Homestead Goals for 2025 and Sharing About my Book!!

[@cathe7403]

Who here is Beyond EXCITED For this book release in 2025. Although Ruthann always thanks her viewers for their support. I feel she is about to see how many lives, and how many supporters she truly has. I think this year is going to be life-changing for her and her whole family. I’m so excited for her and what she’s accomplished and I cannot wait to get my hands on that book.!!!

[@margaretburrows1974]

I’m saving up now

[@Longstorie]

...as soon as it is available!

[@maggiecooper9845]

❤❤❤ I love this family. I'm ready to order both books 😊

[@MichelleBurling]

Ruth Ann you are truly A gift Our LORD and SAVIOUR is well Pleased His light shines through you💕🥹

[@nickysyarnbarn]

When she said at the end that she doesn't have a filming schedule. That is exactly why I love her channel so much. The mix between family, garden, cooking, animals... just life in general. And I'm so excited about the book coming. Also her cook book .

[@bullelephant1]

Ruthann, you are also a face for real feminism. As a woman who grew up in the sixties I heard loud angry voices who were rejecting all things family everywhere. They threw away everything that had the potential for real purpose and community building to become isolated cogs in some corporate wheel. As a christian in a "good" , ie gospel proclaiming, church, and a very early reader of Backwoods Home I was given a vision for something better for my family. Mary Pride's early homeschooling books completed my transformation. I have received so much pleasure from watching your families journey. It frequently sends me down memory lane. Several of your commenters mention your energy, I know that you are too busy right now to have time to be tired or to feel sorry for yourself! Proverbs 31 states that the industrious woman perceiveth that her merchandise is good. Strength and honor are her clothing. Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also. Not only them, we also thank you and praise you for the example and the instructions you are providing in your generation. May our Father continue to bless your home.

[@RataPerry]

Well said!!

[@JaneDay]

Amen to that

[@sherrylee1072]

God bless

[@tabp8448]

Amen!🕊💜🙏🏼💪🏽✝️

[@patriotmama]

Well said indeed!

[@cherylb.9766]

I'm so thankful that you have not turned your videos into infomercials like so mammy youtubers have done! I appreciate the work you putting into your books and will buy one for my home.

[@janfelshaw8217]

Amen!

[@louannchapuis3444]

Amen

[@gillharris-g6w]

In the UK in times past, poorer people in humble cottages would do exactly as you are planning with their pigs: fatten up the young ones until autumn and then use them for meat, keeping the sow only (I think they used a community boar in the early spring to breed with). So your plan is based on hundreds of years of homesteading (we call it smallholding here) and is sure to succeed!

[@beverly4551]

RuthAnn, do you ever get sick or just so tired that you need someone to take over? You seem to have endless amounts of energy. I am amazed by your tenacity, your perseverance and your determination. God Bless you and your family.

[@Ruthannzimm]

I rarely get sick… last winter I spent a couple days in bed but with a virus but was soon back on my feet.

[@hillbillychapel6761]

Ruthann, I love your videos! Your open, honest sharing is so refreshing. One of my favorites is when you were making a big batch of caramel corn and it boiled over. Real life! I have planted our potatoes in the fall to save time in the spring and that worked nicely. I like the idea of planting in the summer for a later harvest. I think I will try that this year. Hope you and your family have a wonderful 2025!

[@kathrynbraun2073]

I understand the question, but if I may: I think Ruth Ann has lived this lifestyle and it is in her…it is her way, and she has this so in her she uses her relationship with The Lord, and with her husband and children to continue being able to fill her soul and body to be able to do all she does.

[@lsolarin1]

Thank you so much for sharing your goals for 2025. While we are in different phases of life you are an inspiration to me. I live in the city in a small house and my children are all grown, however I have goals to get back into gardening and feeding my family nutritious food that I’ve grown. You’re definitely a blessing to many. God Bless you and your family. 💕

[@stupidloopinfinite4768]

@@Ruthannzimm I believe that's because you're always busy and working on something. Our ancestors were the same way, always working and rarely got sick. I hardly get sick either, because my dad taught me to always keep busy working. He was born in 1903, back then it was just a way of life, but sadly people have become sedentary now, and sit on the couch too much and watch TV. I know it's also our diet that that keeps us healthy as well. Home raised and grown foods made from scratch keeps us much healthier than "store bought food," if you can even call it food, lol.

[@ldg2655]

You have the heart of a teacher.. I had a cow that came from a private raw milk dairy. Since she was only machine milked, I borrowed a milking machine from a neighbor that had dairy goats. They told me to use plain vinegar in the rinse water. I’d half-fill my kitchen sink with very hot water, pour a hefty glug of vinegar in it, and put the claw in the water (after having dumped the milk canister, of course). I then turned the pump on and ran it until the vinegar water was gone, dumped the canister and repeated with a very hot water rinse. I didn’t use it very long because I was also working on training her to hand milk. As to chickens, I gather (or buy, if there is a specific breed I want) some fertilized eggs and incubate them. They usually hatch around Easter. I raise the babies in a second pen, and by late summer or fall, they start laying. I then advertise my parent hens on Craigslist and sell them. Since I do this every year, my hens are about a year and a half old at the time I offer them for sale, so they bring a good price. My now-laying chicks, being new layers, usually lay pretty well all winter.

