A small hobby greenhouse is an ideal way to extend the growing season as much as three weeks on each end. Winterizing a small hobby greenho...

Follow one farmer's advice for starting a small farm business that fulfills your passion for farming and turns a profit at the same time.

If you are looking for one of the most unique ways to make a walkway or pathway that leads to your front door, we may have it right here. Using granite

Martha Stewart converted her Bedford porch into a light-flooded home office. Here she can conquer her agenda, and dream up her next big projects. See photos of the beautiful renovation here.

A few weeks ago we blogged an article in the LA Times about No-Dig Gardens. They require less water than traditional gardens and they’re an easy way to start a raised bed. You can even start one right over a patch of grass you want to get rid of. Another easy gardening option is bringing the garden inside with grass you can grow indoors. Our friend and coworker, Hulda Nelson, tipped us off to the article.

Like any new hobby, new beekeepers have a lot to learn. They can learn a lot through reading and watching videos, but the best learning experience is hands on. All new, and even experienced beekeepers will make a mistake time to time, it is inevitable. Below I have compiled a list of common mistakes new beekeepers make, in an effort to help you avoid them. 1. Inadequate Equipment It’s pretty common for new beekeepers to start out with a lack of equipment. This may be due to trying to save money, or because they simply underestimate how much they need. While beekeeping starter kits do come with many necessities new beekeepers need, they shouldn’t stop there. Healthy colonies can expand rather quickly, so it’s best to have your equipment beforehand. It’s best to have extra frames and hive bodies available at all times. Once your hives are 70% full, you should add another box to them. If you don’t do this in a timely manner, the bees will begin to build excess comb in unwanted places. Most people do not have a store that sells beekeeping equipment nearby. That’s why many people must order their supplies online. With shipping and handling times, it could take a week for your items to arrive. By planning ahead, you will have everything you need ready in advance. Another item new beekeepers do not buy enough of are beekeeping suits. Starter kits come with 1 suit, but if other people in your family want to get involved, you need another one. You should plan to have 1 suit for each person that will work the hives. 2. Choosing the Wrong Location Before you even start beekeeping, you need to decide on the best location for your beehives. Some people do not think it through enough and choose a location that is inadequate, or difficult to get to. You want your beehives to be on level ground and accessible with ample space to work around. Allow for 2-3 feet of open space around each hive. Another thing new beekeepers may not take into account is where their hive entrance is facing. Be aware that the hive entrance will have lots of bee activity. Therefore, you should avoid facing your hive directly towards areas with a lot of foot traffic. 3. Not Using a Smoker For new beekeepers, using a smoker can seem intimidating or troublesome, but it is something that should not be avoided. The truth is, the use of a smoker is the best way to prevent bees from attacking you. Smokers work by tricking bees into thinking that there is a fire nearby. Instinctively, they will begin to gorge on honey, to prepare for evacuation. This effectively distracts the bees from what you are doing in their hive. Another thing the smoke does is it blocks signals that the bees send to each other. That way, they are not able to organize a defense against you. If you do not use a smoker, it is very likely that the bees will react defensively and begin to sting you. This may not bother you because you’ll be wearing a bee suit, but remember, when a bee stings you it will die. In the end, you will end up unnecessarily killing a lot of your bees. Not only that, the colony will become quite agitated. This could potentially endanger neighbors or people nearby. Therefore, I definitely recommend learning how to use a smoker and having it on hand every time you work your hives. 4. Not Recognizing Your Hive is Queenless This is a mistake many new beekeepers make, as a queenless hive isn’t something that is very obvious at first. The colony’s population and traffic at the hive’s entrance will seem the same. Inside, you’ll still see lots of bees and honey. But, if there is no queen to lay eggs, the population will begin to decline. If this is not caught in a timely manner, there will be no eggs or brood remaining in your colony. In the end, a colony cannot survive without a queen. That is why hive inspections are important. During the hive inspection you must be able to recognize eggs. If eggs are present in the hive, you can be sure that you had a laying queen at least 3 days ago. All beekeepers should check for eggs at every single hive inspection. 5. Taking Too Much Honey First time beekeepers may be eager to harvest honey for the first time, but in reality, it is recommended that you do not take honey at all the first year. The reason is because new colonies are rarely able to produce excess honey. Bees need quite a bit of honey during the winter. In warmer climates, 40-50 lbs should be enough, but colder areas could need 100 lbs. When beekeepers harvest too much honey, the bees will starve by the time spring arrives. Remember, the entire reason bees make and store honey is so they can survive through the winter. New colonies are usually not strong enough to make enough honey and need every bit they make. Leaving all the honey for the colony for the first year gives them the best chance of survival. Summary If you make a mistake as a new beekeeper, do not get discouraged. Everything is a learning experience. Here I’ve listed the top 5 mistake new beekeepers make, so hopefully you won’t make these same mistakes as well. No related posts.

