Self-Reliance
What Size Generator Do I Need for My Farm, Ranch or Off-Grid Home?
When most people think of Connecticut they envision a state covered in pavement and cramped little houses stacked on top of one another, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Surprising as it may seem, the majority of New England is rural in nature, dotted with farms and homesteads averaging from five to 100+ acres per parcel.
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A Guide to the Best Survival Foods
Emergency survival and preparation is a hot topic right now. You’ll find many articles online regarding what foods should be on your survival items list.
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What Should be in an EDC Bag?
Every Day Carry or EDC bags are about prepping on the smallest scale. You’re more likely to use what’s inside this kit than your food storage or bug out bags.
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Stocking Your Food Pantry with Emergency Essentials
When planning your emergency food pantry, you should first ask yourself two questions: If an emergency occurs, what are the things I will most likely lack; and, what cooking facilities will I have in an emergency?
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15 Essential First Aid Kit Contents
Add to Favorites Though we know we should carry a first aid kit, contents can vary box by box. Should you purchase ones sold on department store endcaps or build …
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50 Must-Haves for TEOTWAWKI
Arguably, the most important thing to store for a SHTF (Stuff Hits The Fan) or complete TEOTWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It) scenario is knowledge. Without it, you won’t survive.
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Wood-Splitting Tools for Today’s Homestead
Wood-splitting tools have enabled homesteaders to survive and thrive for centuries. Just like many of today’s tools we use on the homestead, there have been some marked improvements since the days of yore.
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Nominate a Homesteader for the I Am Countryside Feature
Add to Favorites Know a homesteader who inspires others? Want to see them featured in Countryside & Small Stock Journal? Nominate them (or yourself!) and we’ll tell their story in the …
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How to Make a DIY Barrel Smoker
Barbecue competitors know all about building a DIY barrel smoker. Smokers can be built from many different humble beginnings.
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Elderberry Offers Edible and Medicinal Benefits
My first experience with elderberries came when my husband and I moved to the country to build our first home. We purchased land that was pretty much untouched as far as wild edibles went.
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Exploring the Numerous Calendula Benefits
Calendula (Calendula Officinalis), or pot marigold as it’s sometimes called, is a multi-purpose edible and medicinal herb. The Shakers and early settlers knew the culinary value and superior healing qualities of this beautiful golden herb.
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Fire Evacuation Procedures for Your Livestock
The year 2013 was an informative and challenging year for Half Creek Farm in Bickleton, Washington. In late July and early August, we got our first “opportunity” to give farm fire evacuation procedures a try.
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DIY Yellow Jacket Trap
Imagine it’s noontime on the farm and your family is ready to enjoy a great lunch outside. The plates are full and the view is postcard gorgeous. But, oh no! They are back!
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Why That Homemade Insecticidal Soap Might Kill Your Garden
One of the most prevalent DIY gardening hacks is to make homemade insecticidal soap, but I am here to tell you that it just might kill your garden.
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Battery Maintenance Tips
In this article we discuss the common types of lead acid batteries you have around your farm or homestead, their uses, and battery maintenance tips for optimum life.
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