When you just start gardening, your knowledge of how to do it may be deceptively simple. Take a seed, put it in some soil, add water, and voila! Couldn’t be easier, right? And while this approach is a wonderful way to start, the beginner may notice that some sprouts do better than others. Surely there’s […]
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Harvesting Lettuce: How to Harvest and Store Lettuce For Fresh & Delicious Garden Salads
Go to any cheap restaurant, and you’ll see a sorry showing of lettuce. It usually is represented in two forms: either a single leaf of romaine, apologetically separating your burger from the bun, or the translucent, colorless chunks of a sodden iceberg that makes up the bulk of the salad you regretfully got instead of […]
Growing Garlic
So you love garlic, and you are ready to take the leap into growing garlic on your own. This culinary staple is easy to grow and has a long shelf life, to keep your kitchen stocked all year. Look no further than this article for the basics of growing garlic, along with some tips, tricks, […]
How To Build A Worm Composter
Worm boxes are excellent additions to the garden. Vermiculture (the process of using worms to decompose organic food waste) is a method of composting that’s been used for centuries. This is a guide on how to build a worm composter. This is the final product. I didn’t want to paint my worm composter, so I […]
Homestead Stories: My Great-Grandfather’s Gladiolus
I have fond memories of walking with my great-grandfather through his garden. In late August, the gladioli would be in full bloom and much taller than me. Of course, I was only a 6-year-old at the time. With clippers in hand, Great-Grandpa would cut stalks full of blooms, and carefully lay them in my outstretched […]
20 Charming Little Free Library Plans
What we all need right now is community. Whether the community you belong to is online, across the country, or right in your own neighborhood, getting to spend time with people who share your interests or hobbies is incredibly special. And if the community that you feel most connected to is your neighborhood, there are […]
6 Beautiful Plants That Like Wet Soil
When you consider gardening in a heavily watered area, it is important to know which plants will thrive. Anything, from the sun you get to the seeds you buy, can affect the growth of your plants. When people struggle to grow healthy plants, it’s often because they live in wet climates—either it rains a lot […]
Harvesting Garlic: How To Gather, Store, And Enjoy Your Garlic Harvest
There are few garden plants I know that require as little upkeep as garlic, yet require as much time as garlic. If you’ve grown this wonderfully spicy, flavorful bulb in your garden, you are well acquainted with the near-year wait time till you’re finally at the point of harvesting garlic. You also know that the […]
Canning
For several years after I started cooking and farming, I avoided canning. It intimidated me. I was afraid of making someone sick. I was overwhelmed by recipes. I didn’t have any of the special equipment or know-how. Canning seemed complicated, technical, and elite. Best to leave it to the experts, I figured. I couldn’t have been […]
Creeping Thyme: A Beautiful Groundcover To Replace Your Lawn
“Is it edible?” I asked. I had to know. “Some say it is,” my friend replied. I bent down and ran a hand across the soft carpet of pink. A waft of something sweet filtered up to my nostrils. “It smells wonderful!” I exclaimed and stood up to further admire the display. “And oh, so […]
20 Interesting Uses for Coffee Grounds
If you drink coffee every morning or even just enjoy the occasional pot, the number of grounds left behind can really add up. Tossing those grounds into the trash may feel wasteful, but the good news is there are plenty of clever uses for coffee grounds. Not only is this helpful for your wallet, but […]
10 Fun Tire Swing Ideas for Kids and the Young at Heart
As a kid, you probably had the chance to enjoy a tire swing at least once. Whether it was at a local park or you were lucky enough to have one in your own backyard, a tire swing offered a whole afternoon of fun. Maybe you want one for yourself to relive the experience? Or […]
How To Make Easy Blackberry Wine
Midsummer comes over the horizon, and with it comes humidity, mosquitoes, firefly nights, and hard work in the garden. But one of my favorite summer arrivals is wild in nature, both delicious and hazardous. It’s blackberries! The ravines and forest edges that were full of white-spangled spring brambles are now absolutely loaded with free fruit […]
