Poisonous Plants and Livestock
A couple of weeks ago I visited a poisonous plant garden. No, it wasn’t at Hogwarts. It was at the University of Illinois. Don’t go looking for it. You won’t find it. It is hidden away behind the school of … Read More
Celebrating Summertime with the Best Varieties of Tomatoes
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Reading Epic Tomatoes by Craig LeHoullier took me back to my childhood and enjoying tomato sandwiches with my grandfather during the summertime. Though I’ve reviewed many books this year, this is one of the … Read More
What’s So Bad About lard?
For most of the twentieth century, people believed that lard was indigestible and unhealthy. They mistakenly believed that eating foods that contained cholesterol would raise your cholesterol, which would lead to heart disease. We now know that all the above … Read More
Goats and Selenium Deficiency
Selenium is a micronutrient needed by goats (and lots of other living creatures). Although they only need a little, a deficiency can cause big problems. When goats don’t have enough selenium, does may have trouble getting pregnant, are more likely … Read More
Why I’m still making soap after all these years
Shortly after moving to the country in 2002, I was complaining to a friend about my allergy to commercial soaps. I used to be a major fragrance junky! I was one of those people who now make me miserable. I … Read More
Homegrown Pork: Learn to raise ‘the Einsteins of the farm animal world’
As an Amazon, Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As I’m getting started with pigs, I was happy to discover Homegrown Pork: Humane, Healthful Techniques for Raising a Pig for Food by Sue Weaver, and I can’t imagine a more comprehensive … Read More
Getting Started with Livestock
When you decide to start a homestead, whether in the city or country, it can be tempting to buy a few critters of every species that you can afford and that your property or home owner’s association will allow. But … Read More
Save water, time, and money using drip irrigation
“Trees grow faster, with wider trunks. Shrubs and perennial flowers bloom more profoundly. Vegetables and fruit and nut trees yield more abundantly.” – Robert Kourik How is this possible? In the quote above, the author of Drip Irrigation: For Every … Read More
Milking Donkeys
For those with food sensitivities who are unable to drink cow, goat, or sheep milk, there are other alternatives. In addition to milking her East Friesian sheep, Angelia Silvera of Gods Blessing Farm in Niota, Tennessee, started milking donkeys more … Read More
The Genetics Behind Blue-Eyed and Polled Goats
The genetics behind what causes a goat to be polled or blue-eyed is one of the most misunderstood phenomena in the goat world. It starts with a simple misunderstanding of what dominant and recessive mean when we’re talking about genes. … Read More
