Staying healthy should be your ultimate goal regardless of where you live. Your health becomes a goal if you live off the grid, far from medical facilities. Fortunately, basil can help tackle many chronic conditions and other diseases.

Read on for detailed information about basil and its health benefits. We will also provide some precautions or safety tips when using this herb. Let’s dive right in!

Basil: Description, Distribution, and Habitat

Basil is a fragrant herb known for its royal status across cultures worldwide. Its scientific name is Ocinum basilicum. These are all of Greek origin. Ocinum means an aromatic herb, and basilicum is king.

Basil is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is characterized by square stems and rounded, slightly pointed leaves that gently curve to form a pointed tip. The leaves are generally light green, but some varieties have purple patches.

This annual herb grows to 50 inches tall, depending on the variety and growing conditions. And we didn’t mention that more than 60 varieties of basil exist. All these differ in scents and flavor. The most common basil varieties include the following:

Sweet Basil

This is the most common type of basil variety. It is known for its rounded leaves and spicy clove flavor that gardeners and cooks like. Sweet basil is the best choice if you want plenty of shoots for pesto and other recipes. It produces large leaves and grows up to 4 inches tall.

Bush/Greek Basil

Bush or Greet Basil is also known as the little leaf or fine leaf basil because of its leaf structure that is compact and round. This variety emits a strong basil fragrance and flavor and can be used the same way as sweet basil or any other.

Thai Basil

Thai basil is one of the crucial ingredients in most Asian cuisines. You can also use it in salads, curries, noodle dishes, stir-fries, etc. This variety is distinguishable from others by its deep green leaves, red-brown stems, and flowers.

Cinnamon Basil

Cinnamon basil is another variety for your delicious dishes because of its mild flavor with hints of Cinnamon aroma. Its beautiful purple and pink flowers can make a statement in your garden!

Lettuce Basil

Lettuce basil also works great in salads and other leafy dishes. The leaves are about 4 inches wide and 6-10 inches long. As the name suggests, the leaves are brilliant green and crinkled, resembling lettuce leaves.

At maturity, basil produces small white flowers arranged along the spike that emerges from the stem tip. These flowers drop off after pollination, giving way to seed development in 4 round, dry structures. Basil seeds are small and dark, and edible.

Holy Basil

Holy basil, known as Ocimum sanctum or tulsi, is a herbaceous annual plant in the mint family. It is native to India and grows to a height of 3 feet. The leaves are opposite, oval-shaped, and 2-4 cm long.

They have a purplish hue and are covered in tiny hairs. The flowers are white or pink and grow in clusters. It is used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a variety of conditions, including anxiety, stress, and headaches.

Nutrients

Basil is a highly nutritious herb rich in vitamins and minerals. That is the reason for its use as an ingredient in many cuisines. It also has traces of irons and a wide range of antioxidants.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 2.6 grams of basil has the following nutritional constituents:

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Distribution and Habitat

Basil is native to Asia (Iran, India, Pakistan, Thailand, etc.) and central Africa. It can be found in the wild in tropical and subtropical regions. However, basil has become a global plant due to human cultivation. You can now find it in Europe and the United States.

In fact, North America has become the largest producer of basil leaves in the world. It had 51.23% of the world market share, followed by the Asia Pacific with 37.87%.

Basil grows best in regions with at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. The soil should be moderately fertile but well drained. And the good news is that you can grow basils in containers or raised beds in the backyard.

10 Amazing Health Benefits of Basil

Basil is not only a nutritious and fragrant herb but also packs many health benefits. This plant has many compounds that give it antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other health properties. You can use it to relieve many ailments and chronic diseases, including the following:

• Basil may help reduce stress and anxiety
• Reduce inflammation and swelling
• Combating infection
• Reduce blood sugar
• Lower your cholesterol
• Support liver health
• Fight cancer
• Protect against skin aging
• Basil boosts mental health: stimulate and vitalize your body
• Protect your stomach

The health benefits of basil are not limited to the ones listed, but the post is about the items listed above.

Basil May Help Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Stress results from chemical, physical, infectious, or emotional causes. According to scientific studies, holy basil has a proven property to help people suppress or cope with physical and other stress types. This herb can also help reduce sexual problems, sleep disorders, exhaustion, and forgetfulness.

Published scientific resources show that basil has antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties. Studies have revealed that an extract from basil leaves can reduce anxiety, stress, and depression, like antidepressant drugs.

You can use basil leaves in your tea to get calming and relaxing effects. Besides, basil does not contain caffeine and other chemicals with side effects. Using it every day for managing stress and anxiety won’t have any negative impact on your health.

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Reduce Inflammation and Swelling

Basil is the complete package you need to relieve stress, anxiety, inflammation, and pain. This herb is rich in chemical compounds that act as anti-inflammatory and antioxidants.

This scientific publication analyzed the inflammatory property of basil essential oil, and the results were encouraging. Undoubtedly, basil oil can help to combat inflammatory diseases caused by oxidative stress.

Patients with arthritis or fibromyalgia can benefit from basil oil. What is yet to be proved scientifically is if you can eat basil leaves or any other part to get the same effects.

Combating Infection

Some basil extracts have antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. They have been used for centuries by traditional medicine practitioners to prevent infection and boost the wound healing process. Fortunately, there is scientific research to back up these claims.

Researchers applied basil oil to bacteria specimens from hospital equipment and people with skin, respiratory, urinary, and abdominal infections. The results were impressive. Basil effectively eliminated the bacteria.

As a result, researchers strongly believe that basil extracts can be used to prevent infection.

Reduce Blood Sugar

Every part of the holy basil herb can help reduce blood sugar levels and manage type 2 diabetes. A scientific study on humans and other animals has proved the effectiveness of basil in managing the symptoms of type 2 diabetes, such as the following:

• Weight gain
• Hyperinsulinemia, or excess insulin in the blood
• High cholesterol
• Insulin resistance
• Hypertension

Basil leaves can help treat the long-term effects of high blood sugar, but further scientific research is still needed. The use of basil extracts in treating diabetic patients should be proven beyond a reasonable doubt before commercialization.

Lower Your Cholesterol

Holy basil mainly deals with metabolic stress. That is why it can lower cholesterol levels in the body. A scientific study on animals has shown that holy basil can lower cholesterol levels.

The result of the study indicated that they had lower cholesterol in their kidneys, livers, and heart. Both diabetic and non-diabetic rats had the same results after eating holy basil leaf powder.

Support Liver Health

A study conducted in 2015 proved that holy basil can support liver health. The researchers used a toxin to intoxicate rats and then gave them a basil powder to test its antioxidant property. They got an impressive result, recording a positive impact on liver health.

However, the same is yet to be tested on human beings. Maybe further studies and research are needed to determine basil’s effectiveness in supporting liver health in people.

Fight Cancer

Basil is rich in antioxidants and mainly helps the body detox. Some studies have shown that this plant can protect the human body against toxic chemicals and slow the growth rate of cancerous cells.

A detailed review focusing on the effectiveness of basil in fighting cancer revealed a breakthrough. The conclusion was that phytochemicals in the basil plant can protect your body from skin, oral, breast, lung, and other types of cancer.

However, the study was only done on animals. Further research is needed to confirm if it has the same effects on human beings.

Protect Against Skin Aging

Basil oil is used in many cosmetic products for its fragrance. However, it has the additional benefit of protecting against skin aging.

According to the research, basil extracts applied to the skin can improve hydration and potentially reduce roughness and wrinkling. But you should use basil extract as a cream to get the result. Consuming it will not give you the same effects.

Basil Boost Mental Health: Stimulate And Vitalize Your Body

Basil increases mental alertness when inhaled as aromatherapy. This is not strange since we already know that basil can alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression. You will have a clear mind with an improved ability to think and reason better.

According to a scientific article published in 2014, basil can prevent age-related memory loss.

Protect Your Stomach

Holy basil extracts can combat stress-induced ulcers. It does that by decreasing stomach acid, increasing mucus production by increasing mucus cells, and extending their lifespan.

Holy basil can be the best alternative drug often described for peptic ulcers. They have side effects and may cause discomfort. But with basil, you have a near-perfect remedy for ulcers.

Risks and Side Effects of Basil

Basil is a beneficial herb with many health benefits. However, it does not come without associated risks. It is not a perfect remedy to the health conditions described in all people. It can have side effects, including, but not limited to, the following:

Blood Clotting

Basil is rich in vitamin K, a vitamin with a vital role in the blood clotting process. As a result, basil can interfere with other medications. For example, anyone using blood thinners should only use basil under the doctor’s instructions.

Allergy

Some people are naturally allergic to plants in the mint family. Anyone with this allergy type is unfit to use basil in whichever form because of the risks involved.

Allergic reactions caused by basil come with hives, swelling, and breathing difficulties. Victims may experience anaphylaxis in severe cases. All these conditions require medical attention and should never be ignored.   

Special Precautions & Warnings When Using Basil

Basil is not all that safe and not controlled by the FDA. Therefore, you should be cautious when using this herb. Consider the following precautions:

• Consult your doctor before using basil in any form
• Basil is yet to be approved for use by infants, minors, or pregnant/breastfeeding women.
• Buy organically grown basils from a reputable source in an unpolluted area.
• Avoid using basil if pregnant, lactating, or want to conceive.

Tips for Use Basil as Medicine

• The recommended daily dosage for holy basil extract supplements is 300 mg to 2,000 mg when used as a preventive measure.
• The recommended dose for treatment is 600 mg to 1,800 mg, taken many times a day.
• Stem, leaves, flowers, and roots can be used in supplements and topical ointments.
• You can make basil tea from its leaves, flowers, or dried powder.

Last Sentences

Basil is a highly fragrant, nutritious, and beneficial herb you can find in almost every country. You can use it to spice up food, but its health benefits are the focus. It helps reduce stress and anxiety, inflammation and swelling, blood sugar and cholesterol, fight cancer, promote skin health, and many more!

Thank you for your time reading this article at Em Offgrid. We hope you are now informed about the health benefits of basil herb. If that is the case, kindly help us share this post with your friends to pass the information to them.

You can find yourself lost in the woods without any food backup source. That is when you will realize how crucial your survival skills are. It pays to have survival skills and know the food types to look for in the wilderness.

Read on for details on how to find food in the woods. We have also included a list of edible plants and animals to consider for survival.

How to Find Food in the Woods

Survival instinct kicks in first when you live in the woods or adopt an off-grid lifestyle. Fortunately, you don’t need processed foods or stockpile anything to start your new life. You can become a gatherer or a hunter, just like native Americans.

You can find food in the woods in the following ways:

Option 1: Become Gatherer

You can survive solely on a plant-based diet, just like vegans. Besides, plant foods are readily available in the woods. All you need are foraging skills to gather enough food for you and your family.

So, becoming a gatherer is the first choice. You don’t need extra tools, and plants are a complete meal for human survival.

Focus on Flora

Becoming a gatherer means switching your focus to plants. You can forage for fruits, vines, tubers, nuts, stems, and leaves, provided they are edible. Wild berries are a few examples of what nature can offer you for free.

Excellent foragers use their sense of smell to lead them to where there are ripe fruits such as wild apples, berries, and other fragrant edible plant parts.

You can come across dandelion, asparagus, garlic mustard, elderberry, wild raspberry, curled dock, and many more. These are all perfect examples of edible wild plants.

Tips For Edibility Test

Mother nature offers you everything in the woods. However, you cannot eat any fruit or plant parts you come across. Some are poisonous and can be fatal if immediate medical assistance is not provided. So, how do you know which plants are edible and which ones are poisonous?

Conducting an edibility test is the only way to know safe plants for human consumption. Use the following tips to tell the difference between edible and inedible plants in the wild:

• Do an edibility test on an empty stomach, and do not eat anything. Just drink a lot of water and eat nothing for 8 hours before conducting the test.
• Gather enough of the plant parts to test since the universal eligibility test takes a lot of time. You don’t want to deplete your stock before getting a conclusive result.
• Avoid plants that smell like almonds or have natural indicators of toxicity. Stay away from berries or plant parts with burned or raw almond fragrance.
• Don’t eat plants that look like parsley, dill, or parsnip greens. These are likely poisonous and should be avoided.
• Don’t eat plants with bitter, soapy, or any other strange taste. It is a way nature warns you not to eat that plant because it is potentially poisonous.
• Separate the plant parts and test them separately. The leaves of a plant may not be edible just because its fruits are sweet and edible.
• Do not test plants such as mushrooms with milky sap, spines, fine hairs, waxy leaves, and umbrella-shaped flowers. Also, green and white berries should not feature in your list of edible plants.

Option 2: Become Master Hunter & Trapper by Small Games

You can also hunt small game animals to supplement your diet. Game animals are a rich source of food in the woods. However, you should not rely solely on a meat diet as you will be lacking vital vitamins the body needs.

Game animals are a source of protein and fat, which suits your diet if you are not a vegetarian.

7 Tools For Small Game

Unlike foraging, you need special tools to hunt small game animals. The most common tools for hunting small game animals include the following:

Stone Ax Head

The stone ax head is an essential tool if you want to make a kill. You can use it to kill the animal and cut it into sizable pieces. You can make this ancient tool yourself by looking for an appropriate rock or stone that can split into sharp edges.

Making a stone ax head is a DIY process you can do right in the woods.

Spears

Spears are excellent for making a kill at a distance. Small game animals do not give you the time to ambush them. So, it is best to give your shot from a distance.

You can also improvise the spearhead from stones. But if preparing for survival, buying a few iron spearheads can do the trick.

Bow and Arrow

Bows and arrows are an ideal choice for expert hunters who also have arrow-throwing skills. You can use it to kill small game animals many yards away if you can hit the bull’s eye.