How To Store Apples
It sounds like the title of a Hulu-only horror movie but it’s a fact: Picked apples are alive! “Fruit does not die when harvested,” cautions agricultural experts at Iowa State University. “It remains a living organism that continues to take in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide.” After an apple is picked, it eats itself […]
Homestead Stories: Yellow Bells
When I lived on Vancouver Island, I enjoyed countless hikes in the untamed (or so it was then) wilderness. Especially in the spring when the lower mountain slopes were covered in a carpet of luscious yellow bells. With narrow leaves that project along the length, every erect stem supported one, sometimes two, yellow, bell-shaped flowers. […]
How To Store Potatoes Properly For Year-Round Use
Potatoes have been a staple food for centuries all over the globe. They seem to be extremely versatile and a survivor of ages. When you think of potatoes, I bet there are several different ways to cook them that come to mind. Boiled, broiled, baked, roasted, fried, or mashed — and that’s just the different ways […]
How To Store Onions For Fresh Garden Flavor All Year Long
Onions are an essential ingredient in a great many main dishes, appetizers, salads, slaws, soups, stews, and sauces. In fact, onions are the third most consumed vegetable worldwide. And you can enjoy them long after their harvest when you learn how to store onions properly. With proper handling and storage, it’s easy to store onions […]
20 Soothing DIY Wind Chimes
Wind chimes: They’re soothing, relaxing, and add a beautiful, decorative addition to your garden or backyard. Wind chimes come in basically any color, material, size, and price tag, and nowadays, you can find some pretty artistic options on Etsy and at other retailers. But if you’re the do-it-yourself type that wants the ultimate satisfaction of […]
Watch These Cacti Bloom Bright, Mesmerizing Flowers [Video]
When you bought a cactus for your home or office, you were probably fascinated by its shape, color, or unique spiky characteristics. But if you’re lucky enough to see them bloom, the cacti’s flower may become your new favorite part of the plant. This video from National Geographic gives us the opportunity to see 15 […]
Helpful Tips For Planting And Growing Tea In Your Own Backyard
A cup of tea is like a warm hug. I prefer strong coffee to jumpstart my day, but tea is my hot beverage of choice when it’s time to unwind in the late afternoon or evening. There’s something soothing about the earthy flavor of tea. Most tea comes from a single species of plant called […]
10 Functional And Productive Vegetable Garden Plans
Everyone struggles with garden design. Whether you have a small patio garden or a 20-acre farm, you want to be able to grow vegetables for your family and not have it be all-consuming. Make the most of your yard by using raised beds and putting them in underappreciated parts of the yard. These vegetable garden […]
Homestead Stories: Creeping Avens
“A rose?” I glanced at my friend. Was she pulling my leg? I knew she loved roses, but to claim this bloom as a rose? “No way! Too poofy. It looks more like cotton candy.” “Cotton candy?” She smiled. “Hardly. It’s called creeping avens (Geum reptans) and it’s definitely part of the rose family.” “No […]
13 Creative DIY Screen Door Ideas and Important Details to Consider
Installing a screen door allows a delightful cross breeze through the whole house without the worry of insects invading your living space. Screen doors keep bugs, birds, bats, and airborne debris from entering the home while allowing for light, air, and outdoor views. However, screen doors only perform that function if the screen is undamaged, […]
26 Affordable Shoe Rack Ideas To De-Clutter Your Space
The current shoe rack situation in my home is not ideal. We’ve struggled to find a way to store shoes in our tiny, awkward entryway. When my husband came home with plastic racks from the hardware store last year, I admitted defeat. The stackable plastic shelves are practical, but they’re so utilitarian that I’m itching […]
12 Beneficial Plants That Attract Dragonflies To The Garden
Swat! My right hand slapped my arm. “One down, zillions more to go.” I wasn’t one for using bug spray, and these pesky mosquitoes were leaving their itchy mark — though I’d tried herbal alternatives to the chemically-based bug sprays. Even the mentholated smell of Vicks VapoRub had a minimal effect on these pests. Besides, […]
6 Reasons to Overcome Your Fear Of Spiders On The Homestead
