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Homesteading – Page 7 – Homesteader Depot

Homesteader Depot

Category: Homesteading

  • 5 Tricks for Keeping Animals out of Your Garden

    5 Tricks for Keeping Animals out of Your Garden

    There’s nothing worse than dealing with a pesky animal that got into your garden. Your fresh fruits and vegetables get chewed on. Entire rows of carrots go missing. The leaves on your trees and shrubbery have tooth marks on them. Yes, these animals can cause quite a bit of damage, both to your edible crops and your ornamental ones. Thankfully, we have some solutions for you.

    Fencing

    In most cases, a fence will keep these critters at bay. It will prevent many large types of wildlife from even getting near your garden. With that said, some, like raccoons, can scale metal chain link fencing, and others, such as moles and groundhogs, will tunnel under it. Fencing isn’t a perfect solution, but if you’re dealing with deer and their kinfolk, it works quite nicely.

    Related Article: Protecting the Garden From Animals

    Keep Outdoor Cats Away

    While outdoor cats are usually friendly and will come up to you for some head scratches, they’ll also use your garden as a litter box. This isn’t the type of fertilizer that you need. You can keep cats at bay with citrus scented items like sprays and fruit peels. They may still come up to you, but won’t leave deposits in your garden anymore. Other cat repellents include pipe tobacco, coffee grounds, mustard oil, citronella oil, lemongrass oil, and even lavender oil.

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    Hot Sauce Will Repel Deer and Raccoons

    There’s one thing that both deer and raccoons have in common – they hate the taste of hot sauce. (Oh, and they’ll go after the same plants, for the most part. That’s two points of commonality.) In order to repel these critters, you’ll have to make a concoction of water and hot sauce. Fill a spray bottle with water and drop in some hot sauce, powdered cayenne pepper, and even flakes of red pepper. Basically, every spicy substance that you find in your kitchen – dissolve them in the water. Then, spray your homemade pepper spray on your plants. The raccoons and deer won’t nibble on them anymore. If you use the spray on your edibles, just wash them well before eating them. You’ll also need to reapply your pepper spray after a rainstorm.

    Deter Moles with Mothballs

    Moles aren’t necessarily the type of pests who’ll end up eating all of your vegetables. You might find them nibbling on some greens, but for the most part, their damage takes place under the ground. They can destabilize your garden’s soil fairly quickly. Since moles tunnel, they can destroy entire root systems or leave your garden without enough depth. You’ll begin to see these sections collapse in on themselves as you begin to wonder why your plants aren’t thriving. Mothballs and some patience is the best solutions here. Why patience? Because you’ll need to figure out where the moles are coming from. You may have to hunt around your yard looking for the end of one of their tunnels. Once you find that entry point (or exit point, who knows with a mole), pour some mothballs into it. The moles will steer clear of that particular tunnel.

    Use the Aluminum Pie Plate Method

    The aluminum pie plate method is inexpensive and very effective. There’s a reason why gardeners have been practicing it for years. It involves punching holes at the tops of the pie plates and stringing twine through them. Use the twine to tie them to your fence. The wildlife will be deterred by their shininess and the light they reflect. The pie plates will also make some noise on windy days, which will help keep those critters away.

  • Animal Trapping for Dummies

    Animal Trapping for Dummies

    There are two main ways to get rid of those unwanted critters that are terrorizing your garden. You can either use a number of methods to repel them, or you can trap them. There are plenty of humane traps out there that will do the job nicely without harming the animal. These traps are a good solution if you have one or two animals that have been bothering you. Before you get started, check out this short guide to animal trapping. Everything will go much more smoothly once you understand the basics.