DIY arrows exist, but you can buy commercial ones. The latter option even comes with binoculars to help you aim at the target better. They are also better engineered for hunting and self-defense if need be.

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Get Good at Fishing

Fishing is also an option when you need to find food in the woods. However, it only applies if you have a river, lake, dam, or ocean nearby where fishing is permitted. You need a fishing rod and hook and bait.

Alternatively, you can cast your overnight and collect your catch the following morning. But before doing that, consult your local laws regarding fishing in your region and ensure you use the right size of fishing net.

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Ground Snares

Snares are long pieces of wires with a loop at one end. The other end is attached to large, stationary objects such as trees. Snares are used for hunting small game animals by setting them up along the game trains or water homes.

Snares catch game animals on the neck as they try to pass by. Though this hunting method is effective, it is non-selective. You never know what to expect when approaching your trap a few hours later.

Deadfall Traps

Deadfall traps are simple and easy to set up to catch small game animals. It consists of a heavy board or a log that falls on the target when triggered, often killing the animal.

The only challenge in using deadfall traps is the skills required to create the triggering system. Also, you cannot target a specific animal.

Spring Traps

Spring traps are foot-hold restraining devices laid on the ground to catch and hold small game animals. This game trapping method is more than a century old and is widely used for its cost-effectiveness and efficiency.

Different designs of spring traps exist. These target animals of varying sizes, including smaller ones such as weasels and squirrels.

Animals Suitable For Small Game

We have talked about hunting small game animals in the woods for food, but what exactly are they?

Small game is a term describing any wild animals that weigh less than 40 pounds. However, different states and countries have different definitions of the same. Consult your local laws to find out what qualifies as a small game.

Small game includes the following:

• Squirrels
• Hares
• Rabbits
• Jackrabbits
• Prairie Dogs
• Quail
• Grouse
• Pheasant
• Snowshoe hare
• Woodchucks
• Marmots

Option 3: Learn How to Make a Weapon and Know How to Hunt Animals

Life in the woods is different from that in developed areas. It is about the survival of the fittest, and the best way to survive is making your own weapons and learning how to hunt.

Hunting big game animals is under heavy regulation by state laws. Hunting them is limited or prohibited in different places.

So, it can never be a reliable food source in the woods. But if you can hunt even one down, you are in for a prize. Meat, bones, tusks, body fat, fur, and hide are all valued.

What animals qualify as a big game? These are animals with subsistence or sport-hunting qualities. They also differ from state to state, but the most common ones include the following:

• Deer
• Elk
• Moose
• Antelope
• Caribou
• Mountain sheep
• Mountain goat
• Bighorn sheep

The most common weapon for hunting game animals is the firearm, specifically a long-barreled rifle. You can also use shotguns, handguns, muzzleloaders, or variations. Also, the most recommended ammunition is the large-caliber.

Hunting large game animals requires skills in using a rifle or firearm you have. It also requires the best hunting ethics, including making a clean and humane kill.

146 Wilderness Foods In the Woods

Mother nature is generous. It can provide up to 146 foods in the wood for humans. Your only role is to find and eat them, cooked or raw. The following is the detailed list:

Meat From Animals

Game meat is a rich source of proteins for bodybuilding. They are used in making new cells and tissue to replace dead or worn-out ones. Additionally, protein allows metabolic reactions and aids the coordination of other bodily functions.

Fortunately, catching game animals in the woods is easy if you have hunting skills and if the state laws permit it. Consider the following options:

• Wild boar
• Wild turkey
• Caribou
• Chipmunk
• Cranes
• Ducks
• Elk
• Frogs
• Geese
• Grouse
• Hares & rabbits
• Herons
• Mice
• Moose
• Pigeons
• Quail
• Salamanders
• Snakes
• Squirrel
• Swans
• Turtles
• Whitetail deer

Insects

Insects can be challenging to find because some of them are seasonal. Others may be too small to gather or hide in the burrow or other hard-to-find places. If you are lucky, you can find the following insects in the woods to supplement your diet:

• Ant larvae
• Ants
• Aphids
• Beetle
• Beetle larvae
• Crickets
• Earwigs
• Grasshoppers
• Sowbugs
• Termites

Ocean Life

The ocean is fluorescing with flora and fauna, some of which are edible. Finding them can be a bit challenging, especially if you don’t have the skills. Also, an ocean may be far from other places, making sourcing food practically impossible.

Some edible plants and animals from the oceans include the following:

• Fish
• Octopus
• Shrimp
• Clams
• Mussels
• Limpets
• Periwinkles
• Squid
• Urchin
• Oysters
• Lobster
• Crabs
• Sea lettuce
• Kelp
• Nori
• Dulse

Fruit And Berries

Fruits and berries are excellent sources of vitamins and other nutrients the body needs to defend itself from foreign invaders and other functions. These are readily available in the woods and are edible right from the tree. Consider the following fruits and berries:

• Wild apple
• Wild grape
• Wild strawberry
• Wild black cherry
• Bunchberry
• Mulberry
• Currant & Gooseberries
• Persimmon
• Hawthorn apples
• Cactus
• Agave
• Huckleberries
• Blueberries
• Cranberries
• Elderberry
• Gooseberry
• Salmonberries
• Blackberry
• Autumn Olive
• Barberry
• Raspberry
• Mayapple fruits

Flowers, Wild Greens, Tubers, Roots, Shoots

Flowers, tubers, shoots, roots, and wild greens are excellent food choices. Many people forage for them in the wild to supplement their backyard vegetables. Check out the items on this list:

• Day lily
• Wild rose
• Trout lily
• Black locust
• Violets
• Dandelions
• Mints
• Honeysuckle
• Passionflower
• Chicory
• Wild asparagus
• Nettles
• Plantain
• Lambs quarters
• Purslane
• Self-heal
• Mallow
• Miner’s lettuce
• Fiddleheads
• Water lily roots
• Burdock root
• Thistle root
• Taro root
• Bamboo shoots
• Jerusalem artichoke
• Cattail roots and shoots
• Watercress shoots
• Larch and Hemlock shoots/tips
• Wild carrot
• Wild onion
• Wild garlic/ Wild Leeks
• Onion grass
• Wood sorrels
• Indian cucumber
• Wild lettuce
• Japanese knotweed
• Stinging Nettle
• Common Milkweed
• Staghorn Sumac
• Shagbark Hickory Nuts
• Beach Plums
• Catnip
• Chickweed
• Lamb’s Quarters
• White Oak Acorns

Nuts, Grasses, Grains, Seeds, and Pods

An ideal survivor cannot leave nuts, grasses, grains, seeds, and pods out of the list of possible foods in the woods. Some may be hard to find, especially nuts, but a little effort can see you fill your basket in no time. Consider the following:

• Sunflower seeds
• Walnut
• Wild barnyard grass
• Wild rice
• Wild rye
• Larch and Hemlock shoots/tips
• Macadamia
• Mallow
• Mesquite pods
• Milkweed pods
• Miner’s lettuce
• Passionflower
• Pecan
• Pinon nuts
• Plantain
• Purslane
• Self-heal
• Shagbark Hickory Nuts
• Staghorn Sumac

What You Can Not or Should Not Eat in the Woods

You cannot eat everything you come across in the woods. As mentioned, some are potentially poisonous and can be fatal to humans. It is better to stay away from any plants with toxic traits.

If you are foraging in the wild, do not eat any of the following:

• Hemlock
• Foxglove
• Bats
• Holly
• Lionfish
• Rhododendron
• Horse nettle
• Poison ivy
• Mushrooms (unless you are sure it is edible)
• Lichen
• White and green berries
• Some insects (brightly colored ones, have fuzzy hair, sting)

How to Get Fresh Water In The Woods

When you’re in the woods, it’s important to know how to find food and water. While there are many sources of food in the woods, fresh water can be more difficult to come by. Here are a few tips on how to get fresh water in the woods:

1. Look for rivers, streams, and lakes. These are all great sources of fresh water. These are generally the safest sources of water, as they are less likely to be contaminated than stagnant water sources.

2. If you can’t find any bodies of water, look for areas where the ground is damp or has vegetation growing on it. These are likely areas where there is a underground water source. 

To purify your water, you can boil it for at least five minutes, or use a water purification filter. 

3. Dig a small hole in the ground and wait for it to fill up with water. This method is called “digging a still” and can be effective if you can’t find any other sources of water.

4. Collect rainwater in a container. This is an easy way to get fresh water, but you’ll have to wait for it to rain!

5. Finally, if you’re desperate, you can drink your own urine. It’s not the most pleasant option, but it will provide you with some hydration.

Tips to Keep You Safe in the Woods

Wood can be potentially dangerous. You can be a victim if you are not careful, but the following tips should keep you safe:

• Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and stay hydrated, even if the water doesn’t taste great. In the woods, being able to find and purify freshwater is an essential survival skill.
• Do not eat any plant or animal you are not sure if edible or not
• Eat what you know and know what you eat
• Eat only safe insects and avoid bugs such as spiders and millipedes.
• Avoid eating hairy or stinging insects such as bees
• Avoid brightly-colored insects and mushrooms like a plague
• Read or carry a guide book e.g.
  • Guide to finding edible wild plants.
  • How to Eat in the Woods

How to Eat in the Woods

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Last Sentences

Survival skills come in handy when you are stranded in the woods. You can intentionally choose to live there or find yourself lost in the woods. That is when the foraging and hunting skills are put to the test.

Luckily, mother nature has a wide range of fruits and plants you can feed on for survival. You can eat fruits, berries, nuts, tubers, shoots, flowers, and meat from hunted game animals.

Thank you for your time reading this article at Em Offgrid. We appreciate your time and kindly ask you to share it with friends if it is informational. Help us reach more people and enlighten everyone!

Raising backyard chickens can be challenging for beginners. You have to consider many factors, including local laws. At the same time, you have to be at peace with your neighbors.  

Read on to find out everything you need to raise backyard chicken for eggs. This post covers A-Z of this practice and provides tips on how to stay safe from any associated risks!

Benefits of Backyard Chickens

Raising backyard chicken is beneficial to you as an off-gridder. It is also a food and income source if you sell extra eggs.

Raising backyard chickens ensures you have a constant supply of fresh eggs. Whether you opt for the free-ranging or caging method, your chickens will lay enough eggs to feed your family. Besides, eggs are nutritious and a rich source of protein for supplementing your diet.

If your backyard chickens are laying enough eggs, you can save money by not buying them from a food store. In fact, you can sell the excess to earn money. So, raising backyard chickens is both cost-saving and a source of income.

But is it worth raising chickens for eggs? The response is a big YES! It is cost-effecting raising backyard chicken, especially if you opt for free-ranging. Chickens raised that way always forage for food and are good to go with small amounts of supplements.

Lastly, chickens are a readily available resource and suit any off-grid lifestyle.

Raising Backyard Chickens for Eggs: How to Get Started

Getting started with backyard chicken keeping is straightforward. But you should know a few things beforehand. The knowledge of collecting, storing, and using eggs is a prerequisite.

You also need to understand the risks and how to mitigate them for successful backyard chicken keeping.

Consider the following factors to get started raising backyard chicken:

Understanding Local Laws for Raising Backyard Chickens

Raising backyard chickens if you live in the countryside is fully permitted by law in most states. However, it is not that direct when you live in urban areas.

Municipalities and local authorities have different laws that ensure everyone lives in peace with neighbors. Those laws also regulate where backyard chickens can be raised and the number you can have on your property.

Chicken can be noisy, and their droppings can produce a stench smell if not well managed. These factors may cause discomfort to your neighbors, who won’t hesitate to raise complaints about your little chicken farm.

Check your state laws to ensure you are on the safe side. Remember, laws about keeping chickens vary from town to town, state to state, or country to country. For instance, a region can set a limit to only 4 chickens. Ensure you comply to avoid nuances from your neighbors and authorities.

Choosing the Correct Breed of Chicken

Different chicken breeds exist. Some are best for laying eggs, meat, or both. In this case, you need good layers because you are to raise them for eggs. But again, you have different options to choose from.

The chicken breed you choose depends on many factors, including the climate. Some are adapted to hot environments, but others perform best in cold areas. However, we have some famous names you can consider.

The chart below shows the most recommended chicken breeds you can consider raising in your backyard.

Is it necessary to have a rooster? You can choose to have a rooster or not. Hens do not need a rooster to lay eggs you intend to eat or take to the market.

But if you want fertilized eggs to hatch into chicks, you need a rooster. You can have one rooster for every 10 hens you raise, but this ratio can also vary depending on the breed of choice.

Roosters can be noisy. So, check the state or town laws if a rooster is permitted before you add one to your flock.

The final tip is to buy mature chickens for your first flock. This approach is more expensive but has a high success rate. Caring for young chicks can be challenging in the backyard without their mother. People often lose all the initial chicks or have a low success rate.

Plan For Scale

The size of your backyard does not determine the chicken breed to acquire, but it does influence the size of your flock. An overcrowded chicken coop and small runs can lead to health issues and encourage other vices.

You might see an increased rate of cannibalism, bullying, and egg-eating. All these vices lead to low egg production.

You should scale your flock appropriately. Consider the available space, the number of eggs you need, and your budget to know the number of chickens to raise. Ensure your birds are comfortable and peaceful with each other for maximum production.

Raise Backyard Chickens for Eggs: Complete Guide

Raising backyard chickens is very easy if you know what it takes. Chicken coop and run are a necessity, but you need additional items such as nesting boxes, feeders, and waterers, among other things. Also, you should know how to care for your backyard chicken and keep them healthy.

This guide has detailed information about everything you should know about raising backyard chickens. Let’s dive right in!

