One of the things we love most around here is homemade jelly/jam/preserves. Strawberry is number 1, but our next fav is a toss-up between blackberry and grape. Concord Seedless Grapes are the perfect thing to grow for jelly. We bought six grapevines from Willis Orchards and they sent us seven, so we're going to have … Continue reading Grapevine Support
Planning the Orchard (Plan B)
Look what I bought!! 1 - 4' Fuji Apple Tree 1 - 4' Golden Delicious Apple Tree 1 - 4' Gala Apple Tree 1 - 3' Compact Stella Cherry Tree 2 - 4' American Crabapple Tree 1 - 4' Persian Mulberry Tree 2 - 4' Belle of Georgia Peach Tree 2 - 4' Bartlett Pear … Continue reading Planning the Orchard (Plan B)
Losses on the Farm: Hawks and Lepto
We’ve suffered a major loss on the farm due to hawks and lepto. I’m sure you know hawks like to grab little ones such as chickens and bunnies, but perhaps you don’t know what lepto is. Short for leptospirosis, it is a nasty and often fatal bacteria that comes from the urine of cattle and … Continue reading Losses on the Farm: Hawks and Lepto
Labor on Labor Day – or – Fencing Sucks
The most important thing you can do on your homestead to protect your livestock is install some good fencing! And, this not only goes for goats and horses, it's for all of the animals in your charge. Sadly, our new farm has zero fencing, and I can speak for everyone involved when i say, "Fencing … Continue reading Labor on Labor Day – or – Fencing Sucks
Tales from the Animal Whisperer: Earl the Rooster
I have hens - no rooster. We lived in a place with neighbors, and I didn't think they'd appreciate a rooster, but now that we have the farm, I kept my eyes open for the last two months for a chance to re-home an unwanted rooster. You know, people get a bunch of chicks every … Continue reading Tales from the Animal Whisperer: Earl the Rooster
Tales from the Animal Whisperer: Barn Swallows & Pigs
This has been a busy week on the new farm. We’ve been here three weeks now. I’ve frozen some sweet corn from the farmer’s market, canned some tomatoes, and made some salsa. I hate that they’re not from my own harvest, but I love helping out my local farmers with my purchases. We’ve also been … Continue reading Tales from the Animal Whisperer: Barn Swallows & Pigs
New Homestead Dos and Don’ts
So, you've found the perfect piece of property and are raring to build your homestead! You have plans and goals and timelines. You need cows and sheep and fencing, a chainsaw, an irrigation system, and a new pair of boots. Wait! Stop! Take a deep breath and come down from cloud nine for just a … Continue reading New Homestead Dos and Don’ts
The Best Words of Advice (so far)
In planning, preparing for, and starting our homestead, we’ve devoured everything we could possibly absorb about the lifestyle. Every book, every blog, every website. We've found some great words of wisdom out there, but there are a few tidbits that stick out. First, I read in Joel Salatin’s book, "Your Successful Farm Business," that fifty-somethings … Continue reading The Best Words of Advice (so far)
Starting from Scratch
After a decade of searching for the perfect farm in two states, we finally found our slice of heaven. We bought a 10.25-acre piece of land in Centerville, Tennessee. It took some convincing to get the trophy husband to move an hour away from any major civilization, but after years of gardening, raising chickens for … Continue reading Starting from Scratch
