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 […]

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 would raise fiber goats whether I made money on them or not. I love our goats, and I love working with fiber in all its forms. It is incredibly interesting to me to work with a product from its very roots (the goat) to a finished usable product, (a pair of socks, sweaters, blanket […]

Going to the fiber mill is one of my favorite things to do. We always go to the fiber mill after the second shearing in September. We bring our fiber to the Woolen Mill in Frankenmuth, Mi. There is a large chicken show held the second weekend of October, so we try to make a […]

Angora goats produce a fiber called Mohair. It is one of the warmest natural fibers in the world. Mohair is not to be confused with Angora which comes from Rabbits of the same region of Ankara, Turkey.   Turning mohair into a finished, usable product takes about 7 steps. Luckily, the fiber is sellable in […]

Basic Facts About Raising Angora Goats   When I was a girl, I was fascinated with the process of spinning yarn. I’m not exactly sure where the notion came to me. I faintly remember watching a children’s program that showed the process, maybe Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood?   I remember taking the dog’s 2 slicker combs […]

One of the great things about making a living on your homestead is earning an income doing things you love. But there are some things to keep in mind to successfully transition from hobby to work. If you want your hobby to be a successful business venture, you need to treat it as a business! […]

Growing and selling produce in a Farmer’s Market seems to have become all the rage. As more and more people look to add non-GMO, pesticide-free fruits and vegetables to their table, local markets have blossomed. The growth is not found solely in big cities but is also in high demand in rural America. Customers want […]

If you have lots of extra goat milk, and you’re tired of just feeding it to your pigs and chickens, what can you do with it that would also bring in a little extra income? Most people immediately think of selling milk, ice cream, yogurt, or cheese, but those types of businesses require a big […]