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Homesteading – Page 31 – Homesteader Depot

Homesteader Depot

Category: Homesteading

  • Homemade Rosewater Recipe

    Homemade Rosewater Recipe

    Rosewater is exactly what it sounds like: water infused with roses. It’s simple, but it’s incredibly effective to tone, moisturize, and give a wonderful scent to skin and hair.

    You can use it in many different ways, as a toner for your skin, a quick moisturizing spray, to add to homemade lotions or remedies or just as a natural perfume.

    You can make a bottle of homemade rosewater very easily and use for yourself or as gifts, or even as a chic and easy addition to a farmer’s market stand for your homestead.

    Wherever you live, if you happen to grow your own organic roses, this is a great way to use them up once they’ve faded. Or, if you don’t grow roses but still want to make this rose water, try to find fresh cut roses that were grown organically, or buy some dried rose buds or petals online that are certified organic.

    If you intend to use the rosewater on your skin, you definitely don’t want to use conventional rose petals, because as your skin is your largest organ, you definitely don’t want to be absorbing trace pesticides through your open pores.

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    A quick note: this recipe will work with any amount of roses you have, just follow the directions and it will work.

    Ingredients 

    • organic roses
    • distilled water

    Directions

    1. If you are using fresh roses, remove the petals from the leaves completely.
    2. Put your petals in a saucepan, and cover with just enough distilled water to cover.
    3. Bring to a simmer and cover.
    4. Let simmer for 20-30 minutes until petals have lost their color.
    5. Remove from heat and strain the petals out. Let cool, and store in a glass bottle.

    That’s it! You can now use your rosewater to add to luxurious baths, homemade facial toner, or even to cook with; rosewater is a staple in many Middle Eastern dishes. Enjoy!

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  • Saving Space With Vertical Gardening (Infographic)

    Saving Space With Vertical Gardening (Infographic)

    We’ve written a lot about urban homesteading and space-efficient gardening for small yards, so I was really excited to find this infographic on FoodRevolution.org. It is a full breakdown of types of vertical gardening set-ups. It details which plants grow well on which kind of trellis, and also has some really creative ideas for DIY vertical gardens you can make with repurposed supplies you probably have lying around or could find easily at a thrift store.

    Vertical gardening is, in so many ways, the way of the future, as city planners look for ways to grow food in urban environments in a more efficient, eco-friendly way. You can participate in this revolution right in your own backyard-literally! You’ll love these ideas for creative vertical gardening, just in time for spring.

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  • How To Make Caramelized Onions in a Slow Cooker

    How To Make Caramelized Onions in a Slow Cooker

    I don’t know about you, but I love caramelized onions. What I don’t love is spending half an hour in front of my stove, stirring the onions and waiting for them to get to just the right degree of caramelized.

    Caramelized onions are a delicious addition to a wide variety of dishes, from soups to salads to pork chops and beyond. They can make a very simple, dressed-down seem like it’s straight out of a fancy French restaurant. Of course, the fancy part of it is probably due to the careful process of making caramelized onions, which many home cooks won’t feel they have the time for.

    This is why I was very thrilled recently to find this hack for making caramelized onions in a slow cook cooker.

    Not only does is this process a simple, hands-off way to make caramelized onions that doesn’t require constant stirring at the stove, but it can help you make a large batch of caramelized onions to keep in your fridge or freezer for many dishes to come. Not only can you add a lovely bit of gourmet class to each meal, you can do it with very little effort on your part!

    This is a great option for processing onions you find on sale, or a large harvest if you’re lucky enough to grow onions on your homestead.

    Here’s how:

    Ingredients

    1 large bag onions

    1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick typically)

    2 tsb salt

    4 tbs brown sugar

    Directions

    1. Slice your onions into thin rings, as best you can. They don’t have to be perfect.
    2. Place them in the slow cooker and cut the butter up into a few cubes, scattering them around the onions. Throw in the salt and brown sugar and give a good stir.
    3. Put your slow cooker on low.
    4. In about an hour, stir the onions again.
    5. Check the onions every now and then for about 8 hours, stirring when you can.
    6. Once they are brown and golden, you’ve got yourself easy caramelized onions! Let cool to room temperature and pack into bags and jars to refrigerate or freeze.

