How-To Library

A good brooder provides your chicks a safe, clean home with plenty of airflow, warmth, food and water. You can purchase new brooder elements, or you can use items around your house to build a happy home for your new chicks.

Various methods of preserving food in mason jars in the home kitchen are described.

Birdwatching is great for children because it provides opportunities to be outdoors and instills an appreciation for science and nature that can last a lifetime. It is a hobby that all members of the family can enjoy. You can foster a love for wild birds by teaching your children about the types of birds that visit your backyard feeder.

Do you have a bird feeder in your yard? Birdwatching is a great activity for family members of all ages. Make birdwatching a family event at your house and keep a wild bird journal to record all the different types of birds that visit your backyard feeder.

If you are trying home canning for the first time or just need a great reference guide, the USDA offers a Complete Guide To Home Canning. Download the full canning guide here.

Start a garden early by sowing seeds in containers indoors. Any container that drains well can be used, but many gardeners prefer peat pots or pellets placed in flats or plastic flats with many sections that are sold specifically for the purpose.

More and more people each year become interested in raising a small flock of chickens for a hobby or to help lower the family food bills. Get your backyard flock off to a good start with this step-by-step guide on what to do after you bring your new chicks home. This article covers details on preparing your chicks' brooder, tips on feeding and watering and advice on keeping your chicks healthy and disease free.

a few considerations for sustainable-minded growers

Tips for home canning

optimum planting dates, based on the upper south climate zone

Determine the plant hardiness zone as defined by the USDA

Knowing when to plant is critical to a successful garden