Make Homemade Ice Cream With Ingredients From Your GardenUse carrots, beets, cucumbers, and more

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A Message from Tractor Supply

What’s New on TractorSupply.com

Welcoming summer at home with garden-fresh cooking projects, animal care, and more

Discover more great stories and ideas for life out here on our website

Creative Ways to Keep Your Horse Active at HomeBuild obstacles out of leftover materials and participate in virtual horse events

Recipes: Grilled VegetablesRomaine salad, summer squash, and mushrooms

6 Tips to Help Chickens Beat the Summer HeatRaise more heat-resistant chickens and keep your flock healthy on hot days

Send us your family’s favorite appetizer recipes

for a chance to win a Tractor Supply Gift Card

Welcoming summer at home with garden-fresh cooking projects, animal care, and more

As spring gives way to summer, we are committed to providing you helpful advice and inspiration for making the most of the change in seasons. In this issue, we’re celebrating the many ways cooking with homegrown produce and raising animals bring joy, purpose, and delicious foods to our lives every day.

If you’ve planted or have plans to plant a vegetable garden, discover a delicious and creative way to use your bounty this summer: in ice cream. Learn how to make an easy ice cream base from scratch and flavor it with vegetables—yes, vegetables—grown in your garden.

Speaking of tasty summer food, in this issue, you’ll also find recipes for grilled veggies to serve as flavorful side dishes for your next outdoor meal.

With plenty of hot, sunny days ahead of us, it’s important to take measures to protect our animals from the potential dangers of high temperatures and direct sunlight. Read advice from experts on how to help chickens stay cool and comfortable.

With the COVID-19 outbreak causing widespread event cancelations this summer, horse owners may be looking for creative, fun ways to keep their equine active and competition ready. Read our tips for building safe obstacles out of repurposed materials and participating in virtual horse events.

After you’ve had a chance to read through the issue, let us know what you think. We love hearing from our readers.

Sincerely,

Your Neighbors at Tractor Supply

OutHere@TractorSupply.com

A Message from Tractor Supply

More to Uncover on TractorSupply.com

From plant identification to augmented reality that can show how flowers, grass, and other landscaping elements will look on your property, mobile apps can help you take better care of your land. Consider these five apps for gardening, farming, and yard care.

Whether livestock and poultry provide your family a source of income or companionship that makes your homestead feel complete, it’s fun to think about the many ways in which they’re so unique. Here’s a list of 20 unusual and fascinating facts about farm animals.

5 Mobile Apps for Farming, Gardening, and Yard Work

20 Interesting Facts About Farm Animals

READ NOW

READ NOW

Discover more great stories and ideas for life out here on our website

What’s New on TractorSupply.com

Every month, Out Here gets delivered to your inbox, packed with fresh ideas, expert advice, and unique stories of rural living. But did you know you can also read articles and watch videos on our website?

Visit TractorSupply.com/tsc/cms/life-out-here to discover even more tips, ideas, and inspiration for raising animals, caring for your pets, growing your garden, managing your land, and more!

With their large eyes, stealthy behavior, and unique hooting noises, owls are intriguing and fascinating. While fun to spot in the wild, owls can also be helpful tenants on large parcels of land, helping manage rodent and insect infestations for home gardens and farms.

Fostering is a great way to offer a safe haven to animals. Before you take in a foster, understand the commitment requirements, including time, schedule flexibility, potential financial contributions, temperament compatibility, and more.

Birding Tips: Spotting Owls and Attracting Them to Your Property

8 Things to Know Before Fostering a Shelter Pet

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Scott Keyes has tried countless horseback activities. He’s trail ridden, entered gymkhanas—day-long events with timed races and other horseback games—and participated in ranch horse competitions. He’s also roped, team penned, and sorted cattle near his Greenwich, New York home. To take part in many of these activities, most people typically have to wait for an event to be hosted, and they have to pay entry fees. Instead, Scott creates challenges on his own property, often reusing items from around his barn.

Safety, for both horse and rider, and patience are priorities for these at-home equine activities. The goal with all of them is to encourage the horse’s confidence, not to scare them. With this in mind and with a little creativity, there are endless options for making obstacles that develop your horsemanship skills and deepen your bond with your horse.

“The cool thing about obstacles is that

you don’t need a lot of stuff to

practice,” �cott says. “You can set up

your course or practice obstacles in

your backyard. It’s helped me develop

solid, all-around horses and gives my

horses an e�tra spring in their step.”

