I’ve been observing the squirrels in my yard and neighborhood this past week as the temperatures have become more fall-like. They are busy! Fascinated, I did a little research on the common gray squirrel. Squirrels don’t hibernate in the winter, but they do spend far less time foraging outside their dens in the colder months. Several squirrels … [Read more...]
50 Staple Foods That Should Be In Every Cook’s Kitchen
A well-stocked pantry offers peace of mind. When you have all the basic cooking supplies on hand, you can be ready to prepare a meal on short notice and without the time and expense of running to the store for ingredients. Every family is a little bit different in terms of their tastes and customers. Some families may not be able to live without … [Read more...]
6 Ways People Stored Food Before Refrigerators
Long before the modern conveniences of refrigeration, people were storing their food using time-tested methods. Many modern homesteaders are learning and honing these skills as a way to preserve their harvest and continue to serve their families home-grown, home-raised food throughout the year. Here are six ways people stored food before … [Read more...]
23 Homestead Items to Look For at Yard Sales
Yard sales and garage sales can be treasure troves for the homesteader. With a little time and effort, you can save a substantial amount of money on quality items and supplies for your homestead. Some homeowners either don’t see the value of what they own or don't know how to make use of what they have. Therefore, they are willing to sell their … [Read more...]
10 Tasty Recipes That Use Acorns
Did you know that you might have a bountiful and nutritious food source right at your feet this fall? Acorns are much more than something to rake up with your leaves and deposit into your compost pile. With a little preparation and know-how, you can eat them as you would other nuts, you can use them to make oil, and you can grind them into flour … [Read more...]
15 Pioneer Skills That Will Make You Completely Self-Sufficient
If the off-grid way of life is calling to you, you already have an adventurous spirit. However, to succeed as a self-sufficient homesteader, you also need to learn these basic pioneer skills. Our forefathers and foremothers did not consider this list to be anything other than ordinary, but knowing them will set you apart from the average … [Read more...]
Off Grid Living: Washing Clothes by Hand
If you’re tired of seeing your money and your water supply go down the drain – literally - every time you do laundry, it is time to think about alternative methods for washing and drying your family’s clothes. In addition to saving energy and water costs, you will discover that washing your clothes by hand will result in cleaner and … [Read more...]
Canning vs Dehydrating: Which Method is Better?
As a homesteader, you enjoy growing your own fruits and vegetables, and fresh is always the best choice for taste and nutrition. But what can you do to preserve some of your harvest for the rest of the year? Two tried and true options are canning and dehydrating. Both methods have distinct advantages and disadvantages. To help you decide which … [Read more...]
12 Ways to Attract Bees to Your Garden
The bee population in the U.S. is in peril. According to the Pollinator Partnership, the U.S. has lost more than half of its managed honeybee colonies over the past decade. Although the reasons for this sharp decline are not fully understood, scientists believe contributing factors include increased exposure to pesticides, parasites, diseases, … [Read more...]
12 Simple Ways to Lengthen Your Garden’s Growing Season
Many gardeners wait diligently for late spring so that they can begin their gardens, and then they reluctantly call it quits in the fall. Depending on where you live, that can be a short-lived growing season of only four months or so. However, there are some simple ways to extend your garden’s growing season. With a longer growing season, you … [Read more...]
8 Things To Do With All Those Dandelions
I fondly remember the toddler days when my children would pick small bouquets of dandelions and lovingly present them to me. I would thank them and then place the “pretty flowers” in a small vase on the kitchen windowsill. Other than those delightful moments, however, I harbored dark thoughts about those bright yellow blooms. How dare they crop up … [Read more...]
Aloe Vera: How to Grow It and How to Use It
You’ve probably heard about the healing powers of the aloe vera plant for sunburn, but did you know it can also be used as a hair conditioner, as a liquid tonic, and to treat other skin conditions? What’s even better is that aloe vera is easy to grow and would be a great addition to your homestead’s indoor and, possibly, your outdoor garden. A … [Read more...]
15 Easy Ways to Grow Potatoes
If you could grow only one crop on your homestead, potatoes would be a good choice. Potatoes are perhaps the ultimate survival food. They are rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, protein, and nucleic acid. They can be prepared in many ways, from potato chips to potato casserole. And best of all, there are many ways to grow potatoes. What makes … [Read more...]
25 Off Grid Uses for Five Gallon Buckets
The origin of the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” is somewhat unclear. Most people think it dates back to the first Earth Day held on April 22, 1970. For dedicated homesteaders, however, the popular mantra is more than a call to reduce trash -- it is a way of life. One of the most useful items homesteaders can recycle is the five-gallon bucket. … [Read more...]
11 Common Garden Pests and How to Deal with Them Naturally
Picture this. It’s a beautiful late spring or early summer morning, and you head out to check your garden. The previous day everything looked healthy and strong, but today, you notice signs of an apparent infestation. Seemingly overnight, leaves are withering and/or new growth looks as if it has been eaten away. It's any gardener’s nightmare, … [Read more...]
17 Off Grid Tools and Supplies to Search for at Flea Markets
If you want to get some great bargains for your homestead, it’s time to start visiting flea markets. Flea markets get their name from “marché aux puces,” a French phrase that literally translates to “market of fleas.” The name comes from the fact that the first outdoor bargain markets in Paris often included items that were old and worn and … [Read more...]
25 Things You Can Use As Seed Starting Containers
It’s that time of year again. Now is your chance to get a jump on spring gardening by starting your seeds indoors. Once you have your seeds, your soil, and your lighting squared away, you'll need to find some containers. Frugal homesteaders repurpose just about everything, and seed starting containers should be no exception. Look for flexible … [Read more...]
