Hello, fellow homesteaders and gardening enthusiasts! It’s Ryan here from Backroads Homesteading. In today’s episode, I’m excited to take you through the early stages of planting on our homestead. With the risk of freezing temperatures looming, it’s a bit of a gamble, but I’m hopeful that our early crops will pull through.
Planting Day on the Homestead: Corn, Potatoes, and More! Freeze Risk! Planting Early Crops – Will They Survive? | Making Rows #planting#homestead#garden Join us on Backroads Homesteading as we dive into a busy planting day on our homestead! From wiring up the tractor with tech to planting corn and potatoes, we’re covering it all. Watch as we share our methods, trials, and the beautiful results of a day’s hard work in the field.
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The day kicks off with me getting our trusty tractor ready for the task at hand. I’ve equipped it with a GMRS radio for communication, a boom box for some tunes, and a 360 camera to capture all the action. I’ve also mounted my phone on one side for easy access. It’s important to note that when working in dusty conditions, it’s crucial to protect your electronic devices. Dust can wreak havoc on your connections in no time, so be sure to cover them up if you’re kicking up a lot of dirt.
Our main focus today is planting corn. I’ve got several trials of corn seeds that I’m eager to test out. But, in a bit of a spontaneous decision, I’ve also decided to plant some wheatgrass. Originally, I intended to juice it, but since it’s past its prime for juicing, I figured, why not plant it as hard winter wheat for the summer? If it doesn’t work out, it can always serve as a treat for our chickens.
As we move out into the field, I show you how we planted the corn last night. We created raised rows, planted the seeds, and then covered them with wood chips. The wood chips will act as mulch, helping with weed suppression and moisture retention. For the corn, I’ve kept the rows shallow, as corn typically doesn’t require deep rows. I just wanted to add a bit of extra drainage if possible.
Fast forward to the next day, and it’s all about potatoes. I’m adopting a “Back to Eden” style of planting, where we cover the potatoes with wood chips after planting them in the soil. We’re planting a variety of potatoes, including Georges whites, reds, and Yukon Golds. I must admit, I’ve never planted this many potatoes in one go before. My previous garden was a fraction of this size, so it’s quite the undertaking for one person.
One of the key messages I want to share with you all is the importance of just starting your planting, even if your soil isn’t perfect. Too often, we get caught up in analysis paralysis, worrying that our conditions aren’t ideal. But the truth is, it’s better to start and learn from the experience, even if your yield is a bit lower. With all the uncertainties that 2024 is bringing, it’s crucial to be self-sufficient in some way, whether it’s through planting food, securing water sources, or having a means of communication.
As the sun sets, I reflect on the day’s work. We’ve got four rows of potatoes in, and it’s been a long process with our small tractor. But there’s something incredibly satisfying about working the land and watching your crops grow. It’s a beautiful evening, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share this journey with all of you.
Before I sign off, I want to invite you to join our online community at BackroadsHomesteading.com and subscribe to our free e-newsletter. Your support means the world to us, so don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to our channel. Until next time, happy homesteading!
This week, we started testing the soil with the university and extension. We also built some trailer sides so we can bring in more soil, mulch, and more. I put a voice changer in just for funzies.
The video kicks off with a rundown on why it’s super crucial to check out the soil for gardens and fields. Lucky for folks around here, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers soil testing services. The whole process gets broken down, especially the part about snagging a bunch of soil samples from different spots in a zigzag pattern to really get the full picture of the soil’s condition.
Then there’s a bit where the favorite tool for the job, the “corana soil Digger upper,” gets some spotlight. It’s a champ at scooping up and cleaning those muddy samples. While getting hands-on with the sampling, the video sheds light on the cool fact that finding earthworms is like a high-five from Mother Nature, signaling healthy soil. There’s also a real moment shared about the tiny mishap of touching the soil samples directly and having to redo that part to keep the test accurate. It’s all about the ups and downs of the learning curve.
