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Self Reliance – Page 16 – Homesteader Depot

Homesteader Depot

Category: Self Reliance

  • DIY Animal Shelter

    DIY Animal Shelter

    Many structures you see on larger farms will often rival a designer house in style and amenities. However, if design awards are not what you are looking for but only to keep your friends protected from the elements, this basic structure will do.  A simplified shelter with basic material will satisfy all of these requirements.

    What You’ll Need

    • 3 Posts = Eight-Foot (8’) Long Pressure Treated Four-Inch by Four-Inch (4”X4”)
    • 3 Posts = Ten-Foot (10’) Long Pressure Treated Four-Inch by Four-Inch (4”X4”)
    • 6 Roof Boards = Eight-Foot (8’) Long Pressure-Treated Two-inch by Six-inch (2”X6”)
    • 17 Roof Joists = Ten-Foot (10’) Long Pressure-Treated Two-inch by Six-inch (2”X6”)
    • 34 Joist Connectors
    • Framing Nails
    • 34 Metal Hurricane Straps
    • 160SF of Roofing Materials
    • Roofing Hardware
    • Siding (optional)
    • Basic Tool Kit
    • Circular Saw

    Laying Out the Grid

    To begin, plan the location of your shelter by laying out a 2 by 3 grid with the point 8’ apart.  This will be where the poles are positioned.  When you are finished you will have an 8’ x 16’ area with 2 rows of 3 posts each

    Dig the Post Holes

    The post holes should be a minimum of 2’ deep and 1’ wide. If you live in a consistent freeze thaw cycle area, increase your minimum depth to 4’.

    Set Your Posts

    Set your 4” x 4” posts into place, all the 8’ long post in one row of three and all the 10’ long posts in the other row of three.

    The 10’ posts will form the front of the barn, so make sure you place them on the side you plan to be the front.

    Pour enough pre mixed cement to fill the hole at least 1’ (12”).

    Wait at least 2 days for the fill to set.  Check the manufacturer’s directions for precise mixing and setting instructions.

     

    Once set, backfill the rest of the hole with the loose dirt removed when dug.

    Compress the dirt as you fill in the space, checking regularly to make sure your post remains square and straight.  You can use your string line to gauge if it’s straight.  Once each pole is backfilled they will probably be slightly different heights due to differences in the hole depths and settling.  Determine the height of the shortest pole in each row and trim the top of the other 2 to make each row even.  Remember, you want an angled roof, so keep the front row at least 1-2 feet higher than the back.

    Roof Support Beams

    Attach your six 8’ long 2”x6” boards around the top of the structure, connecting the posts and forming a large rectangle at the top.

    Roof Joists

    For this simplified angled roof, traditional trusses are not needed.  Use your roof joists to join the front and back sides of the structure across the top.  You can buy connectors to make this job easier and more secure.  Starting at one end of the stall, attach the roof joists 12” or 1’ apart from each other, with the 2 ends flush with the roof boards.  Connect the joists and roof boards with hurricane straps for added strength against high winds.

    Roofing Material

    Finish your roof with the roofing material of your choice.  Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and additional accessories or tools needed for the process.

    Siding

    For basic siding that can be used as a wind break, use additional 8’ long 2x6s placed horizontally around at least 3 sides of the stall.  Start the bottom on the ground or a few inches above it.  Create “stripes” around the barn by spacing each level an inch or two above the previous one until you reach the top

    Once you have the basic plans down, you can easily utilize them for additional structures on your land for extra storage or workspace.

    Try this:  DIY Home Energy System

  • 3 Keys to Choosing the Perfect Livestock

    3 Keys to Choosing the Perfect Livestock

    A farm or homestead without livestock seems unusual, to say the least.  Whether you see yourself with a flock of cheerful chickens, a herd of graceful goats or a few calming cows, livestock are a valuable food source that should be planned for carefully, then cared for consistently.

    Are You Ready to Be Available Every Minute of Every Day?

    Are you prepared to be “on-call” for your animals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year? When you enter the world of livestock, a few things to be aware of are:

    • Newborns usually come in the middle of the night.
    • Orphaned or abandoned babies will need you to feed them around the clock.
    • Escaped animals and flattened fencing will need attending to immediately, even in 110o F heat.

