r/homestead

My cat peed on two 20 lb bags of basmati rice. What to do with it? I hate to just throw it out, can I reuse it some way for fertilizer, compost, mulch, idk?? 🤣It's uncooked and I'm afraid wild birds will eat it and die if I just toss in my compost pile. Lol pls help I hate food waste so this is difficult for me 😭

If we want a homestead with ducks how do we keep them from flying away?

Three recycled plastic rain barrels just arrived, & I’m about to connect them to my gutter downspouts. I’ve heard that some people keep goldfish in their rain barrels to eat mosquitoes. First, how do I keep them from getting too hot? Secondly, do I need to feed them otherwise? And, lastly, is this a real thing? I want to be able to water my veggies and perennials more sustainably, especially since we’re in a drought where I live.

Hello, I’m posting here because this is one of the few popular subreddits focused on nature, and since gardening enthusiasts are usually animal lovers too, I figured I’d find the answers I’m looking for here. I’ve been raising chickens in my backyard for several years, and a few weeks ago, I had some chicks. Since I didn’t vaccinate them, they’ve unfortunately contracted Marek’s disease; in other words, they’re unfortunately doomed, and I want to spare them any suffering. That’s why I’ve set out to find a way to kill them without causing them pain (some people break their chickens’ necks, but for chicks this might not work well given their flexibility and could cause them great suffering; others suggest putting them in the cold, but I still feel like they’ll suffer). After several hours of searching online, I came across a solution: carbon monoxide (it seems that it doesn’t cause the animal any pain and that it falls asleep peacefully), but I don’t know how to make it or where to buy it. If anyone can provide a tutorial or suggest another solution, I’d be grateful.

Thanks in advance.

Title is the main question.

I'm 23, and in an interesting position. Due to being really determined to be wealthy I've worked full time since 16, actively invested the entire time, and later switched to wanting to homestead instead of live an affluent materialistic life.

This switch led me to buying a dilapidated home on a half acre to learn to rebuild by myself. It's been 2.5 years since I made this purchase, I'm quite close to done, and recently got a job making 2.5x my previous pay, bringing my income to 130k. This trial home has only taken so long due to saving for materials, now that I make more the reality of securing the 50+ acres I really want is coming faster than initially thought. I have all the skill and realistically will have most all the money needed for this in 3 to 5 years

My goal is to live a frankly modern life utility wise, but to spend all the hours that I'd be at work instead working on my own projects. I've got a rough design of what I'm planning to build myself, including utilities. The idea is an ultra insulated structure, built with maintenance and energy efficiency as the core pillars. Using a horizontal geothermal ERV system to achieve premium indoor air quality while keeping energy use low is the crux of my HVAC, plumbing will be rather standard well and septic. Electrical I've been working with a master electrical to spec out a design that will meet my current usage needs and be transferable to a future off grid home.

I've done most all the planning I can think of, built rough budgets for the construction of a forever home, figured out generally where I wish to reside, and all those sort of costs. I've got the skills to build an entire structure, have rebuilt several cars, and in general and a solid tradesperson with mediocre finish work.

However the stuff I can't budget or plan for is the day to day, and that's what I'm asking about.

If you and the opportunity of earning ~200,000 USD before starting your homestead what would you have done with it, what would you have bought before hand, and what would be the best ways to speed up a self sufficient lifestyle.

… I just have some questions!! I’m having a hard time finding information about this poking around on google.

I feel confident about setting up a proper filtration system, and gathering hardwood to burn.

I’m more concerned about handling it and trouble shooting.

How do you determine the strength of your lye? PH strips or something? I think I want a more concrete indicator than an egg, and boy is that an expensive measuring tool.

If it’s too high… what would you dilute it with? Would I have to make a weaker lye to conjoin it?

If it’s too low… would I run it through filtration again to soak up more ash goodness? I saw a woman online reduce it on her stove, I feel as though that would render my pot toxic, and unable to be used for food anymore.

Lastly, why do I have to use rainwater? Why not just tap?

I am determined to make my own lye, you cannot deter me from doing so, please just guide me to doing it correctly and safely!!

If there’s anything I haven’t asked, that you think I should know, please tell me!