by Jamie Satterwaite | Jul 5, 2023 | Cows
Getting a milk cow for your homestead is both very exciting, but also can be a little bit stressful. There are so many variables that can make the experience either great or horrible. Finding the right cow for your family can make the process go smoothly which will be less stressful for you and your new milk cow. If you can find a cow that is already being raised similar to how you plan on raising them it is a lot better for you and the cow. So, here is what to ask before you buy your first milk cow!
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Getting a milk cow for your homestead is both very exciting, but also can be a little bit stressful. There are so many variables that can make the experience either great or horrible. Finding the right cow for your family can make the process go smoothly which will be less stressful for you and your new milk cow. If you can find a cow that is already being raised similar to how you plan on raising them it is a lot better for you and the cow. So, here is what to ask before you buy your first milk cow!
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by Jamie Satterwaite | Jun 13, 2023 | Cows
When looking for a raw milk farmer, there are a few questions that you should always ask. While raw milk is relatively safe, make sure your dairy farmer is taking the right precautions to ensure it is as safe as possible. If a farmer can’t answer these questions or chooses not to answer, that should be a red flag.
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by Jamie Satterwaite | Feb 19, 2022 | Goats, Printables
Free Goat Kidding Tracker Printable!
With the 2022 goat kidding season in full swing, I needed something that was quick and easy to write down information as each goat kid. I already have a goat health printable book that is available for free for download. It has a ton of pages to keep track of each goat’s health and wellness, but I needed something that was easy to keep tucked away in my kidding kit.
This kidding tracker printable is just that… A quick glance sheet to help keep you a little more organized during the crazy kidding season! It has just the basics, the dam’s name, sex of the goat, tattoo assignment, and a place to write down the colors/marking of each kid.
Goat Kidding Tracker Printable!Want to be the first to see our first kids on the farm? Check out our YouTube channel!
by Jamie Satterwaite | Oct 19, 2021 | Soaping
Pine Tar soap is a staple in our home. It has so many great benefits that it is worth keeping a few bars around all of the time. It is one of the few soaps that I make on a regular occasion because it is such a popular soap at our Farmer’s Market.
Before we get into the benefits of pine tar soap, let’s talk a little about what pine tar is and where to find it. Pine tar is an all-natural resource. It comes from burning pine trees and has been used for hundreds if not, thousands of years. It is well known for its natural antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Now, you don’t have to go out and burn down your pine trees to get your hands on Pine tar, most farm supply stores carry it in stock, and you can usually find it in the horse section. If you do not have a farm supply near you, you can always pick it up online. Just make sure it says that is 100% Pine Tar.
Now, be warned, Pine tar can be STICKY! I mean it is thick and hard to work with. If you using it in soap, I find warming it up a bit helps to keep it more viscous.
Pine Tar Soap Benefits
Alright, so now that we know what it is and where to find it. Let’s talk about the great benefits of Pine Tar. As mentioned above, pine tar is a great natural antibacterial and anti-fungal. Pine Tar properties are passed down to the soaps that you add it to. Pine tar soap has been used to help treat skin conditions for years. So, it is great to help soothe eczema and psoriasis as well as treat dry, itchy skin. It can help ease skin irritations from bug bites, and Pine Tar soap is great to use as a treatment for poison ivy.
Between summer bug bites and dry, itchy winter skin. We keep Pine Tar Soap on hand year-round at our house. Want to learn how to make it yourself? Check out the video below.
My Pine Tar Soap Recipe:
The best thing about Pine Tar is that it can be added to pretty much any soap recipe. I have found that around 12% usage is the perfect amount, but you can always add or subtract the amount based on your needs.
I super fat at 5% and use a 35% water solution.
- Olive Oil – 30%
- Coconut Oil – 30%
- Pine Tar – 12%
- Castor Oil – 10%
- Cocoa Butter – 10%
- Shea Butter – 8%
Want to make your own recipe? Check out the Soap Calculator that I use.
What more soaping recipes? Check out our soaping section!
by Jamie Satterwaite | Apr 30, 2021 | DIY
Homemade Calendula Balm
With Spring finally here, the bugs have been out in full force here in Arkansas. Add to the fact that springtime projects have started means bites, scrapes, and cuts are inevitable. One of my favorite things to keep on hand for such minor injuries is my Homemade Calendula Balm. The Calendula helps to soothe the skin and has anti-bacterial properties to help cuts and scrapes heal.
Before we get into the recipe on how to make this Homemade Balm, let’s talk a bit about the benefits of Calendula.
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