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Ethan Archer – Page 70 – Homesteader Depot

Homesteader Depot

Author: Ethan Archer

  • Tips for Repelling Ticks

    Tips for Repelling Ticks

    If you have to live in the woods, you’re probably very familiar with ticks. They are not a fun creature deal with, and they can cause Lyme disease. Whether you’re trying to protect yourself, your children, or pets, you need to have some tips for making sure you can keep ticks at bay.

    Garlic is said to work quite well at repelling ticks. However, you probably don’t want rub garlic all over yourself. Eating garlic or garlic pills can provide the same results though. Something to remember is that garlic is not good for pets such as dogs and cats. So do not give it to them.

    Utilizing insect repellent that contains DEET can help as well. You can spray your clothing, as well as your shoes and socks. This works very well to keep the ticks away. If you’re going to be in an area where you know ticks are present, keep your pant legs tucked into your socks. It might look silly, but you can be sure the ticks are not going to get inside and onto your skin. You can also look for products that you can give to your pets that will help to repel or kill the ticks.

    Always take some time to check yourself, your loved ones, and your pets after you’ve come back from an area where there are ticks. If you find any ticks, use tweezers with a fine tip to grab the tick. You want to grab as close to the surface of the skin is possible. Then, pull upward with a steady pressure. Never twist or yank the tick. This could cause the head or parts of the mouth to break off inside the skin. Then, clean the area.

    To dispose of a tick, you can drown in alcohol. It can also be flushed down the toilet. You do not want to crush it with your finger.

    Be aware of the ticks that might be in your area, and start taking precautions if you haven’t already.

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  • Best Perennial Vegetables to Grow

    Best Perennial Vegetables to Grow

    If you are a new homesteader, one of the first things you want to think about when creating your plan is what vegetables you will be growing. You want to be as self-sufficient as possible, and that means growing and raising as much of your own food as possible. Of course, those who are new might not know what some of the best perennial vegetables are to plant.

    Asparagus

    One of the nice things about asparagus is that it is extremely durable as a crop. It also happens to be one of the first vegetables that you can harvest during springtime. They are easy to plant. You want to plant them in moist but well-drained soil that gets full sun, and you will want to plant in the early spring after the last frost. The best way to grow them is from rooted crowns. You can find these online or at local nurseries.

    Rhubarb

    You will actually plant rhubarb in a similar manner to asparagus. You want to have it in a location where it will not be disturbed and can grow year after year. Plant this the same time as you plant your asparagus. Something important to keep in mind about rhubarb is that you are only supposed to eat the stems. The leaves are poisonous.

    Sorrel

    This is another perennial plant that works very well in many gardens. It has a tart flavor that is similar to rhubarb. In fact, they are related plants. You will plant these so they get full sun and in soil about six eight inches apart, and rows that are two feet apart. The sorrel can be used in salads, as well as a number of other dishes.

    Garlic

    This can be a perennial as well. All you need to do is leave some of them to go to seed, and they will grow again the next year. One of the nice things about garlic is that it is very easy to grow. In fact, you could even go in for a store-bought garlic if you had to. They need to be planted in a sunny location with well-drained soil, and the root side needs to be down. Only the top of the cloves should stick out above the ground, and then only just barely. They should be spaced about 8 inches apart. As long as you want them, they will sprout relatively quickly.

    Garlic works well to flavor many different types of food from soups to sauces to meat and more. It also has some nice health benefits, as it is good for the heart.

    These are just some of the many different types of perennial plants you can start growing. Take some time to consider different types of fruits and vegetables that you enjoy, and see which ones will work best as perennials. They will likely become a staple of your diet, so make sure it is food that you and the family actually enjoy.

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  • Tips for Weeding the Garden

    Tips for Weeding the Garden

    Having a garden is a lot of work, and a big part of that work is weeding it. If you don’t weed the garden, those weeds can end up choking out the vegetable plants, or any other plants you want to grow. They take the nutrients that your plants need. However, if you are vigilant and are willing to spend time maintaining the garden each day, you have a much better chance of combating weeds effectively.

    One of the first things you want to do is make sure that you aerate the soil. You can do this with a specialized aeration tool. This will help to loosen any weeds, which can remove before you do the planting. Try to remove every bit of the weeds if you can. If you have chickens, you can count on them to eat the weeds. They can do a good job of cleaning up.

