Wild Ozark™

~ Nature Artist using Ozark pigments in Kingston, Arkansas ~

Category: Homestead

Blog posts or photos that have to do with homesteading in the rural Ozarks of northwest Arkansas.

Pivot to Online Art | Stocking the shelves | Art Prints for Sale

I’ve been hard at work behind the scenes here at the website stocking my online art shop. Artists everywhere are trying to develop a way to market online art. Here’s the update on my own effort to stock the Wild … Read the rest “Pivot to Online Art | Stocking the shelves | Art Prints for Sale”

8 May 2020
The Bear Issue with Our Spring-fed Water Line

So I’ve done a good job of making sure the water is dripping on the cold nights and so far so good with not letting the lines freeze (since the first time I let it happen this year). But this … Read the rest “The Bear Issue with Our Spring-fed Water Line”

18 December 2019
Leave the Water On

You’d think by now I’d remember to do that when the first true cold snap arrives. But no, I always forget, just like I forgot last night. And now, of course, there’s no water running from my faucet when I … Read the rest “Leave the Water On”

11 December 2019
Down Time Ahead for all Things Wild Ozark

I’ve almost got all of my loose ends tied, my office-studio is newly reorganized, and the house is almost as clean as it ever gets. The frenzy of getting ready for a few weeks of down time is nearing the … Read the rest “Down Time Ahead for all Things Wild Ozark”

18 September 2019
Nearly Dry

We’ve had some rain lately, but not enough. The creek that runs through our land is nearly dry now. Thankfully, there are still a few constantly refilling pools here and there, or else I’d have to carry water to the … Read the rest “Nearly Dry”

1 July 2018
Lousewort, Bumblebee Food and Medicinal Herb

Lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) is an interesting plant. It’s a medicinal herb said to be effective at muscular pain relief. The bumblebees love it!

Rosy colored variety of Pedicularis, with a bumble bee visiting.

A pale yellow-colored lousewort.

Some lousewort, showing
… Read the rest “Lousewort, Bumblebee Food and Medicinal Herb”

17 April 2018
Finding the Horses on a Drizzly Easter Sunday Morning

On Sundays I generally sleep late. The alarm goes off every other day at 0500, but on Sundays I have no alarm at all and my body takes full advantage of that fact. I do not ordinarily wake up planning … Read the rest “Finding the Horses on a Drizzly Easter Sunday Morning”

1 April 2018
Things I’ve Learned (Since Moving to the Country)

These are the things I’ve learned since moving out here to Wild Ozark.

I used to think I lived in “the country”, before we moved out here. That was thirteen years ago and I quickly realized once we burnt the … Read the rest “Things I’ve Learned (Since Moving to the Country)”

8 February 2018
Product Review: Rada Kitchen Knives and Cutlery

The best thing about Rada knives – well, I can’t say that. ONE of the best things about these knives is that they’re made in the U.S.A. The other best thing is that they’re terrific. Read on to find out … Read the rest “Product Review: Rada Kitchen Knives and Cutlery”

6 February 2018
Build your Herbal Armory!

Useful plants grow all around us. It’s time to start building your herbal armory of plant allies now.

My book, 10 Common Plants worth Knowing in a Long-term Survival Situation, will introduce you to ten at a time. I’ll … Read the rest “Build your Herbal Armory!”

17 January 2018
Simple Survival Skills: The Multipurpose Pashmina Shawl #survivalhack #homesteading

A scarf by itself might not be enough to keep you from freezing to death in extreme temperatures. But a large scarf, known as a shawl, can serve multiple functions aside from keeping your neck warm like a scarf. It … Read the rest “Simple Survival Skills: The Multipurpose Pashmina Shawl #survivalhack #homesteading”

15 January 2018
Product Review: A Quiet Computer Mouse by Mossy Oak

My old mouse recently died and I had to get another. The next time we went to Walmart I picked up one of the least expensive ones I could find. It was around $10 and I thought that’s not too … Read the rest “Product Review: A Quiet Computer Mouse by Mossy Oak”

14 January 2018
Simple Survival Skills: Limited Water Washing

I forget, until I have to use them, how many simple survival skills I’ve used since moving to this remote and rural Ozarks life. Washing dishes with limited water is one of the most useful things to know.