    Just like having kids, keeping livestock can tie you down in ways you can’t even imagine.  And, they won’t eventually grow up and learn how to take care of themselves like kids will.

    Basic Ownership Preparation and Considerations

    Before you add animals to your homestead, evaluate your situation and skills to see if you have what you need to support the new lives coming in. The following points will help you in your evaluation.

    Research, research, research-Knowledge is power!  Educate yourself on each of your options before you make any purchases.

    Talk to the Local Vet-Find out what animals the veterinarians in your area are qualified to treat.  This info alone can go a long way in helping you decide what livestock to get.

    Similar Article: “Are You Ready for Livestock?”

    Look for a Soul Mate-If you have a loud and abrupt personality, and so does your livestock, you could easily run into more issues than you want to deal with. Assess yourself and research compatible animals. In the same breath, many species require brute strength to safely interact with them, make sure you don’t take on more than you can handle.

    Enjoy the Animals-You must honestly take pleasure working with the kind of livestock you choose.

    Have Their New Home Ready and Waiting-Make sure you have ample land, structures, and resources before you finally bring them home.

    So, What Are Your Options?

    Here is some basic info on the most common livestock homesteaders consider when adding to their property.

    Beef Cattle

    Beef cattle are low maintenance and don’t need complex facilities. Most people are able to handle cattle with minimum issues and local vets can usually treat them. If you decide to go the milk cattle route, you will need to make sure you have the proper equipment to handle the milking process and storage.

    Goats

    According to a publication by Florida A&M University, 70% percent of the world population eats goat regularly. If that’s not to your fancy, dairy products like goat milk and cheese are another good protein source. Additionally, known to eat just about anything, you can picket them or corral them in a different area each day and never have to mow your lawn again.

    Rabbits

    Whether for meat, fiber, or just to have as a pet, rabbits can bring a lot to a homestead.  Just don’t go too far too fast.  Proceed carefully and know your limits.  And, keep the males away from the females unless you want your “herd” to expand exponentially.

    Related Article: “Beginners Guide to Buying Rabbits”

    So, whether you go small, medium, or large, make sure you are thoroughly prepared to take on the challenges adding livestock to your way of life can produce.

    Chickens

    Chickens need very little besides food, water, a safe place to sleep, and a few hours from you each week to gather eggs and clean the roosts.  For that relatively little amount of effort, you will be rewarded with fresh eggs and roast chicken on Sundays (or Mondays, or Tuesdays….)

    If chickens are your choice, I suggest taking a look at this guide to building the perfect chicken coops to protect your new friends and future food source <<<Click Here>>>

    Pigs

    Pigs are one of the easiest animals for your homestead because they will eat literally anything, they will be your living compost.  No need to throw away and waste anything edible, your pigs will take care of that.

    They are also great at killing parasites that may harm you other livestock, they have different internal parasites that can digest other animal parasites.  Let them graze with your other animals to help clean up the pasture and keep everyone healthy.

    The obvious reason would be the delicious meat such as ham, sausage, and bacon.

    In conclusion, livestock is a great source for food if a self-sustaining homestead is what you are looking for.  Even though it may take some time, research and hard work, the end result will be worth it.

    Here are some other food options for your “Survival Farm”

     

  • 5 Creative Ways to Reuse Old Cans

    5 Creative Ways to Reuse Old Cans

    When faced with a number of empty cans in the kitchen, most of us choose to toss them into the recycling bin and call it a day.  Instead, why not turn this common resource into some interesting, fun and creative ways to organize and decorate your home and garden?

    Whether you use some leftover paint, glue, and fabric, go crazy with a tin punch or drill, or just leave them in their natural metallic finish, there are a number of ways these little cylinders can occupy your time and beautify your life.

    Option 1 – Indoor Herb Garden

    Standard vegetable cans are the perfect size for planting a variety of herbs to keep in a window sill or your kitchen counters, giving you easy access for watering and harvesting them as you need them.  As a bonus, having a collection of Basil, Mint, Cilantro, and others will help make your kitchen smell wonderful all day long.