House for Backyard Chickens

First thing first, you need to protect your chicken from predators. Also, they need shelter when mother nature brings storms, rain, cold, or excess heat. These situations explain how crucial a chicken coop is to your flock.

Some off-gridder even share their living spaces with their chickens, but we prefer building a separate structure for them.

Location of Chicken Coop

A chicken coop is not an ordinary structure. Much goes into its design and location on the property. You don’t just build it anywhere but in a place with a mix of sun and shade since chickens are heat and cold sensitive.

You should consider the climatic conditions of your region to choose the best location for a chicken coop. If your area experiences hot summer, the structure should be under a shade to keep the birds from raging summer heat.

Similarly, you should protect the birds from the extreme winter cold, rain, or storm. Locate the chicken coop in an area with an all-year-round cover. Also, ensure the draught does not directly get into the structure.

Sizing Chicken Coop

The next step is sizing the chicken coop. A small one is portable and cost-effective to build, but it may not be the ideal choice for raising a large flock. The golden rule is to give every bird at least 2 square feet of floor space in the coop and 10-sq-feet in the run.

Your production will be high if your chickens have space for shelter, exercise, and foraging. That’s why you should provide roosts in the coop. You need about one lineal foot of roost per bird to keep them happy.

Adding Roosts and Bedding

The roosts should be about 2-3 inches in diameter to allow chickens to grip them easily. The roost heights should also vary if you keep birds of different age groups. The lowest one should be 2-inches above the floor, and the subsequent one has an additional height of 2 inches. The tallest roost can be 3 feet high.

Lastly, the chicken coop should be insulated and ventilated to avoid the build-up of ammonia gas from their droppings. Also, clean it regularly and provide fresh straw bedding for warmth and comfort. These should be replaced to avoid the build-up of parasites and diseases.

Food and Water for Backyard Chickens

Backyard chicken breeds are usually excellent foragers, but you should provide extra food. You don’t need to cage them because they enjoy eating grains, fruits, vegetables, bugs, and worms in the field.

However, your backyard chickens may not get enough food in the field. For maximum production, provide supplemental feeds.

Fortunately, you don’t have to buy commercial feeds. You can use grains or chicken leftovers, but avoid those that can potentially poison your birds. Green potato peels, undercooked or dry beans, and avocados are not safe for birds.

Keep food and water away from perches and roosts to avoid soiling. Use appropriate feeders and waterers and hang them from the ceiling at the best height for your chickens.

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Layers should be on a different diet to lay more healthy eggs. Supplement their food with calcium, such as limestone, if that is not already formulated in their food. Additionally, provide insoluble granite grit 2-3 days per month to encourage digestion.

Most backyard chickens are ready to start laying at 18 weeks old. At that point, feed 14-16% protein to prepare them for egg production. Once they start laying, ensure their food has at least 3.5-4.0% calcium.

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Caring For Backyard Chickens

Backyard chickens are under constant threat from predators, parasites, and diseases. It is up to you to ensure they are healthy and happy for maximum egg production. Any form of distress in birds can significantly affect their performance.

First and foremost, ensure proper lighting and ventilation in the coop. Extended daylight encourages egg production. And as mentioned, the chicken coop requires adequate air circulation to avoid ammonia accumulation. Use the best designs for the structure.

Deterring Predators

Rats, raccoons, snakes, and other predators should not access the chicken coop. Secure all openings and vents with a ¼-inch hardware mesh. Some rodents can access it from underground. To avoid that, dig a 12-inch trench around the coop and bury the same hardware mesh to act as a barrier.

Racoons, mink, and bears are aggressive predators. Install metal latches that require dexterity to open to keep them off from your chicken coop and run entrances.

Keeping Backyard Chickens Disease-free

Most backyard chickens can resist parasites and disease but are not immune. They also require veterinary care when they are infected. And to reduce disease prevalence, clean and occasionally disinfect their coop.

Use clean waterers and feeders, and don’t mix flocks to discourage disease spread. Don’t share equipment or items with neighbors also for the same reason.

Monitor the behavior of your chickens. Healthy birds are usually active and amusing to watch. They spend most of their time pecking, scratching, and clucking. These activities stop when diseased or stressed. They turn gloomy and may refuse to eat. Take immediate action when that happens.

Train Your Chickens

Most backyard chickens are free-rangers. They are happy if they run around chasing bugs and other things and not being caged. So, ensure your birds get out during the day to forage and exercise before returning to the coop at night.

You also have to ensure your chickens are not under any threat when exercising outside. Aerial attacks are the most prevalent during the day. So, it pays to have a cover over them or stay close to respond on time.

Nesting Boxes for Backyard Chickens

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Birds require safe nesting boxes where they can lay their eggs. Your first flocks will be ready to lay eggs at about 18-20 weeks old. That should find you with correctly sized nesting boxes.

An appropriate nesting box measures about 12-15 inches long and wide and 12 inches deep. You need one for every 4-5 hens.

Place your nesting boxes away from roosts and perches. Your hens need privacy to lay. So, don’t forget to give them that.

Lastly, remember to provide soft beddings in the nesting boxes and keep them clean.

Manure Management for Backyard Chickens

Chicken waste is excellent compost manure for your garden. However, you should not apply them directly to your vegetables or flowers. Uncomposed chicken droppings are rich in nitrogen that can burn your plants.

Regularly remove waste from the chicken coop and treat them away from the structure. Add it to a compost pit and cover it with chicken beddings. Give them enough time to be ready for use for fertilizing your plants.

However, composting chicken waste or pasturing chickens should not be done in a Resource Protection Area. But if you have large quantities of composted chicken waste, take a sample to the laboratory for testing and analysis of the nutritional content.

Use them according to the recommendations of the specialists to avoid side effects.

When Do Chickens Start Laying Eggs?

The time chickens start laying eggs depends on the breed. Most backyard chicken breeds lay eggs between 18 and 20 weeks old.

Also, the color, size, and how often the hen lays depend on the breed. Most eggs are brown-shelled, but some can be whitish or pinkish.

Most hens can lay 3-5 eggs a week. That translates to about 150-350 eggs per year. Once again, egg production capacity depends mainly on the chicken breed. Other factors, such as weather, feeds, diseases, and parasites, can also affect production.

How to Collect Backyard Chicken Eggs

The best time to collect eggs is every morning, late in the evening, or after feeding. You will know that your hens have laid if they are crackling loudly. You can also collect your eggs at that time if you are available.

Collecting eggs from nesting boxes is straightforward. You can transfer them directly to egg trays or gather them in a basket, cloth sling, or any other container with enough room. What you should avoid is applying pressure on the eggs. Their shells are fragile!

Cleaning and Storing Backyard Chicken Eggs

Avoid washing eggs if you don’t intend to use them immediately. It reduces their shelf life. Wipe with a dry towel if the eggs are visibly soiled. Alternatively, you can use a damp cloth to remove any manure in them.

You can submerge eggs in lukewarm water if they have stubborn stains to soften them. Wipe and air-dry before arranging them in crates for storage.

Freshly-laid clean eggs can be stored directly in the pantry at room temperature without washing. They can remain fresh for many days or a couple of weeks. 

You can also refrigerate eggs at 32-40 degrees Fahrenheit for longer shelf life.

When storing eggs, arrange them in the crate such that the rounded end points upward and the other pointy end downwards. The rounded end has an air space that provides insulation, thereby reducing evaporation and moisture loss.

Long Life of Backyard Chickens Eggs

The shelf life of eggs varies, depending on whether they are washed, cooked, or not and how they are stored. Unwashed eggs stay fresh longer than washed ones because they still have cuticles intact. The cuticle is a thin layer on the eggshell that keeps air and bacteria out of the egg.

Unwashed eggs have a shelf life of 6 months or more when stored in a refrigerator. Washed ones have a reduced shelf life of 4-5 months, similar to store-bought eggs.

Unwashed eggs stored at room temperature stay fresh for about 3-5 weeks. Expect them to spoil sooner if you wash them.

Freshly-laid eggs last the longest when frozen. If you use an appropriate procedure, your frozen eggs can stay fresh for a whole year.

Signs of Bad Egg or Good

When an egg spoils, it changes in color, smell, and density. You can use these factors to determine the state of your eggs.

Some eggs smell rotten, and the yolk turns grayish or black instead of pure yellow. But you can only realize it after breaking the egg. What can you do to know an egg is spoiled?

You can use a simple water test. Fill a large glass or bowl with fresh water and put an egg in it freshly-laid eggs will sink to the bottom while the spoiled ones remain afloat.

Eggs that are a few eggs may be partially submerged or remain suspended in the water. These are still considered safe for human consumption.

Using Backyard Chicken Eggs

How can you benefit from your backyard chicken eggs? You can use them differently, which includes cooking, hatching, or selling. Eggs from backyard chicken are edible, delicious, and nutritious.

You can incubate eggs but only choose the fertilized ones. Don’t think about it if you don’t have a rooster in your flock. And even if you have, you can still have a few unfertilized eggs. These ones won’t hatch even if the conditions are right.

Before incubation, candle all eggs collected to determine if they are fertilized or not. Do that about 7-10 days after they are laid. It is the right time to incubate eggs and positively identify fertilized ones during candling. Fertilized eggs show a network of veins under the light.

If you have a broody hen, you can let her incubate the eggs under her wings and worry not about the conditions. But if that is not an option, you can buy an incubator that suits your budget or improvise one.

Maintain the incubation temperature between 99- and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The maximum allowed fluctuation is 2 degrees Fahrenheit on either end. The temperature should, however, not remain at these extreme points for long. Also, remember to regularly turn the eggs if the incubator does not do it automatically.

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Risks from Backyard Chicken Eggs

The most common risk of backyard chicken eggs is salmonella. This causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, which take from 6 hours to 6 days after infection to be seen. Fortunately, salmonella is not life-threatening. The symptoms should go away after 4-7 days.

You don’t need antibiotics to treat salmonella infection. If you have diarrhea, take a lot of fluid and drink as much water as possible to rehydrate. Salmonella rarely enters the bloodstream. But if it does, it can be life-threatening. Fortunately, there is nothing much to worry about because the risk is very low.

Avoid Risk from Raising Backyard Chickens

How can you stay safe from the risks of eggs from backyard chickens? The only thing you can do is to keep proper hygiene in and around the chicken coop and care for the eggs to avoid contamination.

Caring for Chicken and Hencoop

Observe the following routine to keep the chicken coop clean to minimize the risks:Chicken nest with hensObserve the following routine to keep the chicken coop clean to minimize the risks:

• Keep the nest box clean to ensure your eggs are also clean!
• Clean the chicken house and keep the floor dry and free from litter, except for clean bedding.
• Clean nest boxes once a week and change nesting material.
• Store feeds appropriately to prevent contamination.
• Regularly clean feeders and waterers in a clean environment and disinfect them if possible.
• Ensure your eggs are clean by providing sleeping roots above the height of nesting boxes. That will discourage the hens from sleeping and pooping in the nesting boxes.
• Compost chicken waste at an appropriate temperature to kill harmful bacteria before being used to avoid possible infection.

Caring for Eggs

You should keep your eggs from contamination through proper handling and storage. Consider doing the following:

• Maintain daily egg collection
• Discard abnormally shaped eggs or those with spots, cracks, or other irregularities.
• Cook eggs well at the right temperature. Ensure both the yolk and white are firm, which happens at an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) or hotter.
• Use pasteurized eggs to make foods with raw or lightly cooked eggs.
• Use or refrigerate eggs and foods containing eggs soon after cooking. Refrigerate them within 2 hours or 1 hour if exposed to high temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Wash your hand and any other item that comes into contact with eggs using soap and running water. The additional items include countertops, utensils, dishes, and cutting boards.
• Do not eat raw eggs or any food recipe with raw eggs before cooking, such as cookie dough or cake.

Preparation Right Way

Proper egg preparation can help reduce the risks of eating eggs from backyard chickens. But how do you do it? Consider the following:

• Inspect eggs for any cracks and avoid ones with cracked shells.
• Crack eggs in a bowl and inspect it further. Discard it if you realize any defects. Those with blood spots on the yolk are safe for human consumption.
• Always cook eggs before eating. A recipe with eggs as an ingredient should be cooked to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, as shown by the food thermometer.
• Discard any raw or cooked eggs left at room temperature for two hours or more.

For Yourself

Personal hygiene can also help reduce the risks of eating eggs from backyard chickens. Always wash your hands with soap and clean water after handling eggs, chickens, or anything items used in the process.

Lastly, don’t wash chicken feeders and waterers in your kitchen sink.

When Do Chickens Stop Laying Eggs?

The lifespan of chickens varies, and that affects when they stop laying. Some breeds can only live for 5 years. So, expect them to stop laying eggs just before that. Others can live for more than 8 years. They, therefore, will continue laying eggs for more years.

What to Do When Your Chicken Stops Laying Eggs

Most backyard chicken breeds are dual-purpose. That means you can slaughter them yourself for meat or sell it. However, that should only happen after testing and confirming the chicken is healthy. Do not slaughter any diseased bird.

Personally Thinking

If you can’t find a place to keep your chickens or your local laws do not yet permit the practice, try petitioning for permission. You may need some convincing arguments in order not only permits but also public support! It is the least you can do for yourself and generations to come.

Some Thought

You can raise backyard chickens for their eggs, which you can eat, hatch, or sell for money. The process is not complicated. And provided the state or city laws allow it, you can go into raising chickens with little or no experience. The information in this article is all you need.

Thank you for reading this article at Em Offgrid. We appreciate your time and hope you have the information you were looking for. Kindly share it with your friends to help us reach more people!