[@Ruthannzimm]

Thank you!!!!

[@RataPerry]

Awesome tips. Thank you

[@amymartin7508]

Mine are busting their own so I'm trying g to put in more protein and "just check them more than once a day"

[@franward6851]

@@amymartin7508 they need calcium as in dried egg shells or oyster shells.

[@paularodery8074]

I keep forgetting to tell you how much I LOVE your giggle/laugh😅. It’s so full of fun and joy!

[@reneespring834]

Some of my favorite content anywhere on social media! We love you so much Ruthann. Like having coffee and chatting with a good friend. ❤

[@bettypettigrew6471]

Happy New Year and May God bless you and your family in this coming new year!!!❤😊

[@brendawheeler5456]

My daughter AR her pigs and they are born in January. She donates 2 pigs to 4 H students who otherwise can't afford to raise one as their 4H project.

[@RataPerry]

Your daughter has a wonderful, thoughtful and practical way to share her excess piglets. Good for her!!!!

[@poodledaddles1091]

I love that you are trying to homestead frugally!

[@evanorvell8368]

I so admire all you do, especially the very intentional way you are raising and teaching your children! And those socks are amazing! 🧶🧦

[@RhondaPendleton]

Master Knitter here...Your sock is gorgeous. You have already learned everything you need to know to knit any pattern you would like. You have mastered tensioning the yarn, the knit stitch, and the purl stitch. Cable stitches are not hard. They are "fiddly," a bit awkward to hold at first until you get used to it, but not hard. Good idea to start with a smaller project to get used to knitting cables. May I suggest...knit a cable pattern on a sock. This way, you already know the basics of sock knitting, and it will help you to learn and practice the cable pattern. May God return the blessings a hundredfold to you as you bless all of us with your weekly postings.

[@SCook49]

I truly enjoyed hearing your 2025 ambitions. I stopped making “new year’s resolutions” a long time ago because I never completed them. I have knitted, crocheted, sewn and now am tatting. I have some raised beds for my gardening projects and those keep me motivated and busy in the spring and summer. At 75, I try to keep my body moving, but sometimes it has tired out before I anticipated. I love watching your enthusiasm and love for your family. They are so fortunate to have a mother who wants to make them happy and thinks of their nutrition like you do.

[@honeycaffena4897]

I have silver appleyard ducks, & put them in the vegetable garden all winter with a makeshift house. They eat up remaining plants, seeds, bugs & fertilize the soil. Just sharing

[@RataPerry]

My grandma used to do the same. She also used chickens in the garden in addition to the ducks.

[@Di_inthegarden]

Thank you sharing your beautiful family with us on KZbin. You bring much joy ❤

[@jeaniestoutloomis9137]

Dear Ruth Ann, I love your new intro with all the childrens pictures. Thank you and I’m so excited about you including your love of God and that you leave room for Him and His will in your life. Also so happy about the “farm talk” with in depth talk about the business end of the farm. Anyway I’m so happy with your channel!! Blessings to all!!

[@IowaGarden]

Idea: if you connect the crochet blocks with an inch or so between blocks and one person is in charge of doing all of it, you wont notice the slight variation in size. I love the idea of a family made blanket😊

[@jennifermiddleton8713]

Thank you for nurturing all of our souls as well 💕

[@colleenlondon5605]

Amen!!

[@gloriamiles9864]

Good morning from Michigan Thankful for the gift you have for story telling you make me smile. God is Good!

[@abbytucker5220]

Hi RuthAnn, fellow Iowan on the Northwestern corner...I have been using oat straw as mulch each spring and have been loving it. for years i tried with all my might to fight weeds without any cover and by July I had a weed patch with a few vegis in it. I still have weeds but they pull soo much easier, the soil stays more loose and moist. In the fall when everything is done we run our mower over it to chop everything up and I layer on our compost. last year was the 1st year i did not do a light till to stur things and it was amazing! Blessings to you all in 2025

[@kymburriss4260]

You have a beautiful farm, and a beautiful family.

[@BrendaSmith09]

Shabbat Shalom!! So excited for your book!!🎉 As soon as I saw this title, I clicked on the notification. My husband has been telling me, “Honey, why don’t you order her cookbook?” lol and I said “well because she doesn’t have one.” Hubby said “Hmmm you should suggest for her to write one.” 😂 I will be waiting so patiently until I can pre-order my copy. I pray you have a very blessed year ❤

[@pamelafranzen2771]

All the best to you in 2025!

[@CherylHamburger]

Very excited about the book. It Will be a Best Seller. People love you and trust in you! So many you tubers talk about Ruthanne Zimmerman!

