Although conserving energy is important to any homeowner, energy conservation takes on a whole new meaning when you live off the grid. Going off-grid means you need to generate and maintain your own energy sources. The benefits include saving money on utility bills, becoming … [Read more...]
How to Make Papercrete: The Ultimate Building Material for Off Grid Living
Papercrete is Concrete Made with Paper. It’s Inexpensive, Sturdy, Lightweight, Insulating, and Better than Bricks. Papercrete was invented in the 1920’s, but it was so easy to make, no one bought it. Papercrete has been used to build homes, walls, fences, and is easily formed … [Read more...]
DIY Waterproof Wood Planter
I don't normally post a lot of DIY articles and videos on this site, but when I do, I try to make sure they're really good ones that are fairly easy to do and legitimately useful. I'm not very good at building things, so easy is a requirement for me. Recently, I came across a … [Read more...]
12 Clever Uses for Your Old Christmas Tree
Christmas is almost here, so you no doubt already have your Christmas tree up and fully decorated. Before you know it, it'll be time to take the tree down again. If you use a plastic tree, you can simply put it back in storage until next year. However, if you prefer the … [Read more...]
The Easy Way To Make Charcoal and Biochar
Buying charcoal is for chumps. If you have access to wood and steel drums, you can make your own charcoal. It's easier than you think. And while you're at it, you can also make biochar, which is incredible at improving garden soil. It can actually clean your soil by binding … [Read more...]
How to Build a $17.50 Greenhouse Without Any Tools
If you're an avid gardener, you already know the benefits of having a greenhouse in the winter. It allows you to keep growing things even when it's too cold outside, that way you can have fresh veggies and flowers all year long. I've talked to gardeners who say it would be … [Read more...]
Making Glue From Milk – A Homestead Kids Science Project
I don't normally share videos like this, but I found it so interesting that I just couldn't resist. In this video, Big Family Homestead explains how you can make your own glue using ordinary milk. Not only is this a fun activity to do with your kids, it's also something you … [Read more...]
5 Homemade Healing Salve Recipes From 100 Years Ago
Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor and nothing in this article should be taken as medical advice. Please talk to your doctor before using any of the herbs and/or remedies mentioned in this article. What did our ancestors use when they had wounds and sore muscles? I can tell … [Read more...]
DIY Automatic Pig Waterer
Pigs have a reputation for being messy for a good reason: they are very messy! If you put down a bowl or trough of water, it is going to get dirty fast and you are going to have to freshen it all the time. To get around this problem, try building a pig waterer. This is a lot … [Read more...]
How to Make Infused Oils From Common Weeds
Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor and nothing in this article should be taken as medical advice. Please talk to your doctor before using any of the herbs and/or remedies mentioned in this article. Your backyard is a growing pharmacy; you just have to know where to look. … [Read more...]
Chicken Coop for $50 and 1 Hour To Build
Why buy something expensive when you can make it yourself? Even a halfway decent chicken coop is going to cost you at least $100, probably more. But what if I told you it's possible to get a great chicken coop for only $50? If you own chickens, like DIY projects, and you have … [Read more...]
10 Reasons You Should Build a Greenhouse
There are many advantages to gardening inside a greenhouse. Greenhouses can be an expression of individuality and a retreat to relieve stress. There are a variety of different greenhouse designs, and you get to decide how large or small it is and whether it will have technology … [Read more...]
These Homemade Laundry Pods Will Save You Money
It's amazing how expensive laundry detergent is. Several years ago, when I realized how much I was spending on it, I decided to start making my own. Not only did I save a lot of money, my son's skin stopped itching. Turns out all the extra chemicals they put in that stuff was the … [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 … [Read more...]
The Best Livestock Fencing For Your Little Farm
If you can't afford to build a perimeter fence around your property, start with your animal pen. There are many types of animal pens, but what's really important is that it's easy to build and sturdy enough to last a long time. So what does Becky from Becky's Homestead … [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 … [Read more...]