Pumpkins are on-demand fruits that can turn your backyard garden into an income source.

They are used for carving and decorations during the Halloween holidays, but the demands remain steadily high any other time. Many people use them in different recipes. However, the supply is low.

Read on to learn how to grow a pumpkin patch to earn money from direct sales to agritourism or sell to a food market.   

Why Is a Pumpkin Patch and Its Profits?

Farm tourism is a multi-million-dollar industry in the US, which keeps demands for pumpkin high. There are pumpkin farms in some parts of the country, but most pumpkin patches range from 2 to 40 acres. These are large enough to generate about $12k to $240k in net profit per year. 

However, the profit significantly varies with location, pumpkin variety, and the farmer’s input in growing pumpkins. The bigger the pumpkin patch is, the more you can expect in profit.

The traditional jack-o’-lanterns variety is the most popular, especially during Halloween, as the demand rises. However, it is not what you should grow for early season harvests. At that time, customers want more decorative pumpkin varieties such as Cinderella or the warty Marina di Chioggia.

Thousands of acres of pumpkin patches open from late September to late October. You will see the fields beautifully decorated with orange gourds that everyone is yearning to get hold of.

Pumpkins are in high demand during the Halloween season. That is the time people choose them for decorations because they are easy to carve into spooky jack-o-lanterns. People also don’t seem to get enough pumpkin-flavored foods.

Pumpkin farming is profitable though farmers face the seasonality challenge. After a successful growing period, the harvested pumpkin is sold directly to agritourists who visit the pumpkin patches and the surplus wholesale to grocery chains in urban areas.

Agritourism benefits communities by connecting consumers directly with agriculture. It also helps to preserve agricultural lands in rural and semi-urban areas.

How to Grow a Pumpkin Patch

Are you looking for a new way to add extra income to your small farm? Growing a pumpkin patch may be your solution. The entire farming process starts with pumpkin variety selection and ends with harvesting and storage.

Creating a pumpkin patch is a straightforward process though it has its challenges. Fortunately, you can overcome them if you give it your best. It involves the following steps:

• First things first: choosing which varieties you’ll grow
• Plan your land: where your patch will be
• Determine when to plant
• How to plant a pumpkin

Let’s dive into the details of each of the above steps to reveal what you need to do for a successful pumpkin patch.

First Things First: Choosing Which Varieties You’ll Grow

Your success and the profits you get from your pumpkin patch begin with the variety selection. This depends on the climate and season. You can choose decorative pumpkins and time Halloween season or other varieties for general use.

Pumpkins range from ballooning giants to tiny-tiny gourds. The good news is that there is one for every climate and purpose. The following are some of the most recommended pumpkin varieties to consider:

Miniature Pumpkins

This category consists of pumpkin varieties that are easy to grow and produce high yields. Some can give you a dozen fruits per plant.

Under miniature pumpkins, you can consider Jack Be Little or We-B-Little. These dual-purpose pumpkins can be food or decorative elements on a holiday table.

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Pumpkins for Carving

Pumpkins for carving are in high demand during Halloween for making Jack-o-Lanterns. Choose varieties such as Autumn Gold, Magic Lantern, or Merlin. These are great for carving and decoration, which drives demand during holiday seasons.

Giant Pumpkins

As the name suggests, giant pumpkins can weigh up to 200 pounds. These are great for those targeting the food market, though some are also ideal for carving. Consider varieties such as Dill’s Atlantic Giant, Big Max, Big Moon, Jack O’ Lantern, or Funny Face.

Pumpkin, Big Max Pumpkin Seeds, Heirloom, Non GMO,20 Seeds

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Pumpkin for pies

Some pumpkin varieties are ideal for cooking and baking, while others are great for soups and pies. They are all characterized by sweet flesh. The pumpkin varieties for pies include Sugar Treat, Hijinks, Baby Bear, Cinderella’s Carriage, and Peanut Pumpkin.

TomorrowSeeds – Cinderella Pumpkin Seeds – 60+ Count Packet

Plan Your Land: Where Your Patch Will Be

Pumpkins do not just grow anywhere. If your property is shaded or your seedbed is blocked by a tall barn, pumpkins may not be for you. The vines need long days of sun. So, set aside a section of your land that receives sunlight throughout the day.

Pumpkins like the sun but are not tolerant to extreme conditions such as excess heat or heavy rains. You should prepare for the worst just in case the weather becomes unbearable for that reason. Device ways of protecting your pumpkin vines.

You can use tents or tarps to shield them from excess heat during summer or heavy rains. Storms are also not their friends.

Lastly, pumpkins perform their best in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9. They require sandy loam soil that is well drained with a neutral pH or slightly acidic. The suitable pH for pumpkin growing is about 7-6. So, testing your soil can be a good idea.

Determine When to Plant

Planting time is one of the crucial factors for any crop, and pumpkins are no different. The best time to plant pumpkins is during warm days. Think of creating your mounds after the dangers of frosts are no more and the soil is already heated.

The best time to start sowing the seeds is between late April and early May. If this time still finds your region covered in frost, consider starting the seeds indoors.

How to Plant a Pumpkin

Plant your pumpkin seeds directly into the soil if the soil temperature is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Starting the seeds indoors is not the best approach to growing pumpkin patches. But it may be preferred if there is still frost in your area by early May. That is the time when the sowing period is coming to an end.

Starting Pumpkins Indoors

If you start your seeds indoors, consider doing it at least 2 weeks before transplanting the seedlings to the seedbed. Use 3-inch pots and sow flat seeds on their sides about half an inch deep. Maintain the temperature at about 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit until they sprout.  

You know that they are ready for transplanting if they have about 4-5 leaves. Remember to keep them hydrated all time since they like water.

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• [High Growth Efficiency Design] Our seed starter tray provides independent growth space for each plant, which can help each plant obtain water and other nutrients better, preventing roots from entanglement. Besides, the tilting design of the cell wall together with the drain hole at the bottom is beneficial for draining, preventing root damage caused by over-watering.AP8
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Sowing Directly In The Seedbed

Sowing seeds directly in the seedbed is straightforward but different from indoors. Here, you will create planting hills. Dig a 3-foot circle that is only 12 inches deep.

Loosen the soil, and remove rocks and large gravels. The last preparation step is to mix the soil with fertilizer, preferably cow manure. That does not alter the soil pH.

Mound up the prepared soil at the center of the pit to form a hill and plant 4 seeds on the hill, spaced about 10 inches apart and 1-inch deep. These will be thinned later after they sprout and show good health to maintain enough space.

But if transplanting, plant one seedling per hill mound formed. These mounds should also be 5-20 feet apart. Pumpkins need a lot of space for vines to spread.

How to Care for a Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin seeds are very vulnerable. They are affected by not only the weather but also pests and diseases. So, you need to care for them till maturity.

At this point, we assume that your pumpkin seedlings are already growing and healthy. Most of them should now have 5 or more leaves after transplanting if you started indoors. So, you need to carry out the following to keep them healthy for maximum yield:

Keeping Pumpkin Patch Hydrated

As already mentioned, pumpkins need a lot of water to grow. You can supplement that with watering and soil moisture conservation methods if your region receives intermittent rainfall. Provide about 1 inches of water a week to the soil if there is no rainfall.

You can’t give pumpkins too much water, dampness invites rot and disease. It’s important that you wet them deeply in the morning or very afternoons on hot days when they’re fruiting.

Irrigation is crucial if you grow pumpkin patches on a large scale. Consider drip irrigation, micro irrigation, or a sprinkler method to keep your pumpkins hydrated if you live in an area that receives less than recommended rainfall.

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Consider mulching the seedbed to keep the soil moist. Spread grass clippings or straw, stacked about 2 inches thick, to do the trick. That will save you from daily irrigation even when rainfall is scarce. You can also use black plastic sheets to mulch the hills.

Regardless of the mulch type, wait until the soil becomes warm to about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, ensure it is about 3-4 inches from the pumpkin stems. Mulching serves three purposes: retain soil moisture, smother weeds, and retain warmth. 

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Control Weeds With Mulch Instead of Using Pesticides

Like all other crops, you need to keep your pumpkin patches weed-free. Look out for parasitic weeds that can directly affect your pumpkins and remove competition for soil nutrients and moisture through regular weeding.

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Fertilize The Pumpkins

Side-dress with aged manure or compost mixed water to help pumpkin as it grows. 

The first fertilization should be when the seeds sprout. You do that if you never added fertilizer to the soil before sowing seeds. If you did, wait until the vines start forming tendrils

When you first notice hint of new growth ( 1 foot tall), fertilize regularly with a high-nitrogen.

Switch over to apply a phosphorus-rich 5-10-10 fertilizer to each plant after bloom period begins but before fruit set starts (or male flowers open).

If no fruits form even though females did flower – this is normal! Male & female blossoms must both open for fertilization purposes

You also need side dressing with a shovel of compost or one or two cups of emulsion. The latter should be diluted to half strength and applied every two weeks. Watering is recommended after applying the fertilizer to help the nutrients penetrate the soil for absorption. 

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Control Insects/Diseases Problems In Pumpkin

Poor performance in pumpkins is due to poor light. Too much fertilizer, poor weather at bloom time, and reduced pollinating insects. These can cause poor fruit formation and excess blossom withering and dropping.

However, pumpkins are also prone to pests and diseases. These are more severe and can significantly reduce the yield or kill the plant if not controlled.

Pumpkins are commonly affected by fungus diseases such as Anthracnose, Blossom-end rot, Downy mildew, Powdery mildew, etc. The most prevalent viral disease in pumpkins is the Mosaic virus.

Observe the signs and symptoms that your pumpkins show and take appropriate action. In most cases, the affected plant is destroyed. Planting more resistant varieties can also help.

Common pets and bugs that attack pumpkins include aphids, cucumber beetles, squash bugs, squash vine borer, and many others.

You can control these using natural ways, such as planting companion plants that repel the bugs or using other animals that feed on them. Removing plant debris and crop rotation can also contain them. 

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Tips to Have Bigger Pumpkins

For best results, pinch off any fuzzy ends of vine growth to prevent the formation of new plants. This will focus plant energy on developing fruit rather than lengthy stems which create space and fruit formation!

The best way to ensure a perfect harvest is by removing any interfering fruit or vines. If you want a “prize for size” pumpkin, look at these two or three prime candidates to get started with your selection process, Take all of the other fruit and vines out; this ensures that all attention will go into just one type of pumpkin!

When pumpkins have started to develop, you can prune the main and secondary vines to 10-15 feet. Bury cut tips in soil or lay them flat on top of fallen leaves.

Gently turn the pumpkin as it develops, with great care not to hurt either vine or stem. Slip a thin board under pumpkins so they don’t rot in place on top of soil–and protect them from getting molds while waiting for harvest time!

Harvest and Store Pumpkins

Pumpkins reach maturity after several months of waiting. If you sowed seeds between April and May, expect to bag the fruits in September or October. However, the maturity period significantly varies depending on the variety.

The harvesting time for any pumpkin variety is usually before frost. You know your fruits are ready when the rinds harden and most pumpkin varieties turn deep orange. Knowing what to expect can help determine when your pumpkins are ready for picking.

Harvesting pumpkins is straightforward but can be labor-intensive on a large scale. The process involves cutting the stems at the vine with a sharp knife or a shear. Leave a few inches of the stem on the fruit to form the handle and ensure you make a smooth cut.

Breaking the stem off the fruit will make it rot faster. That’s undesirable if you don’t have a ready market.

Pumpkins last longer in a cool, dry place. Keep them at about 50 degrees Fahrenheit until you find a market. But before storing them, cure them in the sun for about a week, which you can do outdoors or in the greenhouse.

Cured and properly stored pumpkins have a shelf life of about 3-6 months, depending on the variety.

Conclusion

A pumpkin patch can be a reliable source of income if you live off the grid. The fruits are in demand for various purposes. Some are best for cooking recipes, while others are best for carving and decorations

Regardless, a pumpkin patch will help you get extra cash and provide food for your family. Leaves and fruits are all edible and nutritious.

Thank you for reading this article at Em Offgrid. We now hope you are ready to start your own pumpkin patch for profits or survival. Kindly share this article with your friends to pass this information to them and help us reach many people.

Chaos erupts when a disaster erupts. Surviving such situations if you are not prepared for it can be challenging, which explains why you need to stockpile food. Look for food with a long shelf life, easy to make, nutritious, and portable.   

Are you prepared for an emergency? Read on to find out the best survival foods and emergency kits to stockpile in readiness for any emergency!

How to Choose Survival Foods to Stockpile

Stockpiling food for unpredicted emergency situations is crucial. However, you don’t just pack and keep anything that you can find in the grocery store or harvest from your garden. There are determining factors to help you make the right decision, and they include the following:

Nutrition

The human body requires a balanced diet to get all nutrients, minerals, and vitamins for vital body functions.

Over-relying on one type of food while ignoring the rest can lead to nutritional deficiencies and associated disorders. To avoid such a scenario, ensure you sample different foods with all nutrients you need.

For example, your survival food should provide at least 10-12g of protein per serving. Also, consider grains and veggies for carbohydrates and vitamins. You need all of them to stay healthy and active.  

Long Shelf Life

You may not anticipate how long the emergency situation may last. Stockpiling perishable foods without proper preservation plans can be disastrous as you may never use them.

Consider foods with a long shelf life, such as dry cereals, dehydrated meat, vegetables, and fruits. Most of these can last for a year if kept in a cool, dry place and protected from pests.

You can also consider canning and other food preservation methods to extend the shelf life of the food you stockpile.

Ease Of Cooking/Eating

An emergency situation may never give you the luxury to follow a complex recipe for preparing some foods. So, it is advisable to stockpile foods that require the least time to cook.

