Countryside Magazine Contributor, Author at Countryside

How to Vermicompost At Home

March 18, 2021 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Growing

Even homesteaders on a tiny urban plot make a lot of waste. Our multi-faceted approach to recycling sends most yard waste through our chickens to start the composting process along with both an outdoor, hot composting system and an indoor worm bin.

How to Tube Feed a Calf

March 13, 2021 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Cattle

Add to Favorites By Heather Smith Thomas – There are times you must get fluid into a newborn calf that needs colostrum or a sick calf that needs fluid and …

Quick Tips For Fixing Metal and Wooden Gates

March 13, 2021 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Fences, Sheds & Barns

Keeping metal and wooden gates in good repair can sometimes be a challenge, but is an important part of homesteading today. A sagging or broken gate can be a chore to open and shut, and may also tempt an animal to jump, lean over or crawl through, possibly injuring itself in the process or getting out on a road or into a neighbor’s place.

Designing Your Ideal Homesteading Land

March 10, 2021 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Homesteading

Homesteading land is neither a farm nor a rural residence; therefore, it presents design challenges that are different from the others.

Feeding a Pig (For Market)

March 3, 2021 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Pigs

The spring and summer are a great time to bring pigs onto your farm or homestead. Within a few months, it is possible to have homegrown pork to fill your freezer.

DIY Fence Installation and Maintenance on the Homestead

February 27, 2021 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Fences, Sheds & Barns

When building a new fence, you need to consider whether to go with DIY fence installation or hire it to be done. Probably the most crucial part of fence maintenance is whether the fence was put up well, with quality materials.

Artificial Insemination is No Bull (Literally)

February 24, 2021 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Cattle

Most homesteaders dream of having their own cow to provide fresh milk and dairy products for the whole family. The challenge is, a milk cow must become pregnant before she can lactate, and that means you’re going to need a bull—unless you use artificial insemination (AI).

A DIY Mobile Sheep Shelter

February 21, 2021 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Fences, Sheds & Barns

Do you really need a barn for small livestock? This was a question I pondered before we acquired sheep.

Hydrosol vs. Essential Oil: Practical Aromatherapy in the Home

February 20, 2021 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Soapmaking

Hydrosol vs. essential oil: what is the difference and how can you use them for soapmaking and aromatherapy?

In previous articles, we have discussed what are essential oils, how to make a hydrosol, and hydrosol vs. essential oil as an overview.

How to Treat Colicky Calf Bloat

February 20, 2021 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Cattle

Some calves develop calf bloat, an acute enterotoxemia (toxic gut infection), caused by bacterial toxins. These calves are usually about a month old but may be as young as a few days of age or as old as two to three months.

Raising Piglets: Ensuring Your Little Ones Are Born Safely

February 17, 2021 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Pigs

Springtime! The time of rebirth, awakening, and babies! For those of us raising piglets, this is a time of little ones running through the fields and nursing in the sunshine.

H-brace Construction For Your Permanent Fence Line

February 16, 2021 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Fences, Sheds & Barns

When homesteading or farming with livestock, fencing is arguably one of the most important considerations there are in regards to the containment and safety of your animals. Whether you’re planning fencing for chickens or cattle, H-brace construction is an important part of the permanent fencing process.

Build an Inexpensive Hay Shed

February 14, 2021 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Fences, Sheds & Barns

There are many ways to store hay and protect it from the weather, but some methods are more reliable than others. Some people put hay in their barns, but there is always the risk of fire when feed is stored in a barn, especially if hay is ever baled with too much moisture in it, causing fermentation and heating (which can lead to spontaneous combustion).

Your Guide to Farm Pond Design

January 20, 2021 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Self-Reliance

You can create an effective farm pond design, whether you live on a few acres or 500. The water from a small stream is sufficient.

Dairy Sheep – Consider Icelandic Sheep

January 19, 2021 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Sheep

What struck me right away when my first Icelandic sheep lambed were the similarities that these sheep had with dairy goats. I had a commercial goat dairy in years past and these ewe lamb mothers had udders that would be respectable for a good milking dairy goat.

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