Okra intrigued me as a child. My classmates had never eaten it — betraying our northeastern roots where the plant would have struggled to survive, and the pods weren’t part of our regional fare. But when my family went to Cracker Barrel on Sunday afternoons, I’d always order a side of the curious, deep-fried pods […]
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What’s the Difference Between Hot and Cold Compost?
As gardeners, homesteaders, and off-grid types of all sorts, we know the importance of compost – it adds essential nutrients back to the soil and can help transform a lackluster, underperforming garden into an extremely productive oasis. But how do you go about making it? And what exactly is the difference between hot and cold […]
Low-Sugar Granola Recipe for Overripe Bananas
I have been on the hunt for a good granola recipe for years, and when I mean “good” granola recipe, I mean something that doesn’t taste like caramel with a few odd oat bits as pretense for health food. After healing my taste buds from the over influence of sugar so common in processed food, […]
All About the Parrot Lily
“Oh my! Is that what I think it is?” I was admiring a friend’s lily patch. “Parrot lily. Very rare — especially in this climate.” I’d heard it called parrot tail lily (among other names) and was surprised to see one. I had just finished reading and reviewing a delightful children’s book by Tuula Pere: […]
Types of Arugulas
Nutritious and versatile, arugula is an excellent leafy vegetable to grow at home. Fresh arugula work well in salads and sandwiches, adding unique flavor and distinct crunch.
Saving Cucumber Seeds
In the past, I’ve had a love-hate relationship with cucumbers. I loved their crisp, sweet flavor, so cooling to crunch on a hot summer day, and the way their aroma filled the kitchen with a fresh scent. I hated when the summer droughts would come and deform my cucumber crop into awkwardly-shaped spheres with squiggles […]
Types of Parsley
With plenty of culinary uses, parsley can be a valuable addition to your home garden. Get to know the two primary types of parsley and their unique varieties.
Types of Mustard
Mustard is one of the most nutritious leafy green you can grow at home. Aside from its versatile culinary uses, some mustard varieties can serve as cover crops to your vegetable garden.
Hollyhocks
Now that’s an old-fashioned favorite!” I came to a stand by my friend’s display of hollyhocks. “Purple, pink, red … these midsummer bloomers are real gems. Are they perennial?” “Actually, biennial,” she replied. “Alternate years?” I mused. “But yours grow every year.” “I collect the seeds and, yes, they can appear every year, but they […]
Saving Pepper Seeds
Peppers started out as a tiny berry hidden on perennial bushes in the mountains of Mexico and Central America, but they’ve come a long, long way since they were domesticated 6,000 years ago. Ever since people around the world got a taste of these spicy, sweet, colorful fruits, we don’t seem to be able to […]
Things They Don’t Tell You About Living in the Country
Country life (or rural life for some folks): What sort of images come to your mind at this phrase? The beauty of nature on full display? The fresh smell of grass? Large open fields of grain under a picturesque blue sky with fluffy white clouds? A small town with cows lowing and sheep bleating in […]
Types of Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is a colorful leafy vegetable that can brighten up your garden and meals. Learn different varieties of swiss chard, their unique characteristics and growth needs with this comprehensive guide!
How to Feed a Family With a Cup of Meat or Less
Over the last couple of years, modern discussions about meat consumption have reached a strange, sensitive place. Some unequivocally state that all our global problems would be solved if we stopped eating meat and switched to alternative protein sources. Others staunchly defend their right to eat as much meat as they want, while still others […]
All About Ribwort Plantain
“Isn’t that a weed?” I asked, staring at the gangly plant growing with vigor between the cracks of the patio. The white flowers dangled from tall stems that waved in the wind. My friend shrugged and chuckled. “One person’s weed is another person’s wildflower.” She reached down and tore off one of the leaves spread […]
Types of Zucchini
Whether you like them raw or cooked, zucchinis are one of the most versatile crops you can grow a home. Discover different zucchini varieties and their unique traits with this comprehensive guide!
