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...]
11 Surprising Uses for Soap
Who doesn’t love discovering multipurpose household items? If you love saving money, getting innovative around the house, and being an overall hero, then you’re going to love these tips and tricks on how to use bar soap and dish soap in out-of-the-ordinary ways. With great power comes great responsibility. Prepare to be known as the go-to … [Read more...]
23 Surprising Uses for Washing Soda
If you like making your own laundry soap in order to save money or control the chemicals in your home, you're probably familiar with washing soda. It only costs a few dollars for a large box and can be used for laundry and a variety of other jobs. Washing soda is sodium carbonate. Nothing more, nothing less. You will often find sodium carbonate … [Read more...]
10 Cleaning Products You Can Make Yourself
You go to the store, pick up a bottle of Febreeze, and take it home to spray all around your house. With one deep inhale, you take in those lovely fresh scents...but did you know that you're also taking in harmful lung and skin irritants? It's true. Many "fresh smelling" air fresheners, window cleaners, and stain removers consist of harmful … [Read more...]
16 Ways to Use Wood Ash on Your Homestead
As you pursue a more sustainable lifestyle, you probably are discovering many ways to repurpose items around your home and property. Wood ash is something you may have a lot of, especially if you have a fireplace, woodstove, or campfire. Did you know there are many beneficial ways to use wood ash? Before we get into our list of 16 uses, let’s … [Read more...]
How to Build an Earthen Oven (& Bake Bread In It)
Earthen ovens have been used to cook food for at least two thousand years. They were widely used in homes and forts in the 18th century, they were moved from place to place on wagons in medieval times, and there is evidence of them being used all around the world during the era of the Roman empire. They're made from a mixture of clay and sand … [Read more...]
101 DIY Pallet Projects
I've seen a lot of DIY pallet projects floating around the Internet, but the other day I came across the ultimate list of pallet projects on Youtube. Although the list is called 101 DIY Pallet Project Videos, there are actually 154 in all. I was so blown away that I just had to share it. This playlist was put together by Robb's Homemade Life, … [Read more...]
11 Uses for Olive Oil on the Homestead
Olive oil is one of those must-have staples for every homesteader. It truly stands alone in terms of its nutritional benefits and in terms of its many other uses around your home and property. With its high concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids, which can help boost your “good” cholesterol (HDL) and lower your “bad” cholesterol (LDL), olive … [Read more...]
How to Make a Bacon Fat Candle
If you love to make bacon but are dumping all the grease down the drain or into the trash, you should start saving it instead. Not only is bacon grease great for cooking, it makes a great clean-burning candle. This video by Finding Self-Reliance shows you exactly how to make a bacon fat candle. All you need is bacon grease, a container, and a … [Read more...]
DIY Cinder Block Bench
Too many people find themselves intimidated by DIY projects. They go their whole lives buying what they need and never making anything, so they tend to think DIY projects are difficult and time-consuming. Although that's certainly true in some cases, this video is a great example of how many DIY projects are so easy anyone can do it. Want to … [Read more...]
Liquid Laundry Soap – 34 Years’ Worth For Pennies!
This article is the perfect example of why we love homesteading and homesteaders! These incredible finds and great deals that homesteaders learn out of necessity are what keep bringing us back to their blogs. It’s a true value-added relationship. It’s the same thing that keeps so many Americans tethered to the idea of telling their boss to go … [Read more...]
7 Ways to Light Your Home Off the Grid
Pulling the plug or making the decision to go 100% off the grid comes with some serious challenges. People taking that dive, hopefully, come prepared with a notion of how much things will change. Many of the comforts of modern day living disappear. The good news, of course, is that many are replaced with liberation and new found freedoms. The … [Read more...]
Video: Off the Grid Cabin Restoration
After I graduated high school, my parents bought 60 acres of land in Oklahoma. The best thing about the land was it had an old barn and an old chicken house. They hadn't been used in years, but after a few months, we were able to completely restore them. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it for the great deal they got on the property. Plus, my … [Read more...]
7 Primitive Tools and How to Make Them
The whole point of homesteading is to become as self-sufficient as possible. That doesn't mean you can't buy products that were made by others, such as tools made in a factory. For certain items, there's simply no other choice. That's why I said, "as self-sufficient as possible." Meaning, if there's something you can make on your own, you … [Read more...]
