Category: Homesteading

Field Fencing: Subdividing the Pasture, by Patrice Lewis

Editor’s Introductory Note:  This article is a guest post by our long-time friend and fellow blogger, Patrice Lewis. After first living in Oregon (from 1992 to 2003), Don and Patrice Lewis bought a ranch south of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and genuinely pursued a self-sufficient lifestyle. After their lovely homeschooled daughters both reached the “up and out” age, they moved again. This time it was to an undisclosed location elsewhere in North Idaho, ostensibly to slow down and lead a more sedate life. But, as irrepressible gardeners and dairy cattle ranchers, they’ve found themselves busier than ever. I highly recommend bookmarking …


Your Last Day, by SaraSue

On Monday I seemed extra tired while trying to get morning chores done, and it took longer than normal.  I struggled milking the cow and carrying the milk in.  I felt dizzy, a little short of breath, like walking underwater.  I tried to shake it off, but it wasn’t shakin’.  After morning farm chores were slowly finished, I sat in a lounge chair and put my feet up.  I pretty much stayed there all day.  At least, until, it was time for afternoon chores, and I didn’t milk the cow.  Just couldn’t do it.  Went to bed early and slept …


A Prepper’s Carpentry Toolkit – Part 2, by A.F.

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) In the upper-right corner of the essential tools photo there is a stack of quick grip clamps. In particular, these are Irwin brand heavy-duty models in maximum working lengths between six and twenty-four inches. A couple of these models have head release slides that allow the user to quickly convert the tool from a clamp into a spreader. When it comes to pulling tightly cut framing into position, aligning materials until they can be fastened or holding the end of a long timber while working alone, these clamps can do it. I …


Thoughts on Farming – Part 6, by Single Farmer

(Continued from Part 5. This concludes the article.) The number of hours required to complete an agricultural task has been in decline for over 100 years. This is one of the key concepts that you need to understand in order to have the best chance of surviving the future as these efficiency increases also are across many industries. Time is not spread out evenly on a farm which is a problem from a labor perspective. There are many times in the life cycle of a grain farm where there is nothing to do, but wait especially with dryland (non-irrigated) farming …


Thoughts on Farming – Part 5, by Single Farmer

(Continued from Part 4.) The Economics of Farming I often hear statistics that farmers receive 15 percent of a food dollar. That statistic really needs some examination in comparing it to previous generations. Back in 2016, we sold wheat in the $3.80 range and we were fortunate in that the official statistic for wheat for our area is $3.20 a bushel. I will be generous and use our $3.80 a bushel number: At that number, a pound of wheat is a little over 6 cents. Wheat is commonly used in bread, so an example that I often think about is …


Thoughts on Farming – Part 4, by Single Farmer

(Continued from Part 3.) The Future of Farming The smallest of agricultural tools demonstrates the largest of problems in farming today. Small funnels are often thought of as almost disposable, but this one and its sticker saying the price survived all of these decades to become a component in this discussion. The funnel is from 1977 when my dad was young long before I was born. It was 59 cents. A comparable funnel today is around 5 dollars. Let us call it almost a ten to one ratio because you have in many states to add sales tax. Corn prices …


Thoughts on Farming – Part 3, by Single Farmer

(Continued from Part 2.) Wheat Farming in the Heartland: A year in the life of a wheat farm We are a diversified family farm actually growing multiple crops to provide diversified income streams. We own all of our acres and have no debt. This will be covered extensively in the part which covers the “Economics of Farming.” Everything is grown that is sold is for profit. If a crop is no longer profitable or has a strong possibility of becoming unprofitable, it is not grown or sometimes grown in a limited amount. Just because we can grow something in quantity, …


Thoughts on Farming – Part 2, by Single Farmer

(Continued from Part 1.) Successful survivalists consider a variety of scenarios including looking at how previous generations survived to glean any wisdom that they can take as compensation for their time. All of us are only here because our ancestors somehow managed to carry themselves genetically forward. For most of human history, it was difficult to get enough calories to barely stay alive and this fact is lost upon most people as they have so many choices today often struggling on what cuisine to eat, and not how to find food. A common cause of death throughout history has been …


