Self-Reliance
Farm Pond Maintenance to Prevent Winterkill
Ponds and lakes in the northern United States have in the past experienced what I will term a “fish kill” related to lack of dissolved oxygen present in the water. Oxygen is essential to the metabolism of all aerobic (air breathing) organisms.
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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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How to Process a Deer: Start with Sharp Knives
Deer hunting and processing has been a family tradition for as long as I can remember. As kids, my brother and I would joke that this was our family’s “quality time.”
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Firewood Management 101
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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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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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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What is the Best Way to Store Firewood?
You’ve put in all the hard work of chopping the tree, splitting the wood, and now you’re ready to stack it for storage. But what is the best way to store firewood?
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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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Why You Should KISS Emergency Preparedness
How many of you are confident the economy is solid, your employment is secure, the value of the dollar is sound and the power grid is permanent? It’s no wonder the subject of preparedness has gone mainstream.
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Water Storage Tanks for a Low-Flow Well
Water storage tanks can be a practical solution if your well doesn’t fill fast enough for normal household use. But how do you get a building permit if the flow is less than local code requires?
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9 Common Homesteading Supplies and Hacks
Nifty gadgets have their place on the homestead but sometimes you just can’t go down that often-pricey path. Don’t get me wrong — I’m a hopeless fan of wonky inventions (think egg flashlights and nut wizards), but even if you have the cash, you might not feel like cramming yet another single-purpose item into your barn or basement.
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A Guide to the Best Trees for Firewood
All of us who live off of renewable energy have to know what are the best trees for firewood. After all, if you’re going to put in the time to cut, split and properly store firewood, you want to know you’re being as efficient as possible.
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11 Home Remedies for Bug Bites and Stings
Let’s face it, no one likes to be bitten or stung. The itching, stinging, burning, painful response our bodies have to bites and stings can even be uncomfortable.
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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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23 Ways to Use a Survival Bandana
Do you have the simplest, most useful item that can fit in any bug out bag? A survival bandana can replace many other items on your gear list.
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