    Some Basic Rules to Follow

    When it comes to trapping live animals, there are some basic rules that you need to follow. Putting these in place will prevent injuries, both to you and the animal. Are you ready? Here they are:

    • Always call the experts once you’ve trapped a wild animal. Your local wildlife official or someone at a pest removal company will know the best way to deal with it.
    • Make sure that you hide any signs to humans. This means handling the traps as little as you possibly can to the point of wearing gloves when you carry it. If the trap smells like human, animals won’t go near it.
    • Ensure that the trap is the right size and shape for the animal that you’re attempting to capture.
    • Anchor the trap to the ground. Otherwise, the animal might be able to roll the entire thing over and pop the door open.
    • When baiting the trap, arrange a trail of tasty treats leading up to it. Place the last of these treats inside of the trap.
    • After you use the trap, clean it well with bleach. Wear gloves while doing this. Animal saliva can contain rabies, so even if you aren’t bitten, you still might get infected.
    • Check your traps every single day. The less time an animal suffers within one, the better off everything will be.
    • If you’re using live traps, put a piece of plywood under it. Otherwise, the animal might try to claw their way free, tearing up your grass in the process.

    Baiting the Trap

    Now that you know how to set up your trap, it’s time to learn the best types of bait to use. These depend on the animal that you’re trying to catch. Here’s a comprehensive break down:

    If you’re trying to catch squirrels and chipmunks, then go with something that they love: nuts and seeds. You can use whole nuts, rolled oats, piles of birdseed, and even spoonfuls of peanut butter. Also, only use metal traps when trying to catch these critters. They’ll chew right through wooden ones.

    Raccoons and opossums like cat food.  They’ll also eat marshmallows, corn, and sardines. Those tasty treats will draw them in. You really need to anchor your traps well when you’re trying to catch them since they’ll roll them over and try to escape.

    Speaking of sardines, skunks like them quite a bit. They like anything fishy, really, so use seafood flavored pet foods, bits of fish scraps, and even canned tuna as bait. You’ll need to cover the trap with a tarp, as skunks like dark places.

    Another common pest animal is the woodchuck. These creatures love things commonly found in gardens: apples, lettuce, beans, and carrots are some of their favorites. If you can find the entrance to their burrows, place the trap right near it. Otherwise, putting the trap near your garden will work well. You should only trap woodchucks in the summertime. They reproduce in the spring and hibernate in the fall.

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  • 5 Tips for Using Manures in Your Garden

    5 Tips for Using Manures in Your Garden

     

    Manure is one the best, all-natural fertilizers around. Yes, it does smell, since it consists of animal feces. However, its many benefits far outweigh the stench. You’ll be glad that you put up with it when your plants are growing strong and tall. Before you begin spreading manure around your garden willy-nilly, take the time to review these five useful tips.

     

    1) Don’t Place Manure around Your Edible Vegetables

    You might be tempted to use manure to fertilize every single plant in your garden, after all, it’s good for all of them, right? Wrong. You never want to use it around any edible vegetable or fruit plants, or even on your herbs. It can dehydrate and burn your plants, as it’s very strong. On top of this, manure is full of bacteria. This means that you might end up transferring salmonella and E. coli to your edible crops. All of the washing in the world may not be enough to keep them contaminant free.  Note: this is based on fresh manure directly applied to your soil.  There are steps you can take to apply composted manure as fertilizer.

     

    2) Research Your Manure before Using It

    Yes, manure is usually all-natural, as in it comes from animals. This doesn’t mean that your batch won’t contain trace amounts of various medications, antibiotics, and pesticides. These things can leach into your soil where they’ll negatively affect your plants. The chemicals in them can also kill off the beneficial microbes that make manure such a useful fertilizer. You need to be careful when using random batches of it. Always ask the provider (as in the farmer or store employee, not the animals) before buying your next supply.  Note: if you are supplying the manure from your own livestock, you will know what they have been fed and ingesting in their bodies.

     

    3) Age Your Manure

    Aged manure is what’s best for your garden. The fresh stuff can stink and even burn your plants.  Aged manure doesn’t smell as bad (although you might find that it has some lingering odors) and contains all of the proper nutrients. The aging process entails drying the manure at around 160 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours or days. Then, it’s left to sit for several months, ideally six months to a year. The end results are powdery and less moist. Many of the harmful pathogens will have been killed off as well.

