There are useful plants, there are beautiful plants, and then there are those plants that make you stop in the garden and think, "How in the world did I not know about this sooner?" Shampoo ginger is definitely one of those. For most of the growing season, it looks like a pretty tropical ginger with tall, lush foliage. Then these strange little pinecone-shaped flowers begin popping up close to the ground. Eventually those cones turn red, fill with a wonderfully fragrant, slippery liquid and suddenly you have something growing in the garden that you can actually use on your hair. Meet shampoo ginger (Zingiber zerumbet), also known as awapuhi, pinecone ginger or bitter ginger. And yes, the "shampoo" part of the name is there for a reason. So let's talk about what shampoo ginger actually is, how we grow and harvest it, how to collect that wonderful liquid without destroying the plant, what you can make with it and, probably most importantly, how to safely store everything once you've harvested it. What is shampoo ginger? Shampoo ginger is a tropical perennial in the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. Its scientific name is Zingiber zerumbet. It grows from underground rhizomes and sends up tall leafy stems during the warm growing season. The really interesting part comes later. Separate stalks emerge closer to the ground and produce compact, pinecone-shaped flower heads. Young cones are generally green, but as they mature they gradually turn pink and eventually a beautiful deeper red. Inside those overlapping bracts is the part we're after: a clear to slightly cloudy, fragrant and somewhat slippery liquid. The plant is commonly known as awapuhi in Hawaii, where it has a long history of traditional use, including for washing and conditioning hair. One important distinction before we go any further: Shampoo ginger is not the same thing as culinary ginger. The ginger we commonly use in the kitchen is Zingiber officinale. They're relatives, but they're different plants, so don't assume that something should be eaten simply because "ginger" is part of its common name. Growing shampoo ginger in Florida If you live in Florida, this is one of those times when our ridiculous heat and humidity actually work in our favor. Shampoo ginger loves warm, humid, tropical and subtropical conditions. While half the garden may look like it has filed a formal complaint against August, the ginger family is out there living its best life. Shampoo ginger grows well in rich, well-draining soil with consistent moisture. It can grow in partial shade or filtered sunlight, making it especially useful in those areas of the homestead where full-sun vegetables might struggle. The plants spread through underground rhizomes and can gradually form substantial clumps when they're happy. During the cooler part of the year, the above-ground foliage may die back and the plant can enter dormancy. Don't automatically assume you've killed it. The rhizomes remain underground and can send up new growth when warm weather returns. When does shampoo ginger produce its cones? Once the plants are actively growing, you'll eventually notice separate stalks emerging from around the base of the plant. These are the flowering stalks. At first, the cones are green and fairly firm. As they mature, they become plumper and begin changing color. Green gradually gives way to pink and then red. That's when things get interesting. A mature cone begins accumulating the fragrant liquid between its overlapping bracts. You don't necessarily have to guess whether it's ready. Give it a gentle squeeze. If liquid appears between the bracts, you've got a cone that's ready to harvest. How to harvest shampoo ginger liquid This may be the coolest part of growing shampoo ginger: You don't necessarily have to cut the cone off the plant. You can essentially "milk" it. Start with very clean hands and a clean bowl, measuring cup or jar. Hold a mature cone over your container. Starting toward the bottom, gently squeeze upward. Don't crush or completely flatten the cone. You're simply applying enough pressure to release the liquid trapped between the bracts. The liquid will run down into your container. Then leave the cone attached to the plant. A productive cone may accumulate additional liquid, which means you can potentially come back and harvest it again later. Eventually the cone will naturally deteriorate and stop producing. This lets us collect what we want without immediately sacrificing the entire flower. Strain your harvest Once you've collected the liquid, strain it before doing anything else with it. Those cones are growing outdoors at ground level. That means there can be tiny pieces of plant material, dirt and the occasional extremely offended little bug mixed in with your