Few things make one feel more like a farmer, and provide as much return, as a small flock of chickens. From the cock’s crow in the morning, to the contented chatter the hens provide throughout the day, to the obvious benefit of eggs and meat, raising poultry can be a very rewarding experience. However, as the experienced farmer knows, even if you’re not hatching your own, … [Read more...] about Breaking Up a Cock Fight
Building a Root Cellar: Part Two
Welcome back to our two-part series on root-cellar fundamentals. As a quick recap, in the previous article we discussed the ways a root cellar uses the natural insulation of the earth to keep food fresh in any season (read more about that here). The simplest type of root cellar, therefore, is a dug hole, usually into the side of a hill for convenience, with flared walls to … [Read more...] about Building a Root Cellar: Part Two
Guinea Hen How-To: Part Two
If you’ve come here from our first installment on guinea hens, welcome back! If you’ve just stumbled across this article however, and begin to feel a little lost, here’s a quick link to catch up. Last week, we covered the “why” of guinea hens. If that made you decide a flock of these fussy little birds is right for you, read on to find out exactly how to make your dream a … [Read more...] about Guinea Hen How-To: Part Two
How to Prepare Your Soil for Growing Food
Many folks’ idea of gardening is tossing a few seeds on the ground, maybe half-heartedly kicking some dirt overtop, and somehow welcoming a burgeoning load of crops come harvest time. Those same gardeners will bemoan the fact that they simply don’t have a green thumb, when, at the prescribed time, nothing grows. As it turns out, growing greens takes a little more than simply … [Read more...] about How to Prepare Your Soil for Growing Food
Building a Root Cellar: Part One
As the late-receding winter chill turns to summer heat, many folks will be looking for a way to preserve the fruits and vegetables that will soon sprout their way into existence. The issue for many homesteaders, however, is finding enough refrigerator space for all their crops. Named for the root-type vegetables traditionally preserved there, a root cellar is a naturally … [Read more...] about Building a Root Cellar: Part One
