About the Author
Countryside Contributor
Articles by Countryside Contributor
Whole Wheat Cookery
I can’t remember exactly when I first began dabbling in whole wheat cooking but it was about 20 years ago. My husband and I had started to make a change in our diet and lifestyle and bleached, white flour became one of the first things to go.
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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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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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Growing a Traditional Victory Garden
During WWI and WW2 the vast majority of people grew some of their own food. It was not only expected, it was patriotic and a symbol of helping to win the war.
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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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Avoid Lambing Problems with This First Aid Contents Checklist
Most of the time when you have lambing problems or experience a sheep illness emergency, the vet and local livestock supply stores are closed for the weekend, and sheep farm and ranch specialties dealers are days away by mail.
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Starting Your Own Soap Making Business
I remember when I first discovered I could make my own soap and started my own soap making business. I was intrigued and obsessed with the various scents and ingredients.
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Growing Hemp on the Homestead
Recent interest in growing hemp as an agricultural crop isn’t as recent as you might think. Hemp is an ancient plant. Evidence points to the plant’s use 10,000 years ago where it has been used for centuries as a form of textile fiber.
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10 Agritourism Ideas for Your Farm
Earning extra cash on your farm is possible with the agritourism ideas I’m sharing today. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly 80% of the people in the United States live in urban areas.
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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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Is Your Livestock Barn at Risk for Fire?
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.
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Detecting and Treating Lump Jaw in 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.
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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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Dead Ram Walking: Treating Sick Sheep Symptoms
One day the ram was walking around and looking totally healthy — the next day he was just standing under a tree with his head hanging down. I approached him, hoping he’d lift his head and move away from me, but he didn’t.
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How to Grow a Three Sisters Garden
I learned how to grow a three sisters garden because I believe in taking a practical approach to gardening. And that approach should reward your efforts with a bountiful crop at the end of the season.
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