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Countryside Magazine Contributor
Articles by Countryside Magazine Contributor
What are Essential Oils?
By now you have probably heard mention of essential oils even if you have not yet experienced them. However, with the rise in multi-level marketing of essential oils along with the increase in popularity of natural grocers and health food stores, perhaps you also have experienced an essential oil or two.
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Raising Highland Cattle for Beef
“As cute as they look, that is as good as they taste.” That statement is something I live by.
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Safely Castrating Calves
The best age and method for castrating calves may vary, depending on your situation. Some stockmen feel that a calf should be allowed to grow all summer before being castrated, since calves grow faster as bulls.
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Know Your Firewood Moisture Content
Knowing firewood moisture content can make the difference between creating steam or heat. Most folks agree that water doesn’t burn, not unless you break H2O down into H and O, both of which are highly flammable, and that doesn’t happen in your stove or furnace.
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Hybrid vs. Heirloom Seeds
I am a diehard for plants grown from heirloom seeds, and I save most of my own seeds for our farm. I thought now would be a good time to give a lesson on the basic differences between hybrid and heirloom seeds.
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Buying a Chainsaw? Which One?
Buying a chainsaw can be a frustrating experience. What brand should I buy? What size bar should I get?
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Burdock Slivers Can Cause Eye Irritations
Eye problems in livestock and horses can be caused by foreign material in the eye, and one of the most challenging problems is burdock slivers. Burrs from this invasive weed stick to hair or clothing.
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Raising Spotted Pigs: Gloucestershire Old Spot
We love raising pigs for meat, so I was excited to try a new pig breed. One bite of that succulent pork roast, and I knew I was on to something.
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Silvopasture Explained
Silvopasture, also known as agroforestry, is a farming method that includes the use of timber, livestock, and forage together in the same section of land. It is used to expand the use of unconventional farm land and diversify income.
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Why You Should Consider Wintering Geraniums
Wintering geraniums not only saves money, it also saves special memories. As a warm October day arrives, I force myself to uproot blooming pots of geranium plants to store away for winter.
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Grind Your Own Grain For Bread
Grinding your own grains may add more vitamins to your diet, as well as contribute to a better overall healthy lifestyle. Grinding your own grains puts you into a place of really being connected and informed in the area of your food.
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Growing and Marketing Bulb Plants
Experimenting with new ways to earn an income from our small farm, we recently discovered the possibilities of spring flower bulb plants.
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How to Craft with Grapevines
By Cherie Dawn Haas – One of the beauties of homesteading is learning how to use everything that’s available to us in some way, and if you grow grapes for wine or jelly, that resourcefulness includes making grapevine crafts. I discovered this firsthand a few years ago after pruning hundreds of our vines one season.
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Emergency Preparedness Plan Ideas
A disaster can occur at any time. Having an emergency preparedness plan ahead of time could make a difference in your survival.
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Propagating, Collecting and Saving Seeds
Had the Pilgrims not brought and introduced abundant seed varieties to the New World, we would not be enjoying a diverse variety of popular plants in the agricultural world and our homesteads would lay barren. Collecting and saving seeds is easy and rewarding.
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