Peat moss is used for terrestrial plants both indoors and outdoors. It is spongy and holds enough water without being sopping wet, and is derived from digested Sphagnum moss, making it organic. Most people say that peat is not a renewable resource and therefore should not be used. And it turns out…most people would be correct. Really I think the confusion is peat moss vs. sphagnum moss Peat moss usually has that texture that you imagine when you think of moss. It’s thin a...

Emergencies on your Homestead // Does this lifestyle make you tough? Where you started vs now?How have you changed? Have you changed? Advice for those starting out.Join us as we sit down and have more of an overall conversation about the above. It is important to reflect as the years go by, make changes, remember what didn't work and what does. Here are a few stats that we talk about.1in 5 Americans live in rural America- a non metropolitan area. Mostly, Americans live rou...

Season 5: Episode 3 / Natives, Growing Zones, MicroclimatesWhat is a native species?According to US Forest Service:“Native plants are the indigenous terrestrial and aquatic species that have evolved and occur naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, and habitat. Species native to North America are generally recognized as those occurring on the continent prior to European settlement.”What is an invasive species?From US Forest Service:“An "invasive species" is defined as a species that isNo...

Season 5, Episode 2 / To Deworm or Not to DewormPermaculture PerspectiveEmploy Rotational Grazing methods to manage worm populationsAnimals should have enough forage for 5-7 days, roughlyAnimals enter when grass forages reach 8-10” and legume forages reach 10-12”Never allow animals to graze the forage below 4”. This slows forage regrowth and encourages parasite ingestion otherwiseA full rotation supplies 21-28 days before animals re-enter the original paddockPasture rest and sunlight exposure...

After a long Summer break, Angela and Mandi are BACK! Join us as we catch everyone up to speed, chat about "seasons" in homesteading. Maybe it is because we are seasoned? Real life conversation just like we are sitting down with you on your homestead. Cheers to you all! Find us on social channels!Angela: @axeandroothomesteadMandi: @wildoakfarms

Peas: Can be sown when soil temps are between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.Shelling peas: for storageSnap peas: fresh eatingSweet peas: flowers, not edibleSow ¼-½” deep in well draining soil. Keep moist through germination and while growing.Trellis is required. Peas have thigmotropism: the ability to feel with sense of touchRadish: Can be sown when soil temps reach 40 degrees Fahrenheit.Pay attention to radish size, depth, and soil needs when planting.Grow very quickly!Carrots: Very diff...

This is likely one of many chats between the both of us about our Livestock Guardian dogs. One of many. Stay tuned for more to come! Cheers. Angela @axeandroothomesteadMandi @wildoakfarms

The brassica family includes cole crops, descendants of the mustard family and wild cabbages. This includes broccoli, cauliflower, romanesco, kale, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and collards.(cabbage is actually a member of the mustard family- but we lump it into brassicas!)Soil and TemperatureThese crops prefer well drained soil, kept moist. The seeds require slight warmth to germinate at 65 degrees Fahrenheit or more, but prefer to grow in cool conditions. If grown in peak summer, and not prov...

We had the extreme honor of speaking with the incredible Dr. Temple Grandin today. She is not only a pioneer in the Agriculture industry as a whole, but an advocate for animal welfare and husbandry, and she has written over 60 scientific papers. On today's podcast we discuss one of her latest published papers:Grazing Cattle, Sheep, and Goats are Important Parts of a Sustainable Agriculture Future. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/16/2092You all. She is brilliant. Even if you don't ...

Starting onions from seed:Onion seeds are tiny little black seeds. Go figure, they are like more than 50% ofother seeds.They prefer to be planted in loose/fertile soil and or seed starting mix.You *can start them right in the ground if you have a longer growing season, butmost gardeners that aren’t planting starts are starting seeds early in the year. Late-Jan- Feb.If you plant directly in your beds plant them an inch deep and keep rows at least 1foot apart.Onion plants have very shallow root...

