Farm Hand’s Companion is an online companion to self-sufficient farms and homesteads. It’s sort of like an old time Mother Earth News with loads of low cost, low tech, alternative/natural building, homesteading and simple living ideas.
Owen Geiger
How to Turn $300 of Materials into $6,000 Compost
We’ve been doing sheet mulching or lasagna gardening to build topsoil in our forest garden. Over a period of three years we’ve gradually added layers of rice hulls, manure, straw, leaves, sugar cane compost, etc. to raise our forest garden beds about 12” above the paths. Sheet mulching has worked superbly for us in our tropical climate. Just don’t make the layers too thick. In colder climates, let sheet mulch layers break down over winter.
Tiny Texas Houses: How to Build Salvaged Wood Floors
“In this video Brad Kittel, owner of Tiny Texas Houses, explains how he builds the floors for his tiny houses. Feel free to comment! We love feedback!”
How to Make Bottle Walls Step by Step
This video shows clear, simple directions for making a bottle wall. They are artists so even though the project is for an outhouse the final results are excellent. No power tools needed.
Biomimicry: The Lily Impeller
From time to time we post stories about appropriate technology that changes people’s lives. The Lily Impeller is an amazing example of biomimicry that shows the power of working with nature. Biomimicry related research is leading to an array of appropriate technologies and now hundreds of products like the Lily Impeller are entering the market.
Rocket Stove Barrel Canner
Dan R. Braucht of Licker-Tee-Split wood stoves sent me his latest rocket stove idea. Wood gas is combusted around the sides of the canner to evenly heat the canner. This wood fired barrel canner has a large cooking pot. This barrel canner seems large enough for homestead families and possibly even a small home business making gourmet jams, jellies, pickles, etc.