Last week the ground was covered in a blanket of white. This week, it’s 70+ degrees and my kids are “swimming” in the buffalo wallow. A tinge of green is appearing across the prairie that’s been brown for an eternity. It’s coming. I'm looking forward to sun, soil, and long evenings spent outside. Although... a part of me will miss the peaceful nights curled next to the fire with a good book. But I know that time will come ...Continue Reading
Being Old-Fashioned on Purpose
Writing a book is weird. It's a multi-year project that takes everything you have. It transforms you, changes you, sometimes breaks you... but the people around you often don't even know it's happening. As some of you know, I spent the bulk of last year buried in book-writing. It's been beautiful... and often brutal. But we're in the home stretch. And I FINALLY have the green light to share more with you today about my ...Continue Reading
Why Good Potting Soil is Important (and the Story of My Dead Tomato Seedlings)
Last spring, I couldn't get my tomato seedlings to grow. I tried everything. After using multiple different seeds and seed companies, trying different pots, changing the lighting, watering differently, and even replanting everything, I threw up my hands in despair. Maybe I just wouldn't be growing tomatoes for the year... But then I thought of the one variable that I hadn't considered before: the potting soil. Later into ...Continue Reading
The Nutritional Needs of Chickens
There's been a lot of talk about chickens and eggs lately. Recently, many homesteaders have been raising concerns over their chickens giving them less eggs and wondering if there is a connection between their egg shortages and potential nutrition issues with their commercial chicken feed. I have mentioned a few times on my blog (like here) and also on my newest podcast episode that I prefer taking a balanced approach to most issues ...Continue Reading
How to Use Up Extra Milk from a Family Milk Cow
Milk cows are truly the stars of our homestead. It's no secret that I'm in love with our dairy cows. I spent many years going back and forth between dairy cows and dairy goats, but if you've listened to my podcast episode about how I'm pruning my life these days, you know that I've finally decided on focusing on our family milk cows for our dairy needs. In fact, I personally feel that dairy cows are some of the biggest assets to ANY ...Continue Reading