But as waves of “progress” drove people from their farms and into the city, as the veneration given to knowledgeable farmers was transformed into comic-relief stereotypes about toothless hillbillies, as movies like Deliverance made mountain people into boogeymen, and as the suburban sprawl slowly transformed the ideal life from self-sufficient responsibility to keeping-up-with-the-Joneses dependency, the desire to live that way of life fell out of fashion.  Even while preservation projects like Bittersweet and Foxfire tried to gather up as much old knowledge and wisdom as they could, the inevitable passage of time closed up that opportunity for firsthand recollection.  Now, the harsh reality is that everyone who had direct access to that time period is gone.  And sometimes, even the most modern person can feel it.  How often have you heard someone pick up an old tool, look at an old hand-carved cabinet, or see endangered heritage cattle and mutter, “They don’t make them like they used to…”

So here is where I find myself as a new homesteader in the modern era: a bit adrift.  Maybe you understand—my background may sound familiar.  My grandparents spurned their farming roots and lived a suburban life where modernity was king.  My parents raised me with what they knew, which was a continuation of the middle-class “dream” of going to college, getting into debt, graduating with no real skills, getting a lackluster job to pay off the debt, and paying services to take care of tasks they didn’t know how, or want, to do.  Now, I’m not necessarily a card-carrying Luddite (I am writing articles on a computer for websites, after all), but I can’t accept forgetting thousands of years worth of knowledge and self-sufficiency in exchange for pizza delivery, an electrician repair bill, and Netflix.

Suffice to say, though, I’m certainly not popular with my smartphone-addicted peers, I’m not satisfied with the sort of life I was handed.  As an off-grid homesteader, completely at odds with my upbringing, I want to rediscover all the life-knowledge that everyone once knew only two hundred years ago.  Maybe you understand that same desire.  But where do we look?  Maybe you, like myself, have no elder or mentor to guide you—they’re all too long gone.  And maybe you’ve also found that many Internet resources and modern books on homesteading and living off the land are unsatisfactory, to say the least.  I’ve seen topics that seem to just be mentioned with no real source of sources for homesteading knowledge or experience—books sold for attractive pictures, rather than the richness of content.  I’ve found rampant plagiarism, with familiar paragraphs skipping across articles and titles.  Many modern resources, without life experience bolstering them, even convey totally incorrect information, perhaps because editors don’t know that it’s wrong in the first place (admittedly, a hard thing to correct when lots of similar resources cite the same misconception as fact!  I’ve found lots of instances of this in foraging books and gardening books in particular).

So, as cast-offs of the modern era, our backs turned to the roiling chaos of the city, our faces searching the horizon for a bit of land where we can put it all into practice, and no childhood training to fall back on, where can we turn for real, detailed, rich, reliable resources of the stable, old ways of doing things?

This question has both haunted and driven me for nearly a decade.  And as this is something that directly influences my way of life, I have been highly motivated to find the answer—the success of my own homestead has hinged on some of the answers I’ve found.  I have searched like a post-apocalyptic scavenger, picking over the scattered bones of buried documentaries, dusty, out-of-print books, and forgotten projects to try to glean bits of old wisdom and knowledge.  I bring them home and hang them on the still-forming scaffolding of my direct experiences, my homestead a growing patchwork of modern and ancient ideas and practices.  It all echos with a lot of loss and a little bit of hope, a strange bittersweetness woven between my rows of heirloom corn, sapling-sized food forest, and compost piles.  Now, I’m aware that what I’ve found is no substitute for a childhood of experience, training, or a committed community of like-minded families, but it’s the best I can offer in this article.

So all that said, here are some fascinating sources for homesteading knowledge, wisdom, and inspiration with complex, detailed instruction. Hopefully, it can help you along your way too.

Foxfire and Bittersweet

In the 1970s, Elliott Wigginton, a teacher in the Appalachia Mountain area, had an interesting idea to teach his students about journalism, photography, and writing by sending them to interview their mountain-born grandparents.  This after-school program soon blossomed into a full-scale preservation project to capture and record Appalachian life before it disappeared.  Not merely a record, however, the volumes of the Foxfire project include detailed diagrams, long-form interviews, and instructions on many living-off-the-land skills.  There are at least 12 volumes of the Foxfire project—those looking for old knowledge are best off looking specifically at the first 6, when Wigginton still headed the project.

Inspired by the Foxfire project, Ellen Gray Massey, a teacher in the Ozark Mountains, headed up a similar journalism program with her own students.  Bittersweet is a similar record of Ozark life, and while I’ve never found it in print, the entirety is available online at this website.

Online Facsimiles of Books, Such as Project Gutenberg

The Project Gutenberg website is overwhelming in its scope, to say the least, but if you know what to look for, it’s a goldmine.  Essentially, you can find facsimiles of very old, very out-of-print books here.  This is a great resource for those of us with small local libraries that can’t hold thousands of old books just to hold them.  Books that I’ve found bits of helpful information in include

Farmers of Forty Centuries: Organic Farming in China, Korea, and Japan, by F.H. King: https://www.scribd.com

Lady’s Country Companion:  The Lady’s Country Companion; Or, How to Enjoy a Country Life Rationally by Loudon – Free Ebook (gutenberg.org)

BBC’s “Farm” series

I once asked a fellow homesteader where old knowledge might be hiding, and she directed me to this treasure trove. Alex, Peter, Tom, and Ruth are British archaeologists and historians who decided to explore history as actively as possible—by dedicating several years of their lives to literally live it out on working farms.  Each season of the show explored a different time period.  In all their attempts, by putting dusty old words into living practice, they understood the day-to-day nuances that are sometimes impossible to put to paper.  They also interviewed and learned with old craftsmen—sometimes the last of their kind—to capture a bit of their expertise in person.  If you look hard enough, you can find every episode on Youtube (as of March 2026, all the links I have below are valid).

• Secrets of the Castle
• Tales from the Green Valley
• Tudor Monastery Farm
• Edwardian Farm
• Victorian Farm
• Wartime Farm
• Full Speed Ahead

Grandfather Documentary

On the surface, this is just a wordless documentary of an old man going about his yearly business as he provides for himself with his gardens and fields.  But it’s so beautiful it can make the heart hurt if you’re the person whose been looking to also embody this man’s knowledge.  Worth the watch for the imagery alone, Grandfather is a rare glimpse into the hard work and rich life lived by those who understand how to live off the land.

Eric Sloane

Eric Sloane started out as a sign-painter and weatherman with an interest in old bridges.  But that interest soon blossomed into a lifelong fascination with old buildings, old manners of building, old ways of doing things, and America’s farming and homesteading past.  In all of my explorations for any sort of record of living and working, few sources have been as rich and detailed as his work.

They’re not a dry read, either!  If ever there was a title for Official Curmudgeon, Eric Sloane would have been a prime candidate.  His grumpy-old-man tone is endearing and amusing as he talks about the America that once was, and what it has become in the dulling wake of modern living.  His extensive collection of books is excellently and beautifully illustrated, with clear diagrams and notes of details that are often overlooked.

If he were still alive, he’d understand my drive for finding real information about the old ways.  Even when he was writing and illustrating his books in the ’50s, artist and author Eric Sloane also experienced a similar sense of dissatisfaction. In one of his books, he relates the story of searching through New York’s library system for a book detailing old ways of building barns—he knew there were notable gaps in his understanding.  After much searching, the librarian handed him their only resource on the topic…his own earlier book.

You’ll be rewarded reading any of his books, but a good handful to start with are:

A Reverence for Wood: A useful collection on early America’s deep understanding of different types of wood and how to use them.

American Yesterday:  A detailed delve into how “grandfather”(though, in 2021, it’s really great-grandfather, or great-great grandfather) lived off the land.

Diary of an Early American Boy: An intimate exploration of a specific homestead in 1805.

Our Vanishing Landscape: How early Americans understood, built on, and used the land.

A Museum of Early American Tools:  Handmade, amazingly-specific tools you’ve never heard of.

Spirits of ‘76: a particularly heart-rending meditation on what has been exchanged for modernity.

Lots and Lots and Lots of Trial and Error

What has taught me the most about how to rediscover a self-sufficient way of life, however, isn’t a book, documentary, or magazine.  It’s been lots of experimentation.  None of the fragments and gleanings I’ve collected mean anything if I can’t breathe life back into them through active use!  Reading about making your own dyes from tree bark, for example, is all well and good, but only by actually collecting the materials and giving it a shot will the words make real sense.  The subtle nuances and idiosyncrasies, the actual, indescribable elements of Craft when you are making things and growing things are only understood when they are actually done.  And when you’re the only one you know doing them, you have to really pay attention to your triumphs and failures!

This article may come across as a little over-dramatic and tragic in tone, but if you yourself are trying to break free from city dependency and learn how to live again, I think you understand.  It’s hard describe, but while watching footage of aging, master craftsmen at their work, I realize that I’m watching the collective knowledge of hundreds of years of fine-tuning and refinement, passed on from master to apprentice.  Now, without a tribe of master craftsmen, knowledgeable old housewives, or work-honed peasant farmers to lead the way anymore, I sense the loss of those thousands of years of refinement.  Rather than being a master, many people are considered pros if they can do any “old-fashioned” task at all.  But meditating on what’s been lost only results in mourning.  I don’t want to stay there, and if you are reading this article and understand the heart of it, neither do you.  Really, all we can do is to keep practicing, keep looking, and keep learning.  So with my patchwork homestead bulging with scavenged bits and shards of knowledge, I’ll keep trying.  I exhort you to keep trying and hunting, too.

This list in the article is but a sampling.  If you have any sources for homesteading knowledge that you’d like to add to the collection, please comment below so we can all benefit!

About the Author: First, Wren was an environmental educator and language teacher living in the city.  Then, she and her husband decided to escape from the confines of city life and its dependence, and move their family to 12 acres of land in the Ozarks. They are currently in the middle of establishing their dream of a self-sufficient, permaculture-based, off-grid homestead, one step at a time. She can be typically found armpit-deep in brush foraging, cooking on cast iron, talking to her ducks and chickens, pumping yet another bucket of water from the well, and, in quiet moments, sketching art around the homestead.

The post Seeking the Old Ways: Sources for Homesteading Knowledge appeared first on Homestead.org.

1. Preserving Food

Preserving food is a necessary homesteading skill. While your produce may be fresh during the summer months, preserving food can help you save money and stay healthy during the winter months.

There are many different preservation methods available to homesteaders, including freezing, freeze drying, pickling, dehydrating, or canning. Depending on what type of food you are looking to preserve (and how much work you want to do), you might find that one method is easier than another.

For example, if you want to can chicken and green beans, it’s important to invest in a high-quality pressure canner that meets safety standards. On the other hand, if you are looking for a simple sugar-free way to preserve strawberries or blueberries over the long term, freezing is likely the best option.

Ultimately, preserving food can help you reduce your grocery bill and stay healthy throughout the year – it just takes a bit of planning, organization, and patience.

2. Bread Making

Nothing tastes as good as freshly baked bread, and it is a skill that anyone can learn with a little practice. Baking your own bread comes with many nutritional benefits. One of the biggest benefits, much like gardening, is you are giving yourself control over what you eat. Many commercial bakeries use chemicals and preservatives that can be potentially harmful to your health. You also eliminate the worry about pesticides when baking your own bread.

Making your own bread is also a cheap alternative to eating out or buying prepared foods from the grocery store. Making your own bread costs just pennies compared with buying loaf after loaf at the supermarket. As long as you have flour, yeast, and water, you can make fresh loaves every day using minimal ingredients and effort.

When learning how to bake artisanal-style sourdough bread, it’s important to note that you should use local flour. You’ll be eliminating the risk of cross-contamination from other flours or grains by using your own regional ingredients.

3. Foraging

Foraging is the act of searching for food in the wild and is a great/free way to supplement your pantry. This skill was once essential for survival, and it can still be useful today. Many grocery stores and farmers’ markets sell wild plants, but they can be expensive. Foraging involves more than just picking random berries or leafy greens off the side of the road. It requires a certain level of expertise to know which plants are edible and how to prepare them for consumption.

Wildcrafting is another form of foraging that entails finding, harvesting, and using edible wild species. This form of foraging is not only useful in a survival situation but also beneficial when looking to add some new flavors to your cooking repertoire. Many chefs around the world use various wild species in their dishes to create unique flavors.

It’s important to take time cultivating knowledge about which plants are potentially toxic and what precautions need to be taken when foraging. For example, you should avoid eating mushrooms unless you are absolutely sure about their identification. While foraging can be a fun and exciting hobby, it’s important that you always take safety precautions to ensure your personal health and well-being.

