Videos from GRIT

We at GRIT are proud to share our list of instructional and informational videos featuring members of our staff. Each video is a glimpse into a project we love or an issue we care about. Check out the videos below and let us know what you think by leaving a comment. Our video collection is expanding, so check back often for new releases! You can view more videos on our YouTube channel MOTHER EARTH NEWS and Friends.

Tough GRIT

Tough GRIT is a 30-minute television show produced by GRIT magazine and Tractor Supply Company. It combines expert information with humor to help viewers complete common rural-based DIY projects correctly and safely. To demonstrate the projects, contestants from Team GRIT and Team Tractor Supply compete in hands-on challenges to win up to $1,000 in Tractor Supply gift cards.

We’re excited to present our complete collection of full episodes and hints from Hank Will, GRIT’s Editor-at-Large. Visit our Tough GRIT full-episodes page for access to each episode.

Rural American Know-How

Permaculture video stillMake Tough Jobs Easy: Permaculture
Utilizing the outskirts of your property to develop permaculture is a simple strategy that may lead to more diverse harvests and a richer wildlife habitat.
Soil conservation video stillMake Tough Jobs Easy: Water and Soil Conservation
Learning how to control water on your farm will aid in soil conservation, helping you preserve two of the most valuable resources on your property.

Mowing video still

Make Tough Jobs Easy: Effective Mowing
Just a few effective mowing tips can help you grow a lawn that won’t break your back, your wallet or the environment.

Manage land with prairie ecosystemsMake Tough Jobs Easy: Maintain Prairie Ecosystems
Prairie ecosystems are home to a number of native species. Consider turning your tired pastures into natural habitats to preserve and encourage diversity.
Garden PrepMake Tough Jobs Easy: Garden Prep
A large vegetable garden offers a lot of benefits for you and your family, and getting started isn’t hard if you follow these simple techniques.
Zero-turn mowers videoChoosing a Zero-Turn Mower
Zero-turn mowers are a great investment for homesteaders with large lawns. In this video, learn how to choose the best one for your needs.
controlled prairie burnControlled Prairie Burn
Burning helps keep prairies healthy year after year. Watch a controlled prairie burn at Editor-In-Chief Hank Will’s farm.
David Hadl in his Backyard Blacksmith ShopBackyard Blacksmithing
David Hadl is a seasoned backyard blacksmith whose shop includes a variety of tools that most might consider antiques.
Best Woods for Home HeatingBest Woods for Home Heating
Caleb Regan answers a reader-submitted question: “What are the best types of wood to heat a house with a wood-burning stove?”
Choosing Wood for BurningChoosing the Best Wood for Burning
Whether you’re cooking on a wood-burning stove or heating your home for the winter, it is important to know how to choose, store and season firewood properly.
Pasture burnHow to Do a Controlled Burn
Kellsey Trimble, GRIT Associate Editor, answers a reader question: “What are the top considerations when burning pasture?”
fencingChoosing the Best Fencing for Your Homestead
Hank Will, Editor-in-Chief of GRIT Magazine, answers the reader-submitted question: “What kind of fencing would be best for a homestead?”
BlacksmithingThe Possibilities of Home Blacksmithing
Hank Will, Editor-in-Chief of GRIT Magazine, answers the reader-submitted question: “What can be done with a home blacksmithing operation?”
Demonstrating proper use of a kerosene lamp from Lehman's.How to Set Up a Kerosene Lamp
To get the most out of your kerosene lamp make sure to learn these important tips for proper set up and use.
backhoe uses1,000,001 Use for a Backhoe
Discover how versatile a backhoe can be for routine farm chores.
Yanmar Collection PageAttaching Tractor Implements with the Yanmar 3 Point Hitch
Learn how to easily and safely attach tractor implements.
Grader blade tractor attachmentEasy Upkeep for Your Country Lane
Learn how to keep your country lane in top-notch shape by using Yanmar’s rear-mounted grader blade.
hay baleSafely Moving Round Bales
Check out these tips for successfully moving bales.
Brush HogsAll About Brush Hogs
Learn how to safely and efficiently use a brush hog to clear your fields.
HayingSmall-Scale Haymaking with a Compact Tractor
Turn a profit making hay with your compact tractor by using these tips.

