Barakah Heritage Farm USA

Month: May 2018

  • Camping Cookbook: Foil Packet Recipes Vol. 2

    Camping Cookbook: Foil Packet Recipes Vol. 2

    Foil Packet Meals Make Quick and Easy, Delicious Camping Food! When it comes to campsite cooking, it can’t get much easier than foil packet cooking! Read FREE with Kindle Unlimited! And get more amazing foil packet recipes ideas for your next camping trip in volume 2 of the series Foil Packet Recipes Camping Cookbook collection.…;

    Foil Packet Meals Make Quick and Easy, Delicious Camping Food! When it comes to campsite cooking, it can’t get much easier than foil packet cooking!
    Read FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

    And get more amazing foil packet recipes ideas for your next camping trip in volume 2 of the series Foil Packet Recipes Camping Cookbook collection.

    One of the best things about camping is sitting around the pit and creating delicious campfire food. Between the overall feel of the outdoors and the flavor elements of fire, wood and coal, the taste of campfire cooking is unparalleled, and can leave you craving those rustic flavors all year long. This is a very good time to explore the wonderful and tasty options of campfire foil packet cooking. Foil packet cooking is a food preparation method that involves placing all of the ingredients inside a piece of aluminum foil that has been reconstructed into a sealed packet or envelope.

    The benefits of foil packet cooking are many, and include:
    • Less preparation and cleanup than ever before!
    • Ability to bring new dishes to the campsite.
    • Foil packet cooking allows for the unique melding of flavors that occurs when different food items and spices are prepared in close quarters—like in a foil packet!
    • Foil packet cooking maintains the integrity of your ingredients and gives you great options for breakfast, entrees, sides and even desserts.

    Inside find delicious recipes for every meal of the day including snacks and desserts:

    • Rise and shine breakfast recipes like the Hole in One Breakfast or the Bacon, Ham and Cheese Muffins
    • Nourishing beef packets like the Foil Steak or the Meatballs Buns
    • Unforgettable sausage and hot dog packet recipes like the Sausage and Cheese Mix or the Beanie Weenies
    Flavorful pork foil packet recipes such as the Chinese-Style Ribs or the Pork Chops with Honey and Squash
    • Easy to make chicken foil packet recipes including the Rotisserie Chicken with Mushrooms or the Grilled Lemon Chicken
    • Delightful fish and seafood dishes like the Sea Bass with Carrots and Corn or Peppery Pesto Catfish
    • Side dish and snack recipes like the Herbed Corn or the Popcorn Foil PacketsFresh Vegetable Foil Packets
    • Fabulous foil packet dessert recipes such as Spicy Apples Surprise or the Chocolate Bananas

    Scroll back up and click the BUY NOW button at the top right side of this page for an immediate download!

    Read on your favorite devices such as Kindle, IPhone, IPad, Android cellular phone, tablet, laptop, or computer with Amazon’s free reading Kindle App.

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  • Permaculture and Community Part 2: Using the Moral Imagination in Permaculture – The Permaculture Research Institute

    Permaculture and Community Part 2: Using the Moral Imagination in Permaculture – The Permaculture Research Institute

    Permaculture and Community Part 2: Using the Moral Imagination in Permaculture

    December 14, 2017by & filed under General

    In part 1 of this article (1) I explored how permaculture is very much linked to practices of peacebuilding and in particular to the use of our “moral imagination” (2). As a holistic lens through which to view the world, which encourages curiosity and creativity and includes the possibility of stepping outside of societal or cultural norms, permaculture has many similarities to the moral imagination as described by John Paul Lederach (2). Theoretically, then, permaculture can be a tool not only for landscape design but also for helping to re-imagine or rebuild communities which for some reason have ceased to function or are not functioning in a healthy way, as Lederach does in his line of work. But how can we apply this theory practically? This article will look at how using these theories can have a lasting practical impact, beginning on an individual level and rippling outwards to communities, societies and the world.

    Building peace inside ourselves

    Permaculture and peacebuilding are both on some level about finding ways in which a community or system is functioning ineffectively and changing that, hopefully for the better. It can be deceptively easy to go about this change-creation from an outside-in approach; i.e. to have an idea and then to try to apply that thing to the people, creatures and other things around you. This seems to be the approach of many governmental institutions. The idea that we can only create change outside ourselves once we have created change within is one so often repeated it could almost be called a cliché. Since much of our cultural training appears to lead away from this idea, though, I am going to repeat it again here (briefly) anyway.

    Mohandas Gandhi published a paper in 1913 in which he said

    “We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him.” (3)

    This simple idea has been explored by practitioners of all fields, for many decades or more likely centuries, though it seems of particular importance in today’s world of seemingly instant technology and desires for quick-fix solutions coming from outside. A lot of the time it is easy to see how Gandhi’s words are true on an intellectual level. It is quite another thing to apply the idea that until you change yourself you cannot change anything. From this perspective, any improvements you wish to make in the outside world have to begin in your own mind and body.

    Healing inside and out

    As mentioned in part 1 of this article, ‘violence’ is not necessarily the sole property of war-torn countries and states but may well be present in all of our daily lives. In the same way, many psychologists have theorized that ‘wounding’ of a psychological nature is not a rare occurrence that happens only to those doomed to mental institutions, but is, in fact, something which is unavoidable, particularly in a culture in which daily un-empathetic communication is to a large extent encouraged (see for example 4). Firman and Gila (4) call this “primal wounding”; damage to our psyches which occurs when we are not accepted as an authentic and holistic personality, and which can create psychological scarring. They are not the only ones to postulate that a lot of the environmental destruction we can see occurring in the world is made possible by the fact that we have received similarly destructive wounding in our psyches by being denied what they call an “empathic holding environment” (4), (5). Little wonder then, that we sometimes engage in

    ” massive abuses of the natural environment that threaten the holding environment that every one of us shares—the planet Earth itself” (4)

    The key to these primal wounds, however, is that they can be healed. There are numerous ways to do this. Firman and Gila recommend reconnecting to the previously wounded parts of your psyche, through gentle and empathic therapy; David Abram recommends reconnecting to the wordless language of the “animate landscape”, through enlivening and enrichment of our senses (5). The key seems to be that we know in theory what needs to be done but until we do it ourselves on a personal level we cannot hope to create real and lasting change. As Bill Mollison put it,
    “Once you’ve said to yourself, “But I’m not using my physics in my house,” or “I’m not using my ecology in my garden, I’ve never applied it to what I do,” it’s like something physical moves inside your brain. Suddenly you say, “If I did apply what I know to how I live, that would be miraculous!” “ (6)

    Art and soul

    As I touched upon in part 1 (1), Lederach repeatedly refers to peace-building as a creative endeavor and appeals to the artist inside all of us (2). He correlates peace, art and healing as being of the same kind of thing. This seems particularly important to bring into the world of permaculture. Permaculture is scientific in that it is based on using your senses and what is directly observable, in the same way, that peace-building is scientific in that it looks at patterns of cycles of violence and tries to create formulas for transcending these. However, permaculture is also about observing and working with energies, some of which may be unpredictable or even invisible, such as those of social interaction. Without a capacity for creatively working with these energies, we may be in danger of losing the whole point of whatever we are designing in the first place.

    “The challenge of the artful connection”, says Lederach,

    ” is how to respect what we create, nurture love for what we do, and bring beauty to what we build, even in the simplest tasks. We have come to see our work for social change and peacebuilding too much in the line of an intellectual journey… Politics, as usual, has not shown itself particularly capable of generating authentic change for the good of the human community. We have to recognize that constructive social change, like art, comes in fits and starts. The greatest movements forward, when you look really closely, often germinated from something that collapsed, fell to the ground and then sprouted something that moved beyond what was then known” (2)

    Art and progress

    To sum up this part of the series, then, we can begin to draw some lines between the seemingly diverse practices of permaculture, art, healing, and peace. Key to these connections is the centre of any action that you take; your own personal psyche and the care you take of it. Hopefully, this article has gone some way towards giving hints for practical exploration of these themes; more will follow in part 3.

    “To believe in healing is to believe in the creative act” (2); what creative acts can you bring into your life to help yourself to heal?

    References

    1.Ashwanden, C, 2017. ‘Permaculture and Community Part 1: Permaculture as a Tool for Peace’. Permaculture News, 2/11/17. https://permaculturenews.org/2017/11/02/permaculture-community-part-1-permaculture-tool-peace/ – retrieved 4/12/17

    2.Lederach, J.P, 2005. The Moral Imagination: The Art and Soul of Building Peace. Oxford University Press: Oxford.

    3.Gandhi, M, 1964. The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Volume XII, April 1913 to December 1914, Chapter: General Knowledge About Health XXXII: Accidents Snake-Bite, (From Gujarati, Indian Opinion, 9-8-1913) The Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. (Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi at www.gandhiheritageportal.org)

    4.Firman, J; Gila, A, 2002. Psychosynthesis: A Psychology of the Spirit. SUNY Press: New York City, USA.

    5.Abram, D, 1996. The Spell of the Sensuous: Language and Perception in a More-Than-Human World. Vintage: New York City, USA.

    1.Atkisson, A; Mollison, B, 1991. ‘Permaculture: Design for Living’. Context: Making it Happen IC#28. https://www.context.org/iclib/ic28/mollison/ – retrieved 4/12/17

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    https://permaculturenews.org/2017/12/14/permaculture-community-part-2-using-moral-imagination-permaculture/

    On – 14 Dec, 2017 By Charlotte Ashwanden

  • 18 Year Old Student Builds Amazing Tiny House as School Project

    18 Year Old Student Builds Amazing Tiny House as School Project


    This student built her own Tiny House on wheels and now lives in her amazing home mortgage free!

    Gabriella Grace was only 18 years old when she built her very own tiny house on wheels together with her father as part of a project for her final year of school. Now 20 years old, she has found an incredible spot for her home in New Zealand’s capital city of Wellington.

    Read More: http://www.livingbiginatinyhouse.com/18-year-old-builds-tiny-house/

    Please support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/livingbig

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    Please subscribe for more videos on Tiny Houses, design, and sustainable, off-grid living.

    ‘Living Big in a Tiny House’ © 2015 Zyia Pictures Ltd

  • Regenerative Agriculture Principles + Why Different Than Organic – Dr. Axe

    Regenerative Agriculture Principles + Why Different Than Organic – Dr. Axe

    Leah ZerbeDecember 5, 2017December 6, 2017

    Regenerative agriculture - Dr. Axe

    Organic. Natural. Permaculture. Regenerative agriculture. It’s a great time to get more connected to the farming practices behind our food. But what, exactly, do all of those farming terms really mean? And how do we know if they’re legit or just marketing fluff?

    One thing is for sure. If we’re going to create enough food without destroying our natural resources and health, we’ve got to embrace regenerative agriculture on a major scale. But what is it, exactly? I’m glad you asked.

    What Is Regenerative Agriculture?

    It may be beneficial to first explain what regenerative agriculture isn’t. Have you ever driven down a country road, stumbling upon miles and miles of corn, canola or soy fields? That isn’t regenerative agriculture. That’s a monoculture system where farmers plant a lot one one type of crop. It’s not good for the soil, it’s not good for nature and biodiversity, water supplies and, oftentimes, the crops aren’t even good for people.

    I really like this definition from The Carbon Underground and Regenerative Agriculture Initiative at California State University, Chico:

    ‘Regenerative Agriculture’ describes farming and grazing practices that, among other benefits, reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity – resulting in both carbon drawdown and improving the water cycle.

    Regenerative agriculture treats the land more holistically, taking a big picture approach instead of worrying only about crop yields. One way of putting it? It works more closely with natural tendencies rather than against them.

    Instead of using abusive inputs like pesticides, chemical fertilizers, fumigants and GMOs to push the limits of production, regenerative agriculture uses a set of farming principles to not just create food, but a better world, too. In essence, it improves resources rather than depleting them.

    But don’t dismiss this utopian way of farming as an out-of-reach dream. It’s already happening all over the word, and it’s scientifically-backed to boot, pulling from decades of research investigating organic farming methods, holistic grazing, agroforestry and agroecology. But more on that later.

