About the Author

Janet Garman

Janet Garman is a farmer, writer, instructor, and fiber artist living in central Maryland on the family's farm. She loves all subjects related to small farms and homesteading. Raising chickens, ducks, sheep, and fiber goats led her to write her most recent books, 50 Do it Yourself Projects for Keeping Chickens, (Skyhorse Publishing 2018) and The Good Living Guide to Raising Sheep and Other Fiber Animals, (Skyhorse Publishing -February 2019)

Cattle Shed Design for a Small Herd

June 7, 2021 · Janet Garman · Fences, Sheds & Barns

The lure of the wide open range and the romance of ranching may entice you to search cattle breeds and cattle shed design ideas. You live on the east coast or some other busy area of the world.

How to Shear a Sheep and Other Fiber Animals

May 31, 2021 · Janet Garman · Sheep

Learning how to shear a sheep takes practice and time. Before you head out to buy sheep shearing supplies try to observe a professional sheep shearer and ask questions.

Sheep Breeds for Fiber, Meat, or Dairy

May 24, 2021 · Janet Garman · Sheep

There are numerous breeds in the world and raising sheep serves many purposes. Some sheep breeds lend themselves to provide the whole range of products, Rambouillet sheep, Dorset sheep, and some other sheep breeds are good providers of wool fiber, lambs, milk, and eventually, meat.

6 Pig Farming Equipment Essentials for Your Farm

May 17, 2021 · Janet Garman · Pigs

There are not a lot of must-have pig farming equipment items for homestead hog raising. Besides the infrastructure needed for almost any livestock, other tools are rarely used. Shelter, secure fencing, and a container to hold plenty of fresh water are the bare bones of hog raising.

Picking the Best Tractor for Small Farms

May 11, 2021 · Janet Garman · Tractors & Farm Equipment

Buying the best tractor for small farm work requires searching for the right tractor for the job. Tractors can be used for many reasons.

Hair Sheep Breeds – The Right Choice for You?

May 10, 2021 · Janet Garman · Sheep

Hair sheep breeds are growing in popularity as consumers look for economical ways to raise homestead meat animals. Hair breeds have many positive traits that make them an ideal animal for small farms, homesteads, and of course, larger commercial farms. If you have space to corral a few sheep, you can fill the freezer with a healthy alternative to beef and chicken.

Best Barns, Chicken Coops, and Hutches for Homesteads

May 6, 2021 · Janet Garman · Fences, Sheds & Barns

Building the best barns, chicken coops, hutches, and other shelters adds value to your homesteading land. How do you know what to pick for housing your animals?

10 Pig Breeds for the Homestead

May 3, 2021 · Janet Garman · Pigs

Has the time come to add pig breeds to your list of homestead goals? With the proper homestead fencing and pig shelter, the quick grow out time for most pig breeds makes them an ideal protein to raise on a small farm. If you are ready to take on the project of raising pigs, learn which of the pig breeds is right for your family.

Raising Miniature Goats, Cows, Chickens, and Sheep

May 2, 2021 · Janet Garman · Homesteading

What is driving the recent trend in raising miniature goats, cows, chickens, and other livestock? As more people move toward a simpler way of life, and are living in a more self-sustainable way, they may be interested in having a family milk provider.

Wool-Yielding Animals for Yarn and Fiber

May 2, 2021 · Janet Garman · Homesteading

Yarn weights are considerations when deciding which fiber breed or species to raise for your yarn. Wool, fleece, and fiber can be harvested from a number of wool-yielding animals, including sheep, goats, rabbits, camels, llamas, alpaca, bison, and yak!