Waddle and Cluck

05/04/2025

I’ll admit, I was skeptical about the idea of a cardboard cooler. When I first saw the BRRR Box, I thought: There’s no way this thing can hold up to real-world use. But I decided to try it anyway—and I’m glad I did. Thank you to BRRR Box for sending us a sample to test.

Before we even left for the lake, I opened up the BRRR Box at home, filled it with ice, and packed it with glass bottles of root beer (because what’s a lake day without a good drink?). It was quick and easy to assemble—no tape, no weird flaps, no confusion. The design is intuitive and it locks into place without fuss. Once it was packed, I carried it out with one hand and loaded it into the back of the car alongside our chairs and gear.

We were out fishing for several hours in sunny weather with temps in the high 70s to low 80s, and the BRRR Box held up beautifully. The ice kept everything cold the entire time. No leaks, no soggy corners, and no mess.

I’ll admit, I was skeptical about the idea of a cardboard cooler. When I first saw the BRRR Box, I thought: There’s no way this thing can hold up to

05/03/2025

💧 Cold drinks. ☀️ Warm day. ♻️ No styrofoam.
Took the BRRR Box to the lake and was seriously impressed. It held ice for hours, didn’t leak, and folded right back up to use again. Lightweight, easy to carry, and 100% recyclable. Cooler with a conscience? Yes, please.

I’ll admit, I was skeptical about the idea of a cardboard cooler. When I first saw the BRRR Box, I thought: There’s no way this thing can hold up to

05/03/2025

This year, we decided to try something a little different on our homestead: growing food without soil.

Hydroponics has always sounded a little high-tech to me—more lab coat than flannel shirt—but the more I learned, the more it seemed like a practical solution for a few of our challenges: unpredictable soil, too much rain, and not enough space to start everything in the ground. So, we set up a DIY Kratky system in the shop using plastic tubs, a little elbow grease, and a lot of curiosity.

Spoiler alert: we’ve already eaten a strawberry. And a whole bunch of lettuce.Also: we’ve cracked a few tubs, lost a couple plants, and discovered that our drill has opinions about plastic.

But overall? It’s working. Here’s a look at what’s gone well, what hasn’t, and what we’re learning as we go.

🌿 What We’re Growing (And What’s Actually Growing)

We went into this with a mix of practical goals and wild hope.

Trying hydroponics for the first time? Here’s what’s working, what flopped, and what we’ve learned using a DIY Kratky setup on our homestead.

05/02/2025

There’s a special kind of chaos that happens when you decide to start a raised bed garden.You imagine fresh veggies, homegrown tomatoes, maybe even a rustic woven basket brimming with your harvest. You don't imagine standing in the garden center aisle, trying to figure out if you need "loamy soil" or "organic garden mix," or accidentally building a bed where nothing gets enough sun.

Ask me how I know.

If you're thinking about planting your first raised bed garden, you’re in the right place. You don’t need to overthink it. You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need a little guidance (and a reminder that it’s okay to mess up your first year).

Here’s how to get started without losing your mind—or your paycheck.

Step One: Start Small and Smart

Our very first raised bed was 10x15 feet—decently sized, but in hindsight, still a little ambitious for beginners who didn’t know what we didn’t know.

Learn how to plan your first raised bed garden with simple, beginner-friendly tips that skip the overwhelm and focus on what actually works.

05/01/2025

We decided to try hydroponics this year—DIY Kratky style with plastic tubs, some lettuce, and a whole lot of learning.

So far:
✅ One perfect strawberry
✅ Lettuce for days
❌ Cracked tubs
❌ A greenhouse project that's now a very expensive tarp in the rain

In this post, I’m sharing what’s working, what’s absolutely not, and what I’d do differently if you’re thinking about going soil-free.

🌱 Read the full check-in:

Trying hydroponics for the first time? Here’s what’s working, what flopped, and what we’ve learned using a DIY Kratky setup on our homestead.

04/29/2025

Planning your first raised bed garden? Don’t overthink it.
Our first bed was too shady, too expensive to fill, and way too ambitious. We learned the hard way so you don’t have to.
Here’s how to get started with a simple plan that works—and what I’d tell anyone planting their first seed.
🌱 Read the full guide:

Learn how to plan your first raised bed garden with simple, beginner-friendly tips that skip the overwhelm and focus on what actually works.

04/28/2025

Thinking about getting chickens this year? Check out our interview with Homes & Gardens Magazine for common mistakes to avoid.

Avoid these pitfalls to keep your birds safe, secure and happily laying delicious eggs

04/25/2025

We’re rebuilding with new fencing and new guardians—meet Honey and Rome. They’re just puppies now, but they’re part of our long game to protect what we’re growing. https://waddleandcluck.com/backyard-chicken-basics-what-i-wish-i-knew-before-getting-hens/

04/22/2025

I didn’t expect to cry over chickens. But after a coyote wiped out 16 of ours in one snowy morning, I did.
This post is for every beginner chicken keeper. It’s part love letter, part cautionary tale, and 100% honest.
If you’re thinking about chickens, or already knee-deep in coop life, here’s what I wish I’d known.
https://waddleandcluck.com/backyard-chicken-basics-what-i-wish-i-knew-before-getting-hens/

04/21/2025

Next to birds, salamanders are my favorite group of animals. There’s something quietly magical about them—the way they move, the mystery of their lives underground or underwater, and the sheer variety of species out there if you know where to look. When I was in grad school at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, I was surrounded by salamanders. It was a dream for a nature lover. The diversity was incredible—spotted salamanders, marbled salamanders, red-backed, slimy, you name it. Every damp log or forest trail had the potential to reveal something unexpected.

Unfortunately, north Tulsa County is not so generous. When it comes to salamanders, it’s something of a desert. A field guide to Oklahoma backs this up—listing the small-mouthed salamander as the only species in the area. And while I’ve seen a couple, I’d hardly call that a bounty. Still, even the smallest sighting is exciting. One showed up in our garden a while back, and a neighbor has spotted one on their land too.

Explore the enchanting world of salamanders and their hidden lives among garden habitats.