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August 8, 2008

Danielle,

Unfortunately, getting rid of cicadas is nearly impossible. Cicadas have a very long lifespan, up to 17 years. The nymphs that hatch from cicada eggs fall from the trees where they have been laid and burrow into the soil. There they live on the sap from tree roots until they are ready to emerge 13 to 17 years later. So, the cicadas are not immigrating to your yard, but are there already, under ground, just waiting for Mother Nature’s signal to emerge and start the cycle all over again.

The cicada killer wasps that prey on cicadas look scary but aren’t interested in harassing or stinging you. The males can’t sting and the females are so busy looking for cicadas that they won’t even know you are there. Here is a good report on cicada killer wasps. As long as the cicadas are hatching there will be cicada killer wasps. However, to control them, here is a tip from the University of Georgia article: “The best control is prevention. Because cicada killers nest in open areas without vegetation, healthy turf won't be attacked. The best way to prevent having cicada killers around is to cultivate a lush healthy lawn without bare patches.”

July 23, 2008

If a piece of cast iron cookware is only slightly rusted, and not pitted, or has a small amount of food stuck to it, brush it with a light wire brush or course scrubby and then pour Coca~Cola over it, then let it sit until it dries.

After it dries, spray inside and outside with Pam or rub on vegetable oil, then bake in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for an hour and a half. Put aluminum foil under the pan to catch the drip.

Let it completely cool before removing from the oven. The final …

June 5, 2008

Greywater — which is all household wastewater except for toilet water — can profitably be reused for irrigation. But by “re-circulate,” I assume that indoor reuse is what you are asking about, and that’s not always the best idea. In order to reuse waste water for flushing toilets, for instance, you would need a multi-stage filter, holding tank and some kind of pump. All-in-all, that’s an expensive project.

Reusing greywater for flushing toilets, while an excellent practice on a large …

June 5, 2008

Yes! In fact, it makes great compost, according to the Maryland Cooperative Extension Office.

Horses produce copious amounts of manure, which, when combined with straw or sawdust bedding, will make mountainous piles of waste each month, and if left alone, it will eventually break down and become compost. But with a few simple steps you can have usable, rich compost in just a few weeks. To learn how to do this on your farm, read “Composting Horse Manure,” produced by the Maryland Horse…

May 12, 2008

I don't know of a homemade recipe for a stove coating, but standard stove polish is an option for coating stoves. The popular brands claim to be water-based and non-toxic. I have used them and haven't noticed a smell when applied or when the stove is fired. The big advantage of stove polish is that it can be applied easily any time the stove is cold. The disadvantages, compared to paint are that it produces a sort of transparent finish and rubs off if you touch the stove. Even if you…

April 25, 2008

A scythe is a long-handled tool used for cutting grass, grains, weeds and brush. It is an ancient harvesting tool, still used in some rural agricultural areas of the world. A sickle is similar to a scythe, but has a much shorter handle and is used with one hand, while a scythe requires two hands.

Scythes are enjoying a renaissance as people look for ways to eliminate the need for fossil-fuel-powered mowers. In addition to producing excellent “mowing” results, the use of the scythe i…

April 2, 2008

We frequently use the term “homestead” and “homesteading” in articles in Mother Earth News. The term “homesteading” may be familiar, but its usage can cause some confusion as its meaning has changed over the decades. For years the word referred to a free government land program and the skills necessary for pioneer living. Today the word homesteading is more apt to refer to a lifestyle that promotes greater self sufficiency. To better understand all things homesteading, here is a ver…

March 19, 2008

Medicated chick starter is aimed at a single disease, coccidiosis (intestinal parasites). This is a serious problem with brooder-raised chicks (it's unlikely to be a problem with hen-hatched chickens). I recommend that beginners use medicated chick starter because the symptoms of coccidiosis are often hard for beginners to spot, and your chicks can be permanently stunted or killed before you know what has happened. Wait until you've raised a few broods of chickens before giving up …

Dan, this is a question commonly asked by folks who are beginning their new farm life. Making a living while trying to provide a sustainable life for your family is not as easy as it seemed on Little House on the Prairie.

Let’s break this down into pieces. Unless you are trying to do it all — farm with horses, milk cows and make cheese, cut your own firewood, make lumber and sell your crops at a local farmer’s market — there will be large chunks of time during the growing season when you are not …

Dairy cows and goats are both good choices for a homesteading family. Deciding which is best for your family will probably be based on the kind of pasture available and how much milk you want to deal with each day.

More people around the world raise goats than cows. Goats will eat a variety of foliage that a cow wouldn’t touch. While it is wonderful that goats will eat tough weeds and brush, it also means they will be more than happy to try to break into your garden and eat any and all of the pla…