Common roof problems should be fixed right away. After all, the roof of your house is one of the most important structural elements. It protects you from the extremities of the weather and keeps your place safe and comfortable. Although common roof problems deserve immediate attention, many homeowners let problems continue. Age and weather can compromise the strength and condition of your home’s roofing. That’s why you need to be watchful about even the smallest signs of problems. While you may delay addressing some issues, other common roofing problems require immediate attention to prevent catastrophic damage. Here are the top 5 common roof problems that you should address sooner rather than later. Common Roof Problem #1: Leaks A leaking roof is a common roof problem—and it can be one of the biggest nightmares for homeowners. Ignoring leaks can lead to extensive damage to the structure of the building, and you may eventually end up with massive roofing repair … [Read more...] about 5 Common Roof Problems to Fix Now
Homestead
How to Start a Hobby Farm
You are interested in how to start a hobby farm. But what separates a hobby farm from a standard farm or homestead? And what do you need to know to start a hobby farm to ensure its success? Below are the characteristics of a hobby farm, the potential goals you can establish for your hobby farm, and how to write a one-year plan for your farm. These tips and bits of information will help you stay on track when buying and operating your own hobby farm. What Is a Hobby Farm? A hobby farm is a farm with a small footprint that is run and maintained for pleasure instead of profit. It's important to understand that the crops you grow or yield from your hobby farm are not going to be a major source of income for you or your family. Unlike a homestead, a hobby farm is not a source of total self-sufficiency. Hobby farmers, because they are not primarily concerned with profit, have the luxury to decide exactly what the purpose of their hobby farm is. For example, do you want … [Read more...] about How to Start a Hobby Farm
The Best Books on Keeping Backyard Chickens
The popularity of keeping backyard chickens keeps growing. But getting started with chickens can be a daunting process. There are so many choices to make and mistakes to avoid! Of course, there are hundreds of amazing online resources about keeping backyard chickens—ranging from YouTube channels to Facebook groups. But it’s hard to sift through so much information and so many opinions. (Not to mention all the social media drama). When it comes to starting the new hobby of getting, raising and keeping backyard chickens, you just can’t go wrong with a few carefully chosen guidebooks. So, here is our list of the best books on keeping backyard chickens (in no particular order). If you want to buy any of the books, just click on the book cover and the link will take you directly to the book on Amazon. (Home Garden and Homestead is an Amazon affiliate, and we receive a small commission. Thank you!) Keeping Backyard Chickens: Getting to Know Your Birds These two books give a … [Read more...] about The Best Books on Keeping Backyard Chickens
Best Greenhouse Heaters and Accessories
A greenhouse outfitted with one of the best greenhouse heaters and other accessories is a fabulous way grow plants all year long. Quite simply, a greenhouse turns a short growing season into a year-round growing paradise. A well-designed greenhouse—with the right greenhouse accessories and equipment—can provide the perfect growing environment for all kinds of plants. If you are planning to add a greenhouse on your property, this round-up of the best greenhouse heaters, equipment and accessories will come in handy. If you just purchased or constructed a greenhouse, consider adding these greenhouse products to make it a true indoor growing paradise 12 months a year. The Best Greenhouse Heaters The inside of a greenhouse naturally stays warmer than the outside temperature. But during colder weather, most greenhouses need a heating boost. Add more insulation for most greenhouses during winter months. A greenhouse heater is among the must-have greenhouse accessories to keep … [Read more...] about Best Greenhouse Heaters and Accessories
A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Urban Chickens
Suddenly, there seems to be someone raising urban chickens in every neighborhood. The secret is out: chickens make wonderful backyard companions. Chickens are easy to care for and surprisingly fun to raise. Plus, urban chicken keeping brings the reward of fresh, nutritious eggs. No wonder raising urban chickens is such a major trending topic for homeowners. If you live in the city (or the suburbs) and are thinking of starting a little backyard chicken flock of your own, you are going to love our quick guide to raising urban chickens. In this story, we cover planning for chickens, the joys of urban chicken keeping, and common mistakes to avoid. Rural vs. Urban Chicken Keeping When it comes to raising chickens, there are a few notable differences between the city and the country. For starters, urban chicken keepers must take noise, location, appearance and smell into account. Yes, chickens can make noise. Roosters can be particularly noisy. Locating a chicken coop can be … [Read more...] about A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Urban Chickens