    Option 2 – Starter Planters

    If you are interested in starting a new series of plantings from cuttings or seeds but don’t want to invest in a whole bunch of tiny pots to get them going, use your empty cans instead.  Just fill with potting soil and plant your cuttings or seeds.  Once they’ve started to sprout and take hold, you can easily carry them out to your garden and replant.

    Tip:  if you want to make it easier to remove them from the can when you’re ready to transfer, line the can with a coffee filter before you add the potting soil.

    Related Article: “A Good Choice for Self Reliant Food”

    Option 3 – Candle Holders

    There are a couple of ways you can go about this one.  Each option gives you the chance to let your creative juices run wild.

    If you have a number of big pillar candles, elevate them with some decorated pedestals made from an inverted can.  If you’re more into votives or tealights, punching holes in a decorative design on the sides of your cans will create a beautiful light display in your room at night.  You can even customize sets for different holidays.

                                                            

    Option 4 – Organizers

    Most of us have a junk drawer full of tiny items we know we may need someday or just can’t bear to part with yet.  Be it rubber bands or paper clips, or a host of charging cords for all our new-fangled technology, keeping them organized and easy to see will help a lot when you actually come across a situation where you actually need something.

    For a more visual storage solution, decorate the cans and use them as pencil and pen cups.  Larger cans can be used as cooking utensil holders next to the stove or sewing supply keepers in your family room.

    Learn More: “Wood Working Tips from Ted”

    Option 5 – Mini Cake Pans

    This is a fun idea to do with the kids.  Let everyone make their own little cake by coating the inside of the pan with oil and flour. Then fill the cans just over half-full with cake batter and bake for approximately 25 minutes at 325oF

    Just use the age-old toothpick in the center method to check if they are done.  Wait for them to cool, and then tip them upside-down so that the cakes fall out. Now everyone has a tiny cake they can decorate just the way they want it.

    No matter what your artistic level is, empty cans are a wonderful way to add to the aesthetic of your home and provide some very practical solutions at the same time without costing you any extra money.

  • 3 Creative Ways to Fish Without a Pole

    3 Creative Ways to Fish Without a Pole

    Fishing can be many things, from a food source to recreation, a type of meditation for some but to others a popular competitive sport.  Often a rite of passage full of tradition that is passed down from generation to generation.  Most of us are at least familiar with the concept of fishing, usually with a rod and reel, or if out on the high seas, with a really big net!

    But, are there other ways to get the job done, especially if you are looking to feed your family inexpensively?  You bet!

    Here are 3 ways to catch fish in any situation if you take the time to gather or bring the right supplies.

    Bucket Fishing

    This method has often been used by fishermen on Lake Bruin in Louisiana.  When catfish begin spawning, the locals use a technique they refer to as “bucket fishing.”

    To try it, you’ll need a lidded bucket and some strong line long enough to reach the fish.  Cut a semicircular hole in the lid of the bucket and add enough weight to sink it while still being able to pull it up when it’s full of water (and hopefully fish).  Depending on the size of the bucket you are using, it’s a good idea to tackle this type of fishing with a buddy.

    When you are ready, sink the buckets into the water deep enough to reach the fish.  During spawning, catfish enter the bucket to spawn and become trapped as the bucket is lifted up rapidly enough to keep them in.

    Once brought to the surface, either tie off the bucket to the side of the boat and transfer the fish one by one to a live well or stringer or lift the bucket fish, water and all into the boat and move on.  This technique has proven to be highly effective.

    Funny Video:  “This is not the bucket fishing I’m talking about”

    Bow and Arrow or Spear Fishing

    In a survival situation, this can be particularly effective if you have the skills and not a lot of supplies.  With a decent knife, you can create your own spear, smoothing it and sharpening the end then hardening the tip over the coals of a fire.

    Related Article:  “DIY Bow and Arrow”

    Once your spear or bow and arrows are created and ready, attach a line, if available, and go “hunting” under the surface of the nearest viable water source.  If you are fishing in a lake, an attached line will most likely be needed unless you are able to stay in very shallow water and have the fish come to you.

    Gap Netting

    Even with the barest of supplies you can build a net and use this method to get your next meal. All you need is a ball of twine and a knife or something sharp for cutting the twine. This method will work best in a shallow river or stream, but a natural viaduct between 2 larger bodies of water, like 2 lakes, will work if needed.

