Homesteading

Why We Won’t be Raising Heritage Meat Chickens Next Year

October 26, 2019 By Laurie Neverman 6 Comments
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Almost everyone who raises chickens for meat chooses Cornish cross, because they mature quickly with great feed conversion. A second popular choice is red rangers or freedom rangers. As an experiment, this year we raised an assortment of heritage meat chickens to see how they compare.

While the birds were beautiful and fun to watch, we’ll be switching back to Cornish rocks or freedom rangers next year. I’ll explain why we decided to raise heritage meat chickens, and why we’re likely only doing it once….

How to Put Up a Snow Fence (With Photos and Video)

October 11, 2019 By Laurie Neverman 106 Comments
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A snow fence acts as a barrier to slow the prevailing wind, causing drifting downwind of the fence – instead of in your driveway or walkway. It reduces your need for snow removal, and means less work for you during every snowstorm. You can also use the fence to collect snow to melt where you want it in spring, to fill a pond or watering hole.

When I was a little girl up in northwest Wisconsin, we had a lot of “Big Snow” winters. The snow started early and lasted all winter long. The country roads cut through massive snow banks that my friends and I would build tunnels through. (We always used the buddy system so someone was on the outside to watch for the plow or dig you out if needed.)

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Ascites in Ducks – Treating Miss Emerald for Water Belly

January 5, 2019 By Laurie Neverman 2 Comments
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In fall 2018, we noticed that one of our runner ducks, Miss Emerald, was lethargic and having difficulty breathing. On closer examination, we suspected she had ascites, also known as “water belly”. We made the diagnosis in early October, and have been treating her since (just over three months). Her condition improved, and her quality of life is good.

There is no cure for ascites, but our goal is to give her the best possible quality of life for as long as possible. She and her flock mates are trained for pest control in the garden, and are an important part of our homestead – as well as being adorable. In this post, I’ll share some basic info on ascites in ducks and other poultry, as well as our treatment and care regimen.

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The Doable Off-Grid Homestead – Homesteading on the Cheap

November 10, 2018 By Laurie Neverman Leave a Comment
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The Doable Off-Grid Homestead by Stewart and Shannon Stonger gives the reader a taste of off grid life on a tight budget. When they say “off grid”, they mean it. They have no grid electricity, no well or conventional running water. They share their mistakes as well as their successes. If you have a determination to get back to the land, but little money to follow your dream, this book may be a good resource for you.

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Brightest Flashlight – AAA, AA, Tactical, Keychain and Spotlight

October 22, 2018 By August Neverman Leave a Comment
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These are our recommended brightest, affordable, single battery AA, AAA, 18650, keychain and handheld spotlight flashlights. They are great for a every day carry in a pocket, purse, glove compartment, backpack, first aid kit, or any situation where you need a small, affordable, very bright LED flashlight. These are the brightest flashlight for each type and size of battery.

brightest flashlights sitting on wooden table

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Homesteading

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