tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686503006163377842023-12-25T15:47:17.630-06:00Mid-America Homesteading ConferenceJoin us for the fifth annual conference!<br>September 10, 2016<br>Antiquity Oaks Farm, Cornell, ILDeborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-15888283906845392292017-10-08T15:10:00.001-05:002021-02-01T14:31:10.216-06:00Join us online!You may have noticed that we did not have the homesteading conference this year. We know it's tough for homesteaders to travel because they have to find a farm sitter, so we've decided to focus our efforts on online education. In March, the <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a> opened with its first course, <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats101/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Goats 101</a>, which includes more than seven hours of videos that cover the basics of owning goats, from purchasing and housing to health, nutrition, and parasite information.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLa5w08ExsAI2vr2nGterHOsOfcw5TPYExktgY-gfz7lvkwdPakUsyWVPCUkF7S8IilugeeJklBnl4LrqezRUvPdGlRGCKIYTYz3ovSfoKZbzVPJlQPO6kcCABJ-HRi5HX7gY8X02Tvtz/s1600/copper+deficiency+symptoms.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLa5w08ExsAI2vr2nGterHOsOfcw5TPYExktgY-gfz7lvkwdPakUsyWVPCUkF7S8IilugeeJklBnl4LrqezRUvPdGlRGCKIYTYz3ovSfoKZbzVPJlQPO6kcCABJ-HRi5HX7gY8X02Tvtz/s320/copper+deficiency+symptoms.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Because copper deficiency is a serious problem for so many goat owners, there is a FREE course on <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/copper-deficiency/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Copper Deficiency in Goats</a>, which includes three videos, articles, and handouts that can be printed out for easy reference. Each lesson includes a discussion board where you can ask questions, which will be answered by me, Deborah, based upon solid research on goat nutrition.<br />
<br />
In June, we launched a course in soapmaking called <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/soapmaking/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Coming Clean: How to Make Toxin-Free Soap Without Breaking the Bank</a>. Although you could easily spend hundreds of dollars when you get started making soap, this course will provide a road map for spending far less. You won't need to buy soap molds or a $300 soap slicer, and you'll learn how to scent your soap with essential oils without spending a fortune.<br /><br />
We are currently beta testing a course on parasites for sheep and goat owners, which includes interviews with the top parasite researchers in the country. And we will also be adding a course on homestead businesses in the near future.<br />
<br />
<script src="https://assets.convertkit.com/assets/CKJS4.js?v=21"></script>
<div class="ck_form_container ck_inline" data-ck-version="6">
<div class="ck_form ck_minimal">
<div class="ck_form_fields">
<h3 class="ck_form_title">
Receive the Thrifty Homesteader Academy newsletter</h3>
<div class="ck_description">
Subscribe to stay up to date on current class offerings and specials.</div>
<div id="ck_success_msg" style="display: none;">
Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.</div>
<!--Form starts here-->
<br />
<form action="https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/276985/subscribe" class="ck_subscribe_form" data-remote="true" id="ck_subscribe_form">
<input id="ck_form_options" type="hidden" value="{"form_style":"minimal","embed_style":"inline","embed_trigger":"scroll_percentage","scroll_percentage":"70","delay_seconds":"10","display_position":"br","display_devices":"all","days_no_show":"15","converted_behavior":"show"}" />
<input id="landing_page_id" name="id" type="hidden" value="276985" />
<input id="ck_form_recaptcha" name="ck_form_recaptcha" type="hidden" value="" />
<br />
<div class="ck_errorArea">
<div id="ck_error_msg" style="display: none;">
There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.</div>
</div>
<div class="ck_control_group ck_email_field_group">
<label class="ck_label" style="display: none;">Email Address</label>
<input class="ck_email_address" id="ck_emailField" name="email" required="" type="email" />
</div>
<div class="ck_control_group ck_captcha2_h_field_group ck-captcha2-h" style="left: -999em; position: absolute;">
<input class="ck-captcha2-h" id="ck_captcha2_h" name="captcha2_h" type="text" />
</div>
<button class="subscribe_button ck_subscribe_button btn fields" id="ck_subscribe_button">
Subscribe
</button>
<span class="ck_guarantee">
We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
<a class="ck_powered_by" href="https://convertkit.com/?utm_campaign=poweredby">Powered by ConvertKit</a>
</span>
</form>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<style type="text/css">/* Layout */
.ck_form.ck_minimal {
/* divider image */
background: #f9f9f9;
font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;
line-height: 1.5em;
overflow: hidden;
color: #666;
font-size: 16px;
border: solid 1px #d1d1d1;
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
-moz-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
clear: both;
margin: 20px 0px;
text-align: center;
}
.ck_form.ck_minimal h3.ck_form_title {
text-align: center;
margin: 0px 0px 10px;
font-size: 28px;
}
.ck_form.ck_minimal h4 {
text-align: center;
font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
text-transform: uppercase;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: normal;
padding-top: 0px;
margin-top: 0px;
}
.ck_form.ck_minimal p {
padding: 0px;
}
.ck_form, .ck_form * {
-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
-moz-box-sizing: border-box;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.ck_form.ck_minimal .ck_form_fields {
width: 100%;
float: left;
padding: 5%;
}
/* Form fields */
.ck_errorArea {
display: none; /* temporary */
}
#ck_success_msg {
padding: 10px 10px 0px;
border: solid 1px #ddd;
background: #eee;
}
.ck_form.ck_minimal input[type="text"], .ck_form.ck_minimal input[type="email"] {
font-size: 18px;
padding: 10px 8px;
width: 68%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 3px;
-webkit-border-radius: 3px;
border-radius: 3px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 5px;
height: auto;
float: left;
margin: 0px;
margin-right: 2%;
height: 42px;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"]:focus, .ck_form input[type="email"]:focus {
outline: none;
border-color: #aaa;
}
.ck_form.ck_minimal .ck_subscribe_button {
width: 100%;
color: #fff;
margin: 0px;
padding: 11px 0px;
font-size: 18px;
background: #0d6db8;
-moz-border-radius: 3px;
-webkit-border-radius: 3px;
border-radius: 3px; /* border radius */
cursor: pointer;
border: none;
text-shadow: none;
width: 30%;
float: left;
height: 42px;
}
.ck_form.ck_minimal .ck_guarantee {
color: #626262;
font-size: 12px;
text-align: center;
padding: 15px 0px 0px;
display: block;
clear: both;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by {
display: block;
color: #aaa;
font-size: 12px;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by:hover {
display: block;
color: #444;
}
.ck_converted_content {
display: none;
padding: 5%;
background: #fff;
}
.ck_form.ck_minimal.width400 .ck_subscribe_button, .ck_form.ck_minimal.width400 input[type="email"] {
width: 100%;
float: none;
margin-top: 5px;
}
.ck_slide_up, .ck_modal, .ck_slide_up .ck_minimal, .ck_modal .ck_minimal {
min-width: 400px;
}
.page .ck_form.ck_minimal {
margin: 50px auto;
max-width: 600px;
}
/* v6 */
.ck_slide_up.ck_form_v6, .ck_modal.ck_form_v6, .ck_slide_up.ck_form_v6 .ck_minimal, .ck_modal.ck_form_v6 .ck_minimal {
min-width: 0 !important;
}
@media all and (min-width: 801px) {
.ck_modal.ck_form_v6 .ck_form.ck_minimal {
margin-left: -300px;
width: 600px;
}
}
.ck_modal.ck_form_v6 .ck_minimal .ck_subscribe_form {
padding-top: 20px;
}
.ck_slide_up.ck_form_v6 .ck_minimal .ck_subscribe_form {
padding-top: 10px;
}
.ck_form_v6 #ck_success_msg {
margin-top: 15px;
padding: 0px 10px;
}
.ck_slide_up.ck_form_v6 .ck_minimal + .ck_close_link {
top: 5px;
}
.ck_slide_up.ck_form_v6 .ck_minimal h3.ck_form_title {
margin-top: 5px;
}
</style>
Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-22553565778158798702017-02-11T16:30:00.000-06:002017-02-11T16:35:35.047-06:00Goat workshops & cheese & soap making classes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylWqjH5JJ65iW4oXdqsrPtduGInHZeofS-E62XDNp1wkqFXRH3oWu3K7Csq9B6fleU0XhyBnc8emgZMglxEJMxK8RT2-USUD5L3DZBCJDxGbtfVJZH44Ts3OtTWwoINtC59yEdu2pPEDG/s1600/11231_1526436318270_1155510916_32600487_2783686_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylWqjH5JJ65iW4oXdqsrPtduGInHZeofS-E62XDNp1wkqFXRH3oWu3K7Csq9B6fleU0XhyBnc8emgZMglxEJMxK8RT2-USUD5L3DZBCJDxGbtfVJZH44Ts3OtTWwoINtC59yEdu2pPEDG/s320/11231_1526436318270_1155510916_32600487_2783686_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.antiquityoaks.com/" target="_blank">Antiquity Oaks Farm</a> near Cornell, IL, will be hosting Goats 101 from 9 a.m. to noon and Goat Breeding & Birthing from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 26. Goats 101 will include information about housing, fencing, nutrition, mineral deficiencies, parasites, FAMACHA, deworming, dewormer resistance, hoof trimming, and how to give medication to a goat.<br />
