Page 69 of 81
1 … 67 68 69 70 71 … 81
Ethan Archer – Page 69 – Homesteader Depot

Homesteader Depot

Author: Ethan Archer

  • Developing Skills Prior to Homesteading

    Given the drastic lifestyle changes inherent in making the transition from typical modern life to homesteading, preparation is a must.  Along with gathering tools and resources, one should not overlook practicing the skills that are soon to be a regular part of your life, but which are typically unfamiliar to those living in suburban or urban settings.  While not everything can be simulated, even a little experience can provide you with the skills and attitude that can transfer to many other aspects of your new homesteading life.

    Gardening

    Starring at a plot of fallow ground without having any experience gardening can be intimidating and can lead to less than desirable results.  Starting big for your first time can have you waste time and energy.  Nearly everyone, despite their space and living arrangements, can grow some food.  This will help you learn about plant care, pest control, sustainable harvest, and crop selection.  Even if you live in an apartment without ground access you can grow in containers if you have a balcony.  Fruiting plants like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant can be successfully and effectively grown in containers.  Greens like kale, chard, and Okinawan spinach do well in containers.  Culinary and medicinal herbs such as basil, mint, feverfew can thrive in containers.

    Animal Husbandry

    Like gardening, raising small domestic animals can still teach you the basics about how to properly care for and how to deal with possible and inevitable difficulties that go along with animal husbandry.  For those who can raise a few chickens or ducks in their backyard, this would be a great place to start.  First-hand observation will teach you more about your animals than any amount of reading or watching YouTube videos ever could.  You will learn first-hand through trial and error things like proper containment, effective methods of keeping predators away from your animals, and parasite and other health management.  Perhaps the most difficult to thing to learn without actual experience is slaughtering.  It is one thing to read about the methods of slaughtering an animal that you have put months if not years of care into raising, and it is another to actually do it yourself.  But it is a reality that one will have to understand if one is going to raise animals for food.

    Food Storage

    Resource conservation of all sorts is going to be an everyday part of life for those that are homesteading.  One way to prepare yourself for this now is to practice food preservation and storage such as canning and dehydrating.  Buying vegetables such as tomatoes and green beans while they are on sale and canning them for when they are out of season and more expensive is great practice for resource conservation.  Likewise growing your own herbs and dehydrating them for the winter months will be good experience for food preservation and resource conservation.

     

    Preparing now for the new changes and challenges that one will have to face when beginning homesteading can make the difference between a stressful failure and an exciting new way of life.  Good luck.

    If you liked this, you might also enjoy…

    The Ultimate Guide to Natural Healing…

    Does Yoga Help You Lose Weight? 

    Become A Woodworking Master…

  • How to Safely Handle Raw Milk

    How to Safely Handle Raw Milk

    Probably the primary appeal of having a family cow is the delicious, nutritious and plentiful milk you can get from her. Raw milk, meaning fresh, unpasteurized milk, has many more beneficial enzymes and bacteria than store-bought milk.

    But it is important to handle it safely to maintain optimum freshness and sanitation. This is particularly important if you plan on selling your raw milk. If you want to sell your milk, make sure to check your local laws. In some states, it is highly illegal to sell raw milk. In other places, there may be certain restrictions. But even if you just want to share with friends and family or just keep it yourself, it’s always best to use safe, clean practices to maintain the quality, nutritional content, and longevity of the milk.

    Here is a simple guide to safe raw milk practices:

    1. Prepare your milking area

    You will want to have a proper set-up for milking. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy, but a dry, covered area, with a place to tie up your cow and feed her as well as space to comfortably sit by her, is probably all you need. You will also want a place that will either have a sink or be in close proximity to the area where you will clean your milking equipment.

    2. Have the right Equipment

    Again you won’t need anything fancy, but a good, stainless steel bucket for milking is ideal, especially with a top to keep the milk protected. Stainless steel is easier to clean than plastic and will withstand possible kicks from a grumpy or restless cow. You may also want some soft, cotton rags to wipe the teat while milking.

    3. Sanitize

    Before milking, you will want to make sure you have properly washed your bucket, hands, and cow’s teat thoroughly. Some people use a small amount of bleach, but hot water and soap should be sufficient.

    4. Practice

    When you first start milking, it might take some practice to keep the milk clean. You are ultimately trying to keep the milk from getting any debris like manure or dirt in it, so if that happens, you won’t want to drink that milk. You can give it to your other animals.