    Regenerative agriculture involves practices that:

    • Increase biodiversity
    • Enrich the soil
    • Improve water quality
    • Enhance ecosystem services
    • Reverse climate change (this is especially important since we know climate change and nutrition are intricately linked)

     

    Regenerative agriculture - Dr. Axe

     

    The best side effect? It also creates higher yields and helps crops become more resilient in times of climate instability. In terms of community, regenerative farming boosts health and vitality for people living in the community. In other words, it’s better for the land and for us.

    Terra Genesis International breaks regenerative agriculture into four main principles, which are further broken down into key principles. (1)

    1. Progressively improve whole agroecosystems
    2. Create context: Specific designs and holistic decisions that express the essence of each farm
    3. Ensure and develop just and reciprocal relationships amongst all stakeholders
    4. Continually grow and evolve individuals, farms and communities to actualize their innate potentials

    Key practices of regenerative farming include:

    • No-till farming and pasture cropping
    • Organic annual cropping
    • Compost and compost tea
    • Biochar and terra preta
    • Holistically managed grazing
    • Animal integration
    • Ecological aquaculture
    • Perennial crops
    • Silvopasture/Agroforestry (2)

     

    Regenerative agriculture - Dr. Axe

     

    Let’s take a deeper dive into some these practices below…

    Agroforestry, Including Silvopasture

    Practiced around the world for centuries, the United States Department of Agriculture defines agroforestry as the “intentional integration of trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems to create environmental, economic and social benefits.” (3)

    Agroforestry is gaining momentum in the U.S. today because it gives farmers more food crop options to diversify their farm sales. A 2017 study published in Agroforestry Systems shows how incorporating berry- and nut-bearing trees and shrubs with hay and more traditional row crops can increase diversity and income for a farm.

    But patience is key here. For crops like chestnuts and hazelnuts, meaningful harvests could take 7 to 12 years to materialize after planting. The idea, though, is the annual hay or vegetable crops bring annual income until the trees and shrubs produce adequate yields. The main takeaway is farmers can incorporate agroforestry to move toward polyculture instead of relying on just one crop (monoculture).  (4)

    USDA points out that agroforestry generally involves the four “I”s:

    • Intentional (that blueberry shrub didn’t just plant itself!)
    • Intensive
    • Integrated
    • Interactive

    Here in America, agroforestry is typically broken up into five categories:

    1. Silvopasture

    • The practice of combining trees with livestock at the same place. The idea is that animals benefit from tree cover during heatwaves, rainstorms and other inclement weather, all while the trees provide timber, fruit or nut crops and forage.
    • The combining of trees and livestock is done in a beneficial way that also promotes stronger soil health.
    • Silvopasture is the most common agroforestry practice in the U.S. It’s particularly popular in the Southeast. (5)

    2. Alley Cropping

    • The practice of planting crops between rows of trees to generate farm income as the trees mature.
    • Grains, herbs, flowers, fruit and vegetables are all examples of crops that can be planted in between tree rows.

    3. Forest Farming

    • Multi-story cropping where different layers produce food. This is related to food forests and food gardens common in permaculture design. Here’s a great food forest guide from Desert Echo. It includes ideas for the following food forest layers: canopy, low-tree, shrub, herbacious, ground cover, rhizosphere, vertical.
    • May also provide shelter for animals.

    4. Windbreaks

    • Common on farms to help protect barns, farmhouses and other buildings and animals from wind, snow, dust and odors
    • Known as living fences or shelterbelts
    • Also support wildlife
    • Choose native tree species for big biodiversity bang for your buck

    5. Riparian Forest Buffers

    • Riparian forest buffers are natural or re-stablished areas along rivers and streams made up of trees, shrubs, and grasses.
    • These buffers can help filter farm runoff while the roots stabilize the banks of streams, rivers, lakes and ponds to prevent erosion.
    • These areas can also support wildlife and provide another source of income.

    Sustainable Livestock Management

    This includes techniques like rotational grazing, but even more so holistically managed grazing. So what’s the difference? The Jefferson Center for Holistic Management provides nice background.

    Rotational Grazing

    • Focuses on moving livestock from one area of pasture to another
    • Protects the soil and pasture plants from compaction and overgrazing
    • Only focuses on moving the livestock to fresh pasture; doesn’t involve the timing of the moves

    Mob Grazing

    • Focuses on keeping a larger number of animals on a smaller tract of pasture
    • But they are moved frequently, sometimes as often as three times a day
    • Related to rotational grazing
    • Plant recovery time isn’t part of the consideration for when to move the livestock

    Holistic Planned Grazing

    • Gold-standard practice
    • Takes more factors into consideration compared to mob or rotational grazing
    • Amount of time livestock spend on plants and recovery time needed for plants considered
    • Is customized based on the social, economic and environmental factors and needs of each particular ranch
    • Promotes biodiversity, so grazing plans account for nesting and breeding seasons of different animals and birds (6)

    Better pasture management isn’t just better for plants and animals, either. It’s also great news for more breathable air and a healthy atmosphere. Cows raised on pasture using best management practices produce roughly 22 percent fewer methane emissions. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. (7)

    Sometimes, though it’s images, not words, that can really convey a message. Check out this video showing conventional land versus holistically managed land.

     

     

    As you can see, careful planning can drastically improve biodiversity and health both above and below the soil

    Carbon Helps Climate Change 

    Healthy soil is teeming with microorganisms that help store carbon in the soil, keeping it out of the atmosphere where it promotes climate change. I’d like to think there are parallels we can draw from the microbiome and gut health. When our digestive tract is flourishing with diverse, beneficial microorganisms, we are healthier. The same is true of our soil. The truth is, shifting to regenerative agriculture on a major scale could return atmospheric carbon dioxide levels to pre-industrial levels, in effect reversing global warming. (8)

    Research from the Rodale Institute, an organic experimental farm in Pennsylvania, shows that regenerative farming is a legitimate tool for not just slowing, but actually reversing, climate change.

    Here are some major points in the Rodale Institute’s 2014 white paper:

    • If we took all currently available cropland and shifted it to regenerative organic agriculture methods, up to 40 percent of annual emissions could be captured in the soil.
    • Adding pastures around the world to the regenerative agriculture model could increase the amount of carbon stored to 71 percent.
    • The good news? Nothing needs to be invented to create this type of carbon sequestration. It’s available now, costs little to implement and as a side benefits, reduces the need for cancer-causing farming chemicals. (9)

    Many regenerative agriculture techniques help promote healthier carbon levels in the soil, including:

    • Crop rotation
    • Compost
    • Residual mulching
    • Cover crops
    • Conservation tillage (10)

    Crop Rotation

    Growing the same crop year after year in the same spot is a recipe for pest infestations, diseased plants, the need for toxic chemicals and lower yields. But when you smartly plan and plant your crop rotation, you can build up the soil and grow truly resilient plants.

    While the most widely known benefits of corp rotation include nutrient retention and nitrogen fixation, which serves as a natural fertilizer for the next crop. But there are other benefits to consider, too. Certain crops influence the rhizosphere around the root systems, causing some minerals to be more easily utilized by the next crop. This will help boost the next crop’s plant health and immunity, which often results in higher yields, according to Advancing Eco Agriculture. The idea is that something planted today will change the soil in a way that influences future crops. (11)

    Compost

    Compost is the result of recycling organic matter and using it as a soil amendment. It’s also a hallmark of regenerative agriculture. Rich in humus and humic acids, compost also serves as a natural pesticide in the soil. Basic DIY compost principles involve taking waste like leaves and food scraps and allowing worms, fungi and aerobic bacteria to convert it to a soil enhancer. (12)

    Compost helps saturate the soil with missing microbes, reducing the risk plants will suffer from nutrient deficiencies, diseases, insect damage and drought-related stress.

    There money to be made when it comes to compost, too. Some farms that nix the use of chemical fertilizer and transition to using compost and compost tea experience savings in the hundreds of thousands of dollars range! Better soil, healthier crops and lower bills. Who could argue with that? (13)

     

     

    And did you know compost benefits also include a reduction in soil erosion? This has two major benefits. First, it helps the soil store more water, which field tests show help increase organic crop yields during years of drought. (Organic crops actually outperformed industrial, chemical agriculture crops in years of drought because of this.) (14)

    Soil scientist Elaine Ingham, PhD, is an advocate of thermal composting, something you can even try at home.

    Perennial Crops

    A common practice in regenerative agriculture involves planting perennial crops. While not all crops on a regenerative farm need to be perennial, shifting more land into perennial crops and pastures helps minimize soil disruption. This is a key concept of permaculture, where design focuses on replicating how things work in nature. It’s like working with nature to create food, not against it. And the idea is that with this permanent design, the workload becomes easier and the crop yields increase with time. Multi-canopy food forests are also key permaculture concepts utilized by many regenerative farms. (15)

    In fact, permaculture and regenerative agriculture can work hand-in-hand as an effective way to feed the world without using chemicals. (16)

    Regenerative Agriculture vs. Permaculture vs. Organic Gardening

    While there is some overlap between regenerative agriculture, permaculture and organic farming and gardening, there are notable differences, too.

    Organic Farming/Gardening

    “Organic agriculture provides a base set of standards. It’s all about minimizing toxins and slightly maximizing nutritional value, although the studies are mixed,” Jordan Rubin, founder of Heal the Planet Farm explained. “The main gist is producing food not laden with chemicals.”

    That’s certainly good news and a vast improvement from industrial farming. After all, scaling up chemically produce food means we now have a “dirty dozen” list of foods to avoid. I’m so thankful organic is getting carcinogens, neurotoxic substances and bee-killing chemicals out of the food change.

    But it can go much further to become a truly sustainable system that can feed the world. One problem? Many organic farms produce annual crops and raise meat and dairy animals on outside food sources. “That’s not necessarily regenerative,” Rubin explained to. “It could be creating a system that needs loads of inputs.”

    While organic farms are much healthier for people and the environment because they don’t rely on harmful chemicals, many larger organic producers may not encourage biodiversity as much as regenerative farming models.

    Organic farms often also plant annual row crops that are more disruptive to the soil; trucking in off-farm inputs, even though they are more natural and approved for use in the organic program, are common. Organic farming is often not a closed-loop system.

    Permaculture

    Permaculture is simple. The goal involves creating permanent systems of agriculture through perennial crops and animals. As Rubin explains, the roots grow deeper each year, leaves and nuts’ shells improve soil, resulting in more food, better soil and working less. Edible food forests are hallmark of permaculture, in addition to utilizing all of earth’s resources (water, sun, wind) and relying as little as possible as modern equipment and off-farm inputs.

    Permaculture focuses on planting perennial crops in a way that replicates and works with nature. Permaculture does not focus on planting annual crops like tomatoes, corn and other popular farm crops that need to be seeded each year. Permaculture also focuses on not using inputs that come in from off the farm. The idea is that it’s a closed system that, with time, grows stronger and produces more food without trucking in compost and soil amendment mined or created in other places.

    Regenerative Agriculture

    The basic idea? Improving the soil with every harvest, instead of robbing it. Each year, regenerative farming will improve plant, soil and animal health.

    Regenerative agriculture does take permaculture into account, but annual crops are also part of many regenerative agriculture farms. Both permaculture and regenerative farming use organic methods but go beyond organic to create even more sustainable food systems. (17)

    Some of the better organic farms and gardens around the U.S. adopt permaculture and regenerative agriculture principles, although they are not currently required. In the U.S., organic farms are banned from using chemical pesticides, fertilizers and GMOs. (18)

    But to help make organic even stronger, the Rodale Institute and a team of other farmers, ranchers, nonprofits, scientists and sustainable brands are creating a Regenerative Organic Certification program.

    This program focuses on guidelines that will improve:

    • Soil health
    • Land management
    • Animal welfare
    • Farmer and worker fairness

    Regenerative Agriculture History + Its Pioneers

    Pushing the land beyond its limits to create food isn’t just something happening now. Take the Dust Bowl, for instance. Thankfully, regenerative pioneers of the past and present are pushing forward to farm in a way that improves resources rather than destroying them. This is the farming of the future, not GMOs and chemicals.

