As a culture we tend to live in the moment. While in one sense this is not a bad thing, when living in the moment means not thinking about potential outcomes in our future, we are at risk of leaving our children ill-prepared to meet their future. History shows that disasters do happen, and when they do, will future generations have the skills they need to weather those disasters? I have heard so many people say, that will never happen…. Perhaps not in our lifetime, but eventually? ... [ Read More ]
40 Free or Cheap Kindle Books for Your Home and Homestead
I know not all of you homesteaders will agree with me, but I LOVE kindle. Don't get me wrong…. There is nothing like the feel of a real book in my hands and I am not an advocate of paper books going away. That said, even if you are a firm opponent of kindle books, hear me out. There are a ton of good reasons why you should learn to enjoy kindle books. First of all, kindle books are almost always cheaper than the paper versions. Even better you can get a lot of kindle books for free ... [ Read More ]
Looking Forward to 2013 – Homesteading Goals and Plans
I have to admit, 2012 was not the glorious year that I wanted it to be, too many things happening getting in the way of our plans and goals, and just generally one of those years where all one could really do is hang on for the roller coaster ride. 2013 is going to be different, or at least that is what I keep telling myself, and the firm belief in my head is that if I keep thinking it will be so, it will be. I have a lot of plans, not all of them are focused on my homesteading ... [ Read More ]
Weekend Homestead Windup – Is Fall Here?
Hi everybody it is time for another homestead update, and this time my mind is wandering to the leaves on our lawn and the cool temperatures we had this morning. As I drank my coffee I found myself wondering whether fall was on its way, whether a long Indian summer was not in our future. I am of two minds about the prospect of an early fall, as hot and dry as it has been this year, I am probably not the only one who is welcoming cooler temperatures, but at the same time I worry a bit about ... [ Read More ]
Weekend Homestead Windup – School is In!
School starts tomorrow and with it a lot of thoughts about this past season and plans for the days ahead. School starting means fall is on its way and that leaves time for new projects. It has been a while since I have done a homestead update, and a couple of weeks ago I decided that I need to try to make weekly updates as long as there was something for me to say each week. To that end I have decided to do a weekend homestead windup which will encompass all of my ... [ Read More ]
Is Hand Milking Taking Too Long? This Non-electric, Hand Operated Milker Makes it Fast and Easy
Today we have a guest post by Marg D., long time friend and admin at the OFF forums, Marg and her husband designed, created and tested the Easy Hand Milker in response to their own needs and are now making this innovative and much needed tool available to other home hobby farmers that face the same issues they do. The Need In the spring of 2011 I finally realized a dream, we got a milk cow! With the help of my son and husband, we were milking her by hand. Since this was our first milk cow, ... [ Read More ]
Our Harvest is Starting to Come In
All the effort that I made to getting my garden put in early is really paying off, our harvest is starting to arrive in and most cases it is a few weeks earlier that most around here. We have had all the usual spring crops and also have baby carrots, zucchini, cabbage and Cauliflower and the first signs of cukes and tomatoes. Our corn is waist high already and I have baby peas and green beans that we are anxiously awaiting. The onions have reached the stage where we can start ... [ Read More ]
First Harvest of the Year,Garden is In, keeping busy With New Puppy
It has been a very long time since I have given an update on my progress here, as well as being a long time since I have updated this blog. I have had very good intentions to update it every week and would love to do much more frequent posts, but I am still trying to figure out how to manage my time. There are so many things demanding my time between planting, butchering and our business not to mention a brand new puppy but more about him later... that I have a hard time keeping them all ... [ Read More ]
Our Little Homestead
I wanted to start an new category to chronicle the unfolding of our new little homestead. Many years ago I had a small 5 acre hobby farm, I lost this farm to bad health and other problems at the time. I have always wished that I would have had another choice or found a way to keep it. I never thought I would see the day that I would have another chance, but here we sit, the property is a lot smaller and it is not ours yet, but soon, it will be. I hope to pay for my homestead with cash if at ... [ Read More ]