    5. Strain the milk

    You can use a coffee filter, fine mesh strainer, or strainer made specifically for milk, but the idea is to get out as much debris as you can.

    6. Cool the milk

    As soon as you are done milking, you will want to cool your milk as quickly as possible. Some people even keep reusable ice packs at the bottom of their bucket. When your milk is strained into the bottles or jars you want to use (which should be properly cleaned and sanitized first as well), put them in the freezer for an hour-set the timer so you don’t forget about them! And then transfer to the fridge. You can now use as you would any other milk, although because it is raw it might not last as long, but it’s so delicious that might not be a problem for your family!

     

    If you liked this, you might also enjoy…

    Natural Healing Techniques Doctors Don’t Want You to Know…

    The Ultimate Woodworking Course..

     

  • Tips to Keep Your Chickens Safe from Predators

    Tips to Keep Your Chickens Safe from Predators

    Most homesteaders have chickens. The chickens are essential for providing eggs, so you don’t want anything to happen to them. Of course, we all know chickens are delicious. And quite a few predators know the same exact thing. Therefore, you need to take steps to keep your chickens safe from all manner of predators. Here are some tips to make it easier on you.

    What Predators Are in Your Area?

    The first thing you need to do is take some time to research what types of predators are in your area that are likely to prey on chickens. You may have coyotes, foxes, weasels, and more that are quite common. Think about some of the other animals as well. These can include rats, some snakes that eat eggs, and predatory birds. You need to devise defenses that are able to withstand all of the different types of predators in your location.

    Use Chicken Wire Wisely

    You need to use the chicken wire for more than just building a fence around the coop. Yes, you need a fence, but you also need to make sure that the wire is placed into the ground at least 12 to 15 inches. This will help stop predators that try to dig their way inside.

    In addition, you should add the wire to the top of your chicken run. Make sure the “chicken wire ceiling” is about seven feet high – you need to make sure you can still walk around under it. This will give your chickens plenty of light, but it will help to keep out pesky birds of prey that might otherwise swoop down on your poor chickens.

    Look for Holes in the Ground and Plug Them

    Take the time each day to walk around the grounds of the chicken run and around the coop to look for holes in the ground. These holes could be from a variety of different types of predators including foxes, skunks, and weasels. If you find any of these holes, plug them right away. You might also want to set out some traps – outside of the coop of course.

    Do the Same With the Coop

    In addition, you should look at the chicken coop for any holes. Even a very small hole no more than half an inch or so in diameter is enough to allow in certain predators. You never want to let predators get right into the coop. This is especially true when it comes to weasels – they seem to like killing and will often kill all of the chickens in a coop even though they might not eat much at all.

    Remove the Brush

    A final tip to help reduce the number of predators who are looking at your chickens as food is to remove the brush in the area around the coop. If a predator has to move across a large amount of empty space in order to get to the chickens, they are less likely to do so, as they do not want to be seen or caught.

    These simple tips should help to keep your chickens much safer and much happier.

    If you liked this, you might also enjoy…

    Natural Healing Techniques Doctors Don’t Want You to Know…

    The Weight-Reducing Magic of Yoga…

    The Ultimate Woodworking Course..

     

     

  • Going From Urban to Country Homesteading: What You Need to Consider

    Going From Urban to Country Homesteading: What You Need to Consider

     

    If you are one of the many people these days considering a transition from urban or suburban life to country homesteading, then you are in for a massive lifestyle change. This will involve things you may have never considered since they might not have had a large impact on you in your current way of life.  Considering what these factors are and preparing for them may just make the difference between living happily ever after in an idyllic setting of your choice, or blowing your savings only to move back to the city with nothing to show for it.  This is by no means a comprehensive list, but just three things that almost everyone in any homesteading situation needs to consider prior to making the move.

    Water

    Water is necessary for life, but many people who live in a city their wholes lives can take this for granted since all they need to do to get water is just turn the sink handle.  When you are considering where you are going to relocate to, consider your access to water.  Are you going to have a stream or a pond on the property?  Or are you going to be on well water?  Or is it an area where you are going to be able to use rain catchment to meet your needs?  Everyone’s budget and situation is going to be different so don’t expect to find absolute perfection, but on the other hand, don’t over look the issue of water because you like something more superficial about the area or property.

