Homesteading for everyone
Besides the cute factor, these gentle animals have lots of benefits when introduced to your homestead. These include compostable manure, a fleece sheared annually which is worth quite a lot, the chance to hire out your alpacas for photo shoots – it’s amazing how many couples want to pose with an alpaca on their wedding… [read more]
The next time you have eggshells to throw out after your morning scramble or Benedict, don’t just toss them in the trash. When you have backyard chickens, you are going to get eggs. When you have eggs, you are going to get eggshells. You may be wondering “What can I do with eggshells?” Sure, you can… [read more]
When you feel like a lunchtime snack that isn’t going to involve a lot of time, then this provides a tasty meal within 20 or so minutes. If you have kids around who are hurrying you along because they are, “Starving!” then you can divide out the tasks – one doing the measuring of the… [read more]
Have you ever seen an herb spiral, or thought of building one for yourself? If so, then this is the article for you. An herb spiral is a garden fixture shaped into a spiral. It is similar to a garden bed, but winds around itself. The soil is typically sloped evenly from lowest at the… [read more]
I lived in a small townhouse with a tiny backyard. I squeezed in a garden, but what I really wanted was a few chickens for eggs, manure, and fun. My next-door neighbors promised they didn’t mind, but the township I lived in had different ideas about what I could do with my own backyard. The… [read more]
When you are first learning how to can, it can seem like a daunting task. You need to coordinate the cooking, the filling, and the processing without burning yourself or making a mistake that might cause your family to get sick. While there are risks to canning, there are also benefits. Following canning safety rules… [read more]
A tagine is a North African dish that is often both sweet and spicy, bringing out the flavor of the meat. The traditional way to serve it is with Moroccan flatbread or couscous to mop up every last taste sensation. A ‘tagine’ refers to both the stew and the conical two-part earthenware dish in which… [read more]
If you have a small farm or homestead, you’ve likely considered the many benefits of growing ornamental or fruit trees. While trees are beautiful statement pieces on any property, requiring minimal attention and care, there is one disease that is known to afflict fruit trees that can make your work a lot harder. Has your… [read more]
Across Africa, South America, and the East there are variations of a basic flour water mix used to make ‘bread’ in a dry pan to be eaten with traditional stews. In Ethiopia injera is the flatbread made from teff (a fine grain that varies in color from white to dark brown) and fIour and left… [read more]
We all want to save money on our grocery bills. Food is expensive! According to the USDA, the average family of four (2 adults and 2 children that aren’t teenagers) spends somewhere between $200 and $246 per week on groceries. That’s nearly $1000 per month just for food, and that doesn’t include eating out. If… [read more]