Also, they should be easy to cook on available fire sources during an emergency. Remember that will not be the time to think about your oven for baked recipes.

Weight

Why do you need to consider the weight of the foods you stockpile? Everything rotates around portability in case you have to evacuate urgently.

You don’t want a food stock that weighs heavily on you, such as canned foods. At least, you should quickly pack enough food to carry with you when you need to move.

10 Best Survival Food with Long Shelf Life

Shelf life is a primary factor when stockpiling survival food. You don’t want your food to spoil even before the emergency situation.

Fortunately, there are up to 10 different survival foods you can stockpile and remain worry-free about when they will become consumable. They include the following:

• Survival food kits
• Canned food
• Dried fruits
• Brown rice
• Dried beans
• Grains and starches
• Peanut butter
• Trail mix
• Energy bars and chocolate bars
• Protein bars/pure protein bars

These foods will ensure you survive any emergency situation. Let’s get the details of each.

Survival Food Kits

Survival food kits are popular among campers and hikers, but they are recently gaining traction among the general public. You should also stockpile survival food kits.

Survival food kits have a long shelf life of up to 30 years. That’s long enough for any emergency situation ever recorded in history. These foods are also nutritionally balanced and provide everything your family needs for survival.

Another advantage of survival food kits is their portability. They are easy to pack and transport if you want to hit the road.

Consider the following options if you want to buy survival food kits:

• 4Patriots Emergency Food Supply
• Emergency Food Supply
• Augason Farms Lunch and Dinner Variety Pail Emergency Food Supply 
• Long-Term Food Kits

Canned Food

Canning food has been used for centuries to extend the shelf life of perishable foods. It involves packing food in mason jars and sealing them. The sealed jars and contents are kept in a cool, dark place where they can stay fresh for many years.

The Canning food preservation method is ideal for fruits, vegetables, and meat. Let’s look at some survival foods you can stockpile by canning them.

Canned Fruits

High-acidic fruits have shorter shelf lives, usually 1-1.5 years. The fruits can maintain flavor, color, and texture if canned properly. The following are some fruits you can preserve this way before stockpiling:

• Applesauce
• Mixed Fruit
• Peaches
• Pears
• Pineapple

Canned Vegetables

Low-acidic vegetables can last for about 2-5 years if properly canned and stored at room temperature. That may not seem much, but enough time to go through any emergency situation, such as pandemics or drought. The following are some vegetables you can stockpile for a long shelf life if canned:  

• Carrots
• Garlic
• Corn
• Green Beans
• Mixed Vegetables
• Peas
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Tomatoes

Canned Meat

Meat is a source of protein but has a short shelf life. So, how do you stockpile them for emergency survival without worrying about them getting spoiled? Canning is the answer. Canned meats can stay fresh for 2-5 years, making them suitable survival foods.

You can consider the following:

• Canned Alaskan Wild Salmon
• Beef Jerky
• Canned Beef
• Canned Chicken
• Canned Tuna (in oil)
• Spam
• Vienna Sausages

Dried Fruits

Dried fruits are rich sources of vitamins, nutrients, and fiber. However, consumption of dried fruits should be limited to avoid excess sugar and calorie intake.

Dried or dehydrated foods are deprived of moisture that prevents further mold growth. That means they can stay for long before spoilage or until you need them. Dried fruits can stay fresh for 6-12 months, depending on the storage conditions.

You can dehydrate any fruits, but the most commonly dried ones are apples, oranges, mangoes, berries, pineapple, papayas, etc.

Brown Rice

Brown rice is shelf stable, making it ideal for stockpiling. It is also easy to cook and form part of many recipes. The most popular rice cooking method is steaming, which is possible in any emergency. Brown rice can also be added to soups, salads, and casseroles.

Dried brown rice can last 6 months or longer if protected against pests and other conditions such as moisture. Store it in a dry place at a temperature of 50–70℉ for longer shelf life.

Eating brown rice and other whole grains reduces type 2 diabetes risks. It is also heart-friendly and can help prevent certain types of cancers.

Dried Beans

Dried beans are suitable survival food to stockpile because of their long shelf life and ease of storage. You can simply keep it at room temperature in a proper package and expect it to last for about 2-5 years. Some varieties can last up to 30 years if not damaged by moisture or pests.

Besides the long shelf life, beans are a great source of plant-based protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They also pair well with different foods and are excellent ingredients in making heart-friendly dishes.

You can stockpile as many bags of beans as you want for your family. Keep your food in a dry, dark place and protect them from pests.

Grains and Starches

You need starch and carbohydrates in your diet, and there is no better source than grains. Grains also have a long shelf life and are easy to store.

Soft grains can last 8 years if stored in sealed bags with oxygen absorbers. This category includes barley, rye, grits, and quinoa. You can buy them directly from a long-term food storage supplier if you are not good at sealing and packaging.

The other option is hard grains. These can last for 10-12 years and include buckwheat, millet, soft white wheat, and hard red wheat. They should also be stored in an airtight bag or container with an oxygen absorber for longer shelf life.

Peanut Butter

Nut butter is an excellent source of healthy fats, protein, vitamins, minerals, and other plant compounds. Fortunately, peanut butter has a relatively long shelf life.

The natural one without any preservative can last for 3 months if stored at 50℉ and only one month at room temperature. You are better off buying commercial peanut butter to stockpile because these can stay fresh for up to 9 months in your pantry. 

Trail Mix

Properly stored trail mix can have a shelf life of about 12 months. That is its prime, but you can still use it after that. Just ensure there are no possible signs of spoilage. It is better to store them in Ziploc bags and in a refrigerator to make them last longer.

Trail mix is one of the best survival foods to stockpile because of its long shelf life and nutritional value. 28g of serving contains 140 calories, 9g of fat, 4g of protein, 14g of carbohydrates, and other nutrients. It is also cholesterol-free, making it a heart-friendly food.

Energy Bars and Chocolate Bars

Energy and chocolate bars are great snacks for hikers and campers but can also be stockpiled as emergency survival foods. They are healthy, filling, and portable and are excellent sources of carbohydrates.

Energy bars have a long shelf life, with some going up to 5 years. They can maintain their flavor and consistency over that period.

You don’t have to eat tons of food to get the energy you need for the day. These bars are the most efficient survival foods to stockpile.

Protein Bars/Pure Protein Bars

Like energy bars, protein bars are also the outdoor adventurers’ favorites because of their portability and efficiency. They can stay fresh for about 1 year at room temperature, but you should always check the expiry dates on the package.

Protein bars are nutritious. As the name suggests, they are the source of protein your body needs for muscle development. Besides, they are made with hearty ingredients such as nuts, oats, dried foods, and many others.

Protein bars are the best for stockpiling because they are compact and lightweight. They don’t take much space in the store.

What Else Do You Need?

You need more than just food to survive any emergency situation. Emergency first aid kit, water, and other drinks are also essential for survival. Ensure you also stockpile these items if you get injuries and want to attend to yourself before professional medics come to your aid.

Drinks

You need water to cook most foods that you stockpile. But apart from that, you will also need clean drinking water to avoid dehydration during an emergency. You should have at least 1 gallon of water per person in your household for three days.

You may also need other drinks besides water. So, consider stockpiling the following:

• Coffee / Instant Coffee
• Cocoa Mix
• Gatorade Powder
• Juice Mix
• Protein Powder
• Tea

Emergency Kit

An emergency survival kit can help you survive the hardship you are in. You may not carry everything in the house when you have to relocate. But with a well-stocked emergency kit, you can survive any situation.

An emergency kit includes survival gear and multi-functional items, such as a defense pen, spoon, blanket, and many more! Generally, it allows you to survive away from the comfort of your home. 

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Emergency First Aid Kit 

Emergency situations take all forms. Some may be associated with injuries that need immediate attention. In many cases, medics may take time to reach you. So, having a functional first aid kit can help you survive such unfortunate situations.

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A first aid box should have the following items:

• Antihistamine cream or tablets
• Distilled water for cleaning wounds
• Eyewash and eye bath
• Plasters in a variety of different sizes and shapes
• Small, medium, and large sterile gauze dressings
• A pair of scissors
• Alcohol-free cleansing wipes
• Sticky tape
• Digital thermometer
• At least 2 sterile eye dressings
• Triangular bandages
• Skin rash creams, such as hydrocortisone or calendula
• Cream or spray to relieve insect bites and stings
• Antiseptic cream
• Painkillers such as paracetamol
• Crêpe rolled bandages
• Safety pins
• Disposable sterile gloves
• Tweezers, etc.

4 Tips For Easier Survival

Stockpiling foods, drinks, and emergency kits does not mean easier survival. You can still run into challenges, but you can overcome them with the following tips:

• Proper food storage
• Learn survival skills and establish a survival farm
• Learn how to preserve foods to extend their shelf life
• Know how to protect your survival food stockpile from the hungry masses

These four tips will ensure you survive any emergency situation.

Food Properly Stored

The survival foods listed here generally have a long shelf life. However, that is dependent on several conditions you need to control. You need to store your food in the most appropriate place to get maximum shelf life.

The shelf life of any food is affected by heat, light, moisture, pests, and oxygen. So, consider keeping them in a cool, dark, dry place. Keep your food in an airtight container and protect them from pests. But if you cannot get sealable containers, use foil pouches and oxygen absorbing packets.

Learn Survival Skills and Survival Farm

Your food stock will run out if you don’t restock or supplement it. Learn other survival skills such as hunting, foraging, fishing, and farming. Know how to grow a few vegetables in your yard to keep the food supply.

Additionally, a backyard garden will give you a fresh supply of vegetables and fruits. So, you won’t have to rely only on the preserved food. Some farming and survival skills will go a long way to ensure easier survival.

Learn to Make Your Own Long-Lasting Survival Food

Some people don’t know how to cook. It is sad but it is the truth. Your stockpiled food will offer you little to no help in an emergency situation if you don’t know how to prepare them. You only get the maximum nutrients from any food source if you know how to cook it.

Properly cooked food is nutritious and delicious. You and your family will enjoy being at the table, but only if you can cook.

Learn To Protect Your Food from The Hungry Masses

People will instinctively do anything to get food if they are hungry. So, the first survival strategy should be how to protect your food reserves.

Don’t allow people to forcefully grab them because you will go hungry once your stock is depleted. We are not saying that you should not share with others. After all, sharing is caring. But you should not allow the masses to invade your store

Conclusion

Surviving an emergency situation is easy if you prepare for it in advance. Stockpiling food, water, and emergency kits is the first step, but you should also learn basic survival skills.

You can be stretched to the edge. But if you know how to handle hardship, you can easily survive without much struggle.

Thank you for your time reading this article at Em Offgrid. We appreciate your time and believe this information will help you to better prepare for emergencies. Kindly share this content with friends to also enlighten them.

Alloy steels, stainless steels, and carbon steels are the most common blade materials. Different grades of stainless steel exist, but only 440 and 154Cm CPM are preferred for making knife blades.

Read on to know which of 4 Best steel for bushcraft knife. We will review each material, including its pros and cons.

Why Do You Need Steel for a Bushcraft Knife?

When choosing a bushcraft knife, its blade material is the primary factor. The material determines its hardness, toughness, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance. Steel is used because it possesses all these good properties.

A stainless-steel blade is the best option if you want a bushcraft knife that withstands corrosion. You never worry about rust when it gets into the water. So, it offers you the best choice for durability. However, sharpening a stainless-steel blade bushcraft noise is challenging.

Buyer’s Guide: What to Look for in a Good Steel?

Are you looking for a good bushcraft knife? You cannot buy just any knife you find in the market for this purpose. To get the best value for your money, you should consider hardness and toughness, carving capabilities, and ease of sharpening.

These factors are a must, even if you want to buy a blade material and do the rest of the work yourself. Let’s get the details in this buying guide!

Hardness and Toughness

The steel hardness is how easy the steel bends or dents. This is the primary factor to consider if you want to have a custom-made bushcraft knife. It has to be hard enough to get the thinnest edge you want. And at the same time, it has to withstand the regular use you will put it to.

The toughness of steel is how easy it breaks or how far it can withstand bending forces before snapping off. This factor is crucial if your knife gets stuck in a knot in a log or when using it. It should not be brittle to easily snap or too malleable to easily bend when in use.

Corrosion-Resistant (Stainless) and Wear-Resistance

This second factor is self-explanatory. Bushcraft knives are exposed to water and other climatic conditions. These can induce rusting or degradation, which shortens the lifespan.

You need a bushcraft knife blade that can resist corrosion and does not wear out. One that wears off often requires frequent sharpening, which consumes time. So, you should trade-off carefully to get the best blade material for the intended use.

Carving Capabilities

When it comes to choosing a steel for your bushcraft knife, the ability to carve is an important consideration. A good bushcraft knife should be able to handle a variety of carving tasks, from whittling wood to shaping and smoothing bark.

For this reason, many bushcraft enthusiasts prefer steels that are easy to sharpen and hold an edge well. 

However, some steels are simply better suited for carving than others. The carving capabilities of steel make it ideal for use in artistic works. You need this to easily design your bushcraft knife in the shape you want by cutting or scrapping away metals you don’t want.

So, consider the type of carving you’ll be doing and choose accordingly.

Easy to Sharpen

Bushcraft knives and other cutting tools blunt out over time. Regular use wears off some materials from the cutting edge. When that happens, you will need to resharpen it to continue using it.

Different steel grades have varying degrees of hardness. That means the ease of sharpening is not the same. However, you need the best bushcraft knife that you can easily sharpen.