    Here are some of regenerative agriculture’s leading pioneers:

    Sir Albert Howard

    A botanist known as the leader of the early organic movement and father of modern-day agriculture, Sir Albert Howard made a vital discovery when he traveled to India during his career: The healthier the farm soil, the healthier the people living in the community. He took his learnings from India and shared them through the UK Soil Association, urging people to model farming after forests. This includes maintaining humus and moisture in the soil, along with the importance of mycorrhiza, beneficial fungus that bolsters plant root health. (19)

    J.I. & Robert Rodale

    As founder of the Rodale Press book and magazine publishing empire in 1930, J.I. Rodale clearly saw a connection between agriculture and human health. He popularized the term “organic” in the U.S. in the 1940s and drew inspiration from the regenerative farming ideas of Sir Albert Howard.

    In the 1940s, he created the Rodale Organic Gardening Experimental Farm. Today, it’s known as the Rodale Institute, and it’s still doing great work involving soil health, climate change and farming and composting. (20)

    His son, Robert, later coined the term “regenerative organic agriculture” in the 1980s. He was referring to the idea of farming marked by:

    • Closed nutrient loops (think less chemical fertilizer and more compost)
    • Greater diversity in the biological community
    • Fewer annual crops and more perennial crops
    • Greater reliance on internal versus external sources (21)

    Elaine Ingham, PhD

    A world-renowned soil scientist and author, Ingham is founder of Soil Foodweb Inc., where she offers classes on how to build soil health using natural methods. Previously, she also served as chief scientist at the Rodale Institute. Ingham authored chapters in The Soil Biology Primer for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, and she currently is the director of research at the Environment Celebration Institute’s farm in California. Ingham’s decades of scientific research has resulted in hard data that shows the benefits of building up the soil with compost and compost tea. (22)

    Jordan Rubin

    A bestselling author, co-founder of Ancient Nutrition and natural health expert, Rubin is also founder of Heal the Planet Farm, a regenerative permaculture retreat located in Missouri’s Ozark mountains. It lies within the 4,000-acre Beyond Organic Ranch.

    Heal the Planet Farm’s 7-year plan involves creating organic polyculture orchards with as many as 100 different fruit and nut trees, perennial vegetables and medicinal herbs. All the while, the focus will be on building soil fertility to sequester carbon from the atmosphere.

    The goal? To take some of the worst soil on the planet in the Ozark region and create soil with 10 percent organic matter. By building topsoil levels up to 30 inches using innovative permaculture and regenerative agriculture principles, the land could have the ability to hold 10 inches of water, which is key to soil fertility.

    “Our message is this: If we can build healthy soil here, we can teach anyone to do it anywhere,” Rubin said.

    With regenerative and permaculture workshops already being held on the farm, the hope is to train farmers to provide nutrient-dense food for the entire planet by the year 2100 on just the farmland in America.

    Using mixed species rotational impact grazing, including mixed species like water buffalo, yaks, cattle, goats, sheep, chicken and donkeys, the farm will build diverse balance in the soil as the species mimic how animals move in the wild.

    Joel Salatin

    A co-owner of Polyface Farm in Virginia, Salatin is also known for taking on the GMO industry, pointing out that we don’t need to grow more food to feed the world … we need to get the food we typically waste (up to 50 percent grown or raised) to people who need it. (It’s often political unrest and war block people from food). He was highlighted in Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma, and you may also remember him from Food Inc.

    Salatin’s farm produces grass-raised, clean meat. In fact, he told Resilience that without planting a seed or buying a bag of chemical fertilizer in over 50 years,” Polyface is producing five times the county average compared to other farms. He focuses on moving his animals from pasture plot to plot in a way that better mimics how animals move in nature. (23)

    Final Thoughts on Regenerative Agriculture

    • Regenerative agriculture uses many organic farming principles but takes things further in the positive direction by going beyond organic.
    • Regenerative farming can be broken into four main principles: Progressively improving whole agroecosystems; creating context and using specific designs and holistic decision making specific to each individal farm; ensuring and developing just and reciprocal relationships amongst all stakeholders; and continually growing and evolving to actualize and evolve individuals, farm and communities.
    • Key practices on regenerative farms include: no-till farming and pasture cropping; organic annual cropping; compost and compost tea; biochar; holistically managed grazing; animal integration; ecological aquaculture; perennial crops; and silvopasture, a common form of agroforestry.
    • Many organic farming principles are used in regenerative farming, but regenerative methods go even further.
    • Regenerative agriculture reduces the need for off-farm inputs and aims to leave the soil healthier
    • While so many people have played a role in growing the regenerative agriculture movement, some pioneers include J.I. and Robert (Bob) Rodale, Sir Albert Howard, Elaine Ingham, PhD, Jordan Rubin and Joel Salatin, among others.

    https://draxe.com/regenerative-agriculture/

    On – 05 Dec, 2017 By Leah Zerbe

  • Maple Sap Spile, 5/16″ Ecolo Spout, Maple Syrup Tap (5-PACK)

    Maple Sap Spile, 5/16″ Ecolo Spout, Maple Syrup Tap (5-PACK)

    5-PACK. You get 5 of the spouts pictured. These new 5/16″ tree saver taps can be used with tubing or without, no clamp needed when using hose due to barbs on the taps. Just hang plastic milk jug on the tap to catch the sap or run a hose to bucket or main line. The…;

    5-PACK. You get 5 of the spouts pictured. These new 5/16″ tree saver taps can be used with tubing or without, no clamp needed when using hose due to barbs on the taps. Just hang plastic milk jug on the tap to catch the sap or run a hose to bucket or main line.
    The special design of the tree saver spouts is for quick closing of the hole in the tree after the spout has been removed after syrup season is over. The closing of the hole quickly helps prevent bacteria getting in the tree. Much better than the older style taps that require much bigger holes to be drilled.High quality construction. Durable and reusable for year after year.
    Use a 5/16″ drill bit to drill a hole into your tree and simply hammer this tap into place.
    Can be used with or without 5/16″ID Tubing on the outlet.
    Can hang a milk jug or similar bottle from these taps by simply cutting a small round hole into the bottle and hanging.
    Can hang a bucket with a handle from these taps by simply putting the bucket handle over the lip on the top of the tap and the sap will run into the bucket.

    Full Customer Reviews:

  • Building your own Hawaii minimal house for a vacation’s cost

    Building your own Hawaii minimal house for a vacation’s cost


    Kristie Wolfe spent $5000 to build herself a tiny home on wheels in her hometown of Pocatello, Idaho. It started off as a yearlong experiment in simple living, but she liked it so much she decided to keep living small, not only in Idaho, but she began looking for land to build a tiny vacation home.
    She bought a plot of land in Hawaii sight-unseen for $8000. A year later she bought a plane ticket, packed her bags full of tools and with the help of her mother, began to build a bamboo “treehouse” that to fit the surrounding jungle (though rather than using trees for support, she built it on stilts). After two months of building every day “from dawn to dusk” and an $11,000 investment, she had a second home.
    For Wolfe, the fact that it’s small- 15’ by 15’ or 225 square feet- is an asset. “My original house was 97 square feet so that was really tiny so this feels huge… I think small homes are beautiful because it fits with my lifestyle. I think having a lot of stuff mentally weighs you down even in ways that you don’t realize.”
    Building her own home meant that Kristie was able to design everything custom: from a toilet-sink to save water (she’s not only off-grid, but she relies on rainwater capture for water) to an indoor/outdoor shower with cork-bark tiling. Whether she ever moves here permanently or simply moves on to building yet another home, she now knows she can build her own shelter.

    Filming credit: Ivan Nanney – IvanTheIntrepid.com

    Kristie’s blog: http://tinyhouseontheprairie.net/

    Original story: http://faircompanies.com/videos/view/building-your-own-hawaii-minimal-house-for-a-vacations-cost/

  • Mortal Tree Design launches Kickstarter Campaign for Permaculture Tool called Edgin! – ABNewswire – Press Release Distribution Service – Paid Press Release Distribution Newswire

    Permaculture is ready to get serious through this bold Kickstarter by Mortal Tree Design!

    Permaculture design is one of our most powerful tools for sustainable and green living the entire humanity needs for a prosperous future. Keeping this in mind, Luke Simon, owner of Mortal Tree Design, has devised Edgin: Where permanent concepts cross the line. Luke is now raising funds, support and awareness regarding this project on Kickstarter, offering specialized subscriptions on Edgin as the rewards.

    “Edgin will be a directory of permaculture designers, architects, publishers, plant nurseries and pretty much every specialist you need to make your world a greener, healthier place,” said Luke, while introducing the project on Kickstarter. “Edgin is a unique directory because it focuses on local designers, because it has clients create accounts that help them communicate their needs, and because Edgin is focused on improving the end results of all parties involved. Edgin is designed for maximum results” he added. According to Luke, this project has great futuristic implications for everyone and will impact a wide range of industries and professions.

    The KickstarterCampaign is located on the web at:

    www.kickstarter.com/projects/1967830234/the-new-web-resource-empowering-you-with-permacult and supporters from around the world can back this project by selecting an account reward, or simply donating if you want to see this project’s success. “There is a $5 funding tier that gets you backer exclusive updates if you just want to keep on the project’s pulse,” he added. The goal of this inspiring project is to raise a sum of $100,000. More details are available on the Kickstarter campaign page of the project.

    About Luke Simon and Mortal Tree Design

    Luke Simon is based in Ohio, USA, whose company Mortal Tree Design is named after his home food forest Mortal Tree. Luke designs permaculture farms and garden for clients in his area, and consults with clients worldwide. Luke is the author of two books: PASSIVE Gardening, and Mastering the Growing Edge. His blog, Mortal Tree, includes articles on his own experience building his food forest, and studying permaculture sciences that inspired him to launch the Edgin project. 

    Media Contact
    Company Name: Mortal Tree Design LLC
    Contact Person: Luke Simon
    Email: Send Email
    Phone: 3304842996
    City: East Sparta
    State: Ohio
    Country: United States
    Website: www.kickstarter.com/projects/1967830234/the-new-web-resource-empowering-you-with-permacult

    http://www.abnewswire.com/pressreleases/mortal-tree-design-launches-kickstarter-campaign-for-permaculture-tool-called-edgin_170435.html

    On – 14 Dec, 2017 By

  • Tiny Homes: Build your Tiny Home, Live Off Grid in your Tiny house today, become a minamilist and travel in your micro shelter!

    Tiny Homes: Build your Tiny Home, Live Off Grid in your Tiny house today, become a minamilist and travel in your micro shelter!

    This entry is in the series Best Alternative Architecture Books

    Learn How To Build and Live in a Tiny Home! Do you want to Live in a Tiny Home, Build your own and become a minamilist? Learn What a Tiny House is and the benefits you can have by living in one. You Will Learn The Following:The Basics of a Tiny HomeThe Benefits Is a…;

    Learn How To Build and Live in a Tiny Home!

    Do you want to Live in a Tiny Home, Build your own and become a minamilist?

    Learn What a Tiny House is and the benefits you can have by living in one.

    You Will Learn The Following:

    • The Basics of a Tiny Home

    • The Benefits

    • Is a Tiny Home for You

    • How to live in a Tiny Home

    • Much Much More!

    Whether you just want to learn more about Tiny Homes or already understand them and want extra help picking out the the perfect tony house for yourself, this book is for you.

    So don’t delay it any longer. Take this opportunity by buying this tiny home guide with floor plans now.

    You will be shocked by how much you can learn about tiny homes and living off grid.

    Don’t Delay And Scroll Up To Buy With 1 Click

    Full Customer Reviews:

  • Permaculture Guide to Reed Beds by Féidhlim Harty: Review

    Permaculture Guide to Reed Beds by Féidhlim Harty: Review

    Permaculture Guide to Reed Beds by Féidhlim Harty: Review

    For his latest publication, Féidhlim Harty once again marries a wealth of scientific and regulatory knowledge with his depth of practical experience. However, in addition to these two aspects of his writing, he adds insights and approaches from the field of Permaculture.

