Tending the Garden and Its Surprising Benefits for Your Mental Well-Being
Science says digging in the dirt can calm your mind. Here's how gardening supports mental wellness — and how to build a therapeutic garden in any space.
Farm life
Dedicated to the challenges and good things about farm life. Living and working on your own homestead is a dream for many, but it comes with its own set of struggles.
We candidly discuss the demanding aspects of self-sufficiency, from the relentless physical labor and the unpredictability of weather to the perpetual battle against pests and the challenges of maintaining equipment. We'll explore topics like time management, isolation, and the need for resourcefulness, offering insights and strategies for overcoming these obstacles.
Join us as we navigate the highs and lows, sharing stories, tips, and experiences from fellow homesteaders. Whether you're considering the homesteading lifestyle or are already knee-deep in your own adventure. Our posts at times a humorous resource for addressing the challenges and celebrating the rewards of homesteading.
Boost Income With Tourism
Rural business owners often rely on a narrow set of customers and seasonal demand, which makes cash flow and staffing hard to stabilize. Tourism income…
How to Start and Monetize a Small Urban Farm
Starting a small urban farm sounds romantic — but it’s really about systems, not sunshine. It’s for city-dwellers who want to turn unused spaces (balconies,…
Growing Potatoes in Your Florida Backyard: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you’re dreaming of harvesting your own spuds right from your Florida backyard, you’re in for a treat! While Florida’s warm climate and sandy soils can…
Conquer Health Chiropractic in St. John’s Florida
Less than 5 years ago, I was running 5Ks and lifting weights. People would often mistake me for 10 years younger than I was. How did I become this fragile…
Being an Urban Farmer
Urban farming offers countless benefits: access to fresh, organic produce, reduced carbon footprints, and stronger community ties. In cities where green…
TnF Farms Goes Pure Electric
Did we get a BMW i8 for a new farm vehicle? I wish! Let me be the first to say, EVs are not for everybody, nor do they work in every situation. For us,…
Growing a Year-Round Vegetable Garden in the South
Let’s be honest, if you live in the South, you’ve probably already heard someone brag about how they pick tomatoes well into December or harvest collards…
The ink has dried in this chapter of our journal
Faith and I relocated from the Jacksonville area to rural North Florida in the fall of 2021. We worked jobs we thought were very boring and…
Why Your Hobby Farm Deserves a Business Plan
You probably didn’t start out selling worm castings or pasture-raised eggs to get rich. Maybe it began with a handful of hens, or a raised bed of basil that…
How to Start a Thriving Gardening Business
If you’ve got a green thumb and a dream of turning your love for plants into a profitable venture, starting a gardening business in your community might be…
Creating Your Dream Homestead Haven
Retirement offers a unique opportunity to redefine your lifestyle, focusing on what truly brings you joy. For those passionate about homesteading, this phase…
Supporting Local Farmers and Food Suppliers
As we face global challenges, the importance of local resilience becomes increasingly clear, making the support of local farmers a crucial element in…
Benefits of Bats
Often when people think of a farm and non-human helpers, the farm dog comes to mind for protecting livestock and companionship. Honeybees are certainly play…
Retro hit: Intelligent Qube
I’m so old, I started out on a ColecoVision which had an expansion that played Atari 2600 games. I later moved up to the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System…
Farm Animals Make Life Better
I am a frequent visitor to TnF Farms, usually about once a month for a few days. I have been visiting the last few years since Tim and Faith moved to…
Trees That Are Toxic to Goats in Florida
Florida’s diverse and warm climate provides an excellent opportunity for goat farmers to integrate fruit trees into their farms. When selecting fruit trees…
Should You Grow Ryegrass?
Beyond its role as a forage crop, rye grass plays a crucial role in environmental conservation. Its ability to prevent soil erosion, particularly on slopes…
Benefits of Barn Cats
When we moved into our current homestead and started TnF Farms, both of us were surprised by how common rodents were outside. We had some ground activity…
Tips for Hobby Farm Success
Transforming your hobby farm into a profitable business involves diverse strategies like selling produce, offering farm stays, and conducting workshops, all…
Dairy Goat Guide
Nubian goats are believed to be one of the oldest domesticated dairy breeds, and their history can be traced back thousands of years. Nubian goats trace…
Ranching in the Sunshine State
Ranching in the state of Florida holds a unique and enduring place in the history and culture of the Sunshine State. Florida’s ranches have a rich heritage…
Growing lemons in Florida
When we bought the property that is now TnF Farms, we saw that there were some mature fruit trees on the property. We thought they may have been pears. No,…
Building our Goat Tote
It’s soon 2024. Perhaps you’ve been living under a rock. Let me prep you before you emerge from ignorant bliss. Everything costs more. Too much more. For…
5 Monetization Strategies for Your Hobby Farm
You’ve always dreamed about running your very own hobby farm – and you’re finally in a financial position that will allow you to make your dream come true.…
A well-deserved ribeye
Today was a good day. We sold some livestock and we’ve been doing some improvements to our property and construction for some of the new livestock we are…
Piglets born at TnF Farms
To our surprise, early this morning, she released her hostages. “Minnie” is a very stout female named for very short legs and when she’s not being…
You need one of everything
Then the farm bug bit my wife and really sunk its teeth in. One of our neighbors really inspired her to farm way more than I ever imagined. All that existing…
The Significance of NPIP Certification
In poultry farming, there’s no question that the health and welfare of your flock are top priorities. Enter the significance of NPIP certification, a…
Understanding Chicken Molting
It’s an old wives’ tale, but a heavy molt means a bad winter is coming. As autumn sets in and leaves begin to fall, your chickens are also undergoing a…
Firewood as a low cost heat source
Last year we tried using our farmhouse fireplace to heat our entire home with our thermostat set in the 50s. With the exception of really cold nights, we…
Dobby joins TnF Farms
One look at the giant ears, our new dog “Dobby” got his name from the elf character from the Harry Potter movies. The name Dobby really fits metaphorically.…
Greg Judy Regenerative Ranching
From struggling as a rancher in Missouri to owning 4 farms and leasing 12 more, All while operating completely out of debt, Greg Judy shares is secrets to…
Raising Leghorns in Florida
Raising Leghorn chickens in Florida offers a plethora of advantages, from high egg production and adaptability to disease resistance and cost-efficiency.…
Foraging for Goats
In the world of goat keeping, the concept of foraging is gaining increasing recognition as a fundamental element in promoting the health and happiness of our…
Goat Safe Fruit Trees
Florida’s warm and subtropical climate provides a conducive environment for growing a variety of fruit trees. When selecting fruit trees for a goat farm in…
The Adventure Never Ends
I went to bed knowing Friday was going to be a busy day. My lovely wife, being clairvoyant about me awakening to sunrise, asked me to let the livestock out…