<br />
In the afternoon, Goat Breeding and Birthing will cover signs of heat, pen breeding vs. hand breeding, pregnancy, signs of labor, birthing difficulties, feeding kids, dam raising vs bottle raising, and special challenges with kids regarding parasites and nutrition. Because much of the afternoon's information is dependent upon knowing what was covered in the morning, anyone who wants to attend the afternoon class must have attended the morning class or must have read <a href="http://thriftyhomesteader.com/goats/" target="_blank">Raising Goats Naturally</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Cheesemaking</b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJfE0Q1q5raQ3gn018DVY4nucOslTDd-MRtViGt-LV1tht61Y9M_c9Gig9Px_a_5hEDb_O8w6XFTu7LGGUvQJ6j0o_aMsfdHTt571MQKQidHe1hol8LOYaNM9F0fOkZV0MqPoTNXLaPVE/s1600/stretching+mozzarella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJfE0Q1q5raQ3gn018DVY4nucOslTDd-MRtViGt-LV1tht61Y9M_c9Gig9Px_a_5hEDb_O8w6XFTu7LGGUvQJ6j0o_aMsfdHTt571MQKQidHe1hol8LOYaNM9F0fOkZV0MqPoTNXLaPVE/s320/stretching+mozzarella.jpg" width="116" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stretching mozzarella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Cheesemaking Basics will be held Sunday morning, March 27, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. You will see a demonstration of how to make mozzarella and queso blanco, and we'll discuss how these cheesemaking processes are similar or different from other types of cheeses. You will also learn what type of equipment you'll need to make more complicated cheeses.<br />
<br />
<b>Soapmaking</b><br />
<br />
Learn to make cold process soap in the afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m. We will be making goat milk soap, but we will also explain how you can do it with water. You will see every step of the soapmaking process from beginning to end. You will also receive a bar of soap to take home and use.<br />
<br />
You can attend classes individually or all four. <a href="http://antiquityoaks.com/classes/" target="_blank">Click here</a> for more information about the classes and to register.Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-25968848851061981392016-09-09T18:42:00.000-05:002016-09-09T18:42:33.116-05:00We're ready! Are you?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiMXbVunepQ4_KD_AXURi9aDsrynM8PP4kY6HdAVIVlEDVkgKHqCPMxzHysXPKVUduhpwlDmH9p7VJf1TnygB71KDo7uemNOAmPsW1S0lP3lOzqJo-LsmAAv97v87vEsyrfDU2YQ2FsYe/s1600/Homesteading+conference+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiMXbVunepQ4_KD_AXURi9aDsrynM8PP4kY6HdAVIVlEDVkgKHqCPMxzHysXPKVUduhpwlDmH9p7VJf1TnygB71KDo7uemNOAmPsW1S0lP3lOzqJo-LsmAAv97v87vEsyrfDU2YQ2FsYe/s320/Homesteading+conference+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here are the last minute details for this weekend ...<br />
<br />
Walk-in registrations will be accepted for the conference on Saturday, but Sunday's Goat Workshop is full.<br />
<br />
We've had a lot of rain today, so be sure to bring waterproof shoes or boots because we will be walking around the farm for several sessions. Also, do NOT park on the grass because you will get stuck. We will have someone available to tell you where to park, but the important thing is to stay on the gravel driveway.<br />
<br />
Remember that GPS cannot find the farm, so you need to use Mapquest to find us. We will also have signs on the corners of our road, so you'll know when you're getting close. And there will be signs at the end of our driveway also.Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-43309965335363646142016-09-05T15:13:00.001-05:002016-09-05T15:18:44.354-05:00Learn about mobile poultry housing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9M6xa6OIZY0-cf9X5MWGb-1WlfOHfuCBrN4p0Js3xlrc5Th8t4qQaI4APJzUaYW2Kqyl7B_BRrNikVVzCu3_0FP3gKfMTBuLfV8kUeABNvBASZXAmcrewzBaQE_6sYZDVBavRW4VpppI/s1600/henmobile+poultry+netting+7598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9M6xa6OIZY0-cf9X5MWGb-1WlfOHfuCBrN4p0Js3xlrc5Th8t4qQaI4APJzUaYW2Kqyl7B_BRrNikVVzCu3_0FP3gKfMTBuLfV8kUeABNvBASZXAmcrewzBaQE_6sYZDVBavRW4VpppI/s400/henmobile+poultry+netting+7598.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50Nt7fY2oz9Cc97E_O84_Wy_xWvbHLBAoBdRP55fW0_5FQc8K4hGBnTe1aC8jlkdgimf8dOnQ7avTB4YgkaoI1xyPqcLhlybvc3Vw5pLS5QX-RAXaYmnaR56t5L0NKp28PaeriZoNUj9f/s1600/henmobile+inside+7580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50Nt7fY2oz9Cc97E_O84_Wy_xWvbHLBAoBdRP55fW0_5FQc8K4hGBnTe1aC8jlkdgimf8dOnQ7avTB4YgkaoI1xyPqcLhlybvc3Vw5pLS5QX-RAXaYmnaR56t5L0NKp28PaeriZoNUj9f/s320/henmobile+inside+7580.jpg" width="213" /></a>This past spring, we purchased a 20-year-old construction trailer and turned it into a mobile hen house. Being a construction trailer, it had essentially been an office in the past, so it was just an empty room -- or two, actually. So, we removed the wall that had separated the trailer into two rooms, and we replaced one of the outer walls that had rotting wood. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We added roll-out nest boxes, so we could collect eggs from outside, and we added roosts. After this picture was taken, we also added a hanging feeder in the middle of the hen-mobile, and we put a metal garbage can in the corner to hold the chicken feed so that we don't have to carry it outside for every feeding. We keep the waterer outside so that the inside stays cleaner.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If you attend the conference on Saturday, you will be able to get up close and personal with the new hen-mobile during the "Mobile Chicken Housing" session at 10:15.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dbXDTX1Rn9jy3MBG9qf1NhWhDIyURdMP6PNMDh2N17gvCZbrQU4TJNqD7LSMtG2smEbE6-DkVmzNPsJJaBMFBdBNkD_KINWVZa9rEoHXYEXIiDm3hCvUv80umi4xj61VmmTcNFJiHc6b/s1600/young+turkeys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dbXDTX1Rn9jy3MBG9qf1NhWhDIyURdMP6PNMDh2N17gvCZbrQU4TJNqD7LSMtG2smEbE6-DkVmzNPsJJaBMFBdBNkD_KINWVZa9rEoHXYEXIiDm3hCvUv80umi4xj61VmmTcNFJiHc6b/s320/young+turkeys.jpg" width="320" /></a>You will also be able to see the chicken tractors that we use for raising younger chickens and turkeys, and you will even have the opportunity to move one. It took us four models to get it right, and most people are surprised at how easy this type is to move. In fact, children were moving it this summer during Nature's Farm Camp.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjs8kW9aapj1W3GZNXCSFasRFsfJnw4inDheOYJdGutr5FYEC_KNXsTEwrMh7-7rL7CkSHeQ88XnaZGt4ioisn3p7xK3Y-LPYALsE10MCqCoKC4A7-qHfRC2X-riNoPkH2EvRjWYaXu6z/s1600/turkeys+in+tractor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjs8kW9aapj1W3GZNXCSFasRFsfJnw4inDheOYJdGutr5FYEC_KNXsTEwrMh7-7rL7CkSHeQ88XnaZGt4ioisn3p7xK3Y-LPYALsE10MCqCoKC4A7-qHfRC2X-riNoPkH2EvRjWYaXu6z/s400/turkeys+in+tractor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/register.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> to register for this year's conference.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-45477494572077554122016-07-31T04:00:00.000-05:002016-07-31T04:00:20.874-05:00Early bird discount ends tonight!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97OffmVKqQIhqPalcWM6HsluoRsgGm3sXWTWVNdzplP9Ex43_NLk2CoOH9jQzEOlYA9G5-KSmkTa7cWd7DMUbwYKoOShA79FUAb7hmc3RgKZE1XZW6u5A-4hEGITS6w7nZyBgs_HuP_fa/s1600/Early+Bird+discount+for+Mid-America+Homesteading+Conference.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97OffmVKqQIhqPalcWM6HsluoRsgGm3sXWTWVNdzplP9Ex43_NLk2CoOH9jQzEOlYA9G5-KSmkTa7cWd7DMUbwYKoOShA79FUAb7hmc3RgKZE1XZW6u5A-4hEGITS6w7nZyBgs_HuP_fa/s400/Early+Bird+discount+for+Mid-America+Homesteading+Conference.png" width="266" /></a></div>
Today is the last day to receive the early bird discount on your registration. If you register by midnight, you'll receive $10 off the regular price.<br />
<br />
This year's conference is being held at Antiquity Oaks Farm. Most of the sessions are live demos or hands-on. We will be walking around the farm to learn more about fencing and mobile poultry housing options. You'll see how to make tinctures and salves, and you'll walk around and discover what weeds are edible and which ones can be used medicinally. You'll even see the canning and wine making process from beginning to end. Click on the "Schedule" link to learn more.<br />
