Although, by definition, every soap is made by the saponification (a type of chemical reaction) of lye, water, and fat, one soap will differentiate from the next depending on the kind of fat, the kind of lye, and how much of each is used. Lye made from wood ash, for example, produces soft soap, so […]
homestead skills
What is Homesteading?
Like any term out there that has a sizable group of people interested in it, there is much disagreement about what, exactly, homesteading means. People feel there are certain tools, skills, and parameters that have to happen in order to call an activity “homesteading”. There’s a lot of gatekeeping going on here. No surprise, really. […]
How to Identify Saddle Feathers in Roosters
Are you suspecting you might have roosters in your young flock of chickens? It seems to happen on a regular basis. You buy a group of straight run* chicks and eventually discover there are waaaay too many males in your group. Here’s how you can identify then at a young age, in case you want […]
24 Things NOT to do on Your Homestead
It’s frustrating. I get it. You finally have your piece of land – a place you’ve wanted for a big garden and to raise animals for as long as you could remember. You want to jump in with both feet to get your dream homestead rolling along. WAIT! Just breathe. Rushing in to plant a […]
Does Your Jam Have Enough Sugar?
Getting the amount of sugar right in your jam or jelly is important for proper setting up. Too little sugar will turn into a runny mess. Using a Thermometer An accurate thermometer provides the simplest and safest way to tell when the sugar has reached the proper concentration. Star by measuring the exact temperature at […]
Testing Fruit for Pectin and Acid
To test fruit for pectin, mix 1 teaspoon of cooked fruit with 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol. If the mixture coagulates into a single clump, there is sufficient pectin. (Do not taste the mixture, since rubbing alcohol is poisonous!) To check fruit for acidity, compare its taste to that of a mixture consisting of 3 […]
Preserving Fruits into Jams & Jellies
Unlike jelly, which is made from fruit juice, other sugar-preserved foods contain parts of the whole fruit. Fruit butter is mashed pulp simmered with sugar until the pulp is thick; in the other fruit products pieces of fruit float in a light gel. Jam consists of gelled, mashed pulp; preserves are made of fruit pieces […]
Farm Market Ideas
So you have some land. Maybe a large backyard. And think “I could grow things and sell them at farmers’ markets!” Making a bit of cash on the side. If you’re a well-seasoned visitor to farmers’ markets you’ll know that the booths you see there aren’t strictly vegetables. And there’s good reason for that: profit. […]