Gardening & Farming

Livestock Guardian Dogs: Deter Predators on Your Farm or Homestead

Livestock Guardian Dogs: Deter Predators on Your Farm or Homestead

by | Mar 9, 2024 | ,

Livestock guardian dogs protect homesteads and farms from predators with their loyal and protective nature. Image by Don DeBold, Flickr. Homesteads and farms face the constant challenge of protecting their livestock from predators like coyotes, wolves, bears, and other opportunistic creatures that threaten the well-being of their animals. Livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) offer a tried and tested solution, safeguarding herds with their protective instincts. For centuries, LGDs have stood as the ultimate farm watchdogs, their presence alone serving as a powerful deterrent to would-be attackers. Bred for their unwavering loyalty, keen instincts, and impressive size, these capable canines have become an increasingly popular choice among homesteaders seeking an eco-friendly, long-term solution to safeguarding their herds. LGDs actively protect livestock by patrolling the perimeter, marking territory, and fearlessly confronting intruders....

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The Permaculture Book of DIY

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Share Post Pinterest reddit Email Story time… When I worked as a geologist in Australia in the 2010s, I frequently traveled across the country. On one occasion, while driving through the mountainous agricultural area of New South Wales, we unexpectedly encountered a person wearing a hazmat suit on the side of the road. At first, I thought that the whole situation was funny until, a little bit further on, we passed by some apple orchards. Then I stopped laughing as I realized that this guy was there actually spraying the orchard with nasty chemicals, and he was wearing the suit not to be exposed to the toxic drift. Being a newbie in horticulture and biological sciences, I didn’t make much out of this at the time. I thought that no matter the spraying if I peel the skin of an apple, I’m safe from exposure to toxins, as they are…
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How to Plant Your Fruit Tree Guilds

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Share Post Pinterest reddit Email You’ve probably heard this one before: “Orient your greenhouse directly to the south.” But what if I told you the perfect orientation isn’t exactly south at all? Heresy, you say? Stick with me—I’ll break it down for you. When it comes to greenhouses, sun exposure is king. Think of a greenhouse as a giant solar collector—it needs all the sunlight it can get to function properly. So yes, a south-facing site with minimal obstructions (trees, buildings, hills) is ideal—but here’s the kicker: Your greenhouse doesn’t have to face due south to thrive. You’ll still get plenty of solar energy within 45° of south (or north if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere). See here: If your greenhouse faces south-southeast or south-southwest, you’re still at 70% solar gain—which is more than enough to grow whatever you need! The bottom line: You have options when choosing the best…
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Want to grow food in the forest? Here’s how.

Share Post Pinterest reddit Email Let’s say you have a wooded property and want to grow food in the woods. However, you want to do it in a way that preserves as much of the forest as possible. I.e you want to minimize clearing and cutting down the trees but still be able to grow food. Is growing food in this way even possible? Well, it is, and today I’m going to give you three options of what you could do. Let’s tackle them one by one. 1. Growing food in the understory of the forest Forest Farming Ginseng Credit: Pasa Sustainable Agriculture In closed canopy areas of the forest, you can still grow food, but you’ll need to be more strategic about it. The light is a limiting factor here, but it’s not like there isn’t any. The conditions might vary from classic shade to partial shade depending on…
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