With grocery store egg prices still pecking away at household budgets, more and more people are turning to backyard flocks as a sustainable, affordable solution. Spring is the perfect time to start, with feed stores and hatcheries offering a ...
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The Sweet Art of Maple Syrup: A Short Guide to Tradition and Production
The Legacy of Maple Syrup Well, it’s that time of the year again. So get outside and find a few sugar maples. Let’s get going. This is fun! But more than that, it’s a great tradition to pass on ...
Read More »Transforming Wood Ash Into A Fertile Off-Grid Asset
For anyone who relies on wood-burning stoves or fireplaces, the accumulation of ashes can sometimes feel like an unwelcome chore. Sweeping out that soft gray powder might seem tedious, but off-the-gridders, homesteaders, and gardeners in the know have discovered ...
Read More »How to Keep Your Fire Burning All Night: A Cozy Winter Guide
As winter’s chill deepens, the warmth of a fire becomes one of life’s simple pleasures. Whether using a traditional fireplace or a wood-burning stove, keeping your fire burning all night is both practical and comforting. This guide will walk ...
Read More »Unique Off-Grid Ways You Can Use A Fresh Pumpkin This Fall
Nothing quite says “fall is here!” like seeing the season’s first big bins full of fresh pumpkins at the local store. They’re synonymous with autumn’s holidays — jack-o-lanterns for Halloween and pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, while the pumpkin may ...
Read More »7 Important Steps To Prepare Your Chickens For Fall And Winter
This time of year it is important to begin preparing your chickens and your coop for colder weather. In the Midwest, the popularity of winter-hardy breeds, is quite high. If you don’t keep them warm enough and well-fed, however, there’s ...
Read More »10 Flowers That Will Attract Colorful Butterflies To Your Garden
Butterflies — those small, beautiful “flying flowers” of nature — are always a welcome sight in our gardens and herald the coming of summer. Their unique and colorful designs inspire artists and enchant children. How do we encourage butterflies to ...
Read More »Spring Guide To Raising Healthy Chicks
There’s nothing that hints of spring quite like newly hatched chicks. If you haven’t ordered yet, now is the time to do so, either through a nearby breeder, the local feed store or a mail order hatchery. You’ll also want ...
Read More »How To Mouse Proof Your Home For Winter
You don’t have to live next to a farm, field or forest to have a large mouse population in your neighborhood. It is important to mouse proof your home the best you can to keep these varmints out. Mice are ...
Read More »Critical Preps For Spring Storms – When Mother Nature Strikes
The spring storm season is here, and for thousands of people in the United States, that means time to start preparing the homestead. It is important to becoming mentally aware of how to react should you find yourself in the ...
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