Growing Food From Scraps
“Don’t throw that out,” my friend scolded (I was about to compost the core of a lettuce head)! “Why not?” I asked. “It’ll grow more lettuce and provide you with an economical source of food. Most produce can easily be regrown, so to speak. Leafy veggies, root crops, and many others.” I was keen to […]
Making American Elderberry Syrup
Summer is waning, which means if you’re in elderberry territory — and most of us are — there are literal buckets on buckets of fruit available to anyone who doesn’t mind having purple fingers. If you read my last article on foraging for American elder, you should be a pro at finding and identifying this […]
The Difference Between Hay and Straw
I have an awkward confession to make. I’m watching “The Office” for the first time (belatedly), and getting up to speed with all the jokes my friends made back in 2007. While I have enjoyed the show (all the while giving thanks that I don’t work in an office anymore), I couldn’t let this scene […]
Practicing Wildfire Safety on Your Homestead
Fire can be beautiful, pleasant, and calming when properly tended. Fire can also be hazardous and full of rage. Depending on where you find yourself homesteading in the United States, you may not be aware that it is wildfire season. For those of us who are in fire-prone areas, it feels strange to know there […]
Types of Pumpkins
Multiple uses of pumpkin make it one of the most beneficial crop to plant in your home garden. Get to know these popular pumpkin varieties and their unique characteristics before purchasing your seeds.
Homesteading Patience
A particular quote comes to mind when I think of the patience required for a happy, healthy homestead: “The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.” —A. H. Glasow I’ve been homesteading (in one way or another) since before I knew a term existed to […]
Foraging for American Elderberries: Identification and Harvest
I truly enjoy foraging in my neck of the Ozarks. As I venture out to collect the abundant wild spinach, pokeweed, and mulberries, my neighbors seem to think I’m mysteriously gifted with esoteric forest knowledge (which, of course, isn’t true), or just quaint and a little weird (which is actually pretty true). But for all […]
The Scaredy-Cat Plant
“What’s that horrible smell?” I pinched my nose. As always, my friend’s sunroom was filled with plants of every description. But there was a new one that caught my attention, and I leaned in for a closer look. “It smells like skunk.” “You just brushed against the leaves of my latest addition. It’s called a […]
A Toast to the Realistic Garden
You’ve seen all the social media and glossy-paper magazine gardens. They’re lush. They’re perfectly weeded. Their plants are in proportioned rows without a single hole in any leaf, and they fill baskets of picturesque produce without a hitch. In short, they are photogenic perfection with huge amounts of repost-ability and very low amounts of achievability. […]
Off-Grid Tips for Staying Cool Without Electricity
Summer is here, the air is warm, and you may be feeling the heat! Where I live in the central valley of California, the temperature has been tipping the scales at 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Whether or not you’re in extreme weather, it’s the time of year to talk about how to beat the heat and […]
Orchids That Are Actually Weeds
“Did you know this little treasure is actually a weed?” A friend was showing me the latest addition to her orchid family. “In countries like Cuba” she continued, “this Epidendrum radicans hybrid is invasive. It takes over lawns and gardens.” “Like dandelions?” She chuckled at the comparison. I guess one man’s trash is another’s treasure. […]
Types of Melons
Melons are one of the best refreshing treats you can plant in your home garden. Get to know various types of melons, ranging from the common honeydew to rarer varieties of cantaloupe!
Vegetables You Can Still Plant in June
Spring is known as the season for “getting the garden in” but perhaps, for whatever reason, you haven’t yet put seeds in the soil. Now that spring has nearly run its course, and the long, hot days of summer are coming over the horizon, are hopes for growing your own food dashed? Not remotely. Though […]
Edible Wildflowers
“Some tea?” My friend asked as we lounged in her plant-filled sunroom. “Dandelion?” “Why not?” She poured … and left the fragrant, yellow flower remnants floating in our mugs. Dandelion tea is good for everything from gut health to your immune system. It’s an excellent source of potassium, which helps kidneys filter out toxins. In […]
Half-Forgotten European Food Plants to Consider
The Columbian Exchange was an incredible time across the globe, when among other things, crops of the so-called “New” and “Old” worlds were traded for the first time (or the first time in a long time, depending on what resources you read). Because of new trade routes established across the Atlantic, what we consider the […]
Types of Radishes
Crisp and nutritious, radish is a well-known root crop with varieties suitable for planting in spring, summer, or winter. Before growing your radishes at home, learn the unique characteristics of common radish varieties.
