The Happy Nappy Homestead

The Happy Nappy Homestead 4th Year Gardening � 4th Year Forager � 1st Year Chicken Butt Nugget Tamer �

05/16/2026

I just love the sound of a thunderstorm AND the view of one before it gets dark. I have a lot left to do, but it’s been a productive week for The Happy Nappy Homestead. 😉

04/11/2026

There’s something magical and calming about tending to your chickens. I could just watch them all day, but we are neck deep with the to-do’s for this season. Time to get back to work! 😅

04/10/2026

This is pretty much how it goes. 😂🤣

Our family maintains leaves on the ground throughout the winter season in our yard for the sake of our ecosystem. Did yo...
04/04/2026

Our family maintains leaves on the ground throughout the winter season in our yard for the sake of our ecosystem.

Did you know saving leaves during the winter season carries several benefits? It acts as a natural fertilizer as it decomposes. I like to add it to the bottom of my garden containers to provide nutrients AND save money on soil at the beginning of gardening season. It also protects wildlife by becoming a habitat for several species during the winter months. This includes: butterflies, moths, beetles, spiders, worms, and more! It also allows food for our birds. Waiting to rake all of the leaves in our yard gives our garden beds moisture and nutrients awaiting for spring to plant the next year’s crops!

We get a TON of leaves in our 1/4 acre yard, so we do mulch a time or two prior to leaving the rest of the leaves for the end of the fall/winter. Once the critters have decided it is time to move out of their temporary habitat, my husband mulches the leaves in the spring. This is beneficial as it doesn’t require bagging or taking them to a recycling center. The mulch will provide more nutrients to our soil and is cost efficient.

As for the leaves I’m bagging in the picture below, it is going to be utlizied as compost to create nutrient-dense compost for our garden.

Make sure to this save post for future seasons, if you’re planning to do this for next year! 🍃

03/25/2026

Disclaimer: We made sure every one got to enjoy a blueberry! What was the first treat you fed to your flock? 🐓

03/21/2026

I’m not talking about financially rich. This is the kind of “rich” I mean. I am so blessed.

We have had a dream owning land for over a decade now. Over 4 years ago, I decided to start to learn self-sufficiency th...
03/21/2026

We have had a dream owning land for over a decade now. Over 4 years ago, I decided to start to learn self-sufficiency through gardening and foraging. Fast forward to now and I am learning it is very possible to own/run a backyard mini homestead in good ole rural Missouri.

Something I’ve learned throughout the years is you’ll never be 100% ready to embark on a new journey. It’s great to educate yourself and ask questions, but take a leap of faith. Jump into the scary unknowns. You’ll learn as you go and you might come to discover this: You are more capable than you believed.

Here’s a few pictures over this past week for your viewing pleasure.
🐥🍄🐈🌸👩‍🌾

Val Napier

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Happy Nappy Homestead
Kearney, MO
64060

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