My original post on disbudding dairy goats detailed the methods and tools we used for removing horns from our goat kids when we first started with Nigerian Dwarf goats. This original method utilizes a disbudding box (there are plans for a disbudding box HERE) and an electric disbudding iron. We later learned better methods (in our opinion) and tools for disbudding our goats that I wrote a separate post on. In this method, we wrap the kids in a towel to control them and use a gas ... continue reading...
Don’t Throw Your Easter Lilies Out (How To Keep Easter Lilies After Easter)
Those pretty indoor Easter lily plants that you buy at Easter time are really hardy perennials, so don't throw them out after the Easter holiday has passed. Plant them outdoors to beautify your landscape instead! How To Keep Easter Lilies After Easter Just follow the easy instructions below to keep your lilies each year and establish a nice outdoor lily garden (see Building Beautiful Garden Borders for ideas on where to plant them). First, Prolong Indoor Bloom Time To maximize ... continue reading...
Garden Crop Rotation – A Simple System (Updated)
Garden crop rotation has been practiced by gardeners and farmers for centuries and is a vitally important strategy for ensuring crop success. Unfortunately, while it's even more critical for small farms and gardens where space is at a premium, rotation systems often aren't utilized because they're considered too difficult to follow. But it doesn’t have to be that way; there is a simple method for rotating crops. Quick Navigation What Is Garden Crop ... continue reading...
Growing Lazy Bed Potatoes (A Complete Guide)
Potatoes may not be the first vegetable we think of growing in the garden because grown traditionally, they require a large chunk of real estate and lots of time. But, by using the “lazy bed" method of growing potatoes, surprisingly large crops of potatoes can be grown in small spaces with very little time and effort. That’s exciting, particularly for folks with small gardens. Even with limited space, time, and energy, there’s still a method for producing spectacular tasting spuds! All About ... continue reading...
Controlling Potato Beetles Organically
Learning organic methods for controlling potato beetles is important for your garden! That's because every gardener growing potatoes is likely to run into this devastating potato pest. Both the yellow, black-striped adult and the black-spotted, red larvae feed on potato leaves and can completely consume them. This greatly reduces tuber yields and may even kill the plants. The potato beetle can also be a serious pest on tomato, eggplant, and pepper (all members of the nightshade ... continue reading...
Machine Milking Nigerian Dwarf Goats
Machine milking Nigerian Dwarf goats was not something I initially thought was possible because they are so small. So, the first time I saw a Nigerian Dwarf goat being milked using a machine, I was shocked. We were just beginning to investigate them as a possible breed for Bramblestone Farm, and I’d assumed that they were too small for a milking machine. But, lots of folks use a machine to milk Nigerian Dwarf goats; it can be faster, easier, and more convenient than milking by ... continue reading...
How To Feed Your Chickens (What You Feed Is Important)
How to feed your chickens may seem like a simple subject but it's important to realize how critical our feeding choices are in helping our birds thrive. The growth, beauty, and egg production potential of a chicken is determined by its genetics. However, chickens require feed that is nutritionally appropriate for their age and type (i.e. meat, egg, or dual-purpose chicken) to reach that potential. They also need water, calcium if they are laying eggs, and grit if they are getting ... continue reading...
5 Fatal Goat Diseases To Avoid
There are 5 fatal goat diseases that can infect your goats, and that can be transmitted through an entire herd by bringing in just one infected goat. That's why it's critical to buy goats from reputable sources that can demonstrate that they have disease-free herds. The five fatal goat diseases are described below. There is no known cure for any of these diseases and bringing home just one infected goat can spread the disease through the entire herd. Therefore, it’s extremely important to ... continue reading...
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