Learning to say No While seemingly simple in theory it may become one of the hardest things you should learn to do, just say NO. When you first begin a business, it appears you want to please everyone no matter what it takes. Even when it cost either more time or money than it should. […]

“Is anyone going to show up?” “Do we have enough insurance?” “Will we lose the farm?” At 9:01 p.m., the night before an opening, these and similar questions creep into my mind. These are the “What if’s” that can kill a beautiful dream. Of course at 9:01 a.m. the process repeats. –BUILD IT RIGHT, THEY […]

While making my home, I try to focus on green products and environmentally friendly actions that save energy and money, but also reduce waste. I have completed the research to help you decide what ideas to employ as you start on the journey to making your home, or being a homemaker. There are so many […]

Guest post by Charlie Baulm Farming: Rich soil, bright sunshine, and … addiction recovery? Strange as it may sound at first, people are farming to help them recover from alcohol and drug abuse. When you learn “why,” their reasons make a lot of sense. Whether it be to build a sense of community as in […]

Many of us trying to make a living homesteading started out making a living some other way. I obtained a Master’s of Social Work degree and worked for a family literacy agency after college. Our primary focus was to help parents who dropped out of high school to obtain their G.E.D. They could come to […]

Animal tractors are bottomless pens for housing livestock. They are designed to be moved easily. Whether you have an existing barn or coop for your animals or you are considering adding livestock to your homestead, animal tractors may be a good fit for you. Virtually all small livestock and poultry can be housed in an […]

Early last winter we had the good fortune to have our mentors and friends Matthias and Andrea Reisen of Healing Spirits Herb Farm and Education Center come to our home and farm for a visit. Matthias and Andrea were pioneers of medicinal herb farming back in the 1980s when very few people in the United […]

A successful homestead typically has multiple income streams, and that means many things to attend to, especially in the spring. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel as though there are not enough hours in the day to take care of everything that needs attention. This is especially true for me this time of year. […]

If you garden, you can start your own plants like tomatoes or peppers, or you can purchase them elsewhere. While it is obvious that a packet of seeds costs less than a flat of already-started plants, there are a number of other reasons to start your own transplants. If you are only familiar with what […]

I’m very fortunate to live on a beautiful property that has been farmed continuously since just after the Revolutionary War. We tend 50 acres and have a barn that dates to 1894 as well as numerous outbuildings. For those trying to homestead on just a few acres (or less!), this may seem like plenty of […]