One of the most versatile of root crops, carrots (Daucus carota ssp. sativus) are delicious raw or cooked and deliver an impressive list of nutrients, especially beta-carotene, in colorful packages—from the familiar orange to purple, crimson, pink, white, and yellow as well as two-tones such as purple with an orange core.
homesteading
10 Pests You Can Get Rid Of Using Garlic
Garlic is one of the oldest cultivated plants we know of and is believed to have originated in central Asia more than four thousand years ago. Over the centuries, garlic was used as food, medicine, and even as a money substitute. It was even used in various mysticism and enchantment practices throughout the world.
Turning A Neglected Field Into A Productive Plot Of Land
Recently I purchased an additional 60 acres of my grandmother’s old farm. I had to restore the land to its former glory and turn the neglected field into a productive pasture and wildlife habitat. Here’s my story.
A few Jelly Recipes That Do Not Use Standard Fruits
My years in the kitchen have taught me to have fun with the old standards. With 3 children, it was a sure thing that I had to put up lots of jelly and jam, so I found and worked out a few recipes for pleasure. These do not use standard fruits.
A few Reasons Why Your Hens Stop Laying Eggs
People keep chickens for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the biggest, is for the desire to have fresh eggs every day. Every 25-28 hours, a hen will lay an egg. However, there can come times when, you go to collect them, find none there.
The Basic Livestock Vetting Requirements For The New Homesteader
Most experienced livestock owners administer medicines, routine vaccinations, and other shots when needed. They also perform common procedures like de-worming, treating wounds, de-horning, castration, etc., and keep a reserve of commonly used medical supplies and medications on hand.
Tips For Managing And Using Your Woodlot
Many rural homes have a back forty that’s treed. To some, the forest is a liability because we need the land for pasture or crops. Food should be a priority, but don’t overlook the forest for the trees. Those trees can be a tremendous asset and can be tended and grown like a garden to provide firewood and other valuable resources.
Raising Livestock For Self-sufficiency
In their quest for self-sufficiency, a lot of families start out quite logically by moving to their own piece of land in the country and cultivating a large garden. Once they feel they have mastered this step, they begin thinking about livestock.
Recommendations For Planting Fruit, Nut and Shade trees
Most of us think of fall as a time of winding down on gardening activities. True, there are fewer chores to do than when the spring garden was begun followed by mulching, harvesting, canning, and so on, but fall is also the preferred time for planting most fruit and nut trees.
Growing The Best Crops For Coping With The Next Crisis
If the next crisis hits hard, one of the best friends you can have is a practical garden. A key consideration in such a garden is which types of produce can be harvested and simply dumped into a root cellar or dark closet, without processing, and left there until needed.
How To Keep Deer Out Of Your Garden
Last summer I returned home from vacation to find my vegetable garden devoured by Bambi. My first instinct was to run for the shotgun, but since that wasn’t a legal option in July, alternatives had to be found.
More Than A Dozen Reasons To Practice Self-sufficiency Gardening
It often amazes me that when many people think of self-sufficiency, home food production is usually the last item on their list—that is, if it makes the list at all. We all tend to take certain things for granted, such as foods that are plentiful.
How To Enrich Your Soil With Cover Crops
Use it or lose it. That expression did not originally refer to soil, but it could have. Nature improves soil by growing plants on it continuously. In the wild, good soil is never without a cover of vegetation. Something will grow there, so it may as well be something you choose.