This is the fifth chapter in my book The Bailey Line Road Chronicles, the 30-year story about moving from the city to live a modern homestead life deep in the country on Manitoulin Island, Canada. Missed Chapter Four? Click here […]
Continue ReadingWHY IS THIS HAPPENING? Pasture Plants Thrive in Deep Quarry Waste
Nutritious hay plants such as alfalfa, clover and trefoil aren’t all that easy to grow. Normally you need to buy expensive seed, plant these seeds in good soil, then hope for favourable growing conditions while the seedlings get started. So […]
Continue ReadingTHE BAILEY LINE ROAD CHRONICLES: Chapter 4 – A Welcome Relief
When you move to a country property that has no buildings, the first thing you should construct is an outhouse. But that’s not as simple as it sounds . . .
Continue ReadingPASTURE MANAGEMENT: Add Seed to Salt to Improve Pasture Quality
The best pastures have much more than just wild plants that happen to grow there. Productive pastures also have intentionally planted nutritious plants that deliver high levels of protein. Watch the video below to see how we add seeds of […]
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Learn More from Bailey Line Road
THE BAILEY LINE ROAD CHRONICLES: Chapter 3 – The Bailey Line Road Feud
Learn what it’s like to live between two feuding families in a backwoods corner of a rural island, and see what it teaches about life, harmony and getting along.
Continue ReadingTHE BAILEY LINE ROAD CHRONICLES: Chapter 2 – The Wake Up Call
I woke up with the rising sun on the morning of Thursday May 15, 1986 in a tent pitched on my homestead property. It was my first morning on the land, I was there by myself, and it was one of the most sharply depressing moments of my life. It was all I could do to stop myself from running away from the crazy venture I’d gotten myself into.
Continue ReadingBEAT THE HEAT: Cooler Upstairs Bedrooms in Summer
Is the second story of your home too hot in summer, despite air conditioning that’s running full blast and making lower levels too cold? Click for a real-world solution that solves the problem once and for all.
Continue Reading7 YEAR PRODUCT REVIEW: Fabric Shelter Stands Test of Time
Steve Maxwell researched and installed fabric-covered shelters and shares the knowledge to help homeowners solve their outdoor storage problems.
Continue ReadingVIDEO PASTURE TOUR: See a Closeup View of What Our Cattle Eat
From a distance, pasture just looks like a green field, but there’s more going on than meets the eye. Join me and our dog, Kate, as I explain some of the plants that grow in the 40 acres of pasture […]
Continue ReadingWHY WE ADOPTED: Our Story of Ellie Maxwell
Have you ever looked back on a decision you almost changed your mind on, then realized how close you came to missing something great? That’s the feeling I often get when I look at our adopted daughter, Ellie. We began […]
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