Have you ever thought about building your own grill? Most people wouldn't even consider doing this. They're afraid they don't have enough knowledge or that it would be way too much work. But after watching this video from Dr. Stewart Productions, you'll realize that building a grill isn't nearly as complicated as you thought. Want to save this … [Read more...]
How to Make Activated Charcoal (With Pictures)
Yes, you can make it at home, but it's a little more complicated than you might think. A little more complicated is an understatement. If you can buy activated charcoal and stock it, go for it. Making it is a complex and tedious chore. Some websites say it’s so easy. Well, it's not. I'm not saying it can't be done, but you have to be patient and … [Read more...]
10 Amazing Uses for Activated Charcoal
At one time, activated charcoal was considered a universal antidote for a wide range of conditions. With the advent of modern medicine, the popularity of activated charcoal declined. However, in recent years it has seen a bit of a resurgence, especially among the alternative medicine community. In this article, we’ll take a look at what … [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...]
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...]
How to Make Old-Fashioned Gunpowder (with Pictures)
Black powder, the original gunpowder, can be made from sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate. Even if you never make your own gunpowder, these items are worth having on the homestead, anyway. In fact, they all have a place on the homestead for one use or another. Are you going to be firing a black powder rifle with your homemade black powder? … [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...]
60 Things You Should Stop Buying and Start Making
Do you really feel like driving to the store every time you run out of dish soap? And do you really feel like spending $10 on name brand deodorant that you could make at home for $3? Wake up, people! A self-sufficient lifestyle is so much more rewarding (and inexpensive)! Once you know how to make everyday cleaning products and your favorite … [Read more...]
5 Extracts You Can Easily Make at Home
If you like to bake, then you probably use a lot of extracts. I use vanilla extract all the time--in cookies, pancakes, homemade vanilla shakes, all the essentials. I also use mint extract, especially around the holidays, for things like mint chocolate brownies and homemade cocoa mix. If you do use extract, you must know how expensive it is. … [Read more...]
Simple Soap Recipe With Olive Oil and Coconut Oil
In my family, we all have itchy skin. It's kind of a family curse. All sorts of things will cause our skin to itch: Not drinking enough water, direct contact with grass and bushes, or using store-bought laundry detergent. This is why I started making my own laundry detergent a long time ago. It's also why I started making my own bar … [Read more...]
Over 2,000 Survival Uses for Everyday Items
This is one you're going to want to bookmark. It's the ultimate index to survival uses for everyday items. Below you'll find a list of nearly 100 ordinary items that have all sorts of survival applications. I did the math, and it adds up to 2,046 survival uses! I put the items in alphabetical order, and next to each item I listed some of my … [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...]
24 DIY Solar Projects and Tutorials
Whether you're looking to lower your electric bill or reduce your carbon footprint, solar power is a great way to do it. Most people have this false idea that to benefit from solar power, you need to spend thousands of dollars on huge solar panels for your roof. Far from it! Nowadays there are small, affordable panels that can generate a … [Read more...]
Get Rid of Tree Stumps & Trunks By Growing Delicious Mushrooms
Grinding tree stumps is usually how we deal with them. If you have land to clear on your homestead, it could become quite a chore to get these stumps taken care of. But did you know that you can eat your stumps? Well, that is not exactly true. If you head out there and start chewing on tree stumps, they won't taste very good. And there is no method … [Read more...]
50 Ways to Upcycle Old Socks and T-Shirts
If you are a friend to the universe, what I’m about to tell you might shake you... Did you know that more than 15 million tons of clothing waste is produced every year in the US? And did you know that it takes about 40 years for clothing to decompose? We have been so busy fighting the ‘war on plastic’ that we rarely think about what happens to … [Read more...]
Bicycle-Powered Washing Machine
There are many ways to wash your clothes off the grid--the WonderWash, MobileWasher, or a good ole fashioned Washboard--but nothing is quite as simple and effective as an electric washing machine. Unfortunately, washing machines take a lot of power. How do you use a washing machine when you either don't have electricity or it's in short supply? … [Read more...]