4. Fishing

Fishing is another old-fashioned homesteading skill that can be useful today. Whether you are fishing for sport or as a means of adding to your family’s food supply, it can be an enjoyable pursuit that requires very little equipment and can be done almost anywhere.

One of the main benefits of fishing is that it provides you with access to fresh, healthy protein. Many commercial fish farms rely on antibiotics or other chemicals that can have negative effects on your health. When comparing farmed fish to wild fish, in many cases, wild fish contain higher amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.

Fishing can also save you money in the long run. If you have access to a body of water, a fishing pole, and bait, it is a relatively inexpensive way to supplement your pantry. In addition, there are many budget-friendly online platforms where you can find quality used rods and reels at great prices. If you live near a body of water (or have your own), learning how to fish is a great way to become more self-sufficient.

5. Animal Husbandry

Animal husbandry is the care and management of animals, which in the case of homesteading, includes chickens, cows, rabbits, quail, sheep, and goats. There are many benefits to raising animals on your property, including access to fresh and nutritious meat, eggs, and milk.

Animal husbandry can require a great deal of time and effort, but it can also be a very rewarding activity. If you have any experience on a homestead, you know many veterinarians are not able to make house calls for large herd animals, and, in many cases, animals such as chickens are considered “exotic” and cannot be serviced at all. Learning how to take care of minor wounds and illnesses can save you the hassle of loading up an animal while also reducing your livestock bills.

If you’re serious about becoming self-sufficient by practicing animal husbandry, it’s important to build relationships with local farmers and ranchers who can provide guidance along the way. Additionally, you will need to purchase the necessary equipment and supplies for your animals. While animal husbandry can be a time-consuming activity, it is well worth the effort if you are looking to become more independent and self-sufficient.

6. Beekeeping

Beekeeping is another old-fashioned homesteading skill that is especially useful today. Bees are incredibly useful creatures, as they pollinate many types of plants and vegetables, leading to higher crop yields.

When it comes to beekeeping, there are a few important considerations. First, you should make sure that your property is the right environment for bees – this includes having adequate space for hives and enough sun exposure. Secondly, if you are interested in harvesting honey from your hives, it’s important to understand how much work goes into extraction – leaving some extra honey behind ensures that your bees have access to food during the colder months when flowers aren’t blooming as frequently.

Beekeeping can be a great way to supplement your grocery budget while also benefiting from quality crops produced by your bees. If you are interested in learning more about beekeeping, there are a number of resources available online, including books and instructional videos. With the right equipment, knowledge, and patience, beekeeping can be an easy way to become more self-sufficient and independent.

7. Gardening

Gardening is not only an essential skill when homesteading, but it is a great way to become more self-sufficient. Not only will you be able to grow your own food, but you’ll also save money on groceries. There is a lot more to gardening than simply planting some seeds and letting them grow. You should learn about different techniques, such as the back to Eden method, companion planting, succession sowing, and crop rotation.

Growing your own food eliminates the need to ingest harmful chemicals that can be found in many pre-packaged store-bought meals. While they may serve the purpose of preserving your food long enough for it to get to you, many of these chemicals can be potentially harmful to your health. Bisphenol A and phthalates are two chemicals that are commonly found in foods and food packaging. They’ve been linked to cancer, reproductive issues, and developmental problems.

Another advantage to gardening is that you can make it fit into your budget. Whether you have money to blow or less than $100 to spare, there are many ways to get started with gardening. Keeping a garden doesn’t have to break the bank. If you find that growing your own food is too expensive for your budget, try starting smaller. You can optimize how much space and money you put into gardening by growing crops that yield more such as potatoes, tomatoes, or squash.

8. Soap Making

Soap making is a useful homesteading skill that can save you money and provide you with natural, healthy soap products. While soap-making can seem like a daunting task, there are many simple tutorials available online that make the process accessible to any homesteader.

One key consideration when it comes to soap making is which oils you want to use in your recipe – olive oil or coconut oil are both popular options. While olive oil is thought to be gentler on skin and better for dry skin, coconut oil has antimicrobial properties and can help kill bacteria. Ultimately, the choice depends on what type of soap you’re looking for – whether it’s for cleaning dishes, your hands, or the body.

Over time, you may find that your homemade soap lasts longer than store-bought options and provides a better experience overall.

9. Herbalism

Herbalism is another useful homesteading skill for anyone interested in staying healthy and self-sufficient. There are many herbs that can be grown at home, including popular options like lavender, roselle, lemon balm, and mint. These herbs can aid in everything from managing stress and anxiety to improving digestion.

Once you have started growing your own herbs, the next step is learning how to use them effectively. Many herbal remedies can be made simply by combining dried or fresh herbs with water, oil, or honey. If you want to make more complex herbal remedies, it’s important to learn about different extraction methods and what types of ailments each remedy can treat.

With some research and experimentation, you may find that herbalism is a great way to stay healthy without relying on doctor’s visits or expensive prescription medications.

10. Building

Last but certainly not least, every homesteader should have at least a basic understanding of building techniques and materials. Whether you want to build a deck or start constructing your own barn, having the right tools and knowledge is essential for success.

To get started on your building journey, it’s important to invest in the right tools – including hammers, nails, levels, saws, and jigsaws – as well as safety equipment like goggles and work gloves. You should also explore different materials that could be used in your projects – from wood and metal to plastic and glass.

Once you have gathered all of your materials and supplies, take some time to learn about basic building techniques – things like framing structures or working with concrete. With a bit of practice and dedication, you will soon find yourself developing new skills that can help you create your own homestead.

Learning Old-fashioned Homesteading Skills

Whether you are looking to become more self-sufficient or simply want to learn something new, there are many old-fashioned homesteading skills to study. From preserving food and practicing herbalism to building your own structures, these skills will allow you to take control of your life and live a healthier, more satisfying life.

The post 10 Old-Fashioned Homesteading Skills for Self-Sufficiency appeared first on Homestead.org.

Time was when there was a deep and unbridgeable divide between rich and poor in plantation country.  We all know that.  Thousands of Black slaves brought from Africa put food on the tables and gold in the pockets of a handful of White families.  The owners, the bosses, at the top—the workers, the dispossessed, at the bottom.  It’s not a story unique to the Georgia coast, but that region could have been the model for it.

The Spanish came first and in their religious zeal, pretty much wiped out the indigenous Timucuan people—a relatively peaceful matrilineal society whose wealth was measured in their stores of corn—with twin assaults of enslavement and disease.  Next were the British who named the territory for their king, and used it as a penal colony.  They wanted to make sure the Spaniards didn’t gain supremacy, so developed the Brunswick coastal corner as a buffer zone between Georgia and Florida.  These colonials soon discovered—and began to exploit—the islands and coastal marshes: flat and placid, wet and green, the region provided the perfect growing conditions for rice, cotton, indigo.

But none of the Lowcountry crops could have gained supremacy without slave labor.

At the height of the plantation era, cotton was king and made many harsh demands.  Slaves were imported from West Africa in wholesale droves and sold off quickly in Charleston and Savannah (though it is not recorded how many threw themselves into the ocean upon arrival, once word spread of their probable life on the plantation: a ceaseless round of “terror and shrinking and dreary unnamable pain”).

Then came the Civil War.  The Southern Whites fled to the relative safety of Brunswick and other towns, while the Union Army held the islands, allowing many newly-freed slaves eventually to parlay for farmland.  Free men like Jupiter Gilliard.

Matthew and Althea Raiford, both military vets, inherited a farm in Glynn County, on the mainland, that had been started up by their great-great-great-great grandfather, Jupiter Gilliard, or, more properly, Gigliyer.  Jupiter and his wife Riner (or Rina, the record books were never entirely clear about names) were born, and married, in slavery, and freed by the Reconstruction Act of 1867.  Jupiter acquired 457 acres in 1874 during the Reconstruction years, and probably sold off some portions of it over the next few years to pay his property taxes.

The Raiford siblings traveled very far, geographically and cerebrally, before returning to their roots in the rural community of Brookman, in Glynn County.

When Matthew got the idea for an organic farm, he was involved in the mysterious path of chef-hood, as a veteran with a degree in culinary arts, and certificates in Ecological Horticulture.  He now uses the honorarium “CheFarmer”.  He ranged far afield to get his many excellent credentials, and refused to accept obstacles that might have been subtly or overtly placed in his path when he came back to Georgia.  In an article in the New York Times, Matthew recalled that, “his father, a baker, had tried to dissuade him from going into the restaurant business because of the open racism in Southern kitchens.  ‘He didn’t see a future for me in this field.’”  For a time Matthew was the Executive Chef of Little St. Simons Island, a private and special vacation spot accessible only by boat.  The Lodge on LSS prides itself on its energy-saving practices and menus utilizing organic foods grown on the preserve.

His education and acumen have given CheFarmer Matthew Raiford a base from which to develop Gilliard Farms into an organic showpiece (in 2012, Gilliard was recognized as a Georgia Centennial Family Farm).  And he still finds time to create recipes that make use of ancient, simple foods and the most scintillating spices and additives from worldwide cuisine.   On the Gilliard Farms website, he offers, for example, a sorbet made with Kiwano (African Horn Melon) that includes agave nectar, sea salt, and “a sprig of Holy Basil.”

As Matthew was being buzzed by the organic-farming bug, some eight years ago, his sister Althea was still in the military.  Thus the idea lay dormant for a few years until Althea retired from active duty, having garnered degrees in Forensic Science, and served at Guantanamo Bay.

Here’s a bit of Althea Raiford’s story, taken from the Gilliard Farms website: “We sat down with our Nana, Ophelia, and our mother, Affie, and told them about our plan and what we wanted to do.  To continue in the path of those that came before us, and go back to the land, become farmers.  My mother was shocked and our Nana shed tears of joy… Our Aunt Mary Lou and our mother spoke about our plans, and then our Nana joined them in the conversation, all unbeknownst to Matthew and me.  The next day at the family reunion they pulled us to the side and gave us more land to make our dream of bringing our land to its former glory.  All we could do was look at each other in shock and disbelief.  When the conversation was over we had 25 acres of land to farm.”

To their considerable amazement, it seemed the struggles of their forebears were paying off for them, in a spate of good breaks. Althea tried for, and obtained, a grant from the Veteran’s Farmer Coalition, making her the first female Black-American Navy disabled veteran to achieve that award.  So Gilliard Farms came into its own as an organic enterprise, built on 19th-century hope, carried through five sustaining generations, now to be rebirthed by 21st-century blessings (and hard work).

Gilliard Farms operates as a Community Supported Agriculture program (see The Real Dirt on Farmer John).  Locals can buy food boxes weekly from Gilliard, with the added bonus of recipes from CheFarmer Raiford in every box.  The siblings participate in numerous food-based social action groups, from Ground Operations (Battlefield to Farmfield), to Slow Food, to the Southeastern African American Farmers Organic Network (SAAFON).

In taking on the farm, and all that it represents historically, the Raifords are also stepping into a new possible future for Black Americans, as American farmers.  There are plenty of reasons why Black Americans fled the south and their agrarian roots.  Those roots were, on this continent, intertwined with the dark days of slavery.  Many Blacks saw their greater destiny in cities, in higher education and professional pathways.  In following those pathways they have had success, beyond, one could speculate, the wildest, craziest dreams of their ancestors like Jupiter and Riner who probably didn’t think much farther beyond the boundaries of their acreage, because those boundaries were still absolute, defining much more than mere farmland.

Thus it is exciting to find out more about “modern style” Black farmers and homesteaders.  By modern of course, I mean, traditional (back to the land), or, not modern at all!  We count the Raifords among this small but hopefully increasing number, because they have returned to a piece of land held in the family for over 100 years, and have chosen to follow many of the streams that homesteaders follow (NOT the mainstream!).  These include the organic stream, the slow food stream, and the CSA stream.  They are demonstrating, by example, techniques, and thought processes that can be accessed and replicated by others in their community (or any community).

At Gilliard Farms, programs and demonstrations are on offer, as well as food.  In addition, the Raifords (remember I referred to them as a “dynamic duo”?) are involved in much wider outreach.

Althea was one of three female veterans featured in the documentary film, Terra Firma examining the calming effects of farming on what she calls “the unseen scars” of serving in the military.  Returning to the land can be an active form of emotional self-medication for people suffering from military (or any other) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

CheFarmer Raiford is on call for workshops and conferences just about anywhere.

