United Co-op Tips & Tricks

As the holiday season comes to an end this week and the decorations come down, many of us are left wondering what to do with our once-beautiful Christmas tree. Rather than tossing it in the fire pit or sending it off to a landfill, why not explore some creative, eco-friendly ways to give your tree a second life?

As temperatures drop, it’s essential to create a warm, safe environment for your chickens. While chickens are hardy animals, prolonged exposure to temperatures below 25°F can be harmful. By insulating your chicken coop effectively, you can retain heat, block cold drafts, and ensure your flock stays comfortable throughout the winter.

Winter weather brings with it management challenges for horse owners. Here are some tips to help make wintertime horse care a bit easier.

Any seasoned farmer will tell you that the occasional down year is to be expected, even anticipated, although it’s no fun while it’s happening.

Unfortunately, the 2024 growing season for row-croppers in many parts of Tennessee was a case-study of this fact.

The holidays are here, and your local Co-op has everything you need to check off your Christmas shopping list. From practical gifts to fun surprises, we’ve got something for every member of the family — pets included! While our selection varies by location, you’re sure to find thoughtful and unique gifts for everyone on your list. 

The holiday season is the perfect time to bring a touch of rustic charm to your home, and there’s no better way to achieve that cozy farmhouse look than by creating DIY decorations with items you may already have around the barn or on the farm. This year, save a little and create a lot with these simple, festive DIY decor ideas, each one sure to bring Christmas cheer into your home.

As we settle into late fall in Tennessee, it’s a great time to start thinking about preparing your soil for spring. Winter soil maintenance helps keep your garden or fields healthy, nutrient-rich, and ready for planting come spring. Even though plants are dormant, your soil can still benefit from a little care over the colder months. In this blog, we’ll cover a few key practices — cover cropping, composting, soil testing, and mulching — to ensure your soil is in top shape for the next growing season.

A chainsaw is essential for tackling tough jobs like felling trees or clearing fallen limbs. However, when your chainsaw starts to feel sluggish and struggles to cut, it’s often a sign that the chain needs sharpening. Regular sharpening can save you time, money, and energy – plus, it’s a task you can easily handle yourself with a few basic tools.

Over a year on the farm, the planting, growing, and harvest seasons are usually the stars of the show and command most of the attention of any casual observer. Less flashy but equally important, though, is the planning and maintenance season — the winter period between harvest and planting. It’s often the decisions and prep work that happens over winter that makes the road to spring that much smoother and a successful crop season more likely.

For many horse owners, fall is a favorite season. Lower temperatures and fewer biting insects make it a perfect time to enjoy our horses and the outdoors. Fall is also the time to ensure that you have stocked up on the right quality and quantity of hay to feed your horses confidently through the winter months.

Wondering what to do with your pumpkins after the Halloween fun is over? Don’t toss them in the trash! Instead, find ways to recycle and repurpose your pumpkins — even if they’re starting to look a little wilted.