    The book is a follow-on from the author’s previous publications Get Rid of Your Bin and Save Money (a pocket guide to household waste minimisation), and Septic Tank – Options and Alternatives (a guide to conventional, natural and eco-friendly systems). As usual, Féidhlim manages to deal with a potentially tedious and mundane subject in his own customary expert but yet at times light-hearted style. The following quote gives perhaps an insight into his overall approach: ‘The sheer versatility of wetlands, reed beds, willows and ponds can sometimes be a bit overwhelming in terms of choices. But it also offers a diversity of opportunities as a permaculture designer, allowing you to derive multiple uses form what is generally regarded as a problematic waste.’

    Permaculture Guide to Reed BedsHis Guide claims to be a ‘comprehensive overview of reed bed systems and treatment wetlands for household effluent treatment’ – nothing less than a complete ‘how-to’ manual from system selection and design to construction, planting and maintenance. As such, it is a valuable document not just for any home-owner considering building a reed bed system, but also will be of great interest to a range of professionals and public authorities involved in the challenges of low energy, low impact effluent treatment. Féidhlim is based in Ireland and the book reflects this, but the regulatory requirements in the UK are frequently referenced, and the scope of his approach generally covers temperate regions of the planet.

    Following a brief, but insightful overview of Permaculture basics, the structure of the book is solid, moving from Site Assessment through Wastewater Treatment Basics and Settlement/Pretreatment Systems before getting to the heart of the subject – Reed Beds – Theory and Practice. The latter is complemented by a further chapter on Plants and Planting, with chapters on various topics to complete the manual. There is a comprehensive set of Appendices, Glossary and Index.

    The links and parallels with Permaculture are to be found throughout the book with some of the principles gaining special attention. For example, the use of the principle of working from patterns to details is reflected in the overall design approach used, and indeed the flow of the book itself.

    The attractive line-drawings by Féidhlim’s daughter Susie Harty add not just a personal touch, but provide enhanced clarity with numerous illustrations of various design details.

    Overall the book is a rich and unique repository of information and expertise for anyone interested in any aspect of treatment wetland systems – and indeed a true reflection of the Permaculture principle ‘the problem is the solution’.

    Seán Ó Conláin

    This book is available at https://www.green-shopping.co.uk/permaculture-guide-to-reed-beds.html.

    Disclaimer: Feasta is a forum for exchanging ideas. By posting on its site Feasta agrees that the ideas expressed by authors are worthy of consideration. However, there is no one ‘Feasta line’. The views of the article do not necessarily represent the views of all Feasta members.

    http://www.feasta.org/2017/12/11/permaculture-guide-to-reed-beds-by-feidhlim-harty-review/

    On – 11 Dec, 2017 By Sean Conlan

  • SOUTHWOODS FOREST GARDENS: From a discussion with an 40+ permaculture world helper.

    “Hi Dan, I hope you are well……  I wondered if you could give me advice on how to train/apprentice/gain the experience in permaculture design work to be able to create my own designs and teach it also. I am (45+), have kicked around the world a lot, used to work in environmental conservation and rural development, mainly in Papua New Guinea. I want to work with aid-type projects with people with fewer (economic) resources, but have found it so hard to gain the skills, beyond volunteering that provides fairly basic homesteading skills. ….I so much want to work in this field beyond moving around farm projects and helping out in exchange for a bed and it seems so hard to move beyond the PDC. I am no longer 20 and want this as a career/livelihood and to teach and train. If you have ideas I would be extremely grateful. ….

     Hi …,  My advise is to go back to school. I was about your age when I returned to college to get my Masters in Horticulture and the science needed to do the design work. By now you must be an expert on some area of practice. Dig deeper into that and be the source for deeper understanding. 

    I would like to get us out of the train and teach thing, seems fraught with ego.  How about support, mentor, guide, collaborate,  I don’t know. 

    Also, read all the great books (not just the popular Permaculture books). Text books on forest ecology, soil science, plant propagation, grey water systems ( brad Lancaster – Art Ludwig), and draw, everything out.  Study ecosystem restoration science. That is super important right now. Beyond humancentric permaculture. 

    Right now, you could go to Hope Foundation in South Africa, learn tons, and help with teaching courses. Great place to apprentice for a mature service-minded agrarian. Belinda is great there. 

    Your story is not uncommon for some of my world traveler friends. Each different of course. Issues seem to be assets for future needs, diminishing physical tolerance and stamina, and the preparation for the next stage of life. My story is similar. Don’t ignore the great foundation of experience you have. That might be your biggest asset gong forward. If financial assets are substantial, use that to set up the course for further income or opportunity through continued education and broader skill sets. 

    Other choices are to settle into or cycle through your homestead communites and put down some roots. 

     What do you have to offer? Are you promoting yourself? FB, networking, or internet presence. Ships are not built to lay at anchor in safe harbor, they are built to navigate adventures in the open ocean. Stay healthy, write a book, chronicle your adventures and skills. Get certified as a UK Instructor. Maybe we will meet at a conference for a good conversation like this with others.

     Dan

    https://southwoodsforestgardens.blogspot.com/2017/12/from-discussion-with-40-permaculture.html

    On – 17 Dec, 2017 By Daniel Halsey

  • The Importance of Tree Crops in Sustainable Agriculture – The Permaculture Research Institute

    The Importance of Tree Crops in Sustainable Agriculture – The Permaculture Research Institute

    The Importance of Tree Crops in Sustainable Agriculture

    November 27, 2017by & filed under Trees

    Tree Crops are the most common perennial agricultural method. More specifically, orchards are one of the most common and successful forms of perennial agriculture. A well-maintained peach orchard will give you a steady crop for up to 20 years. An apple orchard can last up to 50 years and well-maintained pecan tree may very well continue to produce for up to 150 years. Our agricultural systems have been designed almost exclusively for staple annual crops. However, transitioning into perennial agricultural systems that can produce food staples is one of the challenges we´ll face in the coming years in order to create a sustainable form of agriculture.

    The Functions of a Tree

    A perennial agriculture system based on the cultivation of tree crops offers a number of advantages over the traditional annual agriculture methods of staple carbohydrates such as corn and wheat. While these systems to take several years to get established, once production has begun the main body of work is maintenance and harvest. Tree crops such as fruit and nuts, then, can become a staple of our diet without having to till the soil year after year.

    Permaculture asks us to find several functions for every element. Trees are perhaps one of the most useful elements in any permaculture design. Some of the functions of a tree agriculture system include:

    Harvest: From fruits to nuts to edible leaves and shoots to mushrooms, there are a number of food products that trees can provide.

    Mulch: The leaf fall from deciduous trees provides some of the best mulch material for your farm and is fundamental in building overall soil health.

    Prunings: The prunings from your tree agriculture system can be chopped and put into the compost pile or allowed to decompose right in the soil. Either way, small branches, and pruning are the best way to develop health fungal activity in your soil.

    Shade: Trees provide shade which is not only great for resting on a warm summer day, but also provides a unique habitat for certain types of crops.

    Air: Trees create oxygen and sequester carbon in the atmosphere. By transitioning into a perennial agriculture system based on trees, we can help to combat global warming.

    Windbreak: While growing your food staples you can also protect other crops that are susceptible to winds.

    Beauty: Aesthetics are often an overlooked function in our landscapes

    Habitat: The more trees we have on our landscape, the more diversity of wildlife we´ll have. Bird poop provides one of the best sources of phosphate, and by increasing the trees on your land, you will benefit from a free source of fertility.

    Stacked Polycultures

    Perennial agricultural systems also allow for a more diversified production through stacked polycultures. This fancy permaculture term refers to growing different layers of perennial crops in one diversified system. Small Central American, indigenous farmers have been growing stacked polyculture systems for hundreds of years. The canopy layer of this system is usually made up of large trees such as breadfruit, jackfruit, mango trees, etc. These larger trees are managed to allow enough light into the sub-canopy layer to allow for small trees such as banana, papaya, and others. Below those small trees, perennial crops such as yucca, corn, and beans can be grown sporadically. Turmeric, ginger and taro root can be grown as a root underneath this system.

    Whereas annual agriculture only grows one type of crop, usually a carbohydrate/protein succession, it only takes advantage of one “layer” of the growing possibilities. Stacked polycultures vastly improve production through growing different crops at different layers. While these systems do take time to get established, they offer some of the best opportunities for a productive system that improves the soil and ecosystem health.

    Design Your Own Stacked Polyculture System

    Even if you only have a ¼ acre of land, you can develop your own stacked polyculture. Before going out and planting all sorts of trees and bushes, take the time to design and plan out your system. Ask yourself the following questions:

    1. What types of tree crops grow well in your climate?
    2. Which large trees would offer you a large annual harvest while still allowing enough light for other species to grow?
    3. What types of fruit and nut trees could you plant in the sub-canopy layer?
    4. What species could make up the shrub layer, ground cover layer, root layer, and fungus/mushroom layer of your stacked polyculture?
    5. What are some potential opportunities for mutual benefit between the different species you plan to plant?
    6. What work will you need to do during the establishment period?
    7. How long will it take before the system is established and producing?

    Restoration Agriculture

    In temperate climates, one of the best examples of a perennial, tree-based agriculture is the concept of Restoration Agriculture as developed by Mark Sheppard of New Forest Farm in Wisconsin. Sheppard was convinced that instead of relying on annual carbohydrate crops such as corn and what that were ruining the land, perennial growing nut crops such as chestnuts and hazelnuts could provide our industrial food system with a staple carbohydrate crop that was healthier and more ecologically beneficial.

    Sheppard has developed a restoration agricultural system on his own farm where he combines a diversity of fruit and nut trees planted on contour. In between his chestnut and apple tree rows, he grazes pigs and other livestock on pasture. According to his website, “Over the last 15 years, Mark has planted an estimated 250,000 trees on his 106-acre farm. He uses agroforestry systems and alley cropping and silvopasture techniques. The main crops are chestnuts, hazelnuts, and apples. He also grows walnuts, hickories, pine nuts, and pears, together with cherry trees, asparagus and winter squash. Cattle, pigs, lambs, turkeys, and chickens also roam on the restored savannahs at New Forest Farm.

    Restoration agriculture systems intend on mimicking the different natural systems that are found in the region. In the case of New Forest Farm, the oak savannah ecosystem is what Sheppard tries to imitate through his diverse plantings.

    Related

    Popular

    https://permaculturenews.org/2017/11/27/importance-tree-crops-sustainable-agriculture/

    On – 27 Nov, 2017 By Tobias Roberts

  • Permaculture on the Farm: Lessons of Resilience – Women Who Farm

    Permaculture on the Farm: Lessons of Resilience – Women Who Farm

     

    Permaculture on the Farm: Lessons of Resilience

    By Rain Parker of Eight Owls Farmstead

     

     

    There is a reason that my kale used to always grow slowly and get its best bits chewed on by aphids or caterpillars. Sure, it was in part because I don’t spray a single chemical on it to enhance its growth rate. I’d rather have holes from caterpillars than poison on my food, so I don’t fog it out to protect it from pests. That being said, these days I firmly believe that there were even more reasons for its slow growth.

     

    I used to plant kale in straight rows all by its lonesome. I stripped it of its protective layer of ground cover when I weeded down to bare soil. I didn’t know to give it a support team of friends who all had a function to serve my kale. I didn’t know how much my annual plants would like to be nestled between established perennials, elders who hold the soil firm and strong around them while they establish their young roots. Plants like to be on contour so they can soak up all the water they desire. They need a system that is designed for them to survive and thrive… and not suffer or get sick. They need community and support too… just like we humans do.

     

    I was a slow learner. I didn’t take a permaculture class until my fourth summer of learning to be the farmer. Even after that, it took a couple years to sink in. I just kept weeding. I kept sowing my kale all in the same straight rows. I didn’t give it any functional friends or an option of self-care. Though they say kale is so easy to grow… mine was always stunted, sad, and covered in bugs.

     

    No more! I learned my lesson. I love you kale. I aspire to be a permaculture farmer. So, I won’t weed to bare soil again. I get it. I’ll keep all the weeds that are helping you and slowly work in the ground covers, diggers, nitrogen fixers, and pest control friends you need. I can just about swear to all things holy I won’t forget again, now that I’ve got a visual example of just how poorly things grow all on their own and with no protection or support.

