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Uncategorized – Homesteader Depot

Homesteader Depot

Category: Uncategorized

  • 5 Simple (Yet Crucial) Guidelines of Winter Survival

    5 Simple (Yet Crucial) Guidelines of Winter Survival

    Spending some time in the woods in the wintertime, either voluntarily or because you wound up getting stuck out there, is no joke. You need to be able to take care of yourself, which means meeting all of your basic needs, lest you end up starving or freezing to death. Before the cold weather sets in for good, take the time to review these five guidelines of winter survival. Are you prepared?

    1) Stay in One Place

    If you’re waiting for a rescue after being stranded out in the cold for days, then you need to stay in one place. The temptation to go out to see if you can find your own way home may be tempting. You probably also think that the more you move around, the less likely you are to freeze to death. However, this just makes it tougher for any searchers to find you. Your footsteps will vanish as the snow continues to fall, leaving you unable to see where you’ve been, and for anyone to track you. Instead, stay put and set up a proper (or as proper as you can get, depending on your supplies) camp. This will give you the protection that you need, and allow others to find you.

    Suggested Article: How to Find Your Way When Lost in the Wilderness

    2) Be Prepared to Stay Warm without a Fire

    Ideally, you’ll have a fire to keep you warm when you’re out in the snow. This isn’t always possible, however. It might be snowing too hard for the fire to stay lit, finding dry wood to use as kindling may be tricky, and so on. Instead of relying on that fire, you need to be prepared to survive without one. Make sure that you’re dressed warmly, carry some extra blankets, and find whatever shelter that you can. It’s all about mind over matter at that point.

    How US Special Forces Start a Fire With LIQUID>>>

    3) Remain Confident

    Speaking of “mind over matter” – confidence goes a long way towards surviving the winter in the woods. You need to be as mentally prepared as you are physically. What do we mean by this? Well, you can pack all of the possible provisions that you can and be in great physical shape, but those will only take you so far, especially if you’re not mentally prepared to survive. Even if you have to repeat the words “I can do this” over and over again in your head as a kind of mantra, you need to remember that you can do this.

    4) Trap Prey In Order to Feed Yourself

    Getting trapped in the woods in the middle of a snowstorm is bad, but this situation is made even worse when you don’t have any food. You’ll need to trap prey and understand how to properly prepare it. Otherwise, you’ll end up starving to death out there if your rescuers are days or weeks away. Plus, solid food gives you the energy that you need in order to keep your body functioning and warm. Remember that you’ll need to cook your game properly, lest you end up with food poisoning. This can make a bad situation even more dangerous.

    Related Article: What’s Edible in Your Area?

    5) Be Able To Start a Fire without Matches

    It’s very easy to start a fire when you have matches and dry wood. But what happens if you don’t have these things? You’ll end up in trouble. You need to know how to start a fire without matches. This could involve using a bullet, or anything else that you have on hand. All that matters is that you can get that fire started. This is definitely something that you should practice, just in case.

    Related Article: 4 Ways to Start a Fire You’ve Never Heard of

  • 3 Effective Sheep Shearing Techniques

    3 Effective Sheep Shearing Techniques

    Despite some claims from animal rights groups, shearing is necessary to maintain the health and comfort of your sheep.

    There are 2 main reasons you need to have your sheep sheared once a year.

    • If the sheep’s thick wooly coats are not removed before the summer months, they can become very uncomfortable. Additionally, the amount of dirt that can amass and become matted to their bodies could develop into a health risk.
    • The wool from certain breeds is a valuable commodity and a good source of annual income. When raised correctly with a proper diet, a single sheep can grow up to 10 pounds of wool.

    Whether or not you are keeping them as a source of income or food, your sheep will need you to get them ready for the summer months to maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle on the farm, ranch, or homestead.

    Note: To make this process go a lot faster, take a look at these awesome shears I found on Amazon at a 65% discount right now <PanelTech Sheep Shears>

    There are a number of techniques out there, and like a person’s handwriting, each individual will develop a style of their own as they practice and get better.  Go get started, here are some basic steps, and tips to follow.

    Starting Position

    Some experts say start by laying the sheep on one side, others recommend starting on their backs with their feet in the air. Depending on the size of the sheep, you can decide what will work best for you.

    Shearing the Brisket

    No matter the technique or starting position you use, most experts say to start shearing on the brisket, or belly area.  If you are planning to sell your wool, the belly area is often too dirty to sell, so starting there will allow you to tackle the worst areas around the belly and crotch areas and get rid of them before you move on to the more valuable areas.

