by Victoria Gazeley | Jun 10, 2014 | Buildings, Decor, Renovation, Repair
(Updated June 10, 2014 – originally published December 2012) Nothing says ‘country decor’ more than a vintage cast iron sink. Except maybe a log cabin. Or a big pick-up truck. But nothing says ‘botulism’ or some other sort of nasty bacterial infection more...
by Victoria Gazeley | Nov 30, 2013 | Fire Building, Heating, Wood Heat
Originally published in October 2010 – updated November 30, 2013. Firewood burned in a wood stove is our primary heat source – not just in winter, but year round. We regularly have fires going in the evening here until the end of May. When we first moved...
by Victoria Gazeley | Dec 18, 2012 | Animals, Buildings, Chickens, Construction
Picture this: you’ve decided to add chickens to your backyard or homestead. You’ve spent hours researching basic healthcare and anatomy, you’ve visited all the forums (and become totally overwhelmed), and you think you know what chickens need to be happy. Now comes...
by Victoria Gazeley | Oct 23, 2012 | Buildings, From City to Country, Homestead Planning, Lessons, Rural Real Estate
Our new neighbours, not yet even moved in, recently had most (if not all) of their winter fire wood supply stolen at some point in the night. Our properties are far enough apart, and uphill from us with a creek and hill between, that we didn’t hear a thing. It...
by Victoria Gazeley | Oct 22, 2012 | Heating with Wood, Product Reviews, Rural Living Skills, Videos, Wood Heat
Get the scoop on the easiest, cleanest, and most ergonomically correct way to carry firewood from the wood pile to your house. A product review of the Apron Tote, which you can pick up from Lee Valley Tools. I’ve been using this handy ‘gadget’ since...
by Victoria Gazeley | Sep 4, 2012 | Chickens, Cleaning, Emergency Preparedness, Livestock, Mice, Pests
“Mama, where’s the peppermint oil?” My 9-year old son had eaten something that didn’t agree with him and was looking for relief. As is usual around here with all sorts of health maladies, we didn’t reach for pharmaceuticals or the...
