As any chicken keeper knows, the biggest mess in the chicken coop is below the roosting bars. Every night, the flock settles in on the roosting bars, and by morning the amount of manure that accumulates can be overwhelming. Especially if “just a few” hens become a flock with dozens of chickens! For years, I…
If you are looking for a moisturizer made with natural ingredients, you’ve likely considered tallow balm. While the use of animal fat has become more popular in recent years, tallow has been a go-to ingredient in traditional skincare for centuries. Similar to the composition of the human skin and rich in vitamins and essential fatty…
As the days grow shorter in the fall season, nature prepares for the coming cold weather. For chickens and all birds, molting is the natural process of renewing feathers. During the molting period, chickens shed old feathers to grow new plumage. A laying hen’s energy is redirected from egg production to feather regrowth. The length…
When raising baby chicks or any small birds, a reliable heat source is a necessity to keep your chicks warm. Unlike adult birds, chicks have fluff, not feathers. Chicks need to be provided with supplemental heat until they have fully feathered out and can regulate their own body temperature. Since I was a girl, we…
Hidden in every beehive is a highly organized society of bees with a clear hierarchy and well-defined roles. Though a thriving colony can house over 60,000 bees, every bee plays a vital part in the hive’s survival. Each hive is made up of a fascinating caste of characters, including the queen bee, the versatile female…
Raising backyard chickens is feasible for many families, even those in suburban neighborhoods. A small flock of 5 to 6 hens will produce enough eggs for most families. Chickens are easy keepers and a great way to extend age-appropriate responsibility to children. Additionally, a backyard flock is a great way to introduce kids to where…
Whether you process meat at home or buy meat in bulk at the grocery store and repackage it, proper packaging of meat is essential for long-term storage in the freezer. Knowing how to wrap meat for freezing preserves the quality of the meat, reduces food waste, and saves you money. While there are several good…
At our farm, we process all our meat from field to fork. Processing your meat at home is more time-consuming than using a local butcher, but for us, the advantages far exceed the time spent. Philip has spent years studying and practicing butchering techniques. While there is certainly some skill required in identifying muscle groups…
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…
Being good stewards of the land and our resources is an important part of our off-grid lifestyle. As an avid hunter, Philip works hard to provide meat for our family each year. Before our move to the homestead, we were limited not only by space of what we could transport for processing but also limited…