harvest. For immediate use, a fine mesh strainer may be sufficient. If you're making one of the stored products below, I like to strain it particularly well through a very fine clean filter or cloth. And remember: Fresh from the plant does not mean sterile. That's especially important once we start talking about storage. Can you use shampoo ginger straight from the plant? One of the simplest ways to use shampoo ginger is also the traditional reason it became famous. Use the fresh liquid on your hair. You can work a small amount through wet hair and massage it gently into your scalp and hair. You can then rinse it out, or experiment with a very small amount as a light leave-in treatment depending on your hair. If you've never used it before, start small and see how your hair and scalp respond. As with any botanical product, discontinue use if you develop irritation. Recipe 1: Simple fresh shampoo ginger hair rinse This is the easiest recipe and a great place to start if you've never used shampoo ginger before. Ingredients 1/4 cup freshly harvested and strained shampoo ginger liquid 3/4 cup distilled water Directions Strain your freshly harvested shampoo ginger liquid very well. Combine 1/4 cup shampoo ginger liquid with 3/4 cup distilled water in a clean bottle and shake gently. After washing your hair, slowly pour or work the rinse through your hair and scalp. Massage it in for a minute or two, then rinse with cool or lukewarm water and that's it. No twenty-ingredient recipe. No chemistry degree required. There is, however, one big catch. How long does the fresh rinse last? Not long unfortunately since this recipe contains fresh plant liquid and water with no broad-spectrum cosmetic preservative. Treat it as a fresh, perishable preparation. Make only what you expect to use quickly, keep the remainder refrigerated and discard it at the first sign of a change in smell, color, texture or appearance. If you want to preserve a larger harvest, freezing is a much better choice. Recipe 2: Frozen shampoo ginger cubes This is probably our favorite way to deal with a good shampoo ginger harvest. Instead of trying to preserve a giant bottle of fresh botanical liquid, freeze it in individual portions. You'll need Fresh shampoo ginger liquid A clean silicone ice cube tray, preferably one that makes small cubes A freezer-safe container or freezer bag Directions Harvest and thoroughly strain your shampoo ginger liquid and pour the liquid into the ice cube tray. Freeze until completely solid, once frozen, pop the cubes out and transfer them into a labeled freezer-safe container or bag. Label it with both the plant and the harvest date: Shampoo Ginger – Zingiber zerumbet – August 2026 (or whatever month you're doing this) Now you've got individual portions ready whenever you need them. Remove one cube, place it in a clean container and allow it to thaw in the refrigerator. Use the thawed liquid promptly. Don't repeatedly thaw and refreeze it. You can use the thawed liquid by itself or dilute it with distilled water to make a quick hair rinse. For the average homesteader, freezing is the simplest way to preserve a larger harvest without getting into cosmetic formulation and preservatives. Recipe 3: Shampoo ginger hydrating hair & scalp mist Ready to get a little more adventurous? We can also turn our shampoo ginger harvest into a lightweight leave-in hair and scalp mist. This is a more advanced recipe because we're no longer making something that we're going to use immediately. We're deliberately creating a water-based cosmetic product that we want to keep around. And water plus fresh botanical ingredients creates an excellent environment for bacteria, yeast and mold. So this recipe includes a proper broad-spectrum cosmetic preservative. The 100-gram formula This makes approximately 100 grams, or about 3.4 ounces. 80% filtered shampoo ginger liquid 13% distilled water 3% cosmetic-grade aloe vera juice 2% vegetable glycerin 1% panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) 0.5% Liquid Germall Plus Diluted citric acid solution, as needed for pH adjustment Because the amount of citric acid solution required will vary according to the actual pH of your ingredients, you can slightly reduce the distilled water as necessary so your finished batch totals 100 grams. If you're comfortable with cosmetic formulation terminology, you may see this written as water q.s. to 100%, meaning enough water is used to bring the final formulation to 100%. What do all those ingredients actually do? Let's break them down because cosmetic ingredient lists can sound considerably more intimidating than they really are. Shampoo ginger liquid – 80% This is the star of the show. It's the fragrant liquid we've harvested from our mature shampoo ginger cones. Because