Gjetost (pronounced yay-toast) translates from Norwegian as “goat cheese,” but it is more like fudge or caramel than cheese in both flavor and the process for making it. It is not ripened. It is simply whey that has been boiled and reduced to about 20 percent of its original volume, which makes it incredibly rich. My first attempt to make gjetost was an icky failure. I wound … [Read more...]
Respiratory Conditions in Goats
When a goat has a runny nose or cough, people often assume it has a respiratory infection or lungworms. But those symptoms could be caused by something as simple as dust from hay or living on a gravel road. Ammonia buildup in a barn, as well as smoke or exhaust from machinery, can also cause coughing and runny noses. Treating respiratory issues caused by environmental factors … [Read more...]
Summer Management of Honey Bees
Below is an excerpt from Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees, 2nd Edition © Malcolm T. Sanford and Richard E. Bonney. Used with permission from Storey Publishing. Summer Management The peak bloom for many nectar plants is early summer in the northern United States. When this happens, it’s time to see whether all the bees’ and your hard work getting populations up to their … [Read more...]
7 Things You Need for Milking Goats
You will need the following items whether you will be milking by hand or with a machine. All of these things can be purchased through goat supply companies, but in some cases you can make your own or come up with creative substitutes that cost less. Milk Stand Don’t skip this one! Someone once bought a perfectly trained milk goat from me and then complained that she was … [Read more...]
The Evolving Homestead
When we started our homestead in 2002, we had three children, ages 9, 12, and 14. They've grown up, gone to college, and started their own lives now. A lot of people have asked me if I'm disappointed that they left the homestead, but the reality is that this is a homestead, not a big commercial farm. We have a three bedroom house, and we don't make a full-time income from the … [Read more...]
Milk and meat withdrawal in goats following drug use
Nothing ever dies on the Internet, and nowhere is this more true and more dangerous than when it comes to drug use in goats and other livestock. Because most livestock are food producing animals, this is far more important than getting drug use right in dogs and cats. One reason I raise my own food is because I don't want to consume drug residue in meat and milk. It would be … [Read more...]
Garden Therapy
Playing in dirt isn’t just for kids and animals! A growing body of research has shown that gardening can significantly improve your health and well-being. So what’s the dirt on dirt? Preventive Medicine Reports published a 2017 study that conducted a meta-analysis on the effects on human health. The researchers concluded that gardens improve physical, psychological, and … [Read more...]
Homesteading and Health
When people ask me why we started a homesteading lifestyle, the short answer is because we wanted to live a healthier lifestyle. But what does health really have to do with homesteading? Why do so many homesteading bloggers write about health? Most of you know that we grow a lot of our own food -- 100% of our meat, eggs, dairy, and maple syrup, as well as a good chunk of our … [Read more...]
Sunscreen: Helpful or Harmful?
Those of us living on farms and growing even some our own foods cannot help but spend a fair amount of time outside. That inevitably brings up the topic of sun exposure. And that brings up skin cancer. As the wife of a man who has survived melanoma, as well we more basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and dysplastic nevi that I can remember at this point, I cringe … [Read more...]
Agritourism: 14 Tips to Protect Yourself and Your Farm
As school ends and people start looking for things to do with the family, many farmers decide that this is a great time to open up their farm to the public. Some have a simple open farm day where people can tour the farm and buy farm fresh products while others do things like goat yoga classes. It seems like a great way to earn a few extra bucks, but are you putting yourself at … [Read more...]
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