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Image | How to Harvest and Store Onions
How to Harvest and Store Onions
by Phil Williams

It’s amazing to me how versatile onions are. They are in so many different recipes. I can’t imagine cooking without good onions from the garden. The challenge is to harvest and store them in a way that preserves them for the longest period of time.
How to Harvest and Store Onions
 by Phil Williams

It’s amazing to me how versatile onions are. They are in so many different recipes. I can’t imagine cooking without good onions from the garden. The challenge is to harvest and store them in a way that preserves them for the longest period of time.
Image | How to Harvest and Store Garlic
How to Harvest and Store Garlic
by Phil Williams

I actually almost forgot to harvest my garlic this year. Thankfully, I wasn’t too late. I was probably a couple of weeks later than I should have been, but most of the garlic was still good. One could say it is a resilient crop. 

When do you harvest garlic?

It really depends on the garlic. I harvested towards the end of June, but it should have been mid-June. It is best to observe the tops of the garlic. You should harvest when most of the leaves are still green, but two or three of the bottom leaves have gone brown. This will typically give you a mature tight head. The idea is to pick the garlic when it is mature, but you don’t want to pick it so late that the cloves start to separate. If you pick at this ideal time, the garlic will store well.
How to Harvest and Store Garlic
 by Phil Williams

I actually almost forgot to harvest my garlic this year. Thankfully, I wasn’t too late. I was probably a couple of weeks later than I should have been, but most of the garlic was still good. One could say it is a resilient crop. 

When do you harvest garlic?

It really depends on the garlic. I harvested towards the end of June, but it should have been mid-June. It is best to observe the tops of the garlic. You should harvest when most of the leaves are still green, but two or three of the bottom leaves have gone brown. This will typically give you a mature tight head. The idea is to pick the garlic when it is mature, but you don’t want to pick it so late that the cloves start to separate. If you pick at this ideal time, the garlic will store well.
Image | Using Colloidal Silver
Using Colloidal Silver
by bgarrett

In an emergency scenario, taking care of our medical needs is critical. A small cut on our hand can be an opening for a lethal infection that could threaten your life. Be sure to stock supplies that will take care of major injuries, but the most likely need for medical supplies are for things like minor cuts and scrapes, burns, sore throats, ear infections, and many other types of infections such as staph, bladder, sinus, skin, etc.

Recently, a lot of people have been look at colloidal silver – or nano-silver. We wanted to delve into some studies and information to help you know if colloidal silver is right for you.
Using Colloidal Silver
 by bgarrett

In an emergency scenario, taking care of our medical needs is critical. A small cut on our hand can be an opening for a lethal infection that could threaten your life. Be sure to stock supplies that will take care of major injuries, but the most likely need for medical supplies are for things like minor cuts and scrapes, burns, sore throats, ear infections, and many other types of infections such as staph, bladder, sinus, skin, etc.

Recently, a lot of people have been look at colloidal silver – or nano-silver. We wanted to delve into some studies and information to help you know if colloidal silver is right for you.
Image | Permitting for a Pond
Permitting for a Pond
by Phil Williams

As much as I wish we did not have to deal with Government when installing our projects, it is an unfortunate obstacle that we have to deal with. Fortunately, many of the pond types we install in a permaculture setting do not require complicated permits. That doesn’t mean you can just start digging without thinking about acquiring a permit.
Permitting for a Pond
 by Phil Williams

As much as I wish we did not have to deal with Government when installing our projects, it is an unfortunate obstacle that we have to deal with. Fortunately, many of the pond types we install in a permaculture setting do not require complicated permits. That doesn’t mean you can just start digging without thinking about acquiring a permit.
Image | Pond Planning
Pond Planning
by Phil Williams

There is a lot to consider when planning for your pond installation. It is a good idea to thoroughly plan you pond installation prior to the machines arriving. I personally like to measure, get the levels, and paint the site to see for myself what the pond will look like. Often times a design on paper doesn’t survive this process. You will often find that the pond will be different in real life than you were thinking it would be on paper.
Pond Planning
 by Phil Williams