we're making a product that will be stored, strain the liquid extremely well before using it. Distilled water – approximately 13% Distilled water helps dilute the shampoo ginger liquid and creates a lightweight sprayable consistency. Use distilled water rather than tap or well water. We're trying to reduce the number of unnecessary minerals and potential contaminants introduced into our formulation. Aloe vera juice – 3% Aloe vera juice adds additional hydration and contributes to the feel of the finished product on the hair and scalp. For this recipe, we're using cosmetic-grade aloe vera juice, not scooping fresh gel directly out of an aloe plant. Fresh aloe would introduce another unstandardized botanical ingredient and additional microbial load into something we're trying to preserve. Vegetable glycerin – 2% Vegetable glycerin is a humectant. In simple terms, humectants attract and help retain water. Glycerin is found in an enormous number of commercial skin and hair products for exactly this reason. We're only using 2% because too much glycerin can make a hair product feel sticky or tacky. Panthenol – 1% Panthenol is also known as pro-vitamin B5. It's commonly used in shampoos, conditioners and leave-in hair products for its humectant and conditioning properties. It can contribute to a softer, smoother feel without turning our simple mist into a heavy conditioner. Liquid Germall Plus – 0.5% This is our broad-spectrum cosmetic preservative. It's here for safety, not because we're trying to make our lovely natural botanical spray sound like a chemistry experiment. Shampoo ginger liquid, distilled water and aloe juice make this an extremely water-rich product. Microorganisms also happen to really appreciate water. A proper broad-spectrum preservative helps protect a cosmetic against bacteria, yeast and mold during storage and normal use. And here's something important: Vitamin E is NOT a preservative. Vitamin E is primarily used as an antioxidant. It can help slow oxidation of oils, but it does not replace a broad-spectrum antimicrobial preservative in a water-based cosmetic. Essential oils aren't a reliable substitute either. If you don't want to use a cosmetic preservative, that's perfectly fine. Freeze your shampoo ginger liquid instead. That's exactly why we included the frozen cube method. Citric acid – as needed Citric acid is included so we can adjust the pH of our finished mist. We're not adding a predetermined spoonful. We're adding a diluted citric acid solution a tiny amount at a time, testing between additions, until the finished product reaches the pH we're looking for. For this leave-on hair and scalp mist, we're aiming for a mildly acidic finished pH of approximately 4.5–5.5. How to make the shampoo ginger hair & scalp mist For this recipe, you will need a digital scale capable of accurately measuring small quantities. We're weighing everything rather than using teaspoons and tablespoons. That's especially important with the preservative. Do not eyeball 0.5 grams of preservative. Start with clean and sanitized equipment, utensils and your final spray bottle. Combine your thoroughly strained shampoo ginger liquid, distilled water and cosmetic-grade aloe vera juice. Add the vegetable glycerin and panthenol. Mix thoroughly until everything is incorporated. Add the Liquid Germall Plus according to the manufacturer's current usage and temperature instructions. Liquid Germall Plus is typically added during the cool-down phase rather than being subjected to high processing temperatures. Mix thoroughly. Now measure the pH. (A properly calibrated digital pH meter is preferable, particularly if you plan to make cosmetic formulations regularly.) If the pH is too high, add a very small amount of your diluted citric acid solution. Mix. Test again. Repeat until you reach approximately pH 4.5–5.5. Don't dump powdered citric acid straight into your finished spray and hope for the best. Once everything is incorporated and the pH is where you want it, transfer the finished mist into your clean spray bottle. Label it with the product name and date. How to use the shampoo ginger mist Shake the bottle gently before use amd mist lightly onto damp or dry hair. You can concentrate it on the lengths of your hair or lightly mist your scalp and massage it in with your fingertips. It's intended to be a lightweight leave-in product, so you don't need to completely saturate your hair. More isn't necessarily better. How long will homemade shampoo ginger hair mist last? This is where we need to distinguish between preserved and proven shelf stable. They aren't automatically the same thing. We've included Liquid Germall Plus specifically to protect our water-based formulation against microbial contamination. But adding a preservative does not