Author: Mic Roland

Dismal Hatch & Mailorder

The very same day that the bobcat took our rooster, I started collecting eggs that the hens were laying. A hen can remain fertile many days after a mating, so I figured (hoped) that the eggs they laid that same…

Bobcat Strikes: Rooster Lost

A sad day at the homestead. Our rooster was taken by the bobcat, and in mid-afternoon too! I was in the house when he struck. I had been out in the front of the house, cutting up fallen branches with…

Pine Fries: A Survival Food

If you’ve read my books, or listened to the podcast/audio version, you might be asking, are pine fries really a thing?  I didn’t make them up. They are a thing. Actually, some Native American tribes were known for their eating…

Well Hand-Pump Maintenance

A hand pump on your well is an excellent off-grid alternative. Mine is about as simple as they come, but still requires periodic maintenance. This month, I had to replace the bottom seal. I coaxed a few more months of…

Building a Hügelkultur raised bed

For a while now, I’ve wanted to try out some Hügelkutur in my gardening. This Spring provided an opportunity. This post is a step-by-step of my experiment. I’m always looking for where else around the property I might grow things.…