Small Farms: Most Popular Articles
These articles are the most popular over the last month.
How to Design a Small Farm
How to design a small farm or homestead. Planning the first year on your small farm. Deciding what animals to keep, what crops and vegetables to plant, and how to arrange buildings and gardens. Making a plan for the future.
How to design a small farm or homestead. Planning the first year on your small farm. Deciding what animals to keep, what crops and vegetables to plant, and how to arrange buildings and gardens. Making a plan for the future.
How to Keep Chickens
Ready to raise your own chickens on your small farm for delicious eggs, meat, or just for pets? Everything you need to know to raise and keep chickens on your small farm or homestead is right here.
Ready to raise your own chickens on your small farm for delicious eggs, meat, or just for pets? Everything you need to know to raise and keep chickens on your small farm or homestead is right here.
How to Get Hens Lay Nest Boxes
Do your chickens lay their eggs everywhere but in the nest boxes? These tips will have you collecting fresh, clean eggs out of the nest boxes in no time.
Do your chickens lay their eggs everywhere but in the nest boxes? These tips will have you collecting fresh, clean eggs out of the nest boxes in no time.
Before you Buy a Chicken Coop
Ready to bring those baby chicks home, but need to build or buy them a chicken coop before they feather in? Never fear. I will help you figure out what you need to know so you can give your chicks a healthy, durable home.
Ready to bring those baby chicks home, but need to build or buy them a chicken coop before they feather in? Never fear. I will help you figure out what you need to know so you can give your chicks a healthy, durable home.
Raise Baby Chicks
Want to raise baby chicks on your small farm or homestead? Learn how to take care of and raise happy chickens.
Want to raise baby chicks on your small farm or homestead? Learn how to take care of and raise happy chickens.
Collecting Chicken Eggs
Are your chickens laying so many eggs you don't know what to do with them? Learn how to properly collect, clean and store your laying hens' eggs.
Are your chickens laying so many eggs you don't know what to do with them? Learn how to properly collect, clean and store your laying hens' eggs.
Build a Movable Chicken Coop
Every chicken coop needs nest boxes. Be sure to include nest boxes in your chicken tractor design if you keep laying hens (chickens for eggs).
Every chicken coop needs nest boxes. Be sure to include nest boxes in your chicken tractor design if you keep laying hens (chickens for eggs).
Deep Litter Method
The deep litter method of litter management is used to keep chickens healthy and happy in their coop on small farms and homesteads. Laying hens are particularly suited for this method of litter management.
The deep litter method of litter management is used to keep chickens healthy and happy in their coop on small farms and homesteads. Laying hens are particularly suited for this method of litter management.
Types of Fencing
An overview of the types of fence and fencing methods most commonly used on small farms today and why you'd choose a particular type of fence. Includes maintenance procedures for each option.
An overview of the types of fence and fencing methods most commonly used on small farms today and why you'd choose a particular type of fence. Includes maintenance procedures for each option.
Preparing the Land for Farming
Preparing your land for crops, pasture, or animals is critical to success as a small farmer. With the proper preparation, veggies and animals will thrive and flourish. If you skimp here, you may end up with more maintenance later on – repairing downed fences, desperately weeding an overgrown garden, or scrambling to get water to animals in the winter. So take the time to learn a bit about what’s needed to prepare your land. You’ll find it’s well worth the time and effort up front.
Preparing your land for crops, pasture, or animals is critical to success as a small farmer. With the proper preparation, veggies and animals will thrive and flourish. If you skimp here, you may end up with more maintenance later on – repairing downed fences, desperately weeding an overgrown garden, or scrambling to get water to animals in the winter. So take the time to learn a bit about what’s needed to prepare your land. You’ll find it’s well worth the time and effort up front.
Set Goals for Your Small Farm
Not sure if you're in this to create a market garden, if you're trying to become self-sufficient, or if you're simply hobby farming for pleasure? Ask yourself these essential questions and figure out your overarching goals for your small farm.
Not sure if you're in this to create a market garden, if you're trying to become self-sufficient, or if you're simply hobby farming for pleasure? Ask yourself these essential questions and figure out your overarching goals for your small farm.
Choose Animals and Crops
Pigs, goats, ducks, chickens, emu - it all seems overwhelming! How can you decide what you want to raise on your farm? I'll give you some ideas to get you thinking, researching, and ultimately, deciding on some animals and crops for your small farm or homestead.
Pigs, goats, ducks, chickens, emu - it all seems overwhelming! How can you decide what you want to raise on your farm? I'll give you some ideas to get you thinking, researching, and ultimately, deciding on some animals and crops for your small farm or homestead.
Choose Chicken Breeds
Torn between Buff Orpingtons and Rhode Island Reds? Wondering just what a "dual-purpose" bird is? I'll help you choose the best chickens for your small farm or homestead.