magically allow us to stamp: "GOOD FOR 12 MONTHS!" on the bottle. Commercial cosmetic manufacturers establish shelf life through testing. Depending on the product, that can include stability testing and microbial testing, including preservative efficacy or challenge testing. We aren't doing that in the homestead kitchen. Our formula also contains a very high percentage of freshly harvested botanical liquid, which introduces more variability than a formulation made entirely from standardized cosmetic ingredients. For personal home use, we would make this in small batches and plan to use it within approximately 1–3 months. That's a conservative household guideline, not a laboratory-validated expiration date. If you're making products to sell, that's a different situation. A preservative alone isn't sufficient evidence to assign an arbitrary commercial shelf life to a product. The final formulation should undergo appropriate testing. How to store the finished shampoo ginger mist Store your finished mist in a clean, tightly closed spray bottle. Keep it somewhere cool and away from direct sunlight and excessive heat. An opaque or amber bottle is particularly useful because it reduces the amount of light reaching the product. And because we're in Florida, please don't make this beautiful botanical mist and then leave it cooking in a 140-degree car in August. Even preservatives have limits. Refrigeration isn't necessarily required simply because a properly formulated product contains botanical ingredients, but keeping it cool can be beneficial. What refrigeration doesn't do is magically turn an unpreserved water-based cosmetic into a shelf-stable one. Always label your bottle with the date you made it. And use your senses. If you notice an unusual odor, dramatic color change, separation that wasn't there previously, unexpected gas or pressure, visible growth or anything else that makes you question the product: Throw it away. When in doubt, toss it out and make another little batch. That's one of the benefits of having the plant growing right outside. How to store your shampoo ginger harvest So what should you do when the plants really start producing? It depends on how you intend to use your harvest. Fresh shampoo ginger liquid Strain the liquid, transfer it into a clean covered container and refrigerate it immediately. Think of this as a fresh botanical ingredient rather than something that's automatically shelf stable and use it promptly. Frozen shampoo ginger liquid For longer-term home storage, this is our preferred method. Strain it, portion it into small cubes and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the cubes into a sealed freezer-safe container, label them and remove only what you need. This also gives us conveniently measured portions when we want to make another batch of hair rinse or mist. Whole shampoo ginger cones If you cut an entire mature cone, refrigerate it and use it promptly. But if your goal is simply to harvest the liquid, try leaving productive cones attached to the plant and gently squeezing them instead. You may get another harvest from the same cone. Shampoo ginger rhizomes Eventually, a happy shampoo ginger patch can become pretty crowded. That's when you get another useful harvest: Plants! Once the foliage begins dying back and the plants enter dormancy, established clumps can be carefully dug and divided. Dig around the clump rather than chopping straight through the middle of it. Lift the rhizomes and separate healthy sections, making sure your divisions have viable growing points or buds. Replant them in another suitable location or pot them up or give them to another gardener. This is how it begins..."I brought you a little piece of shampoo ginger." and three years later, they have a tropical jungle and they're bringing pieces of it to somebody else. Homestead plant math works suspiciously like chicken math LOL! A few things we've learned about harvesting shampoo ginger Wait for the cones to mature rather than squeezing every little green cone you find. If a gentle squeeze produces nothing, give it more time. Use clean hands, containers and equipment when you're collecting liquid that you intend to put on your body or store. Strain the liquid well. Don't assume something is sterile simply because it came straight out of a plant. Don't leave fresh shampoo ginger liquid sitting indefinitely on the bathroom counter. And don't feel obligated to harvest every cone, leave some alone and enjoy them because they're gorgeous plants in their own right. Fresh, frozen or preserved: which method should you choose? If you're going to use your shampoo ginger immediately, fresh is wonderfully simple. If you've got more than you can use and want the easiest preservation method, freeze it. If you enjoy