[@vickywray7285]

Lovely of you to share your goals with us. Kudos to you for learning to crochet and knit the socks.

[@tradergalsal6092]

I am a single 65 year old getting ready to retire and I yearn for a garden and chickens. In my 20's I had that, but went on to the corporate world which feeds my checkbook but not my soul. My daughter wishes I didn't watch this channel because she is afraid I am too old for this lifestyle. Not sure if i will just continue to live vicariously thru you....or if I will find myself a little plot. I think we all know how that story will end! Looking forward to the book!

[@Ruthannzimm]

I’m glad you’re here. There’s many ways to homestead on a small scale!!

[@Peachlady222]

You are never too old. Start small with one or two things. Expand slowly as you gain confidence. Chickens are pretty easy to care for. You don’t need a rooster until you want to raise your own chicks.

[@cynthiahurry-asoulsearcher729]

I'm rowing a similar boat only 54 and no kids. This is the battle for me also. Do I go and live the rest of my days happy, or stay in a setting and situation I don't prefer for the security it provides. Everything within me is working towards going as soon as I can retire. I might wake up at night from intrusive thoughts on occasion but it'll be worth it, I say. 😂 Days are long when they're not enjoyable and a blink when they are.

[@LoisMGrace88]

I’m 65 and widowed. I homeschool and board 4 of my grandchildren Saturday pm through Thursday evening. They are twins 7, 6, 5 yr olds. I bought an old farmhouse on 2.5 acres. I am slowly renovating a room at a time. I have a huge garden, raise chickens and I want to start bees this year. The grandchildren are a huge help. Take heart, jump in slow and listen to what God says to you. You can do it!

[@valbrenneman9071]

I'M 65 also. We moved back to rural Ohio 3 years ago. I started gardening and canning again. It relaxes me.

[@SewWhittle]

You will be one busy woman in 2025. May God give you the energy, stamina and strength to go through each day for His glory!!

[@RataPerry]

AMEN

[@BKayK755]

Thank you Ruthann for ALWAYS giving us generous amounts of time to learn so much from your amazing wisdom! You’re such a special gal! Have a very blessed New Year 2025! ❤

[@JM-ph4ee]

You are truly a GIFT to all of us. God Bless you & your growing family.

[@Linda-f8q6p]

Back in the '70s I was an avid reader of the "Little House" books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. They inspired me to learn to bake bread, make pie from scratch, work hard and be independent, etc. This morning, watching this episode, I realized that in a sense, your videos pick up where those books left off. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos and give me a good grounding in what matters.

[@nachbarslumpi7093]

Old chicken, we call soup chicken (Suppenhuhn in German), because of that. They are harvested and go their way into the pot. And yes they need at least 2-3 hours to get the meat off the bone. Then we are canning them. ❤ I’m wishing you a healthy, happy and safe new year.

[@shirleygates8979]

My mother butchered the old hens. They make the richest broth for chicken and noodles. Yum! Yum! I enjoy your program. I was raised an Iowa farm girl.

[@carolynowens2788]

Amen. Amen, with all the beautiful sharing you do with your family, learning from you in all you do!

[@ShannonWincek]

I can’t wait for your book. Thank you for teaching me so much in 2024. Happy New Year. I hope your 2025 is touched by the lord. Many blessings

[@ShannonWincek]

My daughter also crochets and she loves it. She’s made some beautiful pieces. I think it’s awesome that they’re teaching it at school.

[@cindyburke4340]

I enjoyed your "in 2025" video. Chelsea at Little Mountain Ranch has milk cows, and she had a video on how she started using her milker and how she cleans hers. She is like you in so many ways with her homestead and very knowledgeable. She has mentioned you a few times on her channel, and I am sure she would love to visit with you. on cleaning her milk machine. Thank you, Ruth Ann, for all you share. It is very helpful. God bless you and your family

[@franward6851]

I agree she is mom to a large family and is very knowledgeable and willing to learn and a good teacher.

[@janetbriggs6724]

Hi Ruthann, I did the same thing with potatoes this year and now I’m having to dehydrate them. I live in North Idaho, I don’t really have seen problem with weeds that you do. I would suggest planting cover crops pretty densely between the rows, and just mowing it so they don’t go to seed. That way, the seeds that do blow in will have a hard time getting established.? Just a thought, absolutely love your channel!!!❤ P.S. in the fall after the garden is done, you could shallowly till the cover crop in or just leave it to die. If you leave it to die, the next spring after your new seedlings emerge. You can rake the old dead cover crop debris and use it as a mulch around the seedlings. Every year plant a different cover crop, ie buckwheat, arugula, mustard greens, kale, dandelion greens, burdock, comfrey… 31:34 the choices are endless.

