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Homesteading

This is the place to post about self sufficiency or just about anything having to do with lifestyle, like  Gardening, Farming, Beekeeping, Canning, Husbandry, Hunting, Fishing, Crafts, Hobbies, Alternative Energy, Wood Working, Off Grid Living.

45 topics in this forum

  1. 1Timothy115

    Tomato yellow shoulder

    by 1Timothy115
    • 0 replies
    • 432 views

    Yellow shoulder causes a loss of tomatoes. My crop has it this year. On the internet they say it's caused by excessive heat. We haven't had an excessively hot summer so far. Other folks say minerals. Hybrid tomatoes are said to be more susceptible. Some say only use heirlooms but, they are susceptible to many other diseases. I would like to find a really good hybrid that is also resistant to yellow shoulder. Some articles say to give excessive compost to the soil in the fall. All of my sweet 100 and grape tomatoes are fine. This issue seems to be confined to the larger hybrids I'm growing. Any thoughts or ideas from you farm folks out there?

    1Timothy115
    Last reply by 1Timothy115,
  3. Rebecca

    farm animal information needed

    by Rebecca

    If we wanted to begin the homestead life with 16 acres part wooded, part field, and a small pond and a house with no fence except around the property, what should we do first? What are the best farm animals (mention your preferred breed of animal, not just species) for beginners and why? What kind of containment and housing would each of these animals need? (location: Missouri) Random trespassing neighbors cow...fences may need repair, also shutting the gate might help. What kind of cow is this, maybe a Jersey or mix?

    Pastor Matt
    Last reply by Pastor Matt,
  4. Jim_Alaska

    Agricultural Warfare....Important

    by Jim_Alaska

    Agricultural Warfare

    SureWord
    Last reply by SureWord,
  5. heartstrings

    Tree Removal

    by heartstrings

    Hurricane Michael wreaked havoc in our part of the world. Many folks lost their homes and some lost their lives. We were fortunate in that, even though the western eyewall passed directly over our home, we had minimal damage, thank the Lord. A big oak tree fell against our house but basically just crushed the chimney cap, bent about 8' of the eve drip metal and tore a few window screens. Our fences were not so fortunate. All along the north and west fences, big trees had fallen from the neighbor's side onto ours, crushing down the fences Since I knew we would be removing big oak trees for awhile(about 18 or so) I searched online and bought a "grapple" to attach to the loa…

    heartstrings
    Last reply by heartstrings,
  6. Salyan

    Food storage

    by Salyan

    So I'm excited! I'm moving to a new rental in a couple of weeks (a trailer - so my own walls! No more apartment neighbors, yay!) with a bit more storage space. Yesterday on Kijiji a shelf reliance can rotation storage system came up for sale. I'll be picking it up tomorrow night, Lord willing. I've been wanting to try can rotation for a while - it'll be neat to have the space for a proper system. Anyone else do the whole food storage bit? It's a little bit a.l.a. LDS, I know, but it's the one thing I think they're right on. ?

    heartstrings
    Last reply by heartstrings,
  7. DaveW

    Hunting yummy things 1 2 3 4

    by DaveW

    I love the country but was brought up a city boy, so hunting has never really been on my radar. My meat comes cold packed from a supermarket. Never had Caribou ( have flown in one, but that is an entirely different subject!), but I do enjoy a bit of Bambi when I come across it. I never understood the idea of trophy hunting or sport hunting..... For food, absolutely ( even though I have never done it), but killing for fun or for bragging rights??????? Makes no sense to me. If you want hunt for sport use a camera or find range with targets. Oh yeah - it makes sense to me if it is me or the bear....... But the real point is getting …

    heartstrings
    Last reply by heartstrings,
  8. heartstrings

    New(old) tractor

    by heartstrings

    The sheep wanted more food and needed a more efficient means of growing forage and transporting hay. So they had a few meetings, pooled their resources, and bought this.........

