Author: themanicuredfarmer
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Homesteading Chaos!
Homesteading is a dance between order and chaos — one moment you’re building fences, the next, your chickens, dogs, and even hyenas have other plans. From bug invasions to runaway dogs, this story captures the unpredictable, hilarious reality of trying to create order on the farm.
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Humility and Grace!
Sometimes, ordinary days teach extraordinary lessons. A visit to fellow homesteaders revealed the power of humility, grace, and hard work from flourishing gardens to thriving dairy farms. Their generosity and passion inspired me to grow, propagate, and reimagine what homesteading can truly be.
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Break in, Break out!
It’s been a whirlwind month—Lukenya, my faithful fifteen-year-old dog, passed on, hyenas broke through the fence to dig him up, and Kronk, my not-so-bright Rottweiler, nearly escaped through a rabbit hole. Between repairing fences, wrangling snakes, and farm work, life here is never short of wild tales.
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Untitled
I might as well have titled this blog Waiting. We wait for Mitten to return, for bees to adopt our hive, for vegetables to grow, for dragon fruit to bloom. Farming, much like life, is often a quiet act of faith — a hopeful pause between uncertainty and reward.
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Mittens
Mittens wasn’t just a house cat—he was a fearless Chief Mouser, a mop-biting chaos machine, and later, a rogue tomcat with a wild streak. From warm kitchens to moonlit adventures, his story is one of love, loyalty, and ultimately, the call of freedom. A true legend of the homestead.
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Field Surgery
I imagined homesteading as a dreamy life with docile animals and endless fruit. What I got was a rogue chick, a hunting Jack Russell, and emergency field surgery with a sewing needle. Turns out, paradise is handmade with dirt under your nails and thread stitched through survival.
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The Sound of Silence
One Sunday afternoon, silence was broken by chickens screaming at a party van’s loud music. A week later, I discovered a rare Spring Hare, part-kangaroo, part-hare. Add in a temperamental borehole, a Rottie swimming tank, and a bold daytime hyena—and well, that’s life on my homestead.
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The Gold on Your Land
Discover the true treasure beneath your feet—your soil. From compost pits to pumice pebbles and manure tea, this homesteading journey explores how nurturing the earth can bring life, community, and sustainability to your land.
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Take Two
The first time I tried homesteading, I failed so completely that I abandoned farming—and even writing about it. But when I got my own land, I approached it differently: slower, more deliberate. I started with five chickens, then planted trees, then vegetables. Now, I’m growing food, battling hawks, and planning for bees!
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Big Bug!
Terrified of moths, I had a meltdown when a massive one appeared in my bathroom. My housekeeper saved the day. Meanwhile, my dog Mooshoo, fiercely protective of our chickens, “rescued” them by destroying my neighbor’s car bumper. Chaos and laughter—just another day on the homestead!
The Manicured Farmer 