    How easy was that? I’m getting hungry just thinking of the delicious smell this will fill your kitchen with. Enjoy!

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  • 4 Things to Know About Goats Before You Get Them

    4 Things to Know About Goats Before You Get Them

    Goats are fantastic homestead animals, and we write about that all the time on this site. They can produce excellent milk, help you clear brush, grass, and shrubs, and can even been great companions.

    But you might have some misconceptions about goats you’re not aware of, so we thought we’d share four things you might not realize about goats. Before you purchase any, you should definitely be aware of these things, so you are not surprised when it’s not exactly like you thought!

    1. Cream doesn’t separate

    While the cream in cow’s milk naturally separates, providing you with more than enough rich cream to use and to make butter and buttermilk with, goat’s milk does not separate. You can still use it for lots of things, but it’s just not naturally separated. It takes quite a bit of effort to extract the cream, so you’re better off using it for something else.

    2. You will be up to your knees in milk

    Once goats start producing milk, you’ll have quite a lot. Definitely have a plan for how to use it, or you might find your fridge full of milk and yogurt! You can certainly make milk kefir, yogurt, and even ice cream with your goat’s milk, but that’s a lot of work and either way you might want to consider buying a second fridge or a mini-fridge to store the milk. You can always sell it too, but make sure you consider this first…

    3. It’s not always legal to sell

    Not every state allows the sale of raw milk for human consumption, so before you count on this, make sure to check local regulations regarding goat’s milk. It’s a great way to make some extra money, but just be sure it’s legal!

    4. They are stinky

    There are many ways to reduce their smell, of course, like lots of fresh bedding, well-ventilated shelter, and cleaning out their enclosure regularly. But in general, goats do just naturally smell rather strongly. Consider this when you’re planning out where to keep your goats!

     

    Consider these four points before buying goats so you can be well-prepared to care for and utilize them properly.

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  • Growing Calcium in Your Garden (Video)

    Growing Calcium in Your Garden (Video)

    Greens can be an excellent source of calcium, you just need to plant the right ones! John of GrowYourGreens.com shares what plants you can grow that are full of calcium, some even more than milk! He also explains how to amend the soil to ensure as much calcium as possible.

    This is a great video for anyone on a vegan diet, or anyone trying to grow food for long-term survival. You’ll need as much nutrients you can get, and calcium is a great mineral to grow in your garden, if you know what you’re doing! Check it out:

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  • Crops to Grow to Feed Your Chickens

    Crops to Grow to Feed Your Chickens

    Chickens are some of the best and easiest homestead animals you can raise, but their feed bill can get kind of pricey, especially if you have a big flock! Not to mention, what chickens really want to eat, and what gives their yokes that beautiful, rich yellow color is lots of fresh produce. Like us, chickens benefit the most from a diet full of a wide variety of plants, fat, and protein.

    If you can let your chickens scratch around in a pasture, this is ideal. They love to hunt for bugs (most people don’t realize that chickens are actually predators!), and they love eating grass and shoots and whatever they can get their claws on.

    There are also several great crops you can grow for your chickens, that you can either plant in the area they frequent, or harvest and feed to them, to reduce your chicken feed bill and get them that optimum nutrition they need and love.

    Here are a few of the best plants to grow for feeding to chickens:

    Sunflower

    Sunflower is pretty easy to grow, really fun to watch, especially if you’ve got small children, and, when it’s done, you can toss the big flowers in your chicken pen and let your chickens go nuts on it. They’ll love the protein and fat-rich seeds, and the sport of pecking them out!

    Peas

    Peas make a great ground cover crop, and if you’ve got the space for a lot, they’re a wonderful supplement to any chicken diet. They’ll most likely enjoy nibbling on the whole plant, not just the peas themselves.

    Clover

    Clover is another great cover crop, that’s very easy to grow and wonderful for chickens to eat. You can plant it as you would any other cover crop, and simply pull small patches up to feed to your chickens. It will regrow pretty quickly, making it a reliable source of fresh greens for your ladies. It is also ideal for inside their coops or in an area you let them scratch.

