Beyond the Coop: Why Chickens Might Not Be the Easiest Starter Animal After All
When we purchased our homestead, chickens were always part of the plan. In fact, we fully expected to have chickens during our first year on the property. Like many aspiring homesteaders, getting chickens was the logical starting point. Fresh eggs, insect control, and a manageable flock size seemed like the perfect introduction to owning our own animals. Then reality stepped…
Keeping Skunks at Bay
Anyone old enough to remember the classic Looney Tunes cartoons is familiar with Pepé Le Pew, the amorous French skunk in relentless pursuit of romance. In real life, skunks, which are about the size of a house cat, command deference from animals much larger in stature. Even bears give this mammal a wide berth to avoid an encounter with a…
Three Lesser-known Starter Crops for the Homestead
Knowing where to begin when you just want to experiment with the act of growing, when you have the itch to spend summer evenings generating a little harvest or trying to see if your soil will yield anything edible, is a common conundrum. Here are three easy and interesting crops for beginner homesteaders that most people overlook. All three featured…
Beyond the Coop: Why Chickens Might Not Be the Easiest Starter Animal After All
When we purchased our homestead, chickens were always part of the plan. In fact, we fully expected to have chickens during our first year on the property. Like many aspiring homesteaders, getting chickens was the logical starting point. Fresh eggs, insect control, and a manageable flock size seemed like the perfect introduction to owning our own animals. Then reality stepped…
Keeping Skunks at Bay
Anyone old enough to remember the classic Looney Tunes cartoons is familiar with Pepé Le Pew, the amorous French skunk in relentless pursuit of romance. In real life, skunks, which are about the size of a house cat, command deference from animals much larger in stature. Even bears give this mammal a wide berth to avoid an encounter with a…
Three Lesser-known Starter Crops for the Homestead
Knowing where to begin when you just want to experiment with the act of growing, when you have the itch to spend summer evenings generating a little harvest or trying to see if your soil will yield anything edible, is a common conundrum. Here are three easy and interesting crops for beginner homesteaders that most people overlook. All three featured…
Editor's Pick
We’re not Playing, ‘Possum: Opossums are Actually Good for the Homestead
My first up-close encounter with an opossum was one evening many years…
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Aquaponics: Why It’s the Best Gardening Method for Homesteading
Even if you don’t have a large amount of land available, you…
Black Thumb! Helpful Hints for the Cultivationally Challenged
Over the course of the last 25 years, I have gardened both…
Three Lesser-known Starter Crops for the Homestead
Knowing where to begin when you just want to experiment with the…
Beat the Heat with Drinks from Your Garden
Summer is a time of year everyone looks forward to. The garden…
Soil-Making Magic: The Secret Witches’ Spell for the Perfect Garden
Springtime gardens turn into summertime weed lots. Does this happen to you? …
Designing A Chicken Coop: A Work in Progress
Five years ago, my husband and I designed and built our backyard…
Food Content
Beat the Heat with Drinks from Your Garden
Summer is a time of year everyone looks forward to. The garden…
Springing Some Leeks (and Other Ephemeral Gems)
It’s spring, so it’s wild leek season here in Connecticut. Foraging for…
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