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Image | Planting Fruit Tree Guilds
Planting Fruit Tree Guilds
by Phil Williams

Last year, I prepped and installed some of my fruit tree guilds. I had planned to install the following guilds around my zone 2 fruit trees. As with most plans, they did not go exactly according to plan. I had trouble getting some of the plants and seed, and I decided to plant more chicken friendly edibles, as these trees are inside the chicken paddocks. Having said that, my original plan was good, so I am listing it below, in case you might want to copy it. The important thing is that you install ample nitrogen fixers, nutrient accumulators, pollinator attractors, and pest repellants.
Planting Fruit Tree Guilds
 by Phil Williams

Last year, I prepped and installed some of my fruit tree guilds. I had planned to install the following guilds around my zone 2 fruit trees. As with most plans, they did not go exactly according to plan. I had trouble getting some of the plants and seed, and I decided to plant more chicken friendly edibles, as these trees are inside the chicken paddocks. Having said that, my original plan was good, so I am listing it below, in case you might want to copy it. The important thing is that you install ample nitrogen fixers, nutrient accumulators, pollinator attractors, and pest repellants.
Image | Chicken Paddock Shift
Chicken Paddock Shift
by Phil Williams

I am a big fan of the paddock shift method of raising chickens. It is the healthiest way to raise chickens, and it allows you to control where they go, and where they are excluded. You end up with a healthier pasture which gives you healthier chickens, therefore healthier meat and eggs.
Chicken Paddock Shift
 by Phil Williams

I am a big fan of the paddock shift method of raising chickens. It is the healthiest way to raise chickens, and it allows you to control where they go, and where they are excluded. You end up with a healthier pasture which gives you healthier chickens, therefore healthier meat and eggs.
Image | How to Best Store Your Food Storage
How to Best Store Your Food Storage
by bgarrett

One of the largest questions with food storage is “Where should I put this?”

Where you store your food storage has a large impact on how long it will last and how good the food will taste once you use it. What type of container you use to store the food and the conditions of the area you store it have a large impact on the food.

Below we’ve listed out a few things you need to consider with your food containers and the conditions in which you store them. Let’s get started!
How to Best Store Your Food Storage
 by bgarrett

One of the largest questions with food storage is “Where should I put this?”

Where you store your food storage has a large impact on how long it will last and how good the food will taste once you use it. What type of container you use to store the food and the conditions of the area you store it have a large impact on the food.

Below we’ve listed out a few things you need to consider with your food containers and the conditions in which you store them. Let’s get started!
Image | Edible Weeds
Edible Weeds
by Phil Williams

I think it is a good idea to be aware not only of the lifecycles and functions of common “weeds”, but also their medicinal and food value. It is really surprising to me how many common “weeds” are actually edible.

As a disclaimer, this is for informational uses only. I am not a nutritionist or an expert on wild food, so if you eat something listed in this article, you are doing so on your own. Please bear in mind that some edible weeds look very similar to other poisonous species.
Edible Weeds
 by Phil Williams

I think it is a good idea to be aware not only of the lifecycles and functions of common “weeds”, but also their medicinal and food value. It is really surprising to me how many common “weeds” are actually edible.

As a disclaimer, this is for informational uses only. I am not a nutritionist or an expert on wild food, so if you eat something listed in this article, you are doing so on your own. Please bear in mind that some edible weeds look very similar to other poisonous species.
Image | Growing Sunflowers
Growing Sunflowers
by Phil Williams

Everyone identifies with the sunflower. It’s ubiquitous in its representation of gardening everywhere, yet I don’t see people growing sunflowers like they would say tomatoes or peppers. I think we need a revival of this multi-functional plant in every garden.

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Growing Sunflowers
 by Phil Williams

Everyone identifies with the sunflower. It’s ubiquitous in its representation of gardening everywhere, yet I don’t see people growing sunflowers like they would say tomatoes or peppers. I think we need a revival of this multi-functional plant in every garden.