    Also, make sure you use mulch. Mulch can be very effective at getting rid of weeds. It helps to keep the soil cool and moist. In addition, it will not let the weeds get light. Mulch also happens to be a good home for crickets, which tend to eat weed seeds.

    Take care when you are watering the plants as well. Only water the plants you want to grow – not the weeds.

    Take 10 to 15 minutes each day just walk around the garden and look for any weeds that might have sprouted up. Remove them as soon as you find them. If you are willing to put in this work each day, it will be much easier to have a weed free garden.

    With these tips, and some work on your part, you can get the better of the weeds that are in your garden.

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  • How to Make Sauerkraut

    How to Make Sauerkraut

    The nutrition you can grow on your homestead is not limited to your garden! Fermenting is great for gardeners not only because you can use the excess vegetables in your garden, but also because it is a way to preserve vegetables that increases the nutritional value of what you are preserving.

    Fermenting is basically growing beneficial bacteria, and it’s been done for thousands of years, all over the world.

    Sauerkraut is a type of fermented vegetable that you’re probably familiar with already, it’s a popular condiment in Germany and much loved in the United States as well.

    It’s very easy to make at home on your countertop, either with cabbage from your garden or of course from the store. The important thing is to use organic cabbage; the pesticides in conventional cabbage can interfere with the fermenting process.

    What you need:

    • 1-2 large heads of organic cabbage
    • 1 quart mason jar
    • 1 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
    • caraway seeds (optional)
    • fermenting weights or a small jelly car and clean rocks
    • Cheesecloth or paper towel
    • Rubber band or twine

    What you do:

    1. It’s always good to start with fully sanitized equipment. Wash your cutting board, knife, and jars with hot water and soap
    2. Slice up your cabbage, as thin or as thick as you prefer.
    3. Put the cabbage in a large mixing bowl, and sprinkle the salt over the top
    4. This is the most labor-intensive part. Begin to massage the salt into the cabbage leaves. You can use a potato masher or meat cleaver too to gently pound the cabbage leaves. Do this for about 5-10 minutes. The cabbage leaves will wilt considerably, this is what you want. The liquid from the cabbage will slowly become released through this process; this is the liquid you will use to preserve the cabbage. Once they are significantly and uniformly wilted, move on to the next step.
    5. If you are using the caraway seeds, mix them in while the leaves are still in the bowl.
    6. Stuff your cabbage leaves into the jar, punching them down to the bottom of the jar as you go, so that the liquid rises above the cabbage (it won’t stay that way, but just keep pushing it down as you add all your cabbage to the jar
    7. Weigh the kraut down. As you will notice at this point, no matter how much you stuff the cabbage in the jar, it will always try to slowly pop back up, so you will want to weigh it down so it remains submerged in the liquid. You can use either fermenting weights or a small jelly jar with a few rocks in it. Cover the kraut with a paper towel or cheesecloth and secure with a rubber band.
    8. Over the next 24 hours, check the kraut from time to time and press the cabbage down further if needed.
    9. Over the next 3-10 days, let your kraut ferment in a dark, cool place. After three days you can start to taste; it’s virtually done when the taste is to your liking.

    Enjoy!

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  • Garden Calendar (Infographic)

    I came across this great infographic on Pinterest today for what needs to be done in the garden during each month. Given we have Fall and Winter well on the way I thought it was perfect for this time of  year. Not only for what to do in the garden as the seasons are changing but also because winter is a great time to start planning next year’s garden.

    As the weather gets cool and you harvest your summer crops, it’s the perfect time to think about next year’s garden. Garden journals are great for this: you can write down everything you want to repeat or change next year. But whether you want to start a garden journal or simply start thinking about next year’s garden, this infographic, from Spalding Plant and Bulb Co., is very handy.

    Happy gardening!

    garden-calendar

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  • How to Kill Microbes

    How often do you think about microbes and other types of infectious pathogens? If you are learning to survive and trying to be more self-sufficient, then you might think about this more than the average person. Still, you may not understand how to deal with these types of infectious pathogens and microbes properly. In many cases, utilizing things such as antibiotics and antimicrobials will work to deal with microbes.

    In fact, you can find quite a few items in the store, including a variety of name brand cleaners, that have antimicrobial properties. Of course, if you only rely on these commercial products, you won’t know how to be self-sufficient if that time ever comes when you need to be. Fortunately, there are a number of very simple methods to help kill microbes, which will help to prevent disease and improve health of you and your family. Let’s look at a few of the different methods you can use.