Native American Food Plants to Consider
When you imagine a “garden,” what comes to mind? Ripe, red tomatoes? Golden stands of jewel-like corn? Green beans, squash, potatoes, and peppers? These typical food plants all originated in the amazing gardens of ancient Native American gardeners. Much has been written about the mysteries of how teosinte was domesticated into impossible-to-self-propagate modern corn, or […]
Off-Grid Utility Options: How to Handle Electricity, Fresh Water, Sewage & Garbage
Now that we’ve covered how to find your land, build your home, and keep things warm or cold in the previous article, let’s get into the nitty gritty of off-grid living and talk about how to get the electricity and water flowing, and the toilets … er, toileting. The whole point of going off-grid is […]
Off-Grid Lifestyle Considerations: From Housing to Location to Social Life
As I type this, my husband Jaeger and I are finally and entirely off-grid. Woo hoo! It started with getting our home’s heat off-grid, then our water, then our toilets, and eventually, hand-building our off-grid home. Now, with the installation of some solar panels, we can run the computer we use for articles on solar […]
Gardening Resources for Seniors
Gardening is a rewarding hobby that boosts both physical and psychological health among all ages. If you’re a senior searching for relaxation, consider growing your own garden. Reconnecting to nature is one way to relieve the daily stress of modern life. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to cultivate relationships with other gardening enthusiasts. […]
Butterfly Gardens Around the World
“This is interesting.” My friend looked up from her gardening magazine — yes, she subscribes to the real thing. A paper copy (as do I). It’s much better than surfing the net. “What’s that?” I looked up from an issue I’d found on the table next to me. “Butterfly gardens,” she answered, pausing to read […]
Types of Basil
Commonly used in many Asian and Italian recipes, basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a world-famous herb primarily cultivated for its aromatic leaves. Surprisingly, both its flowers and stems carry flavor that goes well in sauces, stews, and stir-fries. Technically, basil (also known as great basil) has an annual lifecycle. However, you can plant basil at home […]
Seed Germination Techniques: Soaking, Scarifying, Stratifying, and Smoking
If you’re accustomed to planting simple annual seeds where all you need to do is open a packet, put seeds in dirt, and then wait for them to sprout, the process of more difficult seed germination seems bizarre in comparison. For years, I avoided certain plants because their germination requirements were to my (at the […]
Types of Okra
Okra is a Southern staple that primarily thrives in warm regions. However, you can grow this nutritious fruit at home under optimal growing conditions and use it to various culinary applications.
How to Save Bean Seeds
Beans are an incredibly exciting plant to grow. This may come as a surprise to folks whose experience with the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is limited to the limp, gray-green cylinders that glorp out of a can and boil to depressingly mushy. If that’s the only way you know beans, I am delighted to introduce […]
Medicinal Benefits of Onions
According to a quick Google search, onions are the third most bought vegetable in the United States (the average U.S. citizen consumes about 22 pounds of onions a year). Most people that I know use onions as a top ingredient in recipes — even the ones that don’t call for onions. Onions are a simply […]
A Guide for Discernment With AI-Generated Homesteading Content
Winter is nearly over, and I’ve been flexing my irrepressible hope and getting seeds started indoors. While watching my little starting pots with great anticipation, I did a quick internet search to find out the average time it takes for onions seeds to germinate. The first website that showed up featured an article with repetitive […]
Types of Turnips
Growing your own turnips at home allows you to access varieties of different colors. From yellow to purple turnips, these gorgeous varieties can provide a pop of color to your garden and meals.
Saws and Their Homestead Uses
Few tools come in as many different shapes and sizes as the humble saw. To the uninitiated, two saws may look the same, and one may even think that any saw can fulfill the duty of another. Trust me, little could be further from the truth. If you have a chance to take a gander […]
Types of Cauliflower
Cauliflower can be grown as a cool-season plant right at your home garden. Each cauliflower variety offers unique traits on color, flavor, growth, texture, and yield.
Ponytail Palm
“You know those hats the young girls wear?” my friend asked. “The ones with the opening for a ponytail?” She pointed at an addition to her garden collection. “Here’s a plant that looks just like that.” The tall, spikey leaves stretched upward before spanning out in every direction, much like a ponytail escaping a hat. […]
Permaculture Topics: Retaining Water
Permaculture. As far as homesteaders are concerned, there are few topics that are more crucial to success on the land. Even if you aren’t a full-time back-to-the-lander, the concepts and ideas espoused by Bill Mollison (the creator of the term “permaculture”) will be useful to a caretaker of any amount of land. If you haven’t […]
Types of Watermelon
Watermelon is a refreshing summer treat you can grow at home! From red to yellow watermelons, there’s a variety fir to your garden needs.
How To Coexist With Squirrels On The Homestead
The United States is an ecologically rich country full of plant and animal diversity. Those living in the States are fortunate to have animal life around them regardless of the region where they live. An animal that remains consistent — no matter where one ventures — is the squirrel. Mischievous, cunning, social, talkative, fast, curious, […]
Types of Beets
Beets are great all-around root crops you can plant, even in small home gardens. Some beet varieties are cultivated for their crisp leafy greens, while others can be processed into homemade sugar and livestock feed.
