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Countryside Magazine Contributor
Articles by Countryside Magazine Contributor
Planting Kale in the Fall Garden
Planting kale isn’t just a spring activity in our gardens. When spring crops wilt from summer’s heat, and we have the pantry lined with the fruits of our labors, we till up the soil and plant a fall garden.
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H-brace Construction For Your Permanent Fence Line
When homesteading or farming with livestock, fencing is arguably one of the most important considerations there are in regards to the containment and safety of your animals. Whether you’re planning fencing for chickens or cattle, H-brace construction is an important part of the permanent fencing process.
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Fire Evacuation Procedures for Your Livestock
The year 2013 was an informative and challenging year for Half Creek Farm in Bickleton, Washington. In late July and early August, we got our first “opportunity” to give farm fire evacuation procedures a try.
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Milkweed Plant: A Truly Remarkable Wild Vegetable
Milkweed plant isn’t your average weed; in fact, I feel guilty calling it a weed at all. The common milkweed, Asclepias syriacqa, is one of the best known wild plants in North America.
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How to Treat Colicky Calf Bloat
Some calves develop calf bloat, an acute enterotoxemia (toxic gut infection), caused by bacterial toxins. These calves are usually about a month old but may be as young as a few days of age or as old as two to three months.
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Building a Cheap, Seasonal Greenhouse
A greenhouse can be crucial for extending the growing season. It keeps plants warm while letting in a full day’s worth of sunlight.
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A Market Garden Planner for Profit
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!
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What Not to Feed 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.
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Burdock Slivers Can Cause Eye Irritations
Eye problems in livestock and horses can be caused by foreign material in the eye, and one of the most challenging problems is burdock slivers. Burrs from this invasive weed stick to hair or clothing.
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All About Ankole Watusi Cattle
Ankole Watusi are known as the “Cattle of Kings.” Their unmistakably large horns can spear a lion. The tribes of Africa that rely on them for survival call them sacred.
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How to Start Pig Farming Today
I’ve always wanted pigs and been curious to learn how to start pig farming. I’ve never owned pigs, never even was a close friend of someone who raised homestead pigs.
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Artificial Insemination is No Bull (Literally)
Most homesteaders dream of having their own cow to provide fresh milk and dairy products for the whole family. The challenge is, a milk cow must become pregnant before she can lactate, and that means you’re going to need a bull—unless you use artificial insemination (AI).
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How a British Family Constructed Their Own Root Cellar
In Buckinghamshire, England, Ali Freeman and her family, farm an impressive eight acre smallholding with a menagerie of animals and abundant vegetable plots. I went to meet them last August and was very impressed by the root cellar, which they’d built themselves.
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A DIY Mobile Sheep Shelter
Do you really need a barn for small livestock? This was a question I pondered before we acquired sheep.
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KuneKune Pigs: A Hardy Homestead Breed
KuneKune pigs are making their way into small scale farming operations across the country. You may ask yourself what makes these pigs so special … the simple answer is everything!
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