    If you already have a net, fantastic!  Here is what to do with it.

    Find an environment where water currents flow through a narrow area, like some rocks or fallen tree limbs, or a narrow crossing from one side to the other.  To create an area, fill in the space from either side with rocks or other debris.

    Learn More: Click here for MORE life-saving survival tips

    Position your net on the side of the gap that faces the current and secure it into place.  Run a stick through the top of the net to keep it from collapsing.  If possible, prop the stick upon the rocks you’ve used to create the gap.

    Now, you can encourage fish to swim in the direction of your net by beating the water or tossing rocks systematically further out and then closer to direct them toward you.

    After you’ve got through a systematic routine to herd the fish, stop and check your net.  Repeat the herding steps until you’ve caught something.

    Although some may feel these 3 methods aren’t very sporting, when you are fishing to feed yourself and your family and not merely as a form of recreation, that’s not what matters.  What matters is staying alive and healthy.

     

  • A Brief History of Goats

    A Brief History of Goats

     

    Goats are a wonderful choice for an animal to keep on a homestead. They provide delicious milk which can be used for cheese, yogurt, even butter. They help out with clearing land or mowing since they are notorious for eating nearly everything (we’ve all seen the ubiquitous imagery of a goat gnawing on a can). Meat breeds of goat can quickly and easily fill up your freezer with delicious, nutritious meat. They are also relatively easy to care for, and, since they can provide either meat or dairy, are much smaller and easier (not to mention cheaper!) than cows.

    Great Choice for First Livestock

    If you’ve ever thought about starting livestock on your current or future homestead, goats are a great animal to start with. In fact, they were most likely one of the first livestock choices that the human race made.

    Archaeologists believe that goats were one of the very first animals domesticated by man. Their remains have been found in geological deposits that scientists say are millions of years old, some even resembling a now-vanished native British breed of goat in that region.

    Maybe 7,000 years…

    Evidence of their domestication has been found at historical sites like Jericho, from as far back as 7,000 years ago. The evidence of both domestication of goats and interactions with their wild counterparts only mounts as civilization continued.

    Beautiful Artwork

    Goats are found in ancient artwork and literature from nearly every continent. and remain a constant presence in many countries to this day. The mythology of many ancient peoples is full of references to goats or goat-gods, particularly in Greek mythology, which tells of a goat that raised the god Zeus, who in turn placed this goat in the night sky, as the sat Capella. Dionysus, the god of decadence, suckled on goat’s milk while Pan, the god of mountains, shepherds, and flocks, has goats legs and horns.

    You’re probably very familiar with the images of Pan, pictured to the right.

    Bible…

    The goat also plays a prominent role in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, and historical evidence confirms that the people in the region the Torah was written would have been avid goat herders as well as shepherds. The stories of the Old Testament are full of accounts of a life lived among flocks of goats and sheep, and the goat became an important sacrificial animal in the Law given to the Hebrew people by Moses.

    Due to a certain reference to goats in the New Testament, they have come to be associated with Satan and evil. In the Book of Matthew, Jesus says he will return to “separate the goats from the sheep”. Between this and the role goats play in many pagan cultures, worship of the goat mostly ceased as Christianity spread around the world.

    Conclusion

    Regardless, the goat still plays a very important role in the world today. Nearly 75% of all the world’s goats reside in developing and under-developed nations, where entire communities can be wholly reliant on their goat herds.

    The goat has played an important role in the development of humanity and, due to their usefulness, will clearly continue to do so.

     

    [Bonus] This strange method will make your food last for 2 years without refrigeration.  Learn More>>>

     

     

  • Homemade Suet Cakes for Chickens

    Homemade Suet Cakes for Chickens

    Suet cakes are a great treat for your chickens, especially as the summer heat creeps in and they have a hard time sticking to their normal activities.

    Chickens love to peck and scratch, it’s truly what they live for. If you have chickens in a coop who can’t freely forage this way, they might end up getting bored and unhappy. And bored and unhappy chickens means less eggs and less delicious meat! It is vital not just for the animal’s quality of life but also for the “services” they provide you to keep them occupied and entertained.

