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 … Read More
homesteading
Growing an Agrihood
Have you heard about agrihoods? I’ve seen this term popping up more and more recently. Short for “agriculture neighborhood,” essentially, an agrihood is an urban or suburban neighborhood built around farms. Here’s a video about one of the largest agrihoods … Read More
How many acres does a homesteader need — or not?
“I’d love to do what you do, except I live in town.” “I wish we could grow our own food, but we only have half an acre.” These are a couple of comments that I hear frequently. But they are … Read More
When Children Leave the Homestead
When The Great American Farm Tour stopped by our farm a couple of months ago, I mentioned in the video how we are forming partnerships with other individuals now that our children have grown up and left the homestead. … Read More
Homesteading Lessons Learned
Much of what I share on this blog is about what I’ve learned homesteading. But I know that many of you have also learned a lot. So, a couple of weeks ago, I asked the Facebook fans of Thrifty Homesteader about … Read More
8 Reasons to Grow Your Own Food
Although most people seem excited to learn about our self-reliant lifestyle, every now and then, someone doesn’t get it. Or they may think that we do this simply to save money. But the reality is that there are a lot … Read More
6 Questions You Must Ask Yourself Before Buying Livestock
You’ve decided you want your own fresh eggs or goat cheese, so you find a few chickens or goats, bring ’em home and start enjoying the bounty, right? Wrong! Buying livestock is a big responsibility, and it’s different from having … Read More
4 Questions You Must Ask Yourself Before Homesteading
We’ve met so many people through the years who’ve told us that we’re living their dream. We totally understand. We dreamed about homesteading for about a decade before we dove in and did it. But we’ve learned a lot in … Read More
Cob Ovens: A Sustainable Option for Summer Baking
Because we don’t have central air conditioning, we try to keep our house naturally cool during the summer. That means we cook indoors as little as possible. Through the years, we’ve used a modern grill on our deck and then … Read More
Foreword by Joel Salatin:
Homegrown and Handmade
My new book, Homegrown and Handmade, second edition, comes out next month, and I’m incredibly honored that farmer extraordinaire Joel Salatin wrote the Foreword. ~~ Deborah by Joel Salatin “What can I do?” The question encompasses both the angst and … Read More
