Do It Yourself
5/20/2013 8:01:48 PM
To deal with a persistently muddy pathway I elected to build a quick, inexpensive boardwalk.
5/8/2013 12:00:48 PM
Feeling burnout and unfulfilled? Homesteading may hold the answer.
4/29/2013 8:59:16 AM
We took an old metal 50's fridge and turned it into a large smoker. Now we can smoke our home grown meats for less!
4/20/2013 10:48:25 PM
This post is about the return of GRIT blogs, Nebraska Weather, Terra Nova Gardens neighborhood characters, and Daffodils.
4/11/2013 9:19:01 AM
Life's lessons are the best way to learn how to do something. On the family farm, the opportunities to learn abound. We learned a lot about making maple syrup this year and we can't wait for next year to do it better!
4/9/2013 1:22:14 PM
This blog describes the bipolar weather in Nebraska, the signs of Spring, the flowers in bloom, and the progress on the garden fence panels.
4/1/2013 2:59:45 PM
Our friend gives us a basic lesson in stone masonry. How to smoothly split a stone into two workable halves.
3/27/2013 3:10:55 PM
Part 2 of the coop building adventure - the coop get completed enough to move the chicks and ducks in to their spacious new quarters.
3/4/2013 8:32:43 PM
Free pallet turned into a hanging wine rack! Click through the pics for the easy instructions.
2/27/2013 5:11:44 PM
This blog post is about battling scabies, enduring the snow storms, starting seedlings, and hauling Girl Scout cookies.
2/15/2013 1:34:04 PM
Learn how to make your own economical and natural homemade dishwasher powder.
2/11/2013 6:21:36 AM
I describe how I make my own lard after butchering a pig.
1/31/2013 4:48:54 PM
Feeding chickens is easy when you let them peck around your pastures, garden and yard clippings.
1/31/2013 10:14:11 AM
Join us for an old fashioned coop raising!
1/29/2013 10:30:14 PM
This blog is about finishing up the food storage area, building fence panels out of free pallets, and developing a spring to water the garden.
1/28/2013 2:41:27 PM
Through blacksmithing and traditional woodworking, the step by step process of creating a useable tool similar to an axe.
1/18/2013 12:10:59 PM
Tips to make cleaning quick and simple.
1/10/2013 7:49:36 PM
Homemade sausage is a delicious and economical way to use all the bits of pork meat after butchering a pig. I describe how I made 12 pounds of breakfast sausage.
1/9/2013 7:47:40 PM
This blog is about the door installion of a food storage area, a law suit over patiented seeds, starting seeds inside, and going to the movies.
1/4/2013 5:53:41 AM
Learn how to make muscadine wine from muscadines growing in your own yard or countryside.
1/3/2013 12:37:13 PM
Splitting firewood with hand tools is a skill every homesteader should have. Even if you own a mechanical wood splitter, knowing how to use a splitting maul and wedges comes in handy when the wood is too large or the log splitter can't be used.
12/30/2012 10:24:11 PM
This post is about the best Christmas gift received this year, glass storge ideas for left over food, and building a wall for a food storage area.
11/29/2012 1:48:03 PM
Mrs. D makes the most of a gift of mutton and shares her recipe for homemade laundry soap.
11/28/2012 12:56:58 AM
This blog talks about sheet mulching, a set back in making a pond, thoughts toward food storage, and canning history.
11/4/2012 7:18:25 AM
This post is about the discovery of groundhog Nebraska Phil, continuing to mulch with neighborhood yard waste, planning the garden for next year, and a Happy Thanksgiving greeting.
10/26/2012 12:29:33 PM
The doghouse chicken tractor is completed, and my chickens are dustbathing, eating scraps, and being chickens.
10/22/2012 11:27:58 AM
Daniel Olsen talks about how to build a chicken tractor for raising broilers (and laying hens) on pasture.
10/21/2012 10:07:07 AM
CAUTION: yellowjacket removal should NOT be considered a DIY project. Just buy the canned nest spray, follow directions, and DON'T GET TOO CREATIVE!
10/18/2012 11:05:38 AM
Building a fence to carve a backyard out of 10 acres isnt' easy, but it sure is worth it.
10/16/2012 3:59:26 PM
Mrs. D needs to put up a new enclosure, quickly and easily (without much muscle).
10/14/2012 7:50:33 PM
This post is about Bradley's birthday, my experience with filming a Tough Grit TV episode, harvesting watermelons, living with groundhogs, and mulching the garden.
10/8/2012 6:27:37 PM
When sickness hit the Sell household, Becky and Andy turned to tried and true herbal remedies, with a little help from the Internet and some alternative doctor friends. They also came up with a couple recipes that might work in your home as well!
10/4/2012 12:36:11 PM
Kasey moves his Blue Splash Marans Chickens into a chicken tractor built from a doghouse.
