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Homesteading Academy

Rutgers Cooperative Extension introduces the "Homesteading Academy"—a once monthly lunchtime webinar series for anyone curious about home-grown sustenance and self-sufficiency. We invite you to join us on the second Tuesday of each month for live sessions with our invited speakers. The webinars will take place from noon to 1 p.m., so bring your lunch!

The series will be ongoing, with potential future topics of sheep/beef/goats, seed saving and heirloom varieties, troubleshooting for two-cycle engines, fruit and nut crops, cut flowers, food preservation, small-scale grain milling, and more.

Have a topic idea? Need help with Zoom? Send all your questions to Kate Brown, Program Associate in Commercial Agriculture with Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County: kbrown@njaes.rutgers.edu or 609-265-5050.

Missed a session? Webinar recordings will be posted below when they become available.

Upcoming Webinars

  1. April 11: Planting Fruit Trees
    Presenter: Kate Brown (Program Associate in Commercial Agriculture, RCE-Burlington County)
  2. May 9: Rainwater Harvesting for Homesteaders
    Presenter: Dr. Christopher Obropta (NJAES Extension Specialist and Director of the NJ Water Resources Research Institute)
  3. June 13: Native Plants for Every Garden
    Presenter: William Errickson (Agricultural Agent, RCE-Monmouth County)

Webinar Archive

  1. Getting Started with Backyard Poultry (10/12/2021)
    Hank Bignell, Senior Program Coordinator with Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Warren County, discusses the basics of getting started with backyard poultry including housing, care, nutrition, breed selection, and raising chicks.
  2. Fun with Fungi: Grow Your Own Mushrooms! (11/9/2021)
    Brendon Pearsall, Program Coordinator with Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County, shares insight on mushroom production at home including common methods for indoor and outdoor production as well as the types of mushrooms that can be cultivated.
  3. What to Do to Get Started Keeping Bees On Your Property (12/14/2021)
    Tim Schuler describes the basics of preparing to keep honeybees including the ideal location for hives, the resources bees need to stay healthy, and the expectations for upfront costs and honey output. He shares advice on how to keep bees in a residential area and provides many resources for beginning and continuing education essential for successful beekeeping. Tim Schuler is the owner of Schuler’s Bees and Honey and a former State Apiarist with the NJ Department of Agriculture.
  4. Woodland Management for Private Landowners in NJ (1/11/2022)
    Brian McDonald, a regional forester with the New Jersey Forest Service, discusses opportunities for woodland owners to qualify for reduced property taxes through woodland management and forest stewardship plans. Brian also provides an overview of practices that can fulfill the requirements for income generation or ‘active devotion’ such as tree planting and reforestation, hazard tree removal, invasive brush control, wildlife habitat improvement, and more.
  5. Planning Your Backyard Vegetable Garden (2/7/2022)
    Cecilia Diaz, Program Associate with Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Passaic County shares insight on the basics of planning and designing for the installation of your small-scale vegetable garden at home. Including site selection, methods to maximize space, and crop production to make the most of your garden space.
  6. Beginner's Guide to Sheep and Goats (3/8/2022)
    Dr. Michael Westendorf, Rutgers NJAES Extension Specialist in Livestock and Dairy, provides an overview of feed, water, housing, and space requirements for sheep and goats. He discusses the most common breeds for meat, dairy, and fiber production and marketing considerations for each type of enterprise.
  7. Introduction to Solar Photovoltaic Systems: Feasibility and Economics (4/12/2022)
    Solar electric systems are increasingly popular due to dramatic price declines in recent years and robustness of the technology. Solar electric systems can work in tandem with the electric grid or part of an off grid system. Our special guest speaker, John Hay, an Extension Educator in Energy with the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, covers overall solar electric terminology, components and basic design elements.
  8. Preventative Practices to Support the Health of Small-Scale Poultry (6/14/2022)
    Dr. Linda Detwiler from the USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services discusses symptoms of common poultry diseases and explains how to implement biosecurity to keep poultry healthy on all scales of production.
  9. Canning Fruits and Vegetables at Home: An Overview for Beginners (7/12/2022)
    Are you ready to preserve your bounty of summer fruits and vegetables? This session with Sandra Grenci, Family and Community Health Sciences Educator from Rutgers Cooperative Extension, will provide an overview of safe methods for home canners. Evidence-based resources will be shared.
  10. The Mysteries of Pasture Management: Revealed (9/13/2022)
    Bill Bamka, Agricultural Agent with RCE-Burlington County, describes the role of soil testing, soil fertility, stocking density, pasture species, rotational grazing, and weed control in establishing and maintaining pastures.
  11. Fishing for Sustenance (10/18/2022)
    Doug Zemeckis, Marine Extension Agent with Rutgers Cooperative Extension, describes the value of New Jersey recreational fisheries and shares insight on recreational fishing opportunities. Common fish and shellfish species are discussed as well as where and when to fish for these species. Recreational fishing regulations and an introduction to fisheries management for conservation are also featured.
  12. Warm Remembrances of 50 Years Heating with Wood (11/15/2022)
    Jason Grabosky, Rutgers Professor of Urban Forestry, describes the pros and cons of firewood and wood pellets for home heating. He explains how to choose and maintain a wood stove, and how to store and season firewood. Safety aspects of cutting your own wood plus safe installation and operation of wood stoves are also discussed.
  13. The Bread Tree � The Basics of Planting, Growing, and Processing Chestnuts (12/13/2022)
    This talk covers some information about the current market for domestically grown chestnuts and establishes some basic knowledge for growing chestnut trees. The basics of planting and growing chestnuts, along with recommendations on how to get information for other nut trees and join the growing community of nut growers in the eastern US are also discussed.