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Tag: homestead
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How to Keep Your Homestead Animals Cool in the Summer
How to Keep Your Homestead Animals Cool in the Summer
It’s important to look after our homestead animals as temperatures soar during the summer months. Animals are just as susceptible to the effects of exposure as their human counterparts, and this can impact their overall health and productivity. Let’s take a look at a few simple things that we can all do to help our animals to beat the heat.
Focus on the Basics
Animals need plenty of cool water for drinking and bathing in order to stave off dehydration and help to regulate body temperatures. Not only does water consumption increase as temperatures rise, but water can evaporate at a faster rate as well. Make sure that you periodically check water levels in bowls and dispensers, and refill baths as necessary. It’s also important to frequently change bathing water in order to prevent it from turning into a breeding ground for disease.
Make sure that your animals also have access to shady and well-ventilated areas where they can rest during the hottest parts of the day. Just as hot, sticky air or the intensity of direct sunlight can zap us of our energy and make us miserable, animals are no different. A little bit of shade and cool air can go a long way with respect to keeping your animals happy and healthy.
Tips for Chickens
Backyard chickens don’t need a lot of attention to keep them happy in the summer heat. Aside from providing sources of shade, water is the next-best way to keep chickens cool. Little things like filling a wading pool so they can trot around in cool water or providing a fan in the coop can make all of the difference in the world. Think about installing a mister that chickens can get under for a quick and refreshing cool-down.
Watering grass before they walk around or peck for food can also be very helpful. Finally, try to make sure that their bedding is well-ventilated, and provide them with access to a patch of dry dirt that they can wallow in in order to cool down.
Suggestions for Rabbits
You can follow some of the same suggestions to help keep rabbits cool, such as using a mister or providing them with some shade in a well-ventilated area. Another great idea is put a chunk of ice in their cage that can radiate cool air and give them something to lick or touch from time to time. Placing ice cubes in their water bottle can also be incredibly-refreshing. Consider placing a moist towel or cool pad that they can lay on. Also, don’t forget to brush them frequently to remove excess fur and dander that would otherwise cover the skin and trap heat. Finally, make sure that you replace their food and give them fresh, cool and crisp vegetables throughout the day.
Keep in mind that most homestead animals succumb to disease and death from exposure to extreme temperatures. Follow these tips and learn more about what you can do to protect all of your animals this summer. A little bit of common sense and attentiveness can go a long way with respect to keeping our animals as cool and comfortable as possible.
http://101waystosurvive.com/survail_tips/how-to-keep-your-homestead-animals-cool-in-the-summer/
On – 01 Aug, 2017 By Callon
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How to Put Your Homestead Animals to Work
Are you looking for ways to simplify your homestead processes?
I’m going to share a few ways for how to put your homestead animals to work to help save some precious time.
How many of you are looking for ways to save time on your homestead? I’m raising my hand.
Some days it seems like there are never enough hours. Am I right?
One way that we try to save precious time around our homestead is by striving for a simpler life. But sometimes homesteading doesn’t really feel simple.
There’s always something that needs to be done. We get up early, take care of our family and animals. There seems to be never ending projects, repairs, or routine maintenance.
A sometimes overlooked way to save time is by using your animals as helpers by doing what they were born to do.
And by doing this, not only does it help us, but it also keeps them happy and healthy.
How To Put Your Homestead Animals to Work
Garden Prep
Goats, chickens, and pigs help prep garden areas before planting. Goats help by getting rid of unwanted brush, chickens scratch and help till the ground. Pigs are also great at digging and turning soil.
They Provide Fertilizer
Aka manure. Goats, rabbits, and chickens are great sources of manure for the garden.
Some say that using chicken manure is best because it is very high in nitrogen and also contains a good amount of potassium and phosphorus.
We use a mix of both goat and chicken manure around here. And personally, I prefer using goat manure over most other livestock because it’s almost odorless.
Pest and Insect Control
Chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guineas, and pretty much all fowl help keep insects under control.
Guineas are especially helpful if you live in an area with a lot of ticks. We have definitely noticed a decrease in the amount of ticks hanging around here since we added guineas to the homestead.
I just found the first tick of the season on my daughter this morning. And you know one of my first thoughts was… Time to add more guinea fowl!
Compost Help
Using chickens in the compost pile helps to keep it turned, saving that ever so valuable time. Chickens naturally scratch and help break down the grass, leaves, and food scraps into beautiful compost that you can use in your garden!
Zero Waste
Animals love to eat treats from the kitchen! Whenever we have leftovers or scraps of food from the kitchen, I give them to our animals.
Have leftover scrambled eggs from breakfast? Feed them back to the chickens!
Certain foods are better for the ducks, or chickens. And some are better for the goats or the dogs. If you have pigs, they love most leftovers or scraps. Whatever isn’t safe for some of our animals goes to another.
Providing them with kitchen treats, keeps them happy and healthy. And it also helps us cut down on waste.
Lawn Care
Goats, sheep, and donkeys are great at keeping up with the lawn care. While they probably won’t give you a manicured lawn, they definitely save us mowing time over the summer!
Brush and Land Clean-Up
Speaking of yard care, goats are excellent browsers. They love to browse around for their food and in doing so, they clear up unwanted brush, weeds, grass, and even trees.
We put our goats to work to help with our homestead income and allow them to clear up brush at a local ranch.
Predator Control
Many different livestock can help protect each other as well as smaller animals from predators. We have a huge problem with predators in the area where we live.
We can’t free range our chickens and other smaller animals safely unless we have a livestock guardian out there to watch over them. This is what we do instead.
Many people keep a livestock guardian dog. Others use donkeys and llamas. Some work better than others.
Sometimes having a protective rooster or geese with your chickens can help. Our rooster is very protective of his ladies and our ducks are also helpful with keeping the predators away. Having our goats near the chicken coop has helped deter the predators a little for us.
Nothing is full proof though. So it’s always important to make sure we have a variety of options.
Herding
Many breeds of dogs are excellent helpers for rounding up stray cattle, goats, and sheep. We have a very special bred Hanging Tree Cattle dog that is excellent in helping my husband move and round up our goats and cows.
There are tons of different herding dogs that are bred for this job and are easily trained.
Companionship
Aka instant therapy.
Last but definitely not least. And perhaps, one of the most rewarding jobs of all. They provide great companionship and are total mood boosters!
So there you have my top ten ways of putting animals to work on the homestead. It’s all about saving time, working smarter and not harder!
How do you put your animals to work on the homestead?
http://bootsandhooveshomestead.com/animals-to-work/
On – 03 May, 2017 By marywoita
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How to Put Your Homestead Animals to Work
Are you looking for ways to simplify your homestead processes?
I’m going to share a few ways for how to put your homestead animals to work to help save some precious time.
How many of you are looking for ways to save time on your homestead? I’m raising my hand.
Some days it seems like there are never enough hours. Am I right?
One way that we try to save precious time around our homestead is by striving for a simpler life. But sometimes homesteading doesn’t really feel simple.
There’s always something that needs to be done. We get up early, take care of our family and animals. There seems to be never ending projects, repairs, or routine maintenance.
A sometimes overlooked way to save time is by using your animals as helpers by doing what they were born to do.
And by doing this, not only does it help us, but it also keeps them happy and healthy.
How To Put Your Homestead Animals to Work
Garden Prep
Goats, chickens, and pigs help prep garden areas before planting. Goats help by getting rid of unwanted brush, chickens scratch and help till the ground. Pigs are also great at digging and turning soil.
They Provide Fertilizer
Aka manure. Goats, rabbits, and chickens are great sources of manure for the garden.
Some say that using chicken manure is best because it is very high in nitrogen and also contains a good amount of potassium and phosphorus.
We use a mix of both goat and chicken manure around here. And personally, I prefer using goat manure over most other livestock because it’s almost odorless.
Pest and Insect Control
Chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guineas, and pretty much all fowl help keep insects under control.
Guineas are especially helpful if you live in an area with a lot of ticks. We have definitely noticed a decrease in the amount of ticks hanging around here since we added guineas to the homestead.
I just found the first tick of the season on my daughter this morning. And you know one of my first thoughts was… Time to add more guinea fowl!
Compost Help
Using chickens in the compost pile helps to keep it turned, saving that ever so valuable time. Chickens naturally scratch and help break down the grass, leaves, and food scraps into beautiful compost that you can use in your garden!
Zero Waste
Animals love to eat treats from the kitchen! Whenever we have leftovers or scraps of food from the kitchen, I give them to our animals.