Simple Survival
… Read the rest “Simple Survival Skills: Limited Water Washing”

9 January 2018
RIP Bobbie Sue. You were a good Farm Dog.

Bobbie Sue was a dog we got as a pound puppy from a shelter in Harrison, Arkansas during our first year here at Wild Ozark. She had probably been abused or severely neglected before she went to the rescue. She … Read the rest “RIP Bobbie Sue. You were a good Farm Dog.”

5 January 2018
Using a Spring for Water – Winter Issues

When you rely on a spring for water, you need a tank. This is our 1500 gallon water collection tank.

Using a spring for water requires more effort than relying on tap water. Sometimes, just because you turn on the … Read the rest “Using a Spring for Water – Winter Issues”

29 December 2017
Through Ice and Mud We Go – Bringing Hay to Horses

Through Ice and Mud

Whether through ice and mud, or snow, or rain or wind, kind of like the postman’s creed to deliver mail, we must deliver hay to the horses.

It’s easy to stay in touch with the wheel … Read the rest “Through Ice and Mud We Go – Bringing Hay to Horses”

7 December 2017
New Tax Rule – Arkansas Sales Tax on Digital Products

This year there’s a new tax rule that will affect the people who buy digital goods from Wild Ozark. We have to pay retail sales tax on ebooks that I sell in our online shop as of January 1, 2018.… Read the rest “New Tax Rule – Arkansas Sales Tax on Digital Products”

5 December 2017
Elderberry Flowers Oil Infusion

Elderberry flowers have a light, sweet fragrance and all manners of pollinators love them.

Which Elderberry Flowers?

The variety I’m using for this is Sambucus canadensis, which is the native elderberry in our area. Black elderberry (S. nigra) is … Read the rest “Elderberry Flowers Oil Infusion”

17 June 2017
2017 Farmers Market Schedule

I decided to just update the schedule on my “appearances page“. Please check there for the latest dates. The link to get there is https://www.wildozark.com/appearances-workshops-herb-walks-presentations/

Schedule of farmers markets & events

5/26/17 – Friday

I’ll be in Jasper, … Read the rest “2017 Farmers Market Schedule”

15 May 2017
Sunrise Sounds at Wild Ozark

In the mornings, we don’t hear highway noise of people rushing to get to work on time. Our sunrise sounds belong to nature.

Sunrise Sounds

Remodeling

We’ve been particularly busy lately here. Rob’s remodeling the bathroom. We thought it might … Read the rest “Sunrise Sounds at Wild Ozark”

24 March 2017
Compost Sifter

Rocks are everywhere here at Wild Ozark. Even when I rake leaves or clean out the chicken house I get rocks mixed in. A compost sifter would help when I’m trying to separate rocks and weeds out of the pile.… Read the rest “Compost Sifter”

12 March 2017
Starting Seeds and Straightening Tines

Yesterday I decided it was time to get busy starting seeds for our garden. Hauled the seed vault out and began the painful process of picking which of the very many seeds I have saved that I want to start … Read the rest “Starting Seeds and Straightening Tines”

2 March 2017
Bringing Hay to Horses in Snow

After yesterday’s post where I reveled in the fact that we’d actually had a decent snowfall, we went out in the cold to bring hay to horses. The temperature was about 15*F with a windchill factor of I don’t know … Read the rest “Bringing Hay to Horses in Snow”

7 January 2017
Can’t see the Trees for the Forest, or rather, Snowflakes for the Snow

Yesterday we only had a little bit of snow and each little snowflake was easy to see and photograph. Now it is like not being able to see the trees for the forest. Can’t see the snowflakes for the snow.… Read the rest “Can’t see the Trees for the Forest, or rather, Snowflakes for the Snow”

6 January 2017
How to Identify Plants in the Wild, How to Search and Find Clues

Earlier this year I surveyed my newsletter members for their top questions. Here’s one about how to identify plants found in the outdoors.

Top Questions

It’s more of a comment than a question, but I’m creating this post in response to … Read the rest “How to Identify Plants in the Wild, How to Search and Find Clues”

26 December 2016