An old dairy factory, most probably a manufacturer of cheese, in rural West Otago
Encourage your children to help around the homestead with this guide of chores for homestead kids by age. They will thank you later!
My choices for the best homesteading books for beginners with advice on how to grow your own food and live a more self-reliant lifestyle.
I really love using our goat milk as an ingredient, whether it's in the kitchen or elsewhere on the homestead. Who wouldn't after all they say it's 'super healthy'. Remember the previous posts on how to make goat milk soap, how to make goat milk lotion and how to goat milk butter? Well today, I
We all need some great to-do checklists for life, no? Today let's dive into a to-do checklist of 54 things to do every year for your homestead. For every season. For a downloadable, printable set of checklists (& useful homestead-related coupons & offers!) join my Subscriber Library. Or just keep scrolling for the complete lists.
An old dairy factory, most probably a manufacturer of cheese, in rural West Otago
Baby goats are so cute, and you could easily get carried away and buy a lot but that’s probably not the best strategy.
Don't have a traditional homestead yet, but you're still wanting to feel like a homesteader?! Check out this list of 27 homesteading skills you can practice up on before you have an ACTUAL homestead. Please note: This post may contain affiliate links, for our full disclosure click HERE. Are you interested in jumping into homesteading, even
Goat minerals are the most important aspect of your goat management program. Find out the most Important Goat Mineral Information here...
These tough times call for old-fashioned living and ways of life. Ways to thrive in challenging times.
10 things I wish I had known before owning goats. Don't you agree with #5?? But does it stop us from owning them?? Nope! Once a goat lover, always one.
Now is the time to create your homesteading plan, month by month. Plan out tasks you know you'll have to do to start organized for the upcoming year.
This Is Another Breed From The Gamefowl Family He Is a Kelso Their Color Normally Is Red
Everything homesteading! Books, food preservation tools and more!
Shelf Stable Beef #preptok #prepper #homesteader #fypシ #homestead #prepare #beprepared #selfreliance #stockyourshelves #DIY #howto #selfreliance #homesteader #homemade #homesteadlife #prepper...
Are you homestead dreaming? That dream might be closer than you think! Find out what homestead skills you can start practicing NOW, no matter where you are!
Learn how to successfully breed your own dairy goats and produce milk, cheese, and other products for you and your family with this helpful guide! Ensure that your herd remains healthy and productive!
Dairy goats can be a great addition to your homestead, but there are some things you need to consider before you get any.
You’re a diehard gardener, maybe more so than others — you have raised bed vegetable gardens and maybe even a few chickens for eggs. You’re out there and committed. But what if you want to amp it up from avid gardening to homesteading? Homesteading is leading a lifestyle that promotes increased self-sufficiency, whether you live on rural acreage or are an urban dweller. This could include : Growing, canning, and preserving fruits, veggies, and herbs Maintaining a compost pile and possibly even a composting toilet Raising animals like chickens and goats for meat, milk, and eggs Hanging laundry on the line instead of using a dryer Making your own clothes Reducing energy by cycling to work, installing solar panels, or using wind turbines Employing rainwater collection systems Splitting your own firewood Whatever you call it — homesteading, living closer to the land, or living a simple lifestyle — making good, clean, healthy choices benefits your family, your neighborhood, and the world around you. Ready to take the plunge? Here are some next steps for you. First — do I have to go “all in” to be a homesteader? In a word, no. Ask yourself what your end game is. You may not know right now, and that’s okay — and your goal can change along the way. You may have a goal of living as totally self-sufficient and off the grid as possible. Or, you might simply want to grow and raise as much of your own food as you can. It’s all good; start somewhere and vow to be flexible with your thinking and goals as you go. Still wondering where to start to create a homestead? Keep reading. Read More: HOMESTEADING: LEADING A SELF-SUFFICIENT LIFE 3 Areas To Transition From Gardener To Homesteader: Your food supply: Because you’ve likely been growing veggies for a while, you can now focus on expanding your definition of “growing your own food.” Add some fruit crops (trees, shrubs, and vines), start or expand your herb garden, or add a beehive or two for honey and beeswax (see #3 below). Learn how to can, preserve, and dehydrate your harvests. Or, if you are a meat-eater, you can add a group of meat chickens or ducks in addition to those you may have for egg production. Have a little more space? Add a few goats into the mix for milk and/or meat production. While meat processing (or meat eating, for that matter) isn’t for everyone, it’s a valid choice for those wanting to be closer with the food they consume. Your natural resources: Solar panels on your house are a first good step to decreasing your grid dependence; you’ll pay less for energy while contributing to decreased gas emissions. Consider adding a wood-burning stove into the mix as well. Years ago, I was a guest in a home that had a wood-burning stove, and I thought it was kind of “hippie-ish” at the time — now, after learning and maturing, I think it’s brilliant. And rainwater collection? This is a great way to reduce the amount of city-supplied water to irrigate your garden (and there’s nothing that quite beats the quality of rainwater, anyway). Your home products: From natural hand soaps, dish detergents, and laundry detergents to personal care items, first-aid products and DIY teas, the sky actually is the limit here. You can use your own