<br />
If you are coming from out of town, you can camp on the farm Friday or Saturday night at no additional charge, but reservations are required. Just contact us to let us know which nights you'll be staying and when we can expect you. There is parking for two RVs and plenty of room for tents.Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-19190204377756788762016-06-20T19:29:00.002-05:002016-06-20T19:29:44.736-05:00Schedule and speakers posted for 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZhq2LJ1mqN3ptiFLK5KYh-5V4gtZ3-ntYYufvtqgI1wqSCaAiVx5zknZ3OClUphZgce6vRq0d-YbteUqnNeEoWcWMI8TZlmqddViOvUK88UAWVDsfqxc8iCOgrDLxAM2Sn-4fNyIzPcw/s1600/sheep+electronet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZhq2LJ1mqN3ptiFLK5KYh-5V4gtZ3-ntYYufvtqgI1wqSCaAiVx5zknZ3OClUphZgce6vRq0d-YbteUqnNeEoWcWMI8TZlmqddViOvUK88UAWVDsfqxc8iCOgrDLxAM2Sn-4fNyIzPcw/s400/sheep+electronet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This year's conference will be held at Antiquity Oaks Farm, and we're breaking away from most of the PowerPoints and lectures and doing more demonstrations and experiential sessions.<br />
<br />
That means we'll be walking through the pastures to see and handle the fencing while we talk about which fences work best for which livestock and which ones should be avoided. We'll actually pick up, move, and re-install portable electric fencing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSdBcUULblTWmS3FY04rnbpkxYbWg0s8xx2JKzPr6-lvRf7aOL7VU3Xzeud8M4UyBMdRkaRVQ3hVDWP9eEbw0p4mOerI-gFY_iT6XlDjIt7GCaKBOOUg4kxrDqwPJbWkH3Dm4O_gmXY8a/s1600/turkey+tractor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSdBcUULblTWmS3FY04rnbpkxYbWg0s8xx2JKzPr6-lvRf7aOL7VU3Xzeud8M4UyBMdRkaRVQ3hVDWP9eEbw0p4mOerI-gFY_iT6XlDjIt7GCaKBOOUg4kxrDqwPJbWkH3Dm4O_gmXY8a/s320/turkey+tractor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
You'll get up close and personal with four different types of mobile poultry housing, including a new hen-mobile.<br />
<br />
We'll be canning seasonal produce, walking through the woods to learn about edible weeds, and making tinctures and salves. We'll even be making wine, so you can see and experience what it means to "rack" the wine or degas it.<br />
<br />
You'll also get to see a cob oven and learn how it was built while firing it up and baking in it.<br />
<br />
We are still working on the session descriptions, but <a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/register.html" target="_blank">registration</a> is open. The early bird discount of $79 is available until July 31, but because we're holding the conference on the farm, we have to limit registration to only 30 people, so register early to be sure you'll be able to attend.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/register.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> to register today!Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-569428079138292002016-04-04T17:14:00.000-05:002016-04-04T17:14:03.829-05:00Mark your calendars for the 2016 conference!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSI5nf0tJFeTbl2AdRyeCbdMGVW6DVRqHRt-0bX2QxLugamheoYFqFUE9n8meLw8XdjMK1u4mgY7NEOfM_ejG6zyQgIxcCfNm3MAxz3y7DbsVqs_BT8P-l-bNohi01Aoo5LUkuviLQZds/s1600/Welcome+to+Antiquity+Oaks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSI5nf0tJFeTbl2AdRyeCbdMGVW6DVRqHRt-0bX2QxLugamheoYFqFUE9n8meLw8XdjMK1u4mgY7NEOfM_ejG6zyQgIxcCfNm3MAxz3y7DbsVqs_BT8P-l-bNohi01Aoo5LUkuviLQZds/s400/Welcome+to+Antiquity+Oaks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This year's conference will be held the weekend after Labor Day -- Saturday, September 10 -- and we will have homesteading workshops on Sunday, September 11. Both days will be held on Antiquity Oaks Farm, northeast of Cornell, IL and west of Odell, IL, off I-55.<br />
<br />
Many thanks to everyone who responded to our survey! We are now working on scheduling classes and workshops. If you have anything in particular you'd like to learn about, leave your suggestions in the comment section.Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-30330764476595197772016-02-23T17:29:00.000-06:002016-02-23T17:29:20.993-06:00Opinions, please!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrfbuFwXrC6aVlqNZjvcIMGXu_jinvCS7yzWH_KY82jKsrBfZxg_VMYZRpfKIVU41sxb19jty6VXTx2MbTyliz60McWD6bFPefrFIL_WtxAmdVsa8hal1J1E1Qwo44vXB6kx5m1PdWG4O/s1600/IMG_4874+Sadie+doe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrfbuFwXrC6aVlqNZjvcIMGXu_jinvCS7yzWH_KY82jKsrBfZxg_VMYZRpfKIVU41sxb19jty6VXTx2MbTyliz60McWD6bFPefrFIL_WtxAmdVsa8hal1J1E1Qwo44vXB6kx5m1PdWG4O/s320/IMG_4874+Sadie+doe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
We are in the early stages of planning the Fifth Annual Mid-America Homesteading Conference, and we've decided to shake things up a little. The first four conferences were held at Joliet Junior College on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend with post-conference workshops on Sunday at Antiquity Oaks Farm. Each year we received messages from people who said they'd love to come, but they couldn't make it on Labor Day weekend. Others have suggested that we have the conference on an actual homestead. So, we're asking you ...<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>When do you want us to hold the conference?</li>
<li>Where?</li>
<li>What do you want to learn?</li>
<li>How much time do you want to spend learning about each topic?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SFQX9VQ" target="_blank">Click here</a> to take our short 6-question survey and let us know what you think!Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-9562730101636135642015-09-02T18:10:00.000-05:002015-09-02T18:10:18.755-05:00Are you ready for the Homesteading Conference this weekend?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8H4L-UvgoctJ7nHUkelnew7RBBn97xT-aBPrbqAw7eUuttq4ej_wDC0lFmoywVSuqoSOprwlSXd4Ci6NwYNuMjbhUC4ymFsg-w3TUPi3O0FvZ9pm3TBuZ0uFIJYCh7PgMnxWTRq7_V-s7/s1600/Homesteading+conference+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8H4L-UvgoctJ7nHUkelnew7RBBn97xT-aBPrbqAw7eUuttq4ej_wDC0lFmoywVSuqoSOprwlSXd4Ci6NwYNuMjbhUC4ymFsg-w3TUPi3O0FvZ9pm3TBuZ0uFIJYCh7PgMnxWTRq7_V-s7/s320/Homesteading+conference+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Yes, the conference is Saturday, which is less than three days away! If you haven't registered yet, you can do it <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/fourth-annual-mid-america-homesteading-conference-tickets-15359334182?ref=ebtnebtckt" target="_blank">online until 5 a.m. Saturday</a>. You can also pay with cash or credit card at the conference.<br />
<br />
Your conference registration fee includes a continental breakfast, buffet lunch, drinks, and snacks. Since we got such rave reviews for last year's lunch, which was catered by <a href="http://www.chipotle.com/" target="_blank">Chipotle</a>, we're doing it again. There will be plenty of options for omnivores, vegetarians, gluten free eaters, and other dietary preferences. If you have questions about their food, visit their <a href="http://www.chipotle.com/" target="_blank">website</a> for a full list of non-GMO ingredients.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jolietjuniorcollege/15032721675/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="T-Building Entrance"><img alt="T-Building Entrance" height="186" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3863/15032721675_fff0608b6a_m.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo copyright Joliet Junior College</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There will be signs, pictured above, starting on Houbolt Road to help you find the conference in T-building. When you walk in the doors, pictured here, you will see the conference center immediately on your left.<br />
<br />
Need directions to the college? <a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/location.html" target="_blank">Click here!</a><br />
<br />
Need a hotel? <a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/hotel.html" target="_blank">Click here!</a><br />
<br />
Want to take another look at the schedule and start planning which sessions you want to attend? <a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/conference-schedule.html" target="_blank">Click here!</a><br />
<br />
