As the days grow cooler, one of my favorite activities on early morning walks in the late fall is to search for frost flowers. My first discovery of frost flowers was on one of my earliest trips to Kowalski Mountain when Philip and I were preparing for archery season. At first glance, frost flowers might…
For years, I have dreaded the late summer months on the homestead because turkey mites would inevitably ravage my legs. This almost invisible villain is the larval form of the Lone Star Tick. The intense itching for weeks was too much! I began searching for the ultimate defense to protect myself from turkey mite bites….
Chickens are often called the gateway animal to homesteading. In many suburban neighborhoods, you will find neighbors who keep a small backyard flock to provide their own fresh eggs. We even raise our meat chickens in our suburban neighborhood, having raised all of our chicken for several years. Especially when you are limited on space…
As soap makers continue their journey of creating soap, they quickly find themselves seeking the best way to store homemade soap. As a homesteader, my goal is to build a stockpile of soap in the quiet seasons of life, so that during the busy seasons on the homestead we will have enough soap to see…
When it comes to beekeeping tools, a smoker is one of the must-have tools of every beekeeper! This simple tool makes the bees more manageable, protects the bees and also protects the beekeeper. What’s so magical about the effect of smoke on honey bees? Let’s explore why beekeepers use smoke to manage their bees. Historical…
When it comes to comfort food, meatloaf is at the top of the list of well-known comfort foods. Not only is it good for you, it tastes great and is a great way to stretch your grocery dollars. At Kowalski Mountain, we have an abundance of venison, naturally, we make our meatloaf with this lean…
While soap can be made with many different liquids the use of milk as a soap base is a popular choice. For centuries, the benefits of milk to the skin have been so well known that many even bathed in it! Philip and I are working towards more sustainable living using all-natural products. Making our…
In this modern world, many people’s only recollection of a root cellar is from television. However, prior to modern refrigeration, root cellars were one of the ways that families could store food for the winter. Root cellars are underground structures that use the earth to provide a means to naturally cool, insulate and maintain proper…
The number one reason that new beekeepers get started with honey bees is access to fresh honey! While beekeepers keep bees for a variety of reasons harvesting honey is an exciting part of the job! A healthy hive can produce 40 to 100 pounds of honey depending on the size of the honey supers used….
While it may be trendy or popular on social media to see an experienced beekeeper manage a swarm of bees without any beekeeping protective clothing. Protective clothing for beekeepers should be at the top of every beekeeper’s supply list. As a new beekeeper, it can be quite intimidating the first time you open a beehive…
