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)
Read More

Articles by Janet Garman

How to Crochet a Scarf
October 5, 2022 · · Homesteading

When you know how to crochet a scarf, you have the foundation of skills needed to create almost anything from yarn.

Read More
Matching Dyeing Techniques to Fibers
September 28, 2022 · · Homesteading

Experimenting with different plant sources from nature can yield an amazing range of color when dyeing wool or cotton.

Read More
Foraging for Natural Dyes 
September 1, 2022 · · Homesteading

Our farm property is heavily wooded, so foraging for natural dyes was an easy transition for me once I learned the basics of natural dyeing.  

Read More
American Guinea Hogs
August 18, 2022 · · Pigs

American Guinea hogs could be the best choice for homesteading families. The all-black, small-sized hog is a champion at foraging for food and requires little to no additional grain feeding.

Read More
Pink Eye in Sheep: Treat or Let it Run its Course?
August 1, 2022 · · Sheep

During show season, pink eye in sheep can be a common livestock issue. Small ruminants easily transmit pink eye from one animal to the next.

Read More
Sheep Breeds for Fiber, Meat, or Dairy
July 27, 2022 · · 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.

Read More
How to Treat Foot Rot in Cattle, Goats, and Sheep
July 27, 2022 · · Cattle, Homesteading

Thrush and an overgrowth of yeast are often behind a case of foot rot in cattle and other livestock. Foot rot in cattle and all livestock needs to be taken care of as soon as possible.

Read More
Sugar Water Manor: Owning and Operating a B and B Homestead
July 25, 2022 · · Homesteading

The current owners of Sugar Water Manor have refurbished, renovated, and restored the entire property and run a farm bed and breakfast here.

Read More
How Do Blueberries Grow?
July 17, 2022 · · Growing

How do blueberries grow in my garden when there seems to be so much stacked against them? For the last few years, I have been enjoying homegrown blueberries.

Read More
Solar Dyeing Wool Using Natural Plants
July 17, 2022 · · Homesteading

Solar dyeing wool with natural dyes is a simple procedure that yields beautiful results. The process is fairly safe, so the whole family can enjoy the experiment.

Read More
How Much Hay Does a Cow Eat?
July 17, 2022 · · Cattle

After you unload the first cattle onto your property, your next biggest concern will be how to keep up with the demand for food. Knowing a

Read More
How to Shear a Sheep and Other Fiber Animals
July 6, 2022 · · 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.

Read More
How to Make a DIY Barrel Smoker
June 14, 2022 · · Self-Reliance

Barbecue competitors know all about building a DIY barrel smoker. Smokers can be built from many different humble beginnings.

Read More
Buying a 4-H Pig – Making the Right Choice
June 14, 2022 · · Pigs

If only buying a 4-H pig breed was as easy as grabbing the first piglet you see and raising it to market weight! Wouldn’t that be hilarious and interesting?

Read More
When to Add Perlite Soil to Container Gardens
May 27, 2022 · · Growing

Add to Favorites What in the world is perlite soil anyway? Is it organic? I do a lot of container gardening, especially with my herb plants. Since I try to …

Read More