Kirby Bros. Modern Homesteading Club
Presents:
Hugh Pribell
Bee Keeper
We would like to invite all of you to a free event in our store
January 17th 7:00pm-8-30pm
Learn about bees, bee issues, and bee keeping.
Please contact us by e-mail or phone with any questions about the event.
 
 

Book Review
Backyard Homestead
I have talked to a lot of people in the past few months who are interested in learning about gardening, backyard chickens, canning, bee keeping and so on. I have herd people tell me they can't do it. They want to do it but have no idea where to begin. So I am going to share with you what I share with all of those others. The thing that gave me the confidence to "jump off" on this crazy journey. This book:

A few years ago I was looking for a new gardening book. Searching for an answer or a magic tip that would help me FINALLY grow a watermelon. I came across this book and read the sub-title "Produce all the food you need on just a...

Specialty Bird Feeding
Yesterday we talked a bit about bird seed and feeding wild birds. Today I wanted to touch on more specific styles and type of bird feeds and feeders. The following are all good options for winter feeding as they are high energy foods.
Suet

 
Suet is made from animal fat. It used to be used mainly in the winter to provide added energy and warmth to birds. Now it has become so specialized it is used year 'round to feed a variety of backyard birds. Flavors include, nut, fruit, insect, hot pepper, berry. Try a few different flavors and observe the birds and response to each one. You will quickly find out what kinds of suet will work best for you.
Suet...

Feeding Wild Birds in Winter
Part 1
Winter is a good time to show wild birds that your yard is a safe place with food and water. Feed them seeds now and they will keep coming through the spring to spread about seeds, the summer to pollinate your plants and eat bugs. It may seem overwhelming when first getting started but it does not have to be. Today I am going to show you some different types of seeds and feeders and go over some tips to help make a new hobby successful. The first part of this bolg series will focus on loose seed and hanging seed feeders. Tomorrows part 2 will go into more specialty type seeds and feeders.
 
Bird Seed
It is a good idea to replicate bird...

Backyard Chickens in Winter
 

 
This morning was the first time since the beginning of the 2011-2012 winter season that I was reminded what cold truly felt like. It has been a bit chilli but in our neck of the woods, today, it qualified as bitterly cold. While I was out back today listening to our Barred Rock, Princess Lea, tell me about the goings on in the chicken run I pretended to listen while checking everyone else over to make sure we are in good shape.
Chickens are much more adapted to cold than many people realize. I think it is easy for us to think "my poor chickies are freezing to death"  when our only frame of reference is our poorly protected...

 
Caring for animals in the winter.
 

 
All animals are in need of a constant fresh water resource. In the winter their water can become quickly frozen and may not thaw on it's own before the next time you are out to change it. We have several options for making wintertime watering a bit easier on you and good for your animals.

It should be mentioned that all of these products can be referred to as "water heaters" but a more accurate term would be "de-icer". These electrical elements will not warm the water, but keep part of the surface just warm enough to keep from freezing. Animals can drink very cold water. But not so cold that it is...