Have leftover scrambled eggs from breakfast? Feed them back to the chickens!
Certain foods are better for the ducks, or chickens. And some are better for the goats or the dogs. If you have pigs, they love most leftovers or scraps. Whatever isn’t safe for some of our animals goes to another.
Providing them with kitchen treats, keeps them happy and healthy. And it also helps us cut down on waste.
Lawn Care
Goats, sheep, and donkeys are great at keeping up with the lawn care. While they probably won’t give you a manicured lawn, they definitely save us mowing time over the summer!
Brush and Land Clean-Up
Speaking of yard care, goats are excellent browsers. They love to browse around for their food and in doing so, they clear up unwanted brush, weeds, grass, and even trees.
We put our goats to work to help with our homestead income and allow them to clear up brush at a local ranch.
Predator Control
Many different livestock can help protect each other as well as smaller animals from predators. We have a huge problem with predators in the area where we live.
We can’t free range our chickens and other smaller animals safely unless we have a livestock guardian out there to watch over them. This is what we do instead.
Many people keep a livestock guardian dog. Others use donkeys and llamas. Some work better than others.
Sometimes having a protective rooster or geese with your chickens can help. Our rooster is very protective of his ladies and our ducks are also helpful with keeping the predators away. Having our goats near the chicken coop has helped deter the predators a little for us.
Nothing is full proof though. So it’s always important to make sure we have a variety of options.
Herding
Many breeds of dogs are excellent helpers for rounding up stray cattle, goats, and sheep. We have a very special bred Hanging Tree Cattle dog that is excellent in helping my husband move and round up our goats and cows.
There are tons of different herding dogs that are bred for this job and are easily trained.
Companionship
Aka instant therapy.
Last but definitely not least. And perhaps, one of the most rewarding jobs of all. They provide great companionship and are total mood boosters!
So there you have my top ten ways of putting animals to work on the homestead. It’s all about saving time, working smarter and not harder!
How do you put your animals to work on the homestead?
http://bootsandhooveshomestead.com/animals-to-work/
On – 03 May, 2017 By marywoita
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Free Ranging: The Pros & Cons
When I brought my first animals home to the farm there was no question in my mind as to whether they would live the life of free range animals. I wanted my animals to be just as free as I was, free to explore, roam, hunt for food, and live their own life while coexisting with the humans.
The pros of free-ranging outweigh the cons. If you can’t be home to free range the feather and fur babies full-time you can do partial free ranging.
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How Small Farms are Feeding the World
In the April 2017 issue of The Lancet: Planetary Health, researchers from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Australia report that small (defined here as up to about 50 acres) and medium-sized (defined here as about 50 to 250 acres) diversified farms currently produce more than half of the world’s micronutrient-rich foods (farms over 250 acres produce a larger proportion of sugar crops, oil crops, and cereal grains).
The team evaluated data concerning the production of 41 major crops, the nutrient contributions of those crops, and the size and diversity of farms producing them from around the world (the study summarizes results into 9 geographic regions).
Farm Size
You may be surprised to learn that large farms are not the biggest crop producers in North America – they are only the largest producers in South America (50%-80% of all crops produced) and in Australia and New Zealand (80%-90% of all crops produced). In North America, about 80%-90% of the production of most types of crops (vegetables, sugar crops, roots and tubers, pulses, oil crops, fruit, and cereal grains) is split about equally between medium-sized and large farms. Small farms produce the rest, leaning a bit more toward fruits, vegetables, and roots and tubers in North America.
In sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and China, the pattern is reversed, with small farms producing about 75% of all crops. In Europe, West Asia, North Africa, and Central America, all sizes of farms contribute more equally to the total.
Crop Diversity and Nutrition
The researchers found that in general, the smaller the farm, the greater the diversity of crops produced. Farms with higher diversity also tended to produce crops higher in micronutrients (large, non-diversified farms tended to produce more volume of fewer crops, and typically produce more crops that are higher in calories and lower in micronutrients than small farms do).
The Role of Organic Food
Organic farms tend to be smaller than conventional ones in the U.S. (according to the USDA’s 2012 Census of Agriculture, the average size of a farm in the U.S. was 434 acres, and the average size of an organic farm was 285 acres in 2008). Organic farms also tend to grow a wider range of crops, often those that are high in micronutrients. Supporting organic farmers by buying organic food and beverages helps keep the existing farms sustainable.
Organic management techniques are often highly appropriate technology for small farms and farms with more labor equity than cash to spend on off-farm inputs, making organic farming knowledge a powerful tool to help small farmers around the world succeed and boost their yields.
Small Farms and the Future
The report goes on to stress that maintaining the existing small farms and adding new ones will be critical in meeting the world’s expanding food requirements going forward, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and China, where they account for such a sizable portion of current production.
Supporting the needs of small farmers with issues such as access to land and spreading appropriate knowledge and small-scale technology must be an important part of any effort designed to support food security and sustainability. According to the World Bank, land issues are critical as almost three-quarters of the world’s population lacks registered legal titles to the land they use – a huge problem for farmers in developing countries. In developed countries, the cost of buying, owning, or leasing land for farming is more of a problem.
Consumers can help keep small farms and organic producers financially sustainable by shopping locally as much as possible and by choosing organic as much as possible. It is also important to support the work of groups that are helping farmers get access to land and the education and tools they need to run financially sustainable operations. Make sure your elected officials understand that we need small and organic farmers!
http://blog.naturespath.com/how-small-farms-are-feeding-the-world
On – 09 Aug, 2017 By Jean Nick
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How Small Farms are Feeding the World
In the April 2017 issue of The Lancet: Planetary Health, researchers from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Australia report that small (defined here as up to about 50 acres) and medium-sized (defined here as about 50 to 250 acres) diversified farms currently produce more than half of the world’s micronutrient-rich foods (farms over 250 acres produce a larger proportion of sugar crops, oil crops, and cereal grains).
The team evaluated data concerning the production of 41 major crops, the nutrient contributions of those crops, and the size and diversity of farms producing them from around the world (the study summarizes results into 9 geographic regions).
Farm Size
You may be surprised to learn that large farms are not the biggest crop producers in North America – they are only the largest producers in South America (50%-80% of all crops produced) and in Australia and New Zealand (80%-90% of all crops produced). In North America, about 80%-90% of the production of most types of crops (vegetables, sugar crops, roots and tubers, pulses, oil crops, fruit, and cereal grains) is split about equally between medium-sized and large farms. Small farms produce the rest, leaning a bit more toward fruits, vegetables, and roots and tubers in North America.
In sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and China, the pattern is reversed, with small farms producing about 75% of all crops. In Europe, West Asia, North Africa, and Central America, all sizes of farms contribute more equally to the total.
Crop Diversity and Nutrition
The researchers found that in general, the smaller the farm, the greater the diversity of crops produced. Farms with higher diversity also tended to produce crops higher in micronutrients (large, non-diversified farms tended to produce more volume of fewer crops, and typically produce more crops that are higher in calories and lower in micronutrients than small farms do).
The Role of Organic Food
Organic farms tend to be smaller than conventional ones in the U.S. (according to the USDA’s 2012 Census of Agriculture, the average size of a farm in the U.S. was 434 acres, and the average size of an organic farm was 285 acres in 2008). Organic farms also tend to grow a wider range of crops, often those that are high in micronutrients. Supporting organic farmers by buying organic food and beverages helps keep the existing farms sustainable.
Organic management techniques are often highly appropriate technology for small farms and farms with more labor equity than cash to spend on off-farm inputs, making organic farming knowledge a powerful tool to help small farmers around the world succeed and boost their yields.
Small Farms and the Future
The report goes on to stress that maintaining the existing small farms and adding new ones will be critical in meeting the world’s expanding food requirements going forward, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and China, where they account for such a sizable portion of current production.
Supporting the needs of small farmers with issues such as access to land and spreading appropriate knowledge and small-scale technology must be an important part of any effort designed to support food security and sustainability. According to the World Bank, land issues are critical as almost three-quarters of the world’s population lacks registered legal titles to the land they use – a huge problem for farmers in developing countries. In developed countries, the cost of buying, owning, or leasing land for farming is more of a problem.
