Barn Hop #74

Welcome to the Monday Homestead Barn Hop where you're invited to link up your blog with your very best post of the week; something happening at your homestead or something of interest that will help benefit fellow homesteaders. Plus, each of the 3 Homestead Barn Hop hostess selects her favorite post of the week to highlight the following week. So be sure to visit all three blogs because the "Featured Homestead" could be YOURS!

Going off grid can mean different things to different people. But anything that means one less appliance and still get the job done... well, I'm all ears! I have a lovely electric dehydrator, which I'm going to keep using, but the method of using a drying screen from Jennifer Hunt, a contributing writer at Modern Alternative Mama would be great to use if I didn't have access to one or if I couldn't use mine for some reason. And she has included all the steps for making it so you can make one yourself.

Sometimes simple is best (fewer parts to break). And old ways are often easier once you know a few "rules" or tips. With that in mind, here's a couple of things you should know. (I've used this method before and it really does work well for some foods.) Depending on what you're dehydrating, you really need the top screen. I did bay leaves and without the top screen they kept blowing off. Once I added a second screen, I was in business. (It also keeps birds from taking your treats!)

Also, be sure to keep your drying rack away from places that stir up dust and dirt or it will be all over your finished product! (This is something us "Southwestern" gals have to constantly battle!). Finally, you need to dehydrate when the weather will be hot and dry for several days so the food will dry out fast enough without molding. I'm sure the heat from her patio pavers really helped radiate extra heat to do the job! Good planning!

If you've been featured in the past...

If you've been a featured blogger on the Barn Hop, either today or in the past, we now have a special button for you should you wish to add it to your sidebar stating that you've been a featured blogger! You can find it on my button page by clicking the hen with the blue barn on my sidebar that says "HR Buttons". It's a good idea to link it back to the page where you were featured so your readers can see where you're actually mentioned. (These buttons do not have a code since it needs to be linked to the page you're featured in and it will change from week to week. Just copy the button or drag it to your desktop).

Join The Barn Hop!

Jill @ The Prairie Homestead

Kendra @ New Life on a Homestead

and Amy @ Homestead Revival...

...invite you to link up and share your homesteading adventures!

Did you share any cool new homesteading tips on your blog this week? If so, we’d love to have you link up below! Even if you don’t have a blog, we always welcome your comments!

Please remember that the Homestead Barn Hop is meant to be a place to share homesteading related encouragement and inspiring ideas specfically related to homesteading. In an effort to keep our weekly round-up clutter free, links which are not specifically homestead related, and any promotions such as giveaways, contests, carnivals, etc, will be deleted in order to maintain the integrity of the Barn Hop. Please remember this is a family friendly link up. Any pictures or posts linked to the hop which aren’t appropriate for our children to view or read will also be deleted immediately. We’re pretty conservative, so we ask that you use good judgment and err on the side of caution. 

Make sure that you link to your Barn Hop post, not your blog’s main page, so your guests won’t have any trouble finding your great tips!

We would also appreciate it if you would link back to the Homestead Barn Hop in the post that you share! Feel free to grab the banner at the top of this post to link back to us with.

Want a chance to be a “Featured Homestead” next week?

Be sure you've included an actual link to the Barn Hop, preferably the button, on your post or sidebar, with a link back to us. Thank you for sharing the message about the Homestead Barn Hop!

Occasionally there is a problem posting due to glitches in the internet or the Linky Tools. If you have difficulties posting and it does not show up immediately, please wait a little while and try re-posting (this helps avoid double posting). We're sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, be we do not have absolute control over the internet. Thank you for your patience and understanding!