Giving the Rayborn's the space they've always dreamed of. This was a really fun renovation and great to see years of dreaming become reality! What a cozy ranch style home that feels so much more functional for their lifestyle now. Welcome to your new home, Rayborn family!
If you're thinking about adding a miniature donkey to your farm, you're in the right place! Read on to learn all about mini donkeys! | Thermaland Oaks
Having our donkeys has been such a fun part of our homesteading journey. If you are debating on getting one, or want to know how to care for donkeys, this guide will help you!
Homesteading is simple right? So what could possibly be the pitfalls in a homesteading life? Merriam Webster defines pitfalls as a trap or snare
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In today’s world prepping is important and, in my opinion, necessary. Anything from a natural disaster to an economic collapse can bring added devastation to
I love seeing and hearing of folks who, in spite of their less-than-ideal situations attempt to raise their own food with what they do have! Raised beds or balcony gardens, backyard birds or rabbits, joining
Make a decoction and you have a way of relieving minor ailments without having to rely on costly medicines.
Learn how to start a homestead from scratch, building the skills you need to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
The adorable she shed featured in so many of @mylittlesheshed‘s photos is what first caught my eye. Growing up, I had a playhouse equipped with a wooden “stove” in my backyard that my dad built for me and my big sister. I wanted to know more. When Kate posted that she completed her PhD, I […]
We had hundreds of pounds in fruit this summer so we put together this list on how to preserve fruit, including some very creative things we ended up doing!
Peach season is short, so make the most of it with these easy and delicious methods of preserving your peaches such as canning and freezing.
Make canning day a breeze by breaking down the tasks. Being organized and prepared can make canning day enjoyable for one person or the whole family
When we tell someone we raise miniature donkeys, the most frequently asked question we get is…What do you do with them? Simple answer – you enjoy them, love them, and have fun with them!!! Miniature donkeys actually have MANY uses… They are perhaps best known for their ability to make WONDERFUL PETS. Because of their small […]
Six Dollar Family posts good food, frugal living, personal finance, great DIY and other quick tips to help our readers live "on six dollars" while building six figure bank accounts.
The very best homesteading articles from Imperfectly Happy, written in 2017. These are the homesteading articles YOU loved and visited the most.
Beginning homesteading might be your dream and the reason you are reading this site.
Preserve peaches to enjoy year round through canning, dehydrating, freezing, freeze drying or jam. Simple step-by-step instructions make it easy!rn
Follow our seven canning tips for beginners to enjoy the benefits of your home gardening efforts.
There are many things every homesteader needs to accomplish their day to day work, but here are the five I use almost every single day.
Fall has come and now it is time to get those projects done! Time to button up the homestead, secure the buildings, and make sure all the peoples and animals are going to be warm and safe for the winter.This could be the time for panic or you can just simply do what you can
In this modern world we are losing touch with some old fashioned traditional skills that we really should preserve. You don't need to even own land to embrace
Our Wednesday Series is all about This is the fourth post in our 7-week series. ************ Today's topic is Save. Saving is a mindset. It can mean to conserve, economize, retain or salvage. In my world, thrift is not a four-letter word. I'm proud to come from a long line of frugal folks. Whether you're looking for ways to save with regard to energy, money, resources or time, here are some of the principles we hold dear. Taking what might be tossed by others, and finding a new use for it. Eggshells make great biodegradable seed starters. Once the seeds germinate, the entire vessel is placed in the ground, adding nutrients to the new plant. We've also made seed pots out of tp rolls, newsprint and scrap paper. Repurposing what you have to make something useful. A worn out pair of jeans makes a handy clothespin bag. Last year we made a jewelry holder out of a frame and some chicken wire we had laying around. The possibilities are truly endless. We tend to repair things ourselves when we can. Fortunately, Big K is pretty dang handy and can usually figure these things out. We have consulted the internet and books on occasion. If you don't happen to have a Mr. (or Mrs.) Fix-It around, don't be afraid to ask questions. Call the manufacturer or dealer, find a local repair shop or consult with neighbors who might have prior experience doing repairs. Making our own cleaners and personal care products is another way we save time and money. These items include things like laundry soap, glass cleaner, lotion and hair conditioners. Knowing that we can provide our own basic necessities is an empowering notion. Realizing how much we are saving makes it that