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Continue reading →: September Garden Chores: Preparing the Homestead Garden for FallIn September, the garden transitions from summer to fall, requiring various tasks. Key activities include harvesting summer vegetables, preserving excess produce, planting cool-season crops, and preparing for frost. It’s a critical month for cleaning, weeding, improving soil, and planning for next year, ensuring continued productivity and health for the garden.
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Continue reading →: Why Is My Turkey Laying Two Eggs at Once? One Normal Egg and One Soft-Shelled Egg ExplainedA turkey hen exhibits unusual reproductive behavior by laying two eggs in quick succession: the first with a normal hard shell, and the second soft-shelled. While calcium deficiency is often blamed for soft shells, the issue may arise from the timing of ovulation. Observing the hen’s diet and health is…
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Continue reading →: Broody Chickens: Why Hens Go Broody and How to Break a Broody HenThis year, our chickens are notably broody, prompting us to intervene when a hen refuses to leave the nesting box. Broodiness, driven by hormones and environmental factors, halts egg production and can negatively impact a hen’s health. To manage this, we utilize techniques like removing her from the nest and…
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Continue reading →: We’re Back! Our First Full Weekend Back at the FarmstandThe J & J Homestead farmstand has reopened after a prolonged break due to challenges like ultramarathon training and a broken oven. While they managed to offer some products during this time, the farmstand’s signature baked goods are back. The community’s continued support has been vital as they navigate new…
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Continue reading →: The New Oven Has Finally Arrived! Learning to Bake with Our New KitchenAid OvenI’m thrilled to share that the new KitchenAid oven has arrived at J & J Homestead, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our farmstand’s baking journey.
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Continue reading →: Goldenrod and Honey Bees: Why This Late-Summer Wildflower Matters to BeekeepersIn late summer, beekeepers value goldenrod, a vital food source for honey bees as flowers begin to fade. Its late-season nectar and pollen help sustain colonies through winter. Despite varying nectar production, goldenrod’s significance extends beyond honey bees, supporting diverse pollinators and encouraging strategic habitat management for continuous bloom.
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Continue reading →: Dust Baths for Chickens: Why They’re Essential and How to Make OneChickens instinctively engage in dust bathing, a vital part of their grooming routine that helps maintain feather health, control external parasites, and remove excess oils. Providing a designated, dry dust bath area in confined spaces enhances their well-being and allows them to express natural behaviors, promoting overall flock health and…
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Continue reading →: Saying Goodbye to Mabel: Sometimes a Chicken Becomes So Much More Than a ChickenToday, J & J Homestead mourns the loss of their beloved chicken, Mabel. Unlike other hens, Mabel had a unique personality, always seeking attention and companionship. Her absence leaves a noticeable void, highlighting the deep emotional bonds formed with animals. Despite the sorrow, the joy she brought will be cherished.
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Continue reading →: Unique Turkey Enrichment Ideas: How to Keep Turkeys Happy, Active, and Entertained in a RunTurkeys are curious creatures that require enrichment, especially when kept in a confined run. Simple activities, such as hanging vegetables, adding logs, or creating foraging boxes, can simulate natural behaviors and prevent boredom. These inexpensive methods encourage exploration and mental stimulation while ensuring the turkeys remain safe from predators.
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Continue reading →: The Time Has Come: Why We’re Rehoming Some of Our TurkeysRaising turkeys has been one of our favorite homestead adventures, but sometimes flock management means making hard decisions. Here’s why we’re rehoming several of our male Black Slate and Narragansett turkeys—and what we’ve learned along the way.
Welcome!
Welcome to J & J Homestead, our little corner of Virginia where farm life, fresh baking, gardening, and raising happy animals come together. From our weekend farmstand to our growing homestead adventures, we’re passionate about sharing sustainable living, homemade goodness, and the joys and lessons of simple country life with our community.
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