If you are interested in livestock for a homestead, we would highly recommend Leigh Tate's book Prepper's Livestock Handbook. Leigh writes from experience and research, which is something I appreciate and have learned a lot from her over the years. It is an easy to read, informational text that will help get you started and be successful traveling down the path of raising livestock in a self-sufficient manner.
Leigh is an author of several books, eBooks and the blog 5 Acres & a Dream. Her blog is what led us to raise American Guinea Hogs, make and drink kefir, and this
year, grow amaranth. Leigh's extensive research in ways to become more self-sufficient for both the humans and animals at their homestead has led Leigh and her husband to try many different things. The benefit for all of us is that she writes about those experiences.
Leigh includes many resources and references in The Prepper's Livestock Handbook that will lead you to more information beyond her experiences. I would highly recommend it for anyone starting out with livestock, or anyone that is looking to expand their animal husbandry experience. It is full of natural ways of raising animals and maintaining their health beyond dependence on chemicals and purchasing all that is needed. Leigh's information focuses on being able to provide for the health and vitality of livestock independently, with knowledge, trial and error according to differing climates and environments, and with forethought and planing. She and her husband strive to provide for themselves and their animals in ways that decrease dependence and increase the probability of survival should the SHTF.
Other books Leigh has written include:
Critter Tales
5 Acres & A Dream: The Book
I learned to make lotion and lip balm using one of Leigh's eBooks, which I still make and have for years. She has written a number of eBooks on a variety of topics. They show the efforts she has made at becoming more self-sufficient and knowledgeable about decreasing dependence on store shelves.
Leigh is a prime example of life-long learning. I truly appreciate her willingness to share her experience, knowledge and research with us. It has, and continues to enrich our lives daily.
Until next time - Fern
Hello Everybody, Frank here.
Over the last few years, we have picked up some sites, blogs, websites, that we enjoy reading. There are a few that over time have faded away. We thought we'd share with you some that we find enjoyable. Maybe enjoyable is not the right word, because some of the things we read are very disturbing. Some of these sites have new recipes, for the most part, these are enjoyable, unless of course it involves cauliflower. Living in the land of the free and the home of the brave, I do not have to eat cauliflower. I remember the older Bush president stating one day, "I am President of the United States, and if I don't want to eat broccoli, I don't have to." Well, I will eat broccoli, if Fern makes me, but I have drawn a line in the mud about cauliflower.
Getting back reasonably close to what we're talking about here, some of the sites we read are by no means enjoyable, they display the events that are happening in our world, that I would like to believe are a relative rendition of the truth. Speaking of the truth, or lack thereof, I am astounded by the behavior of not only the 'mainstream' media, but the sub-mainstream media and the unbelievable perversion and distortion of the truth. An example. This morning President Trump tweeted that Senator Chuck Schumer is already criticizing his State of the Union speech, and Senator Schumer has not read the speech yet. I'm not picking on the Senator here, this is just an example of the way the news is betrayed in our country.
Now, I'm not making reference here to a natural disaster, or the tragedy, of let's
say, a plane crash. The mainstream news media gives a relatively honest depiction of what happens during these types of events. Or, they do initially anyway. When the blame game starts about why things happen, the news media gets lost in it's feeding frenzy of filth, always trying to blame somebody for something. It appears the mainstream news media has an agenda which involves obvious destruction of the decent values that most Americans cherish and hold dear. Maybe I shouldn't have had that extra cup of coffee this morning.
Fern put out an article recently called Unbelievable. I find the news media to fall in that category. Let's break the word down. UN-believable. So, what is their true agenda? What do you think is their
agenda? Do you think there is a way to change this? I'll go ahead and say it now, I believe in God and a Higher Power, but
besides God, is there a way to stop this decay? Are we going to have to
hit total bottom before this thing can be restructured? Have we crossed
the line of no return where there is no recovery? And do most people
even have a clue what is happening around them?
Let's get a grip of reality here. When a college professor in a New York Times article states that 'Mary Poppins is racist' because she has soot or dirt on her face from coming out of a chimney, and the majority of her face is not covered in dirt or soot, just
small patches. This person obviously has some type of destructive
agenda. I cannot believe that anyone of reasonable intelligence would
imagine this scenario to be racist. It doesn't make any difference who
they are, how can anybody of normal intelligence see this as racist????
In my own humble opinion, I don't think we can recover. Yes, this
is doom and gloom, call it what it is. Let's call it reality. I do not think this divide can be conquered, therefore, things are going to get real nasty. I would guess that tonight at the State of the Union address, there are going to be disruptions. So, let's wait and see.
Moving on. Below is a list of sites that we currently read. Most of them are of an adult type nature. Some use language that people may find distasteful or offensive. Others, the content area maybe a little heavy for people to find palatable. Some deal with recipes. Some deal with life and death. We'll give a brief description of each one. There are sites that we don't read as often anymore. Sometimes people just grow apart for various reasons.
You ready? Here goes. These are in no particular order, by the way. Let's just start with a list.
Fox News
This is where we go for our mainstream news. Some of it is questionable, but of the mainstream news, I enjoy this site the best.
Drudge Report
Drudge is a good source for mainstream news. Some of it is also questionable.
Breitbart News
A relatively honest site, but has some questionable stories also.
Donald Trump Twitter
It is what it is.