much more motivating! We cook from scratch to save money and our health! Even though our reasons are mostly due to dietary sensitivities, we prefer knowing what's in our food. Scratch cooking is a real time and money saver. We know eating this way will pay off big time in the long run, as it will save us doctor bills down the road. Seed saving makes so much sense. Not only is it a relaxing exercise, it's a wonderful excuse to share your bounty with friends! Especially when one is able to grow veggies, year after year will yield delicious, nutritious produce with very little expense. Tending a garden provides so much in the way of food, exercise, relaxation and focus. We've posted many ideas regarding thrift and frugality. You can use the search engine on the blog to locate numerous "Thrifty Thursday" and "One Simple Thing" posts. Here are a few reads you might enjoy on the subject: Buying Used Menu-by-the-Month Plan New Savings Plan Know Your Prices One Simple Thing-Got Gunk? Our hope is that you rethink some of the ways energy, money and time are spent. There is always room for improvement. The most important part of saving, is the freedom it provides to pursue the pleasures of life: family, friends and passions. Please visit the other gals sharing their ideas in this series: *Jackie, at Born Imaginative, grew up as an avid 4-Her, on a 50 acre hobby farm, with parents who pursued a homesteading life. Now, with a husband and two small children of her own, she is bringing an 1880s farmhouse/30acre farm back to life in Southern Coastal Maine. *Mary, at Homegrown on the Hill, lives in Southwestern Ohio with her family on a 5 acre homestead. Their goal is to be as self sufficient as possible. In helping with this goal, they raise a big garden and keep chickens, rabbits, and cattle for food. *Staci, at Life At Cobble Hill Farm, was bitten by the homestead bug in 2006 and although she began her homesteading ventures in a rented condo, is now homesteading on less than an acre in Upstate NY. *Sue, at The Little Acre that Could, shares her body with an auto-immune disease, and life with her husband. They live in a once-working Victorian farm cottage now bordered by a modern subdivision. She has dreamed of homesteading as long as she can remember and continues to strive toward that goal in rural Atlantic Canada. Five bloggers, 7 weeks, Big Ideas! Join us every Wednesday! Homesteading Where You Are-Intro Homesteading Where You Are-Make Homesteading Where You Are-Grow Homesteading Where You Are-Preserve
Homestead bloggers share their real-life wisdom on how to handle homestead setbacks, or what to do when the going gets rough!
If chaos erupts in the streets of America, are you prepared to go into lockdown to keep your family safe? Here's what you need to know.
Home Canning Recipes, Simply Canning Beginner friendly site with tips, video tutorials.
In Kat's Kitchen There's nothing better on a cold winter night than a big bowl of Beef Stew and Cornbread. I like a little taste of tomatoes in mine so this recipe was adapted from the Ball Recipe. The only change made is that I added a 46 oz can of Tomato Juice as part of the liquid. Ingredients: 4 to 5 lbs of beef stew meat cubed 1 tbsp olive oil (to brown meat in) 12 cups of cubed potatoes 8 cups of carrots, sliced or baby carrots (This is approximately 2 pounds of carrots. 3 cups of chopped celery (Approximately 6 or 7 stalks of celery) 3 cups chopped onion (Approximately 2 or 3 lg onions ) 1 1/2 tbsp salt 1 tbsp pepper 1 tbsp thyme 1 46 oz can tomato juice (or a quart of home canned juice) Directions: 1: Brown your meat in the oil. Put in large stainless steel pot. 2: Add all veggies and tomato juice to the pot with the meat and add enough boiling water to cover them all. 3: Add seasonings. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. 4: Ladle hot stew into hot jars leaving 1 inch head-space. Remove air bubbles. Add more liquid if needed. 5: Take a paper towel dipped in vinegar and wipe jar rims clean. 6: Put on lids and caps. Tighten finger tight. 7: Place in canner and make sure your water level is good. Put on lid, but do not close vent. Bring to a boil and let steam vent for a full 10 minutes. 8: Close vent and let pressure build to 10 pounds for weighted gauge canner or 11 pounds for dial gauge canner. 9: Adjust heat to maintain pressure and process quarts for 90 minutes or pints for 75 minutes. When time is up turn off heat and let pressure drop naturally. NEVER OPEN A CANNER WITH PRESSURE BUILD UP Once pressure is dropped, Remove vent cap and wait 10 minutes before opening canner. Use towels and lift lid away from face, it is still hot. Let sit for 10 minutes and using a jar lifter, move to a towel on counter and let sit for 24 hours. Test seal by pressing down in center. If it doesn’t pop up you should have a good seal. Remove rings and wash jars. Label and Store in a cool, dark place
Canning summer vegetables is a great way to preserve the bounty of a summer garden or to take advantage of in season summer produce sales! Get the details on preserving summer produce now!
One homesteader's journey from unfulfilling employment to a life of empowerment and abundance.
Are You Really Ready to Buy Your First Homestead? Questions & considerations you should know before you start looking to go from backyard farm to homestead.