4 Best Durable and Wear Resistant Steel for Bushcraft Knife

The primary factors to consider for a bushcraft knife are durability and wear resistance. That depends on the type or grade of steel. Steel is usually infused with other materials to improve its properties for specific uses.

Different grades for making bushcraft knives exist. But four are the commonly used ones. We will summarize their properties in the table below and discuss them in detail later. 

Alloy Steel: O1

Alloy steel: O1 is the best choice of steel for bushcraft knives. It is incredibly tough, wear-resistant, and takes a thinner edge because of the small carbon molecules infused in its structure.

Specifications:

• Density: 0.283 lb/in3 (hardened to 62 HRC)
• Ultimate Tensile Strength: 104.5 ksi
• Yield Tensile Strength: 58 ksi
• Shear Modulus: 11,200 ksi
• Shear Strength: 58 ksi
• Fatigue Strength: 40 ksi
• Hardness Rockwell | Brinell: B88-95 | 177-212
• Elongation at Break Percentage: 20%
• Machinability Percentage: 95%
• Melting Point: 2,580-2,660 °F
• Thermal Conductivity: 300 BTU-in/hr-ft^2-°F
• Electrical Conductivity: 7.4% IACS

Alloy steel 01 is also referred to as UNS T31501, AISI Type O1, Presco, or Oilcrat, depending on the region. These metals are available in round bar, drill rod, ground flat stock, ground square stock, and plate form factors.

This metal type mainly consists of carbon, iron, chromium, manganese, tungsten, and silver. It is tough. However, heat treatment needs the care to get the best results when making blades.

Alloy steel may not be as hard as other steel alloys, but the best option for bushcraft knives. It is the one distorted the least during the heat treatment process.

Alloy Steel: 01 Pros and cons

Stainless Steel: 440 A, B & C

Stainless steel 440 is another good steel material for a bushcraft knife blade. It has the best corrosion or rust-resistant property and is also tougher.

Specifications:

• Ultimate Tensile Strength: 1750 MPa
• Tensile Yield Strength: 1230 MPa
• Hardness (Rockwell): 56-58
• Modulus of Elasticity: 200 GPa
• Charpy Impact: 19.0 J
• Density: 7.6 g/cm³
• Coefficient of Expansion: 10.1 µm/m °C

Stainless Steel: 440 A, B & C have a Rockwell scale of about 56-58 HRC. The carbon content in this steel grade increases with the class, which also affects the hardness. 440A is the softest and the most affordable of the three.

The chemical composition of stainless steel 440 includes carbon, silicon, manganese, chromium, phosphorus, and sulfur.

Stainless steel 440 is easy to sharpen and can maintain its sharpness for a long time. It also has high strength, as can be deduced from its ultimate and tensile strength yields. However, they can be brittle and snap if bent.

Stainless Steel: 440 A, B & C Pros and cons

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Stainless Steel: 154CM CPM – Crucible Particle Metallurgy

Stainless steel 154CM CPM has more strength and edge retention abilities. The CPM manufacturing process evenly distributes all the elements in the steel, resulting in tougher, stronger steel.

Specifications:

• Hardness (Rockwell): 58-59
• Density: 7.78 g/cc
• Modulus of Elasticity: 207 GPa (30000 ksi)
• Thermal Conductivity: 168 BTU-in/hr-ft²-°F @Temperature 203 °F             

154CM CPM offers better wear resistance and hot hardness. This is good news for knife makers because this metal has excellent edge retention. It can maintain its sharpness over a long period of use.

The 154CM CPM is martensitic stainless steel manufactured by Crucible Industries. The company uses the Crucible Particle Metallurgy (CPM) process, which gives the metal its distinctive properties.

It comprises carbon, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, tungsten, and vanadium.

The steel has a relatively high hardness of 58-59 HRC, but it can be hardened further through heat treatment. It also has a perfect balance of hardness and toughness. So, it won’t snap off when using your bushcraft knife outdoors.

Let’s also reiterate the high edge retention and wear resistance of 154CM CPM steel.

154CM CPM Pros and cons

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Carbon Steel: 1095

1095 is the widely used carbon steel because it can be tempered to the desired hardness and toughness. It is the best for beginner knifemakers. This steel grade also has high edge retention.

Specification:

• Rockwell hardness of 55HRC
• Density (lb / cu. in.): 0.284
• Specific Gravity 7.86
• Specific Heat (Btu/lb/Deg F – [32-212 Deg F]): 0.107
• Melting Point (Deg F): 2760
• Thermal Conductivity: 350
• Tensile Strength: 139
• Yield Strength: 84
• Modulus of Elasticity Tension: 30
• Modulus of Elasticity Torsion: 11

1095 belongs to the high carbon alloy of the plain carbon steel family. By design, it is purposefully composed for strength and hardness. It is made of carbon, manganese, phosphorus, and sulfur as the main elements. However, it can tend to be brittle.

1095 carbon steel is suitable for bushcraft knife blades because of its high edge retention, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance. It is also reasonably easy to sharpen, a property desired in knives for outdoor use.

1095 may not be the best steel for knife making, but it is ideal for beginners. It is easy to work with and has competitive properties.

Carbon Steel: 1095 Pros and cons

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Is a Bushcraft Knife Good for Off-Grid Living?

Bushcraft knives are designed for different purposes outdoors. They are survival knives for building shelter, starting a fire, cutting animal hides, wood splitting, and many more! They are, therefore, ideal for off-grid living.

You can use bushcraft knives off-grid for different purposes. Usually, your creativity is the only limit.

Conclusion

A good blade material for a bushcraft knife should have superior strength and hardness and resist corrosion. This type of knife is mainly used outdoors to tackle challenging tasks. We recommend 01 alloy steel as the best product because it has all these properties. However, you can also explore other options.

Thank you for reading this article at Em Offgrid. We appreciate your time and hope you now have the information you were looking for. Kindly share this article and explore our website for related content!

The tanning process is not complex. You can make high-quality leather for various uses with the right solution and procedure. But the time it takes to tan leather depends on the method used.

We will describe natural ways of tanning rawhide at home to form leather, including their pros and cons. Read on for details!

What Is Hide Tanning?

Tanning is the process of making leather from animal skin. It is important to note that not every animal’s skin can be tanned into leather. This process involves altering the protein structure in hides or skins to make them durable and indecomposable.

Tanning processes vary, but the methods follow the same principles. The rawhide from the slaughtered animals arrives at the tannery. From there, excess flesh and fur from the skin are removed to prepare the hide for the tanning process.

Tanning is centuries old. The modern people have only made it easier and more effective compared to how ancient people did it.

9 Natural Hide Tanning Solution Recipes

The recipe for hide tanning varies depending on the items available. It can be a challenging process at home. But if you are up to the task, you can handle it.

Factories use chemicals to make the process faster and better. But you can do the same at home using natural hide tanning methods.

The goal of hide tanning is to alter the protein structure of the skin, and you can do that using the following recipes to tan hide or skin at home:

• Brain tanning
• Bark tanning
• Mayonnaise and raw eggs
• Egg yolk tanning
• Alcohol and turpentine tanning
• Distilled white vinegar tanning
• Salt (washing soda) and alum tanning
• Soap tanning
• Lard and flour tanning

Let’s get into the details of each. But before that, remember to adjust the solutions used according to the size of the skin.

Brain Tanning

Brain tanning is the most common method and has existed for years. As the name suggests, it involves using the animal’s brain to change the protein structure of the skin. Brains have lecithin that serves the purpose.

Brain tanning can be achieved in two ways: brain mash and brain daiquiri recipes. Let’s get deeper into each method.

Brain Mash Recipe

The hide tanning process does not change. All the 10 steps on how to make a brain tanning are still unchanged, but only the solution used is changed. In this case, we will make a brain mash, what some people call a brain soup for tanning hide and skin.

Making a brain mash for tanning leather is a straightforward process. Mix 4 parts of water with 2 parts of the brain extracted from the slaughtered animal.

You should be cautious when handling brain tissue. That is to minimize Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) risk. So, ensure you wear gloves during the entire brain extraction and tanning process.

There is no proof that CWD can be transmitted to humans, but the Center for Disease Control (CDC) warns people about it. So, don’t take your chances.

Back to the topic, soak the hide in the brain mash formed. This process is repeated 5-6 times with a fresh brain mash and wringing each time before you let your tanned leather dry. The rawhide should remain in the brain for at least 6 hours or just leave it overnight before changing the brain mash.

Brain Daiquiri Recipe

Brain daiquiri is a brain paste. It is thicker than the brain wash method and makes it even easier. You can complete the process in a few seconds with a food processor.

You require 0.5 parts of water in two parts of the brain. Use a food processor to mix the two into a uniform paste.

Smear the brain daiquiri on the hide to completely cover it. Once done, roll the rawhide and let it stay overnight. Unroll it the next day and remove the brain paste to apply the new one. Repeat this process 5-6 times to ensure the hide is completely tanned.

Brain tanning is very natural and free. However, it is labor intensive and more challenging than alternative methods. The process can also produce a strange odor if not done correctly.

Bark Tanning

This hide tanning method involves using tree barks. The most commonly used trees are the mimosa, quebracho, oak, and chestnut. The first two tree barks are rich in catechol, a type of tannin that gives the hide its characteristic appearance. It makes the tanned leather pink, red, dark brown, and other shades.

Oak and chestnut barks contain pyrogallol, which make your leather yellow, light brown, or cream. They also improve water resistance and resistance to wear and tear of the final product. Most leather for making soles and upholstery is tanned using this approach for durability.

What do you need for the bark tanning recipe?

• A 30-gallon bucket
• 30-40 pounds of tree bark (preferably harvested in spring)
• 20 gallons of boiling water (clean, freshwater preferred).

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Grind the harvested tree barks and pour them into the boiling water. Leave the solution for about 15-20 days to allow tannins to dissolve in the water to form a more concentrated solution.

Bark tanning is not as straightforward as brain tanning. Follow these steps to tan your hide with the formed bark tanning solution:

1. Collect 5 gallons of concentrated bark tanning solution and dilute it to 15 gallons using clean water.
2. Submerge the hide in the diluted solution and Stir every 10 minutes for the next hour. Leave it to settle for one week.
3. Drain the first 5 gallons of diluted solution and top it up with 5 gallons of concentrated solution. Once again, stir and let it sit for another week.
4. Repeat the previous step and let the setup sit for another week.
5. Check if your hide is completely tanned by the end of the third week. Cut a piece from the edge of the skin. The white color in the middle shows the process is not complete. So, repeat the previous step a few times.
6. Remove the hide from the solution and rinse it in cold water for about two hours.
7. Wring the water from the tanned hide and apply a tanning oil such as mink oil.
8. Hang the tanned hide in an open space to dry.

Bark tanning is also natural and flexible but takes a lot of time. You have to wait a month before the leather is ready for use. The process can also be complex for a beginner. As a result, you may consider alternative methods.

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Mayonnaise And Raw Eggs

In this method, you only need mayonnaise and eggs. It is all-natural and takes the shortest time. Even beginners can be successful with it!

Mix mayonnaise and eggs to form your tanning solution. Spread the mixt on the hide. Cover it with a damp cloth and leave it for at least 24 hours. You may need to let it sit for more time if tanning a thick hide.

Rinse away the mix and dry your tanned hide.

Using raw egg is straightforward, but the end product is not as strong as hide tanned using other methods. It can be easily damaged and can revert to rawhide if it gets into contact with moisture.

Egg Yolk Tanning

Egg yolk tanning is also a straightforward process with nothing much involved. You can choose to use chicken, turkey, duck, or geese eggs, whichever is readily available. But how do you tan a hide with raw eggs?

1. Extract the egg yolks and mix them with water. Every egg yolk requires 1-2 teaspoonfuls of water, but bigger ones may require more water.
2. Mixt the yolk and water to form a tanning solution. Use a brush or sponge to spread it on your hide and cover with a damp sheet (natural fibers or towel preferred).
3. Leave the hide for about 24-49 hours. The duration depends on the thickness of the rawhide. After the wait time elapses, rinse away the egg yolk from the hide with lukewarm water. Hang the tanned leather to dry.

Egg yolk tanning is non-toxic, easy, and leads to the formation of beautiful white leather. However, the finished product is not durable. The leather can be easily damaged by beetles and other pests. Also, the leather can turn back to rawhide if it gets into contact with moisture or water.

Alcohol And Turpentine Tanning

Alcohol and turpentine tanning is a simple method but not very popular. It is best for small fur skin, but how do you do it?

Mix 50% ethanol and 50% turpentine to form a tanning solution. Follow all the steps of brain tanning. But in this case, you will substitute brain mash with the just-formed solution.

Since this approach is rarely used, nothing much is known about it. Further research may be necessary to reveal its pros and cons. However, many believe the process can lead to dry leather with a turpentine or alcohol smell. 

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Distilled White Vinegar Tanning

It takes just a few steps to tan rawhide with a vinegar solution. All you need is a gallon of vinegar diluted with 5 gallons of clean water.

Soak the hide in the formed solution, leave for three days and rinse with cold water. Repeat this step three more times to ensure complete tanning.

The leather formed through this process is stiff. So, apply mink oil and rub it with your hands on the leather until it softens.

This method is easy and all-natural. However, the leather formed this way is often stiff and can be easily damaged by beetles and other pests.

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Salt (Washing Soda) And Alum Tanning

This is another easy-to-make tanning solution. You need the following:

• 2.5 pounds of table salt
• 1 pound of ammonium alum
• 5 gallons of water
• Plastic container

Prepare your tanning solution as follows:

1. Warm 4 gallons of water and dissolve the salt in it.
2. Use the remaining gallon of water to dissolve ammonium aluminum.
3. Mix the two solutions to form a tanning solution.
4. Soak the hide in the solution for 4 days for the tanning process to complete. Once done, remove it and rinse clean with water.
5. Dry the tanned hide.