Last year he delivered the Hutchins Lecture at the University of North Carolina.  He’s Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Culinary Arts at the College of Coastal Georgia.   NPR talked to him about his Nana’s sweet potato pie. He’s been to New Orleans, to Monticello, to Turin, Italy… and wherever he goes, he (like Althea) will generally be seen in overalls, with dreadlocks, and toting a serious message: “The Africans who were brought to America brought with them a plethora of agricultural knowledge and that knowledge was at the foundation of how early America was able to survive… without food, no nation will rise, and this country’s food system, from rice to sugar, was not only harvested by Black farmers, but cultivated using their knowledge of how and when to plant; how much to water and what irrigation system to set up; what the soil was missing; and how much to add of what we now call organic fertilizer (horse, cow, chicken manure).  All that was done by Black farmers.”  Matthew reminds his audiences that there have been many significant contributions to American agriculture and organics from among its Black population:

• Free-Black and self-taught scientist Benjamin Banneker created a Farmers’ Almanac as early as 1792-1797.
• Frederick McKinley Jones in 1949 received a patent for refrigerated trucks to move produce across the country.
• And, in 1987, agricultural professor Dr. Booker T. Whatley wrote How to Make $100,000 Farming 25 Acres addressing crop diversification, U-Pick farms, and proposing what he called “Clientele Membership Club”—a prototype for CSA.

As “Terra Firma” depicts, Althea often tends to the daily farm routines at Gilliard, finding solace and security there, a haven amidst her many community outreach activities.  An orchard is in the works, and a farm education program is slated to start in the spring.  Fruits already in cultivation include deerberry, plums, apples, cherries, and blackberries—and the Georgia Rattlesnake Watermelon.

When I phoned Matthew, it was a cold gloomy day where I live, in the Appalachian foothills of North Carolina.  In Brookman, he told me, it was 65, sunny, and he had been planting carrots.   “We are subtropical. That means that we can grow ten months out of the year.  Our hardest time to grow is July through August when the temperature can get up to 100 degrees before lunch (not to mention the skeeters, snakes, and spiders).”

We talked yams: some people up here in the hills, I told him, think that yams and sweet potatoes are the same, so Matthew discussed their differences.  The yam is bigger (much—it can grow up to 5 feet in length!) and prized for its starch content, the meat being white or pink, unlike the much smaller, sweeter, softer batatas known for their bright orange hue.  Many white and yellow yam varieties came from Africa.  The yam stored a lot of energy in a cheap package and grew prolifically once set out in the southern coastal area of the US.

I asked Matthew if he and Althea had an interest in African heritage foods: “Yes, we do.  We are currently looking to plant some of the original groundnuts, Carolina Gold rice, and Sea Island red peas.”

He outlines Gilliard Farms’ future this way: “We envision a self-sustaining farm where we grow food to feed our community.  We plan to continue producing good food, events, and education.  Our hope is to build a community food hub that can connect farmers to facilities for value-added products.”  And, “We definitely envision a time where the farm will pay for itself.  We are currently building up the soil fertility and farm infrastructure to increase our crop yield and success.”

No plans to retire!  Or maybe small-scale farming/homesteading is a form of lifetime retirement…

Matthew has a ready laugh and a lot to say, describing himself as “a hometown boy who has come home.”  I wished I could follow up on his invitation to visit that very day.  That visit has definitely been added to my bucket list.

In the meantime, I think I can do no better service to Homestead.org readers than to offer, with thanks to its creator, CheFarmer Raiford’s recipe for fufu (a West African dish) made with yams (NOT sweet potatoes!): “My favorite yam recipe to date is my rendition of fufu.”

West African Fufu Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of yams
• 1 tablespoon butter
• pinch of allspice
• pinch of kosher salt

Method:

Place yams in a 400-degree oven.  Roast until a fork stuck in yam comes out clean and easy.  Remove from oven and peel off skins.  Place yams in a bowl with butter, allspice, and salt, and mash.  Next, beat and stir with a wooden spoon until completely smooth.

Shape the fufu into small balls and serve immediately.  Eat the fufu with your favorite meat stew.  To eat it, tear off a small handful and use it to scoop up your meat stew.

The post Gilliard Farms: Snapshots in Time from Black Farmers in America appeared first on Homestead.org.

Why am I slopping through slushy ice to water the sheep while all of my friends are in the house curled up by the fire with a book?

Why do I have chapped hands and lips from working outdoors when my friends are at the mall getting facials?

Why are the most-worn boots in my collection a mud-encrusted, steel-toed pair of Red Wing insulated lace-ups and my friends are wearing the latest trends?

Wintertime on the homestead is not about snow angels, adorable scarves, and sleigh rides. It’s about work that was already difficult getting much, much harder.

One thing we’ve learned after 12 years of homesteading is that you can’t wait to prepare for winter until the first freezing night. You have to be thinking ahead, planning, and preparing for whatever Old Man Winter throws at you, way before the snow flies. If you do your homework, your animals will ride out the storms as comfortably as possible and you will be able to do the minimum of work in the winter. If you don’t plan ahead, you’ll be worrying about finding enough feed, thawing frozen water troughs, and trying to crowd too many animals into your barns while it’s snowing, sleeting, and just plain miserable outside.

Here are some of the things that you should keep in mind during wintertime on the homestead.

Water

Adequate water can be the most difficult aspect of keeping critters alive in winter. First, don’t make the mistake of thinking that your animals can lick ice or eat snow to stay hydrated. Cattle can drink between 10 and 15 gallons of water per day, and that number rises when they are lactating. Sheep may need up to 3 gallons per day. These animals eating dry fodder (hay), need that water to function even when it’s cold. They’d have to lick ice 24/7 to even come close to staying hydrated. Also, ice and snow will lower their body temperatures, meaning that they’ll need to eat even more to stay warm in the cold.

To be a good farmer, you have to provide free choice of unfrozen water to keep your animals healthy. This can be done in several ways. Livestock troughs work well in warm months, but in winter, you have to be able to keep the water flowing. In the past, we’ve used electric, submersible tank-heaters to keep the water thawed. If you don’t have these, you’ll have to go out and break up the ice at least twice a day to allow the animals to drink. We’ve used a heavy, metal pry-bar to break the ice. It works best if you dislodge all the ice and toss it out of the trough.

Also, be careful if you use other kinds of plastic tubs for watering. We’ve cracked many of these improvised water troughs in winter when breaking the ice because the plastic gets very brittle in cold temps. So, if you have a plastic storage bin pulling double duty as a waterer in winter, be really careful with it as you break the ice and move it around.

Farm ponds are also a decent choice for watering. Again, though, you will have to go out and break the ice for your animals. If you live in a somewhat temperate region of the country, you may be able to use ducks to keep the pond free of ice. These feathered friends swim on ponds even in winter which keeps the water from freezing.

Insulated automatic waterers are the most expensive but, for us, the most reliable water source. Ours tie into a waterline linked to our well. They keep the water thawed and flowing for our animals to drink as much as they like. However, don’t take it for granted that they are always going to work exactly as you plan. We check ours regularly to make sure they’re operating correctly. It’s easier to resolve a malfunction before you have 20 thirsty cows standing around the waterer aching for a few drops. I’ve learned this lesson the hard way.

Also, don’t forget that, if you plan on filling troughs in winter, you can’t always rely on hoses. If you use a water hose, you’ll want to drain it every single time you use it. If you have one of those “frost-proof” water faucets in the ground, be sure that it doesn’t drip. A dripping hydrant means that the pipe is still full of water and at risk of bursting. Also, if it gets REALLY cold, we try to avoid using these hydrants unless we have electrical heat tape on them. That’s because we worry that the water will drain out of the pipe so slowly that it will freeze inside it.

Feed

Before winter closes in, figure out how much feed you will need for your critters to get them through the winter. This can vary widely depending on the weather and climate in your area, but you can talk to your local extension agent if you’re unsure about how much feed you need.

Don’t wait until it snows to source your hay, because everybody in the county will be hunting for it then. Prices will go up, and if it’s been a dry year, hay may be scarce.

Also, for your grains, be sure that you have a store of things like chicken food and supplemental grain for animals. If a storm traps you for a few days, you’ll want to be able to take care of your animals. Store these in a dry place out of the weather. You probably want to put out a few mousetraps too, since mice love gnawing through bags of grain and spoiling the contents with their feces. Since we have barn cats who could be caught in traps, we put our spring traps inside a shoebox with a mouse-sized hole in it to catch the rodents without hurting our pets.

Shelter

In some parts of the country, many animals can spend the whole winter outdoors, provided they have a place to get out of the wind. If you don’t have a tree line to act as a windbreak, you can line up large rolls of poor-quality hay behind which the animals can bed down.

However, still keep a close eye on your animals. While many are tough enough to handle the cold, some more delicate animals, like dairy cows or older horses, will really be better off in a shed or barn on stormy and/or extremely cold nights.

Additionally, if you have animals who are going to give birth in the cold, watch them carefully for signs of impending calving, lambing, or kidding. Many animals do fine giving birth in the cold, but you do entertain an element of risk by leaving them outside at this vulnerable time. A lamb or calf that has a difficult birth may be too sluggish in the cold to get up quickly and warm his belly with life-giving colostrum.

If you put your animals inside when it’s cold, be sure to have a manure management plan in place. You will have to muck out stalls if they stay inside very long at all. It’s not healthy for the animals to live in their own waste, so invest in a good pitchfork and a cart or wheelbarrow to clean up after them. Also, be sure to stock up on good bedding, whether it’s straw or wood chips.

Be sure that your buildings have good ventilation too. Even in the winter, your animals need good air flow to stay healthy. Without ventilation, animals will develop breathing issues from dealing with the fumes from their waste and dust from their feed.

Livestock: Making the Hard Choices

It’s hard to talk about, but good farmers have to make hard choices before winter sets in. If you don’t have enough feed to get them through the winter, you are going to have to let some of your animals go. Evaluate your animals for which ones are the most productive and sell the ones who are less productive. On small homesteads, this is sometimes emotionally hard, since many of these animals have names and distinctive personalities. However, we’re not doing our animals any favors by skimping on feed to get them through the winter. Sell them while they are healthy and fat from summer grazing. Two or three fat cattle sold in October will bring in more money than half a dozen skinny, sickly, half-starved animals in late February.

Sheep

If you have wool-sheep, you may be pleasantly surprised at how well their coats protect them from cold. The oils in their wool repel water and the fleeces are toasty warm. However, hair-sheep or sheep that were shorn late in the year may need some shelter from the cold, especially if it’s wet and cold.

If you don’t get much snowfall, keep an eye on your sheep’s delicate feet. Our sheep tend to get footsore from walking on uneven, frozen mud. We examine them carefully for cuts that could lead to infection or foot rot. If they start limping, we take them off the barn lot into a well-bedded, clean stall where their feet are cushioned. If there is a cut or bruise, we try to soak the foot in a warm Epsom-salt bath to get ahead of any infection that could be cooking in the cut. After 4-5 days in a stall and several footbaths, our sheep are perfectly fine and ready to rejoin their mates in the barn lot.

Cattle

Beef cattle are surprisingly tolerant of cold temperatures, but only when they are well-fed. The rumen is a giant fermentation vat in a cow’s digestive system that generates enormous heat to keep the cattle warm. To keep the rumen functioning normally, your cattle need forage. You can give grain as a supplement, but they do need hay or something fibrous for the rumen to break down and generate heat. When beef cows are well-fed, they will have ice and snow frozen to their backs, but they’ll still be just fine.

Dairy cows are often less tolerant to the cold weather, just because they don’t have as much fat on their bodies. While our beef cows never come into the barn because of the cold, my dairy cow is usually inside on really cold and stormy nights. Be sure that you feed your dairy cow well, especially giving her excellent quality hay. I’ve noticed that simply upping my cow’s grain ration only makes her produce more milk. However, giving her excellent hay, especially good quality alfalfa, helps maintain her body condition when it’s cold.

Like sheep, cows may struggle with their footing when the mud freezes. Their feet aren’t quite as delicate as the sheep’s, but you still need to pay attention to their feet and how they are moving. If you have to move them, do so slowly. Let them take their time when crossing uneven, frozen ground. Hurrying them can leady to strained muscles or bruised hooves.

Horses

Most horses do okay in the winter. Nature has equipped the animal’s body to adapt to cold weather; in fall, they put on subcutaneous fat and grow in a nice, thick, fur coat. We don’t blanket our horses, because doing so short-circuits their body’s natural preparation for winter weather. Neither do we put our horses in the barn. They do just fine outdoors if they can get out of the wind.

That said, there are exceptions. If a horse is old, or struggling with poor body condition, or has some other health issue that prevents their bodies from handling the cold, it’s better to err on the side of caution by helping them stay warm. A horse blanket, or coat, and a warm, indoor stall will make fragile horses more comfortable. Also, if you buy a horse in the fall or winter and they’ve been blanketed or kept inside by the previous owner, you’ll want to continue that treatment. It takes time for a horse to develop the fat and fur that they need for protection, and just sticking them outdoors when their bodies aren’t prepared is cruel.