DailyMail
Fern reads this one to see a different perspective on some of the news.
Western Rifle Shooters
Adult content. One of my favorites. Some stories can be real hard and very graphic. Viewer discretion advised. My favorite site.
Zero Hedge
A lot of financial news and some other just what's happening.
Bison Prepper
Adult content. Language on occasion is salty. Fern reads this to me every morning. A different level of analysis that we enjoy. Also one of my favorite reads. Again, adult content.
Woodpile Report
Ol' Remus is a weekly. Late Monday night or Tuesday morning. Quality content. A first class read.
Rural Revolution
Homesteading blog. Good information. Fern has enjoyed reading Patrice for years.
5 Acres & A Dream
Another homesteading blog. Leigh is an author and is very enjoyable to read. She and her husband work hard at being self-sufficient.
Mom's Scribbles
Vicki lives in an apartment and still tries to prepare for what's coming. She has some interesting perspectives Fern enjoys.
Confessions of a Crazed Cattlewoman
Fiona and Ralph have a homestead and occasionally share their adventures.
Gabe Suarez
Articles about home safety, shooting. Adult content. Always proper. Some good advice.
The Z Blog
A different perspective from a higher thinking level about events happening around us.
The Burning Platform
News stories, various topics.
Bushbeater
I use this site for radio information. He has other information from a military type perspective.
These are just some of the sites that we read, and there are probably some that we've missed. That happens when you get old. If you have some favorite sites, please share. If you find some of these to be offensive, I genuinely apologize. I don't expect everyone to like what I like. I hope you find something here that you enjoy. Please share, really, sites that you like whether it's recipes or news, and we'll all take a look.
We'll talk more later, Frank
James Wesley, Rawles, of SurvivalBlog, has out a new novel, Liberators: A Novel of the Coming Global Collapse. Today, October 21st, is his book bomb day. It's available at all the usual bookstores. We have read all of Jim's novels in this series and expect this one to be just as exciting and well done. This novel should be as thought provoking, educational and entertaining as his previous books were. Jim Rawles has been instrumental in our preparedness development. If you have the opportunity, please support his site, SurvivalBlog, you will not be let down.
Frank and Fern
P.S. There is an interesting article at Confessions of a Crazed Cattlewoman. It's a good read. Check it out.
Well, I am back in school and life is busy. Much busier than it was in the summer. Not near as much time to think about and prepare posts, or process the garden and milk. So........
A few days ago, Mom with a Prep, did a post called Here Are a Few of My Favorite Prepping Blogs, and we thought that was a great idea.
So here are some of the blogs we read regularly, in no particular order.
Hello, Frank here.
ol remus and the woodpile report - I really like this site. It is an elegant, articulate, hard hitting essay about the world today.
Peak Prosperity - Chris Martenson gives us a unique perspective about sustainability from an intellectual, economic position. Part of his site is free, and part of his site requires membership.
SurvivalBlog - This site has a plethora of data about topics that you have probably never thought of. James Wesley Rawles has published many successful books about survival. I recommend, How to Survive the End of the World As We Know It. All of his books are a good read.
World Wide Radio Forum - This is a good place to visit with like minded people and it has a tremendous amount of information about all types of radios.
CB Radio Magazine - This site has numerous reviews of all types of radio gear - antennas, radios, amplifiers, etc. It is also an excellent site for information.
The Economic Collapse - This is an interesting read from an up-to-date perspective about world affairs.
Universal Radio - There are many sites that sell radios and associated equipment. This site has lots of information, considerable data, nice pictures, and I use this site for those purposes. Their prices are competitive and when you call their 800 number, their sales people are polite, friendly and most of all, knowledgeable. Therefore, this is my favorite radio equipment retailer.
From Fern
Rural Revolution - Patrice Lewis shares information on her blog about many, many different topics - from her garden, to milking Matilda, to cooking, canning, societal issues, happenings that touch the heart or share her frustrations with what is happening in the world. She has ebooks available about self-sufficiency and canning. She writes for Backwoods Home magazine and World Net Daily. Patrice is a great source of information and has beautiful photography. Frank has actually been reading Rural Revolution longer than I have, but now it is one of my favorites.
5 Acres & A Dream - I like to read Leigh's blog. She has done a lot of research about growing feed for her chickens and goats and that interests me a lot. She has a lot of information and resources on her site. Go take a look.
Hickory Holler - The Canned Quilter has a tremendous garden that she and her husband work and preserve six days a week. They also raise or catch (fish) some of the meat they eat. CQ is a good resource for me and she takes great pictures.
Ask Jackie - I like reading Jackie Clay's blog over at Backwoods Home. She has been at it for a long time and is a great source of information. I also enjoy her canning book Growing and Canning Your Own Food.
Bacon and Eggs - This site has a lot of gardening, canning and dehydrating information as well as thoughts about the way the world is going.
I have recently started reading Oak Hill Homestead and Clearwater Farm. I like to read about their sheep and goats and they both host the Home Acre Hop where you can link a post from your blog to share with others. New Life On a Homestead also hosts the Homestead Barn Hop that is another blog hop you can link posts to.
There are many other sites we read sporadically that provide a vast array of information. The internet can be an amazing tool with a world of information at your finger tips. It can be used for good, or for evil. We will miss it when it is gone.
Until next time - Fern