making your own hair and body products and you're comfortable weighing ingredients, measuring pH and using a proper cosmetic preservative, make the hydrating hair and scalp mist. There's no prize for making this complicated. The whole point is finding a way to actually use what we're growing. Why shampoo ginger deserves a place on the homestead I have a soft spot for plants that earn their keep. Pretty is wonderful but pretty and useful? Now we're talking. Shampoo ginger gives us lush tropical foliage, some of the strangest and most beautiful flowers in the garden, rhizomes we can divide and propagate and a fragrant botanical liquid we can actually harvest and use. Better yet, it happens to enjoy the kind of hot, humid weather that makes half the rest of the garden look like it's reconsidering its life choices. By late summer, when stepping outside in Florida feels roughly equivalent to opening the dishwasher halfway through the drying cycle, shampoo ginger is finally saying: "My time has come" and so we'll let it have its moment. We'll squeeze those weird little red pinecones, freeze what we can't immediately use, make ourselves a bottle of shampoo ginger mist and appreciate yet another plant that gives us a little more than we expected. That's exactly the kind of plant we like growing around here. Mel & Chris

There are some weeks on the homestead that remind us exactly why we love this life. This week has been filled with two of our favorite things: creating something by hand and watching new life begin. Meet our two new Lotion Bar scents We've been busy in the workshop pouring a fresh batch of our handcrafted lotion bars, and we're excited to introduce two brand-new scents that couldn't be more perfect for summer. Lavender Lemon Sprig Fresh lavender, bright lemon and herbaceous rosemary come together in a scent that's clean, calming, and uplifting all at once. It's the kind of fragrance that makes you think of walking through the garden in the early morning while the dew is still clinging to the herbs. Made with skin-loving ingredients, this lotion bar melts with the warmth of your hands, helping nourish dry skin without leaving behind a greasy mess. It's perfect after gardening, working outside, or anytime your hands need a little extra care. Barefoot & Sunkissed If summer had a scent, this would be it. Sweet orange and lemon bring a burst of sunshine, while bergamot, sandalwood, and soft white musk create a warm, relaxing finish that lingers gently on your skin. It's bright, cheerful, and just a little nostalgic... like kicking off your shoes after a long day and feeling the grass beneath your feet. Both lotion bars are handcrafted in small batches right here on our homestead using ingredients we love and scents we carefully blended to become everyday favorites. Tiny new arrivals - Hello Rook & Rune! As exciting as new products are... Nothing quite compares to hearing those first little peeps coming from the incubator. We're thrilled to announce the arrival of our newest batch of heritage turkey poults! We're trying to preserve our Line from our favorite Turkey Tom Rorschach and our very favorite best Momma Romulus. Watching them hatch never gets old. Every tiny crack in the shell reminds us how incredible nature really is. Within just a few hours they go from quietly rocking inside an egg to running around, stretching their little wings, and investigating everything around them. It's one of those moments that still makes us stop whatever we're doing just to watch. We'll be sharing plenty of photos and updates as these little ones grow, so keep an eye on our social media. If you've never watched heritage turkeys grow from fuzzy little poults into beautiful adults, you're in for a treat. Life on the Homestead One day we're blending essential oils and pouring lotion bars. The next we're checking incubators and welcoming new feathered family members. That's homestead life. It's busy and it's messy and it's incredibly rewarding! And we're so grateful you've chosen to follow along on this journey with us. Whether you're here for handmade products, recipes, gardening tips, livestock adventures, or simply to enjoy a little slice of country life, thank you for being part of our community. We hope you'll love our new lotion bars as much as we loved creating them. Until next time... Stay kind, stay curious and enjoy the little things. Chris & Mel

