So you're thinking of adding a goat to your farm or homestead, awesome! They are wonderful animals, with a lot to offer a small or large homestead. Before jumping in and bringing home your new goat, consider the following 10 facts we discovered in our first season of having goats on the homestead. 1. Goats are picky eaters. On T.V … [Read more...]
Meet ‘Momma’
Chickens are said to be the gateway animal into the farming/homesteading lifestyle. We started with ducks, but chickens weren't far behind. Once you have them, it's hard to imagine life without them. Momma is definitely the matriarch of our flock, she's the boss and everyone knows it. I wanted to shine the spotlight on Momma because of her age, … [Read more...]
Fall Changes
It has been awhile since I last posted. Life has been busy and writing has been put on hold as we try and get everything done. I thought I would write an update on what has been happening around here, before the snow flies. We have been busy in the garden, August and September were filled with picking, canning and freezing as we tried to … [Read more...]
Making Hay Without a Tractor
This is the first summer on our little homestead that we have been in need of hay for ourselves. In years previous we have only ever had poultry and rabbits, no real need for large amounts of hay. That changed this spring when we brought home our two weed eaters. The goats have been an amazing addition to our homestead, and we are looking … [Read more...]
Baby Essentials on the Homestead
As we prepare for homestead baby #3 to make his or her arrival this fall, we are slowly taking out our essential baby items from storage. When we found out homestead baby #2 was on the way (Baby A, two years ago) we decided that we were going to approach baby purchases with quality and durability in mind. Thankfully, because of those well … [Read more...]
Keeping Livestock Cool During A Heatwave
During the months of July and August when temperatures here can reach the low to mid 30's, without the humidity. It is important to keep an eye on livestock to make sure they are staying cool. Follow these quick and easy steps to help keep your animals cool and comfortable during the heat waves, without breaking the bank. Chickens: Chickens … [Read more...]
How To Save Time In The Garden
On the homestead we are always looking for ways to streamline our daily chores. Time is a precious thing, and there never seems to be enough of it to get all that we want done in a day. During the scorching days of July and August one of our daily time consuming chores is watering the gardens. Unless we get a decent downpour of … [Read more...]
How We Trained Our Goats
This past spring I was on our local buy/sell site and saw an ad for two Nubian does. Without much forethought I replied to the ad, made an appointment to go and see them and came home the proud new owner of two goats. To say we were unprepared is an understatement, but the price was right and I've always wanted goats. Thankfully we live very … [Read more...]
Getting Ready for Winter
While it is hard to believe that it is nearing the end of November it is time to get ready for the cold and snow. We have had unusually mild temperatures here, normally we would have seen snow by now. While we wait for the snow I'm busy getting ready for Christmas, trying to make sure that all of our projects are done. I have gotten behind on … [Read more...]
Simple Hard Lotion Bars
As Christmas is fast approaching we are busy preparing gifts for our loved ones. This year we are making quite a few gifts to share with our children and family. One quick and easy gift we like to share around the holidays are hard lotion bars. These hard lotion bars can be made quickly in the kitchen with materials you probably already have on … [Read more...]