Consumers can help keep small farms and organic producers financially sustainable by shopping locally as much as possible and by choosing organic as much as possible. It is also important to support the work of groups that are helping farmers get access to land and the education and tools they need to run financially sustainable operations. Make sure your elected officials understand that we need small and organic farmers!
http://blog.naturespath.com/how-small-farms-are-feeding-the-world
On – 09 Aug, 2017 By Jean Nick
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A Secret Method for Raising Animals in the Winter
Winter can be extremely difficult on your animals, especially for those homesteaders who live in the northern parts of the country. With temperatures dropping down into the single digits or even lower, not many animals are going to want to lay down on the cold ground in order to sleep. Therefore having an alternative to sleeping on the ground would be invaluable to any homesteader.
This article was written, posted and shared with all of the readers at a website called Simple Living Country Gal. The author of this article came up with great idea that anyone who raises livestock and lives in any part of the country that gets really cold in the winter time. The method described in the article does not require a whole lot effort or cost of extra materials.
Benefits of reading the article A Secret Method for Raising Animals in the Winter
Discover a safe, easy to do way to provide your livestock with a warm, cozy place to sleep in the winter.
The method described in the article is really easy to follow and can be used with any species of livestock.
You will find that while it does lead to extra work in spring when it comes times to cleanup, but there is an extra bonus; the lower layers make a great soil conditioner.Click here to read about:
http://simplelivingcountrygal.com/the-deep-litter-method/
https://thehomesteadsurvival.com/secret-method-raising-animals-winter/
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A Secret Method for Raising Animals in the Winter
Winter can be extremely difficult on your animals, especially for those homesteaders who live in the northern parts of the country. With temperatures dropping down into the single digits or even lower, not many animals are going to want to lay down on the cold ground in order to sleep. Therefore having an alternative to sleeping on the ground would be invaluable to any homesteader.
This article was written, posted and shared with all of the readers at a website called Simple Living Country Gal. The author of this article came up with great idea that anyone who raises livestock and lives in any part of the country that gets really cold in the winter time. The method described in the article does not require a whole lot effort or cost of extra materials.
Benefits of reading the article A Secret Method for Raising Animals in the Winter
Discover a safe, easy to do way to provide your livestock with a warm, cozy place to sleep in the winter.
The method described in the article is really easy to follow and can be used with any species of livestock.
You will find that while it does lead to extra work in spring when it comes times to cleanup, but there is an extra bonus; the lower layers make a great soil conditioner.Click here to read about:
http://simplelivingcountrygal.com/the-deep-litter-method/
https://thehomesteadsurvival.com/secret-method-raising-animals-winter/
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Growing Shiitake Mushrooms
We got involved with Shiitake Mushrooms through our Agricultural Cooperative Extension Agency. (This is a great resource for any farmer. Make it a point at least to visit your local office and see the different programs they have going on for the farmer.) Back in 2003, our local office started helping traditional tobacco farmers transition into some other type of crop. They proposed growing both edible and medicinal Mushrooms.
By growing both, a farmer has two ways to sell mushrooms. You can grow edible mushrooms and sell to farmers markets, restaurants and health food stores. With medicinal mushrooms, you can pursue the herbal stores and sometimes you can reach out to acupuncturists’ offices. A diversified farm would do both!
Dr. Omoanghe Isikhuemhen of North Carolina A&T State University led the program. They proposed this deal: the school would provide the enough organic mushroom spore to inoculate 25 logs (3-4 ft. long x 4-8 in. diameter) in exchange for data collected by the farmer on how well the mushrooms produced. The farmer had to agree to keep approximately 200-250 logs for research.
The farmer would be given bags of spore with batch numbers only. When giving their data information, the farmer would refer to the batch number. This was, and is ongoing, research to see which strains of shiitake do best in which areas of North Carolina.
Alan and I signed up right away. That is how The Mushroom Hut @ Fox Farms was born! This was our first experience of Non-Traditional Forest Products (NTFP).
We always stress, when starting out on a new venture, to start out small and don’t invest a lot into the project until you see it will work for you. Everything sounds good on paper!
After signing up for the program, we were shown how to inoculate our log and how to care for it while waiting for the harvest—and that would be a very long wait. It can take from 6-12 months for the first fruiting after inoculation (most often 12 months).
Now we’ll show you how to get started.
Equipment And Supplies
- Drill
- Drill bit
- Food-Grade Wax
- Brush/Dauber (to apply the melted wax)
- Spawn
- Logs
- Containers for soaking
You can order most of these supplies from major mushroom spawn and equipment suppliers (examples: Field and Forest, Fungi Perfecti).
Assuming you already have a drill, total cost for all these supplies will be around $100.
Then, you have to scare up a log. If you have trees on your property, you can cut your own as a last resort. You may contact local loggers regarding logs that are too small for lumber—sometimes they’re sold for firewood. Or you can go into the woods and find a candidate that’s already on the ground.
Location For Your Log Yard
Find an area suitable for the production of the Shiitake. An area that is naturally shaded by trees is an ideal area for your log yard. If you are going to force fruiting, you will need access to water so this will be a consideration when deciding where to put your logs.
Best Trees For Mushroom Cultivation
Red and White Oaks and Sweetgums are the best trees for mushroom cultivation. These trees will produce longer than other trees due to their high wood density and strong bark.
Here at the farm we have also used Maple, Beech, Ash, Cherry and Birch. Ash takes longer to produce fruit. The others are good producers, but the bark doesn’t hold up long. Experiment to see what works for you and keep records (a regular calendar is great to write your notes on.) Make sure your tree’s bark is in good condition before you decide to use it.
When To Cut Down Trees For Mushroom Cultivation
The trees should be cut in late fall to late winter (Early Spring only if sap is not up). Be careful not to scuff up the bark. Ragged bark can allow other fungi to invade the bark.
Also, this will allow moisture loss and could slow down fruiting or keep it from fruiting at all.
The Proper Size Of Logs For Mushroom Cultivation
Use logs 3-4 ft. long and 3-8 in. in diameter. Keep in mind you will be moving the logs around. After cutting the logs, if you are not going to use them for a few weeks, make sure they don’t dry out.
Keep them out of direct sunlight, watered if it is unusually dry, or loosely covered if it is too rainy. Make sure there is air circulation.
When To Inoculate
Here in Western North Carolina, we start in March and complete by late April. Contact your local agricultural extension office for suggestions about timing in your area.
Ideally, you’ll use the trees as soon as possible after cutting. Production will be much better if moisture content is high. If you order your spawn before you are ready to use it, you can store it in the bottom of your refrigerator.
The Inoculation Process
Set up a work station for each task:
- Find a location that will be suitable for an electric drill (if you’re in a remote area make sure you have extra batteries).
- Space the holes 6-8 in. apart in rows along the length with 2-4 in. between rows. The holes should be placed in a staggered diamond pattern. (Closer spacings increase the rate of colonization and more rapid production but the spawn won’t go as far). Use your own judgement.
- Using your thumb inoculator, punch it down into the bag of spawn until the inoculator is full then, put it over the hole in the log and using your thumb press a couple of times to release the spawn into the hole. Make sure the drilled hole is completely full of the spawn.
- Now comes the waxing. You can have the wax slowly melting (on low) while you are doing steps one and two—a slow cooker on low will work. Make sure the wax never gets too hot. Use a natural bristle brush or wax dauber to apply the wax completely covering the spawn/hole. air bubbles. Go over it a couple of times if you need to.
Stacking Your Logs
After you have finished inoculating your logs it is time to stack your logs and wait for fruiting. Fruiting time can be anywhere from 6-12 months from time of inoculation. There are three methods of stacking:
- Low stack: this method is simple. All it involves is leaving your logs on the ground. However, it’s best to lay the logs on top of a pallet or cinderblocks to keep ground fungi from invading the logs.
- Crib style: stacking logs on top of each other, with horizontal layers of logs laid perpendicular to each other.
- Lean-to: lean logs up against a fencing, rail or wire.
During this time, make sure the bark/logs do not dry out. If it is unusually dry, you can use an overhead sprinkling system, watering hose, or soak the logs in a container. If soaking in a container, soak between 24-78 hours. This can also be done to force fruiting.
Know your water source! Do not use water from a creek, branch or river that has horses upstream of your mushrooms. E-coli has been found in water from this type of source. Test or filter your water to make sure it is reasonably clean.
Harvesting Your Mushroom Logs
Logs can fruit anywhere from 6-12 months from inoculation, due to reasons like the moisture content in logs, strain of mushroom, air temp, humidity, rainfall and light.
When you see the logs begin to fruit, you can help the fruiting by watering or soaking. It can take about three days for the mushroom to be large enough for harvest. Look under the cap of the mushroom for bugs/snails and brush off with a brush, baster, or plain paper towel.
