Ditch The Store

Podcast Show Notes: Off-Grid Water Systems   Introduction to Off-Grid Water Systems - Overview of off-grid water systems for homesteads or small farms - Importance of sustainable water management for self-sufficiency   Annual Water Usage for a Family of 4 - With conservative water use, a family of four can consume between 150,000 to 220,000 litres (40,000 to 58,000 gallons) per year, or...

Hospital Food  Is it making you sick. While many hospitals are beginning to recognise the importance of providing nutritious food to support patient recovery, the transition away from processed options like bread and cereals can be complex. Increased advocacy for better food quality, education around nutrition, and the adoption of innovative food service practices can help facilitate this cha...

Farmers vs Supermarkets  Why You Should Shop Direct   The relationship between farmers and supermarkets is often unbalanced, with large retail chains exerting immense pressure on farmers to lower their prices. While this benefits the supermarkets and consumers who seek the lowest possible prices, it often comes at the expense of the farmers’ livelihoods. In this post, we explore how farm...

G'day everyone and welcome to another episode of Not The Farmer's Wife, Episode 86 this week. And we're talking all about self-sufficiency and we're also trialing something new. I've got the handy helper here with me. Say Hello. Hello. I'm here today because it's pouring rain outside and I don't want to do any work. It's been actually really raining quite hard here at the moment, which is a good t...

Beginner Homesteading: How to Start Your Journey   Easy First Steps for Beginner Homesteaders   Start Small and Simple   Begin with small projects that fit your current lifestyle, such as growing herbs, composting kitchen scraps, or raising a few backyard chickens. These manageable steps will build your confidence.   Understand Your "Why"   Define why you want to homestead...

Buying Rural Land If you’re dreaming of a self-sustainable lifestyle and planning to buy rural land for a homestead or small farm, you’re not alone. First-time rural buyers often feel excited yet overwhelmed by the process, especially if they've never lived outside a city or suburban area before. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to consider when buying rural land, covering everything from finan...

Introduction  Episode 83 Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs) play a crucial role on small farms and homesteads by protecting valuable livestock from predators. In this episode, we’ll break down the essentials of LGDs for beginners—everything from choosing the right breed to caring for your new farm guardian. Whether you're worried about foxes, hawks, or stray dogs, LGDs can be your first line of d...

Milking Goats for Homesteaders  Earlier episode - Why Drink Raw Milk https://www.mojohomestead.net/podcasts/not-the-farmers-wife-2/episodes/2148160617   Introduction     - Brief welcome and introduction of the podcast.    - Share a personal story or common experience of homesteading families considering goats.    - Overview of the podcast...

Goat Breeds for Homesteaders  Introduction - Why Goats?     - Goats are versatile animals that can provide meat, milk, and fibre.   - They are relatively low-maintenance and adaptable, making them a popular choice for homesteaders.   - Overview of the three main categories of goat breeds: meat, milk, and fibre.   Meat Goat Breeds    ...

The Doe Code Episode 80   "The Doe Code" is a lighthearted and humorous interpretation of the behaviours exhibited by goats, particularly mother goats, as they approach labour and delivery. Although it's not an official or scientific guide, it provides an amusing take on the quirks and unpredictabilities of goats during this time.   Many goat owners believe that this secret code is passe...

Meat Birds Kill Cones -  https://amzn.to/4fUYt9N Butchers Aprons that we use -  https://amzn.to/3SXujZp Rubber Fingers for Plucker -  https://amzn.to/4cwIwnk Butcher Knife that we use -  https://amzn.to/46VIFzd   Raising chickens as meat birds, also known as broilers, requires careful planning and attention from day-old chicks to processing. Here’s a comprehensive list of...

Holidaying with Chickens If you’re a chicken owner planning to go away for a weekend, you need to ensure your chickens are well-cared for during your absence. Here’s a complete list of considerations:     Feeding    - Automatic Feeder: Invest in an automatic feeder that can hold enough feed for the duration of your absence. Ensure it’s filled with enough feed for the weeke...

Raising Day Old Chicks     Housing & Space Requirements    - Brooder Setup: A brooder is a warm, enclosed space where the chicks will live for the first few weeks. It can be a large plastic bin, a wooden box, or a designated area within a coop.    - Size: Ensure the brooder is large enough for the chicks to move around freely. Approximately 0.05 square m...

