Regular Crossfit is all the rage, but now…there’s goat Crossfit!
When this urban homesteader’s friends all started going to Crossfit down the street from her house, she knew she didn’t need to go, because she already had goats. This very cute and funny video shows the brilliant invention of goat Crossfit! It has yet to take off, but it looks like such a fun, great workout, we’re confident it will very soon… 😉
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It is a very common assumption that urban centers tend to be much more toxic and polluted than rural communities or wilderness. And there’s good reason to think this. Cities have far more toxic emissions from the many vehicles that go in and out of the city every day, the high concentration of factories, plants, and refineries, the shere volume of people densely populating our nation’s major urban centers.
It is true that there is much pollution in cities, as anyone who’s ever overlooked the Los Angeles basin on a sunny day can attest. Cities produce a huge amount of exhaust, fumes, sewage, debris, and require a high amount of energy to power.
So, many people desire to live a simpler life in a rural area for this reason. It certainly seems like one of the many benefits to living in a much less populated area would be to live in pristine, untouched wilderness. And in many ways, you will be exposed to less pollution if you live in the country, certainly.
But this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, sadly, rural areas are exposed to high concentrations of pollutions that city dwellers aren’t. For example, many rural areas can have highly polluted water tables, either from agricultural runoff or waste from a chemical plant, factory, or refinery.
There is also the very serious issue of polluted lakes, rivers, and streams. Pollution produced in more urban areas often gets dumped in rural areas, unfortunately. Lawmakers tend to live in cities, and don’t mind passing legislation that puts country dwellers at more risk of exposure to pollution than their urban constituents.
So is life in the country just as toxic?
It all depends.
Before you decide to move to a certain area, do your research. These days, there are many organizations that research national pollution levels, and you can also easily gain access to information regarding what sorts of factories or refineries there are in your area. Check with local environmental groups in the areas you are considering to find out what sorts of pollutants you’re up against.
At the end of the day, there are still so many benefits to living in the country. Being away from high levels of radiation, crime, city ordinances against raising animals or gardening, etc., are just some examples. The peace, freedom, community, and self-reliance might all be worth it to you, and hey, there’s always going to be less smog in the country. That’s a guarantee.
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Goats are a wonderful addition to any homestead, but if you have quite a few, you might need to consider marking them at some point.
Usually, small homesteads who raise a handful of goats merely for pleasure and can recognize all their goats according to their markings won’t need to rely on marking to identify their goats. But if you’d like to breed, sell, and/or register your goats, you will need a system for keeping track of them.
The most common methods of marking goats are either tattooing or ear tagging.
Tattooing is the only permanent method and may be required to register your goats with any official association. Some people tattoo their kids as soon as they have been weaned, but others don’t feel comfortable subjecting such a young kid to the trauma of a tattoo. In this case, ear tagging is a good stand in, although you can also use a simple color coding system using an aerosol marker on the kid’s back. Then, when they are older, they can receive their tattoos or ear tags.
Tatooing tools are available at most veterinary or farm supply stores. The tools normally consist of a set of interchangeable numbers, made up of small needles, affixed to the metal base of a pair of jaws. It is recommended to test each number before beginning the tattooing process. You will also want to make sure you have all the necessary measures for sanitation before beginning; you can check with the store you’ve bought the kit from and refer to the manufacturer’s instructions to determine what you need.
Ear tags are your other option, and while goats are notorious for finding ways to loosen theirs, they are still a preferable option for many. One reason for this is they can be color-coded, so you can easily identify your goats based on breed, year born, gender, etc. You can buy the equipment to apply these from veterinary or farm supply stores as well.
Tattooing and ear tagging are much safer options that collars or leg bands. Goats are very active animals and they could easily become tangled and injured or even killed with one of these.
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The last few years have experienced record-breaking heat throughout the summer, all across North America and Europe. With unseasonably warm winters, it’s likely that this summer will be no different.
Unfortunately, for gardeners and homesteaders, we need to spend quite a bit of time outside, heat or no heat. So what are some ways you can keep cool, while still staying on top of your chores? We’ve got some tips.
