Whats the buzz? Adding bee's to the homestead

We were supposed to take this leap last year, but things got in the way (sewing shop and the rental house needed new roofs). This year we are finally doing it. Bee supplies have already been ordered, we are on a waiting list for bees from a local source and the ol farm truck is loaded down with lumber we will use to build our stands. Yep, we are building our own beehives. We hope to bring you along for the journey through pictures and maybe a few videos on youtube.

We are hoping the fresh, local to our farm honey will help offset some of our seasonal allergies. When the lilacs are in bloom I am miserable and nearly bedridden even when taking a Zyrtec daily.

We are also hoping to add a homemade wax based thread conditioner to our etsy shop. We love good thread conditioner, but it is getting harder to find.

As I have mentioned before I do historical reenacting, the fresh, natural wax may come into play at some events. I would love to get into candle making.

Honey is super tasty, raw local honey is even better. But it can be hard to find local honey. The few local suppliers we have tend to sell out fast. Honey shipped in from other areas lack the benefits of local honey. We use a lot of honey in recipes and baking. A neighbor was visiting the other day and the topic of us getting bees came up. She was saying how much she hates the taste of honey and won't eat anything that has honey in it. It was then I had to break the new to her that those wonderful rolls I bring her so often that she raves about have honey in them, a lot of honey.

I can't wait to bring you all along on this journey as we become beeks. My great great grandfather raised bees, one of my uncles use to raise bees, I feel as if I am carrying on a family tradition and helping save some pretty important pollinators.

Homesteading Games For Winter Evenings

Winter is winding down here, despite what the groundhog said about 6 more weeks of winter I can see the slow shift into spring starting here on the homestead. This is the perfect time to start planning for next winter. Those long chilly evenings huddled around the homestead fire, boredom sets in. Why not fill those evenings with fun, homestead educational games? I have compiled a list of some fun games to pass the time and maybe even learn something. Full disclosure, I do not have an Amazon affiliate account, I do not get any money by recommending these products on Amazon. 

Wild Cards: Edible Wild Foods standard playing card deck, each of the 52 cards features facts about a different edible plant. This deck, by Linda Runyon, has a 4.5 star rating and great reviews. Whatever your game of choice is this deck will provide fun and handy facts.

Lets Go Hiking. This board game is unique in the way that you are really not competing against each other. The game works to foster a sense of community and cooperation. You help each other complete tasks, climb mountains and explore the board. 

Hit the Habitat Trail. Work your way through all of the worlds various ecosystems, learn about their animals, habitat, and dangers. Collect cards from each habitat to win the game. This game can be played without the board, the knowledge cards can be used independently to test your knowledge of various habitats. A perfect game from long road trips. 

Into the Forest, Natures Food Chain Game, Each card in the game features a plant or animal, what it eats and what eats it. Perfect for teaching children the delicate balance that is our ecosystem and how the natural food chain works. 

Real Life Ways to Make Money on Your Homestead

The first step to finding ways to make your homestead profitable is of course research, that is, after all, what landed you on my little corner of the web. It won't be easy, I cannot give you a cut and dry blueprint. Everyones has different goals, skills, strengths, and weaknesses. Your ability to monetize will also depend on the area in which you live. There has to be a market for what you do, you have to find a void and fill it. Some of these suggestions may not work for you, your region, or your homestead.

Make your farm a You-Pick destination. A pumpkin patch can be a huge draw in the fall. Pack your patch with fun activities like a corn maze, mini petting zoo, and pony rides. Use this as an opportunity to sell your farm made products, jams, honey, bread, etc.





Have a roadside or farm side stand. Utilize social media to drum up business for your farm grown eggs, meat and produce. Contact local brick and mortar businesses about setting up in their parking lot one or two days a week if your area doesn't have a designated farmers market.

Meat animals can bring your homestead a decent income. Preselling half's or whole animals means that you know exactly how many animals you need to raise to slaughter weight, without getting stuck with unsold extras. Cows, rabbits, pigs, sheep, goat, and chickens are all viable options.

Start an heirloom greenhouse. Build a few hoop houses and plant heirloom seeds. Save the seeds from your own garden to create a self-sustaining business. People will pay extra for quality, heirloom plants.  You can even make a sell customized herb boxes, planter boxes, and container gardens for your customers.

Fiber animals are something the Wanderer and I have wanted to get into, we currently have 1 single French Angora buck that produces the softest wool fiber. Sheep, goats, alpacas, angora rabbits all produce amazing fiber that can either be sold raw and unprocessed or cleaned and spun on your farm for income. If you choose to process the fiber on site you can host classes where you teach others how to dye and spin wool.

AirBnB should be considered a viable option if you have space. Create nooks on your farm featuring a firepit, outdoor furniture, and a tiny house. Rent these spaces on the rental site Airbnb.

Build a pay lake. If you have a pond on your property, or you have the space to install a pond, you can stock them and then charge people to come and fish your pond. There are several pay lakes in our area. If you go this route you can also breed and sell your own fish bait.

Farm weddings arre the rage right now and can bring the farm owner several thousand dollars a day. Make your farm a wedding destination.

Sell items you create on your farm online using sites like Ebay and Etsy. Or purge your old wardrobe on selling sites like Poshmark.

State a herd share program. In a lot of states raw milk is still illegal, but sharing a cow and the milk from the cow is legal. Invest in a managable herd of cows or goats and sell shares. For the cost of the share your herd share partners recieve raw milk, cheese, butter.

Determine what your strenghts and weaknesses are, and form a homesteading plan of action that works for you.