purchasing, training, and using just one dog at a time. They usually find out sooner than later, they should have bought two dogs or more to start. To be used successfully as guardians of livestock, LGDs should be run in pairs or more.

Salvage Your Drought-Affected Corn

July 10, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Growing

For five long summer days, the relentless sun blazed, penetrating and drying out corn tassels. An unceasing wind drove away what moisture was available in the air.

Cooking with the Sun

July 5, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Homesteading

Do you enjoy cooking outdoors? Then stretch those outdoor living skills by cooking with solar energy.

Rowdy the Buffalo

July 5, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Homesteading

After driving down the long driveway past two large pastures and a small herd of bison, we arrived. We walked through a large expanse of fresh-cut green grass in front of the house and onto a large and sturdy, welcoming porch.

How to Build Durable Pipe Corrals

July 5, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Fences, Sheds & Barns

It’s important to know how to build pipe corrals because of the availability of material and, if done correctly, it will only need to be done once in a lifetime.

Cedar Apple Rust: A Disturbing Discovery

July 1, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Growing

My family and I returned home from church on a rainy Sunday in May. It had been pouring for hours, but just as I pulled into the driveway, the rain stopped, and the sun shone brightly through a break in the clouds.