1. Timing is Everything
Perhaps most important is to plan very carefully for all your chores to get done in the cooler parts of the day. Get up with the first light to water your plants, feed your animals, and do anything else outside that you might have to do, and take advantage of longer, cooler evenings as well. You’ll have to be organized for this, simple daily to-do lists or chore charts can really help you to plan ahead to beat the heat.
2. Embrace Siestas
To help get your early morning and late afternoon chores done efficiently, embrace the common European and Latin American tradition of the afternoon rest and naptime. Countries like Spain and France are famous for the big, savory meals and long, lazy naps they take in the middle of the day. Hide out indoors after you’ve finished your morning chores (follow some of the tips below to keep your house cool throughout the afternoon), and rest up so you’ll be refreshed for more work in the late afternoon and evening.
3. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Possibly the smartest thing you can do to stay cool in the summer heat would be to drink as much water as humanly possible. Keep lots of fresh, filtered water in the fridge, if you can. You can add some great flavor and extra health benefits by infusing it with herbs, lemon juice, or other refreshing fruit blends. Carry water with you while you do your morning and afternoon chores, too, because as the heat creeps up or lingers in the air, you might find yourself sweating quite a bit. When this happens, it’s very important to replace this hydration to keep your body’s natural cooling system in balance.
4. Meal Plan
Huh? What does meal planning have to do with staying cool in the summer? Well, if you’re smart about it, quite a lot! One of the big reasons you might be overheating in your house is by cooking, and cooking during the hotter parts of the day. To help reduce your need for heat in the kitchen, try to plan for colder meals to be served for lunch or dinner, and try to plan for a bulk cooking day where you can prepare several helpings of meat or bake your bread. One hot day in the kitchen can make meals painless–and cooler–for the rest of the week.
Also try to be strategic about what you’re cooking and when. For example, a roast in a crock pot probably won’t make your kitchen too hot, grilling meat for dinner outside will leave the kitchen nice and cool, wheras baking a pie or frying chicken in the middle of the day will most likely leave the whole house too hot for the rest of the day.
5. Cool Off!
While of course cooling off is the point of this whole guide, there are many easy and delightful ways you can cool off throughout the day.
One really fun way is to go swimming! When you’ve finished your morning chores, if you’re able to, take a dunk in a nearby lake or river. You’d be amazed how much this can reduce your overall body temperature, and leave you cool and refreshed for a comfortable afternoon rest.
Or perhaps you can make yourself cooling spray bottles using peppermint or eucalyptus essential oils, which both have a very lovely cooling sensation, as well as the added benefit of being naturally detoxifying.
Of course, there’s always a very nice, cool shower in the middle of the day. Spending enough time in a cold shower to reduce your body temperature is a very simple and easy way to make the rest of your day far more pleasant. Do so frequently thoughout the day to avoid overheating.
6. Open and Close Windows Strategically
In your home, opening your windows might not always keep it cool, sometimes, it might let hot air in. A common way to keep your home nice and cool is to open up the windows first thing in the morning to let the cool air in, and then closing them before it starts to heat up. In some houses, especially those with good insulation, never opening them at all might trap the cold evening air in the house all day. It depends on your climate, as some regions will have lots of cool air in the summer evenings and mornings, while other climates will be stifilingly hot 24 hours a day.
Also consider which side of the house your windows are on. For example, if your house faces east, you might want to open up all your back windows and curtains in the morning, and switch in the middle of the day. Hot afternoon sun and air are most likely going to very negatively impact the temperature of your house.
If you’re not sure how to open and close your windows, spend a few days experimenting! You’re sure to figure out what works if staying cool and comfortable in your home depends on it.
Hope you stay cool this summer!
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Whether you’re a survivalist, prepper, homesteader, or simply someone who wants to create a culture of self-reliance in your home, you need to be prepared for emergencies.
It can be overwhelming thinking about everything you might need to survive long-term, but it’s always prudent to simply start with the basics. Every family should have a basic emergency survival kit, and this infographic from SHTFPreparedness.com is a great guide for how to build this kit and what you should have in it.
These simple items are essential for any kind of emergency, and even if you’re not set up with enough food and water to survive a total zombie apocalypse, having this stuff on hand will greatly impact your odds of survival if there is a disaster or emergency in your area.
