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If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! You’re officially at the fun part. And unlike your mean uncle Phil, I do NOT mean that ironically. You’ve suffered through the stink and the steam, the rotted meat and potential maggots. You’ve spooned out eyes and cut off ears, but you’re now at the finish line, and…
Your eyes, unfortunately, do not deceive you. According to researchers, COVID-19 has hit even our secluded woodlands. A survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has detected antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 in deer populations across four states. While this is, of course, eye-catching news, there may not be reason to fret too much. Though…
NotMISpecies webinars offer help for backyard invasive species problems, and more! New sessions in the NotMISpecies webinar series will offer an abundance of information, resources and field experiences to help identify and manage invasive species in Michigan. Supported by Michigan’s Invasive Species Program, the regular, hourlong webinars are designed to keep participants informed of available…
Indiana homesteaders, keep your eyes on your walnut, oak, maple and fruit trees. This week, the spotted lanternfly was found for the first time in Switzerland County. This is significant not just for Indianans, but for Americans in general as Switzerland County represents the furthest west the fly has yet been found. A homeowner in…
Now midway through July, lets take a look at how that summer heat is affecting the contents of our gardens. Here are a few tips on what to harvest, plant, and more in this most patriotic–but also hottest–of the summer months. Asparagus Asparagus takes a long time to mature–think about three years. Thus its going…
Love composting, but dislike the idea of having big, furry, four-legged bear friends near your home? I don’t blame you. While I love encountering (black) bears out in the woods (its usually a much less scary experience than folks imagine), having them camped out near a homestead is a different story, as they can pose…
Its been a while since we’ve talked goats on here, so I figured I should break this long-running oversight with a profile of one of my favorite breeds: Nubians! A hardy dairy option, Nubians have more going on than meets the eye. Read on for more. Heritage To start, the name Nubian is actually a…
Today marks the first of June, and while I realize I’ve strayed from the garden a bit over the last weeks, I cannot resist this opportunity to detail some of the plantings you should be sowing into the ground for this month. Read on, for some ideas on what to dirty your hands with in…
Howdy ya’ll! With a couple weeks left in April, I think it’s time for our second installment of proper plantings for the month. So if you’ve already got your beets buried, your carrots coming in, and your cucumbers cared for, here are a couple more to keep you going till month’s end. Tomatoes Planting tomatoes…
How to make bone broth from chicken bones and feet: a 12-hour simmer, fast cooling, fridge and freezer times, and the tested NCHFP pressure canning times.
I realize at a few points in this solar-power series, I have said a component is absolutely essential to the system. While this may seem hyperbolic, in actuality, it is because most parts of the system I outline are truly essential to its success. While this next component may not be technically essential to collect…
If you’ve stuck with us this far concerning solar-powered setups, congratulations! If not, perhaps consider going back to review the other articles on solar systems that have brought us here. This week, we’re continuing the series with a discussion of batteries, the primary source of power storage for your system. While they’re heavy, expensive, and…
