Search results

Hi, welcome to the forum! I'm more into raising plants than animals, so I'm no help here. Just wanted to drop in and say hello.

Is it time intensive or prohibitively expensive to start? I've heard bits and pieces about the practice of aquaponics on television, but I don't know anyone who raises their fish and vegetables that way. I figured something must hold growers back. Do any of you guys use an aquaponic system?

It depends, but I often go with clover because it's a nitrogen fixer, it grows readily, and it's good for forage. I don't have cattle or I'd pick something else.

Normally horses will leave them alone because they aren't tasty to them. But yeah, buttercups can cause problems because the stem and leaves contain a toxic oil. I don't think it will kill them necessarily, but it makes them pretty sick and can blister their mouths if they eat enough of them...

They're great little game birds. Like with most fowl, I'm sure there's been different experiences among us. One chicken egg is pretty much the equivalent of five or six quail eggs. So, I think Digger is right, that you'll need quite a few of them if you're planning to have those eggs for your...

I remove as much of the diesel as I can, then I soak my clothing in Coke and baking soda for an hour, before laundering as usual. I add those Downy Unstopables to help things along, but it's not great for the environment and it's pretty pricey. I hope you find something that works for you...

I've noticed that many members here have chickens. In my community, if people raise anything they're most likely to raise chickens. Do you see chickens as the gateway livestock? Did you start with chickens?

Oh, this is a good topic! I'm anxious to see the replies because I know very little about taxes. I pay someone else to do it. Do you do your own, Locksmith?

In my opinion, each brand has some amazing tools as well as some lemons among their lineup. It pays to shop around and read reviews. So many brands have consolidated over the years so there's really very few manufacturers left.

I hope your cat starts feeling better. Do you have other indoor cats? If so, you might want to isolate him so he can get his bearings without worrying about the others. Catios help, but that's not always realistic since they're costly. A room with windows he can access and a sturdy cat tree...

You know, I've never tried growing celery. Just never thought of it before. I think I'll give it a go this coming season, even though I'm not the best at remembering to water consistently either, @Chickadee. @Harmony maybe it's too cold for that particular variety of artichoke. Some folks...

As much as I hate it, the reality is that plants can be trademarked, branded, and patented which prevents the rest of us from propagating that plant without permission. It also forces us to sell plants a certain way by ensuring they are properly marked and distributed as required. Do you have...

I always thought it was the methane that cows produce that caused the biggest environmental issue. If you could figure out a methane reduction plan it would help. That might be impossible though - I've never raised cattle. I think just being conscious of the issue helps a person become more...

I've seen a few homemade versions and while they are cheaper than commercial models, the hatch rate tends to be dramatically lower. They often get dirty more easily and have to be remade for each cycle too. I'm not saying that it's a bad idea by any means though. I have friends who are quite...

Almost every gardener, farmer, and homesteader has one or two crops that they just can't grow, not matter what they try. For me it's eggplant. I've tried different cultivars but I've yet to produce a single fruit. I buy a packet of seeds every year, because I just know that this is the year...

Bulbs are the most profitable for me right now. I've sold more than a few jade plants in bloom too and those are highly profitable since they're easy to propagate. This year I'm going to try something different with my Valentine's Day bouquets. My plan is to force bloom some forsythia stems...

I wonder if that horse is absorbing the stress you're feeling, maybe as a result of your goats' ring worm problem. A new horse won't have a past with you and your farm to draw from and might misbehave out of fear. Are you sure your paddocks aren't overcrowded? That can cause a problem with...

I'm looking for a reliable and affordable resource to obtain asparagus crowns. Please let me know where you buy yours. I purchased some last year, but the company has gone out of business.

I'd replace all the bedding materials and would sanitize the equipment you've used around the goats such as the milker, watering container, feeding trough, and things like that. Dry up the area if you can since fungus thrives in a damp environment.

I haven't noticed a worrying trend in crop failure, but I think annual warming rates certainly affect the outcome and I am surprised by the article's conclusion. All sorts of diseases, pests, and parasites are affected by our warming rates. The soil needs to freeze for a prolonged period of...