HAPPY 2023! We will admit, we recorded this right before the holidays and then the holidays happened. :) We would like to welcome you to the New Year with a fun recording where we talk all about some of the common myths that circulate the homesteading community. Or just the community in general. We both are very excited to bring you incredible content this year, but let's start with something fun! Cheers! Angela & Mandi @axeandroothomestead@wildoakfarms

You'll have to listen. This is a good one. Mandi asked on social media- "What does being a homesteader mean to you? Are you proud of it? Do you feel like you "fit in?"The responses were all over the board. Some were terribly sad. Some made sense to us. Some were very extreme. We talked about many of them and gave our own thoughts in this episode. No matter where you stand. If you are in fact a homesteader or are seeking out a similar lifestyle, you DO fit in. There isn't a box....

Sit down with us as we just have a candid conversation with one another about the difference between functional farming and glamour farming. Has social media damaged how we look at hard work? Functional work? Our thoughts on this hot button topic. Join us. And remember one thing. YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOURSELF! :) Cheers Angela: @axeandroothomesteadMandi: @wildoakfarms

Season 3: GreenhouseGreenhouses can come in a variety of forms:Cold FrameHoop HouseMini GreenhouseGreenhouse KitAttached 3-sided StructureIndependent Structure3 Things Required for GreenhouseVentilationHeat SourceThermal mass from other structureHeaterWater BarrelsSunlightThings to ConsiderFlooringDrainagePosition of the house relative to sunrise/setAccess Orientation- traditionally greenhouses direct N-S. (Mandi’s does not and we explain why it still works!)ChallengesContained pests inc...

​​PLANTING:Plant in full sun.Don’t overwater to prevent rotting bulbs. Instead, mulch the area with straw to retain moisture.Plant cloves in mid October before the freeze. Also know what you’re planting. Grow soft neck varieties for storage and hard neck for larger cloves, and mainly consuming sooner than later. Elephant garlic is awesome and easy to peel. But it doesn’t last super long. Buy quality seed. We like@territorialseedcompany@seed_savers_exchange@pvfsgroworganic@filareegarlicfa...

Season 3: Cover CropsCover crops are a form of vegetation that is grown in raised beds, in-ground gardens, and animal grazing paddocks to improve soil fertility and tilth. These crops are not harvested for use but are left within the soil. Most often, cover crops are chopped and dropped before seed-set in order to return nutrients to the soil and prevent unwanted spreading. A lot of folks call cover crops the no cash- cash crop. We don’t harvest it so I think it’s widely underused. Peopl...

Join us for this episode where we chat with Crystal, the author of the new book "Freeze Fresh" - The ultimate guide to preserving fruits and vegetables. It was such a fun and relatable conversation and one we know you all are going to love! Crystal is such a wealth of knowledge and an asset to the homesteading community! Enjoy!Find Crystal on Instagram at Wholefedhomestead and you can find her book titled "Freeze Fresh" on Amazon and other book retailers such as Target and Barnes and Noble.&n...

This was so much fun! I am sure that if we both could only grow one thing, it would be tomatoes! We talked about pruning, trellising, when to harvest, how to store, and more! What is your favorite tomato variety? Cheers! Be sure to come say hi @wildoakfarms and @axeandroothomestead

What is companion planting?It's one of the foundations of creating working ecosystems when it comes to permaculture. We can group plants together when planning and planting our growing spaces to help crops deter pests/disease, mine nutrients from the soil, and attract pollinators.It's a way of creating a symbiotic relationship in your gardens, because the idea is the two plants (or more) that are companions are each providing to the other something that it cannot do. Or cannot do it alone. Th...

Do you live in an apartment, condo, and/or are you limited on your growing space? This episode is for you! We have covered in previous episodes small space gardening and discussed many tricks we have learned in growing over the years. This just takes it to a little bit more of a niche! Be sure to check out those other episodes that might also be helpful from the previous seasons! Cheers!