     

    Watch the video below from Eight Owls Farmstead about breaking weeding habits!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIvg-GuS50Y

     

    I see some commonalities between all of us humans and the kale. I see that we all got sown in the same straight, chemical sprayed row, and separated from each other by deep furrows. (See… how I always manage to relate like every single thing, back to food, permaculture, or organics? I love that.)

     

    In this farmer’s opinion, we are all facing an interesting and challenging time. I look around and see a lot of environmental issues popping up on our planet. I see a lot of problems in the way we’ve been taught to eat and to handle our health care. I see that the focus is often placed on making more money than we actually need and not on making more of a difference. I see a lack of access to affordable organic food for people of all sorts, and a lack of knowledge on how to grow and cook it well. I see communities of people clashing against each other because they are different.

     

    Yet, me being me, I also see humans’ amazing potential to come together and grow…companion planting style. I see how using permaculture techniques can make such big change in our lives and communities. It’s a design system that allows us to exist within nature and our communities in a very different way. I see how much our planet needs us to embrace those techniques, even if we were taught very differently. I see how much can be done in small, marginal, or neglected spaces by people that are excited to grow. I see farmers and foragers, like the two owners of my educational farm, that are willing to share knowledge without wrecking impassioned student’s already thin wallets.

     

    A very un-permacultured system tried to bury me in GMO food and plant me behind a television screen, but it didn’t know I was a seed. And while I may have had a long stratification time, I finally germinated. For this lady that so needed to sprout, I found freezing wasn’t the only way for me to stratify. Being unhappy and overweight can go a long way with pushing that seed to grow…leaner, stronger, and more confident too.

     

    If the lady I was can germinate and grow, I believe anyone can. There is a system that tries to bury us all, but that system doesn’t know we are all seeds. What amount of unrest, injustice, unhappiness, and unhealthiness will it take for us to stand up and sprout? Can we come together, right now, and live in a different way. I firmly believe that we can do anything that we are passionate about and willing to work for. And for me, it sure does feel like the time is just right for that to occur.

     

    “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”

    –Socrates

     

    eightowlsblog2-3

    About The Author: Rain Parker is the co-owner of Eight Owls Farmstead, a women owned homestead that focuses on sharing our story about what organic and wild food means to us, now that we are a collective 225 pounds lighter than we were when we started! The homestead was established in 2012 and does three things. We share information on growing, raising, and foraging your own food, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and host educational events and workshops. We grow, forage and sell no spray and non-GMO produce and food. And in our massive amount of downtime on the farm since it is so calm around here, we also make and sell wild crafted art supplies and functional art.

    Check out Eight Owls educational permaculture homestead website: www.eightowlsfarmstead.com 

    Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EightOwlsFarm

     

    http://www.womenwhofarm.com/sown-in-the-same-row/

    On – 14 Nov, 2017 By

  • Bachelor Bess: The Homesteading Letters of Elizabeth Corey, 1909-1919 (American Land & Life)

    Bachelor Bess: The Homesteading Letters of Elizabeth Corey, 1909-1919 (American Land & Life)

    This entry is in the series Best Personal Memoir Books

    In July 1909 twenty-one-year-old Elizabeth Corey left her Iowa farm to stake her claim to a South Dakota homestead. Over the next ten years, as she continued her schoolteaching career and carved out a home for herself in this inhospitable territory, she sent a steady stream of letters to her family back in Iowa. From…;

    University Of Iowa PressPrice: $40.00 $33.00 Free Shipping

    In July 1909 twenty-one-year-old Elizabeth Corey left her Iowa farm to stake her claim to a South Dakota homestead. Over the next ten years, as she continued her schoolteaching career and carved out a home for herself in this inhospitable territory, she sent a steady stream of letters to her family back in Iowa. From the edge of modern America, Bess wrote long, gossipy accounts—”our own continuing adventure story,” according to her brother Paul—of frontier life on the high plains west of the Missouri River. Irrepressible, independent-minded, and evidently fearless, the self-styled Bachelor Bess gives us a firsthand, almost daily account of her homesteading adventures. We can all stake a claim in her energetic letters.

    Used Book in Good Condition

    Full Customer Reviews:

  • Homemade Raw Cat Food Recipes • New Life On A Homestead | Homesteading Blog

    Homemade Raw Cat Food Recipes • New Life On A Homestead | Homesteading Blog

    homemade cat food recipes featured

    Raw feeding for cats and dogs is becoming increasingly popular, and for good reason. With commercial cat food containing everything from indigestible grains to contaminated ingredients to harmful additives, a raw, species-appropriate diet is really the best way forward.

    The Benefits of Raw Feeding Your Cat

    Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that they should only be eating meat, and not much else. However, not only does commercial cat food usually contain no more than a 3-4% meat, this tends to be a by-product, meaning that there is not much nutrition to it.

    By switching to a raw food diet, you will soon notice your cat beginning to look and feel better. Here are a few of the benefits:

    • A shinier coat and healthier skin
    • Clean, white teeth and better breath
    • Smaller, less smelly, stools
    • Better immune system
    • Easier weight management
    • Improved digestion
    • Higher gut acidity, which is better for destroying pathogens
    • More energy
    • Less allergies
    • Better overall health

    One of the other benefits that is often not mentioned is hydration. Cats have a high thirst drive, but are not naturally good at drinking enough water. The reason for this is because cats are designed to obtain their main source of water from their food, since 70% of whole prey, be it a mouse, a rabbit or a bird, is made up of water.

    By switching to a raw diet, your cat will get most of its water intake from food, and will be able to stay hydrated much better.

    Take a look at this video, which features top vet Dr. Karen Becker, discussing the benefits:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3wLTlqnMMg

    Here is another video in which seven vets discuss the benefits :

    Raw Feeding Risks

    One of the main issues that people have with raw diets for pets is that it could pose a health risk to humans, but preparing raw food for your cat is no different to preparing meat for humans. Good hygiene and cleanliness needs to be practiced for both, such as washing your cat’s bowl after each meal, and cleaning surfaces after meat has been on them.

    When it comes to health risks, salmonella is one that people worry about. However, salmonella is found in the GI tract of 18% of cats, no matter what they eat. It is naturally present in the environment, and naturally shed through their feces and saliva, even if they are on a dry food diet.

    In fact, there have been more recalls for dry pet food due to dangerous levels of salmonella than their have for raw food.

    There are quite a few other raw feeding myths out there, and it’s worthwhile familiarizing yourself with these at the beginning of your raw journey.

    Here are a few common questions:

    Many veterinarians are against raw diets for cats, shouldn’t you be listening to them?

    Those same veterinarians have also likely undergone little training in pet nutrition. Those who have, such as qualified pet nutritionists, are much more likely to be aware of the advantages that a raw diet has.

    Many veterinarians also tend to see a large number of owners feed an unbalanced raw diet, resulting in a malnourished cat. This is why it is important to educate yourself before starting out, to ensure you are providing your cat a healthy, balanced diet.

    Won’t your cat choke on bones?

    No, but the important point to emphasize here is that the bones need to be raw. Cooked bones splinter when chewed, causing everything from choking to intestinal punctures. However, when raw bones are chewed, they have clean edges, which are then worn down into smooth surfaces by your cat’s stomach acid, meaning that they don’t cause any damage as they travel through the body.

    Don’t cats live longer on a cooked diet?

    Commercial diets have only been around for 50 years or so, and, in that same time, there has been a significant rise in obesity, diabetes and cancer in cats. The connection between the two cannot be ignored, especially when you take a look at how much healthier raw fed cats tend to be.

    This video will talk you through a few other raw feeding myths:

    Raw Diets vs Cooked Diets

    While cooked diets can be better than commercial diets, raw diets still tend to surpass cooked diets.

    One reason for this is that the process of cooking transforms the nutrients found in meat, altering their composition and making them less bio-available to your cat.

    Cooking also degrades the nutrients, meaning that you lose out on so many amino acids, vitamins and minerals, which would have otherwise been present in the meat in its raw form.

    In order to compensate for the deficiencies of a cooked diet, you would need to add in a number of different supplements, and this then becomes really difficult to properly balance out.

    Figuring Out the Daily Amounts

    Before you can work out how much food you need to feed your cat each day, you need to know his or her weight.

    A simple way to weigh your cat, especially if they don’t stay on the scale by themselves is to weigh yourself first. Then, pick your cat up and weigh the two of you together. Subtract your weight from the weight of both of you, and you’re left with your cat’s weight.

    Generally, you should be feeding your cat between 2-4% of their body weight each day, although you can double this if you are feeding a kitten, up until a year old. It is usually best to stick with two meals for an adult cat, and four meals for a kitten.

    If your cat is overweight, start with 2% until the weight has dropped down to an ideal level, after which you can increase it slowly, until you find a percentage that maintains your cats ideal weight.

    If your cat is extremely active and lean, go with 4%.

    If you are not sure, start with 3%, and adjust this up and down when needed. Ideally, you should be able to feel your cat’s ribs, but not see them, and this should give you a good indication of whether or not you need to feed more or less.

    Since you will likely be feeding your cat twice a day, you need to divide this daily amount by two, in order to work out how much you need to feed each meal.

    When it comes to what actually makes up your cat’s raw meals, here is the breakdown:

    • 83% of their meal needs to be meat
    • 7% of their meal needs to be bone
    • 5% of their meal needs to be liver
    • 5% of their meal needs to be another secreting organ

    Keep in mind that when you are feeding a bone, there is still going to be some meat attached to it, meaning that the weight of that bone would account for some of the meat requirements, as well as the bone requirements.

    Here are some guidelines when it comes to understanding how much of each bone is actually bone:

    Bone Type Actual Bone Content in %
    Chicken neck, with skin 36%
    Chicken neck, without skin 75%
    Chicken back 44%
    Chicken foot 60%
    Chicken rib cages 88%
    Chicken wing 46%
    Duck neck 50%
    Duck wing 39%
    Whole rabbit, with pelt 10%
    Whole rabbit, without pelt 28%
    Pork and lamb ribs 45%

    Here is an example of what it all means:

    If your cat weighs 11lbs (5kg) and is already at an ideal weight, then 3% of their body weight would be 150g. This is the amount you would need to feed each day:

    83% of 5,29 oz or 150 g needs to be meat, which works out to 4.39 oz or 124.5 g.

    7% of 5,29 oz or 150 g needs to be bone, which works out to 0.37 oz or 10.5 g.

    5% of 5,29 oz or 150 g needs to be liver, which works out to 0.26 oz or 7.5 g.

    5% of 5,29 oz or 150 g needs to be another organ, which works out to 0.26 oz or 7.5 g.

    If you were to include a chicken wing, which has 46% bone, into their meal, and it weighs 100g, then this means that 46g of that chicken wing is bone, and the remaining 54g would count as meat.

    While the recipes below do take these percentages into account, it is still important to understand them for yourself, especially if you plan on adapting the recipes.

    These calculations can seem confusing at first, and do end up putting many off raw feeding. However, once you have done them, you will likely not need to do them again, and, even if you do, raw feeding will have quickly become second nature by then.

    It is also important to remember that all of these percentages are just guidelines. As you get more accustomed to raw feeding, you will end up adjusting these to suit the needs of your individual cat.

    dog and cat

    Already Raw Feeding a Dog?

    If you already raw feed a dog, you will likely already be aware of the 80/10/5/5 guidelines. The reason why the guidelines for cats is slightly different is because the prey that cats would naturally catch would not be the same as dogs. For example, rodents contain just 5% bone and 4% liver, while rabbits contain less than 10% bone and 4% liver, and birds are even lower in both bone and organ content.

    Another difference between raw feeding cats and dogs is that cats, unlike dogs, cannot create taurine in their bodies, so you do need to be aware of the differing taurine contents in certain meats. This will be explained in more detail further down.

    Transitioning Your Cat to a Raw Diet

    To Grind or Not To Grind?

    If you are transitioning a kitten to a raw diet, then chances are that this will be extremely easy. Usually, the younger the cat, the quicker they will adapt, and they seem to instinctively know what their body needs.

    However, when it comes to adult cats, this can be slightly trickier…

    If your cat is currently eating kibble, you have a couple of options. Kibble is like junk food to cats, so the majority do not easily switch straight over to raw.

