Organic and natural products are coming out of the shadow of mainstream beauty preparations, demonstrating likely and proven restorative results. Both women and men are more frequently choosing not to …
Growing Broom Corn
If you're getting through the long, dark days of winter reading the seed catalogs and dreaming of having your hands in the dirt, you may want to consider adding some new and visually exciting plants …
Growing Carrots
Carrots are an easy-to-grow, easy-to-store root crop. Valued for more than a thousand years, the humble carrot gives color, texture, substance, flavor, and life to a diverse array of dishes. Serve …
Pet Waste Management Tips For Homesteaders
Many rural homesteaders faced with a continual problem of dealing with pet waste, ask "can pet poo be composted?" The answer is a resounding yes. Dog poop can be easily composted in a backyard …
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Amazing Health Benefits Of Eating Fish
Packed full of high-quality protein and low in saturated fats, fresh fish is an exceptional source of omega-3 fatty acids and essential vitamins and minerals including vitamin D, B2, calcium, zinc, …
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Natural Anti-Fungal
A few weeks ago we noticed a rash on my little nephewโs foot. One look at his foot and I knew it was ringworm. Ringworm can be recognized by the round, worm-shaped rash. The area is usually red and …
Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Too many cleaning products contain chemicals that are extremely harmful to the environment and its inhabitants, including humans. Eco-friendly cleaning products are an easy alternative and …
Geckos In The Garden
Do geckos call your homestead home? Household geckos are said to bring harmony, good luck, and good fortune to the household. Killing a gecko invokes an unhappy chain of bad luck events of long …
25 Gorgeous Tree Stump Tables
Simply put, tree stump tables are easily the most gorgeous addition you can add to a room. Not only are the majority of them constructed from reclaimed or sustainable wood, but they are eye-catching …
Cooking With Cast Iron
What is durable, reliable, endlessly useful, and ruggedly handsome? A cast iron fry pan! If you are looking to have a good sear on a piece of meat or add minerals to your food, this is the skillet …
5 Easy Egg Substitutes For When The Chickens Have Stopped Laying
As happens on many homesteads, our chickens have stopped laying with the shorter winter days. We decided to let them follow their natural rhythms with the seasons and haven't put a light in their coop …
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Beets: From Growing And Preparing To Canning and Cooking
When I was very young, my mom taught me how to can and pickle beets, and I have continued to do so since my husband loves pickled beets. I have always wanted to eat beets, but Iโve never been a fan of …
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2017 Tilth Conference
As the managing editor of Insteading, I get to learn a lot about farming and gardening from our writers as well as my own research. And every once in a while, I have the opportunity to attend …
10 Homesteading Games You Should Play Tonight
Having fun on the homestead is an essential part of life! At least, in my opinion, it is. I see the truth in the proverb that says, โAll work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!โ We all need a …
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11 Steps To Make Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick
Face it, everyone is doing it. We feel compelled to join in the tradition of taking a good hard look at our lives, evaluating our faults and flaws, and making resolutions to start anew. We promise …
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35 Awesome Pallet Projects
Whether it's because they're an affordable option or they provide a rustic feel, pallets have become increasingly popular as a source of material for DIY projects. They can be adapted in the most …
Attracting Ladybugs To The Homestead Garden
Organic gardeners know that when ladybugs are abundant in the springtime, they can anticipate a bountiful harvest. Fortunate is the homestead blessed with an abundance of ladybugs. Ladybugs are …
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5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Become A Homesteader
Are you tired of traffic jams and the fast pace of city living? Do you long to escape the rush and retreat to the quiet of rural living? If so, you are not alone. Each year, more and more people chose …
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How To Make Sourdough
Sourdough bread is one of the oldest forms of bread known. Itโs so old that it is impossible to tell just how old it is! The oldest loaf found dates back to 3700 B.C. and was excavated in Switzerland. …
Fire Cider
In a nutshell, fire cider is apple cider vinegar infused with spicy and aromatic ingredients like habaneros, onions, and horseradish. Fire cider is a modern relative of the ancient four thieves …
Fire Pit Tables
Thereโs something about a fire that completely transforms an evening. Move that fire outdoors and couple it with outdoor furniture in the way of a fire pit table, and youโve got the makings of a …
How To Make Tinctures
Tinctures are used for many different medicinal purposes. You can find tinctures for congestion, coughs, cold & flu, arthritis and so much more. It really comes down to the herbs and medicinal …
Electric Fireplaces
Thereโs no denying that the ambiance of a fireplace has almost no equal. Thereโs something special about sitting in front of a fireplace that invites us to linger a little longer. However, having the …
40 Fermentation Recipes
Fermentation is a time-honored tradition that dates back to the mid-1800's when the study of yeast first began. Since then, we have created recipes that ferment everything from milk to pickles. And of …
Making Homemade Kombucha
