Back in 2016, we had the idea for a new house on our property and worked with an out-of-state company to get it built. That fell through as documented here and we found a general contractor in Florida to build our home. As noted in the earlier article, that has also been a frustrating situation. … Continue reading Update on Building our House
Hit by a Farm – Book Review
Hit by a Farm, How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Barn is a wonderful book by Catherine Friend about her adventures with her partner to deal with being new sheep farmers. Although for one of them, this was what she always wanted to do, for the author it was an altogether new … Continue reading Hit by a Farm – Book Review
Human Waste: To Flush or Not?
I like the idea of doing something good with human waste instead of just flushing it. I got some ideas about this when I studied Permaculture. Humans bodies generate a lot of waste and use good water to get rid of it , but it can be put to better use. Using Urine and Manure … Continue reading Human Waste: To Flush or Not?
Wild Foraging: A Survival Skill
If you want to eat off the land, it is helpful to learn about local edible plants. In order to increase our knowledge, my husband and I attended a seminar on wild foraging at a local nursery. Learn from Experts Our seminar featured two experts on edible plants you can find in Florida: Andy Firk … Continue reading Wild Foraging: A Survival Skill
Introduction to Permaculture – Book Review
When I took the Permaculture Design Course, this book by Bill Mollison was our textbook. Bill wrote a much bigger volume on Permaculture, but this introduction goes over the basics to get you started. Why Permaculture Design? What I really liked about Permaculture was using its principles to get the most return with the least … Continue reading Introduction to Permaculture – Book Review
Adding Goats to a Homestead
Before anyone thinks about adding goats to a homestead or property in the city or suburbs, check if local laws will allow them. Many areas are changing regulations, but getting livestock is a major investment and violating government rules is never a good way to start. Property Zoning A big consideration we had before we … Continue reading Adding Goats to a Homestead
Increase Your Self-Sufficiency Checklist
A Homestead According to Mother Earth News, homesteading … is all about self-sufficiency — wherever you live. It's about using less energy, eating wholesome local food, involving your family in the life of the community and making wiser choices that will improve the quality of life for your family, your community and the environment around … Continue reading Increase Your Self-Sufficiency Checklist
Making Clothing – An Important Survival Skill
My mother always enjoyed making clothing for herself and her family. To get me started, she taught me how to make pot holders with a loop loom. At eight or nine years old, I was making them for my mom's kitchen and then asked the neighbors if they wanted some. I let them pick the … Continue reading Making Clothing – An Important Survival Skill
Using Recycled Materials on Our Homestead
Wooden pallets and other recycled materials are everywhere and can be useful in reducing costs to build things. This is about how and why we used them for some of the first projects on our property. Waste Streams When I did the Permaculture Design Course I became very excited about using waste streams. No, those … Continue reading Using Recycled Materials on Our Homestead
Homesteading Considerations
Before jumping in, there are many homesteading considerations you should look at. First, what are your homestead goals, what are you really trying to accomplish by doing it? Personal Goals Your goals will affect everything else you are going to do and the scope of you project. Try to be as specific as possible in … Continue reading Homesteading Considerations