By Katie Navarra Photos by Mark Samu

Reuse barn items to make an equine obstacle course and demonstrate your new skills at home with virtual horseshows

Creative Ways to �eep �our

Horse �ctive at Home

Certified Horsemanship Association Instructor Schellie Blochberger’s barn sits on wooded land in Russellville, Missouri. She uses her natural surroundings for obstacles.

“When my husband cuts down a tree, it makes a good log to cross over,” she says. “Smaller trees make good ground poles.”

Worn-out or unused items can easily be repurposed, too.

/ USE WHAT YOU HAVE: REPURPOSE FARM SUPPLIES TO MAKE OBSTACLES /

Scott wanted to conquer water obstacles with his horse, but he doesn’t have a stream on his property and didn’t want to spend money building a water crossing. He turned to Facebook and posted from his profile that he was in search of a used cattle foot bath. A friend who works for an animal nutrition company saw the post, shared it, and a nearby farmer reached out to him letting him know he had one available.

“The grids on the bottom are great for dairy cow traction, but I think they are dangerous for horses, so I put a piece of a rubber stall mat in the bottom,” Scott says.

Used plastic barrels, which are easy to find on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, can be used for more than running a barrel pattern. Scott has used them as jumps, sidepasses, and as roping dummies. “If you have a few, you can set them up as a back-through obstacle too,” he says.

Scott recommends also checking with local dairies to find barrels. “Dairies use a lot of 55-gallon drums. My family [member] who runs a dairy says that they are required to dispose of them.”

/ DON’T HAVE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT? TAP YOUR ONLINE COMMUNITY TO AFFORDABLY SOURCE IT /

Place an old tarp on the ground and ask the horse to walk over it. The same tarp can be used to create a drag by tying baling twine or rope to one corner.

“We had an old tarp that was somewhat shredded, so we cut slits in it and hung it between two trees,” Schellie says. “It makes a ‘Cowboy Curtain’ that horses have to pass through.”

Cut off the sidewalls so the tires lay safely flat. You can add them to an obstacle course and ask your horse to walk through them. “Leading the horse through is a good way to start for horses that have never done something like this before. It can be a good refresher too,” Schellie says.

You can then up the challenge by guiding a specific foot into a particular tire, rather than letting the horse choose their step.

Tarps:

Worn tires:

Tarps:

After you and your horse have trained up, put your skills on display. Obstacle course competitions are popular. Like many events this year, the COVID-19 pandemic has limited in-person gatherings. Virtual horseshows aren’t new, but they are more widespread this year as people look for ways to stay active and bond with their horses at home.

/ PARTICIPATE IN VIRTUAL HORSING EVENTS /Tarps:

Quality video is paramount so the judge can clearly and easily see your performance. You can either prop up your smartphone on a stand or enlist the help of a family member to film so they can pan and zoom in. Filming horizontally works best.

“If you mess up, you can start the video over,” says Jessica Hein, a rider

from Justin, Texas. “I film my patterns two to three times and choose

the one I feel is best for submission.”

Over the last six years, Jessica has competed and won awards in virtual horseshows through North American Western Dressage in a variety of classes, including groundwork, ranch, trail, and dressage.

Filming:

Are you finding creative ways to keep your horses active this summer? We want to hear about them! Send us an email at OutHere@TractorSupply.com for a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue.

Katie Navarra is an award-winning writer who has covered horses, farming, and other topics for magazines, newspapers, and other publications for nearly 20 years.

About the Writer

If you want to learn more about virtual equine competitions, check out these helpful resources for event information:

• American Paint Horse Association E-Shows

• North American Western Dressage

• Online Horse Showing

• Ranch Riding Online

• Virtual Horse Show

“Showing at home means low stress,” Jessica says. “If you’re not feeling like a team on a particular day, no worries, try it again later. It’s a great way to test your partnership and improve your skills.”

Take Your T�e:

By Scott Bish

As the weather warms up, making ice cream is a creative and fun way to satisfy cravings for refreshing sweet treats. Whether you’ve made homemade ice cream before or are ready to try it for the first time, consider adding ingredients from your garden to make the most of your homegrown bounty and explore uncommon flavors. That’s right: You can make ice cream with carrots, beets, sweet potato, and more. Then pair these creative creations with garnishes picked fresh from your garden.

Use homegrown vegetables and herbs for unique, delicious ice cream creations

Make Homemade Ice Cream with Ingredients from Your Garden

No-Churn Blender Ice Cream

This easy recipe creates a simple, creamy ice cream base for you to build off of with ingredients from your garden. There’s no need for an ice cream maker; all you need is a blender or food processor.

