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)

Homesteading After Retirement: Part 1

December 11, 2020 · Janet Garman · Homesteading

Is it your dream to retire from your career or day job and begin to live a homesteading life? The romantic idea of retiring business casual clothes for a daily wardrobe of muck boots and Carhartt overalls can appear to be a dream come true.

Best Barns, Chicken Coops, and Hutches for Homesteads

November 30, 2020 · 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?

Sheep Breeds for Fiber, Meat, or Dairy

November 29, 2020 · 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.

Is a Livestock Guardian Dog the Right Choice?

November 2, 2020 · Janet Garman · Homesteading

Using a livestock guardian dog dates back more than 2,000 years. Dogs bred for the purpose of protecting livestock from predators and thieves were necessary when nomadic people roamed thousands of acres while raising sheep and cattle.

Raising Miniature Goats, Cows, Chickens, and Sheep

October 30, 2020 · 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.

The Dorper Sheep: A Hardy Adaptable Breed

October 26, 2020 · Janet Garman · Sheep

Would you like to raise Dorper sheep, one of the fastest growing breeds in the United States and many other countries? There is good reason for the popularity of the Dorper sheep breed.

What to Feed Sheep for Prime Wool Production

October 14, 2020 · Janet Garman · Sheep

A large part of raising wool animals is knowing what to feed sheep in order to obtain good quality wool. Feeding choices will vary from place to place.

Cattle Shed Design for a Small Herd

October 1, 2020 · 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.

6 Pig Farming Equipment Essentials for Your Farm

September 19, 2020 · 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.