Fixing a split beak can be easy for your chicken if you know what to do. Split Happens (Beaks that is) A chicken’s beak is comprised of primarily keratin, the same tough and insoluble protein you’d find in a hoof, antlers, or fingernails. It allows animals to have a durable and constantly regenerating part of…
Water Glassing Eggs – Preserving for Winter
Long term storage of farm fresh eggs through water glassing is simpler than you think! I often find myself saying: “So wait… how did they do this back in the day” and more often that not, I find that the old ways work as good or even better than current ways. Now don’t get me…
Easy DIY Rain Barrel for your Garden
If you seek to grow your own food, you likely oscillate between having too much rain or not enough. Regardless of where you live, the reality is that plants need the right amount of water at the right time. Unfortunately, it’s not possible for the backyard gardener to control the weather just yet. If there…
5 Reasons Rabbits are Better than Chickens for Backyard Homesteading
Are Chickens the Gold Standard? It must be true! Just pick up any book or article on homesteading and you’ll see chickens galore on the cover or in search results. Chickens are the absolute gold standard for homesteading greatness, right? You simply can’t be a homesteader without chickens. It’s like cookies without milk… it’s just…
Is Rabbit Starvation Real?
Where did the term Rabbit Starvation Come From? Almost everyone that’s ever considered raising rabbits as a sustainable meat source has been cautioned by well meaning people that… “Rabbit meat isn’t a good source of protein because you’ll die of rabbit starvation!” That usually ends the discussion of raising rabbits (I mean who wants to…
Grow House vs. Greenhouse for Winter Food
Growing during the winter can be challenging but a DIY indoor grow house helps dramatically. Winter Food Drought For every family growing at least some of their own food, locations with cold winters present a challenge. We try to preserve as much of our summer and fall harvests as we can through either canning or…
How to Create Edible Landscaping
The Road to Edible Landscaping Our journey to homesteading and eventually edible landscaping had humble beginnings. We lived outside Atlanta on less than a quarter acre lot with a typical suburban home on it. I was raised on a farm and wanted to get back to it, so when my wife and I got married…
How to Make Homemade Bone Broth
As winter approaches, we’re entering soup and stew season in the northern hemisphere, and bone broth is a great way to add nutrition and superb flavor to a warm hearty meal. What is Bone Broth? Let’s face it, when you hear the phrase “bone broth” it doesn’t evoke great images. It’s not like you’re saying…
Solar Lights for Chicken Coop?
Short days and remote location called for a creative lighting solution for our chicken coop Summer vs. Winter Sunlight Hours Anyone who lives materially north or south of the equator is all too familiar with making the statement “wow… the days are getting really short now” when fall and winter begin rolling around. Living in…
No Dig Potatoes Yield Great Results!
The Ruth Stout or “no dig” method to growing potatoes wins compared to traditional potato planting on our homestead! Ruth who? The legendary Ruth Stout was quietly born in 1884 to Quaker parents. She would later become famous within permaculture circles for being a pioneer in regenerative agriculture. She didn’t set out to be a…