[@VanessaPage-ic2bd]

Thank you for sharing your goals with us. I love your attitude towards life in general. You are such a beautiful person inside and out. ❤

[@fullypersuaded2952]

Milk Machine advice here! We are on our 3rd lactation with our milk cow and we have always used a machine. When we bring the machine in, right after filtering the milk we rinse HOT water though the lines and wash the teat cups and bucket. Then we turn the machine on and run an organic soap (I use something called Puracy but I’ve used others - just not Dawn or any conventional soaps) with about 1-1.5 cups of vinegar and very hot water. I’d say I run about a gallon of this mixture though the lines and then I do a 2nd rinse with hot clear water. We have hose brushes that we run though the lines as well as needed. And we have also replaced the lines completely once a year. We also pull apart the components that the milk touches inside the bucket but each milker is different. We have never experienced gross milk due to our machine. The people we sold to always commented on how fresh it stayed as well. We have used this system now for 2 years and I learned it from a large organic diary here in Missouri when I was looking to buy a cow and he didn’t like bleach used, either. He said being sterile is not needed, just very clean and vinegar did the job. I have a small milker (3 gallon) and only 2 teat cups- I’m sure you’re using a larger milker, so maybe run 2-3 gallons of vinegar, soap and water to account for a larger tank and more hoses. Hope this helps!

[@ellenbryant7679]

Ruthann, Oh My you have a busy calendar. Can't wait for your book and your cook book. Your sock you knitted, looks like a professional knitted it. Well Done!!!

[@RataPerry]

But isn't she a professional already????

[@OrganicMommaGA]

Oh so many things that resonate with me! You mentioned managing your laying hens and what we do with our tiny flock (suburban limits on numbers of hens) is we get 1/3 to 1/2 of our flock size in new pullets every year. The old hens, once they're not laying (or not laying often enough) get harvested once the newest pullets begin to lay eggs. The harvested chicken goes into the freezer and I make broth, soup, and canned chicken from them. Because your flock is larger, you may want to put colored leg bands that mark the year you got the hens so you'll know which ones are over three years old, which is when their egg production typically drops significantly. The band year colors can coordinate with the color codes used for marking queen bees if you want to use an established color code. We have grown tromboncino squash here in Georgia, too and we enjoy how versitile and pest-resistant they are! Last year, I tried canning some bread and butter pickle spears using unpeeled green tromboncino "necks" and that worked wonderfully. We decided Tromboncino has a trellis space in our garden every year to make sure we always have summer and winter squash for our family. Speaking of gardening, because of your challenges with the weather and weed pressure, I would say layering different mulching methods might be your best bet. Cardboard, grass clippings (before seed heads form), fallen leaves, manure, and compost are all great layers. You may consider trying to cover a few areas with black weed-block fabric just before your first frost in the autumn to help trap the sun's energy to aid in the breaking down of the mulch and possibly cook any weed seeds that have landed there before covering to help them not sprout up as soon as the weather is condusive for them growing. I have seen good and bad reviews of cutting holes in landscape fabric to plant into, but overall it does seem to help keep weeds to a minimum between plants you want to grow. The black fabric can also help warm the soil, so it could also provide a bit of protection for early season crops in the spring but potentially be too hot for plants in the summer, so experimenting with it to see what works for you is probably best. It's exciting news about your book! Congrats! Oh! Crochet and knitting are so much fun! I think having the different granny squares joined in a blanket would be extra-special, even if some squares are different sizes. A border can be placed on each square to make them all the same size, even if the borders end up being a bit thinner on some and thicker on others. I would suggest a complimentary color like cream, tan, or even black or white. And then all the bordered squares can be stitched together into a blanket. The different colors and sizes that fit together in a whole unit can be very representative of family because they're all beautiful and functional. I apologize for such a long comment, but I enjoy your videos so much! Happy New Year and Thank You!

[@ka6148]

Mangal beets are amazing for animal winter food and they hold up under freezing temps and require no effort on your part once established We have used them the last 5 yrs zone 4 We harvest our "freeloader" hens Breast we freeze for regular use, the carcass goes in stockpot to simmer into stock and canned, depending on our needs the remains go to our animals or we glean the meaty bits and compost the bones

[@scentsbyemebathbody3161]

I found with the chickens if you rotate every 6 mos with new babies by 4 mos they are starting to lay eggs, so when the older ones are molting not laying your newer hens are laying you always have eggs year round. Love your doing a cookbook too !!! ❤❤. Look forward to seeing all your doing in 2025 !! 😊

[@RataPerry]

Thank you for this useful tip.

[@belindajoyparker8874]

What breed of chicken are you getting that starts laying at 4 months?

[@CarlynBosworth]

Crocheting and knitting are good for young brains! Even the boys!

[@CarlynBosworth]

Dishcloths are easy too!

[@kathleenvigliano9642]

I taught my 46 year-old son to knit and he made a bunch of dishcloths. His wife was thrilled!

[@BaileyL.]

One option for “mulching” corn is to do what is called a living mulch. Many different plants work for this, especially grasses like wheat, rye, etc. It is essentially providing ground cover, known as a cover crop, for your corn.

