Tips to Homesteading

Archive for the ‘Home Life’ Category

You know those collector’s edition of this or that, plates or paintings, antique phonographs and one of a kind nick-knacks? Sure you do. You know the price on those items that are not made any more is often much higher than the mass produced products of today.

There are really only two things in this world that are completely pure in the true VALUE of that thinking. No, it’s not an Elvis memorabilia or an 1813 Singer Sewing machine. The two true ‘it’ items that are not made any more are: Land and Family.

Land: The old adage is that God’s just not making any more of it! I’m pretty sure that’s true. So a little piece of land is a rare commodity. Not just having land itself, but utilizing it and being a good steward of it. That too is rare.

 Family: Well, you’ve got one. It may grow and change, but you can’t get a NEW replacement one like you can upgrade a cell phone. So my suggestion is to treat this as one of the rarest commodities you may have. Not only are your family members one of a kind, but they (as you) are finite and only last for one generation at a time.

 Lastly, this one came to me as I was writing.  

Family land is also very rare now days. Not many people can say they live on the same land that their great-great-grandparent once owned, farmed or played on as a child. We have become such a fragmented society that this combination of two rare jewels (land and family) in one – is even more rare.

The Tip to Homesteading in all this is…although we can upgrade to new tools and new gadgets, we can put on a new roof or buy a new appliance, all these things they will make a newer model for next year. Your family, your land, and especially your family’s land – does not get a replacement model. So take good care of these better than the material objects that can be updated.

Remember to always enJOY the journey!

Best Blessings!

Donna Miller

The Millers own and operate Millers Grain House which offers Chemical Free and Organic Grains, Grain Mills, Bread Machines,Grain buckets, Bosch Mixers, the NutriMill, instructional tutorials, recipes and more.

Technorati Tags: comodity, family, generations, land, rare

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If you’re new to homesteading or even a seasoned veteran – one topic that often has many many tips to it is how to preserve your harvest once the garden starts putting out food!

Below are a few options:

Canning - This is one of the most widely used forms of preserving and putting up the harvest used in (at least) America.  You can CAN just about everything and many items last for several years! 

  Looking for canning items? CLICK HERE

Dehydrating - Dehydrating is one of the oldest forms of preserving. Beef (and other meat) jerky came from the sun drying process that is so closely related to dehydrating. If temperatures are kept low enough, this is the most reasonably close method to keeping foods at a nutritional peak for long term storage. 

For many dehydrating options – CLICK HERE

 Fermenting/Pickling – This is also another low heat option for storing the garden harvest. The composition of each item does change a bit and the taste may be an acquired one, but the process is more simple than one may think. Nature does most of the work and you get the extra nutritional benefits!

Harsch Miracle Fermenting Crock – CLICK HERE

Freezing - Nothing replaces a good sized deep freeze on the homestead for keeping the harvest lasting long into the winter months. One trick is to be sure items are dry and as free of air as possible when you put up the harvest for freezing.

Most homesteaders put up the harvest in a variety of ways. The biggest tip to saving your garden harvest is to try many methods for each food and find what works best that you’ll use the most!

EnJOY the journey!

Best Blessings!

The Millers

Technorati Tags: canning, dehydrator, fermenting, food storage, freezing, garden, harvest, pickling, preserve

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Winter is in full swing!

As winter marches on and on and temperatures drop deep this season, we hope to keep the tips coming to keep your homestead humming!

Around the Home – Check Foundations:
Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation of your home.
Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
Tuck-point or seal foundation cracks. Mice can slip through space as thin as a dime.
Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.
Secure crawlspace entrances.

Around the Garden – Time to Mulch:
Apply winter mulch to perennials where winter temperatures generally fall below minus 10 degrees F.
Simply lay lightweight cover of organic mulch, such as shredded autumn leaves, pine needles or straw, over beds to protect plants from winter’s extremes.
Avoid more compact mulches and whole leaves (which can mat), since they can suffocate plants. This leaves slimy ground and is not a good cover.

For the Animals – Extra Comfort:
Lay down extra bedding so that animals can rest in warmth and comfort.
Straw, tree bark or wood shavings provide a soft surface to sleep on as well as additional insulation.
Don’t use rugs or rags–they can absorb liquids and freeze. Those are not comfortable when wet!

So….now that you’ve braved the weather to check around the homestead…go grab some hot cocoa and snuggle by that fireplace! Take care of yourself too!

Best Blessings!
The Millers

Donna Miller is an author, teacher and entrepreneur. Her favorite roles are that of wife and mother to three home-school graduates. The Millers own and operate Millers Grain House which offers Chemical Free and Organic Grains, Grain Mills, Bread Machines, Grain buckets, Bosch Mixers, the NutriMill, instructional tutorials, recipes and more.

Technorati Tags: animals, garden, home, homestead, house, mulch, vegetation, warm, winter

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The animals need tending, the fence is down and it is a high of 18 degrees today! What is a homesteader to do?

Stay warm.

Sound’s stupid or simple as far as advice goes, but the tip is just to not ignore the need to stay warm.

Tips on HOW to stay warm are….

• Wear layers! Lots of layers!
• Double up the socks. If you don’t have water proof shoes wear grocery bags between sock layers.
• Cover your head and neck. Hats and scarves are a must!
• Good weather-proof gloves are important. These are worth the investment.
• Timing is everything. Go out mid-day if possible and in dry weather if possible to tend to outdoor chores.
• Go in short stints rather than long haul.
• Learn the signs of frost bite.
• Rest. Working in the cold weather can really take a lot out of you physically, so rest.

Now, don’t ignore the most important ‘tool’ you have on the homestead – YOU!

Until next time – Best Blessings!

The Millers

Donna Miller is an author, teacher and entrepreneur. Her favorite roles are that of wife and mother to three home-school graduates. The Millers own and operate Millers Grain House which offers Organic and Chemical-free Whole Grains, Bosch Mixers, the NutriMill, instructional tutorials, recipes and more.

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Bloom where you're planted!

So, you dream of living in the country, living off the land, having small livestock and a serious spread of a garden. Life will be good then, and don’t we know it! For now, you’re in the suburbs though and there’s no sign of leaving any time soon. Can anything be done to start your homesteading journey? You’d better believe it!!

Homesteading in towns and inner cities are becoming not only trends, but growing vital branches of homesteading. Call them urban homesteaders or whatever you’d like; the truth is more people are bringing back the ‘old ways’ in the ‘new areas’.

Some tips to doing this are:

~ Window boxes, Indoor Grow Boxes.
~ Grow your own small, raised bed victory garden.
~ Join in a neighborhood community garden.
~ Compost yard clippings.

No matter where you are, you can begin to learn and develop skills that will and can be used when the eventual dream of homesteading comes to life for you!

Technorati Tags: city, compost, country, garden, homesteader, inner cities, livestock, suburbs, urban

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