Hickory Hill Homestead

Hickory Hill Homestead

In late June of 2022, we made a major life change from living in the suburbs outside of Chicago to land we purchased in 2014 in the remote Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia. We know very little about farming. I've never raised a chicken, bees, a pig, or a cow, but we plan to raise them all. On our 150 acres we hope to built a new home, planning to be almost completely off grid by 2025. Join us as we start this adventure- building, repurposing, clearing, planting, growing, harvesting, preserving, and learning a lot through trial and error and mistakes. We appreciate you wanting to share this adventure with us! With grateful hearts, Angela, Brian, and Mason James

Tragedy on the homestead

Tragedy on the homestead

Planting a meadowscape!

Planting a meadowscape!

Sweet potato harvest 2023

Sweet potato harvest 2023

Пікірлер

  • @woodstream6137
    @woodstream613712 күн бұрын

    Need tips for older eggs, i never think about boiled eggs after buying. It's usually an afterthought weeks later. 😊

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead8 күн бұрын

    I wonder if you try this with older eggs if it will work. Let me know :)

  • @manuelagerlach8673
    @manuelagerlach867314 күн бұрын

    Thank you.

  • @Afarmsteadjourney
    @Afarmsteadjourney22 күн бұрын

    It doesn't have a lid either, does it?

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead10 күн бұрын

    I don't have a lid on it, but I could. I ended up doing something different though, but do still have a bucket in there, on top of a cement house block, with a large rock in it so they can't knock it off :)

  • @Afarmsteadjourney
    @Afarmsteadjourney10 күн бұрын

    @@HHHomestead I hope it works out for you you. This is a link to one that I built for my chickens, and it's working great: kzread.info/dash/bejne/lmGlm7VmmJPQd6w.html

  • @LilClucker
    @LilClucker23 күн бұрын

    Thank you for choosing Lil'Clucker! We're glad to have you as part of our community. To help prevent the cups from being bumped into, we suggest adding some hardware cloth or any other barrier around the cups. This should provide a more secure setup and help keep everything in place. We hope this helps! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to message us anytime. Best regards, The Lil'Clucker Team

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead10 күн бұрын

    If you have a picture of what you're describing, that would be awesome. I also have cups that just don't work. So, they don't fill with water. Any advice?

  • @DoniTheMisfit
    @DoniTheMisfitАй бұрын

    I didn’t think you couldn't introduce them if you don't have a plan with them to be able to see each other during the process...

  • @psidvicious
    @psidviciousАй бұрын

    I poke a tiny hole in the rounded end with a tack or most times I use the point of an exacto knife. The real key to easy peel eggs though is to peel them right away. Rinse in cold water to stop the cooking and so you can handle them and peel immediately. Running water is also helpful.

  • @raindrops-12
    @raindrops-1220 күн бұрын

    Yes, I do mine like that. And your right , the cold running water helps the shell slip right off!❤😊

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead8 күн бұрын

    I bet the tiny hole and this method does the same thing :) I agree, as soon as you can handle them after you put them in cold water the better and I always peel under running water. Thanks for your comment!

  • @dalegraham2534
    @dalegraham2534Ай бұрын

    I put my raw eggs in a saucepan and cover with water. Turn heat on medium, and when the water starts to boil, cover pan, turn off heat and slide pan onto cool burner. Wait 30 minutes and pour hot water off, replacing with cool water. After water is warm from eggs, lift eggs out into bowl with some ice chips. Once eggs have cooled enough to handle you can shell them easily.

  • @lauriaktahi
    @lauriaktahiАй бұрын

    My neighbors free range chickens spend more time on my side of the area, cuz Im the snack lady. 😂 There are several of them that let me pet them. There's a black Female with a pompom on its head, I call her howard stern...she loves to have her head scritched. They are amazingly smart and aware of whats going on. They know my routine, and are always waiting at the times Im prepping food. Its pretty funny. Nice garden!

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomesteadАй бұрын

    Thank you. I wish we could free range. Way too many predators here in the wilderness. There's one hen in the meat bird coop that loves to hang out between my feet when I'm in there :)

  • @peggymann925
    @peggymann925Ай бұрын

    Thanks for this video. I will try this!

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomesteadАй бұрын

    Another viewer said that if you roll it on the counter a little bit before peeling it also helps. I haven't tried it yet, but I thought I would add that.

  • @chespocket1756
    @chespocket1756Ай бұрын

    If you roll the boiled egg on the table top it even easier

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomesteadАй бұрын

    Great idea!