And if you are considering one of our post-conference workshops, there is still space available in both of them, although only three spaces left in the goat workshop. <a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/post-conference-workshops.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> for more info.Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-36989565929256839842015-08-10T10:41:00.001-05:002015-08-10T10:41:21.227-05:00Yes, the conference is happening!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOyzcjk3bvLewM7I15vdPihyphenhyphenzdRUELiLjnKFeL2nrTlZab9Cy0Kt4Ea92gGdeYRhmNiEx5zHk5evbD33_GnFM4UfRrYJIgNUnIQ2E5XWCxvd_Mu0ePK29Y-I7UOjm-qF8SbBiKPBOA5xx/s1600/See+you+onSeptember+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOyzcjk3bvLewM7I15vdPihyphenhyphenzdRUELiLjnKFeL2nrTlZab9Cy0Kt4Ea92gGdeYRhmNiEx5zHk5evbD33_GnFM4UfRrYJIgNUnIQ2E5XWCxvd_Mu0ePK29Y-I7UOjm-qF8SbBiKPBOA5xx/s400/See+you+onSeptember+5.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Thank you to everyone who registered over the last few days! The conference will be happening. I guess a lot of people are just waiting a little longer to register this year.<br />
<br />
Over the next few weeks, I'll be giving you more information about our sessions, our speakers, and the locally grown lunch we're planning, which will be better than ever!Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-74075293059667455392015-08-04T17:42:00.002-05:002015-08-04T17:42:51.320-05:00Thinking of attending? Please read this!When the early bird discount deadline passed on Friday, our registration numbers were less than half of what they normally are at that time. Historically we have not had that many registrations in August, so we are considering canceling the conference. We don't know why the registration numbers are so low this year, although we have a few theories. So, we have a couple of favors to ask of you.<br />
<ol>
<li>If you are planning to come, <a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/register.html" target="_blank">please register now</a>. If you wait, there may not be a conference because we can't risk the financial loss of moving forward with the current number of attendees. </li>
<li>If you are not planning to attend, would you mind letting us know why? </li>
</ol>
If we have to cancel this year's conference, we will probably not be doing it again in the future because we can't afford planning a conference that doesn't happen.
If you have already registered, no worries! Hopefully, we'll get enough registrations to move forward. If not, we will refund everyone's fees 100% through Eventbrite.<br />
<br />
<b>What about the workshops? </b><br />
The Goat Workshop will continue as scheduled, although the Poultry Processing Workshop will have to be canceled because the speaker is coming from Virginia, and we won't be able to bring her out here just for the workshop.<br />
<br />
<i>We will be making a decision by Friday night, so if you were planning to attend, don't delay.</i> <a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/register.html" target="_blank">Register now!</a>Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-67413390911111105522015-07-31T06:00:00.000-05:002015-07-31T06:00:09.362-05:00Early bird discount deadline is tonight!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fxdAVGqAAMBlcz4mMvxZ-5xba40rCbAjy1-vXvPOuQv8j30RbJlMJPvMrVtWd2SImOlzCEWM_GpVOzKTOmKDRiNAF2lpJ-EMqPwhg5sBhLY8CV87xbugj2VTO_haPd08egKI5PTA7Cio/s1600/Early+Bird+discount+for+Mid-America+Homesteading+Conference.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fxdAVGqAAMBlcz4mMvxZ-5xba40rCbAjy1-vXvPOuQv8j30RbJlMJPvMrVtWd2SImOlzCEWM_GpVOzKTOmKDRiNAF2lpJ-EMqPwhg5sBhLY8CV87xbugj2VTO_haPd08egKI5PTA7Cio/s400/Early+Bird+discount+for+Mid-America+Homesteading+Conference.png" width="266" /></a></div>
<i>Save $10 off the regular price of $89 if you <a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/register.html" target="_blank">register</a> today!</i><br />
<br />
Imagine yourself becoming more self-sufficient! At the fourth annual <a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/conference-schedule.html" target="_blank">Mid-America Homesteading Conference</a>, you can choose from 18 sessions throughout the day. Learn how to keep chickens, raise goats naturally, forage for mushrooms, vermicompost, and how to make things from scratch. You'll see live demos and learn to make mozzarella, soap, lip balm, and herbal tinctures.<br />
<br />
You'll also get the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals who are already doing what you want to do.<br />
<br />
As one of last year's attendees said, "Bring questions -- the friendly speakers are happy to answer them."<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/register.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> to register!</span>Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-34571270277899691612015-07-30T15:52:00.000-05:002015-07-30T15:54:20.266-05:00Chicken whisperer Pat Foreman speaking this year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg82oXQtkEgJ8HgLTc5PwSUyp-0r-o7t2HpvQPmC_Kc-Gjc_WwOmdShwbl6ZxkZuQgFclweO4uBKfolmhlP9SF6muv49rFxTaKoPqUvt-8G1VYuaTYwW4OrzCVUU4YiuFQn8yw1tzMD2_k/s1600/Author+%2526+hen+on+arm+3in+300+dip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg82oXQtkEgJ8HgLTc5PwSUyp-0r-o7t2HpvQPmC_Kc-Gjc_WwOmdShwbl6ZxkZuQgFclweO4uBKfolmhlP9SF6muv49rFxTaKoPqUvt-8G1VYuaTYwW4OrzCVUU4YiuFQn8yw1tzMD2_k/s400/Author+%2526+hen+on+arm+3in+300+dip.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Author Pat Foreman will be presenting three sessions during the conference on Saturday at the college and a full-day workshop on Sunday at Antiquity Oaks Farm, thanks to a sponsorship by <a href="http://www.newcountryorganics.com/" target="_blank">New Country Organics</a>.<br />
<br />
Pat is a sustainable agricultural author, local foods advocate and popular speaker. She graduated from Purdue University with degrees in Pharmacy and Agriculture (Animal Science, genetics and nutrition). She earned a Masters of Public Affairs (MPA) from Indiana University’s Graduate School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Pat has kept poultry for over 25 years, and has experience ranging from backyard homestead flocks to owning and operating a small-scale farm with free range, organic layers, broilers and turkeys. The commercial operation included keeping breeder flocks, incubating eggs, pasturing poultry and finished processing.<br />
<br />
Pat is the author of the paradigm-shifting book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0962464856/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0962464856&linkCode=as2&tag=thrifthomest-20&linkId=4RGRLFGYFKD76RSQ">City Chicks: Keeping Micro-flocks of Chickens as Garden Helpers, Compost Makers, Bio-reyclers, and Local Food Producers</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thrifthomest-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0962464856" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />.<br />
She is co-author of three books:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0984338209/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0984338209&linkCode=as2&tag=thrifthomest-20&linkId=BN3YFYHJHV3ZPFMS">Chicken Tractor: The Permaculture Guide to Happy Hens and Healthy Soil, Homestead (3rd) Edition</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thrifthomest-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0984338209" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0962464872/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0962464872&linkCode=as2&tag=thrifthomest-20&linkId=QAQYDSIAST2SQZPJ">Day Range Poultry: Every Chicken Owner's Guide to Grazing Gardens and Improving Pastures</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thrifthomest-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0962464872" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li>Backyard Market Gardening</li>
</ul>
<br />
She is the developer of the Chickens and You Training Series leading to the Master Backyard Chicken Keeper Certification.<br />
<br />
<b>On Saturday</b>, she'll be presenting:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Chicken Whispering: Discovering the Chicken You Never Knew</b></span><br />