    Fresh Air

    Experiments have shown that it is possible to kill bacteria simply by exposing it to fresh air. By exposing pathogenic bacteria to fresh air for about two hours, it has the potential to kill most of the bacteria. These are relatively old methods, but they are tried-and-true and still work today.

    Of course, they are not the only methods used to deal with microbes. Let’s look at some of the other simple and effective ways that you can reduce the number of potentially dangerous microbes in your home right now.

    Cleaning the Sponges and Towels

    Chances are you have quite a few sponges and towels around the kitchen, and these can be a haven for bacteria. Namely, because they can stay wet and they are porous, which means there are plenty of places that bacteria can hide and grow. With your sponges, you could put them in a pool of water and put in the microwave for two minutes. You could also boil water and then pour it over the sponges while they are sitting in the same. You can wash the towels in hot water, or you can boil them as you can the sponges.

    Keep Everything as Clean as Possible

    You should strive to keep all areas of the home as clean as possible. This is true in a day-to-day situation in home or while you are camping, as well as any survival situation. By keeping things clean, you significantly reduce the chance of infection.

    People

    Microbes tend to gather on people and spread from person-to-person quite easily. The human hand is quite dirty, so washing hands with soap and water and then drying them with a clean towel can help reduce the number of microbes being spread to the home significantly. If you handle any poultry, meat, or eggs, then you should wash your hands immediately after.

    Everybody wants to be happy and healthy. You will find that a little cleanliness will go a long way in making sure you and your family are protected from microbes.

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  • 3 Reasons Why Ducks Are Better Than Chickens

    3 Reasons Why Ducks Are Better Than Chickens

    When most people think of animals for their back yard they quickly think of chickens.  And while there is good reason so many people think to raise chickens, there are also reasons why ducks may be the preferable livestock for your backyard farm.

    Ducks don’t crow

    Not everyone starting their homestead has 15 acres in the country.  Some may have less than an acre with neighbors right next to them that don’t share their passion for raising animals and growing food.  Keeping this in mind, it is not hard to think of how a rooster could degrade the relationship one has with the neighbors.  Ducks, on the other hand, don’t crow, and don’t cackle loudly after laying an egg, or when in preparation to lay an egg.

    >>>What the Heck CBD?

    Ducks don’t destroy everything

    It’s true that ducks will eat all the grass available if they are confined, just as chickens will.  But they can be allowed into an established garden without causing total devastation.  Ducks do not kick and scratch the way chickens do which will destroy the roots of plants and ruin mulch.  Plants will recover from losing some leaves a lot faster than they will if they are uprooted and kicked into the path.

    Ducks are better at egg laying

    Ducks do not decrease egg production in the winter the way chickens do.  The eggs they do lay are more nutritious and have a taste that is often preferred over chicken eggs.  With a thicker shell and membrane, they also last longer than chicken eggs do.

    You may already have a flock of chickens in your yard now and may be skeptical of replacing birds that you have come to appreciate.  But as your chickens become chicken dinner you might want to make some room in your flock for some different birds and give ducks a try too, if it doesn’t work out you can always have roast duck instead of fried chicken.

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  • The Benefits of Solar Water Heaters

    The Benefits of Solar Water Heaters

    As the cost of energy rises, more and more people are looking toward solar power. One of the areas that interest them the most is solar water heating. While it can seem more expensive in the beginning, utilizing a solar water heater has the potential to provide you with a substantial amount of saved money in the long run. In addition, this will help to get you entirely off the grid.

    There are two different types of solar water heaters available – active and passive. The active systems use cells, pumps, and controllers as they move fluid through the system. The passive systems do not have any pump or electrical components. Of course, even within these two different types of water heaters, there are still many different types of choices to make. Do you want a direct or indirect system, for example?

    You can find companies that are able to install these solar water heaters for you, or you can check out some DIY projects and try to do them on your own. If you are handy and you are relatively certain you could create a solar water heater, or solar panels, on your own, then you might want to try this do-it-yourself route.

    You may still want to have a traditional water heater installed as a backup. However, solar energy may very well be the way of the future. It is also a good option for homesteaders because you are truly living off the land when you utilize the sun and cut down your reliance on traditional, expensive energy.

    The subject of solar power is a big one, and there is quite a bit to learn. If you are looking to truly get off the grid though, it might be just the thing for you to look into.

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