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 unwelcomed house guests. In the midst of my research I came across a story about “old timers” using chickens…
Dairy Animal Mistakes; My Epic Failures
Early last year, in the prime of calving season, a dear friend of mine lost her beloved dairy cow. She had just calved a beautiful Jersey bull (one of Tanks babies) and within 12 hours of calving, the cow was down with 4th stage milk fever. It took another 12 hours for the vet to…
Milking Parlor and Processing Room Tour
When I started with the hopes of one day owning a raw dairy, I had an image in my mind of how the milk parlor would/should be set up. However, it actually wasn’t until I started milking and processing raw milk, did I really figure out what worked for me. While I grew up in…
DIY Grassfed Liver Pills
Did you know that liver packs more nutrients ounce for ounce then any other food source? Its a vital source of amino acids and important nutrients such as niacin, Vitamin A, D, E, K, B12 and folic acid. Besides its immune and brain boosting attributes it also has a magnificent anti-fatigue factor. There’s a reason liver was named the original super-food….
Homemade Livestock Fly Spray
Have you ever read the back of a livestock fly spray bottle? It’s terrifying. I don’t even want it in my barn, let alone on my cows that produce food for my family and I. However, having pesky, annoying flies on animals, especially when your sitting half way under them to milk, is not a…
Milking Machine. Pros and Cons
I often get asked whether I hand milk or use a machine to milk out my dairy cows. The answer is, both. There is definitely a much admired simplicity in hand milking. Not only are you gaining a one on one relationship with the cows but also being up close and personal with your dairy…
20 Ways Livestock Can Make YOU Money
Living on a working homestead is rewarding in itself. However, producing an income from that hard work is a whole other level of awesome! One of the questions that I get asked frequently is, “How could one make money on the Homestead?” “What can you produce and sell for profit?” The answer, almost all of…
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…
You either get it or you don’t!
Let’s be honest here for a minute, shall we? This organic living, whole foods, fermentation, chemical free, homemade, free range, grass-fed, grow it yourself, do it your self movement is flippin exhausting! I know it. You know it. But you either get it, or you don’t. There’s nothing that gets my goat more then the taking…
Saving Tank
I just want some babies!! That’s all!. Just a few sweet little calves to run around and lick my face. That’s all I want. Ok need! I NEED me some baby calves to lick my face. After four failed attempts to artificial insemination my two dairy cows, at $150.00 each time, I threw in the towel and rented a bull. …
