Living in the country means you have to deal with fewer people. Country neighbors are few but often become like family. Oftentimes the majority of life…
Here on Ivy Hill Farm, there are two epochs: BC (Before Clara) and AD (After Donkey). In the long-ago days of Ivy Hill BC, coyotes…
Half-caff. You coffee drinkers know the term. It’s not quite the "real" thing but still your favorite drink, with enough kick to enjoy. It’s something…
Below are some general guidelines for raising pigs. This information does not cover breeding. If you have never raised a pig before, it is best…
Donkeys can be seen across America and in fields around the world. They have helped mankind by easing workloads, protecting livestock and family, as a…
The dream of coming back to basics, down to our roots, and achieving self-sufficiency is a worthy one. You put lots of time, money and…
Returning to the land is a desire that has coursed through the hearts of certain people as long as there have been cities to escape…
The first thing to do before learning to make goat milk butter is, of course, milk your adorable little goaties. I used to scoff at…
Early in our farming venture, the first year we kept pastured pigs is one that stands out in my memory. Well-read and well-intentioned, my husband…
Live births are a big deal. Whether you are the mother at the end of her pregnancy, the newborn breathing air for the first time,…
As a relatively new homesteader, I have only recently hit the “benchmark” of starting to breed my own animals. This spring, our Muscovy duck flock…
It was 9:00 on a frigid Saturday night in mid-January. The sun had long since passed across the horizon and it was pitch dark outside.…