Thoughts on Farming – Part 1, by Single Farmer

I want to tell you about an amazing group of people. They make sure that you not only stay alive, are well-nourished, and that you have your choice of a delicious variety of food that Kings and Queens of yesteryear could not dream of, all at relatively low prices. Contrary to what you’ve been told, prices are still fairly low by historical standards and food quality is high. I know that you or someone you know has recently been to the grocery store and you think the prices are high, but wait until you hear about the state of the …


Post-TEOTWAWKI Refrigeration, by 3AD Scout

My Amish neighbor, who recently moved into the neighborhood, was telling me that he was going to build an ice house from a kit.  I told him to let me know when he was going to assemble it and I would give him a hand.  I have some historical knowledge of how ice used to be harvested, stored, delivered, and used before modern refrigeration, so I was very interested in how the Amish store and use their ice today. The Component kit The ice house kit consisted of 14 large pieces of styrofoam that were one foot thick.  The kit …


Twelve Live Gifts that Keep on Giving, by Mrs. Alaska

In the spirit of the season, I offer a “Twelve Days of Christmas” list of LIVE gifts that keep on giving to us here, at a remote homestead in Alaska. 1- Gallon of red wiggler worms, divided among my food gardens. They eat the kitchen scraps I toss there and rapidly improve the soil. 2 – Years’ worth of seeds (many degrade after that: check with a float/sink test each year). 3 – Rabbits (1 buck and 2 does). They can be mated at about five months and over the year, fill our larder. (In the photo at left, can …


Why A Cat Is The Most Valuable Animal on a Farm – Part 3, by W.J.

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) HOW TO MAINTAIN AN OUTDOOR CAT COLONY If you want cats to be attracted to your home or homestead, and to stay around, you need to give them food, water and shelter, and teach them that people are a good thing. And you need to encourage good traits and prevent inbreeding. Food: I did not give my outdoor colony cats the Farmina Prime lamb kibble, imported from Italy, that my indoor fur family gets. But they get decent stuff, as well as leftovers, bones, and oddly enough, wheat germ muffins. They want …


Why A Cat Is The Most Valuable Animal on a Farm – Part 2, by W.J.

(Continued from Part 1.) Mayoclinic.org has good information on hantavirus, and preventive rodent control (they do not address natural predators). They advise not keeping mice or rats as pets, unless they are tested, and then totally quarantined HOW TO CHOOSE A CAT OR KITTEN PHYSICAL ChARACTERISTICS The longer and leaner the cat is, the better. The more it looks like a cheetah the faster it will be, the higher it can jump, and the better it can hunt. While even a chunky hunk of a cat may be a good hunter, it is fighting against its body type. My Joyful …


Putting Down My Dog, by SaraSue

I had no sooner sent in my positive update to the blog last week than a near catastrophe occurred. I am sharing this, even though it hurts to write about it. I’m doing so because I think it’s important to recognize that country living has pitfalls, as does self-sufficiency. Your preps and relationships become very important and not just for the obvious reasons. In this case, I needed plentiful first aid supplies, a clear head, and neighbors I could call in an Emergency. I will tell you the story. Warning: This is a graphic heart-wrenching story. Please skip over it …


Thoughts on Retreats: History and Land – Part 5, by Single Farmer

Editor’s Introductory Note: This is the last part of a multi-part article series on retreats written by a Christian farmer who is praying and searching for a wife. Please prayerfully consider all of the topics that he discusses. (Continued from Part 4. This concludes the article.) Solutions: The Journey for Possible Future Retreat Owners It would be nice if there were other easy solutions out there. But for a family man the road of hard work done intelligently will often yield good results over many years. There are some who claim that you cannot save to afford land without a …