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Image | Calendula & Marigolds
Calendula & Marigolds
by Phil Williams

I’ve never been much for flowers, but I have come to see the importance of incorporating many flowers into your permaculture design, not just for aesthetics but for practical function as well. Two of my favorites are calendula and marigolds. Not to confuse things too much, but calendula is sometimes called pot marigold, but calendula belongs to the genus Asteraceae, while marigolds belong to the genus Tagetes.
Calendula & Marigolds
 by Phil Williams

I’ve never been much for flowers, but I have come to see the importance of incorporating many flowers into your permaculture design, not just for aesthetics but for practical function as well. Two of my favorites are calendula and marigolds. Not to confuse things too much, but calendula is sometimes called pot marigold, but calendula belongs to the genus Asteraceae, while marigolds belong to the genus Tagetes.
Image | “Weeds” as Soil Indicators
“Weeds” as Soil Indicators
by Phil Williams

The types of “weeds” that grow seemingly spontaneously in your garden are telling you valuable information about your soil and microclimate if you care to listen. There are certain “weeds” that appear when the soil has been degraded to rehabilitate the soil back to life, or simply as a protectant cover when we leave the soil bare, and open to the elements. These unappreciated plants do all the hard work to make their home eventually no longer suitable for themselves. To add insult to injury we call these plants weeds, and pull, spray, and curse them.
“Weeds” as Soil Indicators
 by Phil Williams

The types of “weeds” that grow seemingly spontaneously in your garden are telling you valuable information about your soil and microclimate if you care to listen. There are certain “weeds” that appear when the soil has been degraded to rehabilitate the soil back to life, or simply as a protectant cover when we leave the soil bare, and open to the elements. These unappreciated plants do all the hard work to make their home eventually no longer suitable for themselves. To add insult to injury we call these plants weeds, and pull, spray, and curse them.
Image | How to Treat an Egg Bound Chicken
How to Treat an Egg Bound Chicken
by Phil Williams

I had a problem with one of my laying hens the other day. Denise noticed that she was sitting and looked lethargic, with her eyes slowly opening and closing. Normally, the hens are very active, scratching and pecking anything that moves. When I came over to look at her, she looked like she was trying to lay. Her tail feathers were going up and down like she was trying to get it out, then she would sit frequently on the ground like she would if she were trying to lay an egg. She was walking kind of gingerly, like she was in pain, and waddling a little bit like a penguin.
How to Treat an Egg Bound Chicken
 by Phil Williams

I had a problem with one of my laying hens the other day. Denise noticed that she was sitting and looked lethargic, with her eyes slowly opening and closing. Normally, the hens are very active, scratching and pecking anything that moves. When I came over to look at her, she looked like she was trying to lay. Her tail feathers were going up and down like she was trying to get it out, then she would sit frequently on the ground like she would if she were trying to lay an egg. She was walking kind of gingerly, like she was in pain, and waddling a little bit like a penguin.
Image | Surviving a Tornado
Surviving a Tornado
by Mat Stein

Who could not be shocked and saddened by the images of massive devastation left in the wake of recent tornadoes that struck in Oklahoma and Texas? Though nothing can guarantee absolute safety in the path of a tornado outside of a shelter with reinforced concrete and steel walls, understanding something about the nature of tornadoes, safety tips for surviving a tornado strike, and which common folklore is to be trusted or ignored will improve your chances for making the right decision when confronted by a tornado.
Surviving a Tornado
 by Mat Stein

Who could not be shocked and saddened by the images of massive devastation left in the wake of recent tornadoes that struck in Oklahoma and Texas? Though nothing can guarantee absolute safety in the path of a tornado outside of a shelter with reinforced concrete and steel walls, understanding something about the nature of tornadoes, safety tips for surviving a tornado strike, and which common folklore is to be trusted or ignored will improve your chances for making the right decision when confronted by a tornado.
Image | Methods for Preserving Your Own Meats
Methods for Preserving Your Own Meats
by bgarrett

Meat always seems to be a popular item in food storage. It packs essential nutrients like proteins, iron, zinc, Vitamins A, Vitamin B and Vitamin D. However, having a long-term supply of meat can be tricky. How do you get it to last?

There are a few options when preserving meats. Methods like salting, brining, canning, freezing and dehydrating are great options to help you keep meats available  for future meals.
Methods for Preserving Your Own Meats
 by bgarrett

Meat always seems to be a popular item in food storage. It packs essential nutrients like proteins, iron, zinc, Vitamins A, Vitamin B and Vitamin D. However, having a long-term supply of meat can be tricky. How do you get it to last?

There are a few options when preserving meats. Methods like salting, brining, canning, freezing and dehydrating are great options to help you keep meats available  for future meals.
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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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