Living the Country Life

Make the most out of your small farm or acreage with tips and resources from Living the Country Life. This section contains information on raising animals, gardening tips, machinery maintenance, improving pastures, and maintaining ponds.

Buy digital copies of Living the Country Life magazine here.

7 ways to save water in the garden

Your plants need water to survive, but it’s a precious resource that shouldn’t be squandered. Follow these tips to get your plants what they need without wasting water.

Article

Farming in between the rains

Mud is great for farm boys in muck boots, but not so good for farmers trying to plant crops.l

Article

Dealing with skunks

We know to stay far away from a black furry critter with a white stripe down its back. Keep your yard clean and the pet food put away, and hopefully you won’t be skunked.

Audio

Top Shops

Idaho Shop Tour with Custom Overhead Crane

By Top Shops

Dave Mowitz heads to Genesee, Idaho, to visit Al Krick’s shop.

Video

Crops

Developing a strategy to reduce soil compaction

By Successful Farming TV Show

When soil suffers compaction, myriad challenges arise. On the surface, appearances can be deceiving on the extend of the damage.

Video

Machinery Insider

Sizing up semis

By Machinery Insider

The semitrailer has become the transportation workhorse of choice in farming.

Article

Keeping kids safe in the garden

Teach your young kids the joy of gardening as soon as they can crawl out the door. Go out with them to keep them out of harm’s way and make sure they don’t eat the dirt.

Audio

Agritourism severe weather planning

Severe weather brings a host of challenges for the agritourism business. Your operation will weather the storm a lot easier if you have a plan in place.

Audio

Keeping cats out of the garden

Even if you love cats, you still don't want them digging up your garden and leaving a mess. There are simple solutions to convince kitty to stay out of the dirt.

Audio

Tips for growing hostas

Ask someone what their favorite shade plant is and they’ll probably say hosta. Hostas are easy to grow and there are so many varieties to choose from.

Audio

Bad trees for horses

Horses don't always avoid poisonous plants, especially when they're hungry. Keep dangerous vegetation out of their reach – including toxic trees.

Audio

Controlling garlic mustard

Take a walk through your timber and look for an invasive weed called garlic mustard. Left to its own devices, garlic mustard will crowd out the other woodland plants.

Audio

Tip of the Day

Agronomy Tip: Test Your Soil for Compaction

For an easy way to test soil compaction any time during the growing season, try the following: take a handful of soil and try to ball it up... read more