goats
How a British Family Constructed Their Own Root Cellar
By Susie Kearley – 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 …
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Hair Sheep Breeds – The Right Choice for You?
Hair sheep breeds are growing in popularity as consumers look for economical ways to raise homestead meat animals. Hair breeds have many positive traits that make them an ideal animal for …
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5 Homestead Animals for Self-Sufficiency
If your aim is self-sufficiency and you’re not a vegan, you will need a supply of milk, eggs and meat for self-sufficiency. From cow farming to chicken keeping, the peace …
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A DIY Mobile Sheep Shelter
By Carole West – Do you really need a barn for small livestock? This was a question I pondered before we acquired sheep. I came to the realization that most sheep …
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Valais Blacknose Coming to the U.S.
By Alan Harman Originating from Switzerland, Valais Blacknose are a world heritage breed with an estimated global population of just 13,000 or 14,000, verging on an endangered species. Retired New …
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What is Rotational Grazing and Why is it Misunderstood?
With Spencer Smith – Many people want to know what is rotational grazing and why is it misunderstood? Good grazing practices are often thought of as rotational grazing, but this …
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What is the Best Manure for Gardens?
The best manure for gardens is properly composted manure. It’s often called black gold, especially when it contains cow manure. When running a homestead, you have many different types of …
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A Glimpse at Simple Homesteading Life in the 1800s
By Kathy Belt – In the September/October 2012 issue of Countryside, a reader wanted to know what homesteading life in the 1800s was like. Here’s my reply. I am a bit of a …
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Designing Your Ideal Homesteading Land
By Ken Wilson – Homesteading land is neither a farm nor a rural residence; therefore, it presents design challenges that are different from the others. A rural residence is basically nothing more …
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How to Build a Goat Barn Using a Prefab Shed
Goat barns are essential if you raise goats, regardless of what sort of climate you reside in. When I was big into dairy goats, my family had more time than …
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Remote Simplifies DIY Electric Fence Maintenance
One morning when my husband and I went out to feed and milk our Nubian goats, we were horrified to discover the bucks paying an unscheduled visit to the does. …
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11 Fly Deterrent Tips for Effective Pasture Management
By Ken Scharabok – Flies can bother livestock to the point they become stressed and growth or overall health is affected. Fly deterrent strategies probably follow the 20/80 rule (20 percent of the …
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Raising Miniature Goats, Cows, Chickens, and Sheep
What is driving the recent trend in raising miniature goats, cows, chickens, and other livestock? As more people move toward a simpler way of life, and are living in a …
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How to Shear a Sheep and Other Fiber Animals
Learning how to shear a sheep takes practice and time. Before you head out to buy sheep shearing supplies try to observe a professional sheep shearer and ask questions. The …
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Barking is the Language of Dogs
By Brenda M. Negri – Barking is a language for all dogs, and livestock guardian dog (LGD) breeds are no exception. In fact, barking is an integral part of what LGDs do. It’s …
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