Countryside Contributor, Author at Countryside

DIY Yellow Jacket Trap

June 29, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Self-Reliance

Imagine it’s noontime on the farm and your family is ready to enjoy a great lunch outside. The plates are full and the view is postcard gorgeous. But, oh no! They are back!

Accidental Shetland Sheep Farmers

June 21, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Sheep

I became what I term as an accidental Shetland sheep farmer. Why do I say that? Well, sheep were not something we had considered for our small homestead.

Making Money with Goat Milk Soap

June 11, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Soapmaking

Add to Favorites By Heather Hicks — We didn’t plan to have a soap business, in fact, I didn’t plan for dairy goats! Some of life’s best adventures are from following your children’s lead …

Black Currants: America’s Delicious Forbidden Fruit

June 8, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Growing

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.

Mullein, Not Just a Common Weed

June 5, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Growing

You will find mullein, a woolly-leafed, tall-stemmed biannual, along roadsides, in meadows, and riparian corridors throughout the United States and Canada.

Growing Your Own Spuds

June 5, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Growing

Potatoes are one of the most versatile root vegetables to grace a garden. There are white potatoes, yellow potatoes, red potatoes, even purple potatoes.

How to Make Lip Balm at Home

May 27, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Holiday, Soapmaking

One of the neatest things about having a desire to be as independent as possible is the many things you learn to do on your own. And come those cold winter days, you’ll be happy to know how to make lip balm at home.

Dead Ram Walking: Treating Sick Sheep Symptoms

May 17, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Sheep

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.

How to Grow Sweet Potatoes

May 13, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Growing

Sweet potatoes are about as versatile of a vegetable as one can get, making this tasty root the perfect garden staple in nearly any USDA planting zone. Sweet potato pie, marshmallow-covered casseroles, and sweet potato bread are but a few of the mouthwatering dishes made possible by this humble root.

How to Add Calcium to Soil

May 2, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Growing

Ensuring your soils have an adequate level of available calcium should be an essential part of your field fertilization practices for several reasons. Here’s why and how to add calcium to soil on your homestead.

How to Take an Accurate Soil Sample

May 2, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Growing

Do you want your garden to produce the best-tasting food in town? Do you want to maximize production to fill your farmers market stands?

Growing a Traditional Victory Garden

April 22, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Growing

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.

Are You Stumped?

April 20, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Homesteading

We have had plenty of old tree stumps on our tiny farm over the years. In fact, there have been as many as a dozen stumps scattered all around the property at one time.

Avoid Lambing Problems with This First Aid Contents Checklist

April 9, 2021 · Countryside Contributor · Sheep

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.