/ GET STARTED WITH A NO-CHURN ICE CREAM RECIPE BASE /

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

Vegetable of choice (see suggestions below)

2/3 cup heavy cream

Yields: 4 servings

1/2 cup granulated sugar

Garnish of choice (see suggestions below)

Prep and cool vegetable according to individual directions below.

Blend vegetable on low until pureed, about 1 or 2 minutes.

With the blender still running on low, slowly pour the heavy cream over the puree. Add sugar and keep blending until the mixture turns soft and creamy, about 45 seconds.

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2.

3.

Pour the mixture from the blender into a freezer-safe bowl, and freeze for at least 8 hours or overnight. When ready to serve, scoop the ice cream into bowls, and garnish with the suggestions below.

4.

Veggie Prep and Ice Cream Garnish Ideas

Avocados—technically a fruit—impart a rich, buttery texture and a mellow flavor to ice cream. If you have avocado trees on your land, this is a unique recipe for the creamy fruit.

Slice 2 medium ripe avocados lengthwise, remove the pits, and scoop out the insides. Toss into the blender or food processor with the rest of the ice cream ingredients.

Garnish: Top your avocado ice cream with freshly picked basil, either chiffonade or sliced, which will lighten up the creaminess of the avocado.

Avocado Ice Cream

DIRECTIONS:

1

Carrots from your garden will bring sweetness and a vibrant orange color to your frozen dessert.

Peel 4 large carrots and place them in a small pot. Add enough water so that the carrots are completely submerged, then bring the water to a boil over high heat. Cook carrots until they’re soft, about 9 minutes. Carefully drain the carrots, and let them cool completely. Mash them, then blend them into your ice cream.

Garnish: Just as thyme and carrots are a classic duo in savory dishes, a sprinkle of the herb works great on top of carrot ice cream.

Carrot Ice Cream

DIRECTIONS:

2

Beets will add a complex, earthy flavor and a rich hue to the ice cream.

Preheat your oven to 450 F. Wrap 2 large (about 1/2 pound) beets in foil, place them on a baking sheet, and cook until tender, about 45 minutes. Carefully remove the beets from the oven and let them cool completely. Mash the beets before blending.

Garnish: Edible pansies have a slightly grassy flavor and can add a pop of purple, yellow, or white color to your dessert. Or, top your ice cream with classic chocolate chips.

Beet Ice Cream

DIRECTIONS:

3

Cucumbers will make your frosty creation light and refreshing.

Peel one medium cucumber. Slice in half lengthwise, then scoop out and discard the seeds. Cut the cucumber flesh into 1/2-inch slices and pat dry with a paper towel to remove water.

Garnish: Mint pairs very well with cucumber, so top your ice cream with a few fresh leaves.

Cucumber Ice Cream

DIRECTIONS:

4

Peas have a sweet flavor profile and will turn your ice cream a rich green shade.

Place 3 cups of shelled peas in a medium pot, cover them with water, and add a pinch of sugar. Place the pot over medium heat, bring to a boil, and cook for 3 minutes, until the peas are tender. Drain the peas and let them cool completely before blending. For a smoother texture and lighter taste, add one pitted, peeled avocado to the ice cream ingredients.

Garnish: Top your ice cream with pea flowers (not sweet pea flowers, which are toxic). The delicate, woody flavor and white flowers will be a nice complement the green color of the ice cream.

Green Pea Ice Cream

DIRECTIONS:

5

These starchy tubers become ultra-creamy when blended.

Sweet Potato Ice Cream

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat your oven to 425 F. Clean 2 medium sweet potatoes. Prick small holes into the potatoes all over with a fork, then place them on a baking sheet lined with foil, and bake until tender, about 45 minutes. Let the potatoes cool completely, peel them, and then mash them before blending.

Garnish: For a little heat that will pair nicely with your ice cream’s sweetness, top it with dried, finely chopped chili peppers.

TIP: To sun-dry freshly picked peppers, lay them on a metal baking sheet and place them in an outdoor, sunny location for 2 weeks.

Want to grow ice cream-ready veggies and herbs? Next time you visit your local Tractor Supply, a friendly team member would be happy to recommend all the tools and supplies you’ll need.

Scott Bish is a writer who hails from Ohio.About the Writer

6

“A chicken’s core temperature is naturally high, making it especially susceptible to heat stress,” says Gail Damerow, author of “Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens” and “The Chicken Health Handbook.”