Backyard Chickens

Chicken predators videoProtecting Chickens From Predators
Protecting chickens from predators can be a tough job. In this video, GRIT editor-in-chief Hank Will provides some tips for keeping your flock safe and happy.
Chicken egg incubating videoIncubating Chicken Eggs
Incubating chicken eggs is a great way to increase your flock size, or to provide replacements for birds that have been culled from your flock.
Chicken brooder videoChicken Brooder Basics
So you’ve acquired or hatched a group of day-old chicks; now what?
How and Why of Free Range Chickens videoHow and Why of Free-Range Chickens
Free-range chickens provide tastier meat and more flavorful eggs than their store-bought counterparts, but what does “free-range” really mean?
Benefits of Backyard Chickens videoBenefits of Backyard Chickens
Backyard chickens have been providing homesteaders with natural pest control and nutritious eggs and meat for ages.
Purina Webinar ScreenshotPurina Webinar: Raising Happy and Healthy Chicks
Gordon Ballam Ph.D., Purina’s poultry expert, leads a live webinar to cover the basics for raising a backyard flock of laying hens.
Incubating EggsIncubating Eggs: Hen Vs. Artificial Incubator
Hank Will, Editor-in-chief of GRIT Magazine, answers the reader submitted question, “Should I artificially incubate my eggs or should I let the hen do the work for me?”
Brooder LampHow Long to Keep a Brooder Lamp on Baby Chicks
Hank Will, Editor-in-chief of GRIT Magazine, answers the reader submitted question, “How long should I keep a brooder lamp on my baby chicks?”
brooderWhen to Move Chicks from the Brooder to the Coop
Hank Will, Editor-in-Chief of GRIT Magazine, answers the reader-submitted question: “When should chicks be transferred from the brooder into the coop?”
preparing for chickensPreparing for Chickens
Hank Will, Editor-in-Chief of GRIT Magazine discusses the basics of getting chicks started with Purina animal nutritionist, Mikelle Roeder.
flock feedFlock Feed Basics
Hank Will, Editor-in-Chief of GRIT Magazine, meets with Dr. Gordon Ballam, director of lifestyle technical services with Purina, to discuss what feed to use with your flock.
Chicken nestEgg Production
Hank Will, Editor-in-Chief of GRIT Magazine, talks with Purina animal nutritionist Dr. Gordon Ballam about increasing egg production in your flock.
chicken dietFeeding Chickens a Balanced Diet
Hank Will, Editor-in-Chief of GRIT Magazine, and Dr. Gordon Ballam of Purina Animal Nutrition explain proper diet through each stage of growth in a chicken’s lifespan.
watering chickensWatering Chickens
Hank Will, Editor-in-Chief of GRIT Magazine, and Purina animal nutritionist Mikelle Roeder discuss best practices for watering chickens.
Chicken PredatorsProtect Your Flock from Chicken Predators
Hank Will, Editor-in-Chief of GRIT Magazine, discusses the best ways to protect your flock and prevent chicken predators with Purina animal nutritionist Dr. Patrick Biggs.
Chicken on a nestChicken Coop Space Requirements
Keeping healthy backyard chickens means making sure their coop addresses space requirements both inside and out.
new birdsIntegrating New Birds
Hank Will, Editor-in-Chief of GRIT Magazine, meets with Dr. Mikelle Roeder, nutritionist at Purina, to highlight tips for integrating new chickens into your flock.
VentilationChicken Coop Ventilation Tips
Hank Will, Editor-in-Chief of GRIT Magazine, discusses the best ways to ventilate a chicken coop with Purina animal nutritionist Dr. Patrick Biggs.
Chicken coopBiosecurity for Backyard Chickens
GRIT Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Hank Will discusses biosecurity for backyard chickens with Purina animal nutritionist Dr. Gordon Ballam.
New-Born ChicksRaising Healthy Newborn Chickens
GRIT Magazine’s Editor in Chief, Hank Will, discusses how to successfully raise happy and healthy chickens with Purina Mills’ nutritionist Mikelle Roeder.
EggsBenefits of Free-Range Eggs
Increase the omega-3 content of your flock’s eggs with the right feed.
ChickenRaising Chickens at School
A community-sponsored chicken cop project at this school promotes sustainable living.
Bags of chicken feedWhat to Feed Your Chicks
From egg-layers to organic flocks to birds raised for meat, find what feed is healthiest and most effective for the chicks in your care.
Stationary chicken coopCoopitecture: The Right Design for Your Chicken
When it comes to housing your chickens, be aware of the architectural variety of coops you have at your disposal.
Mother and daughter with chickenRaising Chickens in the City
It’s never the wrong time to introduce a new, unconventional pet into your family’s suburban backyard.
Chicken in gardenBackyard Chicken Tips
Learn the benefits to raising chickens in your backyard, as well as the trials that may come with it.
ChickensWhy Start Raising Chickens?
If you need small farm animals, or if you want free help fertilizing your garden, backyard chickens are the place to start.
Chicken in coopWhat to Know to Begin Raising Chickens
Marsha has tips for what new chicken owners should know to keep from getting in over their heads.
ChickensBackyard Chicken Nutrition
Learn about chicken nutrition and what your backyard chickens as they grow for chicks to hens.
Chickens in GardenThe Benefits of Raising Backyard Chickens
Backyard chickens have many benefits including providing eggs, entertainment and pest control.
Chicken BoxesKids Craft: Easy Chicken Treat Boxes
Make these fun and simple chicken treat boxes with your kids!
ChicksMake Backyard Chickens Part of Your Family
By giving chickens their time and attention, kids can form strong bonds with these birds and learn a lot from their experiences with the flock.