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This is a great video from a popular homesteading and survivalism vlogger I really enjoy. He poses the questions: which will survive longer, a homesteader or a survivalist? Are they the same thing? Does one come before the other?
I think this is a really great topic since, while homesteading and survivalism are not necessarily synonymous, there’s a lot of overlap. The ultimate goal of homesteading is self-reliance and independence, and survivalism is all about preparing for any number of scenarios in which you will not be able to rely on others to save or help you.
If you’ve ever considered this question yourself, or are interested in both survivalism and homesteading, you’ll enjoy this video and the thought-provoking questions he poses. He also shares his own experience as a survivalist who became a homesteader. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1zdVK_3TbE
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As a homesteader, you will typically put a lot of faith in your garden when it comes to having enough food to last your family. You will learn how to plant and keep the plants healthy and strong, how and when to harvest, and canning techniques, most likely. When everything is going well with the garden, this can be a great method to take care of the bulk of the food you and your family need. However, it is not always enough. Sometimes, the garden can fail, too, and that means you need to have some other ways of procuring the food that you need.
One of the most important skills you can have as a homesteader is the ability to forage. You can go out on the land and pick berries, as well as other fruit, which you can eat fresh and can. You should also learn how to look for nuts, as these can be a nice source of protein. Another option is to have an indoor garden, perhaps in a garage or basement, that you can have growing throughout the year, even in the winter.
If you have livestock on the farm, you need to learn how to kill and process those animals if needed. Butchering an animal can provide your family with much-needed protein. Hunting is also a good option. In fact, most people who are homesteading should make it a point to learn how to hunt. Even just a single deer, elk, wild pig, and other game can help to provide for your family in lean times. Fishing is a great skill to have for this reason, as well.
You can also get on a roadkill list to be notified when there is an animal killed by a vehicle that needs processing. Bartering items with neighbors can work, as well. Use these methods to help supplement your food stores, so even if your garden fails, you and the family will eat well.
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You love the idea of living simply and living on a homestead. However, you probably also love the idea of having some extra money coming into the household. Fortunately, you can combine these two loves and find some interesting ways to make money from your homestead, and it is easier than you might imagine. Here are just some of the different ways that you can start using your activities on the homestead to earn more to supplement your life.
If you are already growing a nice garden, and perhaps some fruit trees to provide for you and your family, consider taking some of the excess items that you make and selling them at a farmer’s market. It is something you are already doing, and you do not want the food to go to waste, so why not make some money from it?
Consider some of the goods you are making for you and your family already. It could be something such as blankets and quilts, homemade soap, or even homemade artwork. No matter what you are making, there is a good chance that there will be a market for it online and offline.
Another option is to start raising bees and collecting honey. People love to buy natural honey, and it is another good item if you have a farmer’s market in your area.
Many people are interested in the homesteading lifestyle, and they want to try it out first. You can teach them the ins and outs of homesteading by having them come to your property to learn. In fact, you can essentially charge them to help with your chores and work on the homestead!
Keep in mind that these are just a few of the different ways that you can start to earn from your homestead. Think about the things you do on your property that you can now start to monetize.
What type of livestock do you have on your homestead? You probably have some great animals that are working to provide well for you and your family. However, have you ever stopped to think that you might be able to get even more out of the animals? In some cases, your livestock will make money, providing you with some extra income. Let’s check out a few of the ways that your animals could make money for you.
Selling Excess Eggs
If you have some chickens, they are going to keep laying eggs each day in most cases. This means you will have more eggs than you know what to do with. Consider selling or bartering with the excess eggs. For example, if you have some neighbors who make soap or honey, trade the eggs for what you need.
Selling Wool
If you have sheep, you can only use so much wool, too. You can always sell some of the excess wool, or you can use it to make products that you can sell.
A Petting Zoo
Here’s an idea you might want to consider. If you have some animals such as goats, sheep, pigs, and the like, you may want to set up a petting zoo. For a few dollars, parents and their kids can come out to the farm and see the animals up close and learn more about life as a homesteader. The animals can be a real draw, especially when there are babies. Pony rides and horse rides are yet another option.
These are just a few of the different ways that you can make money from your livestock. Consider the animals that you have and just how you might be able to profit from them, and then reinvest that money back into the homestead. There are tons of options.