Chickens do not sweat. To cool off, they pant, vibrate their throat muscles, and hold their wings away from their bodies to increase airflow. While these natural responses help, they may not be enough during heat waves. Without enough relief from the heat, chickens can succumb to heat stroke.

When temperatures rise, chickens can struggle to keep cool.

By Jodi Helmer

Follow these six tips to raise more heat-resistant chickens and help your flock stay healthy during hot spells.

Raise more heat-resistant chickens and keep your flock healthy on hot days

6 Tips to Help Chickens Beat the Summer Heat

1. If you live in an area with long, hot summers, choose breeds that are suited for the climate. Gail suggests breeds such as Ancona, Andalusian, buttercup, Catalana, and Leghorn, which originated in hot climates and have light feathers and large combs and wattles that help them stay cool.

“In hot weather, blood circulation through large combs and wattles increases to help dissipate body heat,” Gail says. “Since feathers trap heat close to the body, another warm-climate adaptation is sparse body feathering and no feathers on the legs and feet.”

Breeds such as Rhode Island Red, Brahma, and Barred Rocks are less heat tolerant.

Choose Heat-Tolerant Breeds

2.

Make sure your coop and run are located in a shady spot or consider adding protective shade elements.

In an open pasture with few shady spots, consider hanging tarps or shade cloth to provide much-needed respite from the heat, suggests Dr. Jon Moyle, extension poultry specialist at the University of Maryland.

“Chickens don’t like to be out in the hot sun,” Jon says. “If you turn them loose in the yard, they’ll look for the shaded spots to stay cool.”

Prioritize Shade

3. Providing your flock constant access to fresh water is important all year long, but it’s critical in the summer. Since water heats up in the sun, Jon suggests keeping waterers in a shaded spot and refilling them with cold water several times a day. Adding ice cubes will keep water cool temporarily. If you use a hose to refill waterers, “remember to run the hose long enough to get the hot water out,” Jon adds. “Chickens will drink more if the water is cool.”

You may also want to add electrolytes to drinking water to replenish the ones chickens are losing in the heat.

However, “do not spike drinking water with vinegar during hot weather,” Gail cautions. “One of the effects of acidified water is to reduce the availability of calcium, which in turn causes hens to lay fewer eggs and with thin shells.”

Watch the Water

4.

Airflow helps chickens stay cool. Open the windows to get a breeze moving through the coop and make sure you have hardware cloths securely attached to each pane to keep predators out.

As temperatures heat up, chickens may need extra help cooling down.

You can also try to get creative with a homemade misting mechanism. “In commercial poultry houses, we have sprinklers for really hot days and we’ll sprinkle the chickens with water,” Jon says. “We also have fans and the air movement causes evaporative cooling.”

You can lightly mist adult birds to help cool them down, but never mist chicks; they could catch a chill and die.

“If you have electricity [in your coop], the easiest thing you can do is install a fan,” Jon says. “Air movement is going to cool them more than anything else.”

Encourage Air Circulation in the Coop

5. Digestion increases body temperature. To keep your chickens from overheating, feed them in the mornings and evenings when temperatures are cooler. Consider adding cold or frozen foods, such as pineapple, watermelon, and strawberries, to their diets; these fruits contain a lot of water, which can help keep chickens hydrated.

However, frozen treats—even fruits and veggies—should not take the place of a commercial chicken feed that contains the right balance of nutrients. Jon suggests limiting treats to no more than 10% of a chicken’s diet.

Another important factor to keep in mind is that feed goes stale faster in hot weather, according to Gail. She suggests keeping rations fresh by buying smaller amounts of feed more often and storing it in a cool place.

Change Your Flock’s Feeding Schedule

Are you looking for tools, equipment, and supplies to help keep your chickens healthy this summer and beyond? Next time you stop by your local Tractor Supply, a friendly team member would be happy to help you choose everything you need.

6.

Jodi Helmer writes about food, farming, and the environment from her homestead in rural North Carolina.

About the Writer

A small wading pool can give chickens a spot to stand, cooling their bodies through their feet. Clean it often so chickens are not drinking fouled water, Gail advises.

Another way to help chickens get relief is to place frozen bottles of water covered in an old towel in the coop. This will give the birds a cool place to perch during a heat wave.

You may not be able to control soaring temperature in the summer, but you can use smart strategies to keep your chickens cool when hot weather hits.

Add Cooling Features to Your Run and Coop

It’s time to fire up the grill. While you may have your usual meat favorites, like grilled chicken, burgers, and steaks, don’t forget about veggies for impressive side dishes.

The recipes featured here can be fully prepared on the grill, making your meal simple to put together and easy to clean up.