Gardening

PotatoesThe Best Types of Potatoes for Your Vegetable Garden
Caleb Regan answers a reader-submitted question: “What are some good types of potatoes to grow in a vegetable garden?”
Lehman's Garden Cultivator in ActionUsing a Garden Cultivator
Add a rotary garden cultivator to your tool shed to save time and energy when preparing your garden beds each year.

Livestock

Horse TrustBuilding Trust With Your Horse
Kellsey Trimble, Assistant Editor of GRIT Magazine, answers the reader-submitted question: “How do I build trust and a relationship with my horse?”

Food and Recipes

buttermilk drop biscuitsButtermilk Drop Biscuit Recipe
Fresh buttermilk drop biscuits are a delicious and surprisingly easy homemade staple. This recipe takes only a few steps and just five ingredients.
Overnight Oatmeal in a JarOvernight Oatmeal in a Jar Recipe
Overnight oatmeal is much simpler than getting up early to make your oatmeal on the stovetop. Simple ingredients make this overnight oatmeal in a jar healthy and delicious.
Hand Crank Butter ChurnHow to Churn Butter
Making cultured butter in a hand crank butter churn is simple. All it requires is some heavy cultured cream and a little bit of patience.
pumpkin seedsRoasted Pumpkin Seeds Recipe
The GRIT team shows you how to make deliciously nutritious roasted pumpkin seeds.
pasta in potSimple Summer Pasta Recipe
Learn how to make this simple pasta recipe with fresh-from-the-garden produce.
making garlic rollsCheesy Garlic Rolls Recipe
Create these delicious cheesy, garlicky rolls to pair with any meal.
baon apple pie roll upsBacon Apple Pie Roll Ups Recipe
This Bacon Apple Pie Roll Ups Recipe is sure to please many, if not all, of your holiday guests this year.
Chocolate Covered Peanut ButterChocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Bacon Balls Recipe
Make these delicious peanut butter bacon balls for a delightful treat over the holiday season.
loaf of banana breadHoney Banana Bread Recipe
Honey is the perfect ingredient to add to banana bread for an extra hint of natural sweetness.
pumpkin roll upPumpkin Roll Up Recipe
Learn how to whip up a delicious pumpkin and cream cheese swirl of festive flavors.
pecansEasy Candied Pecans Recipe
Pour some candied pecans into a glass jar and tie a ribbon around it for a simple and festive gift.

Backyard Bees

bee hiveTips for Getting Started in Beekeeping
Our friends at Brushy Mountain Bee Farm offer some tips and tricks to help you get your hive buzzing.
hive inspectionMaintaining New Bee Colonies
Learn the dos and don’ts of inspecting new bee colonies for health and productivity.
UncapperHarvesting with a Honey Extractor
Learn how to efficiently uncap frames and use a honey extractor for your best harvest ever.
Bee packageInstalling a Bee Package
Join our friends at Brushy Mountain Bee Farm to learn how to install a bee package in a new hive.
Bee swarmCatching a Swarm
Learn how to catch a bee swarm and install it in a new hive from our friends at Brushy Mountain Bee Farm.
BeesInstalling a Hive Top Feeder
Learn how to install a hive top feeder to keep your bees well-fed through the fall and early winter.

Misc.

Camping TentEssential Equipment for Camping Trips
Caleb Regan answers the reader-submitted question: “What common camping equipment is most vital to having a good camping trip?“

Copperhead
Be Aware of Venomous Snakes
Caleb Regan answers a reader-submitted question: “What types of poisonous snakes should I look out for this spring and summer?”
Bob shooting rifleNew Henry Repeating Arms Rifle: .30-30 Brass Wildlife Edition
Caleb and Bob check out the new Henry Repeating Arms rifle, and for open sights at 100 yards, it’s pretty accurate right out of the box.