There is a lot to consider when planning for your pond installation. It is a good idea to thoroughly plan you pond installation prior to the machines arriving. I personally like to measure, get the levels, and paint the site to see for myself what the pond will look like. Often times a design on paper doesn’t survive this process. You will often find that the pond will be different in real life than you were thinking it would be on paper.
Image | Raising Pigs
Raising Pigs
by bgarrett

I’m sure you saw the title of this article and immediately thought, “I already live with a few.”

However, whether you’re a self-reliant homesteader or just want to cut away from your food budget, raising pigs (of the porcine variety) is a great way to become more self-reliant and sufficient. If you raise your own meat in any scenario, you will have more control over how it is raised and fed, and you can make sure that it is essentially raised organically (whether or not you apply for organic certification). Raising your own meat is less expensive than purchasing meat that is not factory-farmed.
Raising Pigs
 by bgarrett

I’m sure you saw the title of this article and immediately thought, “I already live with a few.”

However, whether you’re a self-reliant homesteader or just want to cut away from your food budget, raising pigs (of the porcine variety) is a great way to become more self-reliant and sufficient. If you raise your own meat in any scenario, you will have more control over how it is raised and fed, and you can make sure that it is essentially raised organically (whether or not you apply for organic certification). Raising your own meat is less expensive than purchasing meat that is not factory-farmed.
Image | How To Harvest Honey Using An Extractor
How To Harvest Honey Using An Extractor
by Adam Taggart

Once your bees have filled your hives with honey for you, how do you get it out?

This is a question that most aspiring and novice beekeepers don't know the answer to. If you're curious to learn the answer, read on…

I had my first honey harvest of the year this past weekend, and I took pictures of the major steps in order to create this primer and de-mystify things.
How To Harvest Honey Using An Extractor
 by Adam Taggart

Once your bees have filled your hives with honey for you, how do you get it out?

This is a question that most aspiring and novice beekeepers don't know the answer to. If you're curious to learn the answer, read on…

I had my first honey harvest of the year this past weekend, and I took pictures of the major steps in order to create this primer and de-mystify things.
Image | Creating Swales
Creating Swales
by Phil Williams

Swales are simply ditches on contour (contour is a level line across the landscape), with the excavated soil from the ditch being placed downslope to form a berm. The purpose is to rehydrate landscapes, add texture and microclimates, and to be used as a tree growing system. You can also use swales to increase catchment for ponds.
Creating Swales
 by Phil Williams

Swales are simply ditches on contour (contour is a level line across the landscape), with the excavated soil from the ditch being placed downslope to form a berm. The purpose is to rehydrate landscapes, add texture and microclimates, and to be used as a tree growing system. You can also use swales to increase catchment for ponds.
Image | Should You Raise Goats?
Should You Raise Goats?
by bgarrett

Raising goats is a great way to save money and become more self-sufficient as a family. Goats are really easy to raise and can provide you with meat and milk.

Despite what you may have heard, goats aren’t smelly, messy or eat things like tin cans. Many people who own goats compare them to dogs – they play, don’t smell bad, and can be trained to follow you or play. Goats are very social animals and are very friendly to raise.
Should You Raise Goats?
 by bgarrett

Raising goats is a great way to save money and become more self-sufficient as a family. Goats are really easy to raise and can provide you with meat and milk.

Despite what you may have heard, goats aren’t smelly, messy or eat things like tin cans. Many people who own goats compare them to dogs – they play, don’t smell bad, and can be trained to follow you or play. Goats are very social animals and are very friendly to raise.
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I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the needs and sustainability of our family. We have six young children, our oldest just turned 12 and our youngest just turned 3 months old. I love the considerations that the article had above and thought I would add a few things that I have considered for our situation. My...
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