Salt tanning is easy and forms soft furs and leather. However, the ammonium alum solution can irritate the skin. You should be cautious when carrying out the entire process.

Soap Tanning

You can use a homemade soap or buy a castile soap from a store, but any other soap can do. That means this method can either be natural or chemical-based.

Use the following steps for tanning rawhide with soap:

1. Dissolve soap in water. You can grate it like cheese to make it dissolve faster in water.
2. Add an equal amount of mink oil, macadamia nut oil, or sea buckthorn oil and mix. They contain palmitoleic acid.
3. Spread the formed solution on the hide and roll it. Leave it for 48 hours
4. Wash and rinse the tanned rawhide with warm water and let dry.

Soap tanning is easy, but it involves chemicals that some people may not like working with. Even homemade soap is not all that natural!

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Lard and Flour Tanning

Lard and flour tanning is another simple method for tanning hide into leather. The information about it is limited, but we will describe it as best as possible.

1. Rub the hide with a layer of lard and cover it with another layer of flour.
2. Roll up the hide and let the blood drain out of it.
3. Dry the tanned hide and use mink oil to rub on it to make it soft.

The lard and flour tanning method is non-toxic and forms beautiful white leather. However, the end product is not as durable as the one using other methods. The tanned hide can be easily damaged by pests.

That is the end of 9 natural ways of hide tanning. Remember you need to remove excess flesh and fur from the hide before you use any of the methods described above.

Conclusion

You can tan hide at home using the natural means described in this article. The formed leather can be used for making clothes, wallets, belts, and other creations.

However, you should follow the correct steps to get the best results. If anything goes wrong, the tanned hide can stiffen, become weak, or become susceptible to pests.

We thank you for your time reading this article at Em Offgrid. Let us know which of the natural hide tanning methods described here you want to try or have successfully used to make leather. Also, kindly share the article with your friends.

Homestead survival gardening is small-scale farming to produce food for a family. It can include vegetables, cereals, and other edibles for supplementing your diet. But how do you go about it if you are new to gardening?

Read on to find your answer. We will discuss the best ideas to help you get started. But before that, let’s highlight the benefits of a homestead survival garden.

Benefits of a Homestead Survival Garden

A Homestead survival garden is essential for a more fulfilling off-grid living. It involves growing vegetables to feed your family without visiting a grocery store. This skill is crucial and is not only to provide food, but it also comes with many benefits.

The following are some of the benefits you get from a homestead survival garden:

• You get and eat garden-fresh vegetables every day.
• A learning tool for every family member who feels connected to their food source.
• A homestead survival garden helps to reduce the environmental footprint by positively contributing to eco-balance.
• Generates revenue from sales if you get more harvest than your family needs.
• Gardening is a reliable exercise to help burn calories and keep your body fit.
• Harvesting your own food is more satisfying than buying them from a grocery store.
• A Homestead survival garden helps you cut down expenses on food.
• Encourages healthy eating habits as you have access to more veggies.
• Homestead gardening ensures you have a constant stock of food all year round.

6 Ideas to Build Homestead Survival Garden

Homestead survival gardening benefits only come to those who commit to successful gardening. But how do you ensure your success? We have the best ideas to build and maintain your homestead garden. They are easy to practice for even beginners, and they include the following:

1. Square Foot Gardening Format
2. Victory Gardens Format
3. Keyhole Gardens Format
4. Permaculture Food Forest Format
5. Backyard Homestead Layout Format
6. Self-Sufficient Backyard Layout Format

Square Foot Gardening Format

Square foot gardening has been a buzzword for decades because of its efficiency and reliability. This method involves planting vegetables, herbs, and flowers in a small space by growing them in 4’ x 4’ beds. 

This perennial gardening method is for backyard gardeners or newbie urban homesteading with limited space. It does not require skills, and the steps are straightforward once you master them. Square foot gardening is the best because of the following reasons:

• You can grow food in a small space that you cannot with other methods.
• Raised 4’ x 4’ beds create easy accessibility if you need to inspect or harvest your produce.
• You can grow your favorite vegetables and herbs on your patio, balcony, and small plots. No need for large spaces to start square foot gardening.
• Weeding is not necessary if you use a weed-free soil mix. Overall, square foot gardening requires minimal maintenance.
• It preserves the aesthetic value of your yard.
• Vegetables grow to full size and give the best yields
• More optimal use of the available space compared to row planting.

Square foot gardening layout is our best choice for beginners and experienced gardeners. Find detailed information on how to start and manage your square food garden at the Gardeners Path.

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Victory Gardens Format

Victory gardens first gained traction during World War I. During the war, American citizens were encouraged to plant vegetables and produce their own food from their backyards, churchyards, playgrounds, and other open places.

We have seen victory gardens having a comeback in the past few decades. Many homestead survival gardeners are happy to follow this route, but how do you do it?

A victory garden can be one or more pots of vegetables and other edibles on your balcony or windowsill. But to feed a family of four or more members, you need to cover that front or back yard with pots of veggies to supply fresh greenery. The produce from your victory garden can support the family from spring through fall.

The following are the steps to make your victory garden:

1. Make a list of greens that your family eats frequently.
2. Shorten the list by choosing the plant varieties that are easy to grow and well adapted to the climatic conditions of your region.
3. Determine the appropriate planting materials. Some vegetables grow perfectly well from seeds. But for some, you may need transplants or stem cuts to cultivate them.
4. Choose the appropriate location for your victory garden. You can use in-ground, containers, or raised beds, but the area should get 6-8 hours of sunlight daily.
5. Determine the correct spacing, depending on the crop varieties you want to plant. For example, carrots and radishes do well when spaced 2-3 inches apart.
6. Plant your seeds or transplant them at the correct time. This information is usually available on the seed packets or your seedling supplier.
7. Improve your soil with compost or buy high-quality soil mixes to improve the yield potential.
8. Plant pollinator-friendly flowers to help fruiting vegetables such as cucumbers, peppers, squash, etc.

Learn more about how to grow a victory garden from The Spruce. You will get a step-by-step guide on how to set up the beds and plant your favorite vegetables.

Keyhole Gardens Format

A keyhole garden gets its name from its design. Generally, keyhole gardens are circular in shape but with triangular notches or indentions on one side.

The keyhole enhances access, allowing a gardener to add water, manure, kitchen waste, and other organic matter to a bucket, which sits at the center of the garden.

A keyhole garden is a permaculture garden that breaks down organic matter to replenish soil nutrients. It was developed by farmers from Lesotho, South Africa. Currently, the gardening layout has spread to semi-arid, arid, and drought-prone countries, including some states in the U.S.

Keyhole gardens carry the day because they require low maintenance, less water, and little or no fertilization. It is a sustainable homestead survival gardening strategy you should consider if living off the grid. But how do you set it up?

Building keyhole garden beds is straightforward, but you may need skills to make them double as a decorative element in your yard. Besides, it has a small footprint. So, it won’t affect your current landscaping.

Learn how to build keyhole garden beds and vegetables that can thrive on them at Garden Gate Magazine.

Permaculture Food Forest Format

A permaculture food forest is a sustainable plant-based food production and agroforestry system. It incorporates fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines, and other perennial vegetables.

A permaculture food forest is more permanent than other homestead survival methods already discussed. It involves growing some trees that can even take decades to mature. However, it has its advantages.

You can get fresh veggies, fruits, and nuts. That means you can eat healthy all year round without visiting a grocery store. It also focuses on boosting biodiversity and promoting function stacking.

However, it requires a much larger space, and the process is challenging. You need to research and design your food forest for maximum yield.

Backyard Homestead Layout Format

Homesteading is a general term that refers to more than just a vegetable garden.

You can refer to it as surviving on the grid without outside help by producing your own food. It involves growing vegetables and keeping livestock and other things to ensure your survival.

In this context, we will restrict the discussion to survival gardening to produce the veggies that your family needs. This method can help you attain self-sufficiency and self-reliance if well planned.

Read the backyard homestead gardening guides and books to gain knowledge to produce your own food and preserve the excess for future use.

Self-Sufficient Backyard Layout Format

If you want to transition to self-sufficiency, the best way to do it is by using this method. It involves growing vegetables for your family and collecting water, foraging, and using renewable energy.

It is not a gardening method, but it aids in transitioning from dependency on other food sources to producing your own. It is the ultimate guide for any aspiring off-gridder and even beginners in that lifestyle.

If you have about a quarter acre of space in your backyard, you can rely on it for food or to support your off-grid lifestyle.

What Should You Grow In Your Survival Garden?

A big part of homesteading is having a survival garden. Survival gardens are designed to provide you with the food and supplies you need to survive in the event of an emergency. So, what should you grow in your survival garden?

Most homesteaders recommend growing a mix of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. This will ensure that you have a well-rounded diet in the event of an emergency.

Fruits and vegetables can be preserved through canning or freezing, so you will have a supply of food that lasts for months or even years.

Herbs can be used for medicinal purposes or dried and used as spices. You may also want to consider growing grains such as wheat or rice. These can be ground into flour or used as a cereal.

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Of course, the best survival garden is one that is tailored to your specific needs. If you have allergies or other dietary restrictions, be sure to take them into account when choosing what to grow. And don’t forget to consider the climate where you live. Some plants will only thrive in certain conditions.

Survival farms are different from regular ones in three main ways: 

• They’re designed to feed just one or two families, not as many people; 
• The emphasis is on variety rather than mass production because weather conditions can vary greatly within a single region (elevated temperature differences between day and night time). 
• Lastly these ” survival” farms need robust infrastructure that withstands bad luck—different weather conditions and temperatures. 

By taking the time to plan ahead, you can ensure that your survival garden will provide everything you need to weather any storm.

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How Much Space Do You Need for a Survival Garden?

The space you need for a homestead survival garden depends on many factors. They include the demand, vegetable type, variety, and other circumstances. It is up to you to determine your requirements and plan appropriately for them.

However, you can use Grandma Carrie’s golden rule of thumb to give you an insight into the space you need for your garden. The table below shows an approximate garden space for various vegetables for four people. You can adjust accordingly depending on the number of mouths to feed.

Going by the chart above and assuming you need to grow the vegetables listed, you will need 2,018 square feet of garden space. Also, note that the total excludes paths or that you may need between rows.

FAQs

In Conclusion

The idea of homestead survival gardening is well overdue. There is a need for fresh, nutritious veggies in the market. It also encourages self-reliant and healthy eating habits. Fortunately, you can use different garden layouts to ensure you get enough to produce all year round. Just use what works best for you!

Thank you for your time at Em Offgrid. We hope you have the information you need about homestead survival gardening and appreciate your time on this site. Kindly share our article to help spread the good news.

You will need food-grade diatomaceous earth and essential oils to create a potent repellent that keeps mice away from your property. This method is effective, chemical-free, and humane.

Read on to find out how to make an essential oil-infused diatomaceous earth mixture for repelling mice. We will also highlight other uses of this natural substance.

Does Diatomaceous Earth Keep Mice Away?

Yes. Diatomaceous earth can effectively drive away mice, rats, moles, voles, and other rodents. It is a natural way of keeping your garden or yard free from these stubborn pests. Compared to essential oils, diatomaceous earth is more efficient in warding off rodents.

Diatomaceous earth kills bugs and pests by dehydrating them to death. But it is the smell that repels mice and other rodents. It is an effective pest control substance because of its abrasive and physio-sorptive properties.

Diatomaceous earth is dust with microscopic sharp edges. These cut through the protective membranes or bugs or mice, leading to drying out. This approach to controlling mice and other rodents is efficient because the pests cannot develop resistance against it.

What Is Diatomaceous Earth? (DE)

Diatomaceous earth is fossilized remains of aquatic organisms such as ancient, sea-dwelling algae. Their skeletons are made of silica. These accumulate in sediments of rivers, oceans, seas, lakes, and streams, where they are mined and ground into fine powder.

Diatomaceous earth mostly comes from amorphous silicon dioxide. A pesticide with that compound was first made in 1960 and effectively killed insects and mites.

Where Does Diatomaceous Earth Come From?

Diatomaceous earth is ancient phytoplankton found in sedimentary rocks. It is mined for various applications in the industries. The main constituents of diatomaceous earth include the following:

• 33% silicon
• 19% calcium
• 2% iron
• 5% sodium
• 3% magnesium.

This product comes in many grades for different purposes. The one we use in our gardens to drive away bugs and rodents is the food-grade diatomaceous earth.

How Long Has DE Been Around?

Diatomaceous earth was discovered in 1836 by a German called Peter Kasten. His discovery was accidental when he was sinking a well. Little was known about the white, powdery substance he discovered, and its use in making pesticides only started in 1960.

How Do You Use Diatomaceous Earth to Get Rid of Mice?

Diatomaceous earth is one of the most effective pesticides you can find on the market. It is natural and considered humane. However, you should know how to mix and use it. This powdery substance is mixed with peppermint and lemon citrus essential oil to make a more potent natural rodent repellent.

We will outline the steps you should take to mix it and apply it to effectively control rodents from your garden or the entire property.

Step 1: Prepare the Necessary Materials and Tools

The first step is to assemble all the tools and ingredients you need to make a potent diatomaceous earth rodent repellent. According to the mixing method we will describe in this article, you will need the following:

• 1 cup of food-grade diatomaceous earth.
• 1/8 cup of water
• 2-3 drops of essential oil (peppermint or lemon citrus)
• A storage container for your essential oil-infused diatomaceous earth.