Also, you have to feed horses well for them to manage the cold. Horses don’t like scrubby, crummy hay and if all you can find, or afford, is of poor quality, you may want to find a new place for your horses. You can supplement with grain also, but good hay is essential for horses.

Do keep an eye on your horse’s feet. Walking on the frozen ground can lead to bruising and abscesses. These can be resolved easily, but only if you treat them in a timely manner. If an abscess or a limp persists for more than a day or two, call your veterinarian or farrier and have them come take a look; a horse is only as good as its feet.

Chickens

Our chickens have done very well in winter. However, at times, we’ve had frostbitten combs and wattles. They look a little funny after they heal up, but it doesn’t really seem to affect the chickens too badly. In places where you have extra-cold winters, you may want to choose a breed of hen that has smaller combs. I like the Dominique chicken with their lovely rose combs.

A few things about chickens and wintertime: water is the biggest problem for us. This is the time of year when we put away the plastic water fountain because it will freeze and crack. Some people buy heaters for their chicken waterers, but we simply buy 2-gallon plastic buckets from the farm supply store. We have several and bring one or two inside to thaw every morning, carrying a filled pail from yesterday out for that day’s water. Another thing to remember is that, while you need to keep them warm, you can’t completely seal up your henhouse. Chickens are very susceptible to respiratory illnesses and the dust and fumes that they generate can irritate their lungs.

We don’t muck out our chicken house every few days. We use a deep-bedding system, piling fresh bedding on top of the old stuff. Every few days I scatter a handful of grain on the floor of the henhouse so that the chickens can turn the bedding for me. After the winter, I’ll have a thick layer of excellent, rich compost for my garden. Additionally, the decomposing manure and bedding generate heat to help the hens stay warm.

Pets

All of our animals live outdoors. In the fall, we feed them extra and they grow thick fur coats and a layer of body fat to help them deal with the cold. Our cats find cozy spots in the barn, usually in the hayloft, burrowed into the hay.

Our dogs love the cold. They are Great Pyrenees livestock dogs and they never come indoors. They are happier in the cold than in the summer. In fact, when it snows, we love watching them roll in the snow just for the fun of it. However, if you have a dog with short hair, a small body mass, or is elderly or infirm, keep a close eye on them and bring them indoors if needed. Some friends of mine with a Mastiff usually hang a heat lamp in an outbuilding to keep him comfortable when it’s cold.

Also, if you somehow end up with an indoor dog in the cold months, don’t assume that they’ll be fine outside. Dogs need time to build up the subcutaneous fat and heavy fur coat to keep warm.

Be sure that you keep a supply of liquid water available for your outdoor animals and feed them well. On particularly cold nights, we’ll feed our dogs a rich mixture of beef broth, eggs, and milk to warm them from the inside before we go to bed.

Family Members

Prepare yourself and any family members who will be helping you outside by buying the proper gear. Heavy gloves (buy extras because they always seem to disappear), and a heavy work-coat are just the basics. Insulated, water-resistant boots and a pair of insulated coveralls make a big difference in how comfortable you will be outside. Don’t forget to buy a good, warm head-covering, too. Long underwear and flannel-lined jeans are also excellent clothes to have in your stash of winter gear, and don’t forget some heavy socks.

Remember that it’s not as important how your winter farm gear looks as how warm it is. In fact, the cuter, more fashionable hats, scarves, and gloves are usually not as warm or durable as the ugly stuff you find at the farm store. These items are an investment. If you buy a good brand, your winter gear will last for many years before you need to replace it.

When it’s super cold, you should be aware of the symptoms of hypothermia (shivering, nausea, hunger, breathing quickly, difficulty with speaking, confusion, dizziness, lack of coordination, fatigue) which occurs when the body’s temperature drops too low. Mild hypothermia means that you need to get inside as soon as possible and warm up. Even if it means that you have to go out several times to do chores because it’s too cold to get them all done at once, it’s better to work in shifts.

While winter is not my favorite time of year, it is a time of rest for the land. Good, hard freezes can reduce the numbers of pesky insects that hang around from year to year. Winter is a nice time to take a break from the active growing season, evaluate the successes and failures of the previous year, and create a plan for next spring. And, when March and April’s warm breezes blow and things begin to green up, winter makes you truly thankful for the joys of nature.

The post Wintertime on the Homestead appeared first on Homestead.org.

This article explores trapping from a conservation-focused perspective, showing how regulated trapping supports ecological balance, safeguards homesteads, and contributes to healthier habitats. By combining insights from wildlife agencies with hands-on experience, I aim to provide readers with a grounded understanding of how trappers fit into the modern ecological food web and how anyone interested can responsibly get started.

Conservationists: Stewards of the Natural World

Some people think that protecting natural resources means not using them at all, but Aldo Leopold (the father of wildlife management) points out that when we begin to see ourselves as part of the ecological food web, we begin to use our resources with discretion. We must be active participants in the ecosystem, not just watchful observers.

How does using natural resources, such as fur-bearing animals, contribute to conservation? Hunters and trappers follow regulations designed to maintain the environment’s carrying capacity, which is the maximum population size that a particular environment can sustain at its lowest level of food available. Every fur-bearing animal has a certain season when it can be harvested, which takes breeding habits into account, as well as a bag limit that determines how many can be harvested from an area. This protects wildlife from being overharvested, while also limiting how large their populations can grow. These regulations protect both humans and animals from unnecessary interactions in urban areas.

A Trapper’s Impact

I was drawn to trapping because it is such an effective way to manage and diversify the native habitat that surrounds our homestead. I get to be a steward of the natural world by taking inventory of the plant and animal species that we share land with through my daily observations. We do our best to diversify the native plant and animal species that encompass our acreage because a diverse ecosystem is a resilient one. If there is an abundance of raccoons and skunks on our property, we see a decline in the number of wild turkeys. On the flip side, if there aren’t any turkey-eating predators at all, turkeys can damage neighboring crop fields.

Recent studies show that raccoon pressure and the benefits of removal are site-specific. Raccoon densities in rural habitats can range from roughly 2 to 5 raccoons per km², so not every landscape needs intense removal. Focused removal at vulnerable sites has produced dramatic short-term results (for example, sea-turtle nest depredation on Panther Key dropped from ~76–100% to 0% after removals). However, benefits can decline after 2–3 years as animals immigrate or other predators fill the niche, so trapping should be paired with habitat adjustments and continued monitoring. Finally, most published removal experiments have been done on conservation sites rather than generic homesteads, so private-landowners should proceed cautiously, keep good records, and adapt practices to local conditions.

Someone could argue that nature has systems in place to keep animal populations in check through starvation, disease, or predation. However, there has never been a time in our history when we didn’t utilize animals as natural resources, so do we really know if nature would just balance itself out? The problem with this line of thinking is that it suggests we are not part of the ecological food web. Trappers do not seek to remove all predators from an area—we know there must be a healthy ratio of predator to prey species.

An example of trappers bringing balance back to an ecosystem was a fox-trapping management plan in eastern North Dakota and eastern South Dakota. Several foxes were removed from these areas, which restored the dwindling duck population. Ducks are considered ground-nesting birds, making them easy targets for predators like foxes and raccoons in the spring.

Regulated Trapping and Animal Welfare

To become a trapper, it’s important to understand the complexities of the ecosystem. Trapping has an ugly past—overharvesting, no concern for animal welfare, and greed—but today’s trappers are required to take an educational course to learn regulations before they can obtain a license. There are strict rules in place that determine which types of traps can be used on land or water to reduce the number of non-target animals being trapped. The traps of today are designed to hold the animal in place, unharmed, so they can either be dispatched or released. Trappers must also check their land sets daily to limit how long an animal is held in the trap.

So, if federal and state agencies highly regulate trapping, why do we do it? There’s very little money to be made through trapping, so most participants are not driven by greed. For most of us, it’s an instinctive urge to be connected to the land around us, and we feel a responsibility to help conserve our natural resources—even if that means following strict regulations.

How Does Trapping Benefit the Homestead?

We’ve all heard the advice to plant flowers to attract pollinators to the garden, but not as many people talk about the benefits of diversifying animal species around the homestead. Removing a few predators (raccoons, skunks, foxes, or coyotes) every year improves the biodiversity of prey species such as ground-nesting turtles, birds, and rabbits. Improving biodiversity benefits the functionality of the ecosystem through pollination, nutrient cycling, and decomposition. It also improves an ecosystem’s resilience to withstand disturbances such as disease outbreaks or climate change.

Animals such as beaver, raccoon, and muskrat can be delicious when properly prepared, but the less desirable animals can be fed to chickens or pigs to diversify their nutrient intake. In the winter, when bugs are unavailable to our chickens, we feed them the remains of the seemingly healthy fur-bearing animals we harvest as an alternative protein source.

Wild-harvested fur has become a desirable textile again due to its sustainability. Unlike polyester, it breaks down and decomposes when discarded, and it is considered a renewable resource. Strict trapping regulations are in place and regularly updated to protect this resource from becoming threatened.

How to Obtain a Trapping License

Trapping is one of those skills that less than one percent of the population participates in, but those who have this skill are usually eager to pass along their knowledge. Finding a local mentor who is willing to let you ride along on their trapline is a priceless form of education. You will still need to take a trapper’s education course provided by your state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR). You will learn the rules and regulations of your state to be eligible to purchase a license. It varies by state, but you must have a license to trap any animal on your property.

Use a search engine to find the closest DNR office and sign up for the in-person class. In most states, you can also sign up for an online class, but many students in the class I took said it was very difficult compared to learning in person. Doing the in-person class also allows trappers to connect with each other and trade tips and tricks to enhance their skills. Trapper’s Education will walk you through the basic equipment permitted in your state. Trap types and sizes vary, and if you’re ever in doubt, call your local conservation warden. They would rather spend their time educating people about legal equipment than issuing citations.

Scouting for Sign

Prepping for the opening day of trapping season in the fall begins long beforehand with scouting for animal sign. It starts by knowing the food web and taking notes of areas with natural food sources for target animals. This involves learning how to identify native plant species, which helps determine what prey species are present and, in turn, what predators are nearby. For example, an open, sunny location is a great place for berries to grow, and raccoons love berries. It also helps to learn how to identify animal scat and tracks so you don’t have to guess about which animals are in the area. We usually know where we will build our trapline long before the season starts, which saves time in the long run.

When we know which animals we will target through year-round scouting, we build our trapping tool bag accordingly. Animals of the canine species are the hardest to trap, and many seasoned trappers suggest starting with raccoons because they are so abundant. This helps build confidence on the trapline before pursuing other animals.

Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores—they will eat berries, nuts, small mammals, frogs, fish, and even trash. A raccoon track is comparable to a tiny human hand; it has five sausage-shaped toes on each foot, connected to a C-shaped palm pad. Their scat is cylindrical in shape, has broken or blunted ends, and is usually dark in color. In the fall, you might observe bits of undigested food in it, such as berry seeds.

What’s in a Raccoon Trapper’s Tool Bag?

A typical raccoon trapper’s tool bag consists of (but is not limited to): dog-proof coon traps (DP coon traps), J-hooks with a J-hook tool (to attach the anchoring system), an anchoring system, bait (cat food or a piece of donut), a stake driver (to pound the anchoring system in place), hammer, and gloves. You could use a live trap as well, but I have found it impossible to keep my chickens out of them. The dog-proof coon traps are perfect in almost any scenario.

You can get DP coon traps at most feed supply stores, but there are also small business trapping suppliers such as Hoosier Trapping Supply, Minnesota Trapline Products, and F & T Fur Harvester’s Trading Post. The benefit of ordering through a small trapping supplier is that their employees are trappers and can help answer your questions. There is always the option of finding used traps through word of mouth or an online marketplace. Going this route can also help build connections with experienced trappers in your area—you may learn a thing or two.

How to Make a Set

Trappers follow many rules, but one of the simplest is to set on animal sign. This increases your odds of catching your target animal because many will revisit the same places if they’ve found food there. If you can find a path they use, set your trap nearby. Pack some bait, such as cat food or a sweet treat, in the bottom of the dog-proof coon trap, drive the anchoring system into the ground, and pull up to lock it in place and test for security. Next, set the trap either with your hands or by placing it on the ground and using your foot to squeeze the trigger so it locks in place. Point the opening in the direction that raccoons will see it. The trap has a trigger system that is set off when they try to pull the bait out of the tube. After your first successful catch, repack the trap with bait and set it again. Raccoons live in groups, so chances are you’ll catch a few more in the same spot.

