I used to have one of those big, cushy, windowed offices in Washington DC. It had bookcases and file cabinets and a large desk. There were even chairs in front of my desk, so I could have meetings in ...
How to Make and Use Aerated Compost Tea (ACT) in Your Garden
I have been making good old-fashioned compost tea for years. All you do is wrap 2 pounds of your best quality compost in a flour sack towel, tie it off with a rubber band, and soak it in a 5-gallon ...
6 Smart Strategies for Starting Seeds on a Shoestring Budget
This year I am starting 120 different kinds of plants including vegetables, herbs, flowers, and pollinator attractants. All in, I'll be growing several thousand plants on about an acre's worth of ...
Hotbed Gardening: Add a Little Heat to Your Gardening Repertoire
When I first got a greenhouse, I thought it would be great for starting seeds. Unfortunately, even though it is hot during the day, nighttime temperatures often drop below freezing. That made it ...
How to Create Moss Scapes to Bring the Outdoors into Your Home
I don't hate winter. In some ways, I even love it. Cold-weather means I get lots of time indoors to plan and do all my prep-work to have a great homestead year. The problem is, as soon as my seeds ...
Understanding What ‘Disease-Resistant Plants’ Actually Means
Have you noticed how all the articles on organic gardening seem to recommend that you choose disease-resistant plants? That’s generally good advice. Yet, many gardeners don’t understand exactly what ...
20 Money-Saving Chicken Care Hacks for Every Chicken Owner
DIY is not always cheaper than buying the store version of some things. However, when it comes to raising chickens, you can provide quite a bit of what they need using stuff you have on the ...
5 Homestead Clothing Trends for Comfort, Safety, and Style
When I was a teenager, I had a half-shaved head and otherwise purple hair. I loved to rip up my stockings and wear plaid skirts with neon combat boots. I was very much a follower of punk rock fashion ...
How to Keep Hawks Away and Protect Your Chickens
My Great Pyrenees puppy erupted into excited barking. My chickens started to sound the alarm in unison. Then, a strangled squawk echoed across our holler. Without even stopping for shoes, I raced ...