Make Hay the Easy Way Today + Less Tech, More Life!

In Today's Edition:

1. Homestead Tip 🌱

2. Poll Results From Last Sunday! 📊

3. All Things Homestead: How to Make and Store Hay 🐮

4. Personal Development: Embracing Digital Minimalism 📴

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

Brought To You By:

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Poll Results From Last Sunday 📊

Do you trust the "organic" label, or is it a scheme to charge more for the same products?

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ It’s a trustworthy label

🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ It’s just a marketing trick

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I’m skeptical and want to learn more

via @beehiiv polls

Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉

Also, follow us on Facebook and Pinterest for daily homesteading inspiration and updates.

All Things Homestead

How to Make and Store Hay 🐮

When winter rolls in, having a good stockpile of hay is crucial for keeping your livestock fed and happy. Let’s break down the process of making and storing hay into simple, practical steps.

Step 1: Cutting Hay at the Right Time

• Timing Matters: Cutting hay isn’t just about chopping down grass whenever you feel like it. The trick is to cut when the grass is just starting to flower. This is when it's packed with nutrients.

• Choosing the Right Tools: For small patches, you might use a hand scythe, but for bigger fields, a mower or a swather will save you a lot of time and effort. These tools help lay the hay down neatly, making the next steps easier.

Step 2: Drying the Hay Properly

• Why Dry Hay?: Wet hay can mold, which is bad news for your livestock. Properly dried hay stays fresh and nutritious.

• How to Dry Hay: Spread the hay out in the field and let it sit under the sun for a few days. You’ll need to flip it over now and then to make sure it dries evenly. Aim for hay that’s crispy to the touch and doesn’t feel damp. Keep an eye on the weather; if rain’s coming, you might need to cover the hay or turn it more frequently.

Step 3: Storing Hay the Right Way

• Find the Right Spot: Store your hay in a dry place with good airflow, like a barn or under a waterproof tarp. This keeps it dry and mold-free.

• Stacking Hay: Don’t just throw your hay into a pile. Stack the bales in a crisscross pattern to help them stay stable and allow air to circulate around them, which keeps them from getting too hot or moist.

• Pest Control: Keep your hay off the ground on pallets to deter mice and other pests. Regular checks can help catch any infestations early before they spoil your hay.

Pre-Winter Planning: Stock Up and Stay Ready

• Get an Early Start: Don’t wait for the first frost to start thinking about hay. Stock up early so you’re not caught off guard by an early winter.

• Calculate Your Needs: Figure out how much hay you’ll need based on how many animals you have and how long the winter might last. It’s always better to have a bit extra than to run out when it’s freezing outside.

• Rotate Your Stock: Use the oldest hay first. When new hay comes in, move the older bales to the front so they get used up before they start to go bad.

Remember, a little preparation goes a long way. Start now, keep an eye on the weather, and make sure your hay is ready to go when winter hits. Stay tuned for more handy homestead tips!

Personal Development

Embracing Digital Minimalism 📴

These days, it feels like we’re always glued to a screen—whether it’s our phones, computers, or TVs. But all that screen time can leave us feeling drained and disconnected from the real world. That’s where digital minimalism comes in.

Let’s discuss how you can simplify your digital life and find more balance, inspired by Cal Newport’s book Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World.

Why Consider Digital Minimalism?

1. Get Your Time Back:

   • Why It Matters: We all know how easy it is to lose hours scrolling through social media or watching videos. But do these activities really make us happier or help us achieve our goals?

   • How It Helps: By cutting down on screen time, you free up hours each day to spend on things that truly matter—whether it’s spending time with loved ones, working on your homestead, or just enjoying a good book.

2. Improve Focus and Productivity:

   • Why It’s Important: Constant pings and notifications can scatter your attention, making it hard to concentrate on important tasks. This can slow you down and keep you from getting things done.

   • How It Helps: Digital minimalism helps you stay focused by reducing distractions. When you’re not constantly interrupted by your phone, you can dive deeper into your work and accomplish more in less time.

3. Strengthen Real-Life Connections:

   • Why It Matters: While texting and social media are convenient, they can’t replace the depth and warmth of face-to-face interactions. Over time, relying too much on digital communication can weaken your relationships.

   • How It Helps: By spending less time on screens, you open up more opportunities for real-life interactions. Whether it’s enjoying a meal with family without phones at the table or catching up with a friend in person, these moments are more meaningful and help build stronger bonds.

How to Practice Digital Minimalism

1. Do a Digital Audit:

   • What to Do: Start by taking a look at how you use your digital devices. Which apps and platforms eat up most of your time? Are they truly beneficial, or are they just time-fillers?

   • How It Helps: This will help you see where you might be overdoing it and identify areas where you can cut back. Maybe you’ll find that you don’t need to check social media as often as you do or that you can limit your email checking to a few times a day.

2. Set Boundaries:

   • What to Do: Create some rules for when and how you use technology. This could mean turning off notifications, setting specific times for checking emails, or designating certain areas of your home as tech-free zones.

   • How It Helps: Boundaries help you take control of your digital life so that your screen time aligns with your priorities. For instance, you might decide that evenings are for family time, not for scrolling through your phone.

3. Declutter Your Devices:

   • What to Do: Just like you’d tidy up a cluttered room, take some time to clean up your digital space. Delete apps you don’t use, organize your files, and streamline your devices.

   • How It Helps: A clean digital environment reduces stress and makes it easier to find what you need. Plus, it’s a great way to minimize distractions and focus on the tools that truly support your goals.

4. Focus on Quality, Not Quantity:

   • What to Do: Be selective about the digital content you consume. Choose to engage with content that adds value to your life instead of mindlessly scrolling through whatever pops up on your screen.

   • How It Helps: By being more intentional with what you consume, you reduce information overload and focus on what really matters. This might mean following fewer accounts on social media or only subscribing to newsletters (like this one!) that genuinely interest you.

So, take a step back, look at your digital habits, and start making small changes that lead to a more balanced and fulfilling life.

The Steady Home’s Giggle Chamber

Why did the gardener laugh at the dirt?

Because it was soil funny!

Today's Top Picks 🛍️

Check out FrostBuddy’s drinkware here!

Explore these items!

Explore these items!

Check out my Amazon Shop here!

Let’s Keep It Reel!

I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!

1. Let’s be real, gardening and vision totally go together, right?

@tinydicebuddies

If you could just see my garden through my eyes… 😎 #gardening #gardeninglife #gardeningisfun #planthumor #plantsoftiktok 🔈: @Rob Gardens and Grows

2. If you want a quick peek at what gardening really looks like, check out this video:

@gardenary

Am I right or am I right? 😅 Head to the link in my bio to get my Gardenary Planting Method guidebook and start learning how to swap stress... See more

3. When you just can't stop fussing over your plants:

@rayshellg

#CapCut But no cap this is me literally all day err'day 🤣😂😂 Gardening is #lyfe #gardenmeme #gardenlife #gardenfamily #gardenersoftiktok #... See more

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