Author: secondtimearoundhomestead

This blog is one of the steps we are taking to be more self-sustaining. We’re glad you are along for the ride! Rachel has been a SAHM and a Humanities Teacher. Chris is a Welder and Fabricator as well as an expert in many of their fields like hydraulics, snow plows, auto mechanics,...We would prefer to live simply and spend every day together. Our children are 6th grade to early college, as two boys and two girls. We have gardened, hunted, canned, and created our whole life. We began raising chickens and turkeys last year. After a few close encounters with neighborhood raccoons we finally had a fully secure coop and we have added 18 more chickens, replaced the two turkeys, and have three ducks. This blog covers all sorts of aspects of our life, but often relate directly to Homesteading.

Book Review of Second Son

As soon as I started listening to this second book, I immediately felt like an old friend was reading to me. Mr Fife has such an expressive voice for the different characters, but reads through the descriptions so smoothly that one can just slip into the scene and be immersed in the story. He is one of my favorite narrators!

How to start homesteading: 6 simple starting points

Chances are if you ask twenty homesteading families what the parameters are to be termed “homesteading” you get twenty slightly different answers. You need to develop your own answer to this. To me, homesteading is to make your home as self-sustaining as you choose, incorporating your land and your skills to be less reliant on others and stores. This will look different between you and I or myself and my friends. That’s OK. There is no “right” answer although there might be a lot of “wrong” ones. Your “right” answer is what works for you at any given time.

Winter Planning on Second Time Around Homestead

Life slows down a little on the homestead in the winter, at least there are fewer projects to be done outside and more time spent on the computer and at the kitchen table. Now is the time when dreams and goals move to the planning stage. Now is the time when projects are started by buying supplies or drawing out the layouts and designs.

Easy Out-of-the-Box ideas for Valentines Day

Are you like me, and roll your eyes at all the commercials for jewelry and fancy dinners for Valentine’s Day? It’s like all the brand new cars with big red bows on them at Christmas time. Completely ridiculous for most people I know. So let’s talk about the gifts that really work!