Tag Archives: self sufficiency

Our favorite articles about simple living and self sufficiency & preparedness posted on TexasHomesteader.com

Use What Ya got – MYO Tractor Canopy Cover

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by Texas Homesteader

We have two tractors, a 55 hp Mahindra for the big jobs and an older and smaller 32 hp Ford 1910 tractor for mowing, disking, etc.  RancherMan usually hops on the newer big-boy tractor with the higher horsepower and front-end loader to do the rough stuff. And I happily allow him those tasks. 

My preference is Ole Blue. She’s a 1983-built tractor that purrs like a kitten & is as reliable as the day is long. 

Recently our Mahindra dealt us an unpleasant blow by having a deteriorating gas tank, rendering it USELESS.  So much for the reliability of a fancy-schmancy tractor that’s only 5 yrs –OLD! 

(Mahindra’s certainly seen the last of us as future customers) 

 So RancherMan went to work playing tractor mechanic for the Mahindra. But it was the ever-faithful Ole Blue Ford tractor that pulled the load on the Homestead.

My tractor canopy material was shot so I needed to come up with a solution. I say "Use What Ya Got"! See what my solution was. #TexasHomesteader

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Once Again, We Have Chickens!

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by Texas Homesteader
*this post contains affiliate link

Last year we dipped our toe into the raising-chickens waters.  We bought day-old chicks and raised them until fall when we sold them (we didn’t want to attempt to overwinter last year)  Oh how much fun they were to raise!  We free-ranged them and they made quite a dent in the grasshopper population and an incredible impact on the fly reduction on our cows in the barn pens.

Oh yeah, and they gave us FRESH EGGS!  We knew that as spring drew closer we’d consider again if we wanted to raise chickens.  The verdict is in: Um, YES PLEASE!

Our chicken breeder raises various breeds of chickens, so we bought laying hens. I loved raising chickens last year, here we go again! #TexasHomesteader

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Tips For Using What You’ve Already Got To Save Money & The Environment

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by Texas Homesteader ~  

Repurposing things to new life is one of my superpowers. I’m often able to fill a need (quite nicely) using what I already have at home. And you can too!

I’m sharing a whole list of ideas below. Check it out! 

Repurposing what you have to new uses saves money and the environment. #TexasHomesteader

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The Story of Our Texas Homestead Journey – From City Life To Homesteader!

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by Texas Homesteader ~ 

Many have asked how we got started in this Homesteading life. Were we born into it? Did we work our way to it later in life? Just how did we get to this Texas Homestead? And why? 

Read on, dear friends.

Many people wonder how we came to be Texas Homesteaders. Here's our story. #TexasHomesteader

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POV: If You Do What You Love You’ll Never ‘Work’ A Day In Your Life!

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by Texas Homesteader ~ 

When my children were growing up and wondering what they would do for a career after they were out of school, I advised them not to follow the money but instead to do what they love for a living and they’d never ‘work‘ a day in their lives. 

But what does that mean? Come see what it meant to me.

Do what you love for a living and you'll "Never Work A Day in Your Life". How true this wise old statement is! See what it means to me. #TexasHomesteader

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