When it comes to home canning, properly preparing your jars is essential to ensure safe and successful food preservation. Whether you’re canning fruits or homemade jams, taking the time to properly clean, sterilize, and prepare your jars can make all the difference in preventing spoilage or contamination. Preparing your canning jars is simple and gives…
Being prepared for an emergency is something that every family should strive for. No matter where you live emergency situations happen! Natural disasters, severe weather, power outages, medical emergencies, and unexpected job loss are just a few of the unpredictable life events we all experience. In some situations, you may be able to prepare for…
When you begin to dig into the world of beekeeping, the terminology can be so confusing! Beekeepers seem to be talking a different language! When it comes to hive boxes, beekeepers use terms like supers, deeps, mediums, and brood boxes. Let’s break down the parts of the hive starting with one of the most important…
Dreaming about beekeeping but unsure of what you need to get started? New beekeepers often find themselves completely overwhelmed in the beekeeping supply store! While the cost of beekeeping can be surprising, let’s discuss the must-have equipment needed to get you started. Together we’ll sort through the options to answer how much does it cost…
Butchering chickens at home allows you to control the quality and freshness of your meat. It’s a simple process that can be done discreetly in a suburban neighborhood. The right tools make a big difference to ensure an efficient and humane process. While the right knife comes down to personal preference, consider these features when…
If you are like many homesteaders, a dairy animal is often a long-awaited addition to the farm. After all, your own milk made from fresh grass and sunshine can help meet the protein needs of the entire homestead. This is why I consider my cows the queens of the homestead! Growing up, I never considered…
Canning is a great way to produce quality convenience food right at home. Whether in an apartment or on a large homestead, preserving your food at home ensures only the best quality ingredients enter your pantry. While making homemade meals can be time-consuming, using home-preserved canned goods can make meal prep easier! Canning kidney beans…
Raising your own chicks on the homestead is a great way to build a sustainable flock on the farm. While a broody hen can certainly get the job done with ease, the hens don’t follow any timetable. Hens are also limited in the number of baby chicks they can hatch at one time. Depending on…
Spring is such an exciting time on the homestead! As the farm begins to green up, it’s also a time when babies begin to emerge on the farm! When it comes to chickens, you may be lucky enough to have a broody hen willing to hatch some baby chicks. While it’s adorable to see young…
Seed starting at home is a great way to save money whether you are planting a few container gardens for fresh eating or a large family garden dedicated to food preservation. Over the years, we have tried a lot of different seed-starting methods. Disposable plastic cups, peat pellet seed trays, dissolvable peat pots, natural luffa…