Torn between Buff Orpingtons and Rhode Island Reds? Wondering just what a "dual-purpose" bird is? I'll help you choose the best chickens for your small farm or homestead.
Winter in the Chicken Coop
It's getting chilly outside. But that doesn't have to mean frozen combs and wattles, painful toes, and unhappy hens. Keeping chickens happy through the winter just takes a little bit of extra attention.
It's getting chilly outside. But that doesn't have to mean frozen combs and wattles, painful toes, and unhappy hens. Keeping chickens happy through the winter just takes a little bit of extra attention.
Grants for Small Farms
Looking for grants or money to start your small farm? Look no further; we've gathered the best resources for you to find the grants you need.
Looking for grants or money to start your small farm? Look no further; we've gathered the best resources for you to find the grants you need.
How to Raise Pastured Poultry
Why keep your lovely hens confined to a coop and fixed run, when they can roam over fresh green grass and eat bugs and grubs to their hearts' content? Learn about the options for pasturing poultry, especially chickens, on the small farm or homestead.
Why keep your lovely hens confined to a coop and fixed run, when they can roam over fresh green grass and eat bugs and grubs to their hearts' content? Learn about the options for pasturing poultry, especially chickens, on the small farm or homestead.
Stop Egg Eating
Have a problem with egg eating among your laying hens? Learn these crucial tips to stop your chickens from eating their own eggs. Your investment in those hens will pay off with fresh, delicious eggs that you get to eat instead of your hens!
Have a problem with egg eating among your laying hens? Learn these crucial tips to stop your chickens from eating their own eggs. Your investment in those hens will pay off with fresh, delicious eggs that you get to eat instead of your hens!
Grow and Harvest Dry Beans
Learn how to grow and harvest dry beans. Covers planting time, spacing, growing notes, pests and problems, maintenance, harvesting, seed saving, storage and preservation.
Learn how to grow and harvest dry beans. Covers planting time, spacing, growing notes, pests and problems, maintenance, harvesting, seed saving, storage and preservation.
Supplies for Keeping Chickens
Chickens don't need much to keep them happy and healthy. Learn what you need to buy to get started keeping chickens.
Chickens don't need much to keep them happy and healthy. Learn what you need to buy to get started keeping chickens.
Ongoing Chicken Care
Learn the basics of how to keep up with your flock of laying hens or meat chickens. Collecting eggs, refilling feed and water, and maintaining a clean chicken coop.
Learn the basics of how to keep up with your flock of laying hens or meat chickens. Collecting eggs, refilling feed and water, and maintaining a clean chicken coop.
Prepare Your Soil - Tillage
Learn how to prepare your soil for planting: tillage methods from conventional to no-till to reduced tillage will be discussed. Whether you have a homestead, a tiny hobby farm or a small-scale farm, you'll find the right method for tilling your soil here.
Learn how to prepare your soil for planting: tillage methods from conventional to no-till to reduced tillage will be discussed. Whether you have a homestead, a tiny hobby farm or a small-scale farm, you'll find the right method for tilling your soil here.
Must-Read Small Farm Books
This list of recommended books for small farms and homesteads makes a great start to your library.
This list of recommended books for small farms and homesteads makes a great start to your library.
Maintaining Farm Property
Your animals are all settled in, your garden is producing well, and you’re already thinking about next season’s improvements. But of course, you still need to maintain what you already have. With a little bit of attention and care, you can keep your farm infrastructure well-maintained and functioning smoothly.
Your animals are all settled in, your garden is producing well, and you’re already thinking about next season’s improvements. But of course, you still need to maintain what you already have. With a little bit of attention and care, you can keep your farm infrastructure well-maintained and functioning smoothly.
Sell at the Farmers Market
Learn how to sell your small farm's produce, meat, eggs, dairy and poultry at the farmers market. What are the best strategies for success?
Learn how to sell your small farm's produce, meat, eggs, dairy and poultry at the farmers market. What are the best strategies for success?
Chicken Management
When it comes to housing your chickens, you have several different options for containment - everything from allowing them to range or roam freely, to having them contained within movable electric net fencing, to a traditional coop and run.
When it comes to housing your chickens, you have several different options for containment - everything from allowing them to range or roam freely, to having them contained within movable electric net fencing, to a traditional coop and run.
Tips for Urban Chicken Keepers
Many people successfully live in the city or suburbs and have a small flock of laying hens. With these tips, you can keep your neighbors happy and avoid any written warnings or fines.
Many people successfully live in the city or suburbs and have a small flock of laying hens. With these tips, you can keep your neighbors happy and avoid any written warnings or fines.
Do I need a rooster for eggs?
I'll give you the scoop on roosters and hens. The short answer: you don't need a rooster for your hens to lay eggs. But, there's more to it than that.
