Join Bill Sadler, Nutrition Specialist at Manna Pro, for an engaging discussion focused on selecting the correct feed for your chicks, how to navigate free-range feeding, and when to add treats to your flock's routine. This workshop is sponsored by Manna Pro. Here is a list of what you will find in the workshop: A 20-minute video by Dr. Bill Sadler. Four PDFs to download of the materials you will need to get started.   Download PDFs from this workshop video!

Get the basics of rotational grazing from the folks at Premier 1 Supplies. Cover the fundamentals of grazing 250 ewes on 150 acres, and learn to scale the system for a 2-acre plot.

With the help of cow, goat, or sheep partners, and by sharing milk with their babies, you can produce all of your family's dairy products, from fluid milk to cheese and soap. Plus, you can use their milk to feed other animals that can be raised for meat and leather. The icing on the cake is that you can use their manure to fertilize your garden and fruit trees. Download a PDF from this workshop video!

Jeannette Beranger lays out the considerations around adding a cow to your homestead. This introductory workshop prepares the homesteader for a useful bovine addition to the family. Topics covered include breed selection, purchasing, infrastructure, feeding, breeding, milking, processing, and more. Download PDFs from this workshop video!

Learn about rabbits, one of the easiest species to raise which, unlike most of their farmyard counterparts, require little space and will not disturb neighbors with noise. For people wanting to become more self-reliant for food, the rabbit is a great choice for a meat resource that also provides you with top-grade fertilizer for the garden. Learn the basics of keeping and breeding rabbits, and how heritage breed rabbits offer a wide variety of sizes, personalities, and colors from which to choose. Download a PDF from this workshop video!

Learn what to do in the first 48 hours of receiving your chicks, and what's needed in a chicken coop.

Learn how to care for and groom your goats from Gianaclis Caldwell. Join Gianaclis at her goat farm and learn why goats are one of the best animals you could consider for your small, sustainable farm. Watch and learn a bit about milking, hoof trimming, udder hair clipping (for sanitary milking), mineral feeding, browsing and grazing, and more!

Follow along with Jeannette Beranger in this installment from the 2017 MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR in Topeka, Kansas. They discuss this fine example of a Mammoth Jackson donkey and discusses the breed with its owner, Dwight Sharp from Paradise Ranch Adventures.

Whether your hive is rousing after winter or you're setting up new hives with fresh bees, you need a plan. Northeastern Kansas Beekeepers Association board member Becky Tipton will put you on-track for your next honey harvest.

In this video, you'll learn about the importance of providing adequate shelter for your goats, including insulation, ventilation, and protection from drafts. Also, discover how to adjust your goats' diet to meet their increased energy needs during cold weather. We'll discuss the importance of providing high-quality hay, grain, and mineral supplements. You'll find how to understand common health issues that can affect goats during the winter, such as frostbite, hypothermia, and respiratory problems. Learn how to prevent and treat these conditions. Ensure your goats have access to clean, unfrozen water at all times. We'll also cover different methods for keeping water troughs from freezing and you will learn how regular grooming can help your goats stay warm and healthy during the winter months. Be prepared for winter emergencies by having a plan in place for extreme weather conditions.

Find Tara's book, For the Bees, here in the Mother Earth News Store.   Do you know what to expect the first year of beekeeping and beyond? Tara Chapman of Two Hives Honey shares her holistic and practical approach to beekeeping. A little scientific knowledge goes a long way: a beekeeper who understands how these fascinating creatures work will be better equipped to recognize a particular colony’s needs, make sound decisions when the unexpected happens, and adapt their care regimen to changing conditions.

Hear it from a rancher and not a breeder: how do you train the best LGD? Karen Kopf of Kopf Canyon Ranch shares how her generational pack of livestock guardian dogs deters apex predators in the canyon where her kiko goats graze. With only two losses due to predation in the open and unsecured space of the canyon, her pack proves time and again that they know how to make the right decisions to keep the goats safe. Learn what steps you can take to replicate this level of success, and how to make smart and long-term investments in your own pack of livestock guardian dogs. She discusses whether to buy a puppy, an adult dog, or a rescue, and how to manage your pack in a way that prioritizes the safety of the livestock, the dogs, and the humans who care for them. With her results the message is clear — the question isn't if you need an LGD to secure your livestock, it's how many? Try Karen's LGD management techniques yourself out of her article in our sister publication, Goat Journal, on how to train livestock guardian dogs.