[@lorribosch8634]

We harvested our Muscovy drakes. Their meat is fantastic! I know they are harder to pluck than chicken, but I found it was worth it. Unfortunately, the predators killed all of our Muscovies. I wanted to say we absolutely love watching you and your family! Knowing that you are a Godly woman means so much to us. God bless you and your family! Keep sharing your knowledge and experiences. We love that you are a very positive person and not all the doom and gloom like so many. Thank you, God Bless y'all!!

[@kathleenvigliano9642]

I'm looking forward to your book and cooking book! I hope I don't miss the pre-order. I enjoy your videos so much.

[@sunsetheritage]

@@kathleenvigliano9642 her Homestead book is already available for pre-order on Amazon. I placed my order a week or so ago. Of course I have to wait until Sept 9 to get it, but I wanted to pre-order in hopes of showing Amazon how successful her book is going to be 🧡 Lorie 😊

[@jackiesnell3481]

Just wanted you to know how much we enjoyed your video this week.. A tip on potato planting, plant twice.. Plant in May, since most of your potatoes will be gone from the winter storing, so you have a fresh crop to get you thru to fall.. In July, plant another crop for harvesting in the fall for winter storage.. 🥔

[@phyllisruss5174]

You are such an inspiration. I'm 55yrs old. Mother to 4 adult children and Granny to 4 grandchildren. Homeschooled my children and still wish I could have done more. So many of your values ring true to me. Home and family are what truly matters to me. Have 3.5 acre homestead in New Zealand. I wish I had your KZbin channel 30 yrs ago ❤❤

[@janfelshaw8217]

I love that you are “not very professional”. You feel like a friend of mine who was just sharing her life and I so appreciate that. God bless you and all your endeavors. And I hope you learn to like the chickens.

[@cherylgramm6591]

hi..heres a suggestion for cream and eggs...in a pan bring your cream to a simmer ...then basically fry the eggs in it to desired overeasy or medium or hard egg...dip toast in cream and ENJOY..My Mom milked and had extra cream and eggs and it was our families favorite way to have breakfast or anytime meal..We call them CREAMED EGGS...try it

[@behappy6513]

My mother used to make small 2 inch squares and sew them together in quilt patterns.. she has passed but I remember always seeing bags of tiny squares she cook jr just do real my fast.. you are such a blessing to watch each week. Thank you

[@judykendall5380]

Ruth Ann..our first magazine of 2025 got here on Tuesday……I HAVE STUFF I need to do!! 😮I couldn’t put it down. Thankfully it was near zero degrees out. I would read some, work some, I cleaned my house and baked finally I sat down in front of the fire and read to my hearts content. We used to do that with the Fence Post and Country Living but they “improved” the magazine to the point that the simplicity they were at one time had turned to more advertising than articles. Backwoods Home is our motivation to gent things done so we can read! ❤Learning and. Discovery is so vital! No matter what age a person is( in some circles we are considered old but in our circle we are not) Dreaming of my garden and flowers and possibilities😍😍😍

[@cindythompson1709]

I just love the way you have done things in this past year. I can’t wait for your book and the cook book. It’s on my list to buy. I was raised on a farm. Move to town when we got married but when we started a family moved back. All 3 of our boys was raised here on our land in the country. Gardening was a big part of the homestead. Then chickens, rabbits. Meat comes from our neighbors. I would like to have more farm animals now that I’m retired. Lol.

[@marylynnbehrens5562]

I love your socks! They are beautiful! I've always wanted to learn how to knit and crochet. I've taught myself some easy crochet stuff but I would love to learn how to crochet. They teach it through our local recreation department, but those classes fill up quickly. I love that you're doing this with your daughters, that is so special. I wish my daughters lived near me so I could do that with them, they both knit and crochet. I am looking forward to your books coming out! Hopefully you'll be in the Milwaukee Wisconsin area to promote your book. Blessings to you and your family in 2025! Let's make America healthy again!

[@jeanhorvath9567]

May 2025 be prosperous for both your spiritual life and your homestead. Every video you share shows not only your various skills but also your heart for the Lord. Thank you for giving so much of your time to help the rest of us. Im looking forward to your book ❤.

[@Mustangs73]

You not only nurture the hearts of your family, you are nurturing and inspiring your viewers too. Thank you for your life experience and knowledge that you share❤

[@Martipenny]

Busy life!!! But God is always in control!!!! We love your channel!!!❤❤❤

[@madisonciowa3920]

I have lived in iowa all my life. When i was a much younger woman i used to garden almost my entire yard and the neighbors back yard. Plus I worked a full time job and the weed problem was a huge issue. I grew everything organically. Finally i figured out i could till, plant and lay the soaker hoses, cover with 3 layers of newspaper, then cover with grass clippings from mowing the lawn, my gardening was soooo much easier. For things like onions i just used the hoses and grass clippings. Every time the lawn was mowed the clippings went on the garden either around the plants or in the walking rows. When the garden was done for the year we tilled everything in. The soil got heathlier, no more tomato blight, less bugs, bigger harvests. As for potatoes... i planted 2 crops. 1 before Easter and another in July. Just a thought. Love your channel ❤️

[@BemidjiGal]

We have a surge milking machine. I'm not sure it's any better than bleach, but we mostly clean it with dawn dish soap. I stopped using dawn for my dishes, and brought it back for my milker. It works so well. We use a double end bristle brush from Hamby and really hot water. We scrub the teet cups and hoses very thoroughly with a bit of soap right on the brush heads. Dawn breaks down the biofilm immediately better than anything we've found. We follow up with concentrated vinegar spray or hydrogen peroxide spray. We leave that set until the next milking time and rinse it off. We find this works best for our milking equipment.