    4) Place Some in Your Compost Pile

    If you already have a compost pile and need something to do with your fresh manure, then we have a solution for you. Place the manure in that pile and let it cure. Over the course of the next two to four months, your manure will break down along with the rest of the “ingredients” in your compost pile. With that said, this only works well if you add a small amount of manure to an already well-blended compost pile. You need an outdoor pile, as well, not one of those tumbler bins. They won’t work well, and the manure won’t break down properly. Since composting is quite different from aging your manure, you can test out both methods, provided that you have space, to see which one you like the best.

    Related Article: The Best All Natural Fertilizers For Your Garden

     

    5) Make Manure Tea

    This sounds completely unpalatable to the human ear. And yes, you don’t want to drink the manure tea yourself. Your plants will love it though. This liquid mixture of manure dissolved in water is just what your plants need. Your rosebushes, in particular, will love it. Once you have your “manure tea” ready, just pour it around the roots of your non-edible plants. They’ll soak up the liquid as if it were just water. The only difference is that this is a more powerful form of water, one with plenty of vitamins and nutrients.

     

    Conclusion

    While there are many steps and precautions to take when implementing manure, it is one of the most beneficial, natural fertilizers you can use.  Your plants will thank you!

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  • How To Build An Earth Oven

    How To Build An Earth Oven

     

    An earthen oven is exactly what it sounds like – an oven made of a combination of dried earth and clay. These ovens tend to cook things better than standard outdoor brick ovens, and are fairly easy to build, as long as you know how.

     

    History of Earth Ovens

    A type earth oven, known as a pit hearth, has been used for centuries. Examples of them have been found in Europe that date back to the Bronze Age. In the United States, they were commonly used by Native American tribes to cook large meals. Use of these ovens hasn’t died out. Many cultures, such as the Maori and the people of Papua New Guinea use them today. Since they aren’t difficult to build, you can even make one in your own backyard.

     

    The First Steps

    Before you start building your earth oven, you first need to gather your materials and make a space for it. A cleared section in a backyard that has some natural cover makes a great place for such an oven. Even out the land where you intend to build this small structure.

    You’ll need a number of things to build your earth oven. These include:

    1. firebricks (the first layer on the ground)
    2. building sand
    3. water
    4. newspaper
    5. clay
    6. either straw, hay, or dried grasses.

    Each of these components is essential to the process.

    The Building Process

    Next, you’ll need to begin construction. Since you already have a cleared space for the oven, you can start by laying down the fire bricks. They’ll become the base for the oven. How many bricks you use depends on how large you want your oven to be. An 18-inch inside is a good basic measurement for this oven, so set yours up accordingly. Once the bricks are laid down, you’ll need to trace out the shape of your oven.

    Now it’s time to mix your clay together and start the rest of the building process. Lay a tarp down on the ground and place your clay and sand on it. Mix them together, then add water. This is going to become the inner layer of the oven. Once they’re ready, lay the mixture down on the bricks in the shape of your oven. Remember to build up the middle and leave one of the ends low. The best ratio is about 60% tunnel to the middle dome. After you have the desired shape that you want, place some newspaper on top of it.

    After this, begin mixing together the final layers of clay. The first of these top layers need to be about three inches thick when laid on top of the inner oven. This clay mixture shouldn’t contain any of the grass, straw, or hay. The next layer also needs to be three inches thick and needs to have these dry materials mixed into it. This is the absolute final layer of your earth oven.

     

    Let It Dry

    Some patience is required before you can use your oven. The entire structure needs to dry out. This can take anywhere from two to six weeks, depending on your local weather and overall environment. You can’t cover your oven with anything while it dries, as that can harm its final composition and even slow the process.

