Chickens, Pollinators, and Nature-Inspired Gardening

Chickens and bees are two categories of “livestock” that don’t take a lot of space or time to raise – which makes them perfect for many who want to live a more sustainable, simple life. Here, you’ll find everything you need to care for these incredible creatures, from nurturing a thriving beehive to providing a healthy, happy home for your chickens.

Discover the joys and benefits of beekeeping, including tips on hive management, honey harvesting, and supporting pollinators in your garden. Learn how to raise chickens for fresh eggs, natural pest control, and companionship, all while creating a harmonious balance with the environment.

Whether you’re a seasoned keeper or just starting your journey, this category is designed to guide you in fostering a deeper connection with nature while adding value to your homestead. Ready to get started? Explore our articles and discover how birds and bees can make a meaningful impact on your simple living life.

Are Automatic Chicken Doors Worth It?

November 17, 2023 by Angi Schneider

white rooster coming out of a hen house through an automatic chicken door

We’ve been keeping chickens for about 15 years and over the years I’ve thought about getting an automatic chicken coop door. But, honestly, it didn’t need like the right thing for us until recently. If you’re a backyard chicken keeper, you know that caring for your feathered friends can be both rewarding and time-consuming. One …

Using Honey for Allergies – breaking down the evidence

August 11, 2025February 6, 2020 by Angi Schneider

image of a jar of honey with a honey dipper being pulled out

As a family who keeps bees I’m often asked about using honey for allergies – mainly, does it work? The simple answer is “it depends.” There are a lot of variables to consider when deciding to use local raw honey as part of your seasonal allergy protocol. The basic thought process of using honey for …

chicken coop expansion

January 30, 2019April 8, 2013 by Angi Schneider

A person is working on constructing a wooden shed outdoors. The shed has a white door and red walls, with a newly added plywood wall. Surrounding the area are trees and various tools and materials.

The chicks are getting bigger and it’s time to put them with the big hens. We’ve put them in the run during the day and the hens have gotten along well. I’m not sure if it’s because the “flocks” are pretty even in numbers (28 hens, 28 chicks) or if it’s because there’s quite a …

Wild Honey

January 30, 2019September 11, 2012 by Angi Schneider

Four jars of honey in different sizes sit on a wooden table. The honey has a rich, amber color and the jars have metal lids. The background is a softly lit room with a ceiling fan visible.

I’m not sure if it happens with all beekeepers or not, but ever since people have found out that Gabriel is keeping bees he’s had several request to come get bees that are living where people don’t want them. This was one of those adventures. There were some bees living in a old propane tank …

bee experiment

August 11, 2025July 16, 2012 by Angi Schneider

Two white beehives on a wooden platform with bees flying around the entrance. The hives are surrounded by greenery, and sunlight casts shadows on the wooden surface.

…or maybe I should title this “the bee experiment that every beekeeper we’ve talked to has said is a really, really dumb idea.” But you know, we are just kind of like that. We get an idea in our heads and can’t seem to get it out. We know it probably won’t end well but we want …

chicken "family"…

August 11, 2025May 3, 2011 by Angi Schneider

Fluffy chicks of varying colors gather around a water dispenser and sit on straw bedding. A feeder with grain is partially visible in the foreground.

We now have 3 different kinds of chickens, we have a mama and a daddy chicken, 17 “teenage” chickens and 12 new baby chickens. We gave our two small ones to a friend who doesn’t have a rooster. And lost a couple of the Red ones we bought. So we got 6 Orppingtons and 6 Barred Rocks. We …

::peep, peep::

January 30, 2019February 22, 2011 by Angi Schneider

A group of fluffy brown chicks huddles together in a clear container filled with wood shavings. They are surrounded by a small amount of food and water in bowls. The setting appears to be indoors.

The chicks are here! Friday, Phoebe and Benjamin became the proud “parents” of 25 baby hens. We spent the weekend working outside, enlarging the chicken coop and making some pens for these little girls to be in after they leave our mudroom but before they go into the chicken yard. The older boys have decided …

::meet the ladies::

August 12, 2025January 25, 2011 by Angi Schneider

Three chickens, including a black one and two with brown and white plumage, are standing on dry grass near a wire fence.

Remember when I said that Phoebe and Benjamin wanted to start an egg business. Well, some friends wanted to tidy up their back yard and so they gave us their hens. These were really more like pets than livestock, and came with cute names, such as “Fluffy, Tweetie and Blackie”. They are fitting in just …