    Instead, you can either move him over from kibble to a canned food, and then begin swapping parts of this out for a ground up raw food.

    Alternatively, you can start mixing his kibble in with the ground up raw food, gradually reducing the amount of kibble that you include, until you can completely cut it out.

    While it may be tempting to practice tough love, and simply not feed your cat anything else until he eats the raw food, this is something that you should never do. Cats have a unique predisposition to contracting hepatic lipidosis, which is a form of liver failure that can occur if the cat does not eat for 24 hours.

    This means that you must make the transition to raw at your cat’s own pace, rather than trying to rush him through it.

    Here are a few other tips that you can try out to encourage your cat to eat the raw food:

    • Drizzle it with some of the juice from a can of tuna
    • Mix in a small amount of grated cheese
    • Crumble some dried liver over the top
    • Sprinkle some crushed kibble, or any other treat that your cat loves, over the top

    If you already prepare meat to cook at home for human consumption, there is nothing wrong with offering different cuts of meat to your cat to try. You may find that your cat absolutely adores a certain protein, which means this is the protein to begin with when transitioning your cat.

    cat eating raw cat food

    To Grind or Not To Grind?

    Grinding raw food is one of the most popular ways of raw feeding cats, and this is because the final texture is similar to that of the canned foods that cats are already accustomed to, making for an easy transition to the raw version.

    This is also a great way to feed elderly cats, who may be missing a few teeth.

    However, the fact that ground food does not require any chewing is also a downside to younger cats, as the chewing and tearing of the meat, and the crunching of the bones, is a great way to keep their teeth clean.

    Grinding can also degrade quite a few nutrients within the meat, so, if this is how you are going to feed the recipes below, you will need to add in a few extra supplements. Scroll down to the Supplements section for more.

    cat eating grinded food

    Raw Cat Food Recipes

    The recipes below are designed to be served up as small chunks, or even larger chunks if your cat enjoys working for his food.

    Keep in mind that the bones that cats are able to eat are quite limited, and, for some of the proteins mentioned below, such as beef, there are no bones that would be suitable for a cat. In those cases, the bones have been replaced with alternatives.

    When it comes to adding water into each of these recipes, this depends on whether or not you feel your cat could do with the extra hydration. It also depends on the consistency of food that your cat prefers – if he likes it wetter and sloppier, then definitely add in some extra water.

    All of these recipes make around 1kg of food. The number of days that this will last for depends on the amount that you will be feeding your cat each day. You may find it more convenient, as well as cost-effective, to double or triple these batches when making them.

    Recipe 1: Chicken-Based

    Ingredients

    • 350g chicken thigh meat
    • 200g chicken heart
    • 50g chicken gizzard
    • 300g chicken neck, with skin
    • 50g chicken liver
    • 50g chicken kidney
    • 50g sardines
    • 1 raw chicken egg
    • Water (optional)

    Method

    • Chop all of the ingredients up into chunks, leaving the thigh meat as larger chunks and the offal into smaller chunks
    • Place everything into a large bowl or bucket and mix in the egg.
    • Weigh out what your cat needs on a daily basis and then portion this up into containers.

    Recipe 2: Beef-Based

    • 200g beef steak
    • 200g beef mince (make sure this contains no additives, such as salt or onions)
    • 100g beef lips
    • 100g beef tongue
    • 100g beef heart
    • 200g chicken wing
    • 50g beef liver
    • 50g beef spleen
    • 50g sardines
    • 1 raw duck egg
    • Water (optional)

    Method

    • Slice the steak, tongue, lung and heart.
    • Chop the chicken wings into two or three pieces each.
    • Chop the liver and spleen into small chunks.
    • Place everything into a large bowl or bucket and mix in the egg.
    • Weigh out what your cat needs on a daily basis and then portion this up into containers.

    Recipe 3: Lamb-Based

    Ingredients

    • 200g lamb leg meat
    • 200g lamb shoulder meat
    • 100g lamb lung
    • 200g lamb heart
    • 200g chicken back
    • 50g lamb liver
    • 50g lamb kidney
    • 50g sprats
    • 4 quail eggs
    • Water (optional)

    Method

    • Chop the leg, shoulder, heart and sprats into chunks.
    • Hack the chicken back into slivers that would be an easy size for your cat to chew on
    • Chop the liver and kidney into small chunks.
    • Place everything into a large bowl or bucket and mix in the eggs.
    • Weigh out what your cat needs on a daily basis and then portion this up into containers.

    Recipe 4: Pork-Based

    Feeding raw pork to cats can be quite a controversial topic, with some believing it is dangerous, but others believing the opposite. This also depends on where you live, as pork from different parts of the world can carry different parasites. If you are unsure about feeding pork, do some extra research on pork from your area, and speak to other local raw feeders to see what information they may have.

    Ingredients

    • 200g pork loin
    • 200g pork leg meat
    • 100g pork cheek
    • 300g pork mince
    • 100g chicken rib cage
    • 50g pork liver
    • 50g pork testicles
    • 50g mackerel
    • 1 chicken egg
    • Water (optional)

    Method

    • Cut the rib cages into bite-sized pieces.
    • Chop the pork meat and mackerel into chunks.
    • Chop the liver and testicles into smaller chunks.
    • Place everything into a large bowl or bucket and mix in the eggs.
    • Weigh out what your cat needs on a daily basis and then portion this up into containers.

    Recipe 5: Rabbit-Based

    Rabbits can often be purchased whole but gutted, along with their fur, which many believe acts as a natural wormer.

    Whole rabbits weigh a couple of kilograms each, and, if you are able to purchase a whole rabbit, all you really need to do is chop the whole thing up into bite-sized pieces. You could also ask a local butcher to break the rabbit down for you.

    This is an example of feeding whole prey, which will be explained in more detail further down.

    Recipe 6: Turkey-Based

    Ingredients

    • 400g turkey thigh meat
    • 100g turkey breast meat
    • 200g turkey heart
    • 200g chicken back
    • 50g turkey liver
    • 50g turkey kidney
    • 50g sardines
    • 1 duck egg
    • Water (optional)

    Method

    • Cut the chicken back into bite-sized pieces.
    • Chop the turkey meat and mackerel into large chunks.
    • Chop the liver and kidney into smaller chunks.
    • Place everything into a large bowl or bucket and mix in the egg.
    • Weigh out what your cat needs on a daily basis and then portion this up into containers.

    cat eating fish

    Feeding Fish

    While many people believe that fish should make up a large part of a cat’s diet, this is not actually true. While fish does contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, making them essential, this should still be kept to a minimum.

    One reason for this is due to the toxins and pollutants that are found in fish, as well as the antibiotics. To avoid this, opt for wild fish rather than farmed fish.

    Sardines or sprats tend to be one of the best varieties to feed, and this can be both fresh or canned. If you are opting for the canned version, make sure you check the salt levels before feeding, and pick the ones that have been preserved in water rather than oil or a sauce.

    If you would prefer not to feed fish, you can replace the fish in these recipes with a drop of fish oil a day. Make sure that you do not forget to replace the weight of the fish with a meat alternative.

    Adapting Recipes and Mixing Proteins 

    Each of the recipes mentioned above can be adapted based on what meat you have available to you.

    Once you understand how much meat, bone and offal your cat needs, you can mix and match to your heart’s desire.

    Here are some ideas of other cuts of meat, offal and bone that you could feed:

    Meat Offal Bone
    Heart Liver Wings
    Tongue Kidney Ribs
    Lung Pancreas Necks
    Fillets Testicles Carcass
    Off cuts Brain
    Cheek Spleen
    Trachea
    Gizzard
    Brisket
    Penis
    Green tripe

    In addition to making up batches of cat food in advance, you also have the option of measuring out what your cat needs on a daily basis. You can then split this up into two meals.

    For example, the bowl in the image below contains:

    • A chicken foot (keep in mind that this may be too hard for some cats to chew)
    • Turkey chunks
    • Beef heart chunks
    • Lamb leg off-cuts
    • A quail egg
    • Homemade kefir for probiotics

    The evening meal will consist of lamb liver, beef kidney, and some chicken chunks.

    While this style of feeding does mean that your cat would be able to enjoy more variety on a daily basis, It would only really work if you are able to always have some defrosted bone, offal and meat in your fridge.

    However, if your cat is quite a picky eater, this can be a great way to work out exactly what he actually likes, so that you can base your meals around those proteins.

    Feeding Whole Prey

    Feeding whole prey is exactly what it sounds like – feeding whole animals. This is as close as you can get to a cat’s natural diet, containing the ideal balance of everything a cat needs, and requires little to no preparation.

    Here are some examples of whole prey that you can feed, feather and fur included:

    • Mice and rats
    • Quail
    • Day old chicks and ducklings
    • Hamsters
    • Rabbits
    • Partridge
    • Guinea pigs
    • Chicks
    • Ducklings
    • Small fish

    How to Store Raw Cat Food

    When putting together raw cat food, it’s always easier to do this in large batches. However, as with all raw meat, it cann’t be stored for more than a few days in the fridge.

    This is where your freezer comes in. Simply store two days’ worth of cat food in your fridge, and each time you take a box out, replace it with a box from the freezer, so that it has defrosted by the time you need it.

    If you bought a large piece of meat, such as a whole lamb’s liver, and only need a small portion of it to create your batch, there is nothing wrong with defrosting it, taking what you need, and then re-freezing it. The only thing that this will affect is the texture, which is why humans do not tend to do this.

    raw food with supplements

    Adding Supplements

    Many raw feeders add supplements into their cat’s food, and this is something that only you will be able to decide for yourself with more research.

    If you are feeding a balanced diet, with a variety of different proteins, as well as some whole prey, then supplements will not generally be needed.

    If you are choosing not to feed fish, then you will need to feed a fish oil instead. While omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids used to be found in beef and poultry, this is no longer the case, unless you are able to source solely grass-fed proteins. When it comes to choosing a fish oil, go for a salmon oil or a small fish oil. Stay away from cod liver oil, as this contains too much vitamin A, especially since you are already feeding liver.

    Taurine is another supplement that is commonly added in to raw cat food. This is a type of amino acid that is essential when it comes to your cat’s health. Taurine can be found in just about every muscle meat, and, generally, the harder working the muscle, the more taurine it contains. This is why heart is included in every recipe above.

    Grinding your cat’s food causes the taurine in meat to oxidize, decreasing the amount that is available to your cat. For this reason, if you grind your cat’s food, it would be wise to add in some extra taurine. Do not worry about overdoing this, because any excess taurine will simply be expelled in your cat’s urine.

    One final supplement that you may wish to add is a probiotic. These boost the immune system and aid in so many different parts of your cat’s health.

    Of course, there are plenty of other natural supplements out there for different health issues. From arthritis to lack of energy, if your cat does have a specific issue that you would like to address, it would be worth looking into the various supplements available.

    Substituting Bone for Calcium Supplements

    There is nothing that can really replace the goodness that real bones can bring, especially since they contain the ideal ratio of calcium to phosphorous. However, if for some reason you cannot feed bone for a while, there are a couple of calcium supplements that you could try.

    Bone meal is one of the most common, but make sure that you buy the version formulated for human consumption, rather than for in the garden.

    Crushed eggshells are also a great calcium source, but be wary of using store-bought eggshells, as these may have been bleached or chemically sprayed. If you have laying poultry on your homestead, then you already have a great calcium supplement freely available to you.

    This video will talk you through how to make eggshell powder:

    However, keep in mind that this is only advisable for a short term period, and you need to switch back to feeding bone, even if it is in its ground up form, as soon as possible.

    Keeping an Eye on Stool

    Your cat’s stools can tell you so much about their diet and health, which is why it is important to keep a close eye on this, especially when transitioning them to a new diet.

    If your cat seems to be constipated, and is producing stools that are white and crumbly, then this is an indication that you have fed too much bone. Feed a boneless meal for the next meal, and the stools should go back to normal.

    If your cat’s stools are loose, runny and dark in color, then this is an indication that you have fed too much offal or heart. While some cats can tolerate a large amount of heart in their diet, others cannot, so this is something that will need to be adjusted based on your individual cat.

    Should You Be Including Fruits and Vegetables?