    When you start shearing, make sure your blows (strokes) are long and confident.

    Move down the belly area, around the crotch and the tail.  Separate the wool removed from these areas and discard.

    Start on One Side and Work Toward the Middle

    The removal of the brisket wool will leave a nice starting place to move onto the sides.

    To continue, start on the back leg, shear around it, and then shear up to the shoulder in a long clean blow. Trim the head and neck then work your way back down and around.

    Repeat this on the other side then finish with the back.

    When finished the ultimate goal is to have a single layer of wool that can be rolled or folded up for transport.

    Tips for Maneuvering Your Sheep

    To get your sheep into the positions needed to access each area, you can apply the following techniques.

    To control the head

    Place your thumb in the sheep’s mouth behind the incisor and wrapping your fingers under its chin.

    Take a firm but gentle hold of one of the ears and use to guide the head and body.

    To hold in place while shearing

    Rest the sheep’s body against your legs or between your knees.

    Lay the sheep on its side and straddle with your legs.

    Keep in mind, the calmer and more comfortable the sheep is, the less they will want to wriggle out of your control to get away.  This is especially important for larger sheep breeds to ensure a successful shearing experience.

    Sheep shearing is not an easy task, but the rewards are worth the effort, both for you and your sheep.  Professional shearers make it look easy but remember, they’ve had years and years of experience.  Like most things worth doing, practice makes perfect.

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  • Decoding Diets: Which Lifestyle is Right for You? (Infographic)

    Decoding Diets: Which Lifestyle is Right for You? (Infographic)

    My last post regarded healthy fats, and a few months ago, I posted an extensive list of some of the major health diets and the differences and similarities between each.

    I found this infographic recently and I thought it was a cool visual representation of common health diets and what they suggest emphasizing and avoiding. It also has handy macro references for how much protein, carbohydrates, and fat are normally consumed by the adherents of each diet.

    If you ever feel overwhelmed and confused by different diets out there, this might help you visualize what each one offers. Remember, while you might have certain health issues that would make certain diets better or worse for you, for the most part if you are in good health and simply want to eat a cleaner, more healthful diet, then you should definitely do what works for you. You’ll have more success if you’re eating the (healthy) food you love, and not restricting yourself to things you know might trip you up. The best diet is one you can stick with, so be realistic!

    Hope this infographic, found on DailyInfographic.com (source unknown), can be helpful for you.

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  • Gardening Tips From Seasoned Gardeners

    Gardening Tips From Seasoned Gardeners

     

    When you just get started with gardening, it can be easy to feel very overwhelmed! As a beginner, there’s so much to learn, and so many ways things can go wrong. But never fear–you can learn from those who have gone before you.

    We’ve got some great tips for beginner gardeners to help you beat the stress and have a flourishing, healthy garden in no time.

    Let’s begin!

    Ask for help

    Don’t be shy! Usually, seasoned gardeners love to talk gardening, so reach out and ask for help! People at your local nursery, in local gardening FB groups, or even community gardens would probably be happy to help out and help you troubleshoot any issues you’re having or give you a good idea of where to start out.

    Keep records

    As soon as you get started, start logging what works. This might not seem very helpful if you have no idea what you’re doing, but it will be invaluable next year! Gardening involves a lot of trial and error, so tracking what works, and what doesn’t, this year, will be an amazing resource next year. Write down everything you plant, when, and track the time it took to sprout, grow, come to fruition, etc. Also, record any issues with pest or disease, and what you did to combat it.

    Know your zone

    This is why it’s so important to seek advice from locals! Know what zone you live in, what’s grown there, does well there, the nuances of the climate, seasons, and weather patterns, etc. Then plant accordingly! Seed packets always have instructions based on zones on the back, so it’s very important to know yours.

    Test your soil

    Before you get started, know what kind of soil you have, and how to amend it. If you are starting with a container garden, you will most likely be purchasing your soil, but if you’re planting in the ground, you need to understand that not all soil is equal. You might have amazing soil to plant directly in, but most likely, you’ll need to amend it. You can buy simple soil test kits at any gardening supply store, and these will give you an idea of what you need to add to your soil to make it healthy and fertile.

    Start simple

    You might be really excited to start growing your own food right away, but take it slow. Your first year, you’ll probably want to plant a handful of easy, reliable crops so you can focus your efforts on these while you learn the ropes. As you get the hang of gardening (you’ll be amazed how much you can learn in one season), you’ll gain the confidence and experience to experiment.

