Diatomaceous Earth: Miracle Cure or Overrated? 🐓🤯

IN TODAY'S EDITION

1. Homestead Tip 🌱

2. Poll Results From Last Tuesday 📊

3. All Things Homestead: Diatomaceous Earth for Chickens 🐓

4. Personal Development: A Lifelong Learning Approach to Homesteading 🤔

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

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Tired of Overthinking Your Pantry?

What if you could ditch the endless label-reading and take back control of what goes into your family’s meals?

This January, join our Budget-Friendly Pantry Staples Challenge and learn how to stock a wholesome, affordable pantry—without spending hours or breaking the bank.

Simple, practical, and designed for real-life families, this is your first step into homesteading made easy.

Because self-sufficiency doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Let’s make this the year you reclaim control. One skill at a time.

POLL RESULTS FROM LAST TUESDAY

How often do you find yourself buying paper towels?

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Weekly, they’re a household staple.

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Every couple of weeks, I try to make them last.

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Rarely, I try to limit my use.

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Never, I already use reusable alternatives.

via @beehiiv polls

Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉

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ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD

Diatomaceous Earth for Chickens 🐓

If you keep chickens, you’ve probably heard about diatomaceous earth (DE). This natural, powdery substance is like a Swiss Army knife for chicken care—it’s versatile, easy to use, and environmentally friendly. Let’s break it down so you can see why DE deserves a spot in your chicken-keeping toolkit.

What is Diatomaceous Earth?

Diatomaceous earth is a fine, white powder made from the fossilized remains of tiny aquatic creatures called diatoms. These little guys lived in water and left behind skeletons made of silica, which eventually formed deposits we now mine as DE.

Here’s the cool part: while DE feels soft to us, it’s microscopically sharp. When insects like mites or lice come into contact with it, DE damages their outer layers, causing them to dry out and die. This makes DE a natural, chemical-free way to manage pests around your chickens.

Is DE Safe for Chickens?

The short answer is yes, when used correctly. The key is to only use food-grade DE. This type is safe for chickens to ingest, which is handy since they’re known for pecking at everything, including the coop floor.

However, a word of caution: DE can be dusty, so handle it carefully. When applying it, wear a mask to protect your lungs, and try to minimize dust to keep your chickens’ respiratory systems safe too.

Benefits of Diatomaceous Earth for Chickens

DE has plenty of benefits for your flock. Here are the top reasons to consider using it:

• Pest Control: Sprinkle DE in your coop and dust baths to fight mites, lice, and fleas. It’s a natural way to keep those tiny pests at bay without chemicals.

• Natural Wormer: Mixing a small amount of DE into your chicken feed (about 2% of their diet) may help control internal parasites. Plus, some studies suggest chickens on DE may lay more eggs and even gain weight more efficiently.

• Odor Control: DE absorbs moisture and neutralizes odors in the coop, keeping things fresher for both you and your flock.

How to Use Diatomaceous Earth for Chickens

Using DE is straightforward, but it’s important to do it properly. Here’s how you can incorporate it into your chicken care routine:

1. In the Coop

• Sprinkle food-grade DE in nest boxes, on perches, and in any cracks or crevices where pests might hide.

• Dust lightly to avoid creating too much airborne powder.

• Reapply after cleaning the coop or following rainy weather.

Pro Tip: Use an old sock or small fabric bag to make a “DE puff ball” for an easy, mess-free way to distribute it.

2. In Their Feed

• Add about 2% DE to their feed (that’s roughly 2 cups of DE per 100 pounds of feed).

• Mix well so the DE is evenly distributed, and monitor your chickens to ensure they’re eating normally.

3. In Dust Baths

• Chickens love dust baths, and adding DE makes them even more effective against mites and lice.

• Mix DE with sand, soil, and a little wood ash for the ultimate pest-fighting bath.

My Go-To Blend: I use 60% sand, 20% DE, and 20% wood ash. My chickens love it, and their feathers look better than ever!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

While DE is easy to use, there are a few pitfalls to watch out for:

• Using the Wrong Kind: Only use food-grade DE. Industrial-grade DE is dangerous for your chickens.

• Overapplying: Too much DE creates a dusty environment that’s hard on everyone’s lungs—yours and your chickens’.

• Skipping Protective Gear: Always wear a mask when applying DE to avoid breathing in the dust.

• Applying Directly to Chickens: Instead of dusting your chickens directly, add DE to their environment and dust baths for safer, indirect use.

