homesteading

I recently uploaded a video documenting a day of hard work repairing and upgrading our south property fence near the garden to protect our small vineyard and orchard. It’s a DIY electric fence project that involved setting extra posts, stringing seven-strand hotline wire, leveling the ground...

We just dropped our latest adventure video on the Oldwayon YouTube channel, and we’re excited to share it with you all! This time, we’re taking you to Wisconsin for a journey through the James Tellen Woodland Sculpture Garden, a nostalgic dive into family memories, and a stunning sunrise over...

Welcome back to our homestead journey in Arkansas! In this update, we’re diving into the latest from our slice of self-sufficient paradise—covering severe weather preparedness, garden triumphs and challenges, and exciting progress on our Barndo build. Spring in Arkansas brings unpredictable...

I’ve spent far too many hours on ladders lately, trying to chase down roof leaks that seem to pop up the minute I think I’ve sealed them off. Foam sealant, J-channels, new screws—if it exists, I’ve tried it. Still, the drips keep finding their way in, and it’s especially frustrating knowing that...

Biochar has been a game-changer for my garden. By essentially trapping carbon and beneficial microbes in a stable charcoal form, it promotes healthier plants, improved soil structure, and better moisture retention. Many of us think of charcoal simply as something used in a grill, but long before...

Silver has been revered across millennia for its surprising ability to keep foods fresher, water cleaner, and surfaces more sanitary. From the ancient Phoenicians to the American frontier, generations have relied on silver’s antimicrobial properties without the benefit of modern lab equipment or...

Comfrey has always been one of my go-to plants when kickstarting a new garden. This leafy powerhouse draws nutrients from deep within the soil and brings them right to the surface—perfect for compost teas, biochar boosters, and healthy salves. Over the years, I’ve learned that comfrey can do...

Okay, so I messed up a bit with my Jerusalem artichokes in the raised bed, and I thought I'd share the fix in case anyone else runs into the same issue. I planted some a few weeks back in a raised bed with some electric lines underneath (testing, always testing!), but they just weren't taking...

Nothing tests a fruit tree’s resilience quite like howling 50 mph winds and frigid, single-digit temperatures. Over the years, I’ve learned that modern anchors and straps sometimes fail without notice—either they’re engineered for winds from one direction only, or the materials wear out more...

Homestead Growth, Waste Oil Heating, and Sustainable Living—A Deeper Dive Winter slows things down, but here on the homestead, we’re always moving forward. With the tractor back and new water lines going in, we’re gearing up for an exciting season. But one of the big topics on my mind lately is...

Smoking meats, building chicken coops, tackling garden challenges, and repairing roofs—it’s been a busy week on the homestead, and there’s no shortage of lessons to share. Here’s a breakdown of our experiences, insights, and a few added tips that might just make your own homesteading journey...

I've been itching to share this project with you all and how we're using something old to create something beautiful and useful. You saw in the video how we took this old, beat-up canoe and transformed it into a unique welcome sign planter, but the concept of repurposing canoes has a lot more...

Alright folks, let's talk about a few things that happened here on the homestead lately. We’ve been busy, that's for sure, and it feels good to get our hands dirty. First up, the tomatoes. We got a bunch of starts from our friends at White Rock Homestead, which we're incredibly thankful for...

Let me tell you, our trip to Tenkiller for the YouTube meetup was... eventful, to say the least. We went in expecting a good time with fellow homesteaders, and we definitely got an experience. The video shows the whole chaotic shebang, but I wanted to dig a little deeper on what we learned and...

Just finished programming some GMRS radios for a few neighbors, and it struck me how these little connections are exactly what make off-grid life smoother. Every time I meet up with local folks—whether it’s to fiddle with comms or to share a meal—I’m reminded how crucial it is to build that...

A lot has been happening around here lately. First up is the big fencing upgrade, which has turned out to be quite the project. We ended up running a seven-strand electric line, mixing hot and ground wires to ensure better conductivity—especially important since the clay soil around the Ozarks...

Have you ever considered adding rabbit meat to your homesteading repertoire? Whether you’re new to the self-sufficient lifestyle or looking to expand your sustainable protein sources, rabbits might be the hidden gem you’re overlooking. In this video, we dive into the practical steps of sexing...