Fungus Farming At the beginning of May, Karl and I took an all-day class about cultivating mushrooms, taught by a local mushroom grower and wild mushroom expert. We learned so much, and it immediately ignited a new fire in us… a fire to grow fungus! I actually can’t believe I never seriously considered this prior to learning about […]
The Best Way to Cook an Old Chicken (Hint: in an electric pressure cooker!)
For many homesteaders and farmers, chickens are more than backyard pets- they are meat and eggs to feed the family, or possibly a source of income. The reality of farming is that if a chicken isn’t producing or earning her keep, then she’s got to go. They’re business, not something you name and let sit on your […]
The BEST Way to Freeze Eggs!
Farm fresh eggs: it’s either feast or famine around here! During the long days of summer I’ve got baskets full of eggs and I’m piling them on the kitchen table, the washing machine, and any other flat surface I can find. A good problem to have, I know… And then the days get shorter and […]
Homemade Organic Baby Chick Starter Feed Recipe {corn-free and soy-free}
Thinking about making your own chick starter feed, eh? When we first got our baby chicks, I was determined to be the best chick mother I could possibly be. This involved painstakingly researching exactly what they should eat, being over-protective, and taking waaay too many pictures. There were three things I knew before getting chicks: […]
Homestead Monthly: January 2016 {winter chicken-keeping, kitchen update and bee poop}
The winter months are definitely slower on the homestead. We have a lot of snow and cold here in Wisconsin- which calls for spending most of our time staying inside and trying to keep warm. That also means it’s time for indoor projects and spring planning! Kitchen Cabinet Face Lift Let it be known: painting […]
The Loneliest Rooster: A Chicken Story
I never would have guessed that I’d turn into a “chicken lady,” you know… one of those. I own chicken pot holders, and I talk to the hens like they’re real people. I’m full-blown Chicken Lady. Crazy Chicken Lady. Or as I prefer to call myself: “Chicken Enthusiast.” Before getting chickens, I had no idea that they were […]
Homestead Monthly: December 2015 {Farmhouse kitchen makeover and snow-bound chickens!}
Farmhouse Kitchen Makeover We’re in the thick of it as we speak! In the middle of December we started the big kitchen cabinet makeover- our cabinets weren’t terrible, but the yellow-tinged maple didn’t really do anything for us, and I had dreams of white kitchen cabinets. We’re no strangers to big projects and hard work, […]
Why Egg Yolk Color Doesn’t Matter
Egg yolk color: the great homesteader status symbol! It doesn’t matter if you have a herd of perfectly-groomed sheep, prize-winning tomatoes, a beautiful milk cow, or a pantry full of home-rendered lard, nope. The real measure of a homesteader is the color of their chickens’ egg yolks. At least that’s what I thought when I first […]
Handmade Gifts for the Chicken Keeper
Our chickens are the heart of the homestead. Their entertainment value is priceless, and they provide the pinnacle of farm eats: fresh eggs. There’s nothing like ’em. So it’s no wonder we want to provide them with only the finest treats, decorate their coops with rusty stuff, and proclaim our love for them on our […]
Chicken Behavior During Molting… or, Why Have My Chickens Gone Crazy?!
Not only do they provide us with meat and eggs, but chickens are pure homestead entertainment! Spending even a few minutes out in the fresh air and sunshine with these birds will always put a smile on my face. I love just watching them- and actually, keeping an astute eye on them is part fun and part […]