     As mentioned above, cats are obligate carnivores, which means that they do not need any fruits and vegetables in their diet. They also have a difficult time digesting them, so you should really try to avoid feeding these as much as possible.

    However, if your cat has taken a particular liking to a fruit or vegetable, this will not do any harm when fed on occasion, as long as you have checked that that particular food is safe to feed to cats.

    Treats and Snacks for Raw Fed Cats

    Even though you feed your cat a raw diet, you can still use commercial treats on occasion. However, these do contain additives and other harmful ingredients, so, if you are wanting to pay extra attention to your cat’s health and nutrition, it would be best to avoid these.

    However, if you are able to find commercial cat treats that contain nothing but meat, then this should be no problem, but make sure that you are aware of the meat’s origin.

    Alternatively, you could try making your own treats at home. If you have a dehydrator, you are likely already aware of how to dehydrate meat. Simply cut the meat into thin slices, dehydrate them, and feed them to your cat as a treat.

    If you do not have a dehydrator, you could dehydrate meat in your oven, keeping it on at its lowest temperature, with the door slightly ajar so that moisture can escape.

    Here’s how to dehydrate some simple chicken treats:

    Where to Source Your Meat From

    Initially, many people tend to find raw feeding more expensive, but, once you get into the swing of things, you will learn how to source your meat for cheaper.

    Local butchers will often have off cuts, as well as bones, that they are willing to give away for free, as will local farmers and hunters. Hunters in particular could be a great source of whole prey for your cat, especially rabbits.

    There are also more and more raw suppliers popping up all over the world. They will not only sell everything that you need to put together a homemade raw diet for your cat, but will also sell complete mixes, meaning that all the hard work will have already been done for you. While these are more costly, they are great for those days when you have run out of cat food but do not have the time to whip up another batch.

    Learn Even More

    Raw feeding can be intimidating to begin with, and there is no denying that there is so much to learn. In fact, even seasoned raw feeders are constantly learning.

    While most veterinarians are trained when it comes to raw feeding, pet nutritionists will, so if you would like some advice tailored to your individual cat, it’s worth contacting one.

    There are also plenty of books out there that will teach you more about cat nutrition. If you would prefer to watch something rather than read, take a look at the Netflix documentary called Pet Fooled, as this will teach you so much about the dark side of the pet food industry.

    Finally, don’t dismiss the power of social media. There are so many raw feeding groups and forums out there, and these are moderated by raw feeders who have so many years of experience. These are always so useful when you have an urgent question that needs answering, or if you would simply like to find a mentor to help you along the way.

    Summary

    Being the closest thing to a completely natural diet, raw feeding will do so much good for your cat. While there is so much to learn, do not feel overwhelmed, as it will not be long before you begin to get the hang of things.

    Post a comment below if you have any questions about raw feeding, or would like to know more about tailoring a raw diet to your cat’s individual needs.

    Disclaimer: Neither the author nor New Life On a Homestead shall be held liable for the negative effects that result from using the advice in this article. Before employing any of the advice in this article, please contact your pet’s veterinarian.

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    On – 25 Nov, 2017 By Alina J

  • Stunning DIY Cottage-Style Tiny House

    Stunning DIY Cottage-Style Tiny House


    Shaye and Tom’s Tiny House is nothing short of spectacular. Nestled amongst the bush in West Auckland, New Zealand it fits perfectly into it’s landscape, and feels light, spacious and warm. It’s obviously a house that has been built with love.

    There are not too many Tiny House’s in New Zealand, and this was our first chance to visit one that’s already being lived in and get a feel for what the space may be like in our own Tiny House.

    We have filmed an update video with Shaye & Tom! Check it out here. http://youtu.be/CRlTognWi8k

    To follow our Tiny House Journey, please subscribe and also find us on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/livingbiginatinyhouse

    To find out more about Shaye and Tom’s Tiny House & Earth Building Adventures, make sure you check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/diyhousebuilding

  • Homesteading Handbook vol. 5 Food Drying: How to Dry Vegetables (Homesteading Handbooks)

    Homesteading Handbook vol. 5 Food Drying: How to Dry Vegetables (Homesteading Handbooks)

    Do You Want to Learn How to Preserve Vegetables by Drying Them?The Homesteading Handbook vol. 5 provides step-by-step instructions on how to dry many of the most popular dried vegetables found in stores. You dehydrate vegetables yourself at home for pennies on the dollar compared to what they’d cost when you buy them dried. The…;

    Do You Want to Learn How to Preserve Vegetables by Drying Them?

    The Homesteading Handbook vol. 5 provides step-by-step instructions on how to dry many of the most popular dried vegetables found in stores. You dehydrate vegetables yourself at home for pennies on the dollar compared to what they’d cost when you buy them dried.

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  • CONFESSION: I DON’T ACTUALLY LIKE HOMESTEADING | Do It Yourself

    CONFESSION: I DON’T ACTUALLY LIKE HOMESTEADING | Do It Yourself

    Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/2tdla40
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    Jesse and I moved to Idaho to start our homestead a year and a half ago and I have to confess… I don’t actually enjoy the day-to-day life of homesteading. Not the homesteading most people think about… the homesteading that nobody talks about which is what building a house from scratch looks like. However, I continue to do these things anyways. Why? Find out in the video.

    ENJOY THIS VIDEO? SUPPORT US WITHOUT PAYING A DIME!
    It takes us 40+ hours a week to document our journey on both our blog and our YouTube channel. If you enjoy watching our videos and want to help us to produce more of them, learn how you can help us without spending a dime! http://purelivingforlife.com/support/

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    On – 23 Nov, 2017 By

  • TEN Things They Don’t Tell You About Homesteading

    TEN Things They Don’t Tell You About Homesteading

    Here they are, folks! Before you dive in, here’s what you need to know!
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    On – 19 Nov, 2017 By

  • Sepp Holzer’s Permaculture: A Practical Guide to Small-Scale, Integrative Farming and Gardening

    Sepp Holzer’s Permaculture: A Practical Guide to Small-Scale, Integrative Farming and Gardening

    This entry is in the series Best Permaculture Reference Books

    Sepp Holzer farms steep mountainsides in Austria 1,500 meters above sea level. His farm is an intricate network of terraces, raised beds, ponds, waterways and tracks, well covered with productive fruit trees and other vegetation, with the farmhouse neatly nestling amongst them. This is in dramatic contrast to his neighbors’ spruce monocultures.In this book, Holzer…;

    Chelsea Green PublishingPrice: $29.95 $15.74 Free Shipping

    Sepp Holzer farms steep mountainsides in Austria 1,500 meters above sea level. His farm is an intricate network of terraces, raised beds, ponds, waterways and tracks, well covered with productive fruit trees and other vegetation, with the farmhouse neatly nestling amongst them. This is in dramatic contrast to his neighbors’ spruce monocultures.In this book, Holzer shares the skill and knowledge acquired over his lifetime. He covers every aspect of his farming methods, not just how to create a holistic system on the farm itself, but how to make a living from it. Holzer writes about everything from the overall concepts, down to the practical details.In Sepp Holzer’s Permaculturereaders will learn:

    • How he sets up a permaculture system
    • The fruit varieties he has found best for permaculture growing
    • How to construct terraces, ponds, and waterways
    • How to build shelters for animals and how to work with them on the land
    • How to cultivate edible mushrooms in the garden and on the farm
    • and much more!

    Holzer offers a wealth of information for the gardener, smallholder or alternative farmer yet the book’s greatest value is the attitudes it teaches. He reveals the thinking processes based on principles found in nature that create his productive systems. These can be applied anywhere.

    Sepp Holzer s Permaculture A Practical Guide to Small Scale Integrative Farming and Gardening

    Full Customer Reviews:

  • Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner — Under A Tin Roof™

    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner — Under A Tin Roof™

    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner

    Hey there! Well, I was not planning on doing a post like this, but here we are. I have actually read quite a few similar posts to this one, where you get a monthly look at what happens on the homestead, and I always find them really helpful. They’re kind of a simple overview on how the whole year looks without handling the hairy details; I think they help me out because I love lists! I especially love handwritten lists. I must remember things better when I write them down! The reason I did not want to share a list like this is because my entire plan for the spring of 2018 was to have a completely free garden start up course ready for my readers! It was going to be awesome… until I realized that I didn’t really have all of the photos I wanted for that. As a first year homesteader myself, I had not really planned to teach anyone else how to do it. I documented quite a bit about what we did within our tiny garden, with our chickens, etc this year… but I didn’t really get down to the detailed photos needed to teach someone else what exactly do. Oops!

    With that in mind, this upcoming season (we may be on a tiny farm instead!!) I plan to take all of the photos and notes necessary to get that free online course underway. I am really excited about it! It’s going to be super fun, full of great advice and tips, and you can access it at any time without paying a single dime. Really fun! For now, while the 2017 growing season dwindles down and we all start to settle in for the winter, I wanted to put together a list of homesteading skills together here on the blog. It will walk you through the entire year, month to month, with certain ideas, skills, and to-dos that you would want to get done during that time of year. Of course, I live in Iowa, so if you live in a different part of the country or even the world, then this list might look a little different to you. If that is the case, a good rule of thumb is to always base dates and timelines off of your average annual first and last frost dates. To find those, you can click HERE.

    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog

    Are you ready to get started on your homestead journey? I started our first large scale vegetable garden last spring, bought a small flock of chickens, and began a journey that has changed our family’s entire lives. We once lived an average American’s life: we ate food that came in boxed, plastic packages from the grocery store, had no idea what seasonal eating looked like, ate a lot of meat and cheese, knew nothing about the care and keeping of livestock animals, and did not know the incredible amount of hard work caring for your food can take. While the work is daunting and overwhelming at times, it is also the most rewarding work that you can ever do. Working for your meal, knowing where it comes from and what it has been fed or sprayed with, will change your life. I promise it will! The best part? Anyone can do this! You don’t have to have acres upon acres of land, a degree, or even a green thumb. All you need is a good notebook, a curious mind, and a body full of passion to get started.

    This list of monthly tasks on the homestead is meant for beginners. If you are already a homesteader, then you might find this list a little boring, but you may also find something new within it as well! I am walking through this entire year as if you have never done any of the following tasks, like growing a garden or raising backyard chickens. I hope you enjoy!

    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog

    January

    • Grab your notebook and favorite pen and get to dreaming! Now is the time to start planning, researching, and budgeting your new dream. Homesteading is not cheap, so be sure to budget accordingly throughout the year. The initial costs will all come in the spring, when you begin planting and welcoming in livestock.
    • Find some good books to help teach you! Some of my favorite include:
    1. A Kid’s Guide to Keeping Chickens by Melissa Caughey (perfect for a brand new chicken owner)
    2. The New American Herbal by Stephen Orr (all about the medicinal and culinary constituents of various herbs)
    3. Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden by Erin Benzakein (how to grow a cut flower garden)
    4. Duck Eggs Daily by Lisa Steele (how to raise backyard ducks for beginners)
    5. Taunton’s Complete Guide to Growing Vegetables + Herbs (if you know absolutely nothing about gardening, pick this up!)
    • Depending on the weather where you live, start gathering supplies and begin building your structures. This could be a greenhouse or a chicken coop!
    • Make your sowing, transplanting, and succession planting schedules. You may also want to begin planning any companion beds!
    • Grow microgreens inside the house.
    • Start a compost pile or a worm bin! 
    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog

    February

    • Order your seeds! Some seed companies start as early as January, so if you are looking at companies that sell specialized/limited seeds, make sure you get them early. Also, don’t be afraid to grab older seeds. Most seed companies market that seeds expire after a year – if they are stored well (out of direct sunlight, high temps, and in an airtight package) then seeds can last 5-10 years! Try using a germination test to see if old seeds are still good.
    • Start early seeds. This will need to be done either in the house or a greenhouse. Early seeds include onions, broccoli, cabbage, kale, collards, kohlrabi, parsley, lettuce, and celery.
    • If you live in a place with snow, wait until it has melted and apply any soil amendments you may have like compost, mulch, or leftover fallen leaves from the past autumn.
    • Begin grabbing chicken supplies like a heat lamp, brood box, feeders and waterers. Make sure the coop is being built now!
    • Enjoy preserves from last year if you have them and begin to dream about what you’ll be growing in the upcoming warm weather!
    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog

    March

    • Start more seeds indoors! Now is the time is start warmer weather crops like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, brassicas (broccoli, kale, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage, kohlrabi), lettuce, green onions, and cool season herbs. Look at your seed packets and match starting time to your zone!
    • If the ground is workable, begin plotting your garden outdoors. Rent your sod cutter, rototiller, and begin cutting.
    • Sow seeds outdoors if the ground is workable. 
    • Order your chicks and bring them home! Prepare their brood box and home for the first 7-8 weeks of life. 
    • Read more garden books to relieve cabin fever! This is the time to get all of the good research in.
    • Purchase a garden journal a begin making notes.
    • You may transplant seeds you started in February at the end of this month, but watch the weather! If there are still predicted frosts, use heavy weighted row covers or hoop tunnels.
    • Prune any established berry bushes and fruit trees.
    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog
    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog

    April

    • Direct sow cool season crops like carrots, turnips, lettuce, arugula, radishes, green onions, spinach, beets, swiss chard, and Asian greens.
    • Start to harden off any larger seedlings you have. This is done by placing the seedlings outdoors in a protected area everyday for a week or two. Transplant them to the ground (kale, chard, collards, broccoli, herbs, etc). 
    • Plant potatoes and onion starter sets.
    • Start warm season seeds like tomatoes, peppers, basil, lavender, sage, thyme, summer + winter squash, melons, beans, and peas.
    • Start flowers! Zinnias, cosmos, foxglove, nasturtium, sunflowers, and more.
    • Let chicks roam around outside for 10-20 minutes a day around 3-4 weeks old if temperatures are in the 60s-70s. You don’t want them to get too cold!
    •  Forage for wild edibles like dandelions, nettles, and clover.
    • Start adding new garden waste and chick manure to your compost pile! Don’t forget to turn it at least twice a week.
    • Mulch around new transplants to retain moisture and suppress weeds. If you’d like to fertilize, now is the time and during active growth in the summer. We garden organically, so I only use compost tea or worm castings! Be gentle on new plantings and their roots.
    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog

    May

    • If you have not already, start warm season crops like summer + winter squash, melons, and herbs.
    • Direct sow more lettuce so you have produce in June – you won’t be able to plant much later than this as the heat will make the lettuce bolt!
    • Transplant any herb starts like lavender, lemon balm, sage, thyme, basil, parsley, etc. These are honestly easier to just purchase rather than start from seed yourself!
    • Harden off other transplants.
    • Transplant any remaining brassicas, squash, tomatoes, peppers, melons.
    • Direct sow radishes for a midsummer harvest.
    • Harvest early spring crops like lettuces, spinach, spring onions, Asian greens, radishes, chard, and kale.
    • Time for the chickens to move! If your chicks/ducklings are between 7-8 weeks old, it’s time for them to transition outdoors to their coop.
    • Begin making a watering schedule. Whether you are watering with a hose or a drip line, make sure you feed those roots! Water in the mornings if you can.
    • Keep an eye out for pests! They start coming late in the month. We practice IPM (integrated pest management and plan to avoid pests rather than spray for them).
    • Transplant or direct sow flowers as companion plants to help attract pollinators!
    • Keep up with weeding. You can do it!
    • Pinch off apple buds that appear in clusters of more than three. If you have blueberries, make sure to not let them over-fruit 
    • Direct sow any warm season crops like peas, beans, and corn.
    • Add any leftover garden scraps to the compost pile or feed them to your chickens/ducks.
    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog
    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog
    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog

    June

    • Transplant any autumn vegetables that you started early like autumn brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc).
    • Begin harvesting from the garden! Lettuces, herbs, radishes, spring onions, kale, chard, and summer squash. Most of these will not be ready until the end of June, especially if you planted in mid May.
    • Harvest garlic scapes and bulbs if ready that were planted last fall. 
    • Place cages over tomatoes and peppers. Place lattice near pole beans, climbing cucumbers and other melons, and nasturtiums.
    • Begin to mulch potatoes or build hills with soil to mound them and get a bigger harvest.
    • Begin canning any spring vegetables.
    • Start autumn/winter transplants in starter trays. You will want to get a head start on broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi NOW!
    • Make sure you are taking note of any changes in the garden in your journal, like your watering schedule, rainfall, weeding, and pest control.
    • Pests will start being terrible now through August. Make sure you are taking all precautions to keep them out of the garden!
    • Make a schedule to let your backyard chickens/duck free range at some point throughout the day. If you live in a residential area, this is usually best done in the evenings before the flock goes to bed so they are easier to round up.
    • Harvest and start drying herbs now. You will have so many! Pinch of flowers if you do not wish herbs to go to seed. They taste better if they do not flower!
    • If you have any plants that continually give (kale, chard, peas, flowers) harvest every day or two. The more you pick, the more you get! Be careful to take only one third of the plant at the time.
    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog
    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog

    July

    • First flower blooms! Start harvesting your flowers at their peak times so they may open and bloom in your vase. Sunflowers should be blooming by now!
    • Harvest your vegetables like broccoli, zucchini, kale, lettuce, and herbs like chamomile, lemon balm, rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley, and young basil.
    • Begin collecting and drying herbs for medicinal uses in the home like salves, teas, tinctures, and compresses.
    • Can or freeze peas, summer squash, and beans. 
    • Begin foraging for wild berries and harvesting your own berry bushes like raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries. Freeze or make some yummy preserves! Bake lots of pie.
    • Summer vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants will start growing flowers which will soon turn into fruit. 
    • Transplant the autumn brassicas you started last month. You may need to plant them under row covers to keep pests away.
    • Mulch and pile potatoes. Harvest early potatoes if you like; these are just small young potatoes that you should eat the day you dig them up.
    • Preserve your many harvests (there will be a lot!) by freezing or canning. You can freeze zucchini in grated or zoodle form for winter soups, stews, and casseroles. Gift vegetables to friends and neighbors!
    • Things will start looking overgrown and messy by the end of the month. Don’t fret! Enjoy the bounty while it lasts, for it will soon be gone.
    • Let chickens eat leftover garden scraps and/or compost them. Don’t forget to turn that pile!
    • Plant any green manure crops in place of other harvested crops that take a lot from the soil like garlic, carrots, and other root vegetables.
    • Continue to pull weeds and manage pests by hand picking. It’s going to start getting hairy!
    • Watch out for hidden cucumbers!
    • Start placing herbs like basil, fennel, dill, lavender, chamomile, lemon balm, mint, and catnip in the chickens’ nesting boxes to help encourage laying! Dry mixes work better than fresh, but either is fine.
    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog

    August

    • Time to transplant the last of the autumn/winter garden vegetables. 
    • Tomatoes will start showing up in abundance. Get ready for the storm! Can, dehydrate, lay in the sun, or freeze sauce/paste.
    • If you are planning to want dried beans, stop watering the plants and allow the pods to dry. Harvest and store dried beans.
    • Reduce watering on squash and other plants susceptible to powdery mildew.
    • Continue to harvest herbs and store properly for use later. Store fresh herbs in water like you would fresh cut flowers, refrigerated.
    • Begin to direct seed lettuces and other greens for autumn.
    • Onion tops will start to turn yellow and fall over. Wait at least two weeks after this happens before harvesting. Make sure to allow onions to dry out and develop the papery skin before storing. Water onions often for larger bulbs (be careful of rot)!
    • Cure garlic for winter storage in the sun; braid if you can.
    • Harvest early winter squash and cure.
    • Continue to harvest early potatoes if you wish. Storage potatoes will not be ready until later in the autumn.
    • Watch out for pests on your nest transplants and sown seeds. They will go on the attack! Seriously consider investing in lightweight row covers. This will also help with sun exposure.
    • Harvest eggplants. 
    • Watch out for signs of your first eggs! Chickens will begin to squat often, sit in the nesting boxes, and sing the egg laying song.
    • Pickle cucumbers.
    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog
    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog
    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog

    September

    1. Time to get down to harvesting! Gather the last of the tomatoes. They will be fleeting! Harvest winter squash (pumpkins, butternut, acorn, delicata, spaghetti, etc), peppers, eggplants, final summer squash, beans.
    2. Continue to harvest and store herbs.
    3. Cure all winter squash. You may have a few more on the vine and you may leave those until next month to harvest. You must cure them before eating next month!
    4. Continue to can and freeze. You’re almost done!
    5. Gather eggs daily. Clean the chicken coop at least every other week. You may want to start thinking about how you’ll prepare the coop for colder months. Begin stocking up on feed and treats. Consider trying the deep litter method for winter. 
    6. Begin to harvest storage potatoes and cure them.
    7. Plant green manure crops to help replenish the soil for next spring.
    8. Let herbs and other plants go to flower if you can.
    9. Trying fermenting or making your own cheese. 
    10. Begin collecting eggs as early as possible so they do not freeze.
    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog

    October

    • Begin harvesting cold weather crops that you planted in June + July like spinach, arugula, turnips, carrots, radishes, beets, broccoli, and other brassicas. 
    • Mulch any root crops that are still growing with straw.
    • Plant garlic! Mulch and water until the first hard frost comes.
    • Cover greens with a row cover if frost is approaching.
    • Begin your deep litter method in the chicken coop. Remember that cold is coming and to let your chickens get outside as often as possible before snow arrives!
    • Harvest the last of your flowers. Plant mums! Purchase spring blooming bulbs and plant for next year.
    • Plant green manure crops before the first frost hits.
    • Begin to “clean up” your garden. Compost any annuals. Leave perennials until spring (they make homes for overwintering insects). Spread compost, manure, and mulch over garden beds.
    • Continue to manage your compost pile. If you did a good job, you can use that compost on your garden now!
    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog

    November

    • Phew! It’s over! If you’ve been working since spring, it’s about time to be done and rest. Continue to make notes in your garden journal and decide which improvements you may want to make for next year.
    • If you want, you can continue to extend your gardening season with hoop tunnels and cold frames. Cover any greens still growing.
    • First hard frost hits sometime here! 
    • Enjoy meals made with your autumn harvests, winter squash, greens, broccoli, kale, carrots, turnips, beets, arugula.
    • Let your chickens mull about the garden and eat any leftover greens before the snow falls.
    • Make Thanksgiving dinner with your fresh and preserved garden bounty and fresh eggs! If you eat meat, purchase a local turkey. 
    • Start making gifts for friends and family for Christmas. Try gifting homemade herbal recipes, teas, canned goods, dry soups, or saved seeds. Fresh eggs always make people happy!
    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog

    December

    • Try growing some micro greens! They keep you healthy during cold weather and crush your cravings for fresh greens.
    • Continue collecting eggs on the daily so they don’t freeze outside. Either continue with the deep litter method or clean your coop regularly to prevent respiratory illnesses.
    • Cut your Christmas tree! Make ornaments from foraged finds, birdseed, and dried fruits.
    • Start crafting handmade holiday gifts. 
    • Play in the snow and relax by the fireside. Enjoy this time to rest!
    • Eat the rest of your winter squash and preserves, or save some for spring!
    • Dream of next years garden, but spend those months of cabin fever planning. 
    • Knit yourself a sweater!
    • Check your chickens for illness and frostbite regularly.

    Phew! That was a lot, but I think it’s just enough to get you started. I am excited to get into more homesteading tasks in the future like beekeeping, and perhaps keeping more livestock like pigs or geese/turkeys. Fermentation and cheesemaking is something that I hope to also approach in this upcoming year! There are so many amazing sustainable goals to test and try; I want to do it all! How about you? What are your goals for 2018 on the homestead? Let me know in the comments!

    I hope this guide helps you out if you are a first time homesteader. You can find links to other experience-like blog posts from this past growing season. I am hoping to have more how-to guides in 2018 to help you out! (:

    xoxo Kayla

    Monthly Homesteading Guides for the Beginner - Under A Tin Roof Blog
     

    https://www.underatinroof.com/blog/2017/11/13/monthly-homesteading-guides-for-the-beginner

    On – 13 Nov, 2017 By Tin Roof

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