Collect the mushrooms in box, basket, or stainless steel container. Store them in refrigerator or cool area immediately to preserve their freshness.
Treating The Logs After Harvest
Put the logs in a designated area where you will know these logs have fruited. Keep notes on a calendar as to when you have a fruiting so you can keep up with forcing of these logs.
Only force logs every 6-10 weeks. If these logs have not started to fruit again, you can put them in containers to soak and force another fruiting. After soaking, you can shock the log with a rubber mallet. To do this, just strike the ends of the logs several times. This helps to stimulate the mycelium.
Preventing Pests And Insects
Try to keep leaves raked away from your log stacks. This is a good hiding place for snails and other bugs that love to eat on the mushroom.
You can put out snail baits (saucers of beer) for the snails to drown in. Otherwise you have to pick most of the other bugs off the mushrooms as being picked. There are beetles that like to eat into the wax/spawn. Squirrels may be a problem in some places.
Whatever your reason for growing shiitakes—food, fun or profit—here’s hoping your fungi fantasies are fulfilled!
Susan Tipton-Fox, along with husband Alan Fox, continues the farming and preserving practices passed down to her by her family. She runs on-farm workshops and overnights in Yancey County, North Carolina. Follow her on Facebook: The Mushroom Hut @ Fox Farms.
https://www.niftyhomestead.com/blog/growing-shiitake-mushrooms/
On – 13 Jun, 2017 By Nifty Homestead Community Submission
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Passive Water Storage Tank Heating System
Interesting ideas on using a water storage tank heating system. For many people finding alternative sources of energy and ways of using renewable power is the best way to reverse the damaging effects to environment by the use of fossil fuels. Solar power is starting to gain popularity as a source of renewable energy as the cost of the equipment needed to harness it continues to get cheaper to purchase. The purpose of this article is to introduce the reader to a solar power water storage tank heating system.
This article is from How to Go Solar. The author sincerely believes in using solar energy as an alternative source of power and this concept is another example of to harness the power of nature to improve and enrich the lives of people. All of the information is presented in a way that makes it very easy to read and understand.
Benefits of reading the Passive Water Storage Tank Heating System
Discover that by placing several storage tanks inside a room that is exposed to direct sun it will help maintain the warmth in the room.
It explains in great detail how the system works and how easy it is to install anywhere.
All of the information is explained in a way that is very easy to read and understand.
It also has a number of full color pictures that help to depict several of the parts of the system.https://thehomesteadsurvival.com/passive-water-storage-tank-heating-system/
On – 01 Feb, 2017 By
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Grow Sprouted Fodder for Homesteading Livestock Animals
Learning how to grow sprouted fodder for homesteading livestock animals is a great way to give them a treat as well as much needed protein. Chickens, rabbits, goats, sheep, pigs, alpaca, horse and cows all would be eager to eat fodder.
Make sure you like The Homestead Survival and Homestead Survival Facebook, and explore our PINTEREST BOARDS for innovative ways you can become self-sufficient on a budget.
If you are new to fodder for your animals, then this article will give you a well-rounded introduction to the whole process, advantages and developing your own system to grown your own.
Fodder development and changing to your homegrown fodder will be a big plus on your farm. You will be able to begin the process of transition all of your livestock to sprouted fodder. A new feeding program is best to double check with your farm vet.
But in all seriousness, if you are new to sprouted fodder, what are the advantages versus using different kinds of feed? The seed in its state is basically just a carbohydrate and without sprouting, it will travel the animal providing very little protein. Your animals, no matter what species, need protein.
In the past, seeds were milled or flacked by steam to open slightly and some protein was passed. Digestibility is the number one consideration in your animals. Without that, your protein is trace amounts.
For example, barley fodder possesses in the high eighty percent of digestible protein. It travels to the animal’s muscle which helps bear good stock. And you want your animals to have the ingestion of organic grains. This also meets USDA standards for “grass fed beef”.
These offerings of knowledge below provides so much information that is clearly stated and also guide you to a sprouted fodder system that will meet your needs and save money. You can custom produce the fodder and add what your vet suggests for added nutrients. Enjoy!
Click here to read about how to grow sprouted fodder for homesteading livestock animals:
https://fmicrofarm.wordpress.com/2014/03/22/sprouted-fodder-for-livestock-a-complete-review/
https://thehomesteadsurvival.com/grow-sprouted-fodder-for-homesteading-livestock-animals/
On – 17 Apr, 2017 By
-
Grow Sprouted Fodder for Homesteading Livestock Animals
Learning how to grow sprouted fodder for homesteading livestock animals is a great way to give them a treat as well as much needed protein. Chickens, rabbits, goats, sheep, pigs, alpaca, horse and cows all would be eager to eat fodder.
Make sure you like The Homestead Survival and Homestead Survival Facebook, and explore our PINTEREST BOARDS for innovative ways you can become self-sufficient on a budget.
If you are new to fodder for your animals, then this article will give you a well-rounded introduction to the whole process, advantages and developing your own system to grown your own.
Fodder development and changing to your homegrown fodder will be a big plus on your farm. You will be able to begin the process of transition all of your livestock to sprouted fodder. A new feeding program is best to double check with your farm vet.
But in all seriousness, if you are new to sprouted fodder, what are the advantages versus using different kinds of feed? The seed in its state is basically just a carbohydrate and without sprouting, it will travel the animal providing very little protein. Your animals, no matter what species, need protein.
In the past, seeds were milled or flacked by steam to open slightly and some protein was passed. Digestibility is the number one consideration in your animals. Without that, your protein is trace amounts.
For example, barley fodder possesses in the high eighty percent of digestible protein. It travels to the animal’s muscle which helps bear good stock. And you want your animals to have the ingestion of organic grains. This also meets USDA standards for “grass fed beef”.
These offerings of knowledge below provides so much information that is clearly stated and also guide you to a sprouted fodder system that will meet your needs and save money. You can custom produce the fodder and add what your vet suggests for added nutrients. Enjoy!
Click here to read about how to grow sprouted fodder for homesteading livestock animals:
https://fmicrofarm.wordpress.com/2014/03/22/sprouted-fodder-for-livestock-a-complete-review/
https://thehomesteadsurvival.com/grow-sprouted-fodder-for-homesteading-livestock-animals/
On – 17 Apr, 2017 By
-
Adding Animals to the Homestead
Somewhere along your homesteading journey, you will probably get the itch to start adding animals to the homestead. Or, the opportunity will present itself in an offer you can’t refuse. Perhaps someone is giving away a flock of “free” chickens, or you fall in love with a baby goat and decide this is the right time for adding animals to the homestead.
What Is the Right Time for Adding Animals to the Homestead?
Whether it’s a well planned adventure, or a series of events, you should have an idea beforehand of what each type of care the animal will require. We have raised and kept many kinds of pets and livestock at Timber Creek Farm. Our first animals were horses and ponies, followed by goats, a donkey, chickens, rabbits, ducks, sheep, turkeys, cows and pigs. There is much to be said for practical, hands on learning. I will be honest, and tell you that I have not always followed the advice I am giving out now. As they say, hindsight is 20/20!
Read and Ask Questions Before Adding Animals to the Homestead
Ask lots of questions and be prepared for on the job learning! But, that said, try to be as prepared as possible, BEFORE adding animals to the homestead!
1. Build suitable fencing and secure housing.
This can be a hard point if you are not sure what the animal needs. Different animals and poultry require different housing and fencing. Chickens will be safely housed in a secure coop with appropriate ventilation and interior accessories such as nest boxes and roosts. Pigs don’t require an enclosed building necessarily. An open shed will serve as adequate shelter but the fencing for pigs most likely will need a line or two of electric to persuade the pigs to stay put. Know what each species needs in order to be raised successfully.
2. Be aware of predators in your area and learn how to keep your animals safe.
If all of this is new to you, ask other neighbors or the Extension Service agent in your area for information about possible predators, in your area. Use the appropriate fencing to keep predators out of the animal’s area. Using the wrong wire fencing can lead to tragedy. You can read more about the different fencing for chickens in this post.
3. Make sure you have a way to get plenty of water to the animals, even in subfreezing temperatures.
There aren’t many things that happen around the farm that I don’t enjoy. Except for carrying water to the animals when the hoses are frozen and the water tanks are solid blocks of ice. We need about 15 gallons of water in the morning and evening to keep everyone hydrated. That’s just the animals who don’t have floating tank deicers in their water. Water is a big concern during extreme weather. In the event of possible power outage from a big storm, we stock up by filling all the tanks before the storm hits. Yes, think about water. These electric heated water bowls can help with water staying thawed during the day. I recommend uplugging them at night and refilling in the morning. Chickens don’t need water available while they are sleeping.
