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…
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…
Having a family milk cow looks dreamy on social media. But what costs are involved – both in dollars and time – and is it worth it? We will break down the answer the question, how much does a milk cow cost? We were asking these questions about 3 years ago as we considered a family…
Rotationally grazing animals on a small scale is 100% possible! This post covers: What Is Rotational Grazing? Rotational grazing uses paddocks to rotate animals through a pasture. Paddocks are sections of pasture divided by fencing. Once a paddock is grazed it is left to “rest.” This rest period is essential for the regrowth of vegetation…
Cows are large animals, so is raising them on a small scale really practical? Our answer – YES! We’ll break down the factors surrounding the question of, “How many cows per acre?” and share how we raise cows on our 5-acre farm. General Rules of Thumb The general rule of thumb is 1:1. That means…
We get it – you want to live a simple, low cost, and resourceful life as a homesteader or frugal minded person. Or, you simply don’t make much. This homestead budget guide will give you the practical examples and tools you need for living off one small income. Why Keep a Budget? Often when I’ve…
Moving from an urban or suburban area to a rural area can be a big leap. Our family has gone from the suburbs, to a very rural area, to now a hybrid area that is rural on the outskirts of suburbia. Here are the benefits of rural living we see and what to consider before…
Whether you’ve already built a whole fleet of Suscovich chicken tractors, or are building your first one, this step-by-step tutorial will show you how to add a metal roof to these beloved chicken tractor plans. Why A Metal Roof? I love the Suscovich chicken tractor plans but, in my mind, it has one flaw –…
One of the most exciting ways to sink in your roots at your homestead, farm, backyard is planting fruit trees. If you’re new to fruit trees, here are 5 things you’ll want to consider before planting your orchard. We Planted Fruit Trees Then Moved! Our homesteading journey began on a 1/3 acre suburban lot. We…
Our first year keeping baby chicks didn’t go so well. Here are the top 5 lessons we learned on how to care for baby chicks and what we are doing differently now. But we stuck with it, made adjustments, and have seen SO much better results. How to Care For Baby Chicks the WRONG Way…