I flipped open the new issue of my local conservation department’s magazine. Filled with gorgeous photography and information about nature in my state, I often learned things I had never known about the forests and fields around my homestead. But as I glanced at the letters to the editor, I put down my tea mug […]
13 Effective Homemade Face Wash Recipes
Take a look at the label on your face wash. Does it have a long list of ingredients that you can barely pronounce (let alone identify what they are)? Does it include things like parabens, phthalates, and formaldehyde? Nowadays, you’ll find these ingredients in all sorts of skin and hair care products because they’re a […]
8 Meat Chickens To Consider Raising For Your Table
Many of us, unsatisfied and even disgusted with the treatment and quality of animals in the food processing industry, have begun homesteading as a way to reclaim food responsibility. On that journey, we discover the joy of raising meat chickens as a small-scale declaration of independence. Chickens are an ideal animal to start with when […]
Homestead Stories: St. Benedict’s Herb
“A rose is a rose is a rose,” I muttered as I worked through my herb garden. “Unless, of course, it’s St. Benedict’s herb.” The shady perennial plant from the rose family (Rosaceae) has many names: Geum urbanum, Wood or City Avens, Herb Bennet, Colewort, Blessed herb, Goldy, Star of the Earth, and the one […]
10 Of The Best Vine Plants To Add To Your Landscape
Are you looking to up your landscaping game this year? Have you considered adding vining or climbing plants? Vine plants can add a unique, vertical element to any landscape. Use them to climb walls, archways, gazebos, and pergolas or for trellises and fences. You can even plant smaller vine plants in hanging containers and watch them […]
10 Houseplants Safe For Cats
It seems like everyone has houseplants these days. This decor trend is well-received since there are many benefits to having houseplants. Not only will houseplants add a pop of color to your home, but they’ll also help to keep the air clean and fresh with no effort from you. But what if you have cats? Remember the phrase […]
15 Calming Meditation Room Ideas
Meditating at home can be a real challenge, especially when you don’t have a dedicated space in your house or apartment. When you’re meditating or practicing yoga, it can be really easy to get distracted by the items around you: the cluttered bookshelf, dirty dishes in the sink, or kid’s toys piled up in the […]
17 Of The Best Hanging Plants To Add Beautiful Greenery To Your Home
One of the most recent trends in home decor includes adding greenery to your home. Hanging baskets allow you to grow beautiful plants without sacrificing counter space. Hanging plants can add greenery inside your home and have been proven over and over to have positive impacts on your health and the air quality in your […]
12 Delicious And Savory Venison Tenderloin Recipes
Serving family and friends properly cooked cuts of venison (deer, elk, moose, or antelope) is one of the finest rewards of hunting. Venison or other wild game can be prepared much the same way as you would prepare beef or pork: grilled, smoked, fried, baked, or broiled. If you want backstrap and tenderloins to be […]
Homestead Stories: Edible Wild Violets
“Don’t cut the grass over there!” My husband ran toward me as I was finishing the weekly lawn routine. “I wasn’t planning to,” I replied, and shut off the motor. “But why?” “All the violets are in bloom.” And they were. All through the grass in a patch in front of my garden window. Purple, […]
20 Smart Uses For Shredded Paper Around The Home
Many people use a lot more paper than they should. From printing to scribbling down notes, it’s easy to waste paper without even realizing it. Finding ways to reuse paper scraps around the home can help folks cut down on paper-based waste and put shredded paper products to good use. So before you toss those […]
Identifying, Treating, And Preventing Bumblefoot In Chickens
Generally speaking, chickens are pretty healthy animals, and once they’re grown, they usually require little medical care from their owners. With that said, one of the most common ailments that adult chickens can get is a condition called bumblefoot. Luckily, bumblefoot is preventable and treatable. Severe cases of bumblefoot can cause your chickens a ton of […]
How To Catch A Chicken: 6 Simple Methods That Actually Work
An escaped chicken can give you a run for your money if they aren’t ready to be caught. Naturally, chickens are faster than humans and their small bodies allow them to slip under objects and get a head start on us. Thankfully, there are a few tricks that make learning how to catch a chicken easier. Prevent […]