4. Having all things in place before the animals arrival, will add to your enjoyment of raising livestock.
I preach this. It’s my mantra. Unfortunately, I don’t often take my own advice. Yes, I too succumb to bringing home animals without making the proper plan ahead of time. Fortunately, we have lots of available options for temporary housing when my heart gets ahead of my better judgement. But it all goes smoother if you plan ahead. Believe me, you will still have plenty of reasons to make adjustments once you get to know the new arrivals.
What is the best animal to start with?
I can’t tell you which animal type is the best one to purchase first, when adding animals to the homestead. This depends on your ability to care for them and your particular passions. If you love fiber crafts and yarn then you may want to raise your own sheep or fiber animals. If the thought of caring for a large sheep scares you, perhaps an angora rabbit would be a good choice. Large families or those with specific dietary needs, may consider raising meat animals might help the food budget.
Urban homesteaders may have limitations set by the town government, on what can be kept within the city limits. I put the information that you can use to make a decision into a table format. The dollar estimates are based on an average cost in the mid Atlantic region at the time of writing. Your local feed store or veterinarian prices may vary but this will give you a starting place for your planning.
How Much Time is Involved in Animal Care?
All livestock require everyday care. We feed all of our animals twice a day. I am sure there are folks who feed once a day but feeding twice a day gives you twice the opportunity to head off a potential problem. Sometimes, twenty four hours can make a difference in the health of your animal, and catching an illness early can often save the animals life. Each week, more intensive labor chores are completed, such as moving hay bales to the barn, cleaning stalls and pens, and filling up water troughs. Basically, the larger the animal, the larger the cleanup effort!
Refer to the following sections for my estimates on the physical strength, costs and care required for various species.
Care Needs of Different Homestead Livestock
Physical Strength Needed Average Costs Time requirement Concerns or notes Chickens and Ducks
(laying hens for eggs)Other than being able to clean the coop regularly, carry water to the coop and hold a chicken if it should need medical attention, strength needed is average. Raising poultry is suitable for those learning to homestead. In a coop and enclosed pen situation, estimate 50 lb bag of layer ration for 12 – 15 mature hens. Costs will vary but an estimate of $12- $16 dollars a week is an average. If you are able to free range, the feed cost will go down. Minimum of twice a day care needed to freshen the water, remove old feed and distribute fresh feed. Cleaning weekly as needed. Less cleaning is needed in the winter months as the accumulated bedding will help warm and insulate the chicken coop. Free Range can mean a free dinner for the foxes and racoons. Having a sturdy coop that can be tightly shut will protect your hens from predators. Rabbits Not a significant requirement. Similar to poultry. 1 rabbit estimate of 5lbs of feed per week. Will vary with the cold weather. Rabbit will eat more during cold weather. Approximately $3- $8 dollars a week plus fresh food supplements such as leafy greens, carrots, bananas, apples Twice per day check and refresh water and food. During below freezing temperatures, water may need to be refreshed more often. Nail clipping needed and general body condition checks needed. Hutch must be secure and predator proof. Goats – for milk, fiber or meat, field buddy for a horse You may need to lift a goat onto a stand for examination or to give meds, shear fiber, or general care. Strength can be a factor although there are ways to work smarter and not harder. Goats prefer browse to pasture grass so the hay can be of lower quality, weedier except for lactating dams and last stage of pregnancy. Commercial goat chow cost average $13 – $18 for a 50 lb bag. We feed half a cup per goat/twice a day, with free choice hay and browse. Approximately 1 hay flake per goat per day (hay bales separate into portions called flakes) Basic care for a herd of goats will take about 30 minutes, two times per day. Check fences, observe the goats, feed, and water.
Weekly, clean up the stall area and remove soiled hay. Replace bedding. General stall cleaning and maintenance.Goats require yearly vaccinations. You can learn to do this on your own, except for the rabies vaccine which in many states has to be administered by a veterinarian. Hoof trimming needs to be done two to four times a year. Breeding animals may require more care, Pigs More cleaning will need to be done so more strength will be required. The pigs can be pushy and aggressive for food. Pigs are very resourceful and can use many different food types to convert to muscle mass. Kitchen scraps, garden waste, hay and commercial feed can all be used to produce a healthy animal. Pig feed average cost is $17. Whole corn is another alternative and can be a cheaper choice. Fencing for the pig area or pig pastures will be a time consuming factor before bringing home the piglets. I believe the use of electric fencing is a must with pigs. We use both post and board fencing with dual electric lines inside the fence line. I do not recommend raising pigs as a first homestead animal choice. I recommend developing some homestead instincts and animal knowledge before venturing into raising pigs Cows – beef yes physical strength is required. varies. Pasture with strong fencing is a must. Finishing the beef cow on grain will run about $11 and $14 dollars a bag. daily care may not amount to much depending on your property but in the big picture, raising beef cattle can be very time consuming I do not recommend starting a homestead with beef cattle. I hope this gives you a good start on gathering information before adding animals to the homestead. Remember, homesteading is a journey, not a race. Having a field full of livestock, but not enjoying caring for them, is not worth the effort or expense. Add what your family needs and can care for slowly. Enjoy the journey!
We raise animals on our farm for our homestead use. We are not commercial poultry or beef producers. The information I am conveying here is from this point of view. I welcome your constructive comments below. Please share with us, your encouraging tips and advice for new homesteaders.
For more in this series please visit –
So You Want to be a Homesteader Part 1
The Bookshelf- So You Want to be a Homesteader – Part 2
This post was shared on The Homestead Barn Hop,
http://timbercreekfarmer.com/adding-animals-to-the-homestead-so-you-want-to-be-a-homesteader-part-3/
On – 30 Dec, 2016 By Janet Garman
-
Adding Animals to the Homestead
Somewhere along your homesteading journey, you will probably get the itch to start adding animals to the homestead. Or, the opportunity will present itself in an offer you can’t refuse. Perhaps someone is giving away a flock of “free” chickens, or you fall in love with a baby goat and decide this is the right time for adding animals to the homestead.
What Is the Right Time for Adding Animals to the Homestead?
Whether it’s a well planned adventure, or a series of events, you should have an idea beforehand of what each type of care the animal will require. We have raised and kept many kinds of pets and livestock at Timber Creek Farm. Our first animals were horses and ponies, followed by goats, a donkey, chickens, rabbits, ducks, sheep, turkeys, cows and pigs. There is much to be said for practical, hands on learning. I will be honest, and tell you that I have not always followed the advice I am giving out now. As they say, hindsight is 20/20!
Read and Ask Questions Before Adding Animals to the Homestead
Ask lots of questions and be prepared for on the job learning! But, that said, try to be as prepared as possible, BEFORE adding animals to the homestead!
1. Build suitable fencing and secure housing.
This can be a hard point if you are not sure what the animal needs. Different animals and poultry require different housing and fencing. Chickens will be safely housed in a secure coop with appropriate ventilation and interior accessories such as nest boxes and roosts. Pigs don’t require an enclosed building necessarily. An open shed will serve as adequate shelter but the fencing for pigs most likely will need a line or two of electric to persuade the pigs to stay put. Know what each species needs in order to be raised successfully.
2. Be aware of predators in your area and learn how to keep your animals safe.
If all of this is new to you, ask other neighbors or the Extension Service agent in your area for information about possible predators, in your area. Use the appropriate fencing to keep predators out of the animal’s area. Using the wrong wire fencing can lead to tragedy. You can read more about the different fencing for chickens in this post.
3. Make sure you have a way to get plenty of water to the animals, even in subfreezing temperatures.
There aren’t many things that happen around the farm that I don’t enjoy. Except for carrying water to the animals when the hoses are frozen and the water tanks are solid blocks of ice. We need about 15 gallons of water in the morning and evening to keep everyone hydrated. That’s just the animals who don’t have floating tank deicers in their water. Water is a big concern during extreme weather. In the event of possible power outage from a big storm, we stock up by filling all the tanks before the storm hits. Yes, think about water. These electric heated water bowls can help with water staying thawed during the day. I recommend uplugging them at night and refilling in the morning. Chickens don’t need water available while they are sleeping.
