The ‘Roaring Twenties’ is what they called that prosperous everyone-has-a-fur-coat period that is the 1920s. Everyone was spending, and there were continuous advances in electricity, technology, automobiles, and the arts. But what goes up must come down. The U.S. was in for a rough ride the following decade when the country experienced the worst … [Read more...]
Composting 101: Read This Before You Start
Composting is like a kid’s science project – it’s really not that complicated once you read the directions and understand the steps involved. You don’t have to be a genius to get it done and you don’t need acres of property to compost your food waste. Below you'll find everything you need to know to create your first ever compost pile without … [Read more...]
6 Things You Can Scavenge from Old Lawnmowers
After a couple years of repairs and replacements, you’ve just got to accept that your lawnmower is not immortal. Even this grass eating machine has an expiration date. But don’t haul that bad boy off to the dump just yet. Instead of adding another hunk of metal to your local landfill, consider disassembling your lawnmower and repurposing its … [Read more...]
15 Self-Sufficiency Skills to Teach Your Children
Our parents had it easy. They totally trusted the school system’s ability to take snotty nosed kids and turn them into fully functioning members of society. But look at us now, mom! We’re still confused when it comes to filing our taxes, we had to learn the hard way about balancing a budget, and we have only just begun to learn survival skills for … [Read more...]
Off Grid Living: 15 Toilet Paper Alternatives
We can all agree that one of the worst feelings in the world is when you have to do a number two, and there’s no toilet paper. A special kind of panic sets in, and now you’re doing a weird little dance as you scurry around the house to try and find something to wipe with. It’s a race against time; your body can only hold it in for so long while … [Read more...]
18 All-Natural Ways to Eliminate Ants
We all want to make our homes nice and cozy for our guests… except if those guests are ants. Sugar ants, black ants, fire ants--there are 1,000 species of ants in North America, any of which might be getting ready to make your house their new home. First, you’ll see one of them crawling around your windowsill and the next day… a whole team of … [Read more...]
18 Best Off Grid / Homesteading Movies Of All Time
We’re a culture obsessed with zombie movies, apocalyptic films, survival stories, and dystopian tales...but why? There’s always been a part of me that’s just waiting for civilization to fall and the government to crumble. Where survival becomes the ultimate game and rebuilding civilization becomes the ultimate challenge. Picture it: the bees … [Read more...]
10 Edible (and Healthy) Plants from Your Own Backyard – Summer Edition
As the summer sun begins to shine, you may notice new plant life popping up in your yard. Many homeowners overlook these plants, either assuming they’re pesky weeds or not even noticing them at all...but wait a second! Many of these wild and organic plants are packed with nutrients and are super delicious. Better yet, they’re free! Foraging can … [Read more...]
25 DIY Fire Pit Plans That Are Easy To Build
With summer right around the corner, you may already be planning some home improvement projects. If you plan on entertaining family and friends or experimenting with some survival techniques, a fire pit is a brilliant addition to your backyard. Whether you’re cooking hot dogs or cozying up next to your kids, your fire pit will get tons of … [Read more...]
15 Best Off Grid and Homesteading Shows on Netflix
You’ve got two options to prep yourself for off the grid living: you can either spend three weeks in the wilderness butt ass naked where you bond with a pack of wolves who teach you how to survive, OR you can binge watch Netflix for an entire weekend. Okay, those aren’t your only options, but they’re both pretty good. Let’s assume you choose … [Read more...]
7 Natural Mosquito Repellents and Traps That Really Work
Zika Virus. Dengue Fever. Malaria. West Nile Virus. No, thanks. I’ll pass. While I’m certainly not going to sign myself up to catch one of these mosquito diseases… I also don’t want to drown my body in harmful mosquito repellent chemicals like Deet and other lab-created concoctions. So! I set out on a deep dive of the internet to collect all … [Read more...]
7 Surprising Uses For Diatomaceous Earth
So what exactly is diatomaceous earth (DE)? Well, it's the fossilized remains of small aquatic organisms that are usually found in the bottom of rivers, oceans, and lakes. These little organisms are called Diatoms. To create DE, these Diatoms are ground up to create a smooth food grade powder that is easy to use in a multitude of ways, from skin … [Read more...]
7 Ways to Bake Without an Oven
Play with your food! It’s time to start experimenting with different baking methods that don’t require a traditional oven! That means getting your hands messy, buying some new toys, and deep diving into some YouTube videos... for science. Remember, bread making and primitive baking go back centuries before electricity was even invented. We don’t … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Make Your Homestead More Productive This Year
You’ve moved off the grid--away from the traffic, pollution, and politics. Now you can sit back and enjoy the rest of your years in nature, right? Wrong, my friend. Homesteading is a lifestyle that takes a lot of work (and also reaps massive rewards). As with any productive project on the homestead, first you must be clear about your goals and … [Read more...]
6 Things Homesteaders Should Never Throw Away (And Why)
Did you know that in 2014, the EPA estimated that the average American produced 0.371 pounds of food waste per day? That adds up to about 135lbs per person/per year. Multiply that by how many adults or young adults live in your home and wowza--that’s a lot of food that could have been used towards something useful and beneficial around the … [Read more...]
4 Things You Can Burn for Heat When You Run Out of Firewood
If you haven’t started already, you should be in the habit of stocking up on firewood year-round. Chop your trees into manageable pieces and create a pile either in a woodshed or covered with a tarp in a dry area. This pile will serve as your main heat source if and when there is a power outage that leaves you in the cold. That’s Plan A. Now … [Read more...]
15 Great Gifts for Homesteaders
The gift-giving season is just around the corner! When it comes to giving gifts to homesteaders, there is one important factor that you must consider... Homesteaders are known for making great use of their space! They don’t deal with clutter and they don’t collect useless knickknacks. Everything thing has its place and purpose. That means … [Read more...]
