Good Tuesday ya’ll, and happy Spring! April is one of my favorite times to be a homesteader. The days get longer, nights get warmer, birds start singing and the cicadas begin to hum from the depths of the woods. It’s a great time to be outside, and what better excuse to get on out there than some garden plantings! Read on for the first of a few vegetables great for planting in … [Read more...] about Proper Plantings for April: Part 1
Chicken Breed Profile (Part 2 of ∞)
As springtime approaches, that tends to mean one thing around my homestead. The chickens, long self-confined to a smaller grazing ground have begun to range again, scratching their way through underbrush and tree, grass and, yes, even garden. As I’m watching them, I’ve begun to realize it’s been a little while since I last profiled any chicken breeds on here, so without further … [Read more...] about Chicken Breed Profile (Part 2 of ∞)
Processing Tea
There are few things nicer to enjoy on a crisp, early-spring morning than a steaming-warm cup of tea. Curling your hands around the mug and taking in the aroma, you can almost feel the promise of the coming turn in weather. Tea has a bit of an exotic reputation of course, due to its near-4000-year history in the global east. That being said, however, have you ever wondered if … [Read more...] about Processing Tea
Preventing Frost Damage
Here in Virginia, it’s been a cold winter, and a snowier one than most of the last odd decade. Come to think of it, that theme seems to be the trend nationwide this year, with even parts of Texas seeing absolutely unheard of weather. As such, this article may be a few days late, but maybe it can be of help before the next storm, or at the very least provide some aid in the … [Read more...] about Preventing Frost Damage
Candle-Making DIY
When the storm hits and the power goes dark, you doubtless have prepared your homestead with a vast array of generators, battery-powered flashlights, and maybe even crank-powered variants. But what if the darkness lasts even longer? Read on for an easy way to may your own candles, to store away in case of emergency. Materials There are many materials to make a candle out … [Read more...] about Candle-Making DIY