4. Having all things in place before the animals arrival, will add to your enjoyment of raising livestock.
I preach this. It’s my mantra. Unfortunately, I don’t often take my own advice. Yes, I too succumb to bringing home animals without making the proper plan ahead of time. Fortunately, we have lots of available options for temporary housing when my heart gets ahead of my better judgement. But it all goes smoother if you plan ahead. Believe me, you will still have plenty of reasons to make adjustments once you get to know the new arrivals.
What is the best animal to start with?
I can’t tell you which animal type is the best one to purchase first, when adding animals to the homestead. This depends on your ability to care for them and your particular passions. If you love fiber crafts and yarn then you may want to raise your own sheep or fiber animals. If the thought of caring for a large sheep scares you, perhaps an angora rabbit would be a good choice. Large families or those with specific dietary needs, may consider raising meat animals might help the food budget.
Urban homesteaders may have limitations set by the town government, on what can be kept within the city limits. I put the information that you can use to make a decision into a table format. The dollar estimates are based on an average cost in the mid Atlantic region at the time of writing. Your local feed store or veterinarian prices may vary but this will give you a starting place for your planning.
How Much Time is Involved in Animal Care?
All livestock require everyday care. We feed all of our animals twice a day. I am sure there are folks who feed once a day but feeding twice a day gives you twice the opportunity to head off a potential problem. Sometimes, twenty four hours can make a difference in the health of your animal, and catching an illness early can often save the animals life. Each week, more intensive labor chores are completed, such as moving hay bales to the barn, cleaning stalls and pens, and filling up water troughs. Basically, the larger the animal, the larger the cleanup effort!
Refer to the following sections for my estimates on the physical strength, costs and care required for various species.
Care Needs of Different Homestead Livestock
Physical Strength Needed Average Costs Time requirement Concerns or notes Chickens and Ducks
(laying hens for eggs)Other than being able to clean the coop regularly, carry water to the coop and hold a chicken if it should need medical attention, strength needed is average. Raising poultry is suitable for those learning to homestead. In a coop and enclosed pen situation, estimate 50 lb bag of layer ration for 12 – 15 mature hens. Costs will vary but an estimate of $12- $16 dollars a week is an average. If you are able to free range, the feed cost will go down. Minimum of twice a day care needed to freshen the water, remove old feed and distribute fresh feed. Cleaning weekly as needed. Less cleaning is needed in the winter months as the accumulated bedding will help warm and insulate the chicken coop. Free Range can mean a free dinner for the foxes and racoons. Having a sturdy coop that can be tightly shut will protect your hens from predators. Rabbits Not a significant requirement. Similar to poultry. 1 rabbit estimate of 5lbs of feed per week. Will vary with the cold weather. Rabbit will eat more during cold weather. Approximately $3- $8 dollars a week plus fresh food supplements such as leafy greens, carrots, bananas, apples Twice per day check and refresh water and food. During below freezing temperatures, water may need to be refreshed more often. Nail clipping needed and general body condition checks needed. Hutch must be secure and predator proof. Goats – for milk, fiber or meat, field buddy for a horse You may need to lift a goat onto a stand for examination or to give meds, shear fiber, or general care. Strength can be a factor although there are ways to work smarter and not harder. Goats prefer browse to pasture grass so the hay can be of lower quality, weedier except for lactating dams and last stage of pregnancy. Commercial goat chow cost average $13 – $18 for a 50 lb bag. We feed half a cup per goat/twice a day, with free choice hay and browse. Approximately 1 hay flake per goat per day (hay bales separate into portions called flakes) Basic care for a herd of goats will take about 30 minutes, two times per day. Check fences, observe the goats, feed, and water.
Weekly, clean up the stall area and remove soiled hay. Replace bedding. General stall cleaning and maintenance.Goats require yearly vaccinations. You can learn to do this on your own, except for the rabies vaccine which in many states has to be administered by a veterinarian. Hoof trimming needs to be done two to four times a year. Breeding animals may require more care, Pigs More cleaning will need to be done so more strength will be required. The pigs can be pushy and aggressive for food. Pigs are very resourceful and can use many different food types to convert to muscle mass. Kitchen scraps, garden waste, hay and commercial feed can all be used to produce a healthy animal. Pig feed average cost is $17. Whole corn is another alternative and can be a cheaper choice. Fencing for the pig area or pig pastures will be a time consuming factor before bringing home the piglets. I believe the use of electric fencing is a must with pigs. We use both post and board fencing with dual electric lines inside the fence line. I do not recommend raising pigs as a first homestead animal choice. I recommend developing some homestead instincts and animal knowledge before venturing into raising pigs Cows – beef yes physical strength is required. varies. Pasture with strong fencing is a must. Finishing the beef cow on grain will run about $11 and $14 dollars a bag. daily care may not amount to much depending on your property but in the big picture, raising beef cattle can be very time consuming I do not recommend starting a homestead with beef cattle. I hope this gives you a good start on gathering information before adding animals to the homestead. Remember, homesteading is a journey, not a race. Having a field full of livestock, but not enjoying caring for them, is not worth the effort or expense. Add what your family needs and can care for slowly. Enjoy the journey!
We raise animals on our farm for our homestead use. We are not commercial poultry or beef producers. The information I am conveying here is from this point of view. I welcome your constructive comments below. Please share with us, your encouraging tips and advice for new homesteaders.
For more in this series please visit –
So You Want to be a Homesteader Part 1
The Bookshelf- So You Want to be a Homesteader – Part 2
This post was shared on The Homestead Barn Hop,
http://timbercreekfarmer.com/adding-animals-to-the-homestead-so-you-want-to-be-a-homesteader-part-3/
On – 30 Dec, 2016 By Janet Garman
-
Self-Sustainable Lifestyles are Becoming Illegal
Across the U.S. local zoning officials are making it increasingly difficult for people to go off-grid and live self-sustainable lives. Building tiny homes, harvesting rainwater, using solar or wind energy, and even building community gardens are being targeted and in some cases, the people involved are even threatened with jail time and fines.
Tiny Homes
Tiny Homes are structures 500 square feet or less and are one way for people to break free of mortgages, taxes, utility bills, and the general entrapment of having more than is necessary. They’re especially attractive to Millennials and retirees, or those seeking to live off-grid. In Maryland, tiny-house legality will likely be handled at the local level as a zoning or building code issue where placement on a property is determined by local zoning and land use regulations.
A priority for many tiny home owners alongside being self-sustainable, is reducing their carbon footprint and many are opting to use the elements for their energy from solar and wind, collecting rainwater, and reusing gray-water. And in many areas those who put their tiny home on a piece of land away from big cities with the intention or living off grid and self sustainably, are considered outlaws by the state because they are refusing to hook up to the utility grid. Tiny homes everywhere are being targeted by unjust laws to keep people tangled in debt.
Solar Panels
The issue of developers and homeowner associations banning homeowners from installing solar panels is widespread across the nation, but is especially relating directly and significantly to Texas, California and Florida, since homeowners in those states are overwhelmingly governed by property owners’ associations. Homeowners have lost lawsuits and have been forced to remove solar units they installed because they conflicted with an HOA’s binding legal obligations written into the deed of a property by the seller. These covenants can penalize buyers by fining those who fail to obey them. In January, Nevada practically killed its solar industry, causing solar providers to leave the state by increasing their tax on solar customers by 40 percent!
Collecting Rain Water
Harvested rainwater is storm water that is conveyed from a building roof, stored in a cistern, and disinfected and filtered before being used for toilet flushing. It can also be used for landscape irrigation. In some places it is illegal to even collect rainwater, threatening those who do with jail time and fines, but often you have to jump through a bunch of hoops, such as registering with the division of water rights or some states that put a limit on how much water you are allowed to collect on your property at time.
Community Gardens
Community gardens are also labeled a threat of the food industry because of the freedom it provides for low income and impoverished people. One example of a garden being shut down is the South Central Farm that was a community garden located at East 41st and South Alameda Streets and the garden was the largest community garden in the United States. The city allowed the farm the be created but sold the property to Ralph Horowitz in a secret deal out from under the citizens, and the new owner attempted to evict the farmers even though the farmers were able to raise the money to buy the land themselves.The selling of the land was corrupted, as it involved many backroom deals but it still ultimately lead to the demise of the peaceful garden. There were many protests and acts of civil disobedience for several years before the farm was finally bulldozed in 2006. There have also been many cases from around the country where the city or HOA’s shut down peaceful community gardens and even regular front yard gardens.