[@RataPerry]

Thank you for the useful tip and explanation of your process.

[@BemidjiGal]

@@RataPerry you are so welcome. Biofilm is really the biggest enemy of r@✓ milk. It's all about bacterial load.

[@sunsetheritage]

@@BemidjiGal I also use Dawn dish soap to clean my Ultimate EZ bucket milker. Then I use hot water with a good slosh of 5% white vinegar for the final rinse. At least for daily cleaning. I take everything apart and clean the hoses with the long skinny brush that comes with it at least once a week. Love my milker because my thumbs and wrists can’t handle hand milking 🥛🧡 Lorie 😊

[@BemidjiGal]

@sunsetheritage our girl is not anatomically suited very well for hand milking. And I agree - the few times we've hand milked, it took its toll on my wrists.

[@jillmcdonald1714]

Good morning Zimmerman Family, I just found out that you will be at the Homestead show in June in Idaho. I got my ticket in October and am so excited to finally get to meet you. I live in Western Washington and I’m so happy to not have to go so far away. Bring that I am older, 64, and a disabled widow, it’s hard yo go very far especially on a limited budget. This will be a dream come true for me. I can’t wait to meet you and listen to what you are going to be speaking about. God Bless you and your family. See ya soon, Jill

[@lisawork1065]

Wood chips usually will not break down quickly and add nitrogen etc like grass, in fact many species of wood actually inhibits plant growth. So you’re doing a great job using grass and compost.

[@DierdreV]

Old Surge bucket milker here, once a week we take it apart and soak in vinegar soapy water, using a long brush for the tubes we got on Amazon. For daily use, just soap, using the sprayer attachment to push hot water through the tubes after drippings a bit of soap down. We've been using this method for almost 15 years and we've had no off milk. I was terribly concerned bleach was the only way to go, but this method has served our family just fine.

[@catladynj]

Wow. Can't wait to read your book.

[@lindamann8520]

Ruthann, THANK YOU SOOO MUCH for ALL your videos. Thank you for being REAL, showing life with all the lumps and wrinkles, and allowing us to come alongside while you wade through the challenges of homesteading, raising a family, and serving God in the process. I watch hours of your videos. Wish I had a neighbor like you. Keep up the good work, don't ever change! You are amazing!

[@jewelweed7427]

Every year when my chickens molt, they stop laying temporarily. This year, they haven't laid eggs since early October. It's not cheap to keep them well fed, so I'm praying they will soon regain their productivity. I know it's not likely this month with the arctic blast about to hit us. As far as potatoes, I plan on succession planting them. When the first crop is finished in July, I'd like to put in a second set to be harvested in the fall.

[@PaulaJoDavis]

I simply love you, your family, your faith and love of the Father and your giggle. Were I younger, I would request a visit to your homestead so I could actually see and experience the joy and laughter that you bring every day. Cooking, cheese making, baking, etc with you would be a joy! Much love, blessings and Shalom from NE Missouri.

[@lauriepustinger2078]

Hi Ruthann. I love to watch your videos. Not sure if others are noticing this, your last few videos I have had to turn the volume up quite a bit to hear you. Haven’t had this in the past. Did you get new equipment?

[@vickihill4777]

Jackie Kennedy said “ if you bungle raising your children then anything else you’ve done doesn’t really matter much. I remembered this when I was raising mine and now again with my grandkids.

[@cathys9468]

Yeah! I cant wait for the book. I just love your channel, family, values, and hard work. You are an inspiration for all.

[@robincarrico2007]

I love that you are not "professional". Stay real it is so refreshing and I look forward to your videos.

[@WillowsGarden]

Hi RuthAnn and sweet family! God Bless and lead you in 2025 with your family and homestead. I’m thrilled that you’re going to launch books this year. Have a very blessed weekend!

[@joanjankowski6845]

Ruthann you are such an inspiration, your goals are not to lofty for you. You achieve everything you put your mind to. I get so much joy watching you. Thank you for sharing.

