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Homesteading
Many factors determine how much a bale of hay weighs including whether it’s square or round, the type of hay, whether it’s first or third …
As far as traditional off-grid structures go, an outhouse needs a simple plan for a simple DIY build – a tall wooden box with a door positioned …
You may wonder why I’ve dedicated an entire guide to something as simple as a bee and how to start your journey into backyard beekeeping. …
Sick of the old dehydrated banana chips or beef jerky? Here are 49 different weird things to dehydrate! From liver snacks for the dog to …
Living off the land – sounds idyllic, doesn’t it?! Spending your days working away on your own piece of paradise, making enough to pay the …
Delicious homemade ice cream without electricity? No problem! Hand crank ice cream provides your family with many memories, from having cranking competitions to enjoying family-made …
Raising pigs for profit is a fantastic idea, but before starting up the business, you’ll need to know how much a piglet and adult pigs …
Bees can do wonders for our gardens and our planet, but you’ll need to know how to attract them if you want to see the …
Gardening
Canada may have a reputation for being cold, but let me reassure you, it is possible to garden in every province in the Great White …
Growing your own food is one of the best ways to live a healthier lifestyle. If, however, you’re like me and have more of a …
Can you grow plants in glass pots? Yes! Glass is making a big, sparkly comeback.
Seen as a zero-waste and pollutant-free alternative to plastic, glass vessels …
In the Oxford dictionary, the definition of the word “self sufficient” is simple. If you are self-sufficient, then you need no outside help in satisfying …
Although it can be tempting to think of gardening as a warm-weather pastime, there are many things we can be doing through the colder months …
Have you noticed that the cost of groceries is skyrocketing these days? We’re worried that the cost of food is only going to increase!
We’ve been ranting about …
Electric lawn edgers might seem like something you may not need on your homestead, but they can serve some hugely handy functions. I find it difficult sometimes …
Did you know there is a difference between a cultivator vs tiller? As if the overwhelm of starting a garden wasn’t trouble enough to begin …
Raising Animals
Sheep and lamb difference – Sheep and lambs are domesticated animals that get kept for their wool, meat, or milk. However, there is a big …
All dog owners should consider building a dog run for their dog. A backyard dog run offers your dogs the perfect outlet to release their …
Thinking of raising chickens or ducks on your homestead? Whenever the need or want arises for fresh eggs and meat, chickens are always the front-runner. …
If you’re looking to start a small flock of sheep, the choice of breeds available is a bit overwhelming! Black and white sheep are becoming …
You may wonder why I’ve dedicated an entire guide to something as simple as a bee and how to start your journey into backyard beekeeping. …
Chickens have a surprisingly varied diet and will gulp down the most disgusting-looking insects and worms just as happily as they will their normal chicken …
Diving into the world of poultry is often the first step into keeping livestock for many homesteaders, with chickens coming top of the list every time.
But …
This is your complete guide to the best animals for small farms and homesteads! These are some of the best animals to raise when you’re …
Backyard Lifestyle
This morning, someone asked me whether they can use well water to water their raised gardens. However, the answer to this question is quite complicated. …
Most everyone knows Murphy’s Law. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. And at the worst time! Those of us who garden suspect that …
There is nothing quite like being able to gather around a warm fire on a chilly night. And that is excellent news since the cold …
Bees can do wonders for our gardens and our planet, but you’ll need to know how to attract them if you want to see the …
Vegetable Gardening
We all love the summer squash – zucchini, don’t we? Companion planting helps your zucchini perform at its very best – and here are 14 of …
This is your total guide to Moringa, and why you really should grow the Miracle tree (also known as Drumstick Vegetable, for reasons I’ll explain …
How to grow lima beans and when to harvest them! Many homesteaders are looking to grow more varied crops in larger quantities to counteract the …
Complete guide to how to grow your own tea! Growing your own tea plants is one of the most rewarding things you can do in …
Tools and Equipment
You need all the help you can get with DIY projects. The best 20 gallon air compressor is no different. From inflating tires to running …
Winter is just around the corner and that means snow. A lot of snow! Carving your way through heaps of wet snow puts a huge …
Winter is over and if you’re like me, you’re looking forward to starting your lawn mower up again!