Kombucha, the fermented, sweetened tea that has caught the attention of many, has actually gone through several phases of popularity over the years. The traditional tonic is quite trendy right now, …
Lessons From Facing Death On The Homestead
As a small girl in my suburban neighborhood, dealing with death was something unusual. So when my pet fish died, tears were shed and a solemn, toilet-side funeral was held, complete with …
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Chicken Tractor Plans
When it comes to housing your flock of chickens, there are many options, but one of the most flexible is the chicken tractor. A chicken tractor is a portable coop that has many of the benefits of a …
Forest Therapy
Shinrin-yoku. Forest bathing. Forest Therapy. No matter what you call the practice, the goal is the same: for humans to use the forest as medicine. History of Forest Bathing Shinrin-yoku is a term …
How To Dye Fabric Naturally
If you are a homesteader or just a do-it-yourselfer you are going to love this. Natural dyes! I once dyed my curtains using turmeric. They turned out a beautiful golden yellow that complimented the …
Homestead Fire Prevention
Many people fail to realize that they face serious wildfire danger. However, if you live in the rural prairies, foothills, or mountainous regions of North America, you are at risk. Fire is …
How To Make Carrot Wine
As a young man, my father was a homesteader who raised root vegetables to sell at the town fresh market. Even when the harvest was plentiful, there were always misshapen carrots, not attractive enough …
Adirondack Chairs
Almost no vacation would be complete without the addition of an Adirondack chair somewhere on the property. Whether youโre lounging beside the sea, or circled around a campfire with friends, an …
Rain Chains
You know whatโs perfect on a rainy day besides a good book and a roaring fire? Listening to the soothing sounds produced by a rain chain. There is something very zen-like about hearing the trickle of …
Disaster Preparedness For Homesteaders
Emergencies, by their very definition, are stressful. I, like many homesteaders, find myself concerned about the possibility of an emergency event such as a natural disaster, a disease outbreak, or …
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Portable Solar Power Systems
Did you know that the amount of energy produced by all of the world's nations is still less than the amount of energy provided to Earth by the sun in a single hour? The sun is, without a doubt, the …
Storage Benches
Storage benches may be one of the most versatile pieces of furniture we can own. For anyone needing to maximize space, theyโre the answer to solving storage and seating problems. They can also serve …
Floating Shelves
Shelving is a staple household decor item that can be functional, decorative, and necessary all at the same time. Whether your style is traditional, rustic, shabby chic, or modern, shelving units come …
Household Mold Removal
Gross, slimy, smelly, and dangerous to people and pets, mold is the last thing you want to see growing in your home. Mold wonโt necessarily destroy your homestead, but it can make family members and …
Wind Chimes
Wind chimes have been used by many cultures going back as far as 1100 BC. Believe it or not, they werenโt created to irritate cranky neighbors, but in fact were thought to ward off evil spirits. …
Flowers From Garden To Canvas
I love my garden, but sadly, itโs only a seasonal thing. The remainder of the year, I look out at the bleak leaf and snow-covered earth surrounded by barren trees and shrubs. Even the fungus, which …
Creative Bed Frames For a Cozy Bedroom
For as much time as we spend in our bedrooms, itโs surprising how little attention we sometimes give that space. Itโs likely because we feel like no one else will see it, so it can wait until weโve …
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Shed Plans
Sheds are an important asset to any garden, backyard, or homestead. They keep our spaces organized and protect our tools from the elements. Whether you're needing a traditional, simple shed for your …
Frugal Homesteading Tips For Stretching The Family Food Budget
Many Americans experience the tight squeeze of tough economic times. In many parts of the nation, unemployment statistics may unexpectedly soar to an all-time high. When this happens, jobs are hard to …
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Shower Heads
The shower is the place you do your best thinking, relaxing, and unwinding. A good (or bad) shower head makes a huge impact on the quality of your shower. Itโs time to finally get rid of that leaky, …
Bats Benefit The EnvironmentโAnd Your Homestead
Worldwide, bats receive an undeserved bad rep. If asked, most people worldwide will say they donโt like bats. Bats smell bad, theyโre creepy, dangerous, and are typically portrayed as scary in …
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Rodent Control Without Poison
As the weather starts to cool, rodents such as mice, rats, chipmunks, and squirrels attempt to find a warm place to stay well fed during the cold winter months. While these rodent pests are small, …
Outdoor Coffee Tables
Not only are coffee tables one of the biggest focal points of any room, but theyโre a highly functional piece of furniture that should be chosen wisely. They serve countless functions; holding books, …
Shade Sails
Shade sails are becoming increasingly popular these days due to their functionality and inherent beauty. The architectural design of shade sails brings a sense of lightness and ease to whatever space …
Biochar
When I first heard all the hype surrounding biochar, it was hard for me to believe that a material that looked as simple as charcoal could be the solution to some really serious issues. Biochar may be …
Installing An Interior Barn Door
Thereโs something mesmerizing about a heavy door gliding silently on a steel track, especially when itโs indoors. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Flooring Xtra …