When we wanted to expand our backyard chicken flock beyond our small stationary coop without spending a fortune, it was time to get creative. So, we picked up a used, wooden kids playset for free and transformed it into a mobile A-frame chicken tractor. This post talks about the benefits of mobile chicken coops and…
When our formerly suburban family bought a milk cow, the list of questions was a mile long! At the top of that list, “How in the world do we do this in the winter?” Since then we’ve learned a lot by visiting farms, working at farms, and keeping our own cows in the winter. So,…
We are all about homesteading on a budget and making do with the bare essentials. But our Jug Waterer has become one of our favorite farm investments. In this post we’ll share how a Jug Waterer works, how they’re installed, and our honest review of their pros and cons. Our Experience With Jug Waterers We…
We learned a lot during our first 6 months owning our LGD dog – mostly the hard way! Hear the lessons we learned and what we wish we had started on sooner when we brought home our livestock guardian dog. Why have an LGD Dog at all? Livestock guardian dogs can play a vital role…
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…
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…
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…
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…