Homesteading
Homesteading is basically the notion that we can learn to create a more sustainable and healthy environment by growing and raising much of our own food and reducing our dependence on large corporations and mass consumerism.
Homestead Heritage
Homestead Heritage is a working farm offering classes in everything from beekeeping to soap making to organic gardening. It is located in Elm Mott, Texas, just north of Waco. We recently attended the three day homesteading course and learned tons of information about creating a sustainable homestead--really valuable information that would be difficult to learn from a book. They also have a fantastic deli and bakery that is open for lunch Monday-Saturday.
Book:
Kingsolver, Barbara (2007). Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. Harper Collins: New York.
In this nonfiction work, Kingsolver chronicles the experiences of her family over a one year period as they choose to buy, grow, and eat only food grown within 300 miles of their home. Kingsolver injects humor throughout, as well as interesting facts about food production and tips for readers interesting in eating locally as well.
Olde English Southdown Babydoll Sheep
North American Babydoll Southdown Babydoll Sheep Association and Registry
Links to other Babydoll Sheep Breeders:
Chickens
Murray McMurray Hatchery
Everything you ever wanted to know about chickens, and an excellent resource for mail-order chicks. They also are a great source for egg cartons made from recycled plastic--cute and earth friendly as well!
Ideal Poultry
Another good local source for ordering day old chicks located in Cameron, TX.
Gardening
Obviously there are tons of resources about gardening out there, but these are a couple that we really like.
Gourmet Garlic Gardens
Bob Anderson is the "Garlic Man," a garlic enthusiast and grower of hundreds of varieties of garlic in Bangs, Texas. He offers lots of great advice about growing garlic and ships bulbs for eating and planting across the United States.
White Flower Farm
White Flower Farm is a mail-order plant company specializing in bulbs like tuplips, daffodils, etc. Their prices are higher than some, but they offer some neat varieties that you don't see everywhere, and they have a fantastic catalogue with great pictures.
SeedSavers Exchange
SeedSavers Exchange is a great company that sells heirloom variety vegetable and flower seeds.
Womack Nursery-DeLeon, TX
"Womack Nursery has been family owned & operated, since 1937, with an ongoing commitment to provide value an excellence to their customers with field fresh trees, plants and supplies."
Great Magazines for Hobby Farmers
Mother Earth News
An excellent magazine filled with tips on healthy living, organic gardening, and "green" living in general.
Hobby Farms
"Hobby Farms is the magazine for rural enthusiasts – hobby farmers, small production farmers and those passionate about the country. Hobby Farms caters to all aspects of rural life – from small farm equipment, to livestock, to crops. Hobby Farms highlights “rural living for pleasure and profit.”
Countryside & Small Stock Journal
"Countryside is the truly original country magazine (established 1917) serving that branch of the Voluntary Simplicity movement seeking greater self-reliance (homesteading), with emphasis on home food production. This includes gardening, small-scale livestock, cooking, food preservation, resource conservation, recycling, frugality, money management, alternative energy, old-time skills, home business, and much more."
Fair Trade Clothing
We've recently discovered a wonderful clothing company based in Madison, WI that sells beautiful, stylish clothing for men and women that is produced in factories throughout the world whose employees are paid a fair, living wage. It is not easy to find fair trade clothing at an affordable price, and Fair Indigo is one of the few clothing companies worldwide that is committed to fair trade. Check it out!
Social Justice/Anti-Poverty
Oxfam America is an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. Together with individuals and local groups in more than 120 countries, Oxfam saves lives, helps people overcome poverty, and fights for social justice.
Heifer International works with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. Heifer's strategy is to “pass on the gift.” As people share their animals’ offspring with others – along with their knowledge, resources, and skills – an expanding network of hope, dignity, and self-reliance is created that reaches around the globe.
The hungersite.com is an online store that sponsors fair trade merchandise and campaigns to reduce hunger and poverty around the world. They have some great gifts and t-shirts with social justice messages.
Syracuse Cultural Workers (SCW) is a peace and justice publisher. They create and publish visual materials, like calendars, posters, and cards, that are feminist, lesbian/gay allied, racially inclusive, and honor elders and children.
www.syracuseculturalworkers.com
Miscellaneous Great Resources
Craigslist
Craigslist can be an amazing local resource in finding salvaged and reusable materials. We've had great luck turning trash into treasure on Craigslist. We've also found many of our farm animals using this resource. Careful, it's addictive!
