Blog

  • How Often to Water Herbs Indoors, Outdoors, and In Pots?

    Herb gardening is often the starting point for many gardeners when someone gifts us a pot of basil or chives for our kitchen windowsill. But if you’re new to gardening, it can be hard to figure out just how much water your…

  • How Many Hens Can One Rooster Live With Safely?

    A few years ago, after many failed attempts, one of our hens finally managed to hatch a clutch of six chicks. Soon afterward, my delight turned to despair – four of the six were roosters! As our cute fluffy chicks matured into…

  • What Do Cows Eat (Other Than Grass and Hay)?

    If someone asked you, what do cows eat? Your reaction would probably be to sneer and say, well, grass, of course! Everyone knows cows eat grass, but farmers and homesteaders raising cattle for meat, milk, or both know that a cow’s diet is more…

  • How to Harvest Parsley Without Killing the Plant? Try This!

    An herb garden is one of the easiest things to grow, and parsley has long been a kitchen favorite!  This little low-maintenance herb will produce an abundance of beautiful green leaves, perfect for adding flavor and fragrance to your culinary…

  • Do Chickens Need Light at Night to Lay Eggs? [and Do Chicks?]

    Many new chicken owners take on a small flock of hens, thinking that chicken-keeping is a doddle. But then realize that their newly-introduced poultry is much pickier than they thought! That’s because chickens need a few home comforts to keep…

  • Best Solar Generator for Off Grid Living [Top 10 for 2025]

    Howdy, fellow Off-gridders! My name’s Jeff, and I have a vital solar generator question. Do you know one of the trickiest parts of cutting ties with the traditional networks and finally going off-grid? The problem is finding reliable power! How…

  • How to Start a Homestead With No Money, Today!

    If you have dreams of starting a homestead, you are not alone! An ever-expanding legion of people dream of escaping the rat race and building a self-sufficient life. The urge to step away from the corporate world and create a…

  • What to Plant in April for Each USDA Plant Zone

    April can be a busy month for many gardeners. But of course, what you do in your April garden will depend on where you live. One of the most challenging things for any new gardener is working out what to…

  • Is Cracked Corn Good for Chickens and Egg Production?

    For many years, I only fed my chickens whole or cracked corn. I hoped they were getting all the nutrients needed from the bugs, seeds, fruit, and the surrounding pasture. After a while, however, I noticed my chickens were hardly…

  • Can You Eat a Rooster? Are Male Chickens Edible?

    Chicken meat is a healthy and classic family (and farm) staple! But rooster meat has a reputation for being inedible, chewy, bland, and not worth eating. Is that true? Can you eat a rooster? Or not? The confusion between chicken…