There are ways to handle and communicate with chickens that can result in trust, gentleness and even an emotional bond. But first you must learn how a chicken thinks, and prefers to be treated. It’s sometimes not what you think. Some birds can even be trained to serve as therapy chickens and classroom assistants. Get close and personal with your biddy buddy. Learn the basics of chicken whispering in this cutting-edge, hands-on, nose-to-beak workshop.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Garden Chicks: Growing Food With and For Chickens</b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd8ukO3nFgIqAka3co6Cy3eac-5KnAmqmTnOE-ZZqlsX_zTKRge5s35FuNvnDBKq5FrNtLp1pXKwLnIR5EBmhk7ygUmFNcRsFni6BjvpnWJlVmxGjh1vs7g3QC8pWRRySQP6rr6iVCWsv/s1600/Garden_Chick_celery_carrot.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd8ukO3nFgIqAka3co6Cy3eac-5KnAmqmTnOE-ZZqlsX_zTKRge5s35FuNvnDBKq5FrNtLp1pXKwLnIR5EBmhk7ygUmFNcRsFni6BjvpnWJlVmxGjh1vs7g3QC8pWRRySQP6rr6iVCWsv/s320/Garden_Chick_celery_carrot.png" width="276" /></a>This cutting-edge, ever-expanding, interactive workshop gives you practical, and effective ways to employ chickens in your garden or homestead. Learn how chickens create and enrich topsoil. Understand that not all chicken feed has to come from bags. Learn how chickens forage—and which food they prefer. Use your yard as a mini-pasture (including rotational grazing systems) to build soil fertility, provide fresh graze. Control insects, including ticks and fleas. Integrate different types of fencing by understanding what works, and what doesn't. Jump start your gardens with chicken-assisted biomass recycling that transforms trash into black gold. Begin birdscaping, which is planting trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals that your flock will perpetually love. Best of all, we will talk about getting truly wholesome, nutritious, non-GMO homegrown food for both you and your flock. This is truly a “Think Outside the Coop and Inside Local Food Systems“ workshop.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNYuE6pkqHMukRHsWGG45BnFvoE3RCCBNmH6Uaav712qLjb0rlCgquaWSE9Yh0N2flGXh_5T_uKiD7fVklau_XixTdeT-DVEakPbFpsDU1vK7oqRCxzoLbRVKAJvX4NfHvxfhDqZcl8YQ/s1600/CC+Doctor+Chick+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNYuE6pkqHMukRHsWGG45BnFvoE3RCCBNmH6Uaav712qLjb0rlCgquaWSE9Yh0N2flGXh_5T_uKiD7fVklau_XixTdeT-DVEakPbFpsDU1vK7oqRCxzoLbRVKAJvX4NfHvxfhDqZcl8YQ/s320/CC+Doctor+Chick+web.jpg" width="217" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Primary Poultry Healthcare & The Poultry Pharmacy </b></span><br />
Learn the essential of preventative disease management that utilizes proactive care to keep your flock healthy. You will learn about considerations for housing, air quality, feed, water and special challenges that you might face with your flock. You will learn how to treat the most common diseases as well as wounds and trauma. Includes hands-on administration of treatments and wound care. Learn how to use or make simple, but effective treatments without prescription drugs. This workshop teaches you what you need to know to avoid most veterinary bills.<br />
<br />
<b>On Sunday</b>, she'll be presenting a hands-on workshop ...<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Home Processing Using Tools You Already Have or Can Make</span></b><br />
Learn how to humanely, safely, sanitarily and skillfully process your birds. What to do with those roosters and older hens? Get healthy, high-quality meat and bone broth from your backyard flock.<br />
Topics include:<br />
• The power of knowing your meat source, how it was raised, fed and processed<br />
• The sacred significance of taking a life—so that you can live<br />
• The science & chemistry behind skilled meat processing<br />
• Processing equipment that you have—or could easily borrow<br />
• Hand plucking made fun<br />
• Super simple evisceration & an educational anatomy lesson<br />
• Nutritional differences of meat from heritage vs. commercial breeds<br />
• Cold shorting & effective freezer packaging for long-term storage<br />
<br />
Processing your own chickens for family food is a lost art of our culture. It’s time to bring back this old tradition and combine it with new techniques so that poultry processing becomes common knowledge in homes and communities.<br />
<br />
To learn a little more about Pat, check out this video:
<br />
<br />
<script height="365px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#ec=h5MGo3Yzokn7Yr2RVsWAnKpzTjfvvLwH&pbid=6c21d43b06ee4460a29e40d9542c86ae" width="650px"></script>Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-16068882818467624412015-07-17T07:00:00.000-05:002015-07-17T07:00:07.177-05:00Two post-conference workshops this year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fXYpSYBREZ1crtrP4IPYV7BmGcpD3de-UQhtU-pRA1JZgPGuJvNhqtYswgv6Mgh1H63aOwDLia-dKZxuYhxbDf2vC7PZUJvv3btomBPOp9Nfrp-MxtJ_1LhTdlMWIC8vTshNpd3UwZg9/s1600/buff+orpington+pullet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fXYpSYBREZ1crtrP4IPYV7BmGcpD3de-UQhtU-pRA1JZgPGuJvNhqtYswgv6Mgh1H63aOwDLia-dKZxuYhxbDf2vC7PZUJvv3btomBPOp9Nfrp-MxtJ_1LhTdlMWIC8vTshNpd3UwZg9/s320/buff+orpington+pullet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
In response to requests to actually get on the farm for hands-on learning, this year we are adding a second post-conference workshop on Sunday. Speaker and author Patricia Foreman will be presenting a workshop on home processing of poultry. Pat will start out in the farmhouse with a discussion on processing in the morning. After lunch, everyone will be moving outside for actual chicken processing, which you can watch, or if you prefer, actually get some hands-on experience under Pat's supervision. <a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/chicken-processing-workshop.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> for more details!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YwoMtu1ARDzc_J9vslqtglQVulul2_RDLctlDtVTLim3LsSCYn2CjpuLnBN-PB9QkbQHFvURcNCzPxYBzHAJivGRhPpS7sX_eNqhdhH88xL9E9qqudQWvEB5ydB68Zze9jEHzXYJKn3Y/s1600/abby2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YwoMtu1ARDzc_J9vslqtglQVulul2_RDLctlDtVTLim3LsSCYn2CjpuLnBN-PB9QkbQHFvURcNCzPxYBzHAJivGRhPpS7sX_eNqhdhH88xL9E9qqudQWvEB5ydB68Zze9jEHzXYJKn3Y/s320/abby2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The always popular <a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/goat-workshop.html" target="_blank">goat workshop</a> will be repeated again. Attendees will come face-to-face with goats and walk through the barn and pastures to learn about care, housing, fencing, feeding, nutrition, health, breeding, and birthing. You will also get a quick lesson in milking and in making mozzarella and goat milk soap.<br />
<br />
Each workshop is $89. The goat workshop is limited to only ten participants and has always sold out. The chicken workshop is limited to twelve participants, and as this is the first year, we are expecting it to fill up fast, so <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/fourth-annual-mid-america-homesteading-conference-tickets-15359334182?ref=ebtnebtckt" target="_blank">register soon</a> to avoid missing out.<br />
<br />
<b>Reminder</b> -- register for the Saturday conference by <i>July 31</i> and <b>save $10</b> off the regular price of $89!Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-35135473952052262752015-06-23T13:14:00.000-05:002015-06-30T18:33:46.725-05:00Conference schedule finalized!We are very excited to announce that the schedule for the 2015 conference has been finalized. In addition to some beginner-level topics, this year we are also providing some in-depth sessions presented by experts, which provide more advanced information. Here are just a few of the speakers and topics this year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVz3jp-vVXPFd7GvDZMC509tndLMK6wGVMgyi7OGFRpos6YrjsUmeEZ2GggoEB8KmdaVbwOFDH_xILVEpJc4Yi6_Jb5G1MCTQWlhenNMt2NXMuc_8cSkJoL2xb2GfyWeMY6YS2qR6t4qQg/s1600/Pat-Foreman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVz3jp-vVXPFd7GvDZMC509tndLMK6wGVMgyi7OGFRpos6YrjsUmeEZ2GggoEB8KmdaVbwOFDH_xILVEpJc4Yi6_Jb5G1MCTQWlhenNMt2NXMuc_8cSkJoL2xb2GfyWeMY6YS2qR6t4qQg/s320/Pat-Foreman.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
Patricia Foreman, author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0962464856/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0962464856&linkCode=as2&tag=thrifthomest-20&linkId=FNDN3UWIUKJF3X2Y">City Chicks: Keeping Micro-flocks of Chickens as Garden Helpers, Compost Makers, Bio-reyclers, and Local Food Producers</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thrifthomest-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0962464856" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, will be presenting three sessions on chickens:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Chicken Whispering: Discover the Chicken You Never Knew</li>
<li>Garden Chicks: Growing Food With and For Your Chickens</li>
<li>Primary Poultry Healthcare & The Poultry Pharmacy</li>
</ul>
<div>