10/3/2012 5:00:01 PM
Although some might consider laundry a mundane task, even this every-man's task can be sustainable, with the right mindset. Becky explains how her family arrived at that through necessity.
9/27/2012 1:48:51 PM
Build the right chicken houses for your flock this winter.
9/25/2012 4:14:27 PM
Becky explains why she hasn't written for GRIT in awhile, as well as her newfound enthusiasm for homestead writing.
9/22/2012 11:21:03 AM
This post is about the yard cleanup after a long hot summer, hauling more hay for mulch at Terra Nova Gardens, putting up a pond fence, building a garden water tower, and tomato take over of the garden.
9/16/2012 2:31:11 PM
This post is about the free seeds and mulch that has been donated to Terra Nova Gardens. The plans for turning a spring into a pond and the development of a water source for Terra Nova Gardens are revealed.
8/31/2012 12:11:33 PM
DuPont® has launched a complete line of 4-oz specialty lubricants with Teflon® fluoropolymer for enhanced performance.
8/24/2012 1:19:35 PM
Our farm's YouTube debut.
8/20/2012 6:22:12 PM
This blog entry is about digging out a natural spring to use as a water source for garden watering; thoughts about gorilla gardening; and building a gate for the fenced in garden area.
8/18/2012 2:44:27 PM
Accidents happen and around a farm where bacteria and germs abound, having an antiseptic ointment on hand is necessary. Here is an easy recipe for a homemade ointment that is all natural.
8/4/2012 10:49:20 PM
This post is about the activity st Terra Nova Gardens and all the involvement through work or donations to the gardens.
8/1/2012 10:22:12 PM
Make mozzarella cheese in approximately 30 minutes with this DIY tutorial.DIY instructions include photos every step of the way. Use fresh, raw milk for unrivaled results. Simple, fun and delicious!
7/14/2012 9:10:06 AM
This blog explains the anchoring of a picnic table in the bad part of town, shows how well a new garden is doing, and expresses the joy over the first tomato harvested.
7/3/2012 2:22:44 PM
Two very simple changes are adding up to big water savings in our household.
6/29/2012 3:27:26 PM
My adventure helping the hubby build a raised vegetable garden to add to my growing garden collections!
6/26/2012 2:44:16 PM
With an abundance of tomatoes from our very first homestead garden, we canned diced tomatoes for the first time.
6/25/2012 12:50:50 PM
Hank Will shows you how to make hay by hand using his Austrian-style scythe with a custom snath.
6/19/2012 3:24:49 PM
Just another week on the farm.
6/18/2012 9:52:27 AM
This post is about the progress at Terra Nova Gardens. It's about the experimental methods of weed control.
5/30/2012 8:14:32 PM
We've been mentored by many people and learned from countless books, magazines, and websites about the rural life. We remember a pioneer of modern homesteading who inspired us to seek this lifestyle.
5/22/2012 2:23:24 PM
The magical growing and shrinking egg is a great kitchen experiment to learn about osmosis.
5/6/2012 5:08:43 PM
This post explains all the garden activity for Terra Nova Gardens and at the Urban Ranch. It explains the reasons for having a fountian in the water storage tank.
4/21/2012 7:56:30 PM
This post is about building a wood border to prevent digging critters, weed control, daylilies in the wrong place, building raised beds with wood chips for garden paths.
4/14/2012 11:07:16 PM
This post contains progress on the new garden property known as Terra Nova Gardens; the process for building the critter proof fence; and the wild turkeys checking out the fence with old Tom strutting his stuff.
4/7/2012 12:56:22 PM
This post is about vacationing with family, building a rustic fence, bartering with neighbors, making soap, and loving spring weather.
3/20/2012 6:06:42 PM
This post is about spring time flowers blooming, making ice cream, and cleaning out plugged drains the poor man's way.
3/20/2012 2:59:54 PM
The homestead is coming together, are we're almost ready to be there full-time next month. In one whirlwind weekend, we got our entire plumbing plan installed - thanks in large part to our wonderful neighbors - and our first garden fenced.
3/16/2012 12:29:22 PM
Repurpose old shirts into a yarn of sorts to knit or crochet many different projects.
3/13/2012 9:48:00 PM
Floor leveling begins. What, a floor should be level? Hmmm.
3/3/2012 3:55:48 PM
This post shows some progress on a basement food storage area, installation of a shop light as a ceiling light, and improvements made on a rain barrel water catch system.
2/23/2012 7:40:49 PM
Save yourself some money, make your own laundry detergent!
2/19/2012 11:52:28 PM
This blog post tells about the finished Lego project of Grandfather and Grandson, the beginning of spring cleaning, anticipation of starting seeds for the garden, and car repair.
2/18/2012 4:54:39 PM
Sarah starts the process of demolition on her kitchen and has to take time out to chase a lamb around town.