There are a few things we should do …
This article contains my four top picks for the best whole house generator for those sudden power cuts or going off-grid. Below, I’ll talk about …
Raising Goats
If you’re a farmer or homesteader, you’ve probably got a few goats on your property. (Or have had some!) Goats are versatile creatures often used …
Are you a beginner farmer looking for the best goats to start your homestead? You’re in luck! We’re about to outline the best goats for …
What are the main differences between raising sheep vs goats? We’re about to brainstorm the subtleties that most homesteaders overlook – including the cost of …
For years my husband, Brad, and I idly dreamed about moving to the country. We wanted the space and the quiet for us, and our …
Outdoor Cooking & The Homestead Kitchen
Get ready – we’re about to share our favorite fermented jalapeño hot sauce recipe! Anyone can make this straightforward and delicious sauce without fancy or …
Tripods and a kettle on an open campfire sound like a great way of outdoor cooking, but a stone stove or outdoor survival oven is …
How to bake without an oven – Whether you want to try something new or your oven is temporarily out of order, you’ll be amazed …
The potato plant is a nightshade family member that produces edible tubers. Some people are curious about whether or not potato leaves are edible.
So – …
Projects & DIY
Want epic stock tank pool ideas? Look no further! With temps skyrocketing everywhere, your top priority this summer is staying cool. But your poor window-rattler …
Do you stress about having guests come to stay? I sure do. My husband and I share our home with six dogs, four of which …
This epic guide contains many DIY incubator ideas and tutorials on how to make an incubator. But first, I need to tell a funny story about my …
Want to beautify your backyard with a breathtaking greenhouse?
Then read this article!
You’ve just stumbled upon the holy grail of DIY greenhouse plans, resources, and tutorials!
We’ve …
Chickens
Making a profit on the homestead is part of becoming self-sufficient, and we should all be looking for ways of making out homestead work for …
Anyone who keeps chickens will know that they can be very individual characters. What works for one of your girls won’t necessarily work for another. …
Building a chicken coop from pallets is a cheap and easy woodworking project! One that can be as straightforward or as complex as you want …
If you’re new to keeping hens or want to expand your little flock, then the nesting boxes are vital. Here’s why. Hens are fussy (and …
Off Grid Living
Tiny house living has become more and more popular in recent years, with people creating breathtaking and versatile living spaces. And as someone who has been …
You’ve had it with city living. You want out! You’re aching to live off grid in a cabin you’ve built, in pristine natural surroundings, free …
It’s time to upgrade our old gasoline-only generator to a dual fuel generator with propane and gas. Gas was nearly impossible to get during the …
Off grid shower ideas! While we can’t take away the need to trot into work every morning, we do have something that will brighten the …
Hey, thanks for visiting Outdoor Happens! We’re a team of outdoorsy people, bringing you the best in self-sufficient living, gardening, homesteading (have you read our “Practical Homesteading Skills” article? It has 58 great homesteading skills you can start learning today!), farming, raising animals, tools and equipment, in-depth reviews, cooking, and just awesome outdoor living in your own backyard.
We live the homestead life ourselves – it’s not easy but if we stick together we can help each other. That’s our aim. We’ve scoured the earth for the most versatile group of homesteading writers. They are all amazing at many things, but most have a passion they’re an expert at and that’s what they’ll share with you in their articles.
Me? I’m your permaculture, survival garden, and edible plants chick. My husband’s your fix-anything mechanical guide, as well a whizz with irrigation systems, compost, soil tests, and fertilizer. We have Djordje the Knife Guy, Mike the Jovial Griller, and Nicky Goat Girl (she’s an expert at other farm animals too!).
Want to know more about us? Have a read of our About page, and we always appreciate your feedback – leave us a comment or send an email. Any specific equipment you’d like us to review, or topics you’d like to read about?