plants, herbs, goat milk, and beeswax — and while you may need to purchase some additional ingredients to complete these DIY projects, you have complete control over the quality and content. No harmful chemicals, no toxic fragrances, no budget wasting. Use what you have, re-use or repurpose other items, and ultimately, get what you want while paying less. How To Learn About Homesteading: If you’re making the shift from gardening to homesteading, there are a number of valuable ways to educate yourself and add to your skillset. Plus, they’re fun, which makes learning any new skill-less fearful and more exciting. Read books and watch videos. I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned about homesteading by simply watching a video or reading a book. As we got into raising goats, we’d be outside with new clippers looking at a YouTube video about how to trim their hooves. And my bookshelf is now filled with books and magazines on natural chicken-raising, food-growing, and setting up a home apothecary. It all seems difficult until you’ve seen it done or had it explained to you. Cultivate like-minded friendships. Some of my best friends are people I can call in a pinch when we’re having trouble with goat birthing (thanks, Chris M.!), and others I’ve met along the way through social media, buying supplies at the feed store, or when purchasing an animal from them. Look for local homesteading/chicken keeping/apiary groups and join their meet-ups, and be open to high-quality Facebook groups on the homesteading topic of your interest. Attend natural living, wellness, and earth fairs. We just attended one with a friend a couple of weeks ago, in fact. We sat in on seminars about cultivating mushrooms, browsed the bookstore and met authors, chatted with vendors, and met some new friends. Well worth the price of admission. Read More: Tips On Becoming More Self-Sufficient Organizing a Seed Swap DIY: How to Build a Raised Garden Bed Using Old Decking Worm Composting Companion Plants for a Dye Garden Types of Rainwater Storage Tanks Read More: Tips on Extending Your Homestead with Homestead Animals Choosing Chickens For Your Urban Farm How Often to Chickens Lay Eggs? The Ultimate Egg Guide Top 3 Goat Breeds Safe Treats For Your Homestead Pets See Also: SELF-SUSTAINING ON 1 ACRE: IS IT POSSIBLE? Share The Garden Love
Tips on disbudding kids. This is important for the safety of other goats, people and really for the goat itself. Here are step by step
Planning a Switch to Raw Milk? These 6 Raw Milk Handling Tips will ensure safe, great tasting milk every time you leave the barn.
If you're trying to find some gratitude while also recording important homestead happenings and getting more organized, try creating a tea time habit for homesteading reflection and planning.
Do the dreaded goat task effectively: learn how to trim goat hooves. Find a clear, step-by-step list and pictures to guide you along here!
Would you like to have a more self-sufficient homestead? Homesteading is a great way to be more prepared for disasters. But did you know...
Goat milk yogurt has different milk proteins than cow's milk and needs a thickening agent to help it set like a traditional yogurt. Using the correct amount of gelatin helps keep the right consistency.
Don't have a traditional homestead yet, but you're still wanting to feel like a homesteader?! Check out this list of 27 homesteading skills you can practice up on before you have an ACTUAL homestead. Please note: This post may contain affiliate links, for our full disclosure click HERE. Are you interested in jumping into homesteading, even
Living the homestead lifestyle offers a sense of freedom and satisfaction. However, you may have taken a drastic cut in income to make your dream a reality.
These are the nine of my favorite books that I've never read cover to cover, but refer to often for inspiration and advice. A treasure trove of information!
Make homemade mozzarella cheese using goat milk!
This is the ultimate wish list for a homestead kitchen. From a Bosch Mixer to the Ball book of preserving, there is something for every country cook.
What is the Homestead Act of 1862? How does the homestead act relate to western expansion, and to life as we know it today? This is how the west was settled
We'll go over some of the homestead startup costs, and how to start a homestead from scratch with nothing and little to no finances. You've read up on what homesteading is, you've set some first year homesteading goals, and now you're ready to get started! But wait! You're just making it by on paycheck to
Home dairy cow vs. goat, read the pros and cons of both dairy animals here. Learn which dairy animal is right for your homestead dairy needs?
Description and photos of a process for making goat milk butter using a KitchenAid mixer - no cream separator or butter churn needed!
Ready to start Christmas shopping? Here are 100+ gift ideas for the homesteader in your life!
One of the most exciting things about bringing home my very own cow, besides milking her for the first time, was making my very own homemade butter!
Us homesteaders are known for our resourcefulness and our tendency to do all things handmade. Christmas is, of course, no exception. But we can't do it all either. So this year I've put together a list of my favourite handmade Christmas gifts, as well as a curated list of one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted goods from a variety
Ideas to generate an income and make money on a homestead so that it is a profitable life style choice even on a small homestead.
The family milk cow is BACK! If you've been yearning for your own source of fresh, creamy milk, this post will answer your cow ownership questions.
If you have a milk cow or are buying raw milk from the store or a farm each week, here's what you can do with it once you get it into the kitchen.
This fudge recipe is the easiest because it's made in the microwave and it turns out perfect every time!
More and more people are raising goats for home. Why is this trend so hot? And why you might want to consider it
