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!
Holding a handful of straw inside the chicken coop
Raise Chickens

The 5 BEST Chicken Bedding Options

There are MANY different chicken bedding options out there, but which one is the best? Some people swear by using sand, whereas others prefer straw, wood shavings, or even leaves. Feeling confused? Don’t worry! I’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll discuss the purpose and best features of chicken bedding so you know what

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Chickens foraging in the grass with a whole pineapple in the front of the photo
Raise Chickens

Can Chickens Eat Pineapple? What About The Peel?

If you have some extra pineapple lying around, you’re probably wondering “Can chickens eat pineapple?” You’re not the only one! I get asked this question all the time. The short answer is YES, but pineapples can be high in sugar and not ALL parts are edible. So, how much is too much? What parts CAN

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A bottle of homemade mosquito repellent laying on a blue towel along with some essential oils, a paper flower, and a succulent
DIY

Essential Oil Mosquito Repellent Recipe (that WORKS!)

Living in Minnesota’s north woods, mosquitoes are quite literally our state bird. It’s a DAILY battle not to be eaten alive from spring to fall. I grew up using the typical DEET mosquito spray and thought nothing of it until I started to pay attention to the after-effects. The plants near my spray site nearly

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2 mason jars filled with dehydrated carrots, then a 3rd mason jar behind it with fresh whole carrots
Preserve Your Harvest

How to Make Dehydrated Carrots (EASY!)

Making dehydrated carrots is SO EASY and a great way to preserve your harvest to enjoy later on a cold winter day! Not only that, but they are super simple to add to your dishes (think soups and casseroles) and they last up to a year in the pantry. A win-win! In this article, I’m

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A baking sheet full of eggshells on top of a wood stove
Raise Chickens

Should You Feed Eggshells to Chickens?

Feeding eggshells back to your chickens might seem a bit odd, but it’s one of the best old-timey ways to reduce costs, repurpose waste, and support your flock’s calcium needs simultaneously. I’m all about finding ways to opt out of needing to buy yet another thing! Heck yes! We’ve been feeding eggshells to our chickens

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A view of a homestead garden with a garden shed
Health & Homesteading

The Ultimate Beginners Guide to Homesteading (5 Steps!)

So, you want to start homesteading? I get it! There’s nothing more satisfying than growing your own food and living a more sustainable life. While it sounds great, the path to get there can be bumpy and it looks different for everyone. It can be overwhelming to know even where to begin! We started on

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