Dr. Jennifer Miller is a veterinarian, FAMACHA instructor, and boer goat breeder, and she'll be presenting a session on Non-Chemical Parasite Control in Small Ruminants.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Richard Hungerford, a certified rangeland specialist who presented at our first conference in 2012 is back to present an in-depth session on fencing for livestock.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Donna O'Shaunessy, former owner of South Pork Ranch, will be talking about how to build a house out of grain bin, as well as how to create and run your own on-farm store.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And in response to last year's attendees, Wes King of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance will again be talking about the legal requirements to sell your homegrown products, including new and upcoming legislation that have changed or will change some of the rules.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/conference-schedule.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> to see the complete schedule!</div>
Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-44935349921903263442015-05-27T19:35:00.000-05:002015-05-27T19:35:22.671-05:00The faces and story behind the conference<span style="color: #b45f06;">by Deborah Niemann</span><br />
<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLARuao2MK9s9LA1lD4ry_9XhwstvAhJKCqqFtEmcJQavKNQHoQv5sYInAId8m-udU7_if9eA0nOUAaZJQhJfYKABilzyPtiDr-iFPZH5gc668_btIIbPgxb_2veMtN2gNG4dOE4Oz4EJ/s1600/bread+MEN+2012+PA-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLARuao2MK9s9LA1lD4ry_9XhwstvAhJKCqqFtEmcJQavKNQHoQv5sYInAId8m-udU7_if9eA0nOUAaZJQhJfYKABilzyPtiDr-iFPZH5gc668_btIIbPgxb_2veMtN2gNG4dOE4Oz4EJ/s400/bread+MEN+2012+PA-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deborah speaking at the Mother Earth News Fair in Pennsylvania</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
People sometimes ask who exactly puts the conference together, so here's our story. Back in 2010, the folks at Mother Earth News Magazine decided to have their first ever "Fair" for homesteaders in Pennsylvania. I was one of the lucky people asked to speak at that event, and it changed my life in many ways. For starters, I met the folks at New Society Publishers and began writing books for them. The other thing that happened that weekend was that I realized that there were thousands of people in the world like me! In my little corner of Illinois, our family is quite the anomaly, as we are surrounded by conventional corn and soybean fields. The organizers and speakers at that event were overwhelmed by the attendance, which topped out at about 12,000 for the weekend. Apparently there were a lot of people who were excited to get more information about this lifestyle!
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjP_nqXAsSSy31kz7dvoKjayEJUXJVJDcfPjHsg_A7IfEW9wDTnspbWfqI8zXY4e2dEbJbg9YaLdVqwKjlMMnZn1w0DmAh5N4JuFXM5B6v1aR-ECtUgciT52mG5kEd6qWiiV5gic8xj1oZ_3IgC2JOtnaWRPuc83pWbsWzT-nlh7lRKhMtYep-ZuvR1pm0cNNG4Uos" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="homesteading logo" border="0" src="http://www.ogdenpubs.com/uploadedImages/Media_Library/2013/MEN/IHEM-logo_forWeb.jpg" height="267" width="320" /></a><br />
The following year, there were two fairs -- one again in Pennsylvania and one in Washington State. And by the time the PA fair rolled around again, the folks at Mother Earth News had decided to declare September as International Homesteading Education Month, and they were encouraging others to start having events in their areas. One of the things they kept hearing was that there were many people who wanted to attend such events, but they simply could not travel very far to do so. As soon as I heard about Homesteading Education Month, I started planning the first Mid-America Homesteading Conference for September of 2012.<br />
<br />
We decided to have the event at Joliet Junior College because my husband, Mike Boehle, is a professor there, so he knows his way around, understands the technology, and knows who to contact for what. It shortened the learning curve for us in terms of the venue. They were also willing to let us cancel at the last minute in case no one registered. (Thankfully, that was never a problem!) I then began searching for speakers and creating a schedule, as well as this entire website and our Facebook page. Sounds simple enough, right?<br />
<br />
It turned out to be a LOT more work than I expected! A couple of enterprising people contacted me and asked if we needed any volunteers the day of the event, and I said yes, which was a very smart move because when the whole thing was done, I realized the day would have been complete chaos without their help.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojH8oAxiCduxJ3hGjIbxvs9dPJxxnsK5DWGM2CzJwnOJmgXNU-Aac9iTyMxiy0CTJTPtKKuX9Heu9fwHlEW6WdJVlw0dYKcdxYrR_5LS54sdx8tWnMCy8zm9zHauXcAiTTineSmeC_2dZ/s1600/Miss+Effie+speaking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojH8oAxiCduxJ3hGjIbxvs9dPJxxnsK5DWGM2CzJwnOJmgXNU-Aac9iTyMxiy0CTJTPtKKuX9Heu9fwHlEW6WdJVlw0dYKcdxYrR_5LS54sdx8tWnMCy8zm9zHauXcAiTTineSmeC_2dZ/s320/Miss+Effie+speaking.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cathy Lafrenz speaking at the 2012 conference</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The conference officially falls under the umbrella of our farm's educational program. <a href="http://www.antiquityoaks.com/" target="_blank">Antiquity Oaks</a> started as our family's homestead, but as our children have grown up and moved away, our focus has turned to educating others through on-farm classes, books, online blogs and webinars, and through this conference. Although most of our educational offerings feature my husband or me as the instructor, the conference is an opportunity for us to bring other speakers to the area, including other published authors and homesteaders who bring additional knowledge and experience to the table.<br />
<br />
Putting the conference together is truly a labor of love, and each year at the end of the day, as we are chatting with speakers and attendees, we are reminded of why we keep doing it. It's educational, inspiring, and just plain fun! And as we are working on our fourth annual conference, we hope to continue doing it for many years to come!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/register.html" target="_blank">Registration</a> <i>for this year's conference is now open.</i>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ogdenpubs.com%2FuploadedImages%2FMedia_Library%2F2013%2FMEN%2FIHEM-logo_forWeb.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjP_nqXAsSSy31kz7dvoKjayEJUXJVJDcfPjHsg_A7IfEW9wDTnspbWfqI8zXY4e2dEbJbg9YaLdVqwKjlMMnZn1w0DmAh5N4JuFXM5B6v1aR-ECtUgciT52mG5kEd6qWiiV5gic8xj1oZ_3IgC2JOtnaWRPuc83pWbsWzT-nlh7lRKhMtYep-ZuvR1pm0cNNG4Uos" -->Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-83330998806185124432015-05-12T14:57:00.000-05:002015-05-12T14:57:32.614-05:00And the winner is ...Kristin is the winner of the $20 gift certificate for the conference bookstore.<br />
<br />
We are still working on firming up the last couple of speakers for this year's conference, although we do have a partial list of speakers available on the <a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/speakers.html" target="_blank">speaker page</a> of the website so you can see who has already confirmed.<br />
<br />
Confirmed sessions this year include:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Value-added products with livestock</li>
<li>Fencing for livestock</li>
<li>Non-chemical parasite control in sheep and goats</li>
<li>Raising goats</li>
<li>Permaculture</li>
<li>Wild mushrooms</li>
<li>Legally selling farm products</li>
<li>Vermicomposting</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
And our DIY track is especially exciting, as you'll learn how to:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Build a grain-bin home</li>
<li>Make and use medicinal herbs</li>
<li>Make cheese</li>
<li>Make goat milk soap</li>
<li>Make lip balm</li>
<li>Create and run an on-farm store</li>
</ul>
Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-34718164723859771072015-05-01T07:00:00.000-05:002015-05-01T07:00:10.508-05:00Registration now open for 4th annual conference!You can now register for the Fourth Annual Mid-America Homesteading Conference, and if you register by midnight, Friday, May 8, you'll be entered into a drawing and could win a $20 gift certificate for the conference bookstore, where you can buy books on permaculture, beekeeping, animal husbandry, or dozens of other topics, as well as goat milk soap, lambskins, and Shetland wool rugs, roving, or yarn. We'll also have cheesemaking supplies (rennet, citric acid, cultures, and cheesecloth) again.<br />
<br />
Although the schedule is not complete yet, it will be within a few days. We've already confirmed sessions on:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHY2TeU1AbGj-Y1x5GkKMZgO7ozWqeWCBQENU-wU_z_aC8QVrznOAuV0lXTUD_CFJvsTm7vTM5Md9tmM9zIvtxIv9MPfBM35boTsXlGQ8v9ZpvSdVeIOsj2IrcJU5Kp-7FjAr779GQmNeW/s1600/farm+crawl+2012+set+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHY2TeU1AbGj-Y1x5GkKMZgO7ozWqeWCBQENU-wU_z_aC8QVrznOAuV0lXTUD_CFJvsTm7vTM5Md9tmM9zIvtxIv9MPfBM35boTsXlGQ8v9ZpvSdVeIOsj2IrcJU5Kp-7FjAr779GQmNeW/s1600/farm+crawl+2012+set+up.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li>Legally selling farm products</li>