Chicken Feed E76 Waitlist www.mojohomestead.net/waitlist  Are you interested in a meat bird course? Let me know The best diet for backyard or pasture-raised chickens should be well-balanced and nutritionally complete to ensure optimal health, egg production, and overall well-being. Here are the key components of an ideal diet: High-Quality Commercial Feed - Starter Feed: Provide a high-protei...

Egg Truth Episode 75  Join the waitlist  www.mojohomestead.net/waitlist Super Size Me 2 : Holy Chicken  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7215262/   The Truth about Free-Range Eggs The terms "barn-raised," "free-range," and "pasture-raised" refer to different methods of housing and raising chickens for egg production. Here's a breakdown of each: Barn-Raised Eggs - Housing: Chickens...

Avian Flu - Episode 74 On 22 May 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) was notified of a laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus (clade 2.3.2.1a) by the International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point (NFP) of Australia. This is the first confirmed human infection caused by avian influenza A(H5N1) virus detected and reported by Australia. In...

Supermarket-free lifestyle - Episode 73 Don't forget to join the waitlist www.mojohomestead.net/waitlist  to get all the information about our upcoming course. Buying Direct Meat from a farmer  https://halfacow.farm/     Growing Food Vegetable Garden:    - Grow a variety of vegetables and herbs.    - Use techniques like crop rotation and companion...

Episode 72 - Spring Livestock Planning https://www.mojohomestead.net/waitlist Shelter Maintenance: Ensure Animal Shelters are Weatherproof and Warm Building the Perfect Shelter: Essential Features for All Seasons    - The basics of constructing a durable and weatherproof animal shelter, focusing on materials, design, and placement to ensure protection from the elements.   ...

Planning Your Spring Garden If you're new to homesteading, and maybe gardening too, but eager to get a jump on your spring garden, let me try to help. For me, winter is the perfect time to plan and prepare, sitting in from on the fire, glass of something in hand, ensuring my garden is full of wonderful crops come spring. What can we do while it's still too cold to grow outside? Assess Your Sp...

90-day planning for July - Aug - Sept The link I mentioned is for Seedtime, the below link is an affiliate link (I'll get free seeds) https://seedtime.us/jkmel4ukl4tonac09iap-5fs?ref=cj-steedman24 July Garden Preparation: - Soil Testing: Test soil pH and nutrients, adding lime or compost as needed. - Seedlings: Start cool-season crops like garlic, onions, leeks, and broccoli indoors. - Pruning: Pr...

E 69 - Winter Livestock Feeding Link to  Allan Savory TEDx talk Nutrient-Rich Winter Forage Options    - Growing and preserving nutrient-dense forages like hay, silage (with higher moisture content), and food scraps, etc.   Supplementing Livestock Diets with Homegrown Feed    - Incorporating farm-grown grains, legumes (beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils), and b...

Winter Garden Care for Gardeners Take a Well-Deserved Break! Winter is a natural pause in the gardening calendar, and it's the perfect time for a holiday. After all, many plants can't grow during this season. As I've gotten older, I've come to embrace a more holistic view of life. I genuinely believe that nature gives us winter as a time to slow down, regenerate, and relax. It's wise to take advan...

Episode 67 - Winter Education Online Courses and Webinars    - Exploring available online courses on sustainable living, permaculture, and        regenerative agriculture.    - Benefits of attending webinars and virtual conferences.    - Recommended platforms and organizations offering relevant courses. Freedom Farmers...

Week 1 - Winter Wellness Episode 66 Food Warm and Nourishing Bone Broth Recipes    - Benefits of bone broth: Nutritional value and health benefits.    - How to make bone broth from farm-raised animals: Step-by-step guide.    - Different recipes: Chicken, beef, and vegetable bone broth.    - Using bone broth in meals: Soups, stews, and cas...

Week 4  Other Off-Grid Options  - Brief introduction to the main topic: Other Off-Grid Options for Power, Gas, Washing, etc. - Importance of exploring alternative off-grid solutions for sustainable living and self-sufficiency.   Exploring Alternative Power Sources Beyond Solar Introduction to alternative off-grid power sources wind, biogas or hydro systems. Benefits and drawbacks of...