Homesteading for everyone
Growing up, my grandparents always used to have tons of dilly beans on hand. As a kid, I used to turn my nose up at the pale green concoctions, swimming in their brine of what, as a child, I deemed as “icky” spices and pungent vinegar. Want to learn how to make your own dilly… [read more]
When I finally made the decision to add chickens to the homestead, like most, I went into serious research mode. Admittedly, with all the research I performed, the one situation that I never considered was that, like most animals, chickens can and do get bored. It only makes sense, seeing that they split their daily… [read more]
Every year, we harvest at least 50 pounds of potatoes. While potatoes can be stored for quite some time in a root cellar or even a dry basement (and frankly, even just on your countertop), I like to can potatoes for several reasons. First, canned potatoes are a quick breakfast, lunch, and dinnertime staple that… [read more]
Do you raise honey bees? If so, you should know that their usefulness extends well beyond the production of honey. In addition to pollinating your plants and ensuring a healthy ecosystem, bees also produce honeycomb. While it may not sound fancy, honeycomb produces many pounds of beeswax which can then be used around the home.… [read more]
The Scots certainly love their oats and for good reason – oats is low in fat, fibre-rich and high in energy. An Englishman observing a Scotsman settling down to his breakfast of oats porridge said scathingly, “Why do you Scots eat oats – in England we feed that stuff to the horses.” The Scotsman looked… [read more]
If your normally sweet, docile little hen just turned into a fire-breathing dragon with feathers, you might have a broody hen. Perhaps you are wondering if she is sick, or injured, or ate something that didn’t agree with her crop? If your hen just underwent a major personality change, it’s likely she’s broody. You may… [read more]
I have a friend who says, “Bring a sexy salad!” to a potluck, meaning one that grabs attention. This one fits the bill, redolent with herbs and spices that give it a taste evocative of the Mediterranean and North Africa. The lemon and cilantro provide a fresh contrast to the earthiness of the beetroot. Use… [read more]
Did you ever wonder if you should get silkie chickens for your backyard or homestead? I will never forget the day that I discovered these amazing tiny balls of fluff – baby silkie chickens- for sale at my local Tractor Supply during their infamous Chick Days. I was immediately smitten with the little darlings and… [read more]
In this article, we will discuss the old-fashioned technique of hügelkultur building on the homestead scale. Hügelkultur is a German word that translates directly to ‘hill culture’, which means growing plants on a mixed mound of decaying wood, plants and soil. The mound is typically built directly on to the ground, which effectively creates a… [read more]
The name is certainly a weird one. The first part of the name comes from the fishing town of Cullen in North East Scotland, while the second part refers to a soup. Although originally it referred to a shin or knuckle bone used in soups, over time ‘skink’ was applied to any soup. In this… [read more]
