Proper Storage of Hay and Pricing   Once you’ve collected a quality hay crop the hay must be stored properly. This is the final step in ensuring a good return at auction. Even the best hay, if improperly stored can ruin your efforts.   Storage     Proper storage of hay is extremely important. Wet, […]

Here at Pleasant Valley Farm, we raise a number of heritage breeds and try to be active in helping to conserve them as well. We like Dexter cattle because they are great homestead cows, produce a nice beef carcass, calve easily and are great mothers, are hardy, easy keepers, give a nice amount of milk […]

Create a Beautiful Homestead by Using the 3 R’s Franny has created a beautifully decorated space to operate her business from, and she did it with very low costs by reusing, recycling, and reclaiming! Find Homestead Hustle on Facebook – Network with us on LinkedIn! For more Homestead videos and good advice visit The MOTHER EARTH NEWS and […]

Two Rules to Follow on Your Homestead There are two rules to live by at Franny’s Farm! We think everyone should follow these rules! Visit http://homestead.motherearthnews.com for more tips on how to profit from your homestead! Find Homestead Hustle on Facebook – Network with us on LinkedIn! For more Homestead videos and good advice visit The MOTHER EARTH […]

Have you heard of livestock being called a heritage breed? Have you ever wondered what exactly that meant? Is it a buzzword, or something that matters? Most importantly, could they be a good fit for your homestead? Simply put, a heritage breed has been around for a long time and was generally developed in a […]

Reducing output costs on the homestead can be as simple as saving seeds each year. By mirroring the habits of our forefathers, we can grow various modern and heirloom varieties of produce for little to no cost. In effect, you can multiply your initial seed investment many times over. Being completely honest, my first foray […]

Types of Hay and Determining Quality   I wish there was better language to describe the type of hay that can be sold. “Hay” is often  a very loose term for any vegetation that can be put through a baler. As anyone who’s ever been to a hay auction can attest, hay comes in many […]

Making Hay and Buying Equipment   The first post in this 3 – Part Haying Series I will cover the basics of making hay as a product to buy or sell and our equipment (as an example of one method). If you can collect the equipment, have an open field, and can master some fundamental […]

Agritoursim is a big word that sounds intimidating. It’s simply the idea of making your farm a destination, somewhere with something interesting to do or see beyond buying your products. Still, farm open houses, hayrides and the like can be overwhelming. Customers have suggested opening up a spare bedroom in our farmhouse as a bed […]

Although our hatching season has ended, this is the time of year we have money to invest in equipment and livestock for our farm’s future. With that in mind, I thought it would be a great time to follow up on our first post about hatching poultry and take an in-depth look at the kind […]