<li>Raising goats</li>
<li>Raising chickens</li>
<li>Intro to Permaculture</li>
<li>Fencing</li>
<li>Parasites in sheep and goats</li>
<li>Mushrooms</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
We will also have live demonstrations so you can learn how to ...<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Make soap</li>
<li>Make mozzarella</li>
<li>Make lip balm</li>
</ul>
<br />
And that's only about half of the sessions. Keep an eye on the website over the next couple months as we give you details on the topics and the speakers we'll have at this year's conference.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fourth-annual-mid-america-homesteading-conference-tickets-15359334182" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the registration form! And remember, registration is fully refundable up until July 31.<br />
<br />Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-74701208234993167752015-04-28T06:00:00.000-05:002015-04-28T06:00:06.431-05:00Video recap of 2014 conference<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If you're wondering what it's like at one of our conferences, this video gives you an idea ...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/a4ulMtHuaUA/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a4ulMtHuaUA?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-31121602282047918622015-04-12T17:15:00.000-05:002015-04-12T17:15:16.805-05:00Mark your calendars for the Fourth Annual Mid-America Homesteading Conference<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPme-boV9Qq90SS_PGO-AI5Ma3b1b5Ts1DCXTB-1Nnc03oJ2JxAuWNLw53F6_4BM0QoZc7gatp0YPEiq5ekZrJIrz9O0AFjy7wQw92sD_-EZKHKY5cDyYtNtfq1ag1nNKpOL1yQHzmiv1H/s1600/soap+making+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPme-boV9Qq90SS_PGO-AI5Ma3b1b5Ts1DCXTB-1Nnc03oJ2JxAuWNLw53F6_4BM0QoZc7gatp0YPEiq5ekZrJIrz9O0AFjy7wQw92sD_-EZKHKY5cDyYtNtfq1ag1nNKpOL1yQHzmiv1H/s1600/soap+making+2.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
The 2015 Homesteading Conference will be at Joliet Junior College on Saturday, September 5. The schedule is already taking shape as we have confirmed sessions on livestock fencing, value-added products with sheep and goats, raising goats, making soap, and more.<br />
<br />
If you have ideas or suggestions for speakers or topics, let us know!<br />
<br />
The Hampton Inn will again be the conference hotel. They are offering us a special rate of $109 per night. For more details, check out the <a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/hotel.html" target="_blank">hotel</a> page of our website.<br />
<br />
Early bird conference registration will open May 1.Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-32770775641500553712014-09-22T09:00:00.000-05:002014-09-23T21:01:19.910-05:00Third annual conference a success!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43CjDrBUhr9QhkS2xpEnwZSWkrGbrpBTCY-p1eJ11gFI5wxpxMB0te1DkaFz6aPurPHO2jBrp3hrq1UIky2EXhBPksAejHcrjYiXKn1_GhkdndkWoFAp6cX6u-_IZly2YB122JXYuOscs/s1600/2014+Mid-America+Homesteading+Conference+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43CjDrBUhr9QhkS2xpEnwZSWkrGbrpBTCY-p1eJ11gFI5wxpxMB0te1DkaFz6aPurPHO2jBrp3hrq1UIky2EXhBPksAejHcrjYiXKn1_GhkdndkWoFAp6cX6u-_IZly2YB122JXYuOscs/s1600/2014+Mid-America+Homesteading+Conference+copy.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
Thanks to an amazing line-up of speakers and a group of enthusiastic attendees, our third annual conference went off without a hitch! Here are some of the comments from the evaluations ...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>This conference rocked!</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Bring questions -- the friendly speakers are happy to answer them.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Lots of great information on sustainable living</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Great to learn about different aspects of homesteading</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Lots of good info and networking opportunities</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Great way to learn from people with life experience</i></blockquote>
<i>
</i>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Even if you don't live on a farm, there is something to learn.</i></blockquote>
<i>
</i>When asked what their favorite session was, most people listed more than one, and some attendees even said, "all of them!" We also received lots of compliments about the lunch, which was catered by Chipotle this year.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYZ4Nn8ikNcjrRWzzZ3Rr-SH77xrZkYfaCokphEpwArLolYEp57Rvssa9WkClZQXxHJOQxJP4vstL1-iMXCFRIRhHo0IuApClQ7QJ3VIkvMBX50JVeHvnSNHPpskYSNLZ_UcKv-ZV_ewe/s1600/conf+Vickie+poultry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYZ4Nn8ikNcjrRWzzZ3Rr-SH77xrZkYfaCokphEpwArLolYEp57Rvssa9WkClZQXxHJOQxJP4vstL1-iMXCFRIRhHo0IuApClQ7QJ3VIkvMBX50JVeHvnSNHPpskYSNLZ_UcKv-ZV_ewe/s1600/conf+Vickie+poultry.jpg" height="191" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victoria Miller, author of <i>Pure Poultry</i>, talks about poultry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We want to give a big thanks to <a href="http://www.premier1supplies.com/" target="_blank">Premier1 Supplies</a> for their generous sponsorship, which allowed us to bring in Victoria Miller, author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0865717532/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0865717532&linkCode=as2&tag=thrifthomest-20&linkId=P6E4VZBHFYW7M7Z5" target="_blank">Pure Poultry</a>, who spoke about living off-grid, canning, and of course, poultry.<br />
<br />
Thanks to <a href="http://modernfarmer.com/" target="_blank">Modern Farmer</a> magazine for providing all attendees with a free copy of their magazine.<br />
<br />
Plans for the 2015 conference are already underway. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, be sure to let us know by commenting below.Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-42339722639576907262014-08-19T06:00:00.000-05:002014-08-19T06:00:06.502-05:00Participate in second annual seed swap!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPyBgSP1WmZdLNh4kqoAReBopSEfVplNCxc1nmyZYXi65NK-h0Hfk2l1O7hHhtzGQezAzGbHVTdP34IMhcox59m7TlaoLdK9sySnTnbysYsnNFdzbMfQm3oq-bmjxh_CZoowu7vY6Adzz/s1600/rainbow+inca+corn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPyBgSP1WmZdLNh4kqoAReBopSEfVplNCxc1nmyZYXi65NK-h0Hfk2l1O7hHhtzGQezAzGbHVTdP34IMhcox59m7TlaoLdK9sySnTnbysYsnNFdzbMfQm3oq-bmjxh_CZoowu7vY6Adzz/s1600/rainbow+inca+corn.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Last year's seed swap at the conference was so successful that we decided to do it again this year. How does it work?<br />
<br />
If you have a few too many seeds of a particular variety, or if you just want to share one of your favorites, bring them with you to the conference. We will have a table set aside where you can leave them in the morning. As the day goes on, check back to see what seeds others have left. Feel free to take seeds that you want. You can bring seeds in their original packets, or if you'd like to spread the joy, you can put a few in envelopes that are clearly marked with the variety and the year they were harvested, as well as any notes you want to include on growing, harvesting, or other tips for success. You might also want to bring a few empty envelopes in case you only want to take a few seeds from a particular packet.Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-78710148342874826052014-08-08T06:00:00.000-05:002014-08-08T06:00:03.381-05:00Buying, selling, and everything in betweenWant to purchase your own farm property, but don’t know what to look for? Or perhaps you’re ready to begin selling produce, or expanding your homestead to include sheep and want to get the best information to be profitable? Donna Z. Lehrer is a former environmental specialist for the oil industry turned sustainable small farmer, with a wealth of knowledge to share. And, lucky us, she’s doing just that at this year’s conference! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmsI5hrIez2_BnqTMQyyM6haAYl1T3-O2OeMX7rAJA_JvtPiKAotHyfMy75hd9q34sD113Zyk4jQul1TJK2l4tcOdN4_xBgeY5nlGEtcI140Aw5ejvnpnIQb85k5WOhtoQjfXIKA_VapT/s1600/farm+pics%2C+paul%26lyn+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmsI5hrIez2_BnqTMQyyM6haAYl1T3-O2OeMX7rAJA_JvtPiKAotHyfMy75hd9q34sD113Zyk4jQul1TJK2l4tcOdN4_xBgeY5nlGEtcI140Aw5ejvnpnIQb85k5WOhtoQjfXIKA_VapT/s1600/farm+pics%2C+paul%26lyn+008.jpg" height="299" width="320" /></a></div>
