Homesteading

Spring Garden Tour on the New Farm

Wouldn’t it be fun if you could swing by for a spring garden tour on our new farm?

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Hugelkultur Raised Garden Beds | Roots & Boots

How to Build Hugelkultur Raised Garden Beds

It all started with a permaculture book checked out from the library last year.  I had no idea about Hugelkultur raised garden beds until then, but once I learned the concept it made perfect sense! Why didn’t I think of this before?

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How to Raise Pastured Poultry

How to Raise Pastured Poultry, Part 1: DIY Brooder Pen

It’s going to be a crazy next few months, y’all, what with moving, installing new gardens, mending fences, and adding pigs, more laying hens and more meat birds to our homestead.  On top of all the renovations in the new house.  Oh, and did I mention we’re thinking of boarding horses?  Yep, it’ll be a…

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Best Livestock Guardian Dog for Chickens | Roots & Boots

The Best Livestock Guardian Dog for Chickens

Note from Kathleen: Today I’m welcoming my favorite guest post author…my husband, Mr. Native Texan!  Also known as Greg.  He’s definitely the animal expert on our homestead, so I’m going to let him tell you all about our experience with our livestock guardian dog Mudge.

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3 Acre Homestead for Sale in Northern Virginia

3 Acre Homestead for Sale in Northern Virginia

In 2012, Mr. Native Texan hit the big 4-0.  In honor of such a momentous occasion I gave him a chicken coop plus a few laying hens.  He loved it, and the rest was history! Later this year (2018), it’s my turn to celebrate four decades.  So we’re buying a 20-acre farm.

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How to Raise Pastured Poultry

Our 2017 Homesteading Year in Review

2017 was a big homesteading year for us.  Most notably, it was our first year to raise pastured poultry from start to finish.  What an adventure! There were triumphs (chickens) and defeats (broccoli).  We learned a lot and worked our tails off, and have spent the winter recuperating and gathering ideas and energy for year 2018…

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5 Crunchy Books that are Changing My Life

5 Crunchy Books that are Changing My Life

Just when my friends and assorted family members thought I couldn’t get any crunchier…

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Basic Tomato Sauce For Canning Or Freezing | Roots & Boots

Basic Tomato Sauce for Canning or Freezing

This Basic Tomato Sauce for Canning recipe is definitely a step up from my original recipe for Roasted Tomato Sauce.  

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How to Get Rid of Vine Borers for Good

How to Get Rid of Vine Borers for Good

Ready to get rid of vine borers for good? There’s nothing quite so discouraging as watching a perfectly healthy zucchini plant wilt before your eyes, while you stand by, helpless.  If you have trouble with vine borers, I’ve got good news and bad news.

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Top 8 Essential Oils for Chickens

Have you ever wondered if you can use essential oils for chickens?

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