Homestead Stories: Alexander’s Great Siberian Bugloss
I love my hostas — large-leafed with many varieties of color (mostly green) combinations. Tall stems covered in tiny flowers; it’s a great ground cover. The only problem with hostas is the deer love them too. To say they eat them is an understatement. They devour them! Just as the plants are ready to shoot […]
Candling Eggs: How To Do It And When You Should
Owning chickens and other backyard poultry is an amazing experience. One of the best parts about raising backyard chickens is an abundant supply of fresh eggs. But if you find yourself with an overabundance of eggs, you might start considering ways you can use them up or get rid of them. A profitable way to get […]
A Beginner’s Guide To Restoring Cast Iron
Let’s say you’re walking down the aisle of an antique store, mildly browsing the booths, hunting for treasure. All of a sudden, there! You see it. A cast iron skillet. Sure, there are rust spots, and it looks like it hasn’t seen service for a few decades, but you’re smart enough to know this thing […]
Grow Healthy, Flavorful Fruit With The Best Fertilizer For Tomatoes
“You get your tomatoes in yet?” My neighbor smiled with his usual good-natured grin, but there was no denying the competitive edge to his voice. This was no mere neighborly exchange. It was the opening to a summer-long challenge where plants were pawns and bragging rights, the prize. As a newcomer to the Ozarks, I […]
20 Fun Sewing Projects To Tackle This Weekend
Sewing, a skill that lasts a lifetime, is an integral part of the homestead lifestyle. The hands-on, learn-as-you-go experience of creating something useful and beautiful with your own hands, is simply irreplaceable. For decades, homesteaders excelled at mending and sewing to ensure their families were warm and properly clothed. For today’s modern homesteader, sewing is […]
30 Gorgeous Flower Box Ideas To Welcome Summer To Your Home
Pop a flower box underneath your home’s front window, add one to your porch railing, or put a few around your patio. Colorful blooms add instant curb appeal and are an easy, inexpensive way to jazz up your home’s exterior. There are so many different flower box ideas to consider, and they’re easy to customize […]
10 Beneficial Ways To Use Epsom Salt For Plants
Epsom salt is an all-natural, time-tested mineral compound composed of magnesium, sulfate, and oxygen. Not only does it make bathwater soft and silky, but a long, relaxing soak in a hot bath full of Epsom salt brings soothing relief from the aches and pains of a long day digging in the dirt. But Epsom salt […]
How To Make Yaupon Tea For A Delicious Alternative To Coffee
I love caffeine. There are some naturally occurring resources that offer similar caffeinated effects, but they aren’t caffeine. One day, I was doing some wild edibles research and stumbled across an article that was talking about yaupon tea and how to prepare it. I was immediately intrigued and dug deeper. I had seen yaupon holly […]
Farmhouse Bedroom Inspiration For Your Rustic Home
If you’re thinking of redecorating your bedroom, consider a farmhouse-inspired look for an ultra-cozy feel. Revamp your boring sleeping nook into something rustic and romantic. If you’re not ready for a complete remodel, pick and choose a few of these decor items to try out this interior design trend. What are the main components of […]
9 Beneficial Uses For Grass Clippings
Many people around the world cut their grass, and either leave the clippings right where the lawnmower spits them out, or toss them into the yard waste bin. While those are perfectly fine ways to dispose of them, there are several beneficial uses for grass clippings around the homestead. Ever since I was a little […]
20 Ways To Use The 5-Gallon Bucket: The Most Useful Tool On The Homestead
We homesteaders love our tools. We hang them from our belts, carry them until the handles show the impression of our hands, and use them to accomplish amazing things. As we keep our acres and animals in good working order, certain items start to become near extensions of our arms and take on their own […]
How To Grow Victory Gardens
During both World War I and World War II, people with land (even small parcels) planted victory gardens — also known as war gardens or food gardens for defense. It was a means to feed the family, to supplement the restrictions enforced with rationing, and to ease the food chain. Victory gardens provided people with […]