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…
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…
(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,…
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…
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…
This lifestyle isn’t for everyone, but everyone can do it. I have found that out quickly. I feel like I am really just getting started after making several feeble attempts. I have to constantly remind myself that raising my own food is the best thing for myself and for myself. I have to remind myself to jump into it slowly so I don’t overwhelm myself. So I am giving you some tips on getting starting into the “From Scratch, Living Off…