“ I think a lot of the great unwashed think there is always a polar moment where someone decides that they want to homestead . But for me it was more of a natural advance , ” tell Natalie Green , who runsHandmade On The Homesteadin Henrico , Virginia .
In Green ’s case , the decisiveness to begin homesteading involved being diagnose with an autoimmune disorderliness and wanting to “ pay attention to what was in my nutrient . ”
At first , Green experiment with growing “ a few flowers and herb ” in a modest backyard garden before she act on to dabbling with “ three illegal backyard chickens ” subsist in a Gallus gallus coop sourced from Craigslist . After relocate to an abode with an acre of growing space , Green was able to expatiate her homesteading efforts .
She then added a farm stand and a descent of handwriting - craft soaps to the venture .
We spoke to Green about how to productively use smaller game of farming and dwell with ducks . We also got into the joys of growing and preserving peppers .
Maximizing Your Space
A post share by Handmade on the Homestead ( @handmade_on_the_homestead _ )
“ So many people feign that you necessitate several acres to keep goats and grunter but there is so much that one Akka can provide you with , ” explains Green , talking about how she successfully maximize her farming infinite .
“ In 2021 I determine that I really desire to grow as much nutrient as potential on our homestead and arrange a goal not to purchase any meat , ” she continue . “ While we do n’t consume meat with every meal , it was one of the more expensive item on our food market list , specially when seeking out gamey calibre center . But we were able to make it through the intact year without buy any meat !
“ We harvest and process everything right here on our land and received beef , deer and fish from a few neighbors . ”
Send in the Ducks
Ducks are a lively part of the fabric of Handmade On The Homestead . Green aver that they ’re “ exceedingly lovely as babies , ” adding “ they are little Lucille Ball of frivolity and do n’t take flight as new as chickens do . So they are a lot easy to palm . ”
However , Green adds that duck’s egg are markedly more slight than chickens when they ’re young and gruelling to brood at home . They also necessitate “ skinny monitoring of humidity during incubation to ensure a healthy and successful round of ducklings is hatch . ”
On a daily basis , Green says that getting to learn her duck’s egg wander around the holding and splash in puddles is a joy .
“ [ They ] are much more respectful of my plants than the chickens , ” she adds .
translate more : duck and geese make great permaculture stock !
Give It up for Saucy Peppers
When it comes to 2021 ’s most successful crop , Green plumps for her peppers . “ I had sweet Piper nigrum , blistering black pepper and mystery peppers that I forgot to tag in many different size and semblance , ” she recalls .
“ The biggest benefit of all of the peppers was being able-bodied to make homemade hot sauce and salsa , ” she adds . “ I find that a mass of condiments have special additive . Being capable to use black pepper to make those things is a great way to forefend unneeded ingredients . ”
Exploring Brassica Leaves
Looking over her garden , Green says that utilizing the leaves from brassicas is one of her pet ways to extend produce further .
“ I recollect many people omit them , ” she order . “ But they are just as tasty as the broccoli or cauliflower that you may be grow . I enjoy eating them on flatbreads with a few home - cured bacon crumbles . ”
translate more : It ’s time to bring back Brussels sprouts ! Here ’s how and why to contribute them to your garden .
Forging a Symbiotic Relationship
“ Being able-bodied to steward the land and animals that put up for me is an amazing feeling , ” says Green , reflecting on her homesteading journey to date . “ Watching all of the piffling pieces of this symbiotic family relationship that is created between everything on the homestead make believe it hard not to feel like you ’ve really accomplished something major when you sit down down and take it all in . ”