Later on, the scene shifts to some trailer tinkering. It’s all about transforming a Caravan trailer into a versatile beast for hauling everything from compost to brush. The video walks through adding sides to the trailer, making it a real MVP for any homesteading task. It’s a great peek for anyone into DIY and making things more efficient.
So that’s the scoop on the latest video – a blend of practical tips, a dash of mishaps, and a whole lot of making things better, one step at a time.
Every journey begins with a first step, or sometimes, it doesn’t begin at all. Many of us observe others embarking on new endeavors, often giving the illusion that we are following a similar path. However, the necessity of cultivating your own food cannot be overstated.
In these times, as we face difficulties unparalleled since the era of our great grandparents, the importance of self-sustainability becomes increasingly clear. The world, including the USA, is experiencing a level of instability and turmoil unprecedented in history, with negative forces seemingly gaining ground rapidly.
Instead of fixating on factors beyond your control, it’s time to roll up your sleeves, seek guidance and strength through prayer, and strategize for your family’s survival in these uncertain times. At The Backroads Homestead, we are committed to sowing the seeds of liberty and inspiring others to do the same. Our community not only encourages each other in these endeavors but also rewards such efforts.
Approach this as an enjoyable challenge. Avoid getting bogged down by overthinking or succumbing to despair. Recognize the grim state of the world, but choose to plan for survival rather than sinking with the metaphorical ship. Many people are overwhelmed by the fear and negativity broadcasted in the media, leading to a sense of helplessness. However, it’s crucial to move past these feelings and take action. Surround yourself with positive, action-oriented individuals, and distance yourself from naysayers.
Make it a game. Ya, I mean, keep it fun. Don’t suffer from analysis paralysis or woe be me stuff. That’ll end with your doom. Know enough to make the conscious decision to say “ok, the world is kinda sucking right now, need to plan on how to not go down with this ship”. I see so many people take the negative, fear-mongering garbage on our screens and just throw a pity party… or even a puddles pity party (below, ya, that’s a thing). Sure, everyone hurts sometimes, but then get over it! DO SOMETHING. Wipe away those tears, get with people who do the things, and get rid of the negative people who tell you you can’t. Jess, Link and I care about you, and want you to live and even thrive when the next crash goes hard-core.
Take us, as an example. Back in 2014ish, neither my wife or I had any clue how to garden, but we had a child now and parental instincts started kicking in about the world around us not heading in a good direction for our child. While we can’t control what God does, what wars happen, or how the earth goes round, we CAN start to take some effort in making things, and learning how to do things, and getting ready to deal with people who didn’t see the writing on the wall.
Let me put this a different way, to be more Frank. As society erodes, those of us who are doing the things, will gravitate towards others who are doing the things. Many will begin to see those who are not doing the things as a threat to those doing the things. Don’t be a threat, do the things. Matter to the people who will help protect you, your family, and your property. And it doesn’t take much! Those who do the things are always looking for those taking the effort to do the things, even if they fail, they are really trying, the folks doing the things may step in and help where needed.
People think you need a big farm setup and lots of land and big bucks to launch food production. Nope, grab some soil, seeds, and time to care for them, and you too, can be part of this new culture of independence resurgence. Here’s a video of how we took the simple, small backyard of our last property and turned it into a little Garden of Eden. We started with one thing, then we did another. And before you knew it… the entire back yard was producing produce, even the old hot tub! Myself, Jess, and Link are dedicated to your well-being and aim to see you not just survive but thrive in the face of future adversities. Our own journey began around 2014, with no prior knowledge of gardening, driven by parental instincts to provide a better world for our child. While we can’t control divine will, global conflicts, or the natural order, we can certainly strive to be proactive in learning and preparing for challenges.
In closing, I’d like to really put the emphasis on putting your thoughts into action. Join us and share your results with us! We all need to encourage one another and make things happen.
