Whether you buy fresh turnip greens from the store or are trying to make the most from your harvest, I explain how easy it is to prepare turnip greens. They are edible but bitter and peppery when fresh so most people cook them instead of eating them raw. Cooking or sautéing them with herbs and spices helps minimize the sharp taste. Turnip leaves, turnip tops and turnip greens are all the same thing. The green … Read more
Whether you want to make au gratin potatoes or have lots of potatoes and want to make something with them, this recipe is the answer. It uses ingredients you may already have. You can improvise as well because it’s a forgiving recipe. Pull out your oven-safe dish, and use enough potatoes so it fills the dish. You can make these potatoes in an 8×8, 9×9, 8×10, or 9×12 casserole dish. I make as many potatoes … Read more
This roasted turnips recipe is easy to make and tasty. Whether you grow turnips in your home garden or buy them at the grocery store or farmers market, roasting turnips is simple. Here, I focus on preparing and roasting turnips. In a separate recipe, I’ll explain how easy it is to sauté turnip greens. You can prepare them separately, and mix them together if you choose. I prefer to serve them separately. Whether you have … Read more
This is a quick leg of lamb with rosemary recipe with just 6 ingredients. I make it in my Dutch oven. I season it with rosemary, garlic, onions, olive oil, and Dijon mustard. It’s always savory and juicy. I wanted to share this easy leg of lamb recipe because it is delicious and easy to make. Lamb is expensive. The last thing you want is for it to be dry or overcooked. While the fat … Read more
The California Tan chicken is very closely associated with the California White chicken. In fact, it’s not uncommon for novice farmers to confuse the two. However, they are not the same breed of chicken. The California Tan chicken is technically not a breed of chicken but a hybrid. It crosses two other breeds—a Production Red (similar to Rhode Island Reds) and a White Leghorn. One of the main reasons breeders worldwide endeavor to come up … Read more
How long do roosters live? What factors affect a rooster’s lifespan, and does breed have anything to do with a rooster’s longevity? What is a rooster’s lifespan in captivity vs in the wild? These are all questions that any budding chicken owner would have-rightly so. Chicken keepers and chicken enthusiasts alike know that when left to their own devices, chickens can live for 5 to 10 years. However, due to one thing or another, this … Read more
Olive Egger chickens are a cross between a brown egg layer and a blue egg layer. They are hybrids that mix Legbars, Ameraucana, and Maran chicken breeds. While mixed breed chickens aren’t uncommon, Olive Egger chickens are a special breed for a few reasons. The most notable is that Olive Egger hens produce olive-colored eggs. If you are a farmer looking to get into raising chickens but unsure what breed you should pick, raising Olive … Read more
The Prairie Bluebell Egger is a generally active bird capable of incredible egg production. A single hen can lay up to 280 eggs annually. One of the main standout features of this chicken breed is that it lays large powdery blue eggs that are cherished in most markets. Developed to be excellent foragers and hardy, these birds can be a wonderful addition to any backyard chicken farm interested in raising more than just the typical … Read more
Goats are hardy creatures that can withstand a wide range of temperatures, including extreme cold and heat. Domesticated goats, however, need some kind of shelter to remain healthy, safe, and productive. There are plenty of goat barn ideas you can use to build a simple yet highly effective shelter for your goats. If you are the handy type or are simply looking for a cheap yet effective DIY goat barn, there are hundreds of goat … Read more
Cow udders are some of the most fascinating organs for several reasons. To begin with, they are hardly ever visible until the cow goes through some physical transformation, in which case, they are unmissable. Some of the questions that most people who are not very familiar with raising cows would ask are “how many udders does a cow have?”, “does every cow have udders?” “What is a cow’s udder used for?” Let’s take a quick … Read more
Also known as Dutch Belted cattle, Lakenvelder cattle are a highly-prized breed of cattle raised mainly for its milk production but can also double as a dual-purpose breed for meat. Lakenvelder cattle are believed to be the only belted cattle breed that traces directly back to the original canvassed or belted cattle described in Switzerland and Austria. This is a majestic creature that has a rich history of nobility. It’s well sought after today, and … Read more
Gold Star chickens go by several names. They are typically referred to as the Golden Sex Link, Red Sex Link, or the Gold Star, among many other similar names. This type of chicken is a breed hybrid designed for increased egg production. It has many positive characteristics, chief among them being that its cold hardy. As a chicken keeper, the Gold Star chicken would make a wonderful addition to your backyard flock if you are … Read more
Do chickens need a rooster to lay eggs? While the answer is simple and straightforward, many other factors come into play—factors that not only have legal implications but will directly affect the continuity of your farm. If you are going to keep chickens, whether you want to keep them for their eggs, meat, or breeding purposes, it’s important to know the rules and regulations surrounding chicken farming in your state. Do Chickens Need a Rooster … Read more
Your cattle can’t tell you what is lacking in their diet, so it’s up to you to figure it out. While you can ideally monitor nutrition factors using protein and calorie intake calculators, some nutrients must come from supplements. And this is where protein tubs for cattle come in. Just like humans, cows also need their recommended daily protein intake to help their bodies develop. And at times, they need more nourishment than they can … Read more
There are a few pertinent questions that anyone looking to raise goats or go into goat farming needs to ask themselves. One of the most important ones is how much space do goats need? While there are some adorably miniature goat breeds, such as the Pygmy goats and Nigerian dwarf goats, all goats need enough space and land to browse and play. For your goats to thrive, they need pasture and as much open space … Read more
Pig lovers around the world keep pigs for several reasons. The reasons often vary depending on the pig breed. For instance, some people love keeping small pig breeds, such as the Vietnamese potbelly pig, as pets. Other than that, keep feeder pigs for the pork and commercial value. Many still keep pigs, mostly because they want a variety of farm animals on their property. Whatever your reason for keeping pigs, the breed or type of … Read more
Few things are quite as exciting to most cow breeders as having pregnant cows in the herd. This often means that, with the right management, the herd size will increase as soon as the cows give birth. But how long are cows pregnant, and what kind of complications can you expect during this gestation period? How Long Is a Cow’s Gestation Period? How long is your cow going to be pregnant? On average, a cow’s … Read more
Ossabaw pigs come from a breed of feral pigs that were originally found on Ossabow Island in Georgia. The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy recognizes this breed of pigs as a heritage breed since they were originally found and bred on farms around Ossabow Island. These are extremely hardy pigs that are descendants of feral hogs. Even though it’s smaller than most pig breeds, such as the Idaho Pasture pigs, they are quite tenacious and provide … Read more
Pigs are known by various names, from hog to boar and swine. In fact, in many places, these names are interchangeable. However, you will most likely come across the name pig more often than not. So, what is the difference between a hog vs pig? Hog vs Pig On the face of it, there isn’t much of a difference between these animals. After all, they all like wallowing in the mud, and the sows (female … Read more
Small breeds of pigs have existed for about as long as any breeds of pigs have existed. As you can imagine, these miniature pigs don’t get the same treatment as most other hogs. This is mostly on account of being exceptionally tiny and cute. Paris Hilton once made headlines for ordering a Royal Dandle miniature pig which cost her an astounding $4,500 at the time. While most breeds of small pigs aren’t that expensive, they … Read more