    Wood

    Gaining self-reliance includes energy independence.  Most of us are not going to go as far as to run our tractor on wood (fun fact: combustion engines do not operate on liquid fuel but on expanding gas that is heated by any fuel, in WWII during fuel shortages in Europe tractors and boats were converted to run off of wood instead of gas and diesel). But most will want to heat their home and possibly cook from wood fire.  Wood can also be used for construction, though this will require skills and tools that a beginning homesteader might not have.  And sometimes money actually does grow on trees: wood can bring you income if managed properly.

    Neighbors

    One resource that many don’t think of when they are preparing for a life that demands much more self-reliance is the people that will be around them and the potential downside or benefits that these people offer.  There is much to be gained in knowledge and second-hand resources if you move next to a third generation farmer who has been doing what you want to do since he could remember.  On the other hand, you might find a seemingly nice place to live, but find out too late that your neighbors don’t farm at all on their 120 acres but instead be up to no good.  The people around you could be the difference between success or failure.  Know your potential neighbors and weigh them in as a resource or a danger.

     

    If homesteading is something that has been on your mind, then get out there and do it, but don’t make such a drastic decision without thinking it through.  Do it right and enjoy all the benefits.

    If you liked this, you might also enjoy…

    Natural Healing Techniques Doctors Don’t Want You to Know…

    The Weight-Reducing Magic of Yoga…

    The Ultimate Woodworking Course..

     

  • How to Use Fall Leaves

    How to Use Fall Leaves

    This time of year many of us are going to have a layer of leaves all over the lawn.  Many people simply rake and bag them to put on the street for the trash men to pick up, others will even pay someone else to do this.  But there are more options for what to do with this fantastic free garden resource.

    Fall Mulch

    Mulching with leaves can have a drastic impact on your garden’s soil mineral content.  Not only do the leaves of many deciduous trees have an NPK of around .5, .1, .5, but they also have calcium, magnesium, and other minerals drawn deep from underground by the trees roots.  Along with providing a slow release fertilizer for your garden a thick layer of leaf mulch applied in the fall or winter will insulate your soil, providing a more hospitable environment for earthworms which will feed on the leaves all winter.

    Leaf Mold or Compost

    Leaves can also be bagged and kept for leaf mold.  Leaf mold can help aerate clay soil or help water retention in sandy soil.  But it will take years to make and not everyone has the space or the patience for that.  Some of the benefits can still be had simply by adding the leaves to your compost pile.

    Spring Mulch

    If you do bag your leaves for leaf mulch only to find that you don’t have the space to store the bags, or that you are just not patient enough to wait 2 years for the results all is not lost.  You can take the partially broken down leaf mold which will still resemble its original state, and apply it as a thick layer of mulch in spring or summer.  It will not heat up the way grass clipping do, and leaf mold, even partial leaf mold, can hold up to 3 times it’s weight in water, reducing your need to irrigate or hand water, and keeping your crops happy in warm weather.

     

    This year, don’t waste your time and energy to just throw away a free resource that could have powerful benefits for your garden.

    If you liked this, you might also enjoy…

    The Ultimate Guide to Natural Healing…

    Does Yoga Help You Lose Weight? 

    Become A Woodworking Master…

     

     

  • Tips for Making Your Own Crispy Pickles

    Tips for Making Your Own Crispy Pickles

    Do you and your family love the taste of fresh crunchy pickles? If you do, and you are a homesteader, you have probably been trying to make your own pickles. It is not a difficult process, but you might’ve found that pickles you’ve made don’t quite have the same snap and crunch that you really like. Fortunately, you don’t have to live with soggy, bendy pickles for much longer. Just use the tips that follow and you will find that your pickles will have a much more significant crunch.

    One of the first things you want to do is make sure you’re using the freshest cucumbers possible. When you go to the grocery store to buy cucumbers or, even better since you are a homesteader, go out to the garden and pick the cucumbers, you want to use them right away. The fresher the better, as this will typically mean the texture is going to be crisper.

    Another good tip is to cut off the blossom end of the cucumbers. This is one of the best ways to make sure the cucumbers are nice and crisp. The reason for this is because this area of the cucumber has microbes that can cause the pickles to become soft. Also, make sure that you do not keep the pickles in the canning pot for too long. Be aware of what the timer says when you are making the pickles and take them off right away. Otherwise, the additional heat has the potential to soften the texture. Just make sure they have enough heat to kill any bacteria that may be on the vegetables.