A Few Closing Thoughts

The largest hurdle for trapping acceptance is a lack of information. I still see people on social media arguing that it’s necessary to trap and kill coyotes because they will eat all your livestock, but that approach generally closes the door to understanding. Leading with fact rather than emotion seems to be the best approach.

When you become a trapper, you have a responsibility to maintain a respectable image in the public eye for the sake of all trappers. This means understanding your critical role in the ecological food web, knowing your state’s regulations and adhering to them, and obtaining your license before you begin your trapping journey.

The post Raccoon Trapping for Beginners appeared first on Homestead.org.

The Juggling Act

When it comes to juggling, homesteaders are pros.  Between off-farm jobs, children, extended family, community involvement, livestock, gardens, food preparation and preservation, repair and maintenance of infrastructure and equipment, household tasks, and pet care, we are spread pretty thin most of the time.  Some days it seems like we are being pulled in a thousand different directions, with each one a top priority.

Having extra tasks to juggle is part and parcel of living this kind of life.  When we homesteaders made the commitment to raise our own food and live close to the land, most of us went into it with eyes wide open.  We knew it would be rough.  We knew that while city people were acquiring their weekly food needs by way of an easy hour spent in the aisles of their nearest supermarket, we would be toiling over vegetable gardens and milk stands.  While our city counterparts are opening prepackaged food boxes, we are canning green beans and making cheese, and kneading bread.  They turn up the thermostat while we chop and stack firewood.

As homesteaders, most of us have not only added work, but added lives for which we bear responsibility.  We are in charge of the nutrition, health, safety, and comfort of not only kids and possibly elders, but often a multitude of farm animals with myriad needs as well.

It is inevitable to feel overloaded at times.  If this sounds all too familiar, it may be a good time to ask yourself a few questions about what is going on.

Is it the feeling of being overloaded?  For example, is your plate overflowing due to an unexpected accident or illness, which you will someday look back and see as merely a bump in the road?  Or is it long-term and chronic?

If this is the baseline, what if something unexpected does happen?  Are you equipped to handle an emergency and its aftermath, not only physically but financially and emotionally as well?  If you or your partner gets Lyme disease or falls and breaks a bone, can the other pick up the extra tasks and play nursemaid as well?

• If your constitution, time, and resources have zero wiggle room for potential disaster, are there others in your life who would step up and help, or with whom you could barter for what you need to get through?  If not, can you take steps to create such a community?
• If you are truly living on the edge, with no margin of error and no outside support, can you tolerate the stress that such a life entails?  Some people can, and others cannot.  Everyone has different strengths, and what is tolerable for one person might be too much for another.  Use your answers to these questions to help you think through whether or not your personal plate is too full.

Reality

As a goal-oriented person who likes to have things done, it is possible for me to get sucked up into thinking a thing has to be done just because it was on my to-do list.  It is true that in a perfect world—or at least in my perfect world—everything would be fed, mucked out, swept up, canned, groomed, fixed, mowed, baked, washed, topped off with gas, harvested, returned, and polished.  Finished, put away, and with plenty of time to spare.

If you are wired that way as well, you may be on the fast track to burnout.  One of the first steps to determining where you are on the burnout-o-meter is to ask if you are trying to accomplish more than actually needs to be done.  Out on the homestead, it may be possible to let some tasks fall by the wayside while still holding onto what is truly most important.

For example, perhaps a few weeds in the front flower garden don’t matter—or maybe it is not even important to grow flowers at all.  Out in the barnyard, you may need to assess whether or not it is crucial to participate in every goat show with all animals, or if you could get by with hitting only the high spots with the herd’s best.  Leaning fences need to be repaired, but a temporary fix with a cattle panel might buy you some time during your busiest seasons so that the real work can be done later.

At some point, we all have to look reality in the eye.  Is your load genuinely too much?  Even the strongest people have limits.

It might be of value to ask yourself why you are doing what you do.  There are nearly as many reasons for homesteading as there are homesteaders.  You might be drawn to the lifestyle because you want to be self-reliant, or treat animals humanely, or do your part to save the planet.  You may have been motivated toward independence by concern for the nation’s political horizons.  Perhaps you want to avoid synthetic chemicals or bioengineering in your food, or you want to raise your children in a rural area, or you embrace the simplicity a homesteading life can offer.

Whatever compelled you to take up homesteading, ask yourself this: is it still important to me?  Do you still wince at the thought of commuting on eight lanes of stop-and-go traffic every day?  Do you hate the idea of your kids eating high-fructose-corn-syrup-laced snacks and spending their days indoors?  Would buying your food at the grocery store be a letdown?  Would you chafe at the idea of depending upon someone else for your sustenance and security?

If your reality is that it still matters, that is a big deal… If you still want to do it, you still can.  You may have to make adjustments and learn to let go of that which is not critical.  Life requires flexibility.  But if homesteading is where your passion lies, you can do it.

Another aspect to consider is this: what would make your life easier?  Aside from the standard witty replies of “winning the lottery” or “having myself cloned” or “inventing animals that tended themselves and lawns that never needed mowing,” what is the real answer?

Perhaps a compromise is in order.  An easier life might be attained by taking a less demanding off-farm job and living with the salary cut, or growing only fruit and bartering for vegetables with a neighbor, or taking a season off from volunteering in dog foster care or master gardening.

When to Say “When“

I once met a couple who picked up their well-heeled lives as engineers in Silicon Valley and touched down in an off-grid home on twenty acres in rural Maine.  Their stunned friends and family asked them if they planned to live like that forever.

“We plan to live like this until it isn’t fun anymore,” they replied.

I try to make that my mantra.  This is not to say that everything about homesteading is always fun.  Some of it is never fun.  But when the whole package ceases to be rewarding overall, it may be time to reconsider.

If you are wondering if you should throw in the towel, have you pictured how your life would be from that point forward?  When everything is coming at you at once and you feel like you have not had time for as much as a deep breath in recent memory, you might be so intent on getting out from under feed-store bills and eighteen-hour days that you have not really considered the alternative.  Would you move back to the city, or into a spare bedroom of a relative’s in a village, or buy a smaller farm?

During my most discouraging times, when it seemed like all the equipment broke down on the same day and a windstorm knocked a tree over onto the chicken-house roof and the vet came to the farm three times in one week, I sometimes gave thought to what my life would be like somewhere else.  And the truth was, I just could not picture myself anywhere but on my homestead.  As long as that remains true, I’m staying.

That is not to say that downsizing is out of the question.  In certain situations, even a partial downsize can bring relief to a homesteader in danger of burnout.

During a particularly difficult summer, it occurred to me one day that I seemed to be starting my milking chores later every morning.  It was clear I was procrastinating, and when I carefully examined my motives, I realized I just did not enjoy it anymore.  The deep love I had once held for the activity, the gentle sweetness of time spent with my favorite goat doe, the magical nature of lactation—had been reduced to just a chore to get through.

Not only that, but the goats themselves had become more of a burden than a joy, and I rarely spent time with them anymore.

I made the heart-wrenching decision to sell my goat herd.  I screened buyers carefully and still continue to follow their progress on social media, and it is clear now that selling them to better homes than I was providing was the right move for all of us.

Selling off an entire herd of livestock is by no means the right answer for everyone.  What is the right answer is to conduct honest, hardcore soul-searching that will help you arrive at the right answer for you.

There is no shame in saying “uncle.”  Every lifestyle is not optimum for every person at every stage of his or her life.  If homesteading is beating you to death and you are long since burnt out, it is time to consider other options.

There may be some great ways to reduce burnout without letting go of your homesteading dream.  In addition to creating a dynamic in which you receive support from others around you, letting go of non-essential activities, and cutting corners where possible, there are other modifications you can try.

First, consider getting help.  If hiring a regular farmhand or even an occasional day-laborer is out of the question, this may be the perfect juncture to consider inviting relatives to sign on at your homestead.  An arrangement with grown children or middle-aged parents might be just right for some families.  You can create unlimited permutations of a basic cheap-rent-for-farm-help deal.  Your home may be big enough to house the whole clan, or there may be enough cash on hand to build an in-law apartment.  Otherwise, it might work to put up a cabin, yurt, or tiny house on the property, for either you or the newcomers.

If no relatives are interested, you may be able to find an apprentice or partner through programs that connect farms to farmers.  Look into farmers’ organizations, cooperative extension programs, or even Craigslist (with caution, of course) for a good fit.  It might take some persistence, but do not rule it out without trying.

If you do decide to downsize, it does not have to be all or nothing.  You may be able to sell off some livestock, cut down on crops, dry off dairy animals, and commit to doing less food preservation.  Cutting back on the number and scope of projects might make a difference too, although I will be the first to acknowledge that homesteaders are optimistic by nature and hate to scale back.  You may even consider subdividing property and keeping only that which is most dear to your heart and most vital to your operation.

You may opt for selling the whole place and starting over on another property instead.  Somewhere smaller, less expensive, closer to work, further from town, or with better infrastructure might be enough of a trade-up to make continuing as a homesteader possible and more pleasurable.

In the same way that homesteaders do not fit into cookie-cutter shapes, there is no single right answer for addressing homesteading burnout.  It is a tough life, and it does happen.  But we homesteaders are a tough lot.  We have the strength and resilience we need to assess, cope, adapt, compromise, and accept whatever changes needed to be made.

The post Burnout on the Homestead: It’s Not All for Everyone appeared first on Homestead.org.

Depending on weather conditions (and your energy level), snowshoeing can feel just like floating on snow (if you can pick up a good pace).  If you are wearing a lightweight design, a wide-open field can be easy to cross.  However, it is unlikely that the first people to snowshoe used the word “easy” in regard to wearing or using them.

Over 6,000 years ago, our ancestors from Asia strapped slabs of wood on their feet in order to hunt and move over deep snow.  Modifications to the original crude design happened over time, as the human race migrated to other continents.  Snowshoes evolved from three main patterns (bear paw, beavertail, and long Yukon style) into the current man-made-material and lighter, ash-wood models.

Snowshoes were quite heavy up until the mid-1900s.  There was no floating.  Just keeping a person from sinking way down into the snow was considered a success.  Earlier designs also came with traction issues on inclines and simply keeping them on one’s feet was a challenge due to binding issues. Humans continue to upgrade and modify snowshoes in an attempt to eliminate any and all barriers to walking on snow-covered terrain.

Ice cleats appear to have a longer history.  Findings go as far back as the Viking Era (800 AD-1100 AD).  The oldest cleats can be viewed at a museum in Sweden.  Over time ice cleats have been modified and used by myriad people including the military, hunters, and your average person.  They are a means to stay upright on icy surfaces.  They are not crampons, which are worn by ice climbers, and are much more aggressive in design and performance.

Although I grew up in New England, winter became my enemy when I fell twice in one season.  I broke my right wrist and right ulna.  Had surgery.  Wore a titanium external fixture for months (basically a metal cage screwed into my arm) and had months and months of post-op physical therapy.  Despite all of that, my wrist never healed properly.  I vowed to never fall on the ice again… if I could help it.

Since then, a fear of falling made me less adventurous during winter.  Until we created our small farm; then, I was forced to go outside regardless of the weather.  Getting to and from house to barn or house to coops—lugging warm water and feed—was necessary.  I had near misses… lots of heart-thumping slips.  My guy took more falls than I cared to witness.  We had to find a way to do our chores and not end up in the hospital.

Four winters ago, my guy bought me snowshoes for Christmas.  They were not huge wooden boats like I imagined; they were small and lightweight.  Pretty, too.  I wasn’t convinced they would work, but I allowed him to strap them out my feet and tug me across our property.

After a lap around our entire property—me flailing a bit at first—I was hooked.

As for cleats/ spikes, I was also introduced to them four years ago.  Again, thanks to my guy.  I loved them immediately!  There was no learning curve.  I had to try a couple of different pairs of boots before finding a pair that they fit best on, but other than that, they were amazing from day one.

With both devices, an entirely new world opened up to me.  Winter was no longer my enemy.

Now, when the first arctic temperatures are in the forecast, our snowshoes and spikes are hung right by the woodstove.  We both have two pairs of each.  We are ready.

Snowshoe Basics

Types of Snowshoes: Wooden, Composite, Aluminum

Cost: $30-$300

Snowshoe Parts: Learn what each part is and what it does.  There are toe and heel crampons underneath for traction, side rails for stability.  Bindings keep them on your feet.  Read and learn as much as possible about the straps and bindings so you can attach and adjust them easily.  Some snowshoes have lifts and breaking bars.

Fit: Snowshoe specs are important. Read them.  If you get a pair without them, research them or contact the manufacturer.  Your weight is crucial to determining what size you need.  Try to weigh the coat, snow pants, and other gear you normally wear-along with any backpacks you might wear.

