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

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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News

Are you ready for World Naked Gardening Day?

Julia Bayly May 1, 2019 0

Photo by Gabor Degre The first Saturday in May is set aside for gardening and convening with nature … in a most natural way. Why, you ask? Because it’s World Naked Gardening Day, that unofficial holiday when people are encouraged to…
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Homesteading Skills

Tips for successful tree felling

Julia Bayly Apr 30, 2019 0

Photo by Khari Hayden from Pexels There comes a time in the lives of many landowners when a tree must be removed. Cutting down -- or “felling” -- a tree can appear to be a daunting project. But knowing the steps for…
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Homesteading Skills

Upcycling pallets: What Pinterest is not telling you and what you need to know

Julia Bayly Apr 26, 2019 0

Pallets come in many shapes and sizes, depending on what they were built to transport. The standard size is 48-inches-by-40-inches. | Photo by Julia Bayly It’s estimated there are 2 billion wooden shipping pallets moving merchandise…
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Your home

Is natural medicine right for you? Here are some things to consider

Julia Bayly Apr 26, 2019 1

Photo by Gabor Degre Unlike conventional doctors who generally address and treat the specific symptoms of illnesses with pharmaceuticals or surgery, naturopathic doctors seek to find and treat the cause of ailments using a variety of…
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Your home

How to choose a naturopathic doctor

Julia Bayly Apr 23, 2019 0

Dr. Amy Rothenberg, ND, knows full well she could see three times the patients a day that normally pass through her Naturopathic Health Care in Connecticut, if she would just cut down on the time she spends with each individual. But…
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