  • @deborahjacob3709
    @deborahjacob3709Ай бұрын

    ❤❤❤❤❤❤

  • @deborahjacob3709
    @deborahjacob3709Ай бұрын

    Angie i love mators:))))))

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomesteadАй бұрын

    I don't really like them except to make "sauce" :)

  • @deborahjacob3709
    @deborahjacob3709Ай бұрын

    ❤❤❤❤❤ty love it Velez:) i miss u my dear friend

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomesteadАй бұрын

    Hi Miss Debbie. :)

  • @wcouch8
    @wcouch8Ай бұрын

    ty for vid. try Googling How to Fix Splayed Leg or Spraddle Leg for the chick

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomesteadАй бұрын

    Oh wow, ok! Thank you!

  • @TnMtnFarm
    @TnMtnFarm3 ай бұрын

    That’s hard news. So sorry

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead2 ай бұрын

    Thank you. I'm still not over it. You kinda have a hard time getting those images out of your head, you know? :(

  • @TnMtnFarm
    @TnMtnFarm2 ай бұрын

    @@HHHomestead I sure do. August 13 2019, I was raising commercial broilers for JBS. Had a power outage for 13 minutes, walked in to chickens laying down and some already dead. Got power back, at the end of the day we had removed 13,000 dead chickens. I can still picture walking in that door.

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead2 ай бұрын

    @@TnMtnFarm Oh man. :(

  • @strikerz2912
    @strikerz29123 ай бұрын

    I have a timer on my stove, saved me some money

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead3 ай бұрын

    I use those egg timers that drop in the pot with the eggs. They're like plastic looking. Works really well to make sure the eggs are done just right.

  • @strikerz2912
    @strikerz29123 ай бұрын

    Sounds like you cracked the egg, plus I want to color them for easter

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead3 ай бұрын

    I wonder if it does crack it super slightly. I don't know really.

  • @littletechgirl2
    @littletechgirl23 ай бұрын

    I'm looking into these beds. I'm curious. I noticed some of the beds are bowing pretty bad. Did you skip installing the support crossbars in those? And did something fall on the sides to cause bending? Thanks!

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead3 ай бұрын

    I was stupid and did not use the support bars. I didn't read the directions. It was too late because we used a tractor to fill those beds and when a large load of heavy dirt was dumped in, out the sides went :(

  • @fulfordmg
    @fulfordmg3 ай бұрын

    Hello. Just watched your Vevor beds. How are those holding up? Thanks for your help.

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead3 ай бұрын

    So far so good! The ones that I used the supports on are MUCH better than the ones I didn't.

  • @sharonblac
    @sharonblac4 ай бұрын

    good to know! you have pretty eyes by the way!!

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead3 ай бұрын

    Awww..... Thank you ☺

  • @WoodbridgeHillCottage
    @WoodbridgeHillCottage4 ай бұрын

    We have just subscribed to your Channel and look forward to watching and following your journey 🙂 Regards, Anne and Alan, Woodbridge Hill Cottage, Tasmania, Australia youtube.com/@woodbridgehillcottage

  • @Andluth
    @Andluth4 ай бұрын

    Think about inoculating the Pearlite and vermiculite like you would with biochar. They serve very similar purposes. Great video!

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead4 ай бұрын

    Inoculating? This is totally new to me. I'll have to look that up. Thanks for the tip.

  • @Randyb4ut
    @Randyb4ut4 ай бұрын

    Nice video. Good luck with your garden this year. New subscriber to your channel

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead4 ай бұрын

    Thank you and welcome! I need all the luck I can get for sure. :)

  • @NITAMeola
    @NITAMeola4 ай бұрын

    Looks amazing!!!!! Gardening Ian for the faint of heart. I do hope being out with Mother Earth has been healing. ♥️♥️♥️

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead4 ай бұрын

    Thank you, Nita. I always feel so wonderful when I'm working with dirt and plants.

  • @NITAMeola
    @NITAMeola4 ай бұрын

    @@HHHomestead ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🌎🌎🍃🍃🌱🌱🌬️🌬️🌬️

  • @lisapazdur8101
    @lisapazdur81014 ай бұрын

    I am so sorry Ang. Prayers for you guys.

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead4 ай бұрын

    Thank you, Lisa. We need to talk to your son to see what he remembers putting in the UHaul because every single thing in that storage unit from Indiana burned to ashes.