    Homemade suet cakes are a great way to do this! The tightly packed little cakes full of delicious treats (well, treats to a chicken) will keep them happily busy pecking away to get them.

    This recipe is a very easy and healthy way to provide your chickens with this diversion. It contains coconut oil, which is a great source of fat for your chickens, as well as naturally antifungal and antibacterial, which is super crucial for keeping their digestive systems, feathers, and feet clean and healthy.

    A note: this is just a treat for your chickens, and shouldn’t be used as a replacement for their regular feed or time spent outdoors if you’re able to let them roam at all. It’s just a fun way to supplement their regular diet and daily activities.

    Do Laundry With NO DETERGENT…Heres How>>>

    Ingredients and supplies 

    • coconut oil
    • mix of grains (pre-mixed chicken feed, or any combination of grain or seed your chickens enjoy)
    • Muffin tin
    • Room in your freezer for the muffin tin

    Directions 

    1. In a saucepan over low heat, melt your oil. How much you need will depend on the volume of the grain you use, but you can start with about 2-3 cups.
    2. Once the oil is liquid, stir in your grains.
    3. You will want to completely coat the grains with oil, so that there’s hardly any oil pooling around them. However, you don’t want there to be any dryness in the mixture. Try to think of the oil hardening; you’ll want a ratio that will allow for the oil to hold all the grains in place and form a cake.
    4. Spoon your mixture into the muffin tins. Flatten with a rubber spatula at the top.
    5. Freeze for about an hour, then remove.
    6. Tip your muffin pan upside down to remove the cakes. At this point, you can give one to your chickens and put the rest in a ziplock bag to keep in the freezer.

    In the summer heat, your bored chickens will love this healthy, fun, and not to mention cold, treat!

  • Tips For Raising Your Own Holiday Turkey

    Tips For Raising Your Own Holiday Turkey

    If you’ve considered how cool it would be to raise and cook your very own Thanksgiving turkey, then we at Homesteader Depot fully encourage you to do this. We are all about raising and growing your own, and this is a very fun way to get started raising poultry and save some money over the holidays!

    That being said, there are a couple things you should know. It’s not quite as simple as buying some baby turkeys, known as poults, and feeding them until November, then slaughtering and serving. If your goal is to have a freshly slaughtered turkey for your Thanksgiving meal, you need to be mindful of a few things. Also, there are a few other holidays you could raise a turkey for! But more on that later.

     

    To Start

    Turkey breeds that you’re used to seeing grace the family table during the holidays grow very fast. If you begin raising breeds like this in the spring, they will be huge by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, and possibly won’t even fit in your oven! These commercial breeds can reach sometimes higher than 20 lbs at 20 weeks of age. If this is the breed of poult you can get your hands on or would like to breed, and you buy them in the springtime, you’d probably be better off slaughtering them early and keeping them in the freezer. It might not be fresh, but it would still be your very own, organic turkey.

    Slaughtering these turkeys earlier than November can be more humane, as well. Really big breeds like this can suffer in intense summer heat, as their respiratory systems get taxed trying to cool their big bodies down.  For breeds like this, it’s best to start in late July, so they will reach a good size for serving by Thanksgiving.

    Of course, the great thing about raising your own livestock is you are not at all limited to these commercial breeds! If you’re interested in a more unique, natural kind of Thanksgiving turkey, and have an interest in raising turkeys in general for your homestead, you will want to consider a naturally-mating, heritage poult. These breeds will, as the classification implies, breed naturally and provide you with fresh poults in the springtime, to continue on growing and relying on your gang (actual name for a group of turkeys, not kidding!) for sustenance throughout the year.

    However, if you’re going with a non-commercial breed like this and you’d like to raise a prize Thanksgiving turkey, you need to buy your poults right away! You won’t want to start any later than May to have a turkey worthy of stuffing by the time the holiday arrives. These breeds can take between 24 and 28 weeks to reach the desired size to attend a large family feast.

     

    Other Holiday Turkeys

    But enough about Thanksgiving! Although this is the holiday we have grown to associate the most with turkey, this tasty poultry can also be served to celebrate Christmas or Easter! For Christmas, obviously, you will want to apply the same reasoning you would for Thanksgiving, simply shifted a couple of weeks later (although again, you can always simply slaughter and freeze your birds when they reach a large enough size, even if it’s before the holiday in question).

