New chicken keepers frequently ask the question, “How often should you collect chicken eggs?” This is a great question to ask because not only do we love our chickens, we love their eggs! And part of chicken keeping is making sure that we have the best, cleanest, healthiest eggs we can. A big part of… [read more]
How to Plant and Grow Aloe
When I first moved into my neighborhood, a friendly neighbor welcomed me in with a beautifully potted aloe plant that she had propagated herself. She was so good at growing them that she gave them to all the new neighbors, her family, and friends. It was such a lovely gift, but before long, I had… [read more]
How to Plant, Grow and Harvest Sage
Sage, salvia officinalis, is a hardy, shrubby, perennial herb and a member of the mint family. It grows pretty grayish green leaves with a pebbly texture and tall spikes of flowers in purple, blue, white, or pink. Sage looks just as beautiful as a perennial border plant as it does in the garden or gracing… [read more]
40 Ways to Feed Your Chickens for Free!
If the cost of raising chickens has got you down, maybe you want to take on a new challenge: how to feed your chickens for free. You might be surprised by all the things you can feed your chickens that won’t cost you any money. And while it is true that chickens need a balanced… [read more]
So, What Do Goats Eat?
We’ve all heard the saying that goats will eat anything. Only, it simply isn’t true. You won’t actually see a billy goat eating a tin can; it’s just a myth. Goats don’t really eat those things. In reality, goats can be surprisingly picky eaters, which generally helps protect them from eating anything poisonous or dangerous.… [read more]
Worm Castings – Everything You Need to Know
I didn’t know a thing about worm castings until I started homesteading. Imagine my surprise when I started searching for organic methods of soil fertilization and discovered worm castings. The more I researched, the more I became enamored with this secret sauce of gardening. First, I bought a bag, and then another, to mix in… [read more]
The 2 Easy Ways to Start Seeds Indoors
Maybe you want to get a jump start on the growing season so you can grow more food this year. Maybe you want to grow some food indoors through the winter. Or maybe you just want to have a fun science project for your kids to try. Regardless of the reason you want to start… [read more]
20 Delicious Flower Jelly Recipes You Should Try
Dandelions and wild violets are some of the first blooms of spring. Wouldn’t it be lovely to preserve that beautiful freshness to remind you the wonders of spring even in the middle of the bleakest winter? How about other beautiful flowers such as peonies, lilacs, lavender, and bee balm? You may already be cultivating these… [read more]
The Wyandotte Chicken Breed: Everything You Need to Know
I used to think a chicken was just a chicken until I decided I needed to have a few for my very own. After calling around to several hatcheries and asking questions that only a novice chicken owner could dream up, I discovered there were many types and breeds of chicken to choose from. The… [read more]
Broody Hens: Everything You Need to Know
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]