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Another year is upon us. And while I never put much stock in New Years resolutions, this actually is a great time to set homesteading goals. Gardening hasn’t started yet for the year. I’m not raising chicks. And the winter weather makes me want to stay indoors huddled up close to the fire. Perfect time…

I started to sit down and make some plans and goals for the coming year here on the homestead. And as a jumping point, I decided to look back on everything I had tried and learned in 2023. Turns out, it was quite a bit! So here’s a little snapshot of the experiments, both successes…

Urban homesteading has been gaining popularity in recent years as more people seek to live a more sustainable lifestyle. But what exactly is it? Essentially, it’s the practice of growing your own food, raising animals, and making your own products in an urban or suburban setting. While it may seem like a daunting task to…

Hardening off seedlings is an essential process for any gardener that wants to successfully transition their tender plants from the controlled indoor environment to the harsher conditions of the outdoor garden.  This gradual acclimatization helps the plants to withstand the shock of sudden changes in temperature, wind, and sunlight. Without this step, young plants that…

Buying seedlings from your local nursery can get expensive fast. If you’re like me, you’re gardening on a budget. So how do you save money on all those plants? By starting them from seed yourself! By beginning your plants from seed, you gain the advantage of accessing a wider variety of plants than what’s available…

Nothing beats the smell of homemade bread wafting through the house. Nothing. I made yeast bread for years using the dough cycle on my bread machine. Then I decided I wanted to just make it by hand. I discovered that not only was it actually really easy to do, but there’s a lot of satisfaction…

Every year as a child, I gathered the large acorns from the chestnut oak trees on our property. Since I didn’t know they could be made into food fit for humans, I usually left them in piles. I’m sure they were greatly appreciated by the squirrels and deer. If only I had known then what…

Cooking food from scratch is such an important homesteading skill! It means preparing meals using raw ingredients, rather than using processed or pre-packaged foods. If you’re growing and producing your food, you need to know what to do with it in its most natural form. While it may seem daunting at first if you’re not…

Do you have chickens in your backyard? If so, you may be wondering if raccoons will eat them. The answer is yes, raccoons are known to prey on chickens. Although we may view our chickens as pets, to raccoons, they are simply a source of food.  Raccoons are known for their curious and mischievous behavior….