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...]
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...]
DIY Planter Box from Just a Few Boards
Several years ago I spent $100 on a nice elevated planter box for my back porch. It looked really nice in my backyard, and I grew some of my favorite herbs in it. Then last week, I was looking through Youtube and I saw this video by Cottage Life, and I thought, "Hey, that … [Read more...]
DIY Cinder Block Grill
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 … [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 … [Read more...]
10 Amazing Uses for Activated Charcoal
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. At one time, activated charcoal was considered a universal antidote for a … [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 … [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 … [Read more...]
How to Make Old-Fashioned Gunpowder (with Pictures)
DISCLAIMER: This post is for informational purposes only. Sulfur is flammable and toxic. The mix is strong enough to give you third-degree burns, and just one spark can set it off. You cannot take this stuff for granted. The ingredients are bad for your eyes as well, and experts … [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 … [Read more...]
