The fields and ditches are filled with goldenrod and other weedy plants that the bees thrive on.

Homestead Update and Survival Thoughts

Despite solar power deficits and excessively warm weather, the escalating geopolitical friction proves why self-reliant rural living beats blue city decay.
This is the head of a foxtail millet before it turns dries and turns brown. This grew in our chicken run from a seed from chicken scratch.

I Stumbled Upon a Post-SHTF Chicken Feed

Discover how sprouted chicken scratch lead me to find a potential source of post-SHTF chicken feed from a grain that has feed people for centuries.
Pete heads off to the city for a special assignment be is not at liberty to discuss.

Pete Goes on a Special Assignment

More about my special assignment below. First, a quick homestead update: We processed an additional 120 pounds of honey this weekend for a grand total...
Ironweed starting to turn from buds to blooms signals the end summer in this part of the country.

Goldenrod and Ironweed Signal an Early End to Summer

Early goldenrod and ironweed signal a fast-approaching autumn. It's time to wrap up summer, make the fall harvest, and prep for the coming winter.
The mountain ridge furthest back with the heaviest fog is where we live. I took this photo earlier this week--no AI enhancements. The ragged trees on the left are what is left two years after Hurricane Helene.

Failures, Repairs, and Preventative Measures: A Homestead Update

There are downsides to homestead life, but we manage them, do preventive maintenance, and prep to mitigate the downsides.
The Rhode island Reds are developing some speckles and color. We still aren't sure which one is the rooster.

Summer Chores Begin as the Rain Ends

Summer homesteading is about more than harvesting and preserving food; it's about getting ready for the coming winter.
These are the ten boxes of honey we pulled from the hives. You can see the fresh white wax on many of the frames.

Phase Two of our 2026 Honey Harvest Will Be our Largest...

The honey is rolling into the homestead! As we prepare for our largest harvest yet, we take our new extractor for a spin.
Working on a homestead is hot work in the summer. Its even worse when the AC is out or the grid is down.

No HVAC–It’s Like a Grid-Down Training Scenario

A lack of air conditioning tests us and resiliency. We consider a mini-split, plus an update on our new chickens and the queen bees.
Young, recently mated queens in a queen cages with their attendents. These cages go into the hive and the bees chew their way out through shiny blob to join the hive.

Dealing with the Heat Dome and Weak Queens

A fellow beekeeper raises her own queens and has extra mated queens. She asked me if I needed any. Since I had two under-performing...
These fifteen new chicks are our next generation of egg layers.

New Arrivals on the Homestead

We are gearing up to produce more eggs and honey for our use and for sale. Its an important part of our self-sufficiency.
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