Starting a homestead. It all started with a chicken. A rooster actually. Living in a run down, 120 year old original homestead that was home to more mice inside then outside, I quickly began researching chemical free alternatives to eliminate these nasty unwelcome house guests. In the midst of my research I came across a…
To Wash or Not to Wash Fresh Eggs
To wash or to not wash farm fresh eggs. That is the question. Growing up we always had fresh eggs. My mom was a nurse and she had several patients that would bring her fresh eggs at each appointment. I remembering the eggs always had a smokey/wood chippy smell to them. And yes, this is…
Incubating Chicken Eggs 101
Yahoo! It’s officially spring time. Okay, that’s not true. And as a matter of fact it’s not even close to spring time, it’s only January and 26° outside. But nonetheless, I’m ready for spring and what is more spring like than baby chicks?!! Hatching baby chicks is one of my all-time favorite homesteading tasks. Not only…
The Day In The Life Of A Homesteader
While many people peg the homestead life as a ideal lifestyle, however, very few truly know what goes into just one day. Sunup to sundown. Every day. No breaks. No sleeping in. No “I’m too tired”. Chores have to be done. Living breathing animals entrust that you are going to get your butt up at…
Tips for Managing Freezing Temperatures on the Homestead
When it comes to winter on the homestead, the threat of freezing temperatures is at the top of my concern. The possibilities for situations to go wrong is at its peak and being well prepared is the only way to go into this season. Since the average rural farmer can’t just run into the farm…
Setting emotional boundaries on the Homestead
As a farmer, I often get asked how it is that I can raise, kill and eat my own animals, especially when I have raised them from babies. How do you set emotional boundaries? Don’t you get attached to them? The truth is, I’m a animal lover. That’s how I CAN raise them, kill them and eat them. I…
Removing Rooster Spurs
My Homesteading adventures all started with the chicken! I was looking for a natural way to reduce the mice in our farmhouse when I came across a chicken that hunted mice and snakes. It was the Buckeye chicken. After months of looking I finally found a local rooster that was two years old and I was…
What a Farm Girl really wants for her Birthday
Well tomorrow’s my birthday and like most holidays (you know my birthday is national holiday, right? Please, fell free to take the day off. Your welcome!) my husband and family have all asked me a dozen times what it is I would like for my birthday.
Mushroom, Chard and Sausage Swiss Frittata
As spring approaches, our lives are getting really busy around here on the farm and I don’t have time to cook up eggs and meat every morning. But I don’t want to settle for a carbohydrate filled breakfast such as bread or cereal or oatmeal. Enter-the frittata! Last week in my organic drop box from…
Caring for a Broody Hen
So you’re going to be a chicken momma huh? For the most part chickens raising chickens is as natural as it gets and usually they don’t need any assistance nor do they want any. However under a few circumstances there are preparations and precautions to you should make. Over the last 12 years of raising…
