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Going to the store and buying eggs is so passé, backyard micro farms is where it’s at. Those living out in the country have always known the benefits of raising your own brood for the freshest of eggs. Due to current economic circumstances the practice of micro farming is gaining momentum, even among people that…
Its about that time of year. The garden is starting to blossom, and among the sea of green and brown, you’re starting to see little shoots of color popping up everywhere. If you’ve planted summer squash, large orange/yellow flowers will be among this sea of growth. But how best should you care for your growing…
If you started reading this hoping for a definitive answer to the question above, I’m sorry to disappoint. I’ve been reading about Zeolitef for a while and–given the nature of the soil in my garden–decided to give it a go this year, working about 3 pounds into roughly 300 square feet of garden space as…
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that 7,000 to 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes annually. (Note: snakes can be venomous, not poisonous—there’s a difference.) Few deaths are attributed to the venomous bites, but the aftermath can be miserable, even life changing. Rattlesnake venom is largely composed of hemotoxins. So, beyond the initial…
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife recently auctioned off $51,542 of ginseng and yellow root that was forfeited from illegal possession cases. That total came from 59.7 pounds of ginseng and 3.1 pounds of yellow root from evidence collected following cleared Ohio court processes. The money raised in the auction was…
Obviously the easiest way to keep critters out of your garden is to put up a good fence. The higher and tighter the better, while burying the bottom will go a long way toward keeping critters from digging beneath. What if you don’t have the time or materials to get a fence up, however? Read…
Almost a month ago, we published a story on the benefits of cow share for those looking for access to raw milk. In the article, we mentioned that options also exist for those looking for steady access to organic beef, but glossed over the details. As it turns out, however, folks are curious about beef…
Amidst the nationwide egg “crisis,” I’ve begun to notice two distinct trends among folks. The first, and the more heartening, are those who are (albeit belatedly) using the situation as an excuse to jump into poultry ownership, so they are better prepared for whatever comes next. The other, more worryingly, are those who seem to…
If you’re in the homesteader community, chances are you already have heard of the benefits of raw, unpasteurized milk. There are, obviously, quite a few controversies surrounding the health risks concerning raw milk, hence the stringent regulations surrounding its consumption in most US States. Most who regularly consume it agree, however, that the benefits far…
Plenty of people eat ducks and chickens, but many are unaware they are throwing out some of the best bits with the entrails. Hearts, livers and even gizzards can make excellent eating, though that last one will take some serious prep work. Read on for how to clean a gizzard for use in gravy, or…
Tobacco and tradition are synonymous in the United States, particularly its southeastern reaches. One of the many crops native exclusively to our shores, tobacco was once widely grown and widely exported, American tobacco being a gold standard among connoisseurs abroad. That said, its wide production stateside has become a shadow of itself; almost a mere…
Looking for a fun family activity to while away the hours during the holiday lull? Have the kids run you out of tinder for your fireplace? Maybe its time to show them how to create one of the world’s oldest fire starters: the humble featherstick. History The origins of the featherstick, as is usual with…