    Finally, once your oven is completely dry, the next steps involve digging out that inner layer of sand and clay. The newspapers that you used to cover this layer will burn up when you use your oven, so there’s no need to worry about them.

    So, as you can see, an earth oven is a very simple structure that can be used as an alternative to your home oven and other cooking methods you may be using.  This is a neat, primitive way to cook and enjoy some food.

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  • 5 Great Benefits of Having Succulents in Your Home

    5 Great Benefits of Having Succulents in Your Home

    Plants help clean the air, add oxygen and any number of other benefits.  The problem?  Not everyone has a green enough thumb to keep their plants alive, let alone flourishing.

    Fortunately, you don’t have to have a degree in botany to enjoy having plants indoors; you have to pick the right ones.

    Enter the succulent.  Succulent plants, or succulents, are a type of plant that displays parts that are especially thick and fleshy.  This characteristic lets the plant retain water in drying climates and soil types in a similar manner to cactus plants.

    These wonderful little plants have become even more popular recently and for good reason, besides the typical benefits of adding oxygen and purifying the air. Let’s look at some of the other great reasons to add succulents to your home.

     

    They Bring a Zen Quality to Your Environment

    Houseplants have been shown to aid in concentration as well as improve your overall mood.  The geometrical patterns of succulents have the effects of focusing your thoughts, helping you feel more relaxed and able to process information better.

    Additionally, the process of taking care of a plant and watching it develop and grow can help rid yourself of feelings like loneliness and even depression.

     

    They Provide Natural Medicinal Properties

    Some succulents are good for more than just decorating a space.  Plants like agave and aloe vera also have medicinal properties. Keep agave on hand as a natural antiseptic to treat scratches and cuts.

    Aloe vera is not only great for burns and sunburn but can be taken internally to help alleviate fevers, bowel issues and more.

    They Are Not Picky About Their Living Quarters

    It doesn’t take much to make a succulent happy.  Their shallow root systems make them ideal for planting in bowls, jars, teacups, or anything else you can conjure up.  Let them take up as much or as little room as you can spare.

     

    They Rank High on the Hardiness Scale

    What does this mean for you?  They don’t require as much water and attention as other houseplants, making them easy to care for.  Have you ever left for a week and forgot to get someone to take care of the plants?

    No problem, more than likely your succulents will be no more the worse for wear when you get back. They may be a little thirsty though.

    Also, they don’t need very much light to get by.  This means you can keep them in your bedroom, and as long as there is a little light peeking through the blinds during the day, they’ll be happy and waiting for your at bedtime to commune with and clear your head before lights out.

     

    Where to Find Succulents

    Thanks to there increasing popularity, you won’t have to hunt down a specialized garden store to get started.  Any local DIY center with a garden section will probably have a large variety to choose from.  From there you can pick out a great planter to add to the aesthetic or take them home and put them in your favorite coffee mug.

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  • 5 Ways to Clean Your Tarnished Copper Naturally

    5 Ways to Clean Your Tarnished Copper Naturally

     

    Sinks, pans, and various other items found throughout your home can be made of beautiful copper. You may even pick up something cheap at a rummage sale made from copper that is just begging for you to bring it back to life.

    The only problem with this kind of a metal is that over time, it tarnishes. It can turn black after being exposed to the air. A greenish-blue color occurs when it gets wet. Instead of dealing with unsightly looking cooper, you are fully capable of cleaning it up with natural cleaners found right in your home.

    There are a plethora of cleaners available commercially, but they aren’t as safe, and they can be pretty costly. There are ingredients that are much more affordable, not as dangerous to have around, and readily available in most kitchens right now.

     

    Ketchup

    Instead of using ketchup on your French fries and hamburgers, squirt some of it over your copper surfaces. There is acid found in the tomatoes that are used to make the condiment, and that’s what works to clean off the dirty areas. Use a cloth to rub away at the problem spots until it all buffs out. Rinse and dry, and it will be just like new.