Step 2: Make Diatomaceous Earth Mix According to The Recipe

It is now time to mix the ingredients to make a potent solution pesticide for repelling mice from your property. Proceed as follows:

1. Add essential oil to water and stir. You should do it thoroughly to achieve a uniform solution.
2. Gently add the food-grade diatomaceous earth to the DE-water solution from the previous step.
3. Stir until all the DE gets wet.
4. Place the resulting mixture in a container ready for use.

Step 3: Apply The Mixture To Areas Where Have Mice

Place your diatomaceous earth mixture where the mice live. If you can identify their holes or where they eat in your yard or drain, pour the DE mixture there. But if they disturb you indoors, just place the container in the areas they frequent and leave it open.

The essential oil-infused diatomaceous earth gives off a scent that mice and other rodents will not withstand. That is what will chase them away. They don’t get poisoned but simply pack and leave your property for a better place.

Tips for Using Diatomaceous Earth to Get Rid of Mice

The potency of your diatomaceous earth will fade over time. So, how do you make it last longer or replenish its smell?

• Keep the diatomaceous earth mixture you are not using in an airtight container.
• Add water and a few drops of diatomaceous earth to the one whose potency has faded to renew its scent.
• Reapply the diatomaceous mixture after it rains. Rainwater can wash it away and reduce its effectiveness.
• Diatomaceous earth powder will remain effective as long as it does not rain or you don’t water your garden.

Other Uses of Diatomaceous Earth

Apart from repelling mice and other rodents, you can use diatomaceous earth for other purposes. Some uses include pest control, water filtration, and human benefits. Let’s get into details of the most common ones.

For Pets

Food-grade diatomaceous earth is an essential mineral source for pets. You can feed it to your dogs, cats, and horses, but the dosage varies depending on the pet and size.

The dosage for dogs is as follows:

• Under 25 lbs: ½ tsp
• 25 – 50 lbs: 1-2 tsp
• 50 – 100 lbs: 1 Tbsp
• Over 100 lbs: 1-2 Tbsp

The dosage for cats is as follows:

• Under 7 lbs: ½ tsp
• 7 – 13 lbs: 1 tsp
• Over 13 lbs: 1½ tsp

Add 3 ounces of diatomaceous earth to every 10 pounds of feed for horses.

You can also use diatomaceous earth to kill fleas in dogs and cats. Dust your dog’s beddings and other areas frequented with DE. Any flea that gets into contact with it dies.

Human Benefits

Food-grade diatomaceous earth is safe to eat. This natural substance is speculated to have many benefits to humans but not enough evidence to support the claims. Arguably, DE helps with the following:

• Reduces cholesterol level
• Encourages healthy skin, nails, teeth, bones, and air.
• Aids removal of dead skin cells

If it is your first time taking DE or you have not been doing so for some time, the recommended dosage is one teaspoonful 1-2 times a day. You can increase it after about a week when your body has adjusted.  

Taking an overdose of diatomaceous earth can cause constipation. So, stick to the recommended dose to avoid that.

Pest Control

Diatomaceous earth is an effective pesticide that can kill many bugs in your garden. Aphids, ants, thrips, mites, snails, earwigs, and many others cannot survive when they touch it. And the advantage is that it never harms worms or beneficial microorganisms.

The application of diatomaceous earth for pest control is usually printed on the package and is straightforward. You can apply it as a powder or mix it with water for spraying.

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You only need to dust your vegetables, and you are done. The same applies to the liquid mixture. They will control pests in your garden, though the action is not as quick as chemical-based pesticides.

Ridding Pests in Your Food Storage

Aphids and beetles can affect your cereals in the store. Fortunately, you can control them naturally using diatomaceous earth. Mix 1-2 cups of DE with 50 pounds of grain for effective pest control. Find out more on how to use DE for food storage.

Food items you can successfully preserve using diatomaceous earth include flour, legumes, rice, corn, and other dry foods. Another benefit of using DE to control pests in food storage is that it keeps your cereals mold-free. It effectively absorbs water that can encourage mold growth.

To Filter Water

Diatomaceous earth allows water to pass through it while trapping any participles in water. That property makes them used as a filter medium for swimming pools. It is also used to filter water in water treatment plants and fish tanks.

Diatomaceous earth can filter wine, beer, syrups, and honey without changing color, taste, or nutritional values.

FAQs

Conclusion

Consider diatomaceous earth if you are looking for a chemical-free and humane way of sending mice away from your property. Make the appropriate solution with essential oils following the steps described in this post and apply it to where mice live or feed.

The potent scent from the mixture will naturally repel mice and other rodents. Also, you can consider other uses of diatomaceous earth mentioned.

Thank you for reading this article at Em Offgrid. We appreciate your time and hope this information helps you get rid of mice. Kindly share it with your friends. We also invite you to explore the website for related content.

The carrots you harvest from your backyard garden can serve you all year round. Also, you can shop for more carrots cheaply from a grocery store when they are in season and preserve them for future use.

But how do you ensure they stay fresh until you need them?

Read on as we give step-by-step procedures of different methods you can use to store carrots for future use.

How to Store Carrots Long Term

The shelf life of carrots varies depending on the storage method and variety. Overall, carrots have longer shelf life than most vegetables.

You can keep them in a root cellar, water, fridge, and other ways. The climatic conditions in these storage units will determine how soon your carrot spoils.

Carrots go bad from water loss. They become soft if they lose water. But as long as they are not slimy, you can still use them. Use the following methods to store carrots and make them last longer:

Method 1: Fridge

Refrigeration is one of the best methods you can use to extend the shelf life of carrots. This is practical for many homesteaders with a fridge and access to electricity, but can only keep carrots fresh for one month.

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Step-By-Step Instructions for Storing Carrots In The Refrigerator

Fresh carrots stored in a fridge can stay fresh for a month, but only if you follow all the steps involved appropriately. In this method, you are supposed to use water. So, the first point to note is to never wash the carrots. Follow these steps to store fresh carrots in a fridge:

1. Separate greens from roots and leave roots unwashed and unpeeled.
2. Put carrots in an airtight bag or large container and immerse them in cold water.
3. Close the container lid and put them inside the fridge. Change the water when it starts appearing cloudy. You can do that every 4-5 days and refill the container with clean cold water.

Instead of using any other container, you can use a pitcher or a tall narrow glass to utilize the vertical space inside your refrigerators. Alternatively, use an airtight and zip-top bag or vacuum-sealed bags. These are the most efficient options.

Pros and Cons of Storing Carrots In The Fridge

Storing carrots in a fridge is quick and practical. However, the shelf life of these vegetables is shorter using this method compared to other storage methods. One month may not be sufficient if you rely on your backyard garden for supplies.

Additionally, the fridge requires electricity, which may be limited if you live off the grid. This may force you to consider alternative methods.

Method 2: Freezing

If you want to store carrots for longer than one month, you may consider freezing them. The shelf life depends on your freezer and how you prepare and pack the carrots.

Carrots sealed in a Ziploc bag and stored in an ordinary freezer can last up to 9 months. You can get up to 14 months of shelf life if you keep them in a deep freezer. However, freezing carrots can cause changes in color, texture, and flavor. What causes this, and how do you prevent it?

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Carrots have enzymatic action going on inside them even after harvesting. The enzymes can survive the freezing temperatures inside your freezer. That quickens the decay process, which alters the color, texture, and flavor. The solution is to pre-boil the carrots before freezing to kill the enzymes.

Step-By-Step Instructions for Storing Carrots By Freezing

1. Separate the greens from the roots and chop the carrot roots into slices, cubes, or rounds. Ensure the pieces are of about the same size.
2. Boil water in a saucepan. Meanwhile, prepare a bowl of iced water and a tray lined with a clean, dry tea towel or kitchen roll.
3. Once the water boils up, put carrots in and let them stay for about 3-5 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces. The smaller they are, the shorter they should take in hot water.
4. Remove the carrot pieces from the hot water. Put them in the bowl of iced water and let them cool for 3-5 minutes. Ensure you are quick when transferring carrots from hot water to the iced water in the bowl.
5. Drain the carrot pieces and arrange them on an open tray to dry. Pat them to quicken the drying process.
6. Lay the dry carrot pieces in another tray and freeze them until frozen solid. Ensure the sliced pieces are one layer thick.
7. Transfer the frozen pieces into a sealable freezer bag, remove excess air, and seal the bag. Put them back in the freezer until you need to use them.

Pros and Cons of Storing Carrots By Freezing

Freezing carrots extends their shelf life up to one year or even more. That may be an advantage, but the process is delicate and requires skills. If anything goes wrong, you can end up with rotten carrots or lose flavor, texture, or color over a short time.

Also, deep freezing requires electricity, a limited commodity when living off the grid.

Method 3: Canning or Pickling

Canned carrots can last for years. Usually, you should use your canned carrots within 3-5 years for the best quality. It degrades rapidly after this estimated shelf life.

Canning carrots require a pressure canner. And to properly do it, you should never use a water bath canner. Carrot is basic in nature, meaning most bacteria on this vegetable can survive in a water bath unless you pickle the carrots first. Pickle the carrots in vinegar to kill bacteria and other microorganisms.

Moreover, you should select small carrots of about 1-1.5 inches in diameter for canning. Bigger ones are too fibrous.

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Step-By-Step Instructions for Storing Carrots By Canning/Pickling

1. Wash, peel, rewash, and slice the carrots
2. Cover the carrots with water and boil. Let it simmer for about five minutes.
3. Pack the boiled, hot carrots into glass jars, leaving about half an inch of headspace. You can add a half teaspoonful of salt to points, but that is optional.
4. Fill the jars with boiling water, leaving only 1 inch of headspace.
5. Stir with a metallic spatula to remove air bubbles. Wipe the rim and fit the lid but don’t make it too tight.
6. Process in a Dial Gauge Pressure Canner set at 11 pounds pressure. But if using a Weighted Gauge Pressure canner, the pressure should be 10 pounds. Processing should take 25 minutes for pints and 30 minutes for quarts.

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Pros and Cons of Storing Carrots By Canning/Pickling

Canning carrots give you a longer shelf life than refrigerated ones. However, the complexity of this process makes it unsuitable for many homesteaders. You also need a pressure canner, which not everyone has. Buying one just for canning carrots may be expensive.

Method 4: Sand (or Basement Storage)

The sand method is the most practical and homesteaders’ favorite. You don’t need electricity or refrigerators to get up to 6 months of shelf life from your carrots.

Use a kid’s play sand instead of one from beaches, riverbanks, or your garden. Those may be contaminated with bacteria and microorganisms that will potentially damage the carrots. Besides, you don’t want your vegetables to be contaminated with pathogens.

Additionally, only consider healthy carrots for this method. Avoid visibly broken, split, or deformed carrots as these are prone to rotting and will not last long in the sand.

Lastly, don’t wash carrots that you will preserve using this method. Water can potentially speed up the rotting process.

Step-By-Step Instructions for Storing Carrots In Sand

1. Take a planter and fill it with a freshly opened bag of kid’s play sand.
2. Remove the green from the roots and leave the roots unwashed. Just sort them out and only take the healthy ones to the next step. You can preserve the defective or deformed ones using other methods.
3. Push the carrots vertically into the sand, leaving space between them for air circulation. Cover with a layer of sand.  
4. Keep the planter and its content in a cool place, but not too cold to freeze.

Pros and Cons of Storing Carrots In Sand

The sand method is simple, fast, and practical for a homesteader. You don’t need a refrigerator or electricity. However, it may not be ideal if you want to preserve the carrots for more than 6 months. Fortunately, many people usually use their stock within that period.

Method 5: Dehydrating

Carrots are 88% water. That is what makes them perishable if not well preserved. If you dehydrate them, carrots can last 10-15 years.

Dehydrating carrots is straightforward if you have a dehydrator. You can also make dehydrated carrot flakes or use a food processor to grind them into powder. The powder can be used in soups, casseroles, drinks, and other recipes.

Step-By-Step Instructions for Storing Carrots By Dehydrating

1. Remove the greens and wash and peel roots.
2. Cut the washed, peeled carrot roots into thin slices or cubes.
3. Boil the slices in water for about 3-5 minutes and transfer them into a bowl of ice water. Let it sit for 3-5 minutes.
4. Remove the sliced carrot pieces from the ice and pat dry in a tray, and spread into a single layer thick.
5. Put the pieces in a dehydrator and set the temperature to 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Check them every one hour or according to the instructions for the dehydrator. Remove them from the dehydrator when dry and crispy.

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Pros and Cons of Storing Carrots By Dehydrating

The first advantage of dehydrating carrots is the long shelf life. Dried carrots can last for more than a decade. The other advantage is an endless list of uses for dehydrated carrots.

However, it needs a dehydrator that requires electricity to operate. You can use alternative means to dehydrate carrots, but these are usually very slow.

Tips to Store Carrots Long Term

The shelf life you will achieve using any method depends on different factors. To ensure your carrots stay fresh for long, consider the following tips:

• Do not store carrots with vegetables and fruits that produce ethylene gas, such as apples, pears, ripe bananas, etc.
• Remove the greens before storing carrots to minimize the rate of water loss from the roots.
• Consider cool spots in your fridge for storing carrots if using that method. But ensure they don’t freeze.
• Some carrot storing methods require you to use unwashed and unpeeled carrots. Stick to that if you don’t want to invite mold growth, which will make the carrots rot.

Wrapping Up

Carrots are 88% water, which makes them perishable vegetables. The storage methods such as freezing, using sand, and refrigeration involve preserving their water content and discouraging the multiplication of bacteria and other microorganisms.

But if you want your carrots dry, consider dehydrating them and storing them in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place.

Thank you for your time at Em Offgrid. We appreciate your time and invite you to explore our site for more related articles. Also, we request you to share this information with your friends.