by Victoria Redhed Miller We live in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains in northwest Washington state. At our elevation of about 1000 feet, we typically get a fair amount of snow between November and February. An average winter would … Read More
Just a few weeks ago we looked out our windows and saw the first leaf falling to the ground. Now it’s already time for Thanksgiving! We will be raking the leaves, inviting the family over, setting the table, and – … Read More
If you’ve decided to add pigs to your homestead, the next question is, “which breed?” I am partial to the heritage breeds because they do well on pasture. Initially we raised Tamworths, which we purchased from a breeder in the … Read More
When we moved to the country, we had been vegetarians for 13 years, and we remained vegetarian for another year, then we very gradually started eating a bit of our own chicken here and there, as well as one of … Read More
Do you know what season it is? Most people think of this as fall, but if you have sheep or goats, you also know it as breeding season! Sheep and goats are pregnant for five months, so fall is the … Read More
I admit that we started milk testing because my daughters wanted our does to have those fancy stars and letters after their names like *M in ADGA and *D in AGS. However, after getting started, we discovered there are many … Read More
If you have chickens and are considering adding turkeys to your homestead, you have no doubt either read or been told by a well-meaning friend that you cannot keep chickens and turkeys together. It is widely believed that chickens will … Read More
by Victoria Redhed Miller Here at Canyon Creek Farms, we have been raising laying hens since 2007, and laying ducks since 2008. Here’s a brief comparison of duck and chicken eggs. Productivity At various times we have raised Blue Swedish and … Read More
Over the past dozen growing seasons on our farm in Illinois, I’ve come to truly appreciate the first few freezes in the fall because I know it means that problems with internal parasites in our animals will soon be winding … Read More
by Victoria Redhed Miller We have raised laying ducks for nearly six years now, and one of the things we are asked about most frequently is how to care for ducks in the wintertime. We live in the foothills of … Read More
Thrifty Homesteader is about creating a more sustainable life, but what exactly does that mean? It means making choices that will make you healthier...
