Hatching eggs. Chicks. Or perhaps four-month old pullets. You spend time researching which stage of chicken-hood works best for you as a starting point. Maybe you are looking forward to hatching out eggs in your home-built incubator? What about your local farm & ranch or feed store that carries chicks? You can simply pick out […]
Trellising Hops in the Backyard Garden
One plant that is vital to the craft beer industry has made a successful transition from commercial fields to backyard gardens. It is the humble hop vine. Not only do they enhance the landscape with their distinctive appearance, but their sought after cones wind up in the kettles of home-brewers. Hop vines need plenty of […]
Homestead Nicoise Salad
Green salads are a wonderful creation. They compliment a light lunch and help provide balance to a hearty dinner. For the grow-it-yourself crowd, they are something to be celebrated. Crispy, crunchy, and perfectly prepared vegetables and greens need little preparation to showcase their seasonal flavors. On our homestead, we love creating our version of the […]
Hearty Homestead Cookies
I have fond memories of my mom in the kitchen. One of my favorites is her making cookies and having them ready to eat, hot out of the oven, when we got home from school. The kitchen smelled like vanilla, butter, chocolate… absolute heaven to a 7-year-old. These days, I enjoy making cookies for friends […]
Wash Days: Make Your Laundry Detergent
Commercially made laundry detergent is expensive. A single container can cost about $20 and depending on the brand, may clean 60 – 80 loads of laundry. For a family, your detergent bill can easily be $160 or more per year. But if you want to put most of that money back in your pocket, make […]
Death, Weeds, and True Confessions
Social media sites are packed with gorgeous photos of thriving, healthy plants. Blossoms are vibrant. Delicate fronds are graceful. Fruits and vegetables are blemish-free. Rows are surveyor-straight. There isn’t a single weed in sight. Everyone has a green thumb but you. You envy those photos and hang your head in shame. Your thoughts turn to […]