Tristan Gooley writes in his book, The Lost Art of Reading Nature's Signs, that it is “not the map that should make sense of the land, but the land that will make a map for us.” Although we have access to more information than ever before in history, many of us have lost the ability to learn from an ancient and wise teacher: Mother Nature. It is … [Read more...]
35 Old-School Life Hacks That Used to Be Common Knowledge
You’ve probably seen numerous blog articles that list the latest “life hacks.” According to the Urban Dictionary, the phrase “life hack” describes any “tips and tricks that get things done quickly by automating, increase productivity and organizing… Formerly known as "good ideas." Long before the internet and social media, people were passing … [Read more...]
15 Pioneer Skills That Will Make You Completely Self-Sufficient
If the off-grid way of life is calling to you, you already have an adventurous spirit. However, to succeed as a self-sufficient homesteader, you also need to learn these basic pioneer skills. Our forefathers and foremothers did not consider this list to be anything other than ordinary, but knowing them will set you apart from the average … [Read more...]
Off Grid Living: Washing Clothes by Hand
If you’re tired of seeing your money and your water supply go down the drain – literally - every time you do laundry, it is time to think about alternative methods for washing and drying your family’s clothes. In addition to saving energy and water costs, you will discover that washing your clothes by hand will result in cleaner and … [Read more...]
15 Self-Sufficiency Skills to Teach Your Children
Our parents had it easy. They totally trusted the school system’s ability to take snotty nosed kids and turn them into fully functioning members of society. But look at us now, mom! We’re still confused when it comes to filing our taxes, we had to learn the hard way about balancing a budget, and we have only just begun to learn survival skills for … [Read more...]
Top 10 States for Living Off the Grid
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...]
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...]
5 Basic Skills to Learn Online
Of all the amazing inventions that have come about over the last century, I think people take the Internet for granted more than any of them. Just think about it: With the Internet, you have the entirety of human knowledge at your fingertips. There was a time when people would regularly trek miles to a library just for access to a portion of … [Read more...]
Baking Soda Trick To Fix Almost Anything
Do you buy baking soda in those tiny little boxes they sell at the grocery store? Not me. I buy huge 20-pound bags from Sam's Club. Sometimes people look at me weird when they see the big bag of baking soda on my kitchen floor. My friend once asked if I was starting a bakery. The truth is, I don't use baking soda for food very often. Rather, I … [Read more...]
3 Things To Know Before Going Off The Grid
When people hear the words "off the grid", they usually think about a nice little cabin in the woods or a homestead out in the open country. What they often don't think about is no power, no cable, no water, no sewer, no garbage pickup, and all the other things we take for granted every day. It's not so bad once you get used to it, but if … [Read more...]
20 Things We Wish We’d Known Before We Went Off Grid
For the past several years, Nick and Esther of Fouch Family Off Grid have been living off the grid in a yurt while building their off grid timber frame dream home. In that time, they've learned some valuable lessons about living off the grid. In this video, they share those lessons. I typed them up for you, but it's worth watching the video as … [Read more...]
13 Self-Reliance Skills The Pioneers Needed to Survive their Journey West
Between 1840 and 1860, more than 400,000 men, women, and children set out on the overland journey across the American West which became known as the Oregon Trail. Heading out from departure points in Missouri, these pioneers desired a new life, one that offered more freedom, more opportunity, and more space. In some ways, these Americans are not … [Read more...]
Blacksmithing Basics: 7 Things You Need to Know
There was once a time, as little as 150 years ago, where everything made from metal was made by a blacksmith. A box of nails that we can carelessly pick up at the hardware store was once a treasured commodity, each nail made by hand. It’s no wonder that during that time, as much as 20% of the adult male population would have been employed working … [Read more...]
11 Toxic Plants That You Should Learn to Identify
Whether you're going camping for the weekend, exploring the land around your homestead, or learning about edible plants and medicinal herbs, knowing which plants are highly toxic is essential. Never, ever, consume a plant you have not positively identified as safe, OR that is a look-alike for one of the poisonous plants. For example, wild carrot is … [Read more...]
100-Year-Old Life Hacks You Didn’t Know Existed
It's amazing how much wisdom has been lost to the ages. There are so many simple life hacks that used to be common knowledge. In this video, Household Hacker tries out some life hack inserts that were printed over 100 years ago in 1916. The first card reads... How to Pull Out Long Nails: It is often rather difficult to pull out a long nail … [Read more...]
3 Things to Know Before Moving Off The Power Grid
While you may dream of moving to an off-grid homestead, the reality may not be what you’d expect. When most people think of “off-grid living” they imagine a simpler lifestyle, where a rudimentary electrical system powers only basic conveniences. You may be picturing hard rustic living, but in truth, off-grid living can be easy, and even include … [Read more...]
Primitive Technology: Freshwater Prawn Trap
The videos at Primitive Technology are the truest form of bushcraft. You simply cannot find a more minimalist approach to creating a livable space and the tools to go along with it anywhere else. When I first found this channel, I was so impressed with the quality of the videos and the skill level that I automatically subscribed. I think there were … [Read more...]
