Welcome to The Homesteading RD's Blog!

Here you'll find my most most recent blog posts. Explore everything from companion planting and vertical gardening to raising meat birds and water glassing eggs. Don't miss my farm-to-table recipes!
A flock of chickens pecking at feed on the ground
Raise Chickens

How Long Do Chickens Live (and Lay Eggs)?

So, how long do chickens live, anyway? You might be surprised by the answer! While chickens are prey animals and are naturally predisposed to a shorter lifespan, they can enjoy a long and fulfilling life if given the chance! Numerous factors such as genetics, breed, environmental conditions, predator threats, diet, and daily care will play

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Multiple trays of seedlings set out on the deck outdoors
Grow Your Own Food

How Often to Water Seedlings

So, you’ve started your little seeds and are patiently (or impatiently, if you’re like me!) waiting for them to sprout. You’re likely struggling with the classic question, “How often should I water my seedlings?” Watering seedlings properly is one of the most challenging things to get right as a gardener. I still doubt myself from

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Gluten free rhubarb crumble freshly baked and out of the oven
Farm-to-Table Recipes

Garden Fresh Rhubarb Crumble (Gluten Free!)

I’ve been making this gluten free rhubarb crumble for YEARS and it’s a classic in our home. Not only is it gluten free, but it’s a reduced-sugar recipe that you can feel good about using over and over. Rhubarb is delightfully tangy and a classic addition in any garden, large or small. Rhubarb is one

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A photo of a row of tomato plants in a garden
Grow Your Own Food

Determinate vs Indeterminate Tomatoes

Understanding the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes can bring your gardening game up to a whole new level. While they may seem similar from a distance, they are actually quite different! Determinate and indeterminate tomatoes differ in how they need to be supported for proper growth, their pruning needs, and even how they produce

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A close up view of bumblefoot on a chicken pad
Raise Chickens

Bumblefoot in Chickens – Causes, Treatment & Prevention

If you have chickens, then the chances are good that you’ll have to deal with bumblefoot at some point. Bumblefoot is a common staph infection that can develop after a simple cut to a chicken’s foot pad. If left untreated, this can develop into an abscess and eventually death in severe cases, so early intervention

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A photo of a group of chickens pecking at the ground while out foraging
Raise Chickens

Don’t Feed These Foods to Your Chickens!

People often ask me whether it’s safe to give certain foods to chickens. I’m glad to see chicken keepers being responsible! Thankfully, chickens have a pretty good sense of what they can and cannot eat, but there are some tempting plants (and human foods!) out there that should never be offered to your flock. I

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