Small Homestead

Life on a small homestead

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Entries from February 2009

Randy’s Real Man’s Venison Cookbook

February 21st, 2009 · No Comments

One of the things that I was surprised by when I moved to this area was that all the men here  cook.  And they cook well.  It really shouldn’t be that unusual but in a farming community, traditionally the men are out on the farm and the women cook.  I’m not sure why it’s different [...]

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Tags: Recipes

Oh Deer Kabobs

February 20th, 2009 · No Comments

This recipe is a sneak preview of our upcoming Live Off The Land series of cookbooks.
When I moved here I had never had venison and these kabobs were my first experience with it. I was an instant convert and this has remained my favorite recipe. If you don’t have venison available you can [...]

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Tags: Recipes

Carnival of Homesteading – First Edition

February 16th, 2009 · No Comments

Welcome to the First  edition of Carnival of Homesteading.  There are some great articles in this edition.  I hope that you will enjoy reading them as much as I have!
Gardening

Sinclair presents Sowing the Seeds posted at NatureWithMe, saying, “This is an article about seed selection for an heriloom, organic family garden.”

Ever wondered how to compost [...]

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Tags: Carnivals · Farm Animals · Gardening · Recipes

Submit Your Posts Now for the Carnival of Homesteading

February 12th, 2009 · No Comments

The first edition of the Carnival of Homesteading will be posted here on February 16th.
Homesteading is perhaps best described as an attitude.  It is the desire to be self sufficient: to grow your own food, can your own vegetables, make your own soap.  It can be on a large scale such as growing all your [...]

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Tags: Carnivals

History of the Victory Garden

February 12th, 2009 · No Comments

During World War II  Americans were asked to support the troops by planting a Victory Garden.  Posters were put up everywhere, gardens were planted in backyards and vacant lots.  Americans produced 40% of their own food in their backyards.  Yes, you read that right, 40%.
Americans were encouraged to grow their own fruits and vegetables so [...]

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Tags: Gardening

ReClaiming the Homestead

February 9th, 2009 · No Comments

Today was a warm winter day with temperatures in the upper 60s.  Unusual for mid February but a welcome relief after the single digits of January.  Somehow Randy and I ended up outside burning brush.  It started as a small project to reclaim a fence line in the backyard and ended up as a multiple [...]

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Tags: Farm Life

10 Steps To Planning A Vegetable Garden

February 9th, 2009 · No Comments

We are going to have a fairly large garden this year as we hope to feed 4 separate families.  While Randy has had a large garden in the past, I have not and the seed ordering is part of my job.   The following list is the steps I will be following to help make sure [...]

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Tags: Gardening

Our Family Garden May Feed A Community

February 4th, 2009 · No Comments

We are planning on having a large garden this year.  Randy has gardened before and I have always had some type of small garden.  This year we are planning a garden big enough to feed our family, both of Randy’s sons and their family and my daughter’s family.  That’s four families from one garden so [...]

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Tags: Gardening

New Kids on the Farm

February 4th, 2009 · No Comments

I have had goats for years.  My current herd is Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats.  We have had one doe kid this year and she had twins.  I don’t believe there is anything cuter in the world than baby goats.  Right after she was born we had a bitter cold snap with temperatures in single digits [...]

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Tags: Farm Animals

Heating the Homestead

February 3rd, 2009 · No Comments

Greenwood Aspen Wood Furnace

With the coldest months upon us, I thought I would touch on how we heat the house.    High fuel and electric prices are making the winter months a challenge to almost every budget but ours.  I am happy to turn on the heat because it not only provides free heat but also [...]

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Tags: Farm Life