Off grid solar and wind power for your homestead enables you say goodbye to power bills. Why pay high costs to bring power from a utility company when you can generate your own clean, renewable energy? An off-grid power system is a stand-alone system. It operates completely on its own to supply all your power needs. The cost of and off grid solar and wind power system for a homestead or ranch can be less than bringing in utility power. Especially if you live in an area where it's expensive to bring in utilities. We chose an off-grid power for our home because the start-up cost for utility power was over $10,000! Self-Sufficiency with a Clean, Renewable Resource There is a real feeling of independence and accomplishment that comes with being self-sufficient. We live on an acreage, and we also have our own well, septic system, and a wood stove for heating. We use propane for cooking, hot water, and a small backup heater. This is our only utility expense. If the power goes … [Read more...] about Off Grid Solar and Wind Power for Your Homestead
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Best Gardening Shoes and Outdoor Boots
What are the best gardening shoes and outdoor boots for wet and dirty conditions? We’re talking about footwear for the great outdoors—in gardens, homesteads, farms, ranches, and other outdoor environments. Clearly, a pair of Van’s sneakers or beach flip-flops aren’t the best footwear for most garden activities. I can tell you this from personal experience. Cold, wet feet and injured toes are never a good idea. That’s why it’s important to find yourself a great pair of the best gardening shoes and outdoor boots. Your feet deserve nothing less than the best. Here’s the good news: there are LOTS of good choices when searching for the best gardening shoes and outdoor boots. We’re talking about waterproof shoes and tough, reinforced boots. And we’re also talking about gardening shoes and boots that are stylish enough to wear on errands. Like to the local coffee shop or the hardware store. Best Gardening Shoes and Outdoor Boots for Men and Women Here is a selection of the best … [Read more...] about Best Gardening Shoes and Outdoor Boots
Homestead Living Ideas
When it comes to homestead living ideas, it's all about a more sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle. Use organic practices on the landscape and in the gardens. Make and use homemade compost in the family vegetable garden. Pay attention to energy efficiency in the design of buildings. And select appliances based on their efficient use of resources. The homestead and ranch life can also include raising chickens for a steady supply of fresh eggs. (This is true for large acreage properties and even in some suburban homes.) On larger ranch and homesteads, becoming more self-sufficient means drilling wells and installing backup water pumps. Here are some great products and homestead living ideas that make the ranch, homestead and self-sufficient lifestyle easier. For information about planting fruit trees on your homestead property, read Top Five Fruit Trees for some great advice. Also read How to Build an Instant Rusted Corrugated Metal Fence. Deep Well Hand Pump Keeps … [Read more...] about Homestead Living Ideas
Winter Work Clothing for Outdoor Chores
Winter work clothing is a must for doing outdoor chores in cold weather. When the weather is freezing cold, you need winter work clothing that can keep you warm. Your outdoor winter wear also must be tough enough for all the jobs you must get done in the coldest weather. Winter work clothing includes everything from warm gloves and heavy-duty boots to fleece-lined pants and insulated jackets. Here is a great wardrobe of first-rate winter work clothing for all of your outdoor chores. Not only is this gear guaranteed to keep you warm, but you will look good wearing it. So, let’s gear-up and get the work done. And once you've got all of your winter work wear, read our reviews of the Best Cordless Electric Snow Blowers. Winter Work Clothing: Base Layer for Extra Warmth Carhartt is a respected name in work clothing, so it’s no surprise that they make great base layer tops and bottoms. In the old days, they called this clothing “long underwear.” But the Carhartt Men’s Midweight … [Read more...] about Winter Work Clothing for Outdoor Chores
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