    Choose your plot wisely

    When deciding where to plant your garden, keep in mind it will have to be somewhere with lots of sun. If you have only partial shade in your yard, there are still some things you can plant, but most plants need a decent amount of light. Watch your yard for a few days and track how much sun it gets. Also, bear in mind that the sun’s position changes throughout the year.

    Also, make sure the place you choose to plant your garden is easily accessible to you, and to your garden hose!

    Plan, plan, plan

    Before you start planting your garden, make sure you have a good plan. There are lots of free resources online to look at example garden plans. You can look into companion planting to learn which plants go well together, and which ones don’t. Draw out a map of your garden space, and assign each plant its own plot. Take into account weeding, harvesting, pruning, etc., as you will need to ensure proper accessibility.

    Don’t do it alone

    Involve your friends or family members in your first garden so you have some accountability–and help! You can learn together, and you know what they say, two heads are better than one.

    Get organized

    You’d be amazed how quickly you can accumulate various tools and supplies for gardening, so make sure to keep it all in one place. A basket or bucket that you can take out to the garden with you is very handy, as well as a simple gardening apron or a pair of overalls. Your gardening supplies probably won’t stay clean very long, but they can stay neat and organized, and this will contribute to the overall success of your garden very well.

    Beginner gardening can be intimidating, but don’t fret. It’s a learning experience and you’ll gain so much knowledge in such a short time, it’s worth it for a few bumps along the road. These tips are designed to make your transition from novice to expert smooth and painless, so make sure to keep them in mind as you get started with your garden!

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  • What Should You Do With Your Grass Clippings?

    What Should You Do With Your Grass Clippings?

    Very few people like the job of cutting the grass, but whether you are in the suburbs or on a homestead, it is a fact of life. You need to make sure things are manageable and that they look good. Once the mowing is done, you are left with all those grass clippings, and you might be wondering just what to do with them.

    The “go to” option for some people is to put them into a bin or into bags and have them recycled or thrown away. In some areas, you are no longer allowed to throw the clippings into the regular trash, and green recycling might not be available in your area. So, what should you do with those clippings? As a homesteader, you have some good options.

    However, it is important to keep in mind that if you are going to use your clippings, the grass should not have recently been treated with any type of pesticides or herbicides often used to kill weeds.

    Use in the Compost Pile and for Mulch

    If you are homesteader, you should be composting. When you add grass to the compost pile, it will add some of the elements needed including potassium, phosphorous, and nitrogen. You can add the grass whether it is still green, or if it is brown. For proper composting, it is suggested that there are is one part green to every two parts brown.

    You can also dry out the grass clippings and use a thin layer of it as mulch. You can spread it around the plants and as it starts to decompose, you can mix it right into the soil, which will provide added nutrients. One of the other benefits of mulch is that it means you will not have to water your plants as much, as this helps to seal in some of the moisture. In fact, you can even use the clippings to mulch the lawn. If you have a collection bag attached to the mower, remove it and leave the clippings where they are when they come out of the mower.

    Feed the Farm Animals

    The grass clippings can also act as some additional food for many of the animals you have at the homestead. Cows and sheep will find it useful, and if you raise rabbits, they can eat it, as well. If you are doing to do this, you need to make sure that the mower used to cut the grass was electric or manual, as you do not want the chemicals from the exhaust to get onto the items your animals are eating. It could cause them to be ill. The clippings should be dry when they are fed to the animals, as well.

    As you can see, there are quite a few things you can do with your grass clippings rather than just trashing them. Start making use of them the next time you go out and cut your lawn.

     

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  • 5 Ways to Preserve Garlic

    5 Ways to Preserve Garlic

    We’ve all experienced buying a head of garlic, and sooner or later those little sprouts pop out and we need to use it up as quickly as we can. Or perhaps you’re lucky enough to grow it yourself, or simply find yourself with entirely too much garlic on your hands from a deal at the farmer’s market or a Costco bag of organic garlic that was too good to pass up.

    Well, I’m actually a believer that there’s no such thing as “too much garlic”, because there’s always a way to use it up, if it’s turning too quickly for adding fresh to dishes.

