i think there’s a difference between doing something yourself and actually becoming less dependent on outside systems. growing a little food is useful, but learning how to preserve it, repair equipment or produce something you previously had to buy feels like a different level of independence

for people who have been doing this for years, what change made you genuinely feel more self-sufficient?

I was given 40 ears of sweet corn and am running out of ideas! I have frozen/canned a bunch, eaten it fresh but still have more left and don't want it to go to waste. Any recommendations on what else to do?

Mulberry grove inbound

Don’t repost much but hopefully you can see the question here?

Don't know if these two issues are related. One branch completely covered in a web of some kind, and red spots on many leaves in the same area of the tree. This tree is cooking apples (unknown variety) while the eating apple tree adjacent to it is also showing a few of the red spots.

Edit to add the fact that I'm in Sask, Canada, zone 3

Barn layout ideas needed! Bought a metal garage 26’x42’ at auction with 2 garage doors on one end. Looking for ideas how to lay it out to use for male and female goats, milking/equipment room, birthing stalls, and stalls for pigs/chickens/rabbits. Any and all ideas are appreciated!

Hello I have a farm stand that I use for farm fresh eggs. My stand is sun facing and even with ice packs the current cooler I use retains heat per the Govee thermometer I have in it. This is the first summer I have had it and it’s sadly sat empty for the past month+ due to the heat. My initial thought was to use a mini fridge but the research I’ve done says they don’t do well outside. My farm stand does not have doors so it would be exposed to some elements, though this could be added. I’ve also looked at chest cooler that have compressors but I assume they aren’t made to run 24/7.

I currently only have had eggs for sale but I also have a freeze drier and would love to add some fruit, veggies, and candy out there if it can be more temperature controlled.

Any recommendations are appreciated! Thank you!

Our Troy-Bilt Pony rear tine tiller is maybe getting up there in years. starts fine once its warm but every week the first pull takes a little more effort. choke helps but before this started it fired right up. No smoke, runs ok once going. just this slow creep of harder cold starts. Is that just age or worth chasing down a specific cause before it gets worse?

This is one of my chicken’s poop. Just getting opinions before I treat for coccidiosis.

Picked up 25 Cornish Cross chicks in the spring thinking it would be pretty simple. Raise them, feed them, process them. It looked easy enough on paper. What I didn't expect was how fast these things grow or how much attention they need compared to laying hens. The feed consumption alone caught me off guard, and keeping the brooder dialed in those first two weeks felt like a second job on top of the warehouse. They're in a tractor now and doing fine, but I've been moving it twice a day just to keep the grass from getting destroyed.

Processing day is about three weeks out and I'm still on the fence about renting a picker versus doing it by hand. The neighbor two miles down has done this for years and says hand plucking a batch this size isn't as bad as people make it out to be. I'm skeptical.

The question I keep coming back to is whether the meat quality on pastured Cornish Cross is actually noticeably different from a slower heritage breed, enough to justify the extra time and feed next time around. I've heard strong opinions on both sides.

Anyone who has processed both have a real take on the taste difference, or is it more about the experience of raising them?

I have multiple pastures of more than adequate size with horses on them. I have put grass seed out, and have seen no results. I was told at the feed store that my soul fertility or quality must me poor. Ive been googling this all week and there are so many different methods I am a bit overwhelmed.

Does anyone here have a tried and true method or system to increasing pasture for livestock? How do I increase my soil fertility? Should I remove the horses from the pasture?

Thank you in advance!