It's funny the things that make you feel like a homesteading rockstar... Like making homemade vanilla extract for example. I've been making homemade vanilla extract for several years now, and it's definitely on my list of "never-buy-again" foods. It's so easy, it practically makes itself. Now that's my kind of recipe. ;) Is it cost effective? If you are comparing it with purchasing real vanilla extract from the store, then yes, making ...Continue Reading
Archives for March 2011
6 Lessons I Learned from Kidding This Year
Kidding is over for the year. Over the course of 5 days, I kidded four does who had a total of 7 baby goats! We had 3 sets of twins and one single. It was a stressful, exhilarating, breathtaking, exhausting, and rewarding week, all rolled into one. Of course, all but one of them went into labor while hubby was gone, so I did everything myself. While packing around an 11 month old baby. Anyway, I've got to say that I'm feeling more ...Continue Reading
Goat 101: Milking Schedules
No matter how you slice it, having a dairy animal is definitely a commitment. However, for us, the luxury of having raw milk far surpasses any "hassle" the goats might present to us! And truthfully, they really are not much trouble. Our goats are due to kid any day now, and I am gearing to start my milking routine once again. Before you start your daily milking, you need to decide how much milk you will require on a daily basis, ...Continue Reading
Cheesy Meatloaf Recipe
I just don't get it. Every year for my husband's birthday, I cook up a special supper of his choice. I offer to make anything his heart desires, from steak, to lasagna, to delicate fish filets, he can chose whatever he wants. So imagine my surprise last year when he requested... meatloaf. Actually, not just any meat loaf, he specifically requested this cheesy meatloaf. It's one of his favorite meals, and even though I ...Continue Reading
Homemade Chick Waterer
When I was meandering through the aisle of the feed store the other day, I almost grabbed one of those plastic chick waterers. I knew we were going to be needing one soon, since the coop is clean and shiny and the chicks are set to arrive in a couple weeks. But of course, my craziness innovative, frugal mentality won out, and I decided I would challenge myself to create my own chick waterer from materials I had at home. After ...Continue Reading