For a smoky starter salad, try Marlene’s grilled romaine salad drizzled with homemade green goddess dressing. If you’re looking for a side dish with beautiful char marks and delicious taste, make Craig’s squash recipe. And Steven’s grilled mushrooms are a great option to pair with red meat.

Romaine salad, summer squash, and mushrooms

Grilled VegetablesRECIPES:

Grilled Romaine Salad Grilled Summer Squash Grilled Mushrooms

“You will be surprised how yummy this is,” writes Marlene.

INGREDIENTS:

Yield: 4 to 5 servingsTime: 20 Minutes Prep 2 to 3 Minutes Cook

Level: Intermediate

1 cup plain Greek yogurt 1 large clove garlic Juice from 1 lemon 3 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped 2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves 1 teaspoon dried tarragon 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1 head romaine lettuce, washed and dried 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt and pepper, to taste 4 ounces cherry tomatoes, cut in half 3 ounces feta cheese, crumbled ¼ large red onion, sliced ½ red or yellow bell pepper, sliced

GREEN GODDESS DRESSING

SALAD

Grilled Romaine SaladBy Marlene from South Boston, Virginia

Heat grill to high heat.

While the grill is heating, make the green goddess dressing: In a food processor or blender, combine all the ingredients. Pulse until the mixture is smooth. Set aside.

Cut the romaine lettuce head in half, lengthwise. Be sure to keep the root intact.

DIRECTIONS:

1.

2.

3.

Brush olive oil over the cut sides of the lettuce head, then sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.4.

Place the lettuce halves cut side down on the grates. Grill until slightly charred, about 2 to 3 minutes.

5.

Remove the lettuce halves from the grill and place grilled side up on a serving dish. Top the lettuce with cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, onion, and bell pepper. Drizzle prepared dressing over the top and serve.

6.

You can also cook this recipe on the stovetop. Simply cut the squash into half moons instead to saute.

Heat grill to high heat. Coat grates with olive oil to prevent sticking.

Remove squash from the grill and garnish with chopped parsley and lemon juice.

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

1.

2.

3.

4.

In a large bowl, gently toss butter, olive oil, garlic, and squash slices.

Yield: 2 to 3 servingsLevel: Beginner Time: 15 Minutes Prep 5 Minutes Cook

Using tongs, place squash slices on the grill and cook 4 to 5 minutes per side.

2 tablespoon salted butter, melted

2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for greasing

2 clove garlic, minced

2 yellow summer squashes, sliced ¼-inch thick longwise

2 zucchini squashes, sliced ¼-inch thick longwise

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Juice from ½ a lemon

Grilled Summer SquashBy Craig Diehl from Marietta, South Carolina

This recipe can be adapted to cook the mushrooms over a campfire, Steven writes.

Add mushrooms and toss gently until they’re fully coated.

Using tongs, place the mushrooms in the cast iron skillet or on top of the foil.

Yield: 4 to 5 servings

DIRECTIONS:

Heat grill to medium-high heat. Place a cast iron skillet directly on the grill or cover a portion of the grill with aluminum foil.

In a large bowl, mix butter, Parmesan cheese, onion powder, oregano, basil, marjoram leaves, salt, parsley, and garlic.

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2.

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Level: Beginner Time: 10 Minutes Prep 10 Minutes Cook

Grill mushrooms until cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes.5.

½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

½ teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon dried oregano

½ teaspoon dried basil

¼ teaspoon marjoram leaves

1/8 teaspoon salt

16 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced

INGREDIENTS:

Grilled MushroomsBy Steven G. from Winnsboro, Texas

Send us your family’s favorite appetizers for a chance to win a Tractor Supply Gift Card!

As we plan ahead for future issues of Out Here, we’re looking for crowd-pleasing, tried-and-true appetizers that you and your family love.

Small bites ranging from deviled eggs and pigs in a blanket to hushpuppies and meatballs can be just as fun to make as they are to eat. Do you have a family-favorite appetizer recipe? We want to see it!

If we feature your recipe in Out Here, we’ll send you a $50 Tractor Supply Gift Card.

Prefer Traditional Mail?Please include your name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address in your submission.

By submitting your recipe, you are granting Tractor Supply Co. permission to reproduce it for editorial, promotional, or marketing purposes.

Out Here Magazine: Recipes c/o The Motion Agency 325 N. LaSalle Dr., Suite 550 Chicago, IL 60654

You can mail it to:

If we publish it, you’ll get a $50 Tractor Supply Gift Card!