Homesteading

There’s no better feeling than bringing in a bumper harvest from the garden, but when you find yourself with an overabundance, it can be hard to know how to deal …

It’s that time of year where summer gardens are producing hot peppers in enormous quantities! The thing about hot peppers though, is you can only eat so many before they …

The hardest work of the gardening season is over, and you’re bringing in your potato harvest. Or maybe you’ve visited your local farmers’ market and got a little carried away …

You’re probably asking yourself, “What in the world is switchel anyway?” It’s only the best drink option to beat the crazy summer heat!  If you’ve ever read the Little House …

Backyard chicken keeping is all the rage these days. If you’re thinking about raising a flock of chickens, you’ll need all the facts, and there are plenty of things no …

Every summer zucchinis take control of the garden, some growing large enough to give more then 15 cups of grated green pulp per fruit! Even though zucchini is commonly treated …

Around your apple trees, you will find a range of apples that fall onto the ground. But even when they have fallen from the tree, there are still a number …

Making natural pectin from unripe windfall apples is a great way to avoid waste. Have you ever thought it a shame that all those unripe apples fall from your trees …

The thyme is taking over the herb garden. There comes the point in every summer where my thyme plants reach critical mass. They become a conquering force encroaching on bordering …

A nutritious and healthy source of fat is vital food and energy for everyone. And it is extremely important for all self-reliant homesteaders who raise and butcher animals to acquire …

For many of us, the first time we heard of a shrub outside of the garden center was on a cocktail menu. For me specifically, it was a drink at …

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. When tomatoes are ripe and in season – make salsa! You already know that tomatoes are good for you – they are one …

A 5 gallon bucket is an incredibly useful thing to have around your garden, home or homestead. There are hundreds of different ways to make use of one. So, whether …

Chickens are simple creatures, but they still have basic needs, and a dust bath is one of them!  Why do chickens need a dust bath? All chickens get clean by …

I don’t know about you, but I love the crispy snap of a good pickle. Be it cucumber, green bean, or carrot, you just can’t beat that satisfying vinegary crunch. …

Drying fresh herbs at home has many benefits, and it’s so easy there’s really no reason not to! Drying your own herbs is certainly more cost effective than buying them …

If you’ve ever tried to hard cook then peel farm fresh eggs, you know how difficult and frustrating it can be. The egg white sticks stubbornly to the shell and …

When you grow your own produce, it’s sometimes difficult to determine how much to plan for. There are dozens of factors that can affect production, and you might find yourself …

When apricots are deliciously ripe and in season, there are three ways to take care of the overabundance quickly: 1. Eat them fresh. 2. Dehydrate them. 3. Make apricot jam …

If you’re looking to explore the wild side of baking, there’s no better style to master than sourdough. This fizzy, fermented bread has a tang like no other, and you’ll …

When life hands you too much of a good thing, the sweetest sun-ripened strawberries or a bounty of heirloom tomatoes for instance, there is no way that you are going …

When your primary heating source is wood, you find yourself cleaning out the wood stove quite a bit during those colder months of the year. Before long you’re dumping out …

Growing up with a nature-focused grandmother meant I could have the entire garden in her pantry and the whole forest in her apothecary, from spruce tips salve to Jimsonweed tinctures. …

An eggshell is more than just a useful container for the nutritious yolk and egg white inside: it is a prime example of nature’s perfect packaging. Eggshells are beneficial for …