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
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Best new vegetable seeds and plants for your garden
The best new vegetable seeds are the key to a bountiful summer harvest. Dozens of new varieties of vegetable garden seeds and starter plants are introduced every year. But how do you decide which ones deserve a place in your garden? As anticipation of a new gardening season gives way to planting season, it's time to see what new vegetable seeds are available. Then it's time to decide what you actually want to plant in your garden. This spring, seed companies have introduced an impressive selection of the new vegetable seeds. Some of these new vegetable varieties put a new spin on garden favorites. Others bring back heirloom selections that have a long history of outstanding garden production. Sometimes the best new vegetable seeds and plants offer bigger harvests and better hardiness. Sometimes the appeal is a different color, or a new variety designed especially for small gardens or container growing. The best new vegetable seeds presented here are sure to be among this … [Read more...] about Best new vegetable seeds and plants for your garden
Best 2022 Garden Catalogs and Websites
It’s time to check out the best 2022 garden catalogs and websites, as selected by the editors of HomeGardenandHomestead.com. The weather is cold outside, and cabin fever has hit --big time. Much of the country is still frozen solid and covered with snow. Fortunately, seed and plant companies around the country time their catalog releases and website content perfectly. They know there’s nothing better for gardeners to do in winter than dream about the growing season to come. So, gather up your 2022 garden catalogs and get your laptop ready to check out gardening websites. Then snuggle under a warm blanket and let the garden planning commence! ------------------------------------------------------------- Just for Fun: Click here to see What's Trending on Amazon.com ------------------------------------------------------------ Read Garden Catalogs and Websites Now With weeks to go before the threat of freezing temperatures ends, winter is the perfect time to … [Read more...] about Best 2022 Garden Catalogs and Websites
How to Harvest and Store Seeds
One of the easiest ways for gardeners to save money is to harvest and store seeds from their gardens. It’s easy. It’s fun. And harvesting and storing seeds is a tradition that goes back for many centuries. Fall and early winter is when you harvest and store seeds. For many gardeners, it’s the final activity of the garden season. Harvesting and storing seeds is a bittersweet way to say goodbye to one gardening season and look forward to the next one. You’ll be in good company when you start planting your stored seeds at the dawning of a new spring! How to Properly Harvest Seeds Harvesting your seeds is easy. You can get it done in these three steps: 1. Let the Plants Go to Seed Simply let a plant’s flowers go to seed. Think of a flower as a seed factory—because that’s exactly what it is. Leave the spent flowers on the plant so it can set seeds. Then, let the seeds dry on the plants. Don’t pluck them off before they are completely dry. And resist the temptation to … [Read more...] about How to Harvest and Store Seeds
5 Lawn Care Tips for Greener Grass
Spring and Fall are the best times to plant a new lawn or rehab your tired old lawn. Follow these 5 lawn care tips for greener grass if you want a healthy, green lawn that will be the envy of the neighborhood. If you're ready to replace your old gas-powered lawn mower with a new, quiet electric mower, be sure to read our guide to the Top Cordless Electric Lawn Mowers. Millions of homeowners seem to be on a never-ending quest to have more perfect, greener grass. That’s because a well-manicured, emerald green lawn in the front yard is a source of personal pride. Plus, your neighbors will appreciate the “curb appeal” you are adding to the neighborhood. But that’s just the beginning. A healthy lawn can improve the property value of a home, and it can make a house more attractive to prospective buyers when it’s time to sell. Perfect, greener grass might even make your neighbors green with envy. A gorgeous green lawn might seem unattainable, because healthy turfgrass doesn’t … [Read more...] about 5 Lawn Care Tips for Greener Grass