    Invicta
    Last reply by Invicta,
  9. heartstrings

    Rifle build kit

    by heartstrings

    I would so like to build this, and it is a steal. Free shipping, no FFL needed.....but I already have one and would need a very good excuse........ Good excuse suggestions welcome....... :) https://www.deltateamtactical.com/AR-15-Complete-Deluxe-16-Rifle-Kit-with-80-Lower-Bolt-Carrier-Group-Comes-With-Everything_p_6260.html

    heartstrings
    Last reply by heartstrings,
  10. heartstrings

    Repairs

    by heartstrings

    Last weekend, the controller on our well pump went out. The capacitor had melted down. I went to town, bought another, and installed it: quick fix. But yesterday morning, the points (contacts) on the pump's pressure switch burned out on one side so there were no baths until I got home from work with a new unit. I changed it out after dark with my sweetie holding the flashlight. The parts on a farm's well do take a beating. Surprised this one lasted as long as it did.

    heartstrings
    Last reply by heartstrings,
  11. Invicta

    Edible flowers

    by Invicta
    • 0 replies
    • 877 views

    When we were children during the war we used to have nasturtium flowers, leaves and seeds on salads. Although we never ate them my dad used to grow Calendula, pot marigold, English marigold, aka, poor man's saffron. but we never ate it. Some time ago I went into a supermarket where there were packets of edible flowers in the salad section. I just did a search and found a number of sites that listed edible flowers. Here is one. https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=764

    Invicta
    Last reply by Invicta,
  12. heartstrings

    3D Printing

    by heartstrings

    Been itching to try this out for awhile now, and finally broke down and ordered one. The real fun will be in assembling it piece by piece and hopefully I can get my grandson involved. We'll see. http://www.ebay.com/itm/P802MA-Large-Size-Precision-home-DIY-i3-3D-Printer-Self-assembl-Card-material/192039421176?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

    heartstrings
    Last reply by heartstrings,
  13. homesteadme

    Homestead 1 2

    by homesteadme

    What is homesteading, and why does it matter today?

    Martyr_4_FutureJoy
    Last reply by Martyr_4_FutureJoy,
  14. heartstrings

    Eggplant

    by heartstrings

    It has about 7 or 8 blooms now. I don't eat them but planted this one for my step-dad.

    Jim_Alaska
    Last reply by Jim_Alaska,
  15. heartstrings

    A sower went forth to sow.......

    by heartstrings

    Three years ago, I started out with a hand-broadcaster and later a tractor-mounted one. In both cases, after broadcasting, I had to try to cover the seed with a home made drag made of heavy timbers and chain-link fence. Much of the seed did not get covered, "had no depth of earth", and the "fowls of the air" ate bellyfuls of it. This year I bought an old grain drill from a junk yard for $425. I had to buy some parts, do some repairs and use up a couple cans of WD-40 but It's working fine now. I think we have about $1000 in it now but that's pretty good for a contraption that, when new, costs about as much as a new truck. So far, I have planted seven acres with it and the …

    heartstrings
    Last reply by heartstrings,
  16. heartstrings

    Zacchaeus was a wee little man and....

    by heartstrings

    We have two of these. They were fairly young and much smaller when we bought the place over 30 years ago. I was putting out hay yesterday on the 'back 40' and decided to take a couple photos of this one.

    Jim_Alaska
    Last reply by Jim_Alaska,
  17. heartstrings

    Squash Blossoms in the Morning

    by heartstrings

    The first one is a cluster of three on a crookneck yellow squash plant. See the teeny little squash? This one is a zucchini. The leaves are almost the size of two dinner plates.

    Invicta
    Last reply by Invicta,
  18. heartstrings

    Look Ma, No Rod, No Staff

    by heartstrings

    I'm almost certain that a "rod and staff", as used by Old Testament Middle Eastern shepherds, was most likely a "comfort" to the shepherd instead of the sheep. This is me trying top walk in the pasture as my "lead sheep" (actually a pet) constantly crosses in front of me against my legs. I have to bump her with my knees to keep from tripping and falling. I will try to post another video later, to show you the difference it makes when I carry a staff. However, I have to admit; Sissy and Honeybun seem to enjoy using the staff for a scratching post.

    heartstrings
    Last reply by heartstrings,
  19. heartstrings

    Farm fresh eggs ;)

    by heartstrings

    I was moving some landscaping materials yesterday and found these skink eggs. I assume they're skink eggs because mama skink was bravely standing guard over them. Or maybe she was dining on them? I gently covered them back up, but will check back later. What if they were snake eggs?

    Ukulelemike
    Last reply by Ukulelemike,
  20. heartstrings

    On-the-farm repairs; welding

    by heartstrings

    One end of my tractor's drawbar was broken off and it could no longer hold a linch pin.. So I found an old nut and welded it on....Not too pretty but it works. :)

    DaveW
    Last reply by DaveW,
  21. Orval

    air rifles

    by Orval

    Squirrels are killing my flowers this year and really frustrating me. I have had a few problems over the years but with my neighbor passing away a couple of years ago (he would trap them) the squirrels are breeding to fast and are really digging up my flowers this year. I borrowed a Ruger Blackhawk Elite .177 Pellet Air Rifle with Scope and have not zeroed it in. I am wondering if it is powerful enough to kill a squirrel. I am on the very edge of town and cannot use my 22 rifle but the squirrels need to move or end up in my frying pan. the fps is around 1000 - 1200 which should be enough to kill at 25 yrds. your thoughts?

    heartstrings
    Last reply by heartstrings,
  22. AdamL

    Beekeeping

    by AdamL
    • 13 replies
    • 1.8k views

    Does anyone keep bees? I have never done it and looking for some advice. I have done some research on langstroth hives. What things are needed to get started? How do you know if the hive is doing well or sick? How often and how much honey is harvested and how do you make sure you don't take too much? Anyone that has any experience I would be all ears. Thanks!

    AdamL
    Last reply by AdamL,
  23. AdamL

    Canning Help

    by AdamL
    • 5 replies
    • 1.5k views

    I am wanting to start canning with my wife but I am kind of at a loss as of where to start. I have researched pressure canners some but am not sure exactly what to buy or other methods of doing it. I am wanting to can vegetables and meat if that makes any difference. Anyone that has experience that wouldn't mind sharing I would really appreciate it.

    Salyan
    Last reply by Salyan,
  24. Jim_Alaska

    My wife's woodworking

    by Jim_Alaska

    Here is something that I thought folks might like to see. My wife makes these hair sticks by hand, using all natural wood. Most of the wood is gathered by her in the forest. There are many hours of work in each one. The sanding and oil sanding is meticulous, starting out with graduated sanding grit from 100 grit and all the way up to 1500 grit with oil on highly polished sticks. I edited this post because I just remembered that my wife makes sticks out of stuff other than natural wood that she has gathered herself. She has also made them out of bone and antler, they were gorgeous and looked a lot like ivory. She has also made some custom sticks from exotic wood …

    Jim_Alaska
    Last reply by Jim_Alaska,
  25. Orval

    straw bale gardening

    by Orval
    • 6 replies
    • 1.5k views

    I am about two weeks behind this year. I should have had my straw bales out already and prepping them but will get them set tomorrow and provide some pictures. I was surprised by how much residual straw I had left over from last year a small pickup truck full. So I have decided I will use that all that good plant food for my flower and herbs beds on the south side of my house. It should drain well and if I do 10ft by 4ft bed I should be able to plant pretty much what I want for this year. I will set out between 10 and 16 bales this year and will attempt to plant pole beans and sweet corn together so the beans can climb the sweet corn and I should not have to sta…

    Orval
    Last reply by Orval,
  26. Jim_Alaska

    Gardens 1 2

    by Jim_Alaska

    Ok you folks. I know that some of you are getting your gardens started, but I see no posts about what you are doing or planning this year. I am pretty sure that the southern zones are frost free by now. Remember that this new forum was put up specifically for subjects of this nature and we need to liven it up. I can't post anything about gardens because I have a "brown thumb". But some of you may have, or may benefit from what others are doing. It seems like there are always tips and tricks that others do that can helps someone out.

    Salyan
    Last reply by Salyan,


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