No-dig gardening, beekeeping, and medicinal herbs


Hello Reader,

One of my favorite herbal books for beginners is Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide. Learn more about this book, which includes complete instructions for making teas, syrups, oils, salves, tinctures, poultices, and more.

Beekeeping can be a rewarding addition to your homestead, but it helps to understand the basics first. This article shares practical insights on what beekeeping really involves, from equipment and costs to choosing your first bees. It’s a helpful overview to give you a realistic idea of what to expect.

▶ Buying Goats: Mistakes to Avoid (and more!)

Buying goats is a big decision, and a few early mistakes can lead to bigger problems later on. In this episode, I talk about how to avoid common pitfalls, spot potential scams, and choose healthy, well-bred goats. A little extra care at the beginning can make a big difference.

🎧 The Complete Guide to No-Dig Gardening

No-dig gardening is a simple way to grow food while improving your soil over time. In this episode, we talk about how to build healthy soil without tilling and why it can lead to better results with less effort. It’s a practical approach that can save time while improving your garden.

Happy homesteading!


Deborah
and the ThriftyHomesteader Team

📚Want to Learn Even More?

  • Did you know we have a Youtube Channel with over 700 videos? From goat care to soapmaking, cheesemaking, and more—you’ll find practical, real-life tips to support your homesteading journey.
  • Looking to dive deeper? Visit the Goat Academy—your go-to resource for online courses on everything from goat health and nutrition to soapmaking, gardening, composting, and starting a homestead business. Whether you’re just getting started or want to level up your skills, there’s a course for you.
  • Need ongoing guidance and community support? Goats 365 is our membership program that gives you full access to six comprehensive courses, live Q&A sessions, and an engaged group of goat owners who are learning and growing together—365 days a year.

💛 Appreciate what we share?

Support our work through the tip jar—every little bit helps us keep creating helpful content for you and fellow homesteaders.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to our email list, downloaded a free resource from our website, or purchased one of our products, memberships, or courses.

PO Box 181, Cornell, IL 61319
Unsubscribe · Preferences

If you unsubscribe you'll be removed from all future emails. This includes important information and updates about products or courses you have purchased. If you want to opt out of a particular series of emails and don't see a link above to do so, just hit reply and let us know. We'll take care of it!

Deborah Niemann @ Thrifty Homesteader

Hi! Are you ready to learn more about goats, chickens, and gardening? Check out the resources I offer below and sign up for my newsletter!

Read more from Deborah Niemann @ Thrifty Homesteader

Hello Reader, Storms are always a little scary on the homestead because losing electricity is pretty normal for us, but we’re prepared with a generator and a battery-operated backup sump pump. Or at least we thought we were prepared. Illinois had a horrible storm Friday night, with tornado sirens going off and of course lost electricity. The generator failed, so Mike volunteered to sleep in the barn with Jennifer, who was getting close to giving birth. Without electricity the baby monitor...

Hello Reader, Goat keeping doesn’t always go as planned, and some situations can leave you with more questions than answers. In this week’s newsletter, I’m sharing practical insights on stillbirths, castration, buck management, and tattooing to help you better understand what’s happening and what to do next. Don't forget to click the 'Subscribe' button below any video to stay updated with our latest releases! ▶ Did My Goat’s Baby Die Because I Was Too Slow? (The Truth About Stillborn Kids)...

Hello Reader, Parasites and disease prevention are some of the biggest challenges goat owners face. In these podcast episodes, we dig into important topics like CAE, dewormer resistance, and smarter ways to manage parasites through pasture management and better herd practices. You can download the episode to listen offline—perfect if you’re out in the field with no signal. Here's how! Prefer reading? A full transcript is available too! CAE in Goats Veterinarian Dr. Melissa Holahan joins me to...