Extending the growing season by adding a greenhouse has become an important factor to consider for our small farmer’s market business. After feeling out the need for produce most requested in local farmer’s markets, we noticed one key factor – the early bird gets the worm. The first produce out the gate was eagerly purchased […]

Winter weather on a farm or ranch is a much different experience than in a city or town. As a homesteader, there are preparations for the upcoming rain, snow and freezing temperatures that need your attention. One of these preparations will be your current farming equipment and whether you should replace it before winter arrives. […]

Laws are made to protect people. I feel strongly that abiding by laws is important for the peace of society and overall well-being of the community. However, as a homesteader it’s easy to find yourself bogged down by bureaucracy.   As farmers, homesteaders and do-it-yourselfers, we are faced with unique challenges in the nature of […]

If you’re trying to break into the world of homesteading, you’re probably weighing options for getting land. This is especially true for young or novice homesteaders who don’t have much familiarity with all of the available options. But it’s not so confusing as one might think. You just have to cut through the jargon and […]

Unlike large companies that can afford to replace equipment at regular intervals, homesteaders rely on disciplined maintenance to get the most from their investment. To make a small operation profitable, you’ve got to know how to protect heavy equipment. That means you need to know how to avoid damage and perform upkeep. Even a minor […]

Why Julia Chooses Quickbooks Excerpted from The Farmer’s Office by Julia Shanks QuickBooks (QB) is the industry-standard accounting software for small businesses, including farms. At a minimum, it’s a jacked-up checkbook register. At its best, it is a powerful business tool that provides the information you need to make important decisions about your business. If you have a basic […]

Setting Up Quickbooks Excerpted from The Farmer’s Office by Julia Shanks The Initial Setup When you first open up QuickBooks, you will want to Create a New Company and select Advanced Setup. QB will guide you through an interview process. Following are the questions QB asks, with my suggestions on how to answer (and set your preferences). You may […]

Setting Up Quickbooks Excerpted from The Farmer’s Office by Julia Shanks The Initial Setup When you first open up QuickBooks, you will want to Create a New Company and select Advanced Setup. QB will guide you through an interview process. Following are the questions QB asks, with my suggestions on how to answer (and set your preferences). You may […]

Franny wants you to be safe and insured! Frances Tacy of Franny’s Farm wants to make sure that you’re excited and empowered to get started in agritourism, but first she wants to make sure you’re safe! Being safe includes protecting yourself with insurance! For more Homestead videos and good advice visit The MOTHER EARTH NEWS and […]

Most hustlers understand that it’s important to have a Facebook page for their business, but it can be a challenge to figure out exactly what to post! A Facebook page that’s friendly to your target audience can be a great way to build excitement and loyalty toward your brand. We talked about why a social […]