I'll give you the scoop on roosters and hens. The short answer: you don't need a rooster for your hens to lay eggs. But, there's more to it than that.
Plan Garden to Feed Family
Wondering how much to plant on your small farm to feed your family? Is 5 tomato plants enough, or would 15 be better? Get started planning your garden so that you have fresh, delicious produce for your family all year.
Wondering how much to plant on your small farm to feed your family? Is 5 tomato plants enough, or would 15 be better? Get started planning your garden so that you have fresh, delicious produce for your family all year.
Poultry Predators
It seems that more animals are after chickens and poultry than any other farm animal - so learn what predators put your chickens at risk and how to best protect them.
It seems that more animals are after chickens and poultry than any other farm animal - so learn what predators put your chickens at risk and how to best protect them.
Plan the First Year
You know where you want to end up in one year, or five years - with a successful small farm. How do you get there? I'll help you take your dreams and make them reality.
You know where you want to end up in one year, or five years - with a successful small farm. How do you get there? I'll help you take your dreams and make them reality.
Hobby Sugaring
Do you have some sugar maples, or even just one maple tree, on your land? Then you can make maple syrup. I'll give you the rundown on equipment and the sugaring process so you can get started.
Do you have some sugar maples, or even just one maple tree, on your land? Then you can make maple syrup. I'll give you the rundown on equipment and the sugaring process so you can get started.
Hobby Sugaring Supplies
This handy list breaks down all the supplies you need for hobby maple syrup production.
This handy list breaks down all the supplies you need for hobby maple syrup production.
Improve Your Soil
Learn about the different soil types, how to tell what type of soil you have, and the basics of how to amend your soil to produce delicious, high yields of your crops.
Learn about the different soil types, how to tell what type of soil you have, and the basics of how to amend your soil to produce delicious, high yields of your crops.
Assess Land and Resources
One of the most important steps in designing your small farm or homestead is to have an understanding of the resources - land, buildings, time and money - that you may already have on hand. This process will help you in designing your farm.
One of the most important steps in designing your small farm or homestead is to have an understanding of the resources - land, buildings, time and money - that you may already have on hand. This process will help you in designing your farm.
Build a Raised Bed
Learn, step by step, how to build a raised bed to grow plants in. Grow strawberries, tomatoes, or any vegetable in a raised bed. Excellent choice for urban homesteaders needing to conserve space.
Learn, step by step, how to build a raised bed to grow plants in. Grow strawberries, tomatoes, or any vegetable in a raised bed. Excellent choice for urban homesteaders needing to conserve space.
Should I Farm
It's often the first question people ask when considering starting a farm. But how to begin to answer it? I'll give you somewhere to get started.
It's often the first question people ask when considering starting a farm. But how to begin to answer it? I'll give you somewhere to get started.
qahowmuchwoodinacord
Do you heat with wood? Want to be clear how much wood you're really buying when you buy "a cord" of wood? I have the answer.
Do you heat with wood? Want to be clear how much wood you're really buying when you buy "a cord" of wood? I have the answer.
Processing Chickens for Meat
Learn how to slaughter and process chickens and other poultry for meat.
Learn how to slaughter and process chickens and other poultry for meat.
Pastured Eggs More Nutritious?
You know the eggs from your grass-eating, pastured hens taste better, but are they really better for you than supermarket eggs?
You know the eggs from your grass-eating, pastured hens taste better, but are they really better for you than supermarket eggs?
How to Grow Blueberries
Instructions and tips teach you how to grow blueberries on your small farm or homestead.
Instructions and tips teach you how to grow blueberries on your small farm or homestead.
Barbed Wire Fencing
Learn about the pros and cons of barbed wire fencing on the small farm.
Learn about the pros and cons of barbed wire fencing on the small farm.
Woven Wire Fencing
Learn about woven wire fencing, a good choice for many types of livestock on the small farm.
Learn about woven wire fencing, a good choice for many types of livestock on the small farm.
What is Sustainable Ag?
You may have seen the term "sustainable agriculture," but what does it mean? I'll define and explain it.
You may have seen the term "sustainable agriculture," but what does it mean? I'll define and explain it.
Definition of Pullet
What kind of chicken is a pullet, exactly?
What kind of chicken is a pullet, exactly?
High-Tensile Wire Fencing
High-tensile wire or woven wire fencing can be a low-cost, long-lasting fencing solution for the small farm or homestead. Especially suited to sheep and cattle, it is also useful for horses and goats.
High-tensile wire or woven wire fencing can be a low-cost, long-lasting fencing solution for the small farm or homestead. Especially suited to sheep and cattle, it is also useful for horses and goats.
Baby chicks surviving shipping
Are you wondering if your precious new baby chicks will survive shipping from an online hatchery? I will address common concerns about shipping baby chicks.