If you've kept chickens for any length of time, you've probably learned an unfortunate truth: You can do everything right and still end up with mites. We've dealt with our fair share of poultry challenges here at On Our Own Homestead. Between raising chickens in Florida's heat and humidity, managing multiple coops, and constantly bringing in supplies, equipment, and occasionally new birds, we've learned that external parasites are simply part of the homesteading journey. The good news? Not all mite treatments are created equal. After years of hearing other poultry keepers rave about it, we gave Elector PSP a try... and honestly, now we understand the hype. What exactly is Elector PSP? Elector PSP is a concentrated insecticide that contains Spinosad, a naturally derived compound originally discovered in soil bacteria. Now, before anyone panics at the word "insecticide," it's important to understand that Elector PSP isn't like the harsh chemicals many chicken keepers try to avoid. When used according to the label, it has become one of the most trusted products available for controlling poultry mites and lice. In the chicken world, it has developed something of a cult following. Mention a stubborn mite infestation in a poultry group and chances are someone will immediately respond: "Get Elector." The day we realized we had a mite problem One of the most frustrating things about mites is that they often go unnoticed until the infestation is already well underway. Maybe egg production starts dropping. Maybe a hen looks a little ragged around the vent. Maybe you notice a bird scratching more than usual. Then one evening you grab a flashlight, inspect a roost bar, and discover you've apparently been unknowingly operating a five-star resort for parasites. It's a rite of passage most chicken keepers could happily skip. Why mites matter A few mites may not seem like a big deal, but they can quickly become a serious problem. Heavy infestations can lead to: Stress Feather loss Skin irritation Weight loss Reduced egg production Anemia Increased susceptibility to illness In severe cases, especially with northern fowl mites, chickens can become surprisingly debilitated. When you're trying to raise healthy birds, every ounce of energy your chickens spend fighting parasites is energy they're not putting into laying eggs, growing, or simply being chickens. So what does Elector PSP treat? Elector PSP is primarily used to treat external parasites in chickens. It is highly effective against: ✅ Northern Fowl Mites The most common and damaging mite found on chickens. These mites live on the bird full-time and are usually concentrated around the vent area. ✅ Poultry Red Mites (Chicken Mites) These mites hide in the coop during the day and feed on chickens at night. They can rapidly infest roosts, nest boxes, and cracks in the coop. ✅ Scaly Leg Mites Microscopic mites that burrow under the scales on a chicken's legs, causing raised scales, crusting, and thickened skin. ✅ Chicken Lice Elector PSP is also effective against several species of chewing lice that live on poultry and feed on feathers and skin debris. ✅ Other External Insect Pests Depending on the specific situation, Elector PSP may also help control: Fleas Certain beetles Other external crawling pests found in poultry housing What Elector PSP Does NOT Treat Elector PSP is not a dewormer and will not treat internal parasites such as: ❌ Roundworms ❌ Cecal worms ❌ Gapeworms ❌ Tapeworms ❌ Internal protozoa like coccidia What makes Elector PSP different? We've tried enough poultry products over the years to know that marketing claims and real-world performance don't always match. Elector PSP stands out because it simply works. It kills more than just what you can see One of the biggest frustrations with powders and dusts is that they often require direct contact with every single parasite. Elector PSP is far more effective at reaching the areas where mites actually live. That means you're not spending weeks playing an endless game of "spray, wait, repeat, hope." It doesn't leave birds looking like fried Chicken Anyone who's ever coated a chicken in oil or dust knows exactly what we're talking about. After treatment, birds don't look greasy, caked in powder, or like they lost a fight with a flour sack. It saves time And let's be honest... most homesteaders don't have enough of that! When you've got gardens to weed, animals to feed, eggs to collect, and projects that somehow multiply overnight, the last thing you need is a treatment protocol that takes all day. How we use Elector PSP The first rule is simple: Always follow the label directions. Seriously. Read them. Then read them again! Elector PSP is a concentrate, so proper mixing matters. If you purchase the 10ml Bottle from us, here is how we use it: Shake Bottle well. Immediately before use, dilute the entire bottle (10 ml) of Elector PSP in one gallon of water (or 45 drops of Elector PSP for a 16 oz spray bottle if you need less). One Gallon will treat at least 50 Chickens. Add to Spray Bottle. Once diluted, we use a sprayer to thoroughly treat the birds, paying special attention to: Around the vent Under the wings Base