    While ham traditionally graces the Easter feast, it was not too long ago that turkey used to serve this purpose as well, and certainly still can! The thing is turkeys who have lived through the winter put on an extra layer of fat that can lend itself to some incredibly delicious flavoring, making it perfect for a festive occasion in the spring.

    To raise a bird that will be the right size and flavor for an Easter or other spring gatherings, choose June or July hatchlings to assign to the task. These will be ideal and can be slaughtered midwinter to be frozen through the spring if they get too large.

    So many people these days seem to associate a large, juicy turkey with Thanksgiving alone. In fact, you often only see whole turkeys in the supermarkets around Thanksgiving! However, these delicious birds reach such large sizes, they’re ideal for big family gatherings or festive occasions throughout the year.

    So when summertime approaches, consider buying some poults for your homestead this year and try your hand at raising your own holiday turkey!

     

  • 8 Health Benefits of Green Tea

    8 Health Benefits of Green Tea

    Green tea is much more than the complimentary beverage offered at Chinese food restaurants! Whether you love or hate the taste, it’s worth knowing about its amazing health benefits.

    Green tea has been used for centuries in China and throughout Asia to treat a number of maladies and diseases, everything from regulating blood pressure to killing cancer cells.

    It is a wonderful natural supplement to take because it’s list of benefits is long, but it’s also quite affordable. You can get a month’s worth of green tea for a few dollars! That sure beats a lot of other expensive herbal supplements.

    If you don’t like the taste of green tea, there are many ways you can take it. Its taste is certainly not sweet on its own, but it’s easy to mask by infusing with sweet fruit flavors or simply squeezing some lemon juice in it. Iced green tea has a considerably more muted flavor than hot green tea, so keeping a pitcher iced in your fridge with some lemons cut up in it can be a much more tasty drink that a hot cup of green tea.

    If you’re still not sold, consider these health benefits before dismissing the idea entirely:

    Increased Metabolism

    Green tea is a wonderful and natural weight loss supplement, and far better for you than the unnatural, unhealthy, synthetic products on the market. It contains valuable polyphenol, which intensifies levels of fat oxidation and can help boost the rate at which your body burns calories. Not to mention, it’s a zero-calorie drink, making it a great replacement for diet sodas or coffee.

    Regulate Blood Sugar

    Green tea has been shown to regulate glucose levels in your blood, which helps regulate overall blood sugar. This makes it a great option for diabetics and again,  assist with weight loss.

    Heart Health 

    Some scientists believe that green tea assists in the healthy function of blood vessels, keeping them relaxed and better prepared to handle changing blood pressure. This means a healthier heart. Green tea can also prevent the formation of blood clots, which are the main cause of sudden heart attack.

    The Lost Book of Remedies…In times of crisis, this book will probably end up saving many American lives>>>

    Lowered Cholesterol 

    You may be aware by now that there is “good” and “bad” cholesterol in the body, and that it is important to have a proper ratio between the two. Well, you guessed it, green tea can help with this! It helps reduce the bad stuff and keep good cholesterol in proper balance.

    Dental Health

    Some studies have shown that “catchin”, a property in green tea, actually kills the bacteria that contributes to tooth decay and poor gum health.

    Blood Pressure 

    Frequent consumption of green tea has long been linked to regulated, healthy blood pressure.

    Anti-Viral/Anti-Bacterial/Anti-Fungal

    On top of all these great benefits, green tea can also actually kill harmful viruses, bacteria, and fungi in your system. This mean it can help with everything from the common cold, to candida yeast overgrowth, to cancer. Many studies have shown it essentially stops cancer or disease dead in its tracks. If you’re not convinced that you should regularly consume green tea already, I don’t know what will!

    Beauty

    OK, so maybe your vanity is my last chance to convince you how great green tea is. If all the health benefits don’t phase you, perhaps green tea’s amazing ability to ease wrinkles and slow aging will. Green tea is incredibly antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and studies consistently show it improves skin, reduces the effects of sun damage, and tones and clears complexion.