  • @jc0205
    @jc02054 ай бұрын

    Devastating 💔😢so sorry for your loss

  • @PeaceLoveAndHope
    @PeaceLoveAndHope4 ай бұрын

    I am so sorry you all i hate that it happened and u lost so much but, I am happy that you and your family are ok and unharmed your lives are so very important i am so sorry .

  • @PrairieJournals
    @PrairieJournals4 ай бұрын

    We just bought 11 8x4x2 beds. Vevor. Will let you know how we did with the stabilizer bars. We are going to be in hard times here zone 3 Southern Alberta, drought and irrigation 😢 so all previous container beds are hugelkultur. Hope they work well for you. Blessings for 2024🇨🇦

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead4 ай бұрын

    Well don't be like us and not use them!! LOL. It's a big regret. They're holding up ok so far after a season. I have issues with weeds getting up between the landscape fabric and the bed, though.

  • @k_steele
    @k_steele5 ай бұрын

    Hi! Thinking of purchasing a couple of these (the taller ones) and didn't know if you had an update on how they've held up so far. I know it's been less than a year, but still interested in your impression of them now that you've been using them a bit.

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead4 ай бұрын

    Hi there. Sorry for the delay. They've held up fine so far. Of course the ones we forgot to use the stabilizer bars are still bent all to &%$$ but holding up ok.

  • @k_steele
    @k_steele4 ай бұрын

    @@HHHomestead - thanks - here's to a bountiful harvest!

  • @TheConservativeHippie
    @TheConservativeHippie5 ай бұрын

    Their feathers are ripped out because they don’t cooperate when he is trying to mate with them or perhaps they like it rough. Roosters are very chivalrous though!

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead5 ай бұрын

    Interesting! I learn something new constantly.

  • @bobmanp8653
    @bobmanp86535 ай бұрын

    first commentor

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead4 ай бұрын

    Thanks, Bob!

  • @lv603
    @lv6035 ай бұрын

    I'm interested in the 8x4x2 beds by Vevor. What do you think of the thickness and durability of yours and does the tall one bow out much?

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead4 ай бұрын

    The tall one bows out a lot because we didn't use the stupid stabilizer bars like we should have. So far they're holding up just fine. I was just out in the garden yesterday. I'll be posting a new video soon showing what I plan to do this season and you can see how they've held up. Sorry for the delay. I wish I received notifications of these comments.

  • @lv603
    @lv6034 ай бұрын

    Thank you for the response. I'm looking forward to the video. I did order one from Vevor and will put it together as soon as snow melts. If it looks good and I'm confident on its quality I'll be getting another 7.

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead4 ай бұрын

    @@lv603 Just know it will take some time and your hands will be sore :)

  • @arthurburkhart3710
    @arthurburkhart37105 ай бұрын

    Hello there (former) A.H!!! This is J. (Former W.’s.) mom…. from In. Sweetheart, I wish you and your husband all the best that life has to offer!!! I haven’t seen you since you graduated from H.S.!! You haven’t changed a bit!!…still as pretty as ever!! Many Blessings 2U!!!😘

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead5 ай бұрын

    I have no idea who you are, but thank you for finding me and for the lovely comments. If you want to tell me who you are, find me on Facebook and send me a PM :)

  • @arthurburkhart3710
    @arthurburkhart37105 ай бұрын

    @@HHHomestead : I don’t do Facebook…😟….Julie told me just to tell you that I am her mom! 😂 Not Julie G….but Julie W’s mom. I remember when you silly girls spent the night at our house (during High School). You all brought me many smiles!!!🥰

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead4 ай бұрын

    @@arthurburkhart3710 Now I know who you are :D :D

  • @arthurburkhart3710
    @arthurburkhart37104 ай бұрын

    Now I am the one who is confused!🤣 Who is :D:D?. All smiles and happiness sent to you my dear!!@@HHHomestead

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead4 ай бұрын

    Smiley face times two!

  • @michaeladkins1091
    @michaeladkins10916 ай бұрын

    Great tip for peeling eggs easier

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead5 ай бұрын

    Who knew, right?? :)

  • @MrChristbait
    @MrChristbait6 ай бұрын

    Is doneness a word?

