Part of efficiency on the homestead is learning to work with what you've got. Today, I had a fridge full of left over mashed potatoes, some sweet potatoes that needed to be eaten, and a need for some apple cider vinegar So, for dinner tonight, I combined the potatoes to make some homemade gnocchi (NYAH-kee), and … Continue reading Resourcefulness
The Not-so-perfect Storm
We're in the Smokey Mountain region of this great nation and we were promised some brutal storms. Well, we ended up just getting a ton of rain. Which on one hand is great, because of the drought conditions this past summer/fall. On the other hand, we had quite a bit of water damage to our … Continue reading The Not-so-perfect Storm
Chicken Update: Feed, First aid
All our girls are doing well. Before we got the chicks, I made a point of putting together a "chicken first aid kit" because I wanted to be prepared should we encounter pasty butt, coccidiosis, parasites, fungal infection, bacterial infection, respiratory infection, our cuts from bigger chicks bullying the smaller ones, etc. Fortunately, we haven't … Continue reading Chicken Update: Feed, First aid
Chicken Coop Plans
I've been driving myself nuts trying to design a chicken coop. Honestly, there are too many choices and builds online without sufficient details in the plans about materials needed. So, I drew up my own plans. In my reading, everything said plan on more chickens than you have to account for replenishing your flock. So, … Continue reading Chicken Coop Plans
Finding the Slope
So we're going to have to terrace our hillside in order to be able to garden in it. A useable slope is about 2%, or 1 foot of rise for every 50 feet of run. Our slope is about 8%. To find that, I used a simple equation from Algebra 1 I never thought I'd … Continue reading Finding the Slope
Terracing, Burning, and Grooming
Busy day! We picked up our last two chicks at the co-op this morning- Black Cuckoo Marans. They're doing fine with the others and we now have our full flock of 9. I have a suspicion that one of our Buff Orpingtons is a rooster, based on size and wing sexing, but I've also never … Continue reading Terracing, Burning, and Grooming
It’s Chicken Day!!!
When I was a kid, chicken day meant a trip to KFC after church on Sunday. Not so today! My husband woke up early to drive to the co-op and pick up our day old chicks before work. We've got 3 Buff Orpingtons (yellow chicks), 2 Ameraucanas (pretty brown patterned ones), and 2 Black Australorps … Continue reading It’s Chicken Day!!!
Homestead Update: Chicks, Beds, and Veggies
Lots going on here lately! 7 of our 9 baby chicks come tomorrow, the other two will be here Friday. The brooder is set up, but we're debating using a bigger box. We'll see once they get here. Finally got the temp to settle at about 95°F under the heat lamp, until about 3:00pm when … Continue reading Homestead Update: Chicks, Beds, and Veggies
Busy Day in Town
preparation and management are key to ensuring they get glad in the same pants they got mad in...unless the original pants are splattered with pear sauce... Then I get my son clean pants.
Swale Progress
It hit 73°F today... Weird winter we're having... In any case, we've been able to get a good bit of work done. Here's how the swale is coming along: My husband dug a lot of holes in his devil dog days. The skill and experience is paying off. And he thought he'd never use his … Continue reading Swale Progress
Wholly Holy Living 
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