Honey Bees
Information on honey bee care, feeding, maintenance, and overall beekeeping.
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How We Prepare Our Virginia Homestead for Heatwaves
With summer heat approaching in Virginia, homesteaders must prepare for extreme temperatures to ensure the safety of livestock and gardens. Strategies include providing hydration with electrolytes, creating shaded areas, adjusting routines, and offering cooling treats. Proactive preparation is vital for… Continue reading
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What I Wish I Knew Before Raising Cornish Cross Chickens
Raising Cornish Cross chickens offers rewarding yet challenging lessons in homesteading. This endeavor reveals the complexities of growth rates, health management, and emotional connections to meat birds. Successful care involves specific feed management and awareness of potential health issues. Ultimately,… Continue reading
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The Science of Baking Powder vs. Baking Soda: How They Make Your Baked Goods Rise
The post recounts a baking journey that transformed from following recipes to understanding the science behind them, particularly focusing on baking powder and baking soda. These leavening agents create gas bubbles that help baked goods rise. Understanding their differences and… Continue reading
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What I Learned After 3 Weeks Running a Farmstand
Operating a farmstand involves much more than selling products; it requires effective time management, flexibility, community engagement, and strategic planning. Key insights include the unpredictability of sales, importance of presentation, and the need for inventory tracking. Ultimately, despite challenges, the… Continue reading
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Open Feeding Bees: A Simple Solution When Your Hives Need a Helping Hand
Open feeding is a quick and effective method for supporting bees during times of food scarcity on a homestead. Instead of individually feeding hives, sugar syrup is placed in an open area for bees to forage. While it has advantages,… Continue reading
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Wry Neck in Chickens: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How We’re Treating It
Chick arrival day brings excitement for homesteaders, but it can also introduce challenges, such as discovering wry neck, a neurological condition in chicks. Quick intervention with vitamins and supportive care is crucial for recovery. Close observation and preventive measures can… Continue reading
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Feeding Bees in Spring: A Practical Guide for Healthy, Thriving Hives
Spring brings renewed energy to beekeeping as colonies shift from survival to growth modes. Feeding bees is crucial during this time, as it stimulates brood production and prevents starvation. A 1:1 sugar-water mixture is ideal, with protein supplements if needed.… Continue reading
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How to Tell If You Have a Broody Hen (A Friendly Homestead Guide)
When One Hen Decides She’s Done Laying… and Ready to Be a Mama If you’ve ever opened your coop and thought, “Why is she still in there?”—you’re not alone. One day your hen is laying eggs like normal, and the next,… Continue reading
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April Homestead Update: Spring Is in Full Swing at J & J Homestead
Spring has arrived, marking a bustling season for the homestead. The farmstand is open on weekends, balancing work and garden planting, with lessons learned about time management. Projects like cleaning coops and expanding the turkey run are underway. Upcoming tasks… Continue reading
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The Best Compliment I’ve Ever Received
The best compliment received by a homesteader was about the care evident in their work at J & J Homestead. This appreciation highlights the importance of intention over perfection in homesteading, acknowledging the unseen efforts behind producing quality products. Ultimately,… Continue reading
