You can live off the grid just about anywhere, but some locales are more suited for a self-reliant lifestyle than others. There are many “best places to live off grid” lists floating around on the internet, but the majority of them focus on just one key aspect of setting up an off-grid homestead: weather. Yes, weather and climate are very … [Read more...]
18 Best Off Grid / Homesteading Movies Of All Time
We’re a culture obsessed with zombie movies, apocalyptic films, survival stories, and dystopian tales...but why? There’s always been a part of me that’s just waiting for civilization to fall and the government to crumble. Where survival becomes the ultimate game and rebuilding civilization becomes the ultimate challenge. Picture it: the bees … [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...]
14 Towns Where You Can Find Free Land
There was a time when getting free land in the United States was relatively easy. Thanks to the Homestead Act of 1862, anyone who was willing to stay put and farm for five years could claim a 160-acre plot of land. Of course, that was over 150 years ago, and the days of free land are far behind us. Or are they? If you're willing to move, there … [Read more...]
7 Perennial Herbs to Plant for Culinary and Medicinal Use
Credible clinical studies verify that many herbs have significant medicinal benefits… and oh yeah, they taste good, too. Planting and growing herbs is surprisingly simple, and you don’t need an herb garden to do it. Many people make herbs a part of their regular garden, planting in between the flowers and the groundcover. Herbs also grow well in … [Read more...]
How To Buy Your Dream Homestead: 55 Financial Tips
Do you yearn for your very own homestead but just can’t figure out how to afford it? You are not alone. Fortunately for you and tens of thousands of potential homesteaders and prepper retreat dreamers, the government might actually be here to help for once. While “free land” for homesteading and farming doesn't really exist anymore, in spite of … [Read more...]
Aloe Vera: How to Grow It and How to Use It
You’ve probably heard about the healing powers of the aloe vera plant for sunburn, but did you know it can also be used as a hair conditioner, as a liquid tonic, and to treat other skin conditions? What’s even better is that aloe vera is easy to grow and would be a great addition to your homestead’s indoor and, possibly, your outdoor garden. A … [Read more...]
15 Gifts Any Homesteading Mother Would Love
With the many ads and commercials for Mother’s Day gifts, brunches and flower deliveries in full swing, you may be wondering what to get the frugal homesteading mama in your life. She works so tirelessly to make life easier for you and your family that you want to get her something special this year. However, you know she appreciates practical, … [Read more...]
15 Best Off Grid and Homesteading Shows on Netflix
You’ve got two options to prep yourself for off the grid living: you can either spend three weeks in the wilderness butt ass naked where you bond with a pack of wolves who teach you how to survive, OR you can binge watch Netflix for an entire weekend. Okay, those aren’t your only options, but they’re both pretty good. Let’s assume you choose … [Read more...]
7 Natural Mosquito Repellents and Traps That Really Work
Zika Virus. Dengue Fever. Malaria. West Nile Virus. No, thanks. I’ll pass. While I’m certainly not going to sign myself up to catch one of these mosquito diseases… I also don’t want to drown my body in harmful mosquito repellent chemicals like Deet and other lab-created concoctions. So! I set out on a deep dive of the internet to collect all … [Read more...]
5 Ways Our Life is Better Living Off The Grid
Here's an inspiring video for your weekend. Anyone who's ever attempted to live off the grid as much as possible has had those moments where they thought, "Why am I doing this?" Living a self-sufficient lifestyle is not easy, but it can still be very rewarding, as Jamie from Guildbrook Farm reminds us in this video. She made a list of 5 ways … [Read more...]
Diatomaceous Earth: The Miracle Mineral With Dozens of Uses
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...]
11 Most Useful Medicinal Herbs You Can Grow
Learning to use herbal remedies can be a great way to increase your self-reliance. While there’s no way to totally eliminate the need for modern medicine, herbal remedies can help you avoid some trips to the doctor. Unfortunately, good quality organic medicinal herbs can be expensive. Luckily, there are many healing herbs that are easy to grow … [Read more...]
How to Survive This Year’s Deadly Flu Season
All around the nation, hospitals are feeling the strain of this year’s deadly flu virus. The scenarios being laid out are, frankly, hard to believe. What if I told you an entire school district shut its doors for a whole week because so many staff and students were exhibiting flu-like symptoms? Don’t believe me? Date: January 16, 2018 Dear … [Read more...]
4 Things You Can Burn for Heat When You Run Out of Firewood
If you haven’t started already, you should be in the habit of stocking up on firewood year-round. Chop your trees into manageable pieces and create a pile either in a woodshed or covered with a tarp in a dry area. This pile will serve as your main heat source if and when there is a power outage that leaves you in the cold. That’s Plan A. Now … [Read more...]
9 Tips for New Homesteaders
If you are thinking of homesteading or are just starting out, you probably have been immersing yourself in tons of information and advice. Maybe some of it is helpful; maybe some it is confusing. And just maybe, you are feeling overwhelmed. Yes, there is a lot to learn, but no, you don’t have to learn it all at once. You couldn’t even if you … [Read more...]
15 Great Gifts for Homesteaders
The gift-giving season is just around the corner! When it comes to giving gifts to homesteaders, there is one important factor that you must consider... Homesteaders are known for making great use of their space! They don’t deal with clutter and they don’t collect useless knickknacks. Everything thing has its place and purpose. That means … [Read more...]