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead5 ай бұрын

    I made it one :)

  • @sarah_farm
    @sarah_farm6 ай бұрын

    She 's a good chef and great sister , she care for everyone in her family , Hao's friends are lucky to try her food the first time :)

  • @victoriakennedy4811
    @victoriakennedy48116 ай бұрын

    the white fur probably means it is a possum they used to hide under out hen house to get the eggs. They also eat the chickens too. You really need to get rid of the chicken wire as it is easy to break and they can see the hens - they need a coop that can be locked at night also.

  • @victoriakennedy4811
    @victoriakennedy48116 ай бұрын

    first I lost two chickens to dogs of neighbours and also neighbours poisoned one of my chickens with weed spray I am now not letting them out of my sight the two left. The council does nothing but slap them on the wrist and their dog ate my pet - if I had killed their dog it would be WW3 but that is what happens - the thing is you cannot let the predators see the chickens and that means you need a coop off the ground with no way to see inside and also a fence around so that they cannot see into the fenced area also you need to have wire all around and under the fence to stop digging and hawks also from above a cover on top. That is what I have seen as the best way to prevent this and you have to separate the hens that peck the blood from the others - they need to heal in a separate area in a barn or shed, hope this helps.

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead5 ай бұрын

    Thank you for the helpful tips. So far we haven't had any trouble since reinforcing the wire. But, we will be building a whole new set up when we move to the new house.

  • @delbertlee2394
    @delbertlee23947 ай бұрын

    Good job congratulations

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead7 ай бұрын

    THANK YOU!!!!!!

  • @lisapazdur8101
    @lisapazdur81018 ай бұрын

    They look yummy

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead8 ай бұрын

    That's a positive thought :)

  • @brianesterly9224
    @brianesterly92249 ай бұрын

    Pot them up

  • @brianesterly9224
    @brianesterly92249 ай бұрын

    Definitely a rooster

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead8 ай бұрын

    I had so many more than I previously thought! Someone told me that if I have young roosters breeding with my hens that I will end up with mostly roosters, but older roosters will make more hens. I'm not sure if that's true or not.

  • @jimmyponds5504
    @jimmyponds550417 күн бұрын

    Yes, a rooster.

  • @kc6671
    @kc66719 ай бұрын

    We added 2 RI Reds to the two Easter eggers we have. Close the same age, the age of the reds is unknown they came from a friends farm. Anyways the easter eggers took control and we’re at the top of the order till one of the reds started laying. Now she seems to be at the top with the 2 easter eggers in the middle and the other red who is clearly a little younger at the bottom. It seems like the order is coinciding with the order they start laying. More red on the head the higher up they are. They all get along pretty well though despite the pecking order changes in the last couple months. It took a good month for them to kind of get used to each other. Now they act like one flock instead of 4 birds from 2 different flocks….

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead8 ай бұрын

    I was thinking that when we move into the new house that I consider putting all my flocks together. That would be a bold move, I think, but there's hope maybe.

  • @marshasthisandthat104
    @marshasthisandthat1049 ай бұрын

    Those marks are potato scab

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead8 ай бұрын

    I will have to look that up, Thank you :)

  • @voodookitchenmama
    @voodookitchenmama10 ай бұрын

    I have RIR hens and they are bullies. They live with thier own kind, no others go in the run/coop with them. Sorry your girls were hurt. Glad you have another space for them to live.

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead10 ай бұрын

    I recently rescued three RIR hens that were with a really mean rooster. Once they're all feathered again I will attempt to combine these flocks since there are 3 hens in one coop and 3 new hens.

  • @thetofficial123
    @thetofficial12310 ай бұрын

    Hi, I like1 video of you❤

  • @susannahdi
    @susannahdi10 ай бұрын

    I didn't know they like rose petals. Thanks!

  • @susannahdi
    @susannahdi10 ай бұрын

    It's nice to see the real world of gardening and farming! Would you buy the Vevor raised beds again? I'm researching them.

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead10 ай бұрын

    That's a good question. I don't know to be honest. I'm on the fence about them. They're just SO SO SO time consuming to put together.

  • @susannahdi
    @susannahdi10 ай бұрын

    How did the transplant bags work?

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead10 ай бұрын

    Excellently. I will use them again.

  • @Three21BlastOff
    @Three21BlastOff11 ай бұрын

    You can try and put insect netting around each bed, to prevent them from getting in the garden.

  • @HHHomestead
    @HHHomestead11 ай бұрын

    I thought about that, but if I put insect netting, won't it prevent pollinators from getting in? If pollinators can't get in, then nothing will grow, will it?