What type of terrain will you normally be traveling over?  Will it be deep powder or hard-packed and icy?  Larger snowshoes are best for deep snow, while smaller snowshoes are needed for hard-packed/icy terrain

We usually don larger snowshoes right after a snowstorm when it is deep and fluffy, but, within days, we switch to smaller snowshoes as dogs, cows, goats, tractors, 4-wheelers, and foot traffic pack down the snow.

Extras: If we are breaking trail in deep snow with larger snowshoes, we use hiking poles to keep our balance.  Once we have a trail and switch to smaller snowshoes, hiking poles are less necessary.  Also, at that point, we are usually carrying buckets or animal supplies and need hands for that.

Waterproof snow pants or gaiters (waterproof wraps for your lower legs) are extremely handy to keep legs dry from snow build-up.

Ice Cleats/Spikes

Types of Ice Traction Devices: They are called many things: ice cleats, grips, spikes, traction aids, ice and snow grips…but they are basically all the same thing- a device to help one walk on snow and/or ice.

Cost: $8- $80 (On average under $25)

Ice Traction Parts: They are basically metal chains and spikes, or plastic/manmade material nubs attached to stretchy straps or ratchet buckles that fit onto boots/shoes.

Fit: Buy according to the size of the shoe or boot you will be normally attaching them to.   Decide what type of terrain you will be traveling on: sidewalks/ city environment, country environment /dirt paths, etc.

Read specs on what terrain, what temperature, what shoe size each ice traction device is intended.

Someone walking on city streets with a lot of foot traffic will have different needs than someone walking on hard-packed ice with little foot traffic.  One person may need a less intense pair to slip over sneakers, while another person may need a more aggressive pair to attach to boots.

I have two pairs, one with short spikes, one with longer.  I choose what pair to wear depending on the conditions outside.

I’m still not a huge fan of winter, but I am now at least smarter when it comes to caring for our critters in winter.  I no longer hate winter in general.  I have made friends with this important season.  Despite that accomplishment, I doubt ice will truly ever be my best friend.  I am aware of what one fall can do to a body.  I still vow to never fall again if I can help it.

Top-rated Snowshoes

MSR EVO 22 Snowshoe

Chinook Trekker Snowshoes

Atlas Endeavor Snowshoes

Tubbs Flex Alp 24

MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes

RedFeather HIKE Recreational Series

Winterial Snowshoes

The Best Snowshoes of 2020 

The 7 Best Snowshoes – 2019/2020 Reviews & Guide

Best Wooden Snowshoes 

Top-rated Ice Cleats

Best High-end: Yaktrax Summit Heavy Duty Traction Cleats

Best Mid-grade: Due North All Purpose Traction Aid

Best Inexpensive: Due North Everyday G3 Ice and Snow Traction Aid

Top 10 Best Traction Cleats For Snow And Ice in 2020 

The 9 Best Ice Traction Cleats

The post Floating on Snow: Using Snowshoes and Ice Cleats on the Homestead appeared first on Homestead.org.

With more than five decades of getting and giving, I suppose I’m as much of an authority as anyone on what makes a good Christmas gift. I grew up a poor country kid, but as the story is often told we didn’t realize we were poor because everyone around us was in the same boat.  Gifts were never extravagant.  But they were always thoughtful, and I was the kind of kid who appreciated and took care of his toys.  I have a surprising number of them still in decent condition.  My office shelves and walls hold many of them along with other treasures from my simple life.

I’ve found that homesteaders, or anyone who chooses to live in a more rural setting, tend to live with purpose.  Buy that, I mean that we have a tendency to make good use of the things we own.  We rely less on other people and service providers and more on getting the job done with the knowledge and tools on hand.  Homestead.org is a great source of knowledge.  If you need to know how to raise chickens, buy land, sharpen a knife, can meat or vegetables, or do other helpful tasks you can usually find an informative article telling you how. That takes care of the knowledge, but a homesteader or new small farmer needs to have a wide assortment of tools and gadgets on hand to do those tasks. Christmas gift-giving is a great opportunity to provide someone you care about with a quality, helpful gadget or gizmo to make their life in the country a bit more enjoyable.

To that end, we’ve pored over the Internet and found some very helpful tools and gadgets to consider for your gift giving this year.  To simplify the list, it’s broken down by category.  I’ll offer some insight on my personal top couple choices in each category, and a brief explanation of the other items.  All are readily available through Amazon or any number of local or online retailers.  Here we go… The Homestead Gift-giving Guide!

Personal Items

One of the best gifts I’ve ever received—or purchased for myself—was a cap with earflaps.  I’m not aware of any homesteader, or other rural resident who doesn’t end up working outdoors in winter conditions.  And while a sock cap might cover the ears, a cap with adjustable ear flaps offers more versatility. I own a few different styles, but my favorite is an insulated buffalo plaid baseball-style cap.  Other popular choices are “trapper style” or “bomber style” hats, usually fur-lined with long ear flaps that fasten beneath the chin.  The advantage of the baseball-style cap is the added bill which shades the eyes in the daylight and provides a place to fasten a clip-on headlamp or small flashlight with clip for night work. We jokingly refer to mine as “the Elmer Fudd hat”.

As age gains traction on my body, I’m finding myself less and less excited about falling down.  As a youth, I welcomed comical slips and falls, especially on ice.  But now in my fifties, I cringe when I see a video clip of someone taking a tumble.  To that end, a few years ago my wife found and bought me a set of slip-on ice cleats.  The pair of cleats consist simply of hardened steel studs embedded in a web of stretchy rubber.  Using them is as simple as hooking the toe of the cleat over the toe of your shoe or boot and stretching it to secure the back edge over the heel of the footwear.  Some brands have more intricate straps to hold them in place, but even the slip-on pair I own tend to hold pretty tight and definitely offer improved safety on those few icy days we have each year here in the Ozarks where I live.

Other helpful gift ideas in this category might include a disposable razor sharpener to get the most of those already inexpensive blades. Homesteaders tend to be a frugal lot, and the cost of one of these sharpeners is slightly more than two packs of disposable blades and will make the blades you use last much longer. Or how about soaps or other personal care products made with natural ingredients.

And for the guys, I’d also consider a money clip.  At the urging of a good friend, I stopped carrying a thick, bulky wallet in my back pocket several years ago in favor of a slim magnetic money clip that holds some cash and just a few necessary cards and identification.  Much of the back pain I had experienced for years went away instantly and I’ve been grateful for his helpful suggestion.

The Gift of Preparedness

There is perhaps no more used tool around a country home than a flashlight.  Each year at my family’s Christmas gift exchange you can expect to see a dozen or more flashlights of all shapes and sizes being given.  From headlamps or clip-on cap lamps to handheld lights ranging from single battery penlights or pocket flashlights to full-bore rechargeable spotlights or 9-volt work lamps, and even up to battery- or fuel-style lanterns, the gift of (night) sight is a great thing to give a homesteader.

Thinking of reasons we might need a flashlight brings me next to the weather radio.  Yes, even in today’s digital age with smartphones used like the “remote control of life”, the weather radio is still a great tool to have when living rurally. Whether you’re disconnected by miles or minutes, knowing what’s headed your way when all other sources of communication are down is a gift.  Portable and multi-power radios are very affordable and readily available.  Consider a model that runs on batteries but has a hand crank backup option.  Actual “weather” radios which sound alarms or activate when inclement weather warnings or given are good, but so is a simple AM/FM portable unit that can keep you in touch when the cell towers and Internet providers are out of service.

To round out the category, I can’t leave out the emergency kit. How prepared an individual or family should be is determined by several factors not limited to, but including, how many people are in the group and how far you are located from emergency services.  The standard I’ve heard for years for those living in the United States is 3-5 days of food and water on hand, meaning most people can be reached in emergency situations within five days.  Until then, you might have to fend for yourself.  An emergency rations kit can be built from scratch for much less than the cost of buying a “kit in a bucket”.  But if you want to give the gift of preparedness, and potentially the gift of life, to your favorite homesteader(s) consider buying them one of the self-contained emergency preparedness food kits available through many online resources.  The kits are sized based on the number of people they need to feed.  The items are usually dehydrated or flash dried or frozen and can last for years as long as they are kept sealed. The kit will contain a checklist and instructions for the preparation of the contents.

Best Gifts for the Homesteader’s Home

Now for some less ominous gift-giving options, most homesteaders might already have the basics of day-to-day living on hand. But there are many gift ideas which can enhance living rurally. Here are just a few.

Accordion clothes-drying rack: Having some extra surface area to dry clothes and other items is always handy, especially when you rely on an outdoor clothesline and the weather is uncooperative or your electric or gas-powered dryer is temporarily out of service.  We bought our first folding clothes-drying rack a couple of decades ago when our children were young and we put up a backyard swimming pool.  It was a great way to air dry towels and swimwear.  But we’ve used it many times to dry our regular laundry as well.  Ours folds out and sits on the floor, but there are also many models available which mount on a wall and accordion out into the room to hold several items.

Clothesline pulley kit: If the recipient of your gift has an outdoor space suitable for a clothesline, consider giving a clothesline pulley kit.  The addition of a pulley system to a clothesline means less walking and moving for the one doing the laundry, and can also overcome issues with unlevel terrain or second-floor laundry rooms.  A clothesline on a pulley system can span ditches or steep drops and can be mounted to posts, trees or buildings.

Red cedar hanger discs: One final laundry-related gift idea, this one very inexpensive, is a collection of red cedar hangar discs to add that cedar-lined closet smell and feel to your hanging clothes. The discs look like wooden doughnuts and slip over the hook portion of a clothes hanger.  They add the aroma and bug-resisting properties of cedar to any closet.  They’re available in sets, but could also be made by the crafty gift-giver.

Sleighbells: This one is a personal favorite for our household.  We were given our first set of sleigh bells as a decoration many years ago.  The string of round brass bells was mounted on a wide leather strip with a metal ring attached to one end to hang over a doorknob. At first glance, they look similar to the bells which adorned the tack my grandpa used on his horses during the holidays.

For the first few years, we unpacked the sleigh bells and hung them on a doorknob each fall and then removed and packed them away after Christmas.  But one year we forgot them while packing away the holiday décor.  They remained on the inside knob of the exterior door the entire next year.  We quickly found they served as an alarm when the door was opened, especially at night.  Living in an old Victorian-style home built in the 1880s, we have five exterior doors and no alarm system.  For years now we’ve had a set of sleigh bells on most exterior doors all year round.

Gifts for the Homestead Hearth

Heat helpers: For those who heat with a wood stove, there are several tools and gadgets which can make the process more enjoyable.  Consider a small heat-activated fan that sits atop the stove and helps disperse the warm air.  The little fans rely on technology way beyond my understanding but have an aluminum base and a tiny thermoelectric motor which translates heat from the stove’s surface into power to turn the fan and further disperse heat into the room.  We were gifted one a couple of years ago after setting up our weekend cabin with an antique homestead woodstove.  Not only does it help disperse heat through the little cabin, but it’s a great conversation piece among visitors.

As for getting the wood to the stove, we use a canvas firewood carrier: a sling of sorts that holds 6 or 8 pieces of firewood and has handles for easy carry.  Other models have a shoulder harness to help reduce back and shoulder strain.  And speaking of shoulder strain, lifting firewood can be made easier with a Logox, a popular new product which makes picking up and carrying firewood splits less about the grip and grab and more about the lifting with larger muscle groups and less bending and straining.

Another helpful heating gadget is an indoor/outdoor thermometer set with a wireless outdoor probe that attaches to an external surface.  The systems range from $15-20 for a simple indoor/outdoor temperature reading to hundreds of dollars for a small portable weather station which shows wind and rain readings and the forecast.

One last heating gift suggestion would be a cast-iron stovetop steamer or kettle.  Utilizing one will add necessary moisture into the air which can be removed by burning an indoor fire.  A cast-iron kettle can serve double duty by also heating water for drinking or household tasks.  A steamer is more decorative, such as the “hen on the nest” cast iron model which sits on our woodstove.  My wife raises chickens, so she was gifted a hen-shaped steamer a few years back.  Filled in the evening, the steamer will simmer and put moisture into the air all night long, humidifying our home.

The Garden

I’m a gadget nut.  Really!  My wife takes the lead on the cooking in our home, but I’ve always been drawn to kitchen gadgets.  She has a green thumb, but I really like gardening gadgets.  Here are a few favorites for the garden that we’ve been able to agree on as being beneficial or simply enjoyable over the years.