Larger farmhouse and cabin layouts with seasonal views, a bathroom, and a small greenhouse. It also adds a rooftop garden after the 2nd upgrade that serves as an additional farm and a travel hub.

Homestead management can be difficult. Trying to stay on top of everything can feel impossible days. There is always something to do. How do you keep track of it all? Budgeting for your homestead, gardening, feeding the animals, when to buy more feed, etc. etc. etc. You need some homestead management printables! It's never fun

Hi! Okay! So I’ve hidden details below, but if you just want the download link here you go. Download (SFS) Requires: UC, Easy Inventory Check Keep reading

Are you not sure if you can make homesteading work with the amount of land you have? Here are 28 farm layout design ideas to inspire you.

More than 1/3 of the global food supply depends on pollinators

Expert advice on how to establish self-sufficient food production, including guidance on crop rotations, raising livestock and grazing management. Your 1-acre homestead can be divided into land for...

You can have veggies all summer long with our tips!

Enhance your outdoor space with our garden shed ideas, featuring real examples from home gardens. Potting shed, storage, or creative hideaway—the choice is yours.

Swallow GB Ltd are manufacturers of best quality wooden greenhouses. Swallow Greenhouses are hand built by Swallow's trained carpenters and joiners in their Rotherham factory. Not only do Swallow hand build all of their greenhouses they are also the...

Are you wondering what you can plant in September? Depending on your zone, you might be surprised at all that you'll be able to grow this fall.

Are you a lover of the dark and moody aesthetic? Do you dream of creating a hauntingly beautiful garden that embraces the shadowy side of nature? Look no further than these stunning plants that will transform your outdoor space into a goth garden haven. Perennial Plants for a Goth Garden Black Mondo Grass …

Need profitable hobby farm ideas? Use these ideas to build your own profitable small farm. Do what you love and get paid to...

These real, tiny homestead layout plans show that with smart homestead planning techniques, self-sufficiency can be achieved even on a small lot.

How to Bend PVC & Make Incredible Shapes: I was recently working on a project where I needed to bend pvc pipes into smooth, round shapes. After some trial and error I found an easy way to get great results.

Discover the best rocks for Japanese gardens. Enhance tranquility, balance, and natural beauty with our comprehensive guide on rock selection.

In the excitement and anticipation of a potential Create-a-World tool in the works, I’ve put together a list of 18 world ideas that I’m keen to make myself, should the rumours of a Create-a-World come to fruition! This is just a fun little thread to keep the buzz around the CAW feature alive, now that …

Editor's Note: This post is a good reminder to ensure you take good before, during and after photos as you implement projects! Case studies like this become an awesome portfolio for yourselves, and he

We have all had it happen. You bring home a beautiful new house plant with the best intentions and great hopes. Cut to two months and you are tossing out a mushy brown blob on top of a pile of dirt. Learn the number one reason this happens and how you can prevent it.

If you are a gardener by hobby and a nature enthusiast by heart, chances are that you are already familiar with the concept of insect hotels (also known as bee hotels). Offering a sanctuary to bene…

Learn about permaculture polyculture gardening. Here are some polyculture examples + polyculture pros and cons. Plants for polyculture beds

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A visit to Natural Bridges Farm where the Homeless Garden Project helps give people training and hope.

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How to Make Moss Graffiti: Moss graffiti, also called eco-graffiti or green graffiti, replaces spray paint, paint-markers or other such toxic chemicals and paints with a paintbrush and a moss "paint" that can grow on its own. As people become more eco-friendly and environment…

Looking for a homestead farm design to get more out of your land? You'd better check out these 15 homestead farm design ideas and stir some inspiration!

Gardening can be more than just a hobby! Learn how you can make money gardening with over 20 ideas so you can start earning now! Sell plants If you’re already starting your own plants from seed, then this one is a no-brainer! Grow a few extra seedlings to sell in early spring. The best plants...

When you are just starting out on your homestead it's easy to want to jump in with both feet and get a whole whack load of animals. However, it can be wiser to start out slower. Today I'm going to talk about why, and what animals are great to start out with on your

With this natural rooting hormone guide, you'll be able to grow healthier crops and keep critters away easily.

"5 Mistakes Newbie Homesteaders Make" will help you to avoid common mistakes of the new homesteader! #newbiehomesteadermistakes

How many hives does a new beekeeper need to begin with? That depends on several factors. Find out how to decide which method is best for you why so many mentors recommend 2 hives. Maybe you have a new beekeeping friend who needs to read this?

Growing Spaces’ Growing Dome greenhouse is designed to provide a suitable growing environment for year-round gardening without external power. Its efficient design keeps the dome warm in winter and cool in the summer.

The farm grosses six figures annually and feeds more than 200 families through CSA shares and farmer's markets. Only 1.5 acres of land are cultivated in permanent beds.