Every year, as the weather turns cold, my husband starts closing down the windows of the chicken coop. He means well, but every year I explain why it’s very important to keep the chicken coop well ventilated, and why it’s even more important in cold weather. Notice the windows of the coop in the photos are wide open - front and back. An extremely important element of successful chicken keeping is assuring that there is adequate ventilation in the chicken coop. Failing to plan for or provide ... continue reading...
Popular Hillbilly Beans
I like to make most things from scratch; but hillbilly beans is a quick, put-together dish that's great for so many potluck or party situations. Everyone always seems to love it. The recipe can be varied infinitely and there are many versions out there - we use Stephanie's version. It's sometimes also known as cowboy beans. The recipes for hillbilly beans do typically originate from the Southern United States. I believe this recipe is originally from West Virginia. I find that this dish ... continue reading...
Phenology for the Homestead
Phenology is an old, but powerful tool for improving our homesteads. It’s a method of predicting when natural events will occur and using those predictions to optimize when to plant crops for maximum yields, prevent crop insect damage, minimize weeds, increase honey yields, reduce costs, and many other farm benefits! Performing farm tasks (like planting, or controlling insects and weeds) based on calendar dates produces variable results because weather conditions change from year to year. ... continue reading...
Controlling Squash Bugs Organically
Controlling squash bugs organically is not really that difficult, but it does take frequent and  careful observation. At first glance (in the photo below), this zucchini plant looks like it's doing great - right? It looks so nice and lush, I'm sure there must be a bumper crop of zucchini on the way. And since it's been a year since we've been harvesting zucchini, we're ready for them! I like to use them in lots of casseroles that we eat all fall, winter, and spring - until it's zucchini ... continue reading...
World’s Easiest Microwave Fudge (Goat or Cow Milk)
World's easiest fudge recipe is just that and is another easy Do It Yourself (DIY) gift idea. Although I use goat milk (learn what goat milk tastes like here: What Does Goat Milk Taste Like Anyway), whole cow milk can be used instead. I swear this is the easiest fudge recipe I’ve ever made - it’s cooked in the microwave. And, it turns out perfect every time. I found the recipe because I was looking for goat milk recipes, and found it on a goat keeping forum. We particularly like making ... continue reading...
Sun-Dried Tomato Dip
We use tomatoes from the garden to make our own sun-dried tomatoes every year (see Homemade Sun-Dried Tomatoes), and this is a terrific sun-dried tomato dip recipe for using those tomatoes. This is basically the sun-dried tomato recipe from the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook (see link below) modified to use homemade sun-dried tomatoes (if you want) and a little less salt. It's one of my favorite dips for chips - but it's also good with crackers and veggies. It's quick to make and the taste ... continue reading...
Homemade Sun Dried Tomatoes (oven dried really)
Homemade sun-dried tomatoes are the way to preserve the delectable taste of sun-warmed, perfectly ripe, heirloom tomatoes plucked straight from the garden. Sun drying is a method that has been used to preserve and intensify that great tomato flavor for centuries, but store-bought sun-dried tomatoes are expensive and sun-drying at home can be problematic. The sun doesn’t always cooperate and there are those pesky critters to worry about, it seems they like tomatoes too. Fortunately, for those ... continue reading...
Healthier (Keto-Friendly) Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Mayo
This healthier (keto-friendly) broccoli salad is one that continues to evolve at our house. It gets better (healthwise) as time goes on but is still really tasty. We always enjoyed the original recipe but it was quite sweet and that made it a good prospect for a healthy update. Below, I've included the nutritional analysis so you can follow how this recipe has evolved to be better for us over time. No matter what version you try, this is always a very popular dish for potlucks, dinner ... continue reading...
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