Tool keepers: Homesteaders have to have many different tools for a variety of tasks.  We learned long ago that it helps to “compartmentalize” tools of a specific purpose together for both use and storage in the offseason.  One of the best ways to do that with small gardening tools is a canvas garden bucket holder, a gardening stool with storage, or a gardening apron.  All of these options provide a great way to keep up with gloves, small trowels, and other digging tools, snips, and seed packages.

Birdhouse or feeder: Birds and bird watching often goes hand-in-hand with gardening.  Some gardeners plant things that are beneficial to migratory birds.  Others locate birdhouses or feeders in or near the garden to attract specific species of birds that help control harmful insects.  Of course, the available bird feeders and houses are endless, but one of my favorites is a feeder made to look like an old red oil lantern.  But instead of the lantern having a glass globe, it has a mesh holder for birdseed or suet.

Paper-pot maker: A great gadget for saving money and getting the jump on the planting season is a paper-pot maker.  These usually consist of two wooden parts which worth together to form seedling pots out of old newsprint or other discarded paper.  You simply wet the paper and form it into the mold, set it aside and let it dry.  The set can be of great enjoyment for the gardener stuck in winter and longing for the days of planting and nurturing.  He or she can pass the housebound hours of deep winter by making seedling pots to be used as the spring days approach.  It’s the equivalent of when the first seed catalogs arrive in the mail well ahead of the planting season.  Suddenly, the coming spring seems a little more of a reality.

Bucket opener/hammer: The benefits of this gift can be accomplished otherwise with a good grip, pair of large pliers or screwdriver, and hammer.  But a perfect gift for the gardener or any homesteader or farmer is a bucket opener/hammer combo.  These cast aluminum tools are as handy as a pocket on a shirt for anyone who is constantly accessing buckets with snap-on lids.  One side of the gadget will pry the tabs open on the bucket lid, while the other side drives home the lid for a good seal.  And having a dedicated tool handy with your gardening or barn supplies saves time over running around looking for a screwdriver or pliers or hammer.

Gifts for the Homestead Kitchen

As I eluded to earlier, I’m a real fan of kitchen gadgets.  This list of suggestions could be an entire series of stories alone.  But for the sake of saving space, I’ll keep it to a few favorites.

Cast-iron cookware: Collecting and cooking with cast iron usually falls under two categories: those who do and enjoy it, and those who have yet to discover the joys of cast-iron cooking.  Elsewhere in this gift guide, I mentioned that my wife takes the lead on the cooking in our house.  But that doesn’t mean I don’t help out, and sometimes even venture out to prepare a meal all by myself.  And when I do, you can rest assured I do so using some kind of cast-iron cookware.

I’ve written about cast-iron cooking and related topics for the past two decades.  I have a pretty good collection of skillets, stew pots, Dutch ovens, griddles, cornbread pans, trivets, and accessories.  Some of the most helpful I’ve found include hot handle holders made of heat-resistant rubber or cloth; non-metallic scrub brushes or pads; plastic scrapers; wooden spoons, lid holders, lid lifters, and trivets.  While collecting vintage name-brand cast iron can be big business, there are many companies offering quality and affordable new cast-iron skillets, pans, and ovens. A good starter set of a couple of skillets and a Dutch oven will run about $60-100.

Embossed rolling pin: For those who enjoy baking pies or making cookies, a rolling pin is a must.  But why not take the gift of a good rolling pin one step further and consider an embossed pin which adds a decorative flair to the pie crust.  Several companies offer decorative pins made from a variety of materials and patterns.

Old-fashioned wooden recipe-box: When I mentioned that I had added this one to the list for this homestead gift-giving guide, the two best cooks I know—my wife and our son—approved whole-heartedly.  Some of the most cherished things found in our kitchen cabinets are hand-written recipes from our mothers and grandmothers.  If your favorite homesteader has a cooking heritage, then a wooden recipe box could be a great gift.  Or how about helping your favorite cook start their own recipe heritage.  A package of recipe cards and a nice box to keep them in is a great way to start building your own heritage for future generations.  Take time to write those favorite family recipes down on cards by hand.  In fact, write several copies. Buy a recipe box for each child or grandchild and put the assortment of recipes in it and give it as a gift.  Not only will the meals they provide be welcomed for generations to come, but having that hand-written recipe on a card in a wooden recipe-box handed down from generation to generation will undoubtedly be a cherished possession of any culinary enthusiast.

Junior baking set: This past summer found us welcoming our first grandchild.  Although she’s only five months old, I’m already taking her to the kitchen and holding her while we watch her grammy make tasty treats.  Obviously, she’s too young to enjoy them yet, but by this time next year, she’ll be discovering her taste buds.  And Grammy is already envisioning “Little Britches” sitting on the counter and helping stir mixes, roll dough, and lick bowls and beaters.  It won’t be long until she has her own drawer in the kitchen to hold little pots and pans and utensils which are her size.  Kids learn by doing and imitating what they see.  Buying a child their own junior baking set or individual items is a great way to foster a love of cooking and baking.

Pie/cake carrier: There’s an old joke that says to be a good church lady you have to own a 9X13 casserole dish.  The country life often lends itself to preparing and providing dishes for all sorts of occasions, be it church dinners, community gatherings, fundraiser meals, pot lucks, or family get-togethers.  Having a decorative pie/cake carrier and transport bag makes providing a dish both practical and enjoyable.  These dishes and carrier bags come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and designs.

A Few More Gifts for the Homesteader

I’m going to end this homestead gift-giving guide with a few bonus items which really do not fall under any of the previously-mentioned categories but are great gift ideas for the homesteader in your life nonetheless.

Snacks: Giving snacks is always a great gift idea. But why not take it one step further and give a tin of hard candy, snack mix, peanut or cashew or pecan or coconut brittle, or the old favorite, the fruitcake.  These old-fashioned snacks will take the recipient back in time as they enjoy the time-honored treats.

Games: A segment of the younger generation has rediscovered board games. When our children and their spouses recently gathered in for Thanksgiving they spent a portion of their time sitting at the kitchen table playing games.  Whether card games or board games, the fact is that the video monitors and gaming systems of yesterday are being replaced with board and card games, both new and old.  While the selection is nearly endless, a great game to play with kids who are growing up around livestock is “Life on the Farm”.  We bought the board game for our son when he was about 10 years old and spent many an evening enjoying it as a family around the table. And now, nearly 20 years later, he’s a farmer. The company still makes the game today.

Your time: The greatest gift you can give this season is the gift of your time.  People, especially children, cherish the time and attention of others. And there’s no greater gift a parent or grandparent, or aunt, uncle, or another elder can give a child than time and attention.  Simply put the cellphone down, get off social media, and put away the tablet; schedule and then follow through with spending quality time with the individuals you care for and love.  While this is paramount for children, it is also a cherished gift by adults.

Electronic communication devices and “access” are robbing the current generations of much-needed personal attention.  There is a definite place, and legitimate uses for, the Internet and technology in today’s world (such as

reading this article and locating and buying some of the items mentioned).  But in the end, the real gift comes when you put the technology down for a few hours and sit across the table from another person (or persons) and connect with them on a personal level… whether over a good meal or a game.

Remember me talking about that handmade barn scene I was given as a five-year-old boy?  Some of my fondest memories of that gift were of my siblings and parents taking turns to get down on the floor and play “farming” with me in the days and weeks and months following that Christmas morning.

Take time to spend some quality time with those important to you this holiday season and you’ll rediscover that it truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

The post Homestead Gift-giving Guide: The Best Gifts for Homesteaders appeared first on Homestead.org.

There are some of us who consider that wonderland to be a nightmare, however.  Uncomfortable with the fragile dependency that such a grid-dependent life requires, some folks have chosen a direct about-face and are living off-grid in the 21st century.  The motivating forces behind such a counter-cultural decision are as diverse as the people who choose it, whether they want to be in control of their resources, be more sustainable, keep historical ways alive, or just want to be left alone in a remote location.

As a result, the manifestation of that self-sufficient desire is equally as personalized.  For the intrepid experimenter who just wants to get started on their own journey, however, sometimes it can be intimidating to figure out where, exactly, to start.  Particularly if you haven’t yet found your land or are butting heads with an HOA regarding your non-conventional approach to life, trying to learn off-grid skills can sometimes feel like an insurmountable challenge.

I know the feeling.  My husband and I have been slowly but surely switching from city-service dependency to off-grid self-sufficiency.  We started this lifestyle change years before we finally found our acreage—practicing skills, and gaining experience even though we were living in an inner-city house on a postage stamp of land.  In doing so, we learned a lot about how to change our mindsets as much as we changed our habits.  It’s important for those starting out to note that choosing to live off-grid is more than just a hobby: it’s a complete lifestyle change that is years in the making.  So, here are a few ideas we used along the way that you can use to practice living off-grid wherever you are.

Evaluate Your Resources

One of the first steps of off-grid living is to identify The Grid itself and how it has been interwoven into your lifestyle.  You’ll have to mindfully look at the way you live.  As you do, you will start discovering all the invisible, out-of-your-control ties that link you to a power grid, city water systems, food transport, or waste management.

The desire to separate from these systems of support requires you to start becoming the captain of your own ship, so to speak.  It is exhilarating to be able to break free from being at the mercy of power outages or water bills.  In order to get to that point, however, a lot… and I mean, a LOT of work needs to go into your personal declaration of independence.  Turn it into a self-directed study: educate yourself on how The Grid works, take the time to learn about the huge array of alternate solutions, and try not to get involved in too many debates online about what “Off-Grid” really means in the meantime.  Everyone has their own “perfect” definition—the important thing is to decide and to commit to yours.

Manual Tools

Once you start identifying where you are depending on the Grid, you can start severing the unnecessary ties that link you to it.  Remember, all of worldwide humanity was able to exist for millennia without it—you can too!  One of the easiest places to start is with your appliances.  Switch out that electric coffee maker for a French press.  Trade your bread machine for a good arm workout.  Donate your microwave and make much better food without it.  Try mowing the lawn with a push mower, or confuse the joggers when you step out in the early dawn with a scythe (my favorite method of plant management!).  If there is a task that you are currently doing only by the power of a machine, try to see how you can do it manually… or even go without it! You may find that there is some quiet pleasure to be found in the simple task of just doing things for yourself, even if that’s just whisking the butter and sugar together for cookies rather than running the hand mixer.

Many old-fashioned manual tools can be found cheaply at antique stores or even at thrift stores, but you need to know what to look for to spot the treasure hidden among the plastic junk.  EBay can also offer some incredible discoveries.  Some modern stores, such as Lehman’s in Kidron, Ohio, also specialize in manual tools, often carrying products—and advice about them—that just can’t be found elsewhere.

These changes are very small, admittedly, but they start the process.  During the early stages of the off-grid transition, the mental adjustment is even more important than the physical changes.  If you are ready to take on the challenge and literally put things back in your own hands, you’ll be able to approach the much more difficult challenges on the road ahead.

Off-Grid Laundry

Laundry can be a huge way to start thinking and acting with an off-grid perspective.  Washing machines and driers are—frankly—huge, wasteful machines that we have learned to “need,” but that we can do much better without.  You will have cleaner clothes, more space in your house, a much lower electricity bill, and a much more can-do attitude, guaranteed.

First, sell your dryer and learn how to line-dry your clothes.  If you have the space for it in your yard, a clothesline will both dry and sun-sanitize clothing year-round. There’s a learning curve to it, of course, and sometimes you will be at the mercy of the weather.  But the more you do it, the more naturally it will come.  If you don’t have a yard, you can still dry clothes with an indoor clothes-drying rack—there are many styles and shapes that can be easily folded away when not in use.

(And don’t accept any protests about “crunchy towels” like I’ve heard from many detractors to my clothesline.  If a slightly stiff, sun-dried towel is too big a hurdle for you to accept, then the off-grid life just isn’t for you!)

Once you get your clothesline game going strong, it’s time to put the washing machine on your local Craigslist and learn to do some manual laundry.  You may wonder how in the world the mountain of clothes a family generates could possibly be washed by hand, and I am here to personally tell you that it is possible, and I don’t spend every waking moment of my life washing clothes, either.  There are many ways to approach this chore—here are two tips I would give anyone trying it out:

First, stop making so much laundry in the first place.  A washing machine is a crutch that teaches you that a towel used to dry off after showering is “dirty” and needs to be cleaned.  I guarantee, once you start washing by hand, you will be a lot more discerning about what goes in the hamper.  Many items merely need to be dried—better yet, dried in the sun—and then are perfectly suited to keep on being used until they’re actually dirty.  Don’t toss a shirt into the pile unless it actually smells.  If the jeans you got muddy today are just going to get muddy tomorrow when you return to the same project, they don’t need to be washed that evening!  You’ll figure out your own house rules to suit your lifestyle.