of the tail feathers Areas where mites tend to congregate Apply to each chicken in the flock. Be sure to wet the feathers and skin around the vents, as well as the wings. We spray our entire birds. If you need to treat your coop as well, be sure to thoroughly clean it before applying Elector PSP. With Elector PSP, there is no "egg or meat hold back" period, and it will not affect the Chicken's eggs or meat. Usually we do this with two people and one of us holding the chicken while the other applies the spray, but if you are on a solo mission, here is how Chris does it by gently tying the chickens legs together temporarily to ensure she can get into all of the spots before the Chicken decides it's over the process and takes off before you're totally done. You do not have to do this of course, but this is what works for us and keeps our Chickens less stressed throughout the process because they are not flapping around trying to get away and thus doubling the time it takes us to address the problem. We promise, no Chickens were harmed in the making of this video! But here's the part many people miss: Don't Forget the Coop Treating only the chickens is like mopping the floor while the sink is still overflowing. Mites don't spend all their time on birds. They hide in: Roost bars Nest boxes Cracks in wood Coop corners Bedding If you're not treating the coop, you're probably going to see the problem return. Whenever we're dealing with mites, we treat both the birds and their environment. What about scaly leg mites? Scaly leg mites are one of those poultry problems that make you cringe the first time you see them. The mites burrow beneath the scales on a chicken's legs, causing: Raised scales Thickening Crusty buildup Irritation Elector PSP has been used successfully by many chicken keepers as part of a treatment plan for scaly leg mites. Just remember that even after the mites are gone, the legs won't magically look normal overnight. Damaged scales need time to grow out and heal. Patience is part of the process. Is Elector PSP worth the cost? This is probably the most common question we hear. Yes, it's expensive. There's no sugarcoating that. The first time you see the price tag, you may briefly consider just moving and giving the coop to the mites. But because it's a concentrate, a bottle goes a surprisingly long way. When you consider: The health of your flock The time saved The reduced stress The effectiveness Many chicken keepers find it far more economical than repeatedly buying cheaper products that never completely solve the problem. Our Homestead take on this We don't recommend products lightly. There's a lot of gimmicky stuff in the poultry world. Elector PSP isn't magic, and it's not a substitute for good coop management. Clean housing, regular inspections, and healthy birds are still your first line of defense. But when mites show up... and eventually they probably will... Elector PSP is one of the few products that consistently earns the reputation it has among chicken keepers. Sometimes the best homesteading lesson is simply learning what works and what doesn't. Elector PSP falls firmly into the "works" category. And if you've ever spent an evening chasing mites around a coop with a flashlight, you'll understand exactly why that's worth every penny.

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Homestead-tested goods, plants, and practical tools we actually use, from garden to pantry. Honest products, real experience, and life on our Florida homestead. Elector PSP is back in Stock! Welcome to our little slice of heaven, or as we like to call it, "The Plantation of Questionable Life Choices." We're humble homesteaders, attempting to turn this plot of land into a thriving ecosystem of chaos and veggies. Homesteading, where 'Crop rotation' becomes a fancy way of saying 'Musical Chairs for vegetables!' 2026 GOALS Every year we sit down and write our "Wishlist" of everything we want to accomplish throughout the year. Generally, we get very ambitious and realize later in the year that there are way too many items on our list to turn into reality. 2026 Will be an ambitious year for us as well as these are our goals for our Homestead: 1. Expand our Apiary - DONE 2. Butcher for the first time - DONE 3. Build a bigger, better Greenhouse & open a small Nursery 4. Get the Bananas to produce after they were totally destroyed during this years Florida Freezes. 5. Grow winged Beans. 6. Build a small Pond - DONE 7. Install more Solar lighting outside. - DONE 8. Become NPIP for our new Silver Bielefelder Flock. 