Donna will be presenting four sessions that take you from soil to market, covering sustainable gardening, sheep farming, and the issues you need to consider before purchasing a homestead property. Her tips will help you develop your farm’s unique identity, source heirloom seeds, design pastures, and evaluate land for sustainable farming potential.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0W5FN9gz72KxFZ5e2eVjsuxacoYucxUj1IFsafhg801mTN39qMi6QQClE1f7f3GKuyk87qhyphenhyphenPIx2pUCQLoqsBU5sbkE5BDtzboLY0SAHUlCuAxNYAoCbjAQ11rLhY8IuTuO2nQRePsGF/s1600/N4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0W5FN9gz72KxFZ5e2eVjsuxacoYucxUj1IFsafhg801mTN39qMi6QQClE1f7f3GKuyk87qhyphenhyphenPIx2pUCQLoqsBU5sbkE5BDtzboLY0SAHUlCuAxNYAoCbjAQ11rLhY8IuTuO2nQRePsGF/s1600/N4.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
Donna’s unique blend of professional expertise and years of hands-on experience will offer tools and resources to attendees at every stage in the homesteading process. In addition to her environment training, she is a Kane County Farm Bureau Board of Director and former member to the Illinois Governor’s Local Food and Farm Product Task Force. You can find more information about Donna and her homestead, Lamb of God farm, on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LocalFoodAndFiber?fref=nf"> her facebook page</a>, and <a href="http://www.esthersplacefibers.com/logf.html">Esther’s Place</a>, the project of Donna’s equally intrepid daughter Natasha.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-65989619170539267382014-07-31T10:26:00.000-05:002014-07-31T10:26:15.210-05:00Early bird registration deadline is today!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtElsjOF1j4gdlpsl77O1AHxj5BnP7x8aN8QEunH5tI4QtFKTIN5L_u3cAqqURwMX_PVFE7Kp7mHAWrrejn6_f64VukIdRgVR_t5XEPx1eq7p1xJh8-VBeJbtYIgP_Anjch4iKumsbVoNB/s1600/Early+Bird+discount+for+Mid-America+Homesteading+Conference.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtElsjOF1j4gdlpsl77O1AHxj5BnP7x8aN8QEunH5tI4QtFKTIN5L_u3cAqqURwMX_PVFE7Kp7mHAWrrejn6_f64VukIdRgVR_t5XEPx1eq7p1xJh8-VBeJbtYIgP_Anjch4iKumsbVoNB/s1600/Early+Bird+discount+for+Mid-America+Homesteading+Conference.png" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
If you want to save $10 off the registration for the Third Annual Mid-America Homesteading Conference, click on over to the registration page right away because the deadline is midnight tonight.<br />
<br />
What's so great about this year's conference? We have some awesome speakers lined up to talk about some exciting topics ...<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Victoria Miller, author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0865717532/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0865717532&linkCode=as2&tag=thrifthomest-20&linkId=P6E4VZBHFYW7M7Z5" target="_blank">Pure Poultry</a>, will be talking about living off-grid, raising poultry, and water bath and pressure canning.</li>
<li>Ben Nelson will be talking about creating your own electric vehicles on a budget.</li>
<li>Wes King of Illinois Stewardship Alliance will give you the latest information on how to legally sell what you produce on your homestead.</li>
<li>Mike Boehle will demonstrate how to make cold-process goat milk soap, as well as mozzarella cheese. "But what if I don't have goats?" you ask. No problem! Mike will explain how you can use milk from the store.</li>
</ul>
<div>
And we will also be talking about beekeeping, raising sheep and goats, gardening, selling at a farmer's market, raising mushrooms, and more! To see all of the other educational sessions planned, <a href="http://www.homesteadingconference.com/p/conference-schedule.html" target="_blank">click here</a> to see the schedule for the day!</div>
Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768650300616337784.post-82421719200800514662014-07-22T10:00:00.000-05:002014-07-28T21:46:34.502-05:00More from Victoria Miller on living off-grid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX67nKEsb7gdQzxDHScY_1KYPPYrd1xIoIYiY90C9q4jiT89k6UfuFlpgRBMy6zZ7P6tWdMZotVlVH2L4TLOnvGsj1NQPoFcFqlCm8Mef-xwODCwLZn5033bGekJKsLn6y-GJX4LFAaVWo/s1600/house+in+august.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX67nKEsb7gdQzxDHScY_1KYPPYrd1xIoIYiY90C9q4jiT89k6UfuFlpgRBMy6zZ7P6tWdMZotVlVH2L4TLOnvGsj1NQPoFcFqlCm8Mef-xwODCwLZn5033bGekJKsLn6y-GJX4LFAaVWo/s1600/house+in+august.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We recently had a little chat with Victoria Miller, one of the speakers at this year's conference, about the realities of living off the grid. <br />
<br />
<b>What exactly does living off the grid mean for you? Do you have electricity?</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKfC_Qb5_ybnMqS8htsXrtRR55ZBPBo2J6TB4JWDvihFMkD_sQa7bWYbeANUzi245xRTV3_X2oLO6kBXXVm3rMmakqsGbbTj7zWfxb-RPWOL_5gbhH1WeTkg6BbzHwAjB8fDBdDuXlg6Q/s1600/Victoria+Miller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKfC_Qb5_ybnMqS8htsXrtRR55ZBPBo2J6TB4JWDvihFMkD_sQa7bWYbeANUzi245xRTV3_X2oLO6kBXXVm3rMmakqsGbbTj7zWfxb-RPWOL_5gbhH1WeTkg6BbzHwAjB8fDBdDuXlg6Q/s1600/Victoria+Miller.jpg" /></a></div>
Living "off the grid" means that we don't have electricity, at least not full-time, since we're not hooked
up to the local power grid. We do have a generator, but we use it only when we're doing laundry; at the
same time we plug in all our rechargeable things so they're charging while the generator is running. We
are almost finished installing our solar electric system, at which point we'll be able to run the washing
machine without using the generator. <br />
<br />
Currently, just about everything in the house runs on propane: the hot water heater, a gas stove/oven,
gas refrigerator/freezer, and gas lamps on the walls. We heat the house with two woodstoves about 8
months of the year. We have no TV, and the only Internet we have is dial-up; we never had high-speed
Internet even when we were in Seattle, though, so it isn't a big deal.<br />
<br />
<b>Why do you live off-grid?</b><br />
<br />
Well, my husband David's grandparents bought the property back in 1936. It's two miles up the hill
from the Dungeness Fish Hatchery, and the hatchery is where the electrical service ends. We weren't
actually looking deliberately to live off the grid, our property just happens to be off the grid. Still, even
if we could afford to connect to the grid, we would choose not to. We like not having utility bills, and
have found that life without full-time electricity is actually quite rewarding.<br />
<br />
<b>Do you prefer living off-grid, or do you miss having unlimited power at your disposal?
</b><br />
<br />
There are times when I wish I could just plug something in like everyone else, but that doesn't happen
too often because I'm pretty used to things as they are. And once our solar system is fully functional, I
WILL be plugging those things in. It's surprising, really, what you find you can do without quite easily,
once you get used to the idea. And unlimited power always comes at a cost, both in power bills and
increased dependence.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~~</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0865717532/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0865717532&linkCode=as2&tag=thrifthomest-20&linkId=TJPUWUAW224XGIHL" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0865717532&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thrifthomest-20" /></a>If you have ever dreamed of living off-grid, don't miss this opportunity to hear from someone who is doing it! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pure-Poultry/494506243942260" target="_blank">Victoria Miller</a>, author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0865717532/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0865717532&linkCode=as2&tag=thrifthomest-20&linkId=P6E4VZBHFYW7M7Z5">Pure Poultry: Living Well with Heritage Chickens, Turkeys and Ducks</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thrifthomest-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0865717532" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, will be presenting four sessions at this year's conference. She will talk about water bath canning, pressure canning, raising poultry, and living off the grid. Vicki became a canning whiz specifically because they live off the grid and don't have a big freezer for preserving the harvest.<br />
<br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #6a6a6a; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;">This post contains an affiliate link. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thrifthomest-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0865717532" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.com1