Second, try to find a good, solid washing plunger.  These are often hiding in the corners of antique malls.  I have gone through numerous off-grid laundry devices, and they have all paled in comparison to this super-simple, sturdy tool.  Paired with a 5-gallon bucket and a washing board, you will have clothes cleaner than any machine could ever do, and faster, too.  On top of all that, you’ll be using hundreds of gallons of water LESS every month—excellent practice for when you get your water off-grid!  If you want specifics on how I wash laundry with this system, let me know in the comments below and I’ll fill you in!

Woodstoves

A woodstove isn’t merely a touch of primitive charm in the corner of a house.  For many an off-grid home, it is the glowing, beating heart.  Using a woodstove teaches you a huge array of lessons often necessary to the off-grid life.  From chopping, seasoning, and storing wood, keeping the rhythm of tending a warm fire going all day, using it as a clothes-drier (just string a clothesline above it!), a hot water tank (many woodstoves can be adapted to warm shower water), or even cooking on it (our favorite dinner is a cooked-all-day beef stew, succulently simmered atop a blazing woodstove)—a woodstove is the perfect “gateway” lifestyle change that can really set you down a path of independence.

I have one word to the wise, however.  If you are planning to move away from your current location to pursue the off-grid dream, installing a woodstove may make your current house a little harder to sell.  This isn’t to say you should write off suburban woodstoves entirely—we had a woodstove in our inner-city house, and we loved it!  It did take longer to find a buyer for our property who valued it as much as we did, though.

Water

Though taking your water off-grid is often just not possible if you don’t have your own land, there are several changes to your routine that can get you ready for when that day comes.

First, learn to stop wasting water.  Trust me, as someone who uses rain barrels and a manual pump for 100% of my family’s water, the idea of a hose running unattended, or a sink faucet running on full blast while doing dishes makes my eye start to twitch.  The average American uses a staggering 80-100 gallons of water a day—a totally unsustainable amount for pretty much any off-grid system.  The good news is, however, that humans need far, far less water to live comfortably and cleanly.

One way to use less water is to “cascade” your water use.  I got this term from Art Ludwig’s Create an Oasis From Greywater, and I use the philosophy daily.  Basically, it means to use water multiple times for the progressively “dirtier” tasks that suit it.  For example, if I used a pot of clean water to incubate yogurt, I can then heat that same water to wash dishes before I send it on its way.  Or, the water used to wash hands can then be used to flush a toilet or to water the plants on the porch.  The rinse-water from one load of manual laundry can become the wash water for the next load.  The more you pay attention to your water use, the more you will innovate creative ways to use it well.

If you have a bit of land to work with, you can also install a rain barrel to take your gardening water or chicken-watering off the grid.  There are many designs for this online, and it’s a project that can easily be completed in a weekend.  We keep multiple rain barrels connected to the gutters of every animal shelter in our rain-catchment system—it makes getting them their daily H2O an absolute breeze!

Bonus Off-Grid Skill: Self-Employment

I list this one as the bonus because it probably sounds like an ambitious one.  It is possible, however, to achieve freedom from the daily 9-5 grind no matter where you are.  Being your own boss requires a ton of discipline, forethought, and hard work—all skills needed for the intrepid off-grid family.  As a trade-off, however, you will be free from the much more psychological grid of a job that has you spending your time—your most precious asset—filling the coffers of a company, rather than with your family and land.  Maintaining an off-grid lifestyle requires that time, whether you go for the high-tech version with solar panels and wind turbines or the humble, more rustic model of oil lamps and bucket-lugging.  Being able to choose how to spend those irreplaceable hours is one of the biggest freedoms of all.

So even if you’re currently in a “normal” job, try experimenting with non-traditional ways to make money.  Whether you can paint portraits, be a handyman, run your own lawn-care business, try out market gardening, sell carved wooden spoons, or write articles online, if you try hard enough and push past the inevitable initial failures, you can find your niche and make a living.

Obviously, this article isn’t enough information for mastery of any of these topics, but I hope it can be an encouragement and inspiration for the off-grid novice.  If you want to get off-grid, the time to start is now—and maybe one of these points is just the challenge to get you rolling.

There’s much, much more to the full off-grid life than just these topics, of course—the more you learn, the more you’ll figure out how much more you need to learn.  The pursuit is truly an adventure, though.  As you reclaim more and more off-grid skills for yourself and your family, you will start to feel an indescribable feeling of freedom and self-sufficiency that only a few still know, even though these are skills that every human once owned until a few hundred years ago.  Though it is a lot of work to uncover them—and trust me, I’m still learning more every season myself—I can personally vouch that it is worth it.  I wouldn’t want to live any other life!

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About the Author: First, Wren was an environmental educator and language teacher living in the city.  Then, she and her husband decided to escape from the confines of city life and its dependence, and move their family to 12 acres of land in the Ozarks. They are currently in the middle of establishing their dream of a self-sufficient, permaculture-based, off-grid homestead, one step at a time. She can be typically found armpit-deep in brush foraging, cooking on cast iron, talking to her ducks and chickens, pumping yet another bucket of water from the well, and, in quiet moments, sketching art around the homestead.

The post Living Off-Grid Wherever You Are – Going Off-Grid Gradually appeared first on Homestead.org.

While I have a medical background for both animals and humans, my partner and I have a “less is more” approach to any farmyard injuries while also making sure we prevent further harm or infections.  While we cannot predict when or how we are going to get hurt, the next best thing is having a first aid kit set up that is geared towards homesteaders.

Your run-of-the-mill first-aid kits can be bought online, from pharmacies, and even sporting goods or home-improvement stores.  They typically contain antiseptic, disposable gloves, ice packs, gauze, tape, tourniquet, aspirin, sterile bandaging, tweezers, survival blankets, hydrocortisone ointment, bandage shears, and alcohol wipes.

While this is a good kit for the general public, adding a few more important items would customize it for first aid on the homestead:

• Sterile saline for wound cleaning and eye irrigation for accidents involving chemicals or foreign materials (wood dust, hay, metal shavings, etc.)
• Hand wipes for when water and soap for handwashing are unavailable.
• Large clean cloth and safety pins to make a sling.
• Sugar or small candies for diabetics battling a drop in glucose levels. Do not use chocolate or nuts.
• Heavy blanket for ground coverage or to transport someone who is unable to move.
• Sealable small and large plastic bags as well as garbage bags with ties for digit or limb amputation.
• Flares and flashlights for when injuries happen out in the woods or a large field.
• Splinting materials for broken bones.
• A pocket mask for resuscitation.

Many public schools and fire departments offer CPR and BLS classes.  I highly recommend taking them yourself and encouraging anyone else who works on the farm with you to participate.  The more people around who are educated and prepared, the better outcome for anyone who happens to get hurt.

Whether an accident/injury happens to you or someone else, the most important thing to do is to stay calm and not panic. It can be very unsettling and uncomfortable to experience, or simply witness, an injury of any kind, but being on the homestead gives it a more visceral feeling.  Being in the field, back in the woods, working with animals, and/or using heavy and dangerous equipment tends to amp up the urgency of receiving first aid.  In most cases, acting quickly and efficiently is necessary to improve the outcome, but a panicked and frantic mindset is not helpful.

Injuries including major bleeding, broken bones, loss of a limb or digit, head trauma, or unconsciousness need to be addressed immediately.  Call 911 and direct the dispatcher to where the injured party is located. If you don’t have cell phone service or Wi-Fi but you have another person near/with you, send them for help while you wait with the injured party.  People suffering from shock need to be kept warm with their legs and feet slightly elevated (unless it causes discomfort); major bleeding requires a tourniquet applied tightly above the wound; broken bones need to be stabilized for transport. The more efficiently and quickly these practices can be applied, the better. That is why it is called “first aid”, you are the first line of help, whether it’s for yourself or someone else.

While we all dread and fear major farm injuries, knowing basic life-saving techniques and first aid can help in any situation, regardless of the severity.

Less emergent injuries include animal bites, kicks and scratches, lacerations, burns, punctures, sprains, and your usual bumps and bruises. Basic first aid kit supplies will be very effective in treating any of these moderately minor injuries. Any puncturing of the skin is a break in your body’s biggest defense mechanism, therefore introducing bacteria.  An antiseptic such as Hibiclens, peroxide, betadine/iodine, Bactine, or isopropyl alcohol can be applied immediately or after the area is washed with water and antibacterial soap. It is a good idea to check on the status of your Tetanus vaccination or have an updated booster for these types of injuries as farm work is typically pretty dirty.

First Aid on the Homestead: Burns

Whether a burn occurs from chemical exposure, the sun, heavy machinery, friction, fuel, or an open flame, it needs to be treated quickly.  A burn can continue to cause damage even after the initial injury has taken place.  Taking proper safety precautions before engaging in an activity that could involve a burn is priority number one and is your best bet for avoiding an accident.

If you’re going to be burning a brush pile, make sure you have a face covering to prevent volatile inhalants from being breathed in and potentially burning your face/airway.  Before using any chemicals like pesticides or fungicides, check the manufacturer’s MSDS (Medical Safety Data Sheet) for recommended protective equipment and safe handling instructions.

In most cases of chemical burns, the first step is removing the chemical from your skin by lightly brushing it away. Do not wipe as this could cause further damage. Next, the affected clothing must be removed carefully.  If you can remove it without exposing unaffected skin to the chemical, then do so quickly but cautiously. If this isn’t possible, donning gloves and using bandage scissors to remove the clothing is the next best thing. Rinse the area with cool water for at least 30 minutes provided the MSDS does not specify otherwise.

Some chemicals react adversely to water, such as sulfuric acid, metal compounds, and phenol.  Most chemical burns should be seen by a doctor or burn center shortly after the accident, if not immediately.  They will be able to prevent further burn damage and treat it accordingly with medications, ointments, and bandaging.

First Aid on the Homestead: Bumps, Bruises, and Sprains

We’ve all been there; walking through the duck pen, jumping over a stream, gardening, hopping into a truck bed, checking on a pig in a mucky pen and it happens, you whack into a fence, hit your shin on a piece of farm equipment, slip on a pile of duck mess, step on a rock and roll your ankle.

While these mishaps seem minor (and sometimes embarrassing), it’s still a good idea to treat them in a timely fashion.  A sprain or bruise can sometimes swell and make getting around uncomfortable.  Ice is your best friend in the immediate treatment and will help bring down swelling as well as offer some pain relief.  Always use a cloth when applying something cold to the skin to prevent possible frostbite.

Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) are best for sprains, which can sometimes take a few weeks to heal completely.  In some cases, a visit to the doctor may be in order if you need further stabilization with the help of a brace or wrap.

First Aid on the Homestead: Animal-related Mishaps

Accidents and injuries involving farm animals can happen very easily and very suddenly.  Even when you’re not directly interacting with a critter, one can surprise you with a nip or a kick.  Being fully aware of your surroundings when doing any activity on the homestead can help to keep you on your toes, mentally keeping track of where the animals are and who’s around you.

Farm animals, like most critters, use their mouths to explore objects and their environment.  That can turn an inquisitive bite from a pig into a possible break in the skin or a nasty bruise.  Anyone who’s worn shiny earrings around turkeys knows to be extra cautious and mindful.  Personally, I have collected an array of scars from rabbit handling.  It’s unfortunate and can be scary, but it does happen from time to time.

The most important thing for any injuries involving farm animals is disinfection.  Despite making sure the animals are healthy with clean bedding, farmyards are teeming with bacteria and microbes, so a break in the skin is directly exposing your system to all of it.

After removing yourself from the incident and securing the animal, if need be, antiseptic is your next step.  I’ve always used a “more is more” approach when it comes to antiseptic and animal-related wounds, you really can’t use too much.  If the wound is bleeding a bit more than is manageable—with gauze, a piece of cloth like a handkerchief or clean rag—pressure and elevation are your friend.

Once you have bleeding under control and you’re in a safe area, washing the wound with antibacterial soap and clean water is in order.  This will also allow you to evaluate the injury thoroughly.  Minor scratches and bites will typically only need a good cleaning, antibiotic ointment, and bandaging.  Some wounds might need a doctor’s evaluation, more involved cleaning of the site, and sutures if it’s wide or deep enough.

While this doesn’t cover every possible injury or mishap that can happen, I hope that it shines a light on how important preparation and being properly educated is on the homestead.  Having appropriate training (CPR/BLS), keeping a homestead first aid kit stocked and available at all times, and staying in a calm and collected mindset can greatly improve the outcome in any emergency situation.

The post First Aid on the Homestead: When Humans Get Hurt appeared first on Homestead.org.