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Author: Living Life in Rural Iowa

Please Stop Advertising Your Whereabouts (A Lesson In Safety and Security)!

Please Stop Advertising Your Whereabouts (A Lesson In Safety and Security)!

One of the great pluses and downfalls of social media is the ability to let everyone know what you are doing and where you are at at any given time. I personally think social media is very handy and find enjoyment in it. However, the downfalls of social media make me cringe. One of those downfalls is the posting of your whereabouts. Many people think the option of “checking in” and “finding their location” is just wonderful so they can…

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Introducing the Chickens!

Introducing the Chickens!

One of my huge homesteading goals for this year was to get laying chickens. So far, this is one of the best things I have ever done! The chickens have been fairly easy even though we had a rocky start together, but all in all I can’t wait to try meat chickens in a year. We had a rough start when they came home. We thought we had their crate warm enough, but evidently not. We lost three due to…

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Tuesday Homesteading and Frugal Update

Tuesday Homesteading and Frugal Update

The garden is growing! The garden is growing! And so are the weeds… I have been weeding almost every night and have decided that I need to go back to my original plan of weed blocking material and straw/hay to control the weeds. I didn’t really want to, but the weeds are growing as fast as the vegetables. With weeding all the time, I am not getting much else done like canning strawberry jam! Typical gardener issues, I know. We…

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Preparedness on the Cheap: Inventory Your Food Storage

Preparedness on the Cheap: Inventory Your Food Storage

(Preparedness on the Cheap is a series of articles for the prepper and everyone else that doesn’t have a lot of money, but needs to take steps to be prepared. A good deal of prepping is learning, planning, and organizing. Prepping doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, but does involve a lot of doing!) This is when I first put up these shelves. They are no longer this empty! While prepping can cost you a lot of money,…

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Tuesday Frugal and Homesteading Update

Tuesday Frugal and Homesteading Update

Welcome! We have been a busy bunch! We got a lot accomplished, some of it can be debated as it is frugal, and I got a few lessons on good money decisions. The outdoor chicken area is done! Yeah! I got chicken wire fencing wrapped along the bottom of the old kennel, the edges by the barn, and over top. All-in-all, I think I have spent $10 for the whole outdoor area. I am still trying to convince Paige to…

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What Do You Need To Start Canning Your Own Food?

What Do You Need To Start Canning Your Own Food?

Canning, by and far, is one of the easiest things I know how to do. That may be because I steer away from complicated recipes, but I find it so rewarding to pick food from my garden or trees and preserving it myself. Many people are overwhelmed by canning, but with a few good pieces of equipment, you can do it too. Canning is not fancy if you choose it not to be, but some basic equipment is necessary. I…

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