    Now that you have a few more tips on your belt for making pickles, get out there grab some cucumbers so you can start making the best pickles of your pickling career!

     

    If you liked this, you might also enjoy…

    Natural Healing Techniques Doctors Don’t Want You to Know…

    The Weight-Reducing Magic of Yoga…

    The Ultimate Woodworking Course..

     

  • Homestead (and Life) Lessons From the Great Depression

    Homestead (and Life) Lessons From the Great Depression

    The Great Depression was one of the most harrowing periods of history in our country, and there are many lessons we can take from it. It dramatically changed our economy, our government, our agriculture and our people. We made it through the recent Great Recession with far less damage than the Great Depression, but the possibility of something far worse seems to be constantly looming on the horizon and it’s hard to imagine we’d be prepared the way our resourceful ancestors were.

    The thing is, life has changed so much since the 20’s and 30’s, and we have become far more reliant on the resources of a globalized economy. This is why homesteading is so appealing to a growing number of people; in the face of a crippling economic meltdown, we want to be prepared, and self-reliant, and self-sufficient.

    Here are some lessons we can take from the Great Depression for homesteading, self-reliance, and life in general:

    1. Use what you have

    We get so used to constantly spending, we’ve forgotten how to use what we have already. Homesteaders are probably already familiar with this, especially if you live far from town and get used to  being resourceful, but Amazon Prime has definitely made it easier to order the most obscure homesteading equipment to be delivered right to our front door (or the mailbox at the top of our country road). Before you spend, try to imagine you have no spare money, what you would do. You’d be surprised how quickly you can problem solve sometimes if buying an additional tool or supply were not an option!

    2. Rely on others

    Community is the backbone of any country, and we have, over time, become more autonomous, individual agents who are ironically much more reliant on the grid and less on one another. Get to know your neighbors, your suppliers, shopkeepers, etc. Form bonds with others, trade work and supplies, pitch in to help others out and ask for help on your own homestead. Find a church, homeschool group, grocery co-op, book club, farmer’s market whatever it is that you’re interested in and make connections. When things get crazy you’ll need support and resources, and a few heads are always better than one.

    3. Get skilled

    Skills are invaluable, and the more you learn, the better equipped you are for #1 and #2. If you can build or repair things you won’t need to spend as much hiring others or buying new supplies or replacement parts, and if you have marketable skills or an artisan craft you can trade your work for things you need or simply pitch in to help others out and help strengthen your community.

    If you liked this, you might also enjoy…

    Natural Healing Techniques Doctors Don’t Want You to Know…

    The Weight-Reducing Magic of Yoga…

    The Ultimate Woodworking Course..

     

  • Benefits of Bees for Homesteads

    Benefits of Bees for Homesteads

    Bees can be greatly beneficial to the homestead. Becoming a beekeeper requires some knowledge, but it is still relatively simple to get into the field. Once you start to look at beekeeping, you will see that bees can provide a number of wonderful benefits.

    If you have a large garden that is meant to feed you and your entire family, then you need to make sure everything is pollinated properly. Same is true if you have some fruit trees on your property as well. By having bees on the property, you can ensure the pollination and fertilization of various crops. This means your food output via the garden could be much better than it is right now.

    In addition, there are a number of other benefits having bees can provide. One that comes to mind most readily is having fresh raw honey. Honey is fantastic as a sweetener, of course. However, that is not the only way that you can use the honey. In addition, it works well for healing on a variety of wounds including burns. It has antibacterial properties, as well as antiviral and antifungal properties.

    In addition, the honey works well as a long-term food storage item. In fact, it can be stored for decades. The beeswax provided from the beehives you set up can be quite beneficial as well. You can utilize the wax to make lotion, lip balms, and even beeswax candles.

    As you can see, there are a number of reasons to start keeping bees on your property. Just make sure you have the knowledge needed to keep your hive up and running, and remain safe while doing so. With a little research, you will have all of these benefits – and all that great tasting honey – sooner than you might think.

    If you liked this, you might also enjoy…

    Natural Healing Techniques Doctors Don’t Want You to Know…

    The Weight-Reducing Magic of Yoga…

    The Ultimate Woodworking Course..