“So let me get this straight. You want me to pull the electric pump out so you can put in a manual pump?” My husband and I nodded at the man who had come to remove our broken electric pump. He scratched the back of his head, a funny sort of half-smile creasing his cheeks. “You know, […]
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How to Store Garlic
A staple in homestead gardens, garlic is easy to plant, easy to maintain, easy to harvest, and transports and stores well. With a little effort, homesteaders can grow garlic for home consumption and a supplemental cash crop. Garlic: fresh, pickled, dehydrated, packed in olive oil, or used to season savory edibles, is always a big […]
20 DIY Countertops For Your Kitchen Remodel
When you first bought your house, the kitchen might have been the selling point. You loved the open layout, the large island for entertaining guests, the wood floors, and the sleek countertops. Then 10 years later, you find yourself wondering what happened to that gorgeous kitchen you fell in love with. Though there might be […]
Homestead Stories: Growing Wedding Flowers
I am the do-it-yourself type. Why hire someone to do it if you can do it yourself? This is my mantra, and part of the reasoning behind this mentality of mine is saving money. I am not cheap, but I am frugal. The main reason I enjoy tackling all sorts of projects is the experience […]
Homestead Stories: Strange Names for Beautiful Flowers
I have seen, grown, and written about some pretty unusual flowers – unusual in the fact they have unique names. There was the story I wrote about Jack-in-the-pulpit and the story about the black bat flower, but there are more unusual names for flowers, and some that might seem a little too bizarre. Like the flying duck […]
Moving from City to Country: The Long-Term Transition
When we moved from a city of 200,000 to a homestead in a hilly, Ozark town of 2,000 residents, my husband and I fully anticipated there would be an adjustment period. As I wrote in my first article for Insteading, there are many moments of “culture shock” that could affect this urban-fled, aspiring country bumpkin. […]
Dwarf Fruit Trees
When landscape professionals talk about dwarf trees, they refer to trees both deciduous and evergreen that are explicitly cultivated to remain small and manageable. If space is limited, dwarf fruit trees are the ideal solution for both visual impact and fruit production in small gardens. Dwarf fruit trees are generally short trees with broad canopies […]
Clever Tips For Growing The Artichoke Plant
Artichokes are beautiful and interesting plants to grow, and if you have space, they can be an incredibly delicious addition to your garden. An artichoke plant has the unique distinction of being one of the few perennial vegetables that come back season after season if cared for well. They can survive about 4 to 8 years. […]
Bunk Bed Plans
Oh, bunk beds. If you had a sibling growing up, chances are that fights ensued over who got the top bunk. The oldest almost always won, and the great pillow fight wars were never-ending. Even if you were an only child, bunk beds made every sleepover with a friend more special. They created a world […]
Cardoon Plant
Cardoon isn’t a vegetable you’ll find at the supermarket, and maybe not even at a farmers’ market. This spiky, stalky relative of the artichoke is a delicacy, especially in the US. You’re more likely to find it in Italy, France, Spain, and North Africa. A Mediterranean climate is perfect growing conditions for this tough looking […]
20 Smoker Recipes
Heat, air, and smoke. There’s something almost primal about the satisfying taste experience of eating food infused with the flavor of wood smoke. As Chef Ben Vaughn says of smoking, “it only takes a little effort to turn the average cut of meat into something spectacular.” Not just a flavoring technique, smoking is also a […]
Morel Mushroom Hunting
It’s spring in Minnesota when the trees are sporting their new green leaves and the ground is warm and damp. It’s also time to get into the woods and look for morel mushrooms. Morel hunting has become one of my favorite springtime traditions. My husband Adam, introduced me to morels several years ago. I still […]
How To Make Soothing Cherry Honey Cough Drops
It’s cold and flu season and that means one of two things. It’s either time to stock up on cough drops OR it’s time to make your own at home! It seems like I never have cough drops on hand when I need them, so when a cold hit our family this winter, I decided […]
10 Smart Small Kitchen Ideas
Small kitchens can be challenging. Especially when you love to cook and entertain. It’s easy to feel the walls caving in when you have a few cabinets open and the pot is about to boil over and your kids are asking when dinner will be ready. Before you do something rash — like throw a […]
How To Make Compost Tea
Compost tea is enjoying a huge surge of popularity in the gardening world. Sometimes called the “liquid gold” of gardening, this nutrient-rich, microbe-rich liquid is hailed as a disease preventative for your garden and a super-boost of nutrition for your soil. But what is this “tea” in the first place, and why is it such […]
Homestead Stories: Forcing Indoor Flowering Bulbs
I looked at the display of potted tulips and daffodils in the grocery store and let out a deep sigh. Each flower was perfectly coiffed, the stems standing tall and pristine, the display awash with color. If only they were in my garden. Too early for that. With several feet of snow and ice, it […]
DIY Headboard: 25 Ideas To Tie Your Bedroom Together
There’s something about a headboard that ties a bedroom together. A set of fresh sheets, a fluffy duvet, and a decorative bed frame are important bedroom elements, but a headboard is the icing on the cake. Typically, though, headboards come with a hefty price tag: You can end up spending anywhere from $300-$1000 on a […]
5 DIY Beeswax Projects
I love beeswax. It’s all-natural, versatile, and smells amazing. I used to use soy wax for everything I did, but after switching to beeswax, I have no idea why I ever used soy! I’m big into DIY projects, anything that can help me be a little more self-reliant while also saving money … I’m all […]
30 Kitchen Shelves To Declutter Your Space
Your kitchen serves many purposes. It’s the place where you make your morning cup of coffee and pack the kids’ lunches. It’s also where you cook your famous macaroni, and above all, spend time with the ones that you love. There’s a reason that the party always ends up moving to the kitchen. There’s something […]
DIY Pokeberry Ink
I love experimenting and creating things! The very first time I made pokeberry ink I was just playing around and had no real instructions. I suppose you could say I was just going with the flow. I had so many poke plants in my yard, and I didn’t want to see them just shrivel up […]
13 Savvy Small Bathroom Ideas
Whether you live in an apartment, a tiny house, or a Harry Potter closet, small bathrooms can be a challenge, especially when you’re living with roommates, a significant other, or little ones. Not only do you have to coordinate shower and bath times, but storing away all your toiletries can get tricky. So before you […]
25 Bathroom Rugs
When you step out of your shower in the morning do you step on a towel, or even worse, the cold tile floor? Do you find yourself slipping around on the floor and leaving a trail of water everywhere? If this sounds a lot like your daily routine, you could probably benefit from a bathroom […]
Caffeine-Free Coffee Substitutes That You Can Forage In The Backyard
Coffee is something I really used to enjoy. In my memories, that roasted, dark liquid is synonymous with warm cafes, good conversation, and air perfumed with delicious aromas. But now that I’m more than a decade past college, I’m finding that my appreciation for the flavor of this ubiquitous American beverage is quickly being eclipsed […]
Homestead Stories: The Black Bat Flower
“What is that?” I exclaimