homestead

Managing Failures on the Homestead

Gain tips for managing failures on the homestead and learn how to bounce back to growing crops and raising livestock successfully.

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Using Foraging to Teach Plant Biology (and More)
February 4, 2023 · · Self-Reliance

I hope that this whets your appetite to explore and teach with the world of edible plants that are bursting out of every corner beyond your door.

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How to Save Electricity at Home During the Holidays
December 7, 2022 · · Holiday, Self-Reliance

As beautiful as the holidays can be with lights and displays, it can also get pricey. Here’s some tips on how to save electricity through the holiday season.

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How to Store Firewood: Try Low-Cost, High-Efficiency Racks

One thing we have in abundance here in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina is firewood. Last winter, we noticed that the number of wood piles on our neighbors’ properties increased dramatically.

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Fire Preparedness On The Farm
August 1, 2022 · · Self-Reliance

Fire preparedness is an often-overlooked issue on the farm and homestead. Have you looked at your homestead or farm through the eyes of a firefighter?

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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.

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7 Tips for How to Start Living Off The Grid

Add to Favorites By Dave Stebbins – Living off-grid is living the dream. Enjoying all the amenities while not being dependent on the power company fires the imagination. Sunlight sparkles …

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Secrets of Raising Katahdin Sheep
May 18, 2022 · · Sheep

Katahdin sheep are one of several hair breeds, the most common of which includes Barbados Black Belly, St. Croix, and Dorper sheep.

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Growing Cherry Tomatoes in Pots is Perfect for Everyone
May 2, 2022 · · Growing

Add to Favorites No matter your location, if you have access to even moderate sun, growing cherry tomatoes in pots is for you. With the right varieties and soil nutrients, …

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Growing Shiitake Mushrooms on a Log

Add to Favorites By Anita B. Stone, North Carolina – If you ever wanted to grow mushrooms on the homestead and make a decent wage, growing shiitake mushrooms is the way …

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Water on the Homestead: Is Filtering Well Water Necessary?
April 13, 2022 · · Self-Reliance

Add to Favorites Many homesteads have wells drilled for their water source. But is filtering well water necessary? There are, as usual, different thoughts on the subject. I grew up …

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Why Raise Miniature Cattle?
March 31, 2022 · · Cattle

Add to Favorites By Professor Richard Gradwohl Washington – As 100-500-acre family farms continue to disappear, the small acreage family homestead farm is becoming more common. Miniature cattle breeds are particularly …

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Cherishing the Natural Beauty of Icelandic Sheep

We were ready to give up on the sheep business altogether when we discovered Icelandic sheep.

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A Field Guide to Common Owl Species
March 16, 2022 · · Homesteading

Add to Favorites Many of us have resident owls on our farm and wonder what kind of owl species we are hosting. This field guide shows identifying features and behaviors …

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How to Work a One-Acre Homestead

Add to Favorites When we purchased our home in upstate New York, we had no intention to create a one-acre homestead. We were thrilled that we had so much space …

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