2/14/2012 2:17:42 PM
Feeding rabbits can get expensive, so start growing hay at home. It’s a cheap way to make tons of feed, and make raising rabbits a little easier.
2/13/2012 9:52:25 AM
A Kansas woman recalls the community shared by her and her nearest neighbors "as the crow flies" on her family farm
2/10/2012 4:50:11 PM
Keep your baby rabbits safe with this simple DIY rabbit nesting box.
2/9/2012 3:07:54 PM
Milking cows was a memorable farm chore for one Missouri woman
2/8/2012 12:26:21 PM
An Iowa woman remembers working and playing as a child on her family farm; rendering lard and going to the county fair. She also talks about early technological advances like Aladdin lamps, radios and Ferris wheels.
1/27/2012 11:17:28 AM
Mrs. D's son exhibits his do-it-yourself spirit, as he takes his learning into his own hands.
1/26/2012 2:08:00 PM
A super easy recipe to make your own body spray and put together your very own special scent!
1/19/2012 7:29:11 PM
This post describes the difficulty cleaning up the land for gardening, the building of a seed starting station, and helping the grandson with his Lego Kreo Megatron Transformer.
1/8/2012 11:18:54 PM
We finished last year's garden season with a small greenhouse and started the new year with some fresh seeds.
1/8/2012 9:44:39 PM
This is a post about clearing of the land called Terra Nova Gardens. It tells a little history of the land, how a cottonwood tree was cut down, and a story about the first neighbor met.
1/6/2012 2:08:26 PM
Have some extra stock panels laying around? Learn some of the easy "do it yourself" projects we have done with stock panels to save hundreds of dollars. Make four hay racks for less than $20!
11/20/2011 11:08:06 PM
This post is about the last garden harvest, the warming up to Mesclun salad mix, and the continuing of the building of a backyard patio.
10/28/2011 9:24:34 AM
Hank thinks Harvey Ussery's new book on chickens and other fowl may well be the most important poultry publication in 75 years.
10/14/2011 3:05:58 PM
Linda Conroy explains the art of John Holzwart's handcrafted brooms to K.C. Compton at the 2011 Mother Earth News Fair in Seven Springs, PA.
10/13/2011 9:13:41 PM
This post is about tasting Mesclun lettuce for the first time,a parting summer shot of the poor man's living patio trellis,an update of the building of the backyard patio, and another video of the potentially new property.
8/29/2011 7:07:29 PM
Wood shakes and shingles have a look and feel that simply can’t be beat by man-made materials. But buying them pre-made can be expensive. So what do you do? Split them yourself!
7/23/2011 2:43:50 PM
Will the Diva make it through her weekend at the farm living like the Amish?
5/27/2011 4:37:47 PM
Planting patio trellis, fixing a lawn mower recoil starter, battling an invasive vine weed and taking a look at the progress of the Urban Ranch backyard garden.
5/17/2011 10:31:37 PM
Make your own hummingbird feeder ant guard out of recycled wire or an old screen door latch and a spray paint can cap.
5/5/2011 3:05:34 PM
It's common bee safety knowledge that bees are defensive by nature, so don't set off their warning bells is one beekeeping for beginners tip.
5/5/2011 2:59:34 PM
Building a small house has become and increasingly popular choice in today's economic environment. Here are a few things to consider when beginning the journey of building your own tiny house.
5/1/2011 4:09:15 PM
Colleen discovers the pleasures of getting strong enough to do hard work and channels her father's patience as she works toward her dream of farming.
4/26/2011 7:58:57 AM
Mountain Man opens his homemade solar wood drying kiln.
4/18/2011 11:23:56 AM
By living off the land, one couple's hard work pays off to help make life rewarding.
2/10/2011 4:09:48 PM
Hank reflects on his pioneer forefathers and the Coen brothers' True Grit movie.
2/10/2011 11:25:10 AM
Raising ducks in your backyard gives you eggs, ducklings and entertainment.
2/9/2011 3:36:02 PM
Family's experience trying to live as locavores and eat local every meal holds promise for those searching for a locavore's approach to food.
1/27/2011 2:26:48 PM
Thoroughly knowing the predators of chickens is the first step to keeping your chickens safe.
1/25/2011 11:36:40 AM
Ten crucial tips for protecting chickens from predators.
1/24/2011 4:11:44 PM
Learn firsthand from an expert all you need to know about incubating chicken eggs.
1/15/2011 12:25:12 PM
Mountain Man builds a solar wood drying kiln.
12/6/2010 11:34:01 AM
What's the cause of bee colony collapse disorder and what's being done to fix it?
12/2/2010 12:51:57 PM
Hank reports on his adventures with Midget White Turkeys.
8/10/2010 5:58:38 PM
Hank reports on his efforts to make a wooden hay rake from materials growing on the farm.r
3/3/2010 10:22:03 AM
Backyard chicken-keeping tips will keep your birds thriving.