We just finished raising another round of meat chickens on our homestead and we often get asked, “Is it worth it?” What’s the cost of raising chickens for meat on a homestead scale? Here’s a breakdown of our annual costs, our one-time costs, and what we would earn per chicken. Our Starting Point – What…
In the summer when berries are bursting from branches, this gluten free blackberry crisp is a fan favorite and highly requested dessert in our house. It comes together in just a few minutes and contains a few basic ingredients that we always have stored away on pantry shelves. Bonus, it is filled with nutrient dense…
Making hard cheese at home does not need to be intimidating. In fact, you might have everything you need on hand already! This yogurt-cultured farmhouse cheddar recipe is a tasty and versatile hard cheese that you’ll come back to time and time again. Make Your Own Cheddar Cheese at Home! Our family started in cheesemaking…
There are many great resources out there on how to process a chicken at home. But what about all the other details of processing day? Supplies, setup, storage, help? After a few rounds of processing chickens at home on our homestead, our formerly suburban family shares everything we’ve learned to get you fully ready for…
Year-round self-sufficiency is possible—even in small spaces! This homestead garden plan offers ideas to not just grow vegetables, but also protein, fruit, storage crops, and more to stockpile your own food. Having a summer garden is lovely. Who doesn’t love fresh produce in the spring through fall? But will a few tomato plants and some leafy…
When it comes to the amazing benefits that a family milk cow provides, raw milk butter may be at the top of that list! Making butter may bring up mental images of Ma Ingalls churning her butter. However, we will show you the quick and easy way how to make butter from raw milk in…
Purchasing a used AGA cooker is a wonderful and exciting investment. But information is scarce and, like we did, you probably have questions about moving them, installing them, and other practical concerns like if the oven compartments are too small. In this post we cover the gamut and answer the most frequently asked questions we…
When it comes to getting the best bang for your buck, cooking an entire chicken—over the individual parts—gives you the most meat, the best taste, and the highest nutrients. Our favorite method to do this is by slow cooking it in the oven. Here, we will show you a step-by-step guide on exactly how to…
While hand milking a cow may seem intimidating at first, after a few attempts it becomes second nature. We have found the cow milking process to be an enjoyable part of our daily routine and love the nourishment it provides to our family. Our Milk Cow Story We are suburban kids through and through. Until…
Given our modern systems, cheap organic food sounds like an oxymoron. With prices skyrocketing, this notion seems near impossible. But I beg to differ. We have been purchasing high quality, locally grown, organic food for a number of years while sticking to a very meager budget. I will share all of our tips and tricks…