Raising Backyard Chickens: A Journey from Chicks to Egg-Layers. Chickens can be a delightful and productive addition to your backyard. From the moment you bring them home as tiny chicks to when they start laying eggs, proper care and attention are key to their health and happiness. Here’s a step-by-step how to raise chickens guide…
Category: Homestead
Guide to Breeding Rabbits
How to Breed Rabbits in Your Backyard for Meat Breeding rabbits in your backyard for meat can be a rewarding and sustainable way to provide for your family. Rabbits are relatively easy to care for, and their meat is lean and nutritious. Setting Up Your Rabbitry Breeding Process Caring for Baby Bunnies (Kits) and Their…
How to Use Sourdough Starter
Interested in Sourdough Starter? Sourdough starter is a living culture of flour and water that ferments over time, cultivating wild yeast and beneficial bacteria. This natural leavening agent can transform your baking, giving bread and other baked goods a unique tangy flavor and airy texture. Here’s a guide to understanding sourdough starter, the variety of…
Homemade Mayonnaise with Avocado Oil
How to Make Healthy, Organic Mayonnaise at Home Mayonnaise is a staple in many kitchens, used in a variety of dishes from sandwiches to salads. Making your own mayonnaise at home not only ensures that it’s fresh and free from preservatives, but it also allows you to control the ingredients, making it healthier and tailored…
How to Make a Sourdough Starter at Home
Creating your own sourdough starter at home is a simple yet fascinating process. With just flour, water, and a bit of patience, you can cultivate a living culture that will be the foundation of delicious homemade bread and other baked goods. Here’s a step-by-step how to guide to get you started. Ingredients and Tools Day…
Classic Sunnyside Up Eggs
My dad taught me how to make these awesome sunnyside up eggs many years ago, and I have to say they have shined gloriously on my breakfast plate many times since then. To make these eggs, all you will need is… Some eggs Rye or White Bread A Pan Butter Sunflower Oil Recipe First, you…
Oven Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING TURKEY RAISED AT THE HOMESTEAD The turkey was made using a traditional Russian family recipe, stuffed with apples and sour cranberries. The best part was that we raised the turkey ourselves and although he was not hatched at Reilly Farms, we still gave him a name: Derp. Derp wasn’t a broad-breasted turkey,…
Canning & Preserving Food
It’s harvest season with lots of fruit, veggies and grains ripe for the picking. In order to not be wasteful and save that wonderful food we can use different methods of preservation. My preferred method is to put everything in jars since not only is it already portioned out for meals, sealed airtight and sterilized…
Our First Incubator Hatchlings!
So, I thought incubating eggs was really easy and didn’t require too much effort but boy was I wrong! Our first batch of eggs didn’t hatch at all! I believe the problem was with the humidity. See, here in Austin, Texas it is naturally rather humid. And I mean REALLY humid. The humidity level inside…
Paving the Driveway Entrances
At long last we have done it! We paved our driveway entrances to allow for gates to be installed. This was a crucial step in the process of fencing in the whole property since without gates there would be no use for the fence! The process of paving only took a couple days total and…