    Dandelion

    You most likely won’t have to grow dandelion, you probably already have it growing in your yard! Dandelion is a wonderful all-purpose herb, you can eat every part of the flower, leaves, and roots, and also make very beneficial medicines out of it. On top of that, chickens love to eat it! If you have a field with a lot of dandelion growing in it, let your chickens scratch around there, or, buy some seed packets and plant a few patches of it. It’s nutritious, delicious, and useful for chickens and humans alike!

    Amaranth 

    Amaranth is an “ancient grain” from Central America that most Americans have never heard of. It’s a surprisingly easy grain to grow, and while it would take quite a bit to provide a regular source of grains for a household, you can easily supplement your chicken’s diet with a small patch of it. They love to munch on the little seeds of grain, and they’ll enjoy the leaves too. Plus, it’s a beautiful plant!

    Comfrey

    Comfrey is another universally useful homestead plant, and while it’s not safe for human consumption, chickens love it, and it’s really healthy for them too. Many gardeners like to use comfrey as a cover crop, or plant it all around the perimeter of their garden. It’s easy to propagate and has too many uses for the garden, and for a natural medicine cabinet, to count, so plant as much of it as you can and throw some of the leaves to your chickens every now and then. They’ll love it, and it’s a great supplement to their diet.

    Buckwheat

    Buckwheat is yet another wonderful cover crop, that’s also a great addition to any chicken’s diet. It is an annual crop, that you can grow in the summer and dry for over the winter, so this is an awesome option if you have the space and would like to store some chicken feed up for the winter.

    Yellow Mustard

    You might find a few uses for this healthy green yourself, but one of them is feeding to chickens. It’s healthy for them too, and pretty easy to grow. They’ll love both the seeds and flowers, but you might find yourself snagging some of the spicy leaves for your salads or stir-frys too!

    Alfalfa

    Alfalfa is a classic crop to grow for animal feed, and for very good reason. It is healthy, easy to grow, and your birds will love it. If you don’t have a lot of space to grow it, you can also sprout the seeds for your chickens as you would for yourself! Chickens love sprouts, and it would make a wonderful addition to their diet full of great nutrients and minerals.

    Stinging Nettle

    Like dandelion, you might already have this growing in your yard! Stinging nettle also has many medicinal uses for humans, and it a great treat for chickens. You could plant a little patch of it for your own use and feed some to the birds, or just let them scratch and hunt in any area that has stinging nettle growing in it.

    Coconuts 

    This won’t apply to everyone, of course, since coconuts don’t grow anywhere, but if you happen to be somewhere like Florida, California, or Hawaii, with lots of coconut trees around, your chickens will love feasting on a cracked open coconut. This is a great option for coconut meat that’s too tough to be enjoyable to humans. Simply break a whole coconut open and toss it in the chicken coop. Your girls will be thrilled!

     

    By planting crops that you can also feed to your chickens, you’re not only going to be lowering your feed bill, you’ll be providing them with far better nutrients than any chicken feed can provide them. Whether you’re trying to save money or simply introduce more variety to your chickens’ diet, these plants are going to be a real treat for your egg-laying ladies.

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  • The Right Way to Water Your Plants

    The Right Way to Water Your Plants

    You may not have realized it before, but there are proven best practices for watering your plants and garden. Determining just when and how to water for the healthiest, most productive crops is all about paying attention to a few key factors. It might seem a little silly; is there really a wrong way to water plants? Not necessarily, but there are certainly better ways!

    There are no rules written in stone that apply to water all plants in all situations. You can make your call depending on the type of plant, the soil, the weather, the time of year and other factors. Don’t worry, it doesn’t get too complicated–you can even teach your kids to help!

    When to water:

    For container plants, there’s a simple and accurate test to check their water levels. Slowly and evenly water the soil until it begins to drain from the vessel at the bottom. After the draining stops, lift the pot or basket to get a sense for how heavy it should feel. When it feels light, it’s time to water. Easy as that!