[@carmalitayanock9584]

If you have some time for reading look up Ruth Stout's gardening book on no work gardening. She was also a contributing writer for Mother Earth magazine. She lived in Connecticut. I used her method of gardening when I lived in East Texas & loved the results. We didn’t have a supply of water to our garden but found all the vegetables did very good, even the watermelon. The deep mulch caught & preserved the moisture to the plants. When a weed came up we pulled it, then covered that spit with more mulch. Love your videos & thank you for sharing what worked & what didn't. I forgot to mention one of my Arkansas neighbors who gardener but passed away years ago. I didn't garden then but he would always tell me how to grow things. He told me once when growing peanuts or potatoes, when the plants gets about 5-6 inches tall to go out & step on it. Whatever is in the ground will produce more & grow bigger.

[@lorenstribling6096]

You have a very busy year ahead of you. I have crocheted since I was about 10 (70 yo now). I have made a lot of Afghans and blankets. For the past few years, I have concentrated on making shawls and lapghans for the nursing home near me. I always deliver them in mid-December so the residents can have something for Christmas. You and your girls will have a lot of fun doing this.

[@jamiej4976]

Good morning on this fine Saturday. What a wonderful way to start the New Year, by already knowing what to do on farm, but a new book on its way and plus a cookbook in your working mind. Plus learning more skills on crocheting. I have loved learning to crochet again with so many things to make its an accomplishments. There is one person i watched on youtube and still do, my problem i just cant keep up. Her channel is Bag O Day. She easy to watch and learn from. For your boys if they want to learn as well theres a young boy named Jonah who taught himself and has turned out to be a wiz at crocheting. Just want to say we can't wait for all new excitement for the new year 2025. Good luck and congratulations.

[@suemagyari212]

Tips to Consider for No till garden: Make a wide row -(I use 30") and then a walkway(I use 18"). They are basically permanent. Use your cardboard with any useful mulch over them in the walkways. Use heavy compost if you have it in the rows around the plants or before you seed in the rows.. Then add a light mulch over the compost in the rows. It makes any weeding pretty simple. And the walkways are always clean, not muddy. I just pull small weeds as I walk through the garden in the mornings. The worst is grass. Very tenacious. Try to keep grass seed out or plan to weed it until it is eradicated.

[@kittyrichards9915]

The Heart of the Homestead. What an awesome title for your book.

[@kathywolski9467]

Ruthann I love how you make goals but leave it open for God's plans, that's so beautiful and the way I try to live. I think many of us watch you because you are real, down to earth, a beautiful soul! Don't ever change or become a "professional"! I think we can all learn what we need from each other. God bless!

[@qkranarchist3015]

My very first knitted item I made was a homemade sweater without a pattern for my future husband. I used his snap-up casual sweatshirt jacket to duplicate panels and sizing. He married me before I attached the sleeves so he has a right nice homemade sweater vest. I cannot even fathom how to knit socks. 😂😂😂😂

[@QuietCottage]

Knitting is my answer to peace and enjoyment. I have been knitting since I was 12 years old. I am now almost 74. I have a treasure trove of yarn & needles. I am so happy you are knitting & crocheting with your girls. I look forward to this summer and also to your book.

[@CarlynBosworth]

I’m excited about your book! You are REAL where so many you tubers are not. Thank you. Oooo a cookbook too!😮. I’m sold!

[@maryannmartell7330]

It is hard for me to grasp everything you do, and you do it successfully. I'm definitely interested in the book and cook book. We used to have a large garden and I canned until I was cross-eyed, and loved it. Good goals for 2025. Homesteading is a journey you have been conquering well. I also appreciate the fact that our Lord and Savior is at the center of everything. Thank you for continuing with your efforts and sharing them with us.

[@annettexxxxx]

Love the new intro

[@dianafigueroa6764]

I so love your goals for 2025. I live in the suburbs, right outside of Philadelphia in PA and have a small garden, from which I get tons of food because I use the square foot gardening method and also plant smaller things in any extra space that is available. My neighbor, who is literally right next door, does not believe in weeding, so….. I believe that if you leave soil bare of plants, weeds will grow there. My understanding is that the no till method is more about not disturbing the soil more than absolutely necessary, for example, only to put the seedling in the ground, so that we don’t interrupt the microbial life/worm tunnels underneath and add a few inches of compost every year to build soft and healthy soil over time, and pulling weeds as they appear of course. What keeps the weed pressure down is the use of mulch over the yearly addition of compost. The mulch, as you know, covers the soil to preserve moisture, but will also smother the weeds in the parts of the soil that doesn’t contain a plant. It’s not 100% foolproof, so you will need to pull weeds as you see them. I put wood chips in between all of my beds every year and even with my neighbors weeds growing all over his side, I rarely have any weeds to pull. I love that that wood chips also keep my walkways nice and dry as that area used to always be so muddy. I think using a combination wood chips and grass clipping would be very helpful for you and no till will be really help build amazing soil. I’m so excited about your book and can’t wait for the cookbook!Im hoping that when I retire I will figure out a way of having laying chickens too. Hoping for an amazing 2025.

