Our latest chicken coop is a hoop house style made from an old greenhouse frame, with hog panel sides and salvaged tin for the front and back wall. We wrap it in 9 mil plastic for weather proofing. There are pros and cons to this type of chicken house, including maintenance, predator management, and the […]
Managing Winter Bedding Waste By Composting
We use a deep bedding system (also called “deep litter” for poultry) for all our different livestock around here in the winter. That means that instead of a regular schedule of removing waste from barns, sheds, and loafing areas, we continually add clean bedding material on top of the old bedding. It becomes a deep […]
8 Tips for Carefree Flower Beds
I love having beautiful flowers blooming all around the house in the spring and summer, but I’m no green thumb! And a lot of the DIY garden articles I love to read do not have the same definition of “low maintenance” or “easy-care” that I do! I don’t even bother with indoor plants anymore and […]
The Homestead Garage…Thinking About Tools and Toolboxes
It’s important to remember that mechanical maintenance and repair of the equipment on your farm or homestead will take a lot of time, expertise, and tools. While gathering shovels, buckets, and hoses, don’t forget that you’ll need the right tools to fix your truck, tractor, mower, chainsaw, and more. Here are some thoughts on what […]
Fence Maintenance Supplies for the Small Farm
A discussion of experiences installing and maintaining woven-wire and hi-tensile fencing for livestock–including the type of posts, type of installation tools, and future maintenance requirements for each with a list of supplies to keep on hand for repairs.
