In this fast passed, modern life, sometimes being observant about nature takes a backseat. “Tracking” is a skill that is a fading art, but a valuable one, especially if you have pets and livestock. Why is important to know who is running around your property? Well, if you’re like me,
Tag: Homestead
Don’t Throw Out Your Crystallized Honey
Honey…. just the word makes my mouth water. That amazing liquid gold produced by bees is an amazing substance indeed. And I am sure you have all heard how bees world wide are being hit hard from various diseases and chemicals. To me, that makes honey an even more valuable
Compound Butter Recipes that ROCK!!
Compound butter is am amazing thing for a few reasons, but some of you may be asking, what is compound butter? Simply put, it is butter (real honest to goodness butter, not that margarine stuff) mixed with other ingredients. I have been told, though never experienced, that in those fancy
Enjoy the Seasons (Fall)
When you are trying to get through life, there are projects always waiting in the wings. You have chores that must be done, crises to handle, it may seem like you never have enough time in the day. With winter coming, as a homesteader, or heck just a normal everyday
When Raptors Come to Call
Heads up!!! No really, look up! Why? Well because it is fall raptor migration time and if you have chickens, well, you need to be aware. Hundreds of thousands of hawks, eagles, ospreys and falcons are currently winging their way south and possible past your coop! Most hawks are soaring birds….
Be An Egg Snob
I am an egg snob. Don’t get me wrong, for years I ate store eggs. I didn’t know any better. To me an egg was an egg. But then we finally got our own girls, and trust me, an egg is not just an egg and here is why (in my
A Guide to Fire Extinguishers
Today’s topic is one that is important, and while I hope you never need to use one, I’m going to give you the run down on fire extinguishers. Why should you care about having fire extinguishers in your home? Because these things can buy you time and save lives! If
Life Disrupted – We’re Homeschooling
Once upon a time, there was a little boy who walked to the beat of his own inner drummer. The little boy had an autism spectrum disorder called Asperger’s. Sadly the local public school could not hear or just refused to help him on his walk through life. Life at a
Farewell to Fred
Sometimes in life, events occur, beyond your control, that just rip the wind from your lungs. And while you get through those dark moments, you are forever touched by them. So much so, that it takes weeks to even wrap your mind around them. This is one of those events.
Homemade Chicken Stock From Scratch
Chicken stock is used in many recipes, but where does it come from? Well, for most folks it comes in a can or a box from the store ladened with salt and preservatives. But it didn’t always come that way! Once, long ago, when folks raised more of their own
Homemade Pumpkin Spice
Fall is coming! I know some of you are like “say it isn’t so!” But fall is on the way. It seems a bit early this year, but if you look at the signs of nature…. leaves are already starting to drop, birds are heading south….. And as you all
Foraging for Chicken of the Woods
Foraging for food is becoming the next big thing with folks looking to get away from the grocery store. One things folks can try there hand at is edible mushrooms. (Please do your research, carry a field guide, and ask if your not sure!) We LOVE hunting morels in the
9 Health Benefits of Cloves
If you like to cook or bake, I bet you have clover in your cabinet right now. If you don’t, you should! Why? Because clovers are good for so much more then flavor! Seriously, they have health benefits as well! How do I know? Well you see, in college I
Baking Soda…. Your New Best Friend
There are certain things in life, that once you get to know them, will blow your mind. Take our old friend baking soda….. Oh sure, it works great as a leavening agent (aka it makes stuff rise) when you bake, but did you know that this simple item has a
The Making of an Egg, Why Calcium is Important to Hens
If you own chickens, you know there is nothing so wonderful or delicious as fresh eggs. Every day we go out and feed the hens and in return they give us those glorious eggs. But how much do you know about how an egg is made? Do you know why