Need an entertaining conversation starter with your non-homesteading friends? Try mentioning that you rendered beef tallow last week....The reactions will likely range from shock, to disgust, to confusion, to blank stares because they have no idea what the heck you are talking about. What is Beef Tallow? Tallow is simply beef fat that has been rendered (cooked down) to remove impurities. Rendered beef or sheep fat is called ...Continue Reading
Archives for February 2012
It’s Here! Start Homesteading Today with “Your Custom Homestead”
(Looking for the Barn Hop? It's directly below this post.) The long anticipated day is finally here-- I can't wait any longer, and I know you can't either! For months I've been noticing a need-- a need for a resource geared towards those who want to join the modern day homesteading movement so badly, but have no idea where to start. It's no secret that the concept of "simple living" can actually be quite overwhelming at first ...Continue Reading
The Hard Part of Homesteading
As many of you know from my recent Facebook posts, we butchered our steer this past weekend. First off, let me give you a little background info. I was a Vet Tech for two years before becoming becoming a homesteader. I've helped mercifully end the lives of more animals than I can even recall. I've assisted with all manner of surgeries and procedures, from spaying and neutering to bovine C-Sections involving dead baby calves... As ...Continue Reading
How to Make Homemade Breadcrumbs
If you've been a reader of The Prairie Homestead for a while, you'll remember a post about the Five Foods I'll Never Buy Again. Breadcrumbs were first on that list! You see, a big part of real food is learning how to make your own bread products (unless you are gluten intolerant, of course). For most people (me definitely included) there is a learning curve that comes with mastering homemade bread. And that learning curve involves ...Continue Reading
How to Decorate with Repurposed Items for Farmhouse Flair
OK, first things first. I'm far from being one of those super-cool decorating bloggers. I'm not good at "staging" my home, and my picture-taking skills leave a lot to be desired. However, I had so much fun showing you the chicken wire frame I made, that I wanted to share a few more of my other simple homestead decorating ideas. When I first got married, I was under the impression that "home decor" had to come from a "home ...Continue Reading