Building On Your Own Land
Many landowners are also being targeted just for building structures on their own land without having adequate permits. Even people who are building their homes well within codes are being forced to tear down the structures they have spent so much time and money creating. Activist Adam Kokesh, outright bought a piece of land in Arizona, started building and making improvements to it and not soon after he was harassed by David Williams, an employee of the county government. David Williams believed a written document from 1910 obligated Adam to comply with David. After Adam had his lawyer contact David and David was unable to provide any evidence that the code applied to Adam, David only escalated the situation by offering Adam a false choice, either an admin hearing or a criminal prosecution. This is still an ongoing issue for Kokesh as he has elected to not make the regular updates he was making about progress on the land. Which not only affects him as a paid content creator, but also those he was inspiring and helping learn from his venture.
Though people continue to struggle for the freedom to use their land and structures as they see fit, this self-sustainable movements only continue to grow. More people are choosing to live a more environmentally friendly life and will continue to build a life free from corporate choke-holds. Time will only tell if the state will continue to attempt inhibit the growth or encourage self-sustainable lifestyles but for now their choice is clear.
https://thehomestead.guru/self-sustainable-lifestyles-illegal/
On – 06 Apr, 2017 By Hailey
-
The 5 Best Livestock For Starting Your Homestead
Are you ready to stock your homestead with livestock? You must be wondering which farm animals to raise first and why. If you have doubts, consider our recommendations as a possible solution to meet your families needs.
Buying a homestead can be a very costly decision that you should not take likely. If you’re reading this post you’ve probably already gone forward and closed the deal. Congratulations if this is the case for you.
Now that you’ve purchased your first homestead property you are most likely wondering which livestock to stock and raise first? This is a valid concern for you to have.
The bottom line is you want to farm a group of homestead animal that will most likely meet your families needs.
For example, you might want to only consider livestock that produces eggs, milk, and/or meat. Or maybe you just want to raise farm animals that can also be resold as pets, for breeding, or as a food source.
Whatever your case we got you covered.
Just watch the short informative video below to learn the 5 best livestock farm animals to raise on your homestead. The video is approximately 22 minutes long.
But if you watch the video it will be the best use of your time and will definitely save you some headaches of picking the wrong animal/.
The video is approximately 22 minutes long. But if you watch the video it will be the best use of your time and will definitely save you the headache of picking the wrong animal.
Here’s the list and quantity of the 5 animals recommended in the video:
- (6 to 12) laying hens
- (2) dairy does and possibly a buck; a couple of dairy goats
- (2) feeder pigs short term or a breeding pair of pigs
- (3) breeding rabbits consisting of 2 does and 1 buck
- (15) quails
The recommendation given in the video is for an average family of four.
https://www.survivalisthandbook.com/5-best-livestock-starting-homestead/
On – 01 Feb, 2017 By l3hodo
-
The 5 Best Livestock For Starting Your Homestead
Are you ready to stock your homestead with livestock? You must be wondering which farm animals to raise first and why. If you have doubts, consider our recommendations as a possible solution to meet your families needs.
Buying a homestead can be a very costly decision that you should not take likely. If you’re reading this post you’ve probably already gone forward and closed the deal. Congratulations if this is the case for you.
Now that you’ve purchased your first homestead property you are most likely wondering which livestock to stock and raise first? This is a valid concern for you to have.
The bottom line is you want to farm a group of homestead animal that will most likely meet your families needs.
For example, you might want to only consider livestock that produces eggs, milk, and/or meat. Or maybe you just want to raise farm animals that can also be resold as pets, for breeding, or as a food source.
Whatever your case we got you covered.
Just watch the short informative video below to learn the 5 best livestock farm animals to raise on your homestead. The video is approximately 22 minutes long.
But if you watch the video it will be the best use of your time and will definitely save you some headaches of picking the wrong animal/.
The video is approximately 22 minutes long. But if you watch the video it will be the best use of your time and will definitely save you the headache of picking the wrong animal.
Here’s the list and quantity of the 5 animals recommended in the video:
- (6 to 12) laying hens
- (2) dairy does and possibly a buck; a couple of dairy goats
- (2) feeder pigs short term or a breeding pair of pigs
- (3) breeding rabbits consisting of 2 does and 1 buck
- (15) quails
The recommendation given in the video is for an average family of four.
https://www.survivalisthandbook.com/5-best-livestock-starting-homestead/
On – 01 Feb, 2017 By l3hodo
-
Animal Predators on the Homestead
Do you know what predators are eyeing your homestead animals? Learn how to recognize and prepare for 50 common animal predators on the homestead.
Several years ago we lived on a beautiful, wooded piece of land in the Oregon Cascade foothills. The pine trees were abundant and so were the predators, although the latter were often hard to recognize. After our first snow, we took a stroll around the property and were surprised by the tracks that were left behind. We had no idea that a bobcat was living right above us on the wooded mountainside until we saw the tracks.
Bobcats prey on small or young livestock, poultry, and pets. They hunt before dusk through the early morning daylight hours, during the fall and winter. They are rarely seen and behave cautiously around humans, but will growl, hiss, or spit if threatened or protecting a kill.
We learned to avoid surprising a bobcat by making noise when we were walking on the property’s outer paths and to remain observant for their signs by looking for claw marks, scat, and tracks.
Dealing with Bobcats in Homes and Yards
There are a few things you can do to deter a bobcat from coming after your chickens or pets:
- Don’t leave pet food or water outside
- Keep poultry and other pet birds penned with a secure top, not a tarp or flimsy netting
- Clear brush and other hiding places in your yard and around buildings
- Cover access to the undersides of decks, porches, and animal housing
- Keep vulnerable animals in a secure location during birthing seasons
- Remove sick or injured animals from the area
- Bobcats can jump 6 feet, make sure fences are tight and secure
- Place electric scare wires outside the fence at 12 and 18 inches above the ground. Add another near the top.
If you meet a Bobcat, do not approach the animal or run away. Instead, back away slowly from the cat or its kill. Pick up and protect small children. In the rare case of an attack, the bobcat will target the head, neck, or shoulders. Use pepper spray, fight off and hit the cat while trying to protect your head and neck. Make loud noises.
Keeping animals safe
If you want to keep your animals safe, you should assume that they are vulnerable to predator attack. What’s that old saying? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Understanding the potential threat and making your animals secure is going to help you win the battle, but where can you learn about the predators that are in your area?
Specific predator information relevant to your area can be found from the natural resource departments in states and provinces, the USDA extension office in your area, and the Ministry of Agriculture in Canada. Also, check with local livestock producers’ organizations. You can also stay informed by talking to neighbors and following local news stories.
The Encyclopedia of Animal Predators
by Janet Vorwald Dohner
I have enjoyed a new book about animal predators by Janet Vorwald Dohner. She creates an immersive experience as you learn about the potential predators to your livestock, and more importantly, she advocates for a peaceful coexistence with these animals. While your first thought may be to head out with a shotgun, that may not always be necessary. On the dedication page, she states “Dedicated to the belief that, armed with knowledge, we can coexist with animal predators on our farms, on our ranches, in our backyards, and in the greater world we share.”
Ms. Dohner begins the book by breaking it into three sections; first, predators in the modern world.
This section is all about learning which predators are out there and how they can attack your livestock. She arms you with the tools of becoming a junior sleuth in uncovering what killed a member of your flock, and how to protect them in the future.
Second, the predators up close sections is all about, you guessed it, the 50 most common predators that you can be potentially facing in your area.
Dohner goes into the specifics of each animal such as where subspecies are found, how to identify them by their scat, track, and gait. She breaks all the common predators up into their genus, i.e., canines, felines, etc. At the end of the animal’s evaluation, there is a page or two that have what Dohner calls a Damage ID card. It contains information about what the animal typically preys on and when, their track size, how they kill their prey, their gait and scat.
Third, the prevention and protection section which is very important to any homesteader or farmer.
Dohner discusses the pros and cons of different coops, gates, and guardian animals to have and which will work best for the livestock or poultry that you have on your farm or ranch, and she goes in-depth, even to include protection for family pets
What is attacking my livestock?
Right off the bat, Ms. Dohner sho
ws you that she is an expert in the field of common predators preying on farm animals. She gives you information that will be valuable in determining what threats are possible in your area. Encyclopedia of Animal Predators has detailed pictures and several pages of information about each predator, showing the differences between the subspecies to help you identify them.One of the most useful points in The Encyclopedia of Animal Predators
This guide arms you with the knowledge of what is hurting your animals and how to better protect them. She also includes what to do when if you encounter a wild animal, how to protect yourself or how to evade harm.
