I officially have the homesteading bug. (I’ve added a homesteading category to my blog.) Well, you all know I’ve had a mild case of homesteading fever for awhile. I mean, anyone who eats the weeds in her yard and drinks dandelion “tea.” Enough said.
Anyway, Mother Earth News has put out a great April/May issue. There’s info about chicken tractors, easing into self-sufficiency, building an arch steel home for less than 35,000 dollars, making better soil and so much more that I’ve pored over in the last few days.
It makes me feel really good about this little corner of unused ground, currently holding lettuce, broccoli, and radish seeds, but mostly lettuce. A water barrel sits nearby, watering can at the ready.
I’ve eased a few steps deeper into the sparkling waters of homesteading over the last year. The prospect of homesteading might not seem appropriate to some when one lives “in town,” but I think my nearly-100-year-old house needs chickens to look right. Will anyone even notice?
A few baby steps taken. I’ve:
- paid more attention to really mulching and “feeding” the vegetable garden
- invested in two water barrels
- gotten more serious about growing more food on our little lot
- decided to build a chicken tractor and get some chickens
The next project? Clearing the weeds across the walk from the newly established “lettuce bed” and putting in more edible plants. I’ll let you know how it goes.
How are you easing into homesteading? Or are you fully there?
Happy Homesteading,
Lynn
PS: To answer your questions.
Chicken Tractors: A chicken tractor is a portable chicken coop that can be moved around the yard to give the chickens fresh ground. I have seen all sorts of plans since a homeschooling friend first told me about chicken tractors. Here’s a link to a very simple, plain one at Urban Chickens. You can just go to Google, however, and search for chicken tractors and get all sorts of ideas.
Thomas has found a design that he would like to build for me. It’s on this really cool page of tons of pictures of chicken tractors. The city chicken.
Rain Barrels: The rain barrels came from out local Whole Foods store. I think they are made fairly locally, but I’m not sure exactly where.
for you to leave a comment, but you can also e-mail me at lynn AT thehealthyhomeschool.com
I too want chickens, but we need to stop travelling so much first… can’t do it all!
BTW what is a chicken tractor?
same question here? what is a chicken tractor?
I’d love to know where you’ve found those sweet rain barrels!
Thank you for your comments and questions. I’ve amended my post to include a bit more information.
Lynn
Just found your blog. Love your blog!
Another valuable publication for those of us with “homesteading fever” is “Backwoods Home Magazine” Enjoy.
thanks a bunch
Thanks, Tana. I’m so glad that you left a comment!!
Lynn
Tana, thanks for the magazine suggestion!
Lynn
This is definitely a huge interest for our family too! When our military enlistment is over next year we are going to jump into homesteading. We’ve begun in the little things already, there is still so much to learn! Ever heard of urban homesteading? I think that would be right up your alley, here is a family in Pasadena, CA who does just that. It’s quite amazing what they’ve done with their little urban plot! Very inspiring! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCPEBM5ol0Q
Rachel, thank you so much for the link! I just watched it with two of my chidren and we were amazed. I’ve actually seen that family before on another video, but this one was even longer and more in depth.
Urban homesteading appeals to me and I guess I was doing it before I knew what it was in a sense. In a “flower” sense. I was digging up lawn and planting wild flowers from the moment we bought our house. I also let many weeds grow because they are food: chickweed, dandelions, lamb’s quarter, etc.
I really enjoyed that link! That’ll have to go in my sidebar.
Lynn
You will love have chickens!!! We have 17 buff orphingtons and one little bany (Sp?) chicken. They are pretty low maintenance when you get them past the baby stage, and then they are such good family pets. And of course, all the eggs too!!!
Ooh, me too.I have the homesteading bug and some kind of chicken bug..and bad! lol
We only have one rain barrel,
but I want one on each corner..lol.
I am trying to convince my DH to replace our azaleas with blueberries.
Dear Lynn,
Oh yes, the homesteading “bug” has bitten us hard. We’re trying to learn as much as we can in as short amount of time as possible, but being able to actually DO everything is another story!
Love,
Marqueta
I have also gotten the homesteading bug, my mother as well. Trying to do what I can with 1 little acre. with 3 yr old twin girls. Ive raised chickens now for 6 years so now Im gonna start into mini dairy goats and herbal,vegetable gardens. I started sewing dresses for my girls also. Im 27 so everyone we know thinks Ive lost it or something. Its always been my dream to have the little house on the prairie lifestyle. Hard work makes a happy heart when your with the Lord and your family.