Alternatives to Diatomaceous Earth

Not sold on DE? There are other natural options to help your chickens stay pest-free:

• Herbs: Sprinkle dried lavender, mint, or rosemary in the coop to deter bugs.

• Wood Ash: A great addition to dust baths for parasite control.

• Neem Oil: Apply a diluted solution to your chickens’ legs to keep mites and lice away.

• Sulfur Dust: Another option for treating pests in the coop or on your chickens.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

A Lifelong Learning Approach to Homesteading 🤔

Homesteading is one of those adventures where you never really stop learning. There’s always something to try. That’s what makes it so exciting—you’re not just building a homestead; you’re growing alongside it.

Let’s discuss how a lifelong learning mindset can help you tackle challenges, discover new skills, and keep the spark alive on your homesteading journey.

Why Curiosity Matters on the Homestead

Curiosity Helps You Grow

Being curious is like having a superpower for homesteaders. It keeps you asking questions and looking for better ways to do things. Maybe you’ve wondered, “What’s the secret to raising healthy chicks?” or “How can I grow more food in less space?” That drive to figure things out is what pushes you to improve.

Benefits of Staying Curious

• Keeps You Excited: When you’re curious, even tough times feel like puzzles to solve rather than roadblocks.

• Fuels Creativity: Need a trellis but short on cash? Curiosity helps you see how those leftover pallets could do the trick.

• Builds Resilience: Curious minds adapt more easily. If one method fails, curiosity inspires you to try another.

The Endless Lessons of Homesteading

There’s always something new to learn:

• How to make soap from scratch.

• Using companion planting to boost your harvest.

• Raising bees or trying your hand at herbal remedies.

Curiosity makes homesteading more than just chores—it turns it into a series of experiments and discoveries.

How to Cultivate Curiosity on the Homestead

Look for Opportunities to Grow

Instead of feeling frustrated when things don’t go as planned, try thinking, “What can I learn from this?” For example, if your tomatoes flop, figure out what went wrong. Was it pests? The weather? You’ll be more prepared next season.

Ways to Keep Curiosity Alive

• Ask Questions: “Why does my compost pile smell?” or “What’s a better way to store potatoes?”

• Experiment: Try a new gardening technique, like hugelkultur, or cook something you’ve never made before, like homemade cheese.

• Find Inspiration: Read homesteading blogs, listen to podcasts, or follow folks on social media who share their tips.

• Share Ideas: Talk to neighbors or join a local gardening group to exchange knowledge.

Tackle Common Curiosity Blocks

• Fear of Failure: Think of mistakes as part of the process. After all, nobody masters sourdough on the first try!

• Lack of Time: Start small. Spend 15 minutes researching a topic or trying a quick project like planting herbs.

• Feeling Overwhelmed: Pick one thing to focus on, like improving your compost or learning to can vegetables.

Ideas for Expanding Your Skills

Skills to Explore

• Sustainable Practices: Rainwater harvesting, no-till gardening, or composting.

• Traditional Crafts: Making candles, fermenting vegetables, or sewing.

• Animal Care: Start raising quail or expand your chicken flock with new breeds.

• DIY Projects: Build a raised bed, install a rain barrel, or create your own root cellar.

• Tech for Homesteading: Use apps to track your garden’s progress or plan your planting schedule.

Be Inspired by Success Stories

One homesteader turned an old window frame into a DIY greenhouse. Another started baking sourdough bread during the pandemic and now runs a small business selling loaves to their community. What could your next project lead to?

Examples to Get You Started

• Learn how to ferment foods like sauerkraut or kimchi.

• Build a compost tumbler from scratch.

• Experiment with growing garlic or asparagus.

• Try making herbal teas or salves.

THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER

What’s a homesteader’s favorite winter activity?

Sledding through seed catalogs!

TODAY'S TOP PICKS

LET’S KEEP IT REEL!

I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!

1. When you’re a nature lover at heart, but the bugs didn’t get the memo:

@curlycultivators

Every creature has its place, as long as it’s not on me. 🤣 . . . #gardenhumor #gardening #gardener #garden #veggiegarden #relatable #myga... See more

2. Why is it that 3am is the perfect time to lie awake and map out my grand homesteading dreams?

@gardenwithnani

The money isnt there yet but its called faith! 😂😂 #containergardening #urbangardening #backyardgarden #gardenhumor #planthumor #fyp #fall... See more

3. As homesteaders, we gotta admit, this is also one of our proudest moments:

@usuextension

So what have you grown from seed this year? 😏 - #utahgardening #gardenhumor #funnygardening #utahgardenlife

ENGAGE WITH US

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