Countryside Magazine Contributor, Author at Countryside

A Guide to How to Butcher a Pig

May 14, 2020 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Pigs

The hardest part of getting that homestead hog from pen to freezer is the part that most people don’t like to talk about: harvesting. While using such words may soothe the conscience of some, it avoids the hard truth.

Vertical Farming Grows Skyward

May 9, 2020 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Growing

Vertical farming has surged in urban areas for one big reason: you can grow a lot of food on just a little dirt. It is estimated that by 2050 about 80 percent of the world’s population will live in urban dwellings; that’s about three billion people to feed.

In Old Small Farm Tractors, Lubrication is Key

May 9, 2020 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Tractors & Farm Equipment

Call me sentimental, but I have a soft spot for old small farm tractors and here’s why. Just a couple of weeks ago, my wife, Becky, surveyed my latest acquisition, a nearly four-foot diameter by 10-foot oak log that I had salvaged from a residence in town after it had died and a tree service company cut it down.

Raising Spotted Pigs: Gloucestershire Old Spot

April 30, 2020 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Pigs

We love raising pigs for meat, so I was excited to try a new pig breed. One bite of that succulent pork roast, and I knew I was on to something.

Why Raised Bed Gardening is Better

April 27, 2020 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Growing

End-of-summer gardening is a hectic time of harvesting, preserving, and enjoying the fruits of your many labors. But as the final vegetables are gleaned from the ground, it’s also a great time to think about doing a bit of work now that you and your garden will appreciate in the spring.

Improving Soil with Cattle and The Best Green Manure Crops

April 12, 2020 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Growing

Holistic grazing and the best green manure crops naturally improve soil. Add legumes or rotational cattle grazing to revitalize land.

Soil-Borne Pathogens Can Cause Plant Blight and Disease

April 11, 2020 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Growing

The crops we grow, especially vegetables, are subject to a number of different diseases and plant blight caused by soil-borne pathogens. Soil is full of organisms — both good and bad. The good organisms include worms, slugs, snails, beetles, ants, and spiders as well as gophers and moles and even snakes.

A Market Garden Planner for Profit

April 10, 2020 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Growing

Whether you’re using paper and pencil or an online market garden planner, why not start dreaming? It could be the start of a long-term, sustainable business venture for you!

What Not to Feed Pigs

April 4, 2020 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Pigs

As important as it is to know what to feed pigs, it is just as important to know what not to feed pigs. Raising pigs on your farm or homestead is a rewarding experience.

Silvopasture Explained

March 30, 2020 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Homesteading

Silvopasture, also known as agroforestry, is a farming method that includes the use of timber, livestock, and forage together in the same section of land. It is used to expand the use of unconventional farm land and diversify income.

How to Vermicompost At Home

March 27, 2020 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Growing

Even homesteaders on a tiny urban plot make a lot of waste. Our multi-faceted approach to recycling sends most yard waste through our chickens to start the composting process along with both an outdoor, hot composting system and an indoor worm bin.

Stocking Your Food Pantry with Emergency Essentials

March 26, 2020 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Self-Reliance

When planning your emergency food pantry, you should first ask yourself two questions: If an emergency occurs, what are the things I will most likely lack; and, what cooking facilities will I have in an emergency?

50 Must-Haves for TEOTWAWKI

March 25, 2020 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Self-Reliance

Arguably, the most important thing to store for a SHTF (Stuff Hits The Fan) or complete TEOTWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It) scenario is knowledge. Without it, you won’t survive.

Grind Your Own Grain For Bread

March 21, 2020 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Canning & Kitchen

Grinding your own grains may add more vitamins to your diet, as well as contribute to a better overall healthy lifestyle. Grinding your own grains puts you into a place of really being connected and informed in the area of your food.

Bread-baking is Becoming a Lost Art

March 19, 2020 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Canning & Kitchen

We get so many questions about how to make homemade bread, so I thought I would try to answer just a few of them today. Don’t let all this information make it seem too involved and scare you away from making bread.

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