    Now, you obviously can’t use the “lift test” in your garden or landscape. The appropriate alternative is to push a spade into the soil near your plant (but at a safe distance from the roots) and pull it back to get a good look at the soil. If consistent moisture reaches a depth of 6 to 12 inches, you’re in good shape. If it’s bone dry, water!

    You may find that your watering needs become somewhat regular, but don’t rely on timing them too much. You need to account for rainy or dry weather and plan accordingly. On especially hot and dry days check the soil to see if you need to water a second time.

    Always water early in the day. This allows any water that lands on the foliage and stalks to dry in the sun and reduce the risk of disease. Never water after sundown! Not only does this promote fungal disease, but it also attracts unwanted pests like garden slugs.

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    How to water:

    When it’s time to water, always focus on the root zone. After all, it’s the roots that need water, not the leaves! If you water too quickly and flood your plant, it runs straight down the soil avoiding the root ball, leaving the roots at the core of the plant thirsty. Whether you are nurturing seedlings, topping up houseplants, watering a row of tomatoes or soaking shrubs and trees, slow and steady watering is the key is to ensure that water soaks the root zone.

    Grasses and annual plants concentrate their roots in the first six inches of the soil. The roots of perennials, shrubs, and trees are found as deep as twelve inches into the soil. In dense, heavy soil, it can take hours for the water to percolate down through six to twelve inches. Check with a shovel or trowel to see just how deep water has traveled after you’ve finished being sure roots are sufficiently watered.

    Watering tips and tools:

    One word: MULCH! Mulch acts as insulation for your soil by reducing surface runoff and slowing evaporation from the soil.

    Use the right tools for the job. For efficient watering at the root zone, use a soaker hose or even a drip irrigation system instead of a regular sprinkler hose.

    A sprinkler is the best option for watering a larger garden or several containers, but it is not the most efficient. Roughly 40 percent of the water ever reaches the root zone. For more efficient watering in vegetable gardens and flower beds, install a soaker hose early in the season, before the plants become too big.

    While there is technically a science to properly watering the flora around your homestead, it doesn’t need to be difficult. Examine your watering habits if your plants are unhealthy or unproductive. You might be pleasantly surprised at how a couple of simple changes to your watering routine can positively affect your gardens!

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  • 7 Brilliant Uses for Table Salt…Other Than Flavoring Food

    7 Brilliant Uses for Table Salt…Other Than Flavoring Food

    Regular old table salt actually has a whole lot more uses than simply flavoring food. Even if you’ve gotten into healthier salts like Himalayan pink salt, you should still be buying regular table salt for the many household applications it has.

    Salt lasts virtually forever and can be used medicinally, for cleaning, even for the care of animals and in the garden.  It should definitely always be a staple in your home, like baking soda or vinegar.

    Here are just a few of the many things you can use salt for:

    Soothe bug bites

    You can use salt to reduce itching and irritation from pesky bug bites. Simply moisten a bit of salt with some water, making a paste, and apply to the irritated area.

    Shine copper

    Salt and lemon juice mixed into a paste can work wonders for dirty or oxidized copper cookware. Just use the paste to polish up your copper and it will shine like new.

    Reduce oil splatter 

    Add a dash of salt to oil when frying, and it will absorb any moisture in the oil and prevent splattering.

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    Non-drip candles 

    Soaking candles in a salt solution for a few hours will dramatically reduce any chance of wax dripping. Just make sure to let your candle dry completely before lighting!

    Put out grease fires

    You should know by now that you should not use water to put out a grease fire, but you can use salt. Throw as much salt as you can on the blaze and if you’re able to cover it, it will put the fire out.

    Keep milk fresh

    This is a great one for homesteaders-you can actually prolong the freshness of milk by adding a dash of salt to it. Don’t worry, you won’t taste it!

    Shell nuts easily

    Nuts that are tough to shell can cause much frustration. But if you soak them in a solution of salt water before shelling, it can help ease the process.

    These are just a few of the many ways you can use salt around the house. Do you know of any uses we didn’t cover?

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