Re using

We have been busy going through items. Donating items or if we can reuse something on the homestead seeing what it would be resued for. I have a bunch of towels that are ripped and have holes.

I decided to cut them up and reuse them for my paint brushes and for cleaning around the house.

I might dye them black that way they won’t show stains from the paint and from being used for the cleaning. Show me some of your items that you reused.

#mjbackyardingwithkids #homesteading #reusing #pleasefollow #pleaseshare #thankyou

Fall for fall

Wow can you believe it’s September? Last month was a busy for myself and my family, Didn’t get any house projects done but did get to do some vendor events. I enjoy doing the events it’s fun to get to see what others have made and get to meet new people. Also in August I took a tumble down the stairs. Giving myself a hematoma in my arm and some colorful bruises.

One of my girls ( chickens ) has gone broody. She is a blcm ( blue copper mearan)

She is also taking the other girls eggs and the fake eggs I have in there as well. At lest she is liking the new nesting mats I’m using 🤣. I might have to break her if she doesn’t snap out of being broody. ( yes the eggs are taken from her ) #pleasefollow #pleaseshare #thankyou #mjbackyardingwithkids #homesteading #gardening #chickens #eggs #broody #fallingforfall #fall

New pads

I’ve been wanting to try these new nesting box pads for the girls ( chickens).

Pads

They are made out of plastic. It’s very stiff! They are washable they do take a while to dry I would suggest ordering extras so switch out with while ones are drying. They are a little hard to trim make sure you have good sharp scissors.

One of my nesting boxes

So far I like them, My girls like them as well. I was worried they wouldn’t like them due to how stiff they are but so far no issues it does say that if your poultryis not liking them to try putting some bedding on them to help them get use to them. For me I didn’t do that I wanted to see how the girls would take to it. The ducks however do not like them. My ducks kicked them out of their nesting areas and kicked them off the top of their roof they they to roost on. Which is fine I mostly wanted them for the girls nesting boxes. #nestingbox #newpads #mjbackyardingwithkids #sofarworking #washable #pleasefollow #pleaseshare #thankyou

Grazing

This week I decided to build some grazing boxes.

I’m doing my grazing boxes different than most do. Normally you would build a frame then the grazing box would use the dirt on the ground to grow grass, wheat, barley, the list goes on to what you could grow. What makes mine different? I put a backing on my grazing boxes. I will be bringing them in during the winter that way I have fresh growing throughout the winter.

For this box I’m using hard white wheat berries. I have 4 more of these to make for this season. The others will vary in size. In those boxes I will be planting some alfalfa, grass, and winter kale. I’m liking this idea for the girls ( chickens), quail, and the ducks. I know what some might say you will have to redo those in a few years. I’m okay with that these are not hard to make and in the long run this will work out for us very well. #pleasefollow #pleaseshare #thankyou #mjbackyardingwithkids #chickens #quail #ducks #grazingboxes

A lot

A lot of work has been going on, on my little homestead. We changed things around for our growing purposes. Instead of growing just in the growing season and then doing a big harvest and then getting it canned. We are going to grow year round now. I will be always planting something. With doing this way it will mean I have more time to get things canned, more food will be growing for the livestock and my family.

Purple bell peppers

I have 8 purple bell pepper plants going right now. In a few weeks I will start some more an so on. I have some tomato plants started for this way. It’s slow process switching over to doing this but in the end it will work out better. #pleasefollow #pleaseshare #thankyou #hobby #backyarding #mjbackyardingwithkids #homesteading #gardening #harvest #harvestallthetime https://www.facebook.com/MJkidsandchickensblog/

Almost time for school

It’s almost time for us to start school! This will be our 9th year doing school at home. I decided to change curriculums, I think masterbooks will be a good fit for us. No computer needed! Which is perfect for homesteading life. With these books it’s reading a page then a work sheet/ assignment to do. I have also added for them to learn the anatomy of animals. This evening I spent writing out #4 and #5 sight word cards

I have almost everything, just need some note books and some more index cards and we will be ready! I’m having #4 and #5 start that last week of July. The older kids will start the second week of August. #5 is excited to start school, he ran in this morning asking if today was the first day of school. 🤣. #school #mjbackyardingwithkids #homesteading #homeschooling #largefamily #20212022schoolyear

Hot day

The girls ( chickens ) needed some more waters! With it being so hot out I wanted to make them more but there has been a bucket shortage going on I guess. I finally found buckets and lids at one of my favorite stores, tractor supply!

New waters

The girls get pretty red ones this time. They will still have their other waters I have made them. These new ones will go in different areas for more access. ( 5 gallon buckets, poultry drinking cups I order off of Amazon) and the cool thing that I didn’t plan on is the cups match the buckets 😅. #pleasefollow #pleaseshare #thankyou #hobby #backyarding #mjbackyardingwithkids #newpoultrywaters #heat #summer #chickens #hot https://www.etsy.com/listing/1036148023/cute-mugs?utm_medium=SellerListingTools&utm_campaign=Share&utm_source=Facebook&share_time=1623788320000&utm_term=so.slthttps://www.facebook.com/MJkidsandchickensblog/

Ding dong

It’s summer time and that means more outdoor work. Today I changed out our old broken door bell. Normally I don’t like to do things with electricity alone. For me that’s one of those things you should have someone around in case you zap yourself.

Old one

The old one still worked just with age the button started to break.

New one

The new one is just a simple one. I’m Glad I took the chance and did it! #pleasefollow #pleaseshare #thankyou #mjbackyardingwithkids #homesteading #doorbelldone