European explorers learned all kinds of things from Native Americans. Fish as fertilizer, the three sisters gardening method, and the process of making pemmican. The word comes from the Algonquin language known as Cree and the direct translation is rendered fat. Because of the translation, you should understand that the basic ingredients of any … [Read more...]
Fermentation 101: How to Make Yogurt, Sauerkraut, Apple Cider Vinegar, and More
It Boggles the Mind to Think that Allowing Food to Rot Would Make it Taste Better, Last Longer, and Actually Be Good for You… But it Does. We eat this stuff all the time and don’t even know it. Everything from bread and cheese to beer, wine, and simple things like sauerkraut, Kimchi, and yogurt are the result of a little-understood process known … [Read more...]
14 Foods That Store Well in Root Cellars
Root cellars are one of the best ways to store food, whether you're a prepper or a homesteader. One of the reasons they're so great is that they're able to keep a pretty constant temperature year round. During the summer, well-insulated root cellars will stay cool even when it's really hot outside. And during the winter, they will stay above … [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 grill isn't nearly as complicated as you thought. Want to save this … [Read more...]
Dandelion Soda Recipe – Naturally Fermented with a Ginger Bug
It's that time of year again, and dandelions are everywhere. A few weeks ago I made a lost with a list of things to do with dandelions. Naturally, a few days later I came across another idea that I would have added to the list if I'd thought if it: dandelion soda! I almost edited my post, but this soda turned out so good that I decided to make … [Read more...]
How to Make Hard Candy With Just 4 Ingredients
Everybody knows kids love candy, but there's something they love even more: candy they made themselves! That's my experience, anyway. When I was a kid, my mother taught me how to make candy at home, and I was so excited by the idea of making candy from scratch that I thought it was the tastiest thing ever. Now that I'm a parent, I have the … [Read more...]
11 Dangerous Food Storage Mistakes
If you’ve decided to prepare your family for a disaster, storing food will probably be one of your first major projects. Having emergency food on hand can help you get through anything from snowstorms to economic hardship, or even large-scale disasters. Storing food at home is fairly easy and affordable if you take your time and do it right. If … [Read more...]
3 Reasons To Start Canning Meat
My husband is friends with a guy who loves to grill out. Just loves it. Every holiday and most weekends, he heads outside and grills hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, chicken, sausage, or really anything made of meat. He's one of those guys who has to have some meat with every meal. Like us, he's also a prepper, and one day he showed us his food … [Read more...]
Ultimate Rainwater Harvesting System
If you want to be as self-reliant as possible, one of the most important things you can do is figure out where to get your water from. If you're lucky, you have a stream or a reliable well on your property. Otherwise, you should look into a rainwater harvesting system. I've seen a lot of cool setups, both in person and online, but the one in … [Read more...]
7 Ways to Bake Bread Without Electricity
For anyone trying to increase their self-reliance, learning to bake bread is often one of the first goals. Bread making isn’t difficult and it’s a great way to save money. It’s also a great survival skill. It doesn’t have to stop there though. If you want to take this skill a step further, you should learn how to bake bread without a … [Read more...]
Food Storage Shelf Life: How Long Will It Really Last?
There are plenty of foods designed and processed for long-term storage. But what about everyday foods from the grocery store? Anyone prepping for a catastrophic event is thinking about long-term survival foods. These are foods manufactured, processed, and packaged in a way that makes them shelf-stable for up to 20 or 30 years. They’re good … [Read more...]
27 Foods That Last For Decades
If you're stockpiling emergency foods, hopefully you have a system for rotating that food. My husband and I have a room with metal shelving units sticking out from the wall, so it's easy to pull old cans and boxes of food from one side while putting foods we just bought on the other side. There are some foods, however, for which our system is a … [Read more...]
Dutch Oven Cooking: The Complete Guide for Beginners
There are articles all over the Internet about the new kitchen gadgets you "absolutely must have in your kitchen". Unfortunately, the vast majority of these gadgets are single-use appliances and are cheaply made. If you’re serious about cooking delicious meals from scratch, you don’t need the latest plastic gizmo. You need a few quality kitchen … [Read more...]
5 Off Grid Kitchen Gadgets You Need
Setting up an off-grid kitchen is easier said than done. Most rely on electricity and electronics more than they realize (ovens, blenders, mixers, timers, and so forth). But with the right tools, you can do you everything you would do with an "on-grid" kitchen. In this video, Stacy from Off Grid with Doug & Stacy shares five of her favorite … [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...]
3 Reasons To Store Wheat Berries Instead of Flour
There is a debate among homesteaders about which form you should store your wheat in - whole berries or ground flour. One camp touts the many uses of raw berries while the other side praises the immediate use of the prepared flour. So which is better? There is no real right answer. As with so many other things in life, it comes down to your … [Read more...]
