Author

Julia Bayly

Julia Bayly, staff writer for Hello Homestead, has worked in print journalism for more than three decades covering the unique characters and life of northern Maine. When not wrangling critters on her Rusty Metal Farm, Julia travels the world seeking adventure and great food wherever she can find it. She loves dogs and chickens, tolerates cats, is unsure of ducks and does not trust goats.

Animals & livestock

How to care for a draft horse

Julia Bayly Jul 19, 2019 0

On horse-powered farms and homesteads, draft horses are used for heavy work. But like any animal, these horses need to be treated well. Here's how to care for a draft horse. The large and sturdy draft horse can do much of the work on…
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Animals & livestock

Used in skincare products goat milk benefits are backed up by science

Julia Bayly Jul 18, 2019 0

Loaded with nutrients and vitamins, goats milk has been proven an excellent ingredient for personal cleaning products. When used in a consistent skincare regimen, goat milk benefits include moisturizing skin, reducing acne and…
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Animals & livestock

How to give a chicken pedicure

Julia Bayly Jul 11, 2019 0

Does your chicken need some help with their nails? Here's how to give a chicken pedicure. Image by Pexels from Pixabay One of the best parts about having egg-laying chickens is the fact they are fairly low maintenance when it comes…
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Garden & farm

What to do when you have a farming accident

Julia Bayly Jul 5, 2019 0

If you work on a farm, sooner or later you’ll probably get hurt, and statistically that injury most likely will involve your fingers. What do you do when you severely cut or lose your fingers in a farming accident? The statistics paint…
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Garden & farm

How to get started with permaculture

Julia Bayly Jul 2, 2019 0

If you find the idea of combining the best of vegetable gardening with natural landscaping, you’re probably ready to turn your growing space into a permaculture garden. Here’s how to get started with permaculture. Permaculture is a…
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Animals & livestock

Thinking of raising goats? Here’s what you need to know before you do

Julia Bayly Jun 11, 2019 0

One-day-old Oberhasli goats at Treworgy Family Orchards in Levant, Maine. | Photo by Linda Coan O'Kresik Maybe you visited a petting zoo or a local farm. Perhaps you want to take control of your own dairy, meat or fiber production.…
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Garden & farm

What’s the right size tractor for your homestead?

Julia Bayly Jun 10, 2019 0

Both these tractors have Rollover Protection Systems . The larger one is a 90HP with bucket and weighted tires, the smaller tractor is specifically a row crop tractor for cultivation, a 25HP. | Photo by Dave Colson Few things say…
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Garden & farm

What is permaculture?

Julia Bayly Jun 7, 2019 0

Apple tree blossoms at the Terrell House in Orono. | Photo by Linda Coan O'Kresik Forget sustainability. For those who want to save the planet and all who inhabit it, things have gone too far to be sustained. Instead, attention should…
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Pests

What to do about carpenter ants

Julia Bayly May 22, 2019 0

A typical carpenter ant is often reddish brown or solid black and can be up to an inch long. | Photo by Jody Green, PhD Carpenter ants are among nature’s most efficient insects when it comes to breaking down and transforming rotting or…
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Pests

What are carpet beetles (and what should you do about them)

Julia Bayly May 16, 2019 0

Photo by Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org Is there’s a small bug with black, brown and perhaps white zigzag stripes on its back or perhaps one with a single, wide strip on it’s back on your rug? Or maybe some small creepy-crawly looking brown…
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Animals & livestock

What is a broody hen and what do you do about it?

Julia Bayly May 3, 2019 0

Anyone who has raised egg-laying chickens dreads noticing a hen sitting in the same place for days on end on a clutch of eggs, or on some small rocks or on nothing at all. When this happens it means the chicken in question may have gone…
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Homesteading Skills

How to milk a cow by hand

Julia Bayly May 1, 2019 0

BDN File Photo For thousands of years the only way for humans to get milk from a dairy cow was by hand, a labor-intensive process that can take up to 30 minutes per cow. So it’s understandable that when the first automated milking…
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