Winter in western New York is no joke. When the lake-effect snow starts swirling, and your homestead is blanketed in a thick, freezing layer of white, the homesteading lifestyle shifts gears. This season is anything but slow. Winter homesteading brings challenges and opportunities to keep you connected to your land, goals, and even your sanity—when …
Beep, Beep, Beep. My phone is going off at 6 a.m. I can feel my eyes heavy, but the day has already started, and everything is awake and moving with or without me. Everyone is much more pleasant with a cup of coffee already pulsing through my veins. Without my coffee, everyone is much more …
If you own goats or are thinking about adding goats to your homestead, trimming their nails is something you will need to keep up with. The good news is that you can do it easily with a goat stand. If you don’t have a goat stand, there are other options. I’ve been raising Nigerian Dwarf …
Fall has officially arrived, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by sprucing up your home with some awesome DIY autumn wreaths. They’re a breeze to create, won’t cost a fortune, and add a suitable seasonal charm to your place. My favorite places to gather cheap supplies are Dollar Tree and Dollar General. Did …
Let’s go back to 2018 when I searched for my first goats to bring to the homestead. I’m still in awe that I’m living my dream out in the country and sharing my home with my kids and a baby mini pig at this point. We had 25 chickens, a dog, barn cats, and kittens, …
Breeding season is around the corner, and if you’re a livestock farmer or homesteader, it’s time to get your goats ready. I’ve been breeding my goats for the past five years, and I feel confident sharing with you ways to prepare your goats for breeding season. Maybe you are thinking about getting a buck to …
Gardening and chicken keeping are two joyful pursuits that, when harmoniously integrated, can create a self-sustaining cycle of productivity and beauty in your backyard. This post will inspire you to consider different options of chicken gardens in and around your chicken coop. Designing Your Chicken Coop Garden When planning a garden around your chicken coop, …
Oh boy, grab your fans and ice packs, folks, because we’re discussing the hot topic of keeping your chickens cool when the mercury rises. Yes, you guessed it—we’re talking about chickens in the scorching summer heat. Is that even a thing here in Western NY?! Before we get into it, here is a quick word …
It doesn’t take long for your chickens to start digging holes to find themselves the perfect place for a spa day. All chickens need and love a good dust bath. If you aren’t pasture-raising your chickens and have a confined space, you may want to create the perfect chicken dust bath. The Importance of Dust …
A few years ago, Kune Kune pigs were the hottest pig around. As someone who has owned potbellied pigs as pets for almost ten years, I was interested in getting into KuneKunes, making money, and having piglets! Does anyone else look back to COVID-19 times and think, if there is ever a pandemic again, I …
You’ve probably heard that saying: chicken math, goat math, fill in the blank, any livestock animal math. It’s true. Before you know it, you have a barn full of animals. Maybe it’s only true for us animal lovers. I grew up wanting to have a hobby farm, and at the beginning of my middle school …
For chicken owners, providing a well-balanced diet is vital to the health and happiness of their flock. This includes fresh, nutrient-rich greens that complement their regular feed. For those of us who are frugal, we do it also to save on feed costs. Learning how to grow a garden for your chickens is a great …
Whether you are a beginner backyard chicken owner or an experienced one, looking for a variety of eggs is fun and important for your long-term goals. I love having a variety of colored eggs chilling on our counter. If you are a baker, having the right size egg is important, and today, I want to …
As a homesteader with a passion for pigs, I can tell you that finding the right fencing for your pigs can be a daunting task. Pigs are notorious for testing boundaries and breaking through fences. But don’t worry, after seven years of trial and error, I can confidently say that I’ve found the best fencing …
Are you looking for ways to save some cash on your homestead? Well, you’re in luck because we’ve got some frugal ideas for you to try! As a homesteader, I know how hard it can be to balance your budget. Sometimes, you are overwhelmed with the homestead’s to-do list and need to run through a …
I have always loved the idea of eating seasonal foods. It always seemed like a wholesome, back-to-basic approach to cooking. But as I got older, I realized there is more to seasonal eating than just wholesome meals. If you’ve had your own garden and eaten the harvest, you were eating with the seasons. When I …
Homesteading, what exactly does that word mean? I’m learning as we go. It doesn’t mean you need a ton of land to harvest your own hay and be completely self-sufficient. Homesteading looks different for each of us, but the main idea is we all are trying to be a little bit more self-reliant. Homesteading doesn’t …
Are you tired of the dirt under your nails, early morning rooster calls, and feeling like you will never catch up? Yet, no matter all of the ups and downs with homesteading, you know it’s right where you are meant to be. I’ve been where you are – starry-eyed, full of ambition, and ready to …
I’m relieved I didn’t have Tiktok six years ago because the pull to get our homestead would have been so strong. I would have rushed for something I wasn’t ready for because of comparison. It’s so easy to get caught up in social media posts seeing the success of others, and wondering if that desire …
As a fellow homesteader and goat owner, I know firsthand the importance of finding the right animal feed, especially during the harsh winter months. Not only do you want something that will keep your goats healthy and happy, but you also want to keep your feed costs down without sacrificing quality. I’m excited to share …
Oh, my goodness, writing this post has pulled on my heartstrings! My goats were not only kids, but my kids were so little! It’s all worth it, from the babies to the milk to watching them run and jump around. If you are thinking about goats as your first farm animal, I recommend checking this …
Where are my pig lovers? I’ve loved pigs since I was a girl, when I was in college and the whole teacup pigs ( not a real thing, hence the reason for this post) was taking off, I was hooked. I knew that one of my dreams in life was to have a potbelly pig. …
When life gets stressful, nothing soothes my soul like baking. It’s one of the reasons the Christmas season is my favorite. I am constantly in the kitchen with so many of those tasty traditional treats, but learning the art of frugal baking is crucial for the holidays and cutting back the grocery bill. Cooking at …
Sometimes, it seems impossible to stock your pantry; every time I share a video on TikTok or Instagram saying the best thing to do is shop from your kitchen pantry first, I get lots of comments, saying well, how do you stock your pantry? What if you don’t have the money to stock it? What …