I found this book to be a valuable addition to my preparedness library, and advocate adding it to any homestead, whether urban, suburban, or rural. If you raise livestock, you need to know the risks.
About the Author
She has 35 years of experience on her small family farm and has relied on livestock guard dogs and corgis to protect her sheep, goats, and poultry. Dohner writes for Modern Farmer and Mother Earth News and speaks regularly on predator control and livestock guardians at conferences. She is a board member of the Kangal Dog Club of America and a member of several learning communities for working dogs.
http://preparednessmama.com/animal-predators-on-the-homestead/
On – 01 Aug, 2017 By Shelle
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Animal Predators on the Homestead
Do you know what predators are eyeing your homestead animals? Learn how to recognize and prepare for 50 common animal predators on the homestead.
Several years ago we lived on a beautiful, wooded piece of land in the Oregon Cascade foothills. The pine trees were abundant and so were the predators, although the latter were often hard to recognize. After our first snow, we took a stroll around the property and were surprised by the tracks that were left behind. We had no idea that a bobcat was living right above us on the wooded mountainside until we saw the tracks.
Bobcats prey on small or young livestock, poultry, and pets. They hunt before dusk through the early morning daylight hours, during the fall and winter. They are rarely seen and behave cautiously around humans, but will growl, hiss, or spit if threatened or protecting a kill.
We learned to avoid surprising a bobcat by making noise when we were walking on the property’s outer paths and to remain observant for their signs by looking for claw marks, scat, and tracks.
Dealing with Bobcats in Homes and Yards
There are a few things you can do to deter a bobcat from coming after your chickens or pets:
- Don’t leave pet food or water outside
- Keep poultry and other pet birds penned with a secure top, not a tarp or flimsy netting
- Clear brush and other hiding places in your yard and around buildings
- Cover access to the undersides of decks, porches, and animal housing
- Keep vulnerable animals in a secure location during birthing seasons
- Remove sick or injured animals from the area
- Bobcats can jump 6 feet, make sure fences are tight and secure
- Place electric scare wires outside the fence at 12 and 18 inches above the ground. Add another near the top.
If you meet a Bobcat, do not approach the animal or run away. Instead, back away slowly from the cat or its kill. Pick up and protect small children. In the rare case of an attack, the bobcat will target the head, neck, or shoulders. Use pepper spray, fight off and hit the cat while trying to protect your head and neck. Make loud noises.
Keeping animals safe
If you want to keep your animals safe, you should assume that they are vulnerable to predator attack. What’s that old saying? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Understanding the potential threat and making your animals secure is going to help you win the battle, but where can you learn about the predators that are in your area?
Specific predator information relevant to your area can be found from the natural resource departments in states and provinces, the USDA extension office in your area, and the Ministry of Agriculture in Canada. Also, check with local livestock producers’ organizations. You can also stay informed by talking to neighbors and following local news stories.
The Encyclopedia of Animal Predators
by Janet Vorwald Dohner
I have enjoyed a new book about animal predators by Janet Vorwald Dohner. She creates an immersive experience as you learn about the potential predators to your livestock, and more importantly, she advocates for a peaceful coexistence with these animals. While your first thought may be to head out with a shotgun, that may not always be necessary. On the dedication page, she states “Dedicated to the belief that, armed with knowledge, we can coexist with animal predators on our farms, on our ranches, in our backyards, and in the greater world we share.”
Ms. Dohner begins the book by breaking it into three sections; first, predators in the modern world.
This section is all about learning which predators are out there and how they can attack your livestock. She arms you with the tools of becoming a junior sleuth in uncovering what killed a member of your flock, and how to protect them in the future.
Second, the predators up close sections is all about, you guessed it, the 50 most common predators that you can be potentially facing in your area.
Dohner goes into the specifics of each animal such as where subspecies are found, how to identify them by their scat, track, and gait. She breaks all the common predators up into their genus, i.e., canines, felines, etc. At the end of the animal’s evaluation, there is a page or two that have what Dohner calls a Damage ID card. It contains information about what the animal typically preys on and when, their track size, how they kill their prey, their gait and scat.
Third, the prevention and protection section which is very important to any homesteader or farmer.
Dohner discusses the pros and cons of different coops, gates, and guardian animals to have and which will work best for the livestock or poultry that you have on your farm or ranch, and she goes in-depth, even to include protection for family pets
What is attacking my livestock?
Right off the bat, Ms. Dohner sho
ws you that she is an expert in the field of common predators preying on farm animals. She gives you information that will be valuable in determining what threats are possible in your area. Encyclopedia of Animal Predators has detailed pictures and several pages of information about each predator, showing the differences between the subspecies to help you identify them.One of the most useful points in The Encyclopedia of Animal Predators
This guide arms you with the knowledge of what is hurting your animals and how to better protect them. She also includes what to do when if you encounter a wild animal, how to protect yourself or how to evade harm.
I found this book to be a valuable addition to my preparedness library, and advocate adding it to any homestead, whether urban, suburban, or rural. If you raise livestock, you need to know the risks.
About the Author
She has 35 years of experience on her small family farm and has relied on livestock guard dogs and corgis to protect her sheep, goats, and poultry. Dohner writes for Modern Farmer and Mother Earth News and speaks regularly on predator control and livestock guardians at conferences. She is a board member of the Kangal Dog Club of America and a member of several learning communities for working dogs.
http://preparednessmama.com/animal-predators-on-the-homestead/
On – 01 Aug, 2017 By Shelle
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Rotational Chicken Runs around your Garden to Reduce Feeding Costs
Our number one goal, other than adding a large garden to our new homestead, was to have rotational chicken runs around the garden to reduce feeding costs.
Rotational chicken runs can greatly help to reduce feeding costs because you can let an area rest and grow to have more weeds and bugs. Then when you open up that area to your chickens they have lots of fresh food and you have happier free-ranging chickens! Oh and you get stronger better eggs too ?
When planning rotational chicken runs it’s easier to design the coop close to the garden.
Unless you have a chicken tractor, it’s better to have all your runs close to the chicken coop and have different access ways to reach each run. It also helps to have the runs close to the garden if you want to include that area like we did. You can let them into the garden for any early spring or fall/winter clean up when it’s needed. This is a huge benefit if you accidentally let the weeds in your garden go out of control!
Benefits to permaculture rotational chicken runs around your garden
Permaculture is all about creating working systems that benefit multiple dynamics of your land. Chickens and gardens are a perfect match for permaculture design because chickens can do work for you in exchange for eggs and your garden benefits the fertilizer.
- Reduces feeding costs because they eat lots of bugs & weeds
- Weed control because they scratch up the weeds for you and prevent them from going to seed
- Happier chickens = healthier eggs
- Chicken poop!
- You can get the chickens to compost for you too
How we designed our permaculture rotational chicken runs around the garden
The design below is what we came up with after carefully pondering over where to put our garden and chicken coop. It took us a couple of months to decide! Having moved to this new homestead we still had to observe the sun patterns and winter. We used to live on a mountainside and moving to the open mountain valley has made it WAY hotter with an increased need for shade because there are so few trees. There were a few cherry trees at the back with an old outbuilding to create shade so we decided that would make the perfect main chicken run. The fruit trees also meant they can clean up the fallen fruit & bugs that feed on the old fruit too.
- Chicken run #1 is attached to the chicken coop itself, not only did we want to create shade with a roof, we also wanted the chickens to be able to go outside during our long winters that get lots of snow. This means they’ll have an outdoor area even in the colder months. The pic below is the chicken coop unfinished- we still have cedar shingles to put on plus the other roof on the covered run, I’ll update it when it’s complete.
- Chicken run #2 has a few fruit trees (cherry) that offers a lot of shade and is closest to the coop
- Chicken run #3 is around the side of our garden, sort of like a chicken ‘moat’.
- Chicken run #4 is inside the garden, where they won’t be until we can protect crops or use covered tunnels over the beds in the fall months and they can scratch up the leftover weeds and bugs. Learn more about free-ranging your chickens safely in the garden.
- The goal is to eventually have a permaculture fruit tree guild on the other side of the chicken coop for a potential chicken run #5 too.
Conclusion
Rotational chicken runs around your garden can definitely help to reduce feeding costs and creates a great permaculture chicken garden set up. It’s truly a delight to see our chickens roaming close to the garden.
https://www.familyfoodgarden.com/permaculture-rotational-chicken-runs-around-your-garden/
On – 06 Jul, 2017 By