9. Grow out Bielefelders and Turkeys for Freezer Camp. - DONE Our Furry and Feathered Friends Our farm is home to a variety of chickens including Bielefelders, Jersey Giants, and a variety of Barnyard mixes. We've also just acquired Turkeys, and Bees. We believe in treating our animals with love and respect, and we know that happy animals make for better eggs, meat and honey. Click here to learn more about our animals. (Coming soon) Meet Our Animals FEATURED PRODUCTS New Arrival "Lavender Lemon Sprig" Lotion Bar with Calendula Price $6.50 Add to Cart New Arrival "Barefoot & Sunkissed" Lotion Bar with Calendula Price $6.50 Add to Cart Fresh Eggs - Local Pickup ONLY Price $4.00 Add to Cart New Arrival Sugarcane Propagation Cuttings Price $12.00 Out of Stock New Arrival Extra Strength Magnesium Chloride Pain Relief Spray Price $22.00 Add to Cart New Arrival 4oz Double Fold Vanilla Bean Paste made with Spiced Rum Price $15.00 Add to Cart New Arrival 4oz Double Fold Vanilla Bean Paste made with Bourbon Price $15.00 Add to Cart New Arrival Small Batch Worcestershire Sauce Price $8.00 Add to Cart 8oz Jar of 100% Pure Raw Unfiltered Honey with wooden Honey Dipper Price $10.00 Out of Stock Ashwagandha Tincture 1 oz Price $9.00 Add to Cart Ashwagandha Tincture 2 oz Price $14.00 Add to Cart Bug Bite Balm 0.5 oz Price $4.50 Add to Cart Bug Bite Balm 2oz Price $9.00 Add to Cart Chronic Arthritis for Cats & Dogs - 1oz Price $9.00 Add to Cart Drawing Salve 2oz Price $9.00 Add to Cart Eczema Lotion Bar Price $7.50 Add to Cart Leaf & Relief Balm 2oz Price $9.00 Add to Cart Zap the Burn Balm 2oz Price $9.00 Add to Cart Elector PSP 10ml (Makes one Gallon) Price $18.00 Add to Cart Bamboo Wooden Soap Holder Price $2.50 Add to Cart Pawesome Peace for Cats & Dogs - 2 oz Price $15.00 Add to Cart Pawesome Peace for Cats & Dogs - 1oz Price $9.00 Add to Cart Activated Charcoal with Bentonite Clay Soap & Tea Tree Oil Price $4.50 Add to Cart Activated Charcoal with Bentonite Clay Soap Price $4.25 Add to Cart "Neural Zen" Extract 2 oz Price $16.00 Add to Cart Nose 'n' Toes Soother for Cats & Dogs Price $6.00 Add to Cart Anti-microbial and Anti-parasitic Ear Oil for Cats & Dogs - 1oz Price $9.00 Add to Cart Stomach Soother for Cats & Dogs - 2 oz Price $15.00 Add to Cart Chronic Arthritis for Cats & Dogs - 2oz Price $15.00 Add to Cart Valerian Root Tincture 1 oz Price $9.00 Add to Cart Homestead-tested goods, plants, and practical living Hey there, fellow adventurers! We’re Mel & Chris Adams, on a wild and wonderful journey toward a more self-reliant life. It’s a ride packed with clumsy mishaps, awkward detours, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments but honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way! We’re modern homesteaders who adore our smart house, techy gadgets, and modern conveniences, yet somehow still find ourselves knee-deep in soil, tending to our chickens and turkeys, whipping up meals from scratch, and crafting our own herbal products (born out of necessity after Mel's surprise collection of autoimmune diagnoses over the years, because why have just one?). Oh, and we’re doing ALL of this on just 1.25 acres... Wait, does that make us a Micro Homestead? But why stop there? To keep life extra interesting, we also run a thriving insect breeding operation, raising Discoid Roaches for reptile feeders. Yep, you heard that right - we’re cockroach-breeding homesteaders (5 years strong and counting), shipping these mighty little critters all over the U.S. daily. If your scaly friend is feeling snacky, Luna Roaches has got you covered! So, buckle up! Things WILL get weird. But honestly, would you expect anything less from people who juggle smart-home automation, homegrown herbs, and a literal cockroach empire? Our Story Explore "The Clucking Chronicles" Life on the homestead Two new Lotion Bars, tiny Turkey feet and a whole lot of summer joy New scents and tiny turkey feet have arrived at On Our Own Homestead! We're introducing two handcrafted lotion bars, Lavender Lemon Sprig and Barefoot & Sunkissed, while also celebrating the arrival of our newest baby heritage turkeys. Come see what's been happening around the homestead during a week filled with handmade creations, new life, and plenty of tiny peeps. Elector PSP for Chickens: The Mite treatment we wish we'd found sooner Mites are one of the most frustrating problems chicken keepers face. Here's our homesteader's take on Elector PSP, why so many poultry owners swear by it, and how we use it when external parasites show up in the flock. Starting a Homestead Garden in Florida Zone 9a/9b Starting a homestead garden in Florida can feel a little chaotic at first. Between the heat, bugs, sandy soil, and nonstop weeds, gardening here is definitely its own experience. But once you learn Florida’s rhythm instead of fighting it, things get much easier. In this blog, we share realistic tips for starting a productive homestead garden in Zone 9a/9b without getting overwhelmed. 1 2 3 4 5 Read More