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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.

On Facebook I have a group called "Homesteading in Flagler Estates" and often we have newcomers join us wanting to grow a garden or homestead but are not that familiar with growing in Florida, so folks, this Blog post is for you! Starting a homestead garden in Florida can feel a little humbling at first. You watch gardening videos from people up north, plant all the same things they do, follow their schedules exactly… and then Florida responds by melting your lettuce, exploding your weeds overnight, and unleashing an army of bugs that apparently took your garden personally. We’ve been there... a LOT of times! Florida gardening, especially in Zone 9a/9b, is its own thing entirely. Once you stop trying to garden like someone in Ohio and start learning how Florida actually works, it gets a whole lot easier and honestly, a whole lot more fun too. The truth is, Florida can grow food almost year-round. That is a massive advantage once you learn how to work with the climate instead of constantly fighting it. First things first: Start smaller than you think you should This is probably the biggest lesson we wish someone had hammered into our heads early on. Do not start with a giant “self-sufficiency” garden your first season. Seriously.... It sounds exciting until July shows up with: 97F heat daily thunderstorms weeds growing three inches overnight mosquitoes carrying off small pets and tomatoes that suddenly decide life is no longer worth living Start with: a couple raised beds (they were a game changer for us) a small row garden some grow bags or even a sunny little corner near the house A small garden teaches you: how your property drains where the brutal afternoon sun hits where water pools which spots dry out too fast and what Florida is actually willing to grow for you You can always expand later. Honestly, you probably will. This website allows you to enter your Florida Zip code and it will pop up with what to plant when (for more traditional things to grow) and if you click on the image of whatever veggie you are interested in, it will give you the variety that grows best in your specific zip code. Florida Sun is a different kind of Sun People hear “full sun” and imagine happy plants soaking up rays all day. Florida sun in the middle of summer is less “happy rays” and more: “WELCOME TO THE SURFACE OF THE SUN.” A lot of plants appreciate morning sun and some protection during the hottest part of the afternoon. But if your plant states "Needs full sunlight" they are absolutely not saying "needs full Florida Sun!" One of the best things you can do before planting is simply observe your yard for a few days. Watch: where the sun moves where shade hits where rainwater sits where things stay damp where the soil turns bone dry Your yard already has microclimates. Learning them makes gardening dramatically easier. Your soil probably needs help. That’s normal. Much of Florida’s soil is sandy, fast-draining, and honestly kind of terrible at holding nutrients. The good news is you can absolutely fix that over time. Florida gardening is basically one long relationship with compost. A REALLY long one! Add organic matter constantly: compost leaves mulch aged manure worm castings wood chips The more life you build into your soil, the better everything performs. Raised beds are popular here for a reason too. They give you a little more control over drainage and soil quality right from the start. See the below images on what Herbs to plant when (click on the image to expand it): Mulch like your garden depends on it... because it kind of does. Bare soil in Florida dries out fast, overheats fast, and becomes a weed nursery almost immediately, legit faster than you can blink! Mulch helps: hold moisture cool the soil suppress weeds feed the soil slowly protect roots from the heat And honestly? It also just makes the garden look calmer and more established. We mulch heavily around pretty much everything. Stop trying to grow what Instagram & TikTok says you should grow This one can be painful. Some plants just hate Florida. Others absolutely thrive here. The sooner you lean into Florida-friendly crops, the happier you’ll be. Some great beginner crops for Zone 9a/9b include (and I will give you a link for here in Florida and explain how to find the best variety that grows in your zipcode as well) Cooler Season Favorites Lettuce Kale Collards Mustard Greens Carrots Radishes Broccoli Cabbage Peas Warm Season Survivors Okra Sweet potatoes Seminole pumpkin Southern peas Peppers Eggplant Everglades tomatoes Malabar spinach And then there are the Florida homestead legends: Longevity spinach Chaya Turmeric Ginger Bananas Papaya Mulberries Some of these plants grow here like they’ve found their true purpose in life. Here are the Charts from the university of Florida on what to grow when depending on where you live and if it's easier to start with seeds or transplants: Florida’s gardening seasons are backwards compared to much of the country This confuses almost everyone at first. In a lot of northern states, spring is the big gardening season. In Florida? Fall is often where the magic happens. By late summer and early fall, many Florida gardeners are starting tomatoes, peppers, greens, and brassicas while the rest of the country is shutting gardens down. Meanwhile, peak summer here can feel more like survival mode gardening. Sometimes the smartest thing you can do in July and August is: grow heat-loving crops focus on soil building mulch heavily and wait for cooler weather That realization alone saves a lot of frustration. You WILL have bugs A lot of them. Florida is basically a luxury resort for insects. But one thing we’ve learned over time is that healthy gardens usually balance out better than overly “sterile” gardens. You want biodiversity. You want pollinators. You want frogs, lizards, beneficial insects, and healthy soil life. Some pest damage is normal. The goal is not: “How do I eliminate every bug?” The goal is: “How do I create a healthy enough system that the garden can handle pressure?” That mindset shift changes everything. If you want to grow more tropical things that grow especially well here and often year round, please see below. You can click on each image to expand it. You can find seeds for all of these at Seeds the Stars on Etsy! Perennials are one of Florida’s superpowers One of the absolute best things about gardening in Florida is how many perennial food plants thrive here. Plant them early. Seriously! Fruit trees, perennial greens, herbs, bananas, berries, and tropical plants slowly become the backbone of a really productive homestead. And every year they usually get easier instead of harder. There is something deeply satisfying about walking outside and harvesting food from plants you barely have to think about anymore. Build the garden around your real life Not the fantasy version of your life. That one matters. If you work full-time, build systems that are manageable. If you travel, automate watering. If you have chickens, assume they will eventually “help” in the least helpful way possible.If you live rural like we do, deer and wildlife pressure may become part of daily life. A successful homestead garden is not the one that looks perfect online. It is the one that keeps producing food without completely burning you out. When to plant what Flowers in Florida: Final Thoughts Florida gardening can feel chaotic at first. The heat is intense, the weeds are aggressive, the bugs are ambitious and the weather sometimes feels personally offended by your plans but once you start understanding the rhythm of Florida instead of fighting it, something clicks. You stop trying to force the garden to behave like a northern garden. You start noticing what naturally thrives. You learn when to push and when to let the season breathe. And eventually, your garden starts feeling less like a battle and more like a living part of your homestead. Messy sometimes... wild sometimes, but incredibly rewarding! We hope this helps :)

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Seeds, cuttings, and plant starters for growing your own food at home. Homestead-tested plants chosen for real gardens, not guesswork. GROW YOUR OWN Quick View New Arrival Sugarcane Propagation Cuttings Out of stock