[@charlevingston6922]

Praise Jesus...a book! Can't wait !! Blessings to you and your family 🙏❤

[@quackersplatfarm]

Tromboncino stores very long for me, it's a great idea for winter pig feed! A few days ago I canned a tromboncino in light syrup. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm hoping it tastes somewhat like candied yams. My teen daughter is working on a granny square blanket too! Such a wonderful activity for you and your daughters ❤

[@carolynlineberger1929]

Ruthann, you are amazing! It is so easy to see where your heart is directed. God bless you and the Zimmerman family in 2025 and forever! ❤❤️❤️!

[@kiriaioulia]

I love your granny squares! Here's an idea. Just rotate colors each Sunday, that way you can all end up with the blankets from your original idea!!!!

[@thepickincoopfarmstead]

Congratulations on your book. That is such exciting news ❤

[@ElizabethClegg-u6u]

So excited for your book that's coming out. You have taught me so many practical home and family fundamentals and I am 62 years old. Thank God for my grandmother teaching me some things and I've always been one who watches others do things and I have an open heart and willingness to change the way I do things if there is a better way. Teaching is definitely part of your calling from God, both by example and instruction. You have an amazing family and I love the way you tell people that they don't have to do things to the degree that your family does but to just start where you are comfortable and be patient and make transitions slowly and allow the family's taste buds to make the change to the healthier options. It's just my husband and myself at home now and even though we are not at this stage in life to grow a huge garden and raise animals to harvest, we are willing to make healthier choices and buy our eggs and beef from local farmers and try to stay move more and make better choices. I wait until you get your cookbook completed and ready to purchase. I had hoped that was in your future plans because you have so many good recipes to share. Thank you for sharing your life and your family adventures with us.

[@lindaparrish4515]

I am so excited for your recipe book !!! Your crochet is looking good . and knitting also amazes me . I watch your videos and wonder how you get so much done in a day . Then I remember you have wonderful young helpers . God bless you and yours !

[@Thingys-Jill]

The grocery store down the street from me saves all of their produce waste for pig farmers. You might keep that in mind. I'm looking forward to the cookbook! I make things easy with my chickens. I have a feeder they stick their heads in the hole to eat their feed. There's no waste. They have 2 types of waterers. The summer one is a Rubbermaid trash can with a lid that I put cup type water cups. When it's above 90, I put frozen gallons (old milk jugs) of water in the waterer so it stays cold. In the winter I have heated 2.5 gallon waterers that I plug into an electrical cord. I don't keep roosters. You don't need them to get eggs. The hens get leftovers and garden waste other than nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes) or avacados. In the winter I collect fewer eggs but collect them daily so they don't freeze. In the summer I collect them every couple of days. I have 4 Silkies, 3 Polish, 2 Cochin, and an bantam egger. I get 8-10 eggs/day in the summer and 2-4/day in the winter. Eggs don't need to be refrigerated if they aren't washed and you can water glass the abundance of summer to eat from all winter. I do use a pencil and date every egg so that I use the oldest first. Also, put straw on top of everything as mulch rather than woodchips. The woodchips go in the pathways. Plant your potatoes in August and let them overwinter. That's how I got big ones. They were accidentally left in the raised bed! The ones I harvested in the summer were tiny. God Bless!

[@marietketriet6111]

Ruthanne i would not mind at all if you monetize yor videos. It is a bit irritating but for your benefit I will tollerate it. I take my hat off to you, you are such a hard worker. Congratulations on the new book. You are truly a good teacher.

[@paintlovre]

I am so so excited about your books, especially the cookbook! I for one enjoy your channel BECAUSE it’s not professional. It’s your life and I am honored that you’ve allowed us a glimpse into it. Out of all the people I follow, you are my absolute favorite. God bless you and your family!

[@solosaloon1959]

Same for me!

[@sharonselner8871]

You inspire me in all things gardening,cooking and raising children. Thank you and God Bless

[@patz2917]

I’m not sure “ambitious “ is a strong enough word for your goals this year. Overall I am very excited to follow your progress as the weeks go by. Your book launch is so exciting as well. And a cookbook? Yes, please! May all of our goals be blessed in 2025!

[@ArleneKorth]

Those socks are fabulous! Nice job Ruthann!!!!

[@wendyzimmerman6002]

That is so neat how you and your daughters are crocheting granny squares are used to love to crochet, but I could say loose other people crochet tight. I used to love to knit socks on the double-sided needles. It was so much fun one year I knitted socks for everyone.

[@janicew6222]

I'm excited about your book too and also your cookbook. I love to hear you talk. My mother crocheted beautifully, I have so many of her afghans and some were granny squares, also table cloths and doilies. She made my children baby blankets, which they loved and carried for years. Put those squares into a small blanket for Winston. My children are older than you now lol. I sure miss my mother.

[@jeanmahan4767]

I absolutely love your face, excitement,attitude,knowledge, ever about how you love and manage yourself and your family. I tried some of your cheese but not so good 🤷‍♀️. While I’ll be watching your every video I’ll be learning something new and interesting. From Alaska. 💖💖🌹