    Garlic is such an awesome flavor to use in cooking, but it’s also highly medicinal, so it’s great to preserve and use up as much as you can, because you’ll essentially never run out of uses for it! Here are some of my favorite ways to preserve it:

    In Honey

    I wrote an article awhile back about how to make garlic-infused honey, and this still tops my list of not only best and easiest home remedies for a cold, but also one of the easiest and coolest ways to preserve garlic. You can check out that article for directions on how to make this wonder remedy, but the basic idea is that you preserve garlic cloves in honey, which makes it not only easy to consume garlic if you feel a cold coming on, but also blends the amazing healing power of these two great superfoods-raw honey and garlic-together.

    Garlic Infused Olive Oil

    This is a very simple way to preserve garlic, and very gourmet as well! Simply pack your freshly peeled garlic cloves in a jar and cover in oil. Cover with the lid and keep in a cool, dry place. You will probably want to wait a week or so before using the oil and/or the cloves inside, so that the oil can get nicely infused. This will keep garlic for at least a year, especially in a cool, dark cellar or pantry. Make in some fancy bottles for a wonderful gift, too!

    Garlic Powder

    Another very easy and handy way to preserve garlic is to make your own garlic powder. You can throw this in all kinds of dishes, or even blend with some raw honey if you can’t wait to infuse it. All you do is simply dehydrate your freshly peeled garlic according to your dehydrator’s directions (you can also mince it to dehydrate faster, but this requires more work), then run through a blender or food processor to make the powder. This is another excellent option for gifts, for your homestead farmer’s market stand (if you’ve got enough!), or to keep the delicious flavor of garlic on hand in your kitchen year-round.

    In Pesto

    If you’ve also got entirely too much basil on hand, you can kill two birds with one stone and make lots of pesto with your garlic and basil. All you really need is salt, olive oil, and of course your basil and garlic; you can add in pine nuts or cheese each time you use the pesto.

    Simply make a large batch of pesto by putting the ingredients togeter in a food processor until you have a  nice smooth paste. At this point, you can pack into ice cube trays and freeze, then store in zip lock bags in the freezer, or you can pack into jars and cover with more olive oil, and store in the refrigerator or freezer this way.

    However, there’s an even simpler way, if you’ve got the right equipment. You may have seen this floating around Pinterest, but some blender blades will actually attach to a pint-sized mason jar so you can quickly and easily blend anything up in the jar it’s stored in. This is a great option for bulk smoothie prep, and it works for pesto too.

    Simply back your ingredients into several pint-sized jars, store in the fridge or freezer, and each time you want to make a small batch of pesto, pop that jar on your blender lid (you’ll definitely want to make sure it fits before preparing these jars) and you’ve got fresh pesto ready for pizza night! How cool is that? This is definitely one of my favorite ways to keep garlic stored and ready to use.

    Roasted Garlic Butter

    Now, this is probably the most decadent way to preserve butter on this list, but man, you certainly won’t regret it. Roasted garlic butter is for sure a gourmet delicacy, and it’s a breeze to make at home. If you have a cow and make your own butter, this is a wonderful idea for something to sell, and once your customers taste it, they’re sure to come back for more.

    Simply roast your garlic heads in the oven, then mash the soft cloves into a paste, and run through a blender or food processor with softened butter, salt, and any herbs you like (optional). Throw this on some freshly baked bread, biscuits, or toss into anything you’re cooking, and you’ve got a wonderfully delicious, garlic-rich addition to any meal.

     

    Garlic is one of the best plants around. It’s medicinal, delicious, and, as we can see here, really fun and easy to preserve! Don’t shy away from buying lots of garlic next time you see a good deal and try any one of these fun recipes. You’re sure to be hooked!

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  • 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.

    Do you have BACK PAIN? Give this a try>>>

    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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  • DIY PVC Hoop Greenhouse (Video)

    DIY PVC Hoop Greenhouse (Video)

    Spring is here, and I’ve got greenhouses on my mind! If you’re itching to get your garden started but it’s not quite warm enough in your zone yet, you might want to consider building a simple greenhouse.

    These easy, cheap, DIY PVC hoop greenhouses have been popular for a long time, and for good reason. You can start seedlings indoors and get all the benefits of a good greenhouse for a very affordable price. It’s a must-have for any serious gardener, especially if you’re wanting to jump start your garden this year.

    There are a ton of videos out there with instructions on how to make them, so you can definitely poke around on YouTube to find one that really suits your needs.

    I liked this video because it is a really simple, basic design, that I thought was perfect for starting seeds, and could fit in most gardens or yards. Check it out and let me know if you’d like to see more about DIY greenhouses.

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