Are you wondering if your precious new baby chicks will survive shipping from an online hatchery? I will address common concerns about shipping baby chicks.
Description of Dry Beans
Varieties of dry beans, description and Latin name, growing conditions, hardiness zones.
Varieties of dry beans, description and Latin name, growing conditions, hardiness zones.
Spring Season Extension
Want to get a jump on planting crops and your food garden this season? With season extension ideas like cold frames and polytunnels, you can get your small farm or homestead garden going earlier than you ever imagined.
Want to get a jump on planting crops and your food garden this season? With season extension ideas like cold frames and polytunnels, you can get your small farm or homestead garden going earlier than you ever imagined.
Definition of Chicken Tractor
Just what is a chicken tractor, anyway? Is it a tractor? No, it's a type of movable chicken coop.
Just what is a chicken tractor, anyway? Is it a tractor? No, it's a type of movable chicken coop.
What is "homesteading"?
Confused when people use the term "homesteading"? Does it mean farming? Raising animals? Growing acres of corn? Find out.
Confused when people use the term "homesteading"? Does it mean farming? Raising animals? Growing acres of corn? Find out.
Should You Raise Chickens?
Wondering whether laying hens or chickens are the right choice for your small farm or homestead? Learn what's involved and what you should consider as you make your decision.
Wondering whether laying hens or chickens are the right choice for your small farm or homestead? Learn what's involved and what you should consider as you make your decision.
Mesclun Greens
If you're just beginning your small farm or homestead, try these 7 easy-to-grow plants.
If you're just beginning your small farm or homestead, try these 7 easy-to-grow plants.
Poly Tape and Wire Fencing
Electric tape or wire fencing, often called poly tape or poly wire, can be an effective temporary fencing solution for many animals on the farm.
Electric tape or wire fencing, often called poly tape or poly wire, can be an effective temporary fencing solution for many animals on the farm.
Small Farms - Articles
An index of articles for the Small Farms guide site.
An index of articles for the Small Farms guide site.
Lemon Balm
If you're just beginning your small farm or homestead, try these 7 easy-to-grow plants.
If you're just beginning your small farm or homestead, try these 7 easy-to-grow plants.
Grow Great Garlic
Ever wondered: hardneck or softneck? How do I grow garlic? Can I sell it profitably as a crop on my small farm? Find out the answers to all your garlic growing questions.
Ever wondered: hardneck or softneck? How do I grow garlic? Can I sell it profitably as a crop on my small farm? Find out the answers to all your garlic growing questions.
Romaine Lettuce
If you're just beginning your small farm or homestead, try these 7 easy-to-grow plants.
If you're just beginning your small farm or homestead, try these 7 easy-to-grow plants.
Peas
If you're just beginning your small farm or homestead, try these 7 easy-to-grow plants.
If you're just beginning your small farm or homestead, try these 7 easy-to-grow plants.
Beans
If you're just beginning your small farm or homestead, try these 7 easy-to-grow plants.
If you're just beginning your small farm or homestead, try these 7 easy-to-grow plants.
Pie Pumpkins
If you're just beginning your small farm or homestead, try these 7 easy-to-grow plants.
If you're just beginning your small farm or homestead, try these 7 easy-to-grow plants.
Can I keep chickens in a city?
Do you live in the city, suburbs or an urban area? Wondering if you can keep chickens, or have a rooster?
Do you live in the city, suburbs or an urban area? Wondering if you can keep chickens, or have a rooster?
Electric Net Fencing
Electric net fencing is a popular choice to keep poultry and sheep contained on the farm. Learn the pros and cons and decide for yourself whether electric net fencing is right for your management method.
Electric net fencing is a popular choice to keep poultry and sheep contained on the farm. Learn the pros and cons and decide for yourself whether electric net fencing is right for your management method.
Setting Up Electric Net Fence
Learn how to set up and move electric net fencing on your small farm or homestead without getting it into a tangled mess!
Learn how to set up and move electric net fencing on your small farm or homestead without getting it into a tangled mess!
Define Sustainable Agriculture
Definition of "sustainable agriculture." You may have heard this term and wondered exactly what it means.
Definition of "sustainable agriculture." You may have heard this term and wondered exactly what it means.
Cherry Tomatoes
If you're just beginning your small farm or homestead, try these 7 easy-to-grow plants.
If you're just beginning your small farm or homestead, try these 7 easy-to-grow plants.
Varieties of Garlic
Learn all about the types of garlic - hardneck and softneck - and various varieties, and basic information on what type of soil, pH, and other key factors you need to grow it.
Learn all about the types of garlic - hardneck and softneck - and various varieties, and basic information on what type of soil, pH, and other key factors you need to grow it.
Small Farms - StepBySteps
An index of StepBySteps for the Small Farms guide site.
An index of StepBySteps for the Small Farms guide site.