     

    Salt & Vinegar

    Pour out some vinegar into a container and dissolve some salt in it. Dip a cloth into the liquid and then rub it over the item until the mess disappears and the shine reappears. Rinse and dry before putting away or using whatever copper items you are cleaning. In the event there are hard to reach or tight spots, you can scrub at it lightly with an old toothbrush.

     

     

    Baking Soda & Lemon Juice

    Mix together lemon or lime juice and baking soda until you get a foamy type of consistency. It will be almost like soap. Apply the combination to the copper surfaces and buff it with a cloth. The juice has acid in it that will strip off the oxidation from the copper. The salt is abrasive and works at scrubbing away grime. Rinse and dry to complete the process.

     

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    Flour, Salt, & Vinegar

    Vinegar is also acidic, and the properties work effectively at cleaning up tarnished copper as well. Mix ¼ salt and ¼ flour. Then, add vinegar to the dry mixture until you achieve a thick paste. Apply the paste on the copper and rub gently with a soft cloth. Keep buffing until it reaches the desired level of shine. Rinse off the remnants and dry your item.

     

    Boil the Copper

    Once in a while, you can try each one of these methods, and none of them are going to work the way you hope. In the unfortunate case that you are dealing with that, you have one other option. Mix three or four cups of water, one cup of vinegar, and a tablespoon of salt in a pot big enough to hold whatever you are cleaning.

    You can keep the item in the boiling water until most of the tarnishing falls away. If you pull it out and there’s still some on there, you can scrub at it to remove it. It’s going to come off a lot more easily after boiling for a while.

     

    Keeping it Clean

    Now that you’ve worked so diligently to get your copper back to its original condition, you want to make sure that it stays that way. Spread a thin layer of linseed or mineral oil over the surface. It will ensure that it doesn’t tarnish quite as quickly meaning less work for you.

  • How to Prune your Roses the Proper Way

    How to Prune your Roses the Proper Way

     

    Roses come in a plethora of species. Over a hundred of them are available to be exact. They can be climbing, bushes, or trailing with long stems. You can grow just about any color that you can imagine at this point as a result of cross-breeding different ones to achieve the desired shades. They are gorgeous, they have a pleasant aroma, and they brighten up the exterior of any homestead or home. That’s why they are one of the most popular flowers found in gardens all over the world.

    Even though roses are pretty easy to grow and to maintain, there is still some work required in order to keep them looking their best. With proper pruning done regularly, the flowers will bloom beautifully and reach their fullest potential. The best part of that is, it can be done in just a few simple and easy to understand steps.

     

    1. Eliminate the Foliage

    You first need to get a good visual of what your rose plant or bush looks like. The best time to do this is in the spring before any leaves start sprouting up on it. If there are already leaves on the stems, just get rid of them by pulling them off with your hand. Be sure to wear thick gloves and watch for the thorns if there are any to prevent cutting yourself.

     

    1. Check for Horizontal Canes

    Look over your rose plant for branches or canes that are growing horizontally. Make sure you check for anything that is growing in towards the center of the bush. The ones that are crossing over other branches should be trimmed away as well. It will ensure that the remaining branches will have the ability to stretch as they should without anything disrupting their growth patterns.

     

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    1. Remove Dead or Diseased Sections

    For beginning growers, you may not be sure how to check and see if your plant is in good health. First, break open one of the canes. If the inside is brown or black, the branch is dead. A lovely green color means that the plant is in excellent condition. The dead areas cut off the air flow to the rest of the plant. By getting rid of them, that circulation is improved, and the overall health and appearance of the plant are going to increase.

     

    1. Tend to the Vertical Canes

    Now that you’ve reached this point in the process, you should have around six to eight nice, healthy, strong branches left of your rose bush. The objective from here is to get the biggest and most beautiful continuing blooms possible.

    The branches that are remaining should be cut down to 18 to 24 inches in length. Before cutting through, check the cane for an outward facing bud. Prune just above that one that is both outward facing and closest to the length you are trying to achieve.

     

    1. Cutting at the Proper Angle

    You have to make careful note that you cannot just cut the canes in whatever direction you want to. The trim should happen at a 45-degree angle. There is a reason this is done, and that’s so that the water can drain away from the buds. Too much water in the budding area will cause rotting or disease.

    The cut should be straight and smooth with no jagged areas. Get yourself a good pair of sharp pruners to make sure you can achieve the proper cut. It may be somewhat of an investment in the start, but it’ll make your job a lot easier. Not to mention the fact that you will probably have some of the best-looking roses around.

     

  • The Best All Natural Fertilizers For Your Garden

    The Best All Natural Fertilizers For Your Garden

     

    Store-bought fertilizers can get expensive. On top of that, they don’t always produce the results you are looking for. They aren’t natural, so there’s no guarantee that they are going to work the way they’re supposed to. Instead of heading into town to pick up an overpriced bag for your garden, go to your kitchen and mix up your own batch with any of these natural fertilizer recipes.

     

    1. Egg Shells

    After breakfast, don’t toss your egg shells. Wash them up and crush them. They are 93% calcium carbonate. With that there, it’s effective to use near peppers, tomatoes, and other plants to prevent rotting. If you are planting something fresh, you can mix your egg shells in with your potting soil for bigger and better results.

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    1. Coffee Grounds

    Your coffee is good for waking up more than just you in the morning. Those grounds can bring to life a variety of plants including roses, azaleas, blueberries, and tomatoes. You can mix the grounds directly into the soil or place them on top before you water. The nitrogen seeps in and gives the foliage a jolt. You can mix up a batch for watering by blending six cups of coffee grounds in a full five-gallon bucket for a couple of days. Then, dump it over your plants.

    Related Article:  The Undeniable Benefits of Coffee Grounds in Your Garden

    1. Banana Peels

    Bananas have a ton of nutrients for humans, so it’s no surprise that they are also healthy for plants. You can bury the peels in the ground before planting so that they decompose in the soil.

     

    1. Molasses

    Molasses is said to increase the good bacteria and microbes in various plants allowing for bigger and healthier results. A simple recipe is mixing one to three tablespoons of molasses per gallon of water. Dump the concoction directly on the plants.

     

    1. Human Urine

    As long as your body is healthy and free of any disease or infection, your urine is sterile. Sounds kind of gross to use it as a fertilizer, but it’s loaded with phosphorous, potassium, and nitrogen. There’s way more in there than what you find in the store-bought versions. The ideal urine to water ratio is 1:8.

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    1. Pet Food

    This is going to depend on what kind of animal food you have. As long as it’s not loaded with artificial stuff, even the cheap type has protein and nutrients that can aid in fertilization. Just sprinkle it over the garden, turn the food into the soil, and water. Cover the area to keep the critters away. Continue watering and turning the soil for about a month. When the food has decomposed all the way, put in your desired plants.

     

    1. Worm Castings

    You are going to have to do some worm hunting for this one. Get a handful of red wiggler worms and toss them in with some cardboard and various kitchen scraps. The worms will start making compost from the waste they create, and you can use that for fertilizer safely wherever you want.

    Related Article:  DIY Worm Casting

    1. Manure

    One of the most significant benefits of using cow, horse, or chicken manure is that with a little legwork around your local farms, you can get it for free. The composted manure should be put in some type of permeable bag made from a decomposable material. Put the bag in the shade and allow it to sit for a few days. When it’s conditioned properly, toss the bag or bury it and spread the compost over whatever area you are planting.

     

    1. Grass

    Put your grass clippings in a five-gallon bucket. Add water to fill all the way to the top and then let it sit for a couple of days. The nitrogen from the grass is excellent for plants. The tea you have made with your grass clippings can be diluted 1:10 with water before being dumped at the base of your foliage.

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