Before you dive into this post, I should clarity where I stand on raising chickens. We've got around 60 chickens on the homestead today. 3 flocks of hens that we've acquired over the past 4 years, plus 4 studious roosters. When you add our seasonal meat birds to that mix, there's close to 300 chickens... Continue Reading →
I'm not much for new year's resolutions. But I am big on having goals and doing new things each year. I think it's important to have something to look forward to in a new year. It feels like we're sorely low on hope in our society today, so make plans, I say. Have something to... Continue Reading →
Gardening is hard stuff. It's not just the weeding. Or the ground prep. Or the manual labor. It's also getting your seed placement and timing right. It's understanding how soil temps will affect germination, and knowing just how long to harden off those beautiful transplants you've been worrying over for the past week. It's all... Continue Reading →
Some people think of them as pets. Others think of them as a nuisance. But on our farm, our barn cats are simply a necessary part of the ecosystem. Are you a cat person? Because I wasn't. Not until we moved to the farm. But I've changed in a lot of ways since we started... Continue Reading →
So you did it. You found the piece of property you can start building your dreams on. You may have been waiting for this moment for a long time. But what now? How will you manage your land? I was there not that long ago. We were so caught up in the idea of having... Continue Reading →
I try to do as much as I can by hand in the garden. This is partially because I try to live as frugally as possible. But it's also because I'm unwaveringly stubborn. Just ask my wife! When we first started our market garden, I had grand delusions of farming 3 acres with only a... Continue Reading →
When we first told our family that we were hitchin' the wagon and moving to Iowa, my grandpa gave me a bit of elderly wisdom. "Iowa," he said. "They have weather in Iowa." I didn't know exactly what he meant. I mean, I'd been traveling back and forth between Iowa and Oregon for several years... Continue Reading →
Let's be real for a few moments. Can we? Because I'm going to come clean on something. When we brought the pigs home last May, I had good intentions on creating a separate space for Churchill, our boar. Because one boar with four gilts will eventually lead to...well, you know. But those good intentions are... Continue Reading →
One thing is certainly true about all weeds. We hate them! I know you're with me on this. It's not necessarily the labor of pulling weeds that gets under my skin. It's the time it takes to do it. When I'm pulling weeds it means I'm taking time away from other jobs that are more... Continue Reading →
So you want to be a homesteader... I get that. The longing to live on your own land, grow your own food and learn a lifestyle of self-reliance and simplicity. It's one of the reasons we moved our family half way across the country just to find the right place to settle our roots. Whatever... Continue Reading →