You can grow natural dyes for wool in your back yard garden. As farm folks at heart, it's natural for us to prefer do it yourself projects. The winter often finds us leafing through seed catalogs, planning our gardens for spring and summer. If you also love wool, consider adding some seeds for dye plants to this year's garden plots. While this article will concentrate on how to choose plants that grow natural dyes for wool, quick searches will yield more information regarding dyes for other … [Read more...]
Water Glassing Fresh Egg Storage
Spring brings on the egg laying which can quickly lead to an abundance of fresh farm eggs. What methods work for fresh egg storage? One method called water glassing has been around since pioneer days and probably earlier. Is this method of fresh egg storage safe? Let me share with you what one of my friends learned using this method. Barbara Whitford Fox wrote the following guest post for this site. Barbara and her husband farm in Utah and she can be messaged through Facebook or … [Read more...]
Shop Small Guide for Homestead and Independent Businesses
The businesses included in my shop small guide, are folks that I personally know or do business with. Did you know that your buying decisions have a wide reaching impact? Where you spend your money is your decision. And thank God for that! For years I was in the position of owning a brick and mortar storefront. Let me tell you, we depended upon people choosing to shop small. Things have changed and now I have an online shop at my Timber Creek Farm Etsy shop. These days my inventory is stored … [Read more...]
Can Chickens Eat Mashed Potatoes?
Can chickens eat mashed potatoes? Believe it or not, too much of any food can upset the delicate balance in the chicken's digestive tract. Being Omnivores means that technically, chickens can eat anything they want to eat. Their diet in the wild would consist of varied plants, bugs, dead animals, and live rodents. However, they have some of the choice taken away from them when we keep them in coops and runs. Faced with a delicious plate of mashed potatoes, next to the regular dish of layer feed, … [Read more...]
Cooking Peaches, Preserved, Baked and Delicious
Cooking Peaches- The Ultimate Summer Fruit Summer fruit brings to mind tomatoes, nectarines, plums, peaches and more. My favorite remains peaches. For sweetness and aroma cooking peaches can't be beat. Preserving this summer goodness is easy. While you're at it, save enough to enjoy now with ice cream, fruit toppings, fresh fruit salsa and in baked goods. Start with fresh ripe peaches with little to no overly ripe soft spots. Choose for the delicious aroma, also. Whether you grow your … [Read more...]