By Tammy Kimbler

By Rachel Conlin

On this particular July morning, with an overcast sky, Tim backed the truck up to the old log barn. Getting the first lamb in is difficult enough, but getting a couple more in without the first ones escaping is a challenge. We loaded three ram lambs and took a moment to look around in the dim morning light at the rest of the herd. They generally sleep close to the barn being guarded from predators by our guardian livestock dogs. Suddenly Tim called out, “there’s a baby!” My first response was to think he was joking around. Our lambs are born between November and February, with an occasional late being born in March or early April. This is July. Sure enough, amongst the herd, one of our Finn sheep-Gotland cross ewes had a very wet lamb on the ground beside her. Knowing that she may possibly have more, we lead her into the barn and put her in a stall with her lamb. There wasn’t much time to adore the new baby; Tim had to get to work. We drove down to the farmhouse and he headed out in his truck. [Keep reading…]

By Tammy Kimbler

Growing Burr Gherkins

You can grow your own gherkin pickles and more with this pest-proof mini cuke/squash from Africa. Try growing burr gherkins to make delicious pickles and a spicy Brazillian stir-fry.

By William Woys Weaver

By Jim Christie

By Tammy Kimbler

Tomato season is finally upon us.  You have no idea how giddy this makes me.  Yesterday I pulled off two Sungold cherries, two Jaune Flamme saladettes and who knows what the other red variety was.  I’ve lost track.  And my peppers are not far behind.  It’s time to start thinking about salsa!   [Get the recipe!]

By Rachel Conlin

Being a farmer and an entrepreneur is never dull. There is always a vast array of things to do and that need to be done. Throughout the day I literally ‘change my hat’ many times. This suits me fine. I may be tired at the end of the day, but always content and never bored. The summer months are particularly very busy; the vegetables are ripening and calling to be picked and preserved, maturing lambs are ready to go to market, and goat milking is at its prime, bags of wool require spinning. With all these jobs other chores tend to appear, like fencing, egg collecting….I could go on, but you get the idea. Add to this the fact that we live in a rural area that is quickly becoming a prime tourist destination. Running my farm market alone keeps me hopping. [Keep reading…]

By Meredith Sayles Hughes

Make a Biogas Generator to Produce Your Own Natural Gas

For food waste, chop material into 1-inch or smaller bits. The author set up a chopping station in his garden using an old sink and garbage disposal attached to an extension cord. Other options include using a blender or chipper-shredder.

By Mary Jane Phifer

The recipe is modified from Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving by Kingry and Devine.

We love pickles and that does not just mean cucumbers.  Pickled okra, green beans, baby onions, beets- and  our new true love; pickled asparagus. We pick the asparagus every day and keep it in 2’“ water until we have a few quarts.  Longer spears can be snapped in half and with ends placed in water and stored in the refrigerator. [Get the recipe!]

The Many Uses for 5-Gallon Buckets

You can often procure free frosting buckets from your local grocery store’s bakery department and use them for a wide variety of things.

By Sarah Langlois

Photo by Fotolia/Elenathewise

By Jesse Wolf and Kiva Rose Hardin

Wildflower and Bramble Leaf Tea

This is a lovely tea to drink just for taste’s sake, but it’s wonderful for calming irritated nerves, overheated children (and adults), and addressing any seasonal digestive issues as often happens with summertime bouts of diarrhea. It won’t dry up secretions to the point of causing suppression, but it will cool the body, reduce a fever, and gently lessen any excess loss of fluids.  [Get the recipe!]

By Ilene White Freedman

There are reasons growing carrots organically is challenging. Carrots germinate slowly. Weeds germinate fast. What if you could plant the carrots into the weed-free soil after they are already germinated with green tops? They would be weeks ahead of the weeds yet to germinate. It’d be like a five mile head start in a marathon.

Carrots are delicate. Their foliage is delicate, and early on it is barely discernible from the weeds. By the time the tiny lacy greenery is substantial enough to see, the weeds are taller and bigger.  Weeding them is painstaking. [Keep reading….]

Landscaping With Logs for a Whimsical Garden Design

Incorporate log rounds into your garden design for an earth-inspired touch. Landscaping with logs is easy, not to mention free!

By Craig Braunschweig

Adobe Mud: Building With Earth

Simone Swan and her students at the Adobe Alliance are building with earth in the southwestern United States using adobe mud and traditional North African construction techniques.

By Catherine Wanek

Treehouse Living: 4 Custom, Eco-friendly Options

Have you ever considered living in a treehouse? These custom treehouses may just inspire you to get your eco-friendly home building plans off the ground.

By David Pearson

Photo by CHELSEA GREEN/ROGER WEBSTER

Adobe Mud: Building With Earth

Simone Swan and her students at the Adobe Alliance are building with earth in the southwestern United States using adobe mud and traditional North African construction techniques.

By Catherine Wanek

By Anna Hess and Mark Hamilton

It’s the time of year when we get focused in on tomatoes. Drying, boiling, freezing, slicing, and seed saving.

We finally got a chance to taste test the new potato onions in a delicious stir fry.

I learned recently that late spring is the best time to eradicate ragweed instead of mid summer.

Wineberries are extremely yummy but they produce so little fruit we decided to delete our patch.

What To Feed Chickens: Formulating Your Own Chicken Feed

Joan Salmonowicz tells readers what to feed chickens, how to mix your own chicken feed, including buying mixed ration feed in bulk, feed ratios, and common supplements.

By Joan Salmonowicz

PHOTO: FOTOLIA/KNEIANE

Advice When Buying Land

Robin Smith shares advice when buying land, including land buying tips on road access, water, easements, mineral rights, protecting your down payment, and community attitudes.

By Robin Smith

PHOTO: FOTOLIA/JAMESDAVIDPHOTO

Make Your own Fermented Dairy Products

Tap the benefits of delicious fermented dairy products.

By Lynn Keiley

Photo courtesy Scott Hollis

Best Chicken Breeds for Backyard Flocks

Use our survey results to help you choose the best chicken breeds for egg or meat production, temperament, and more.

By Troy Griepentrog

PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO/KEVIN EAVES

Raise Small-breed Milk Cows

If you want fresh milk and cows that are easier for beginners to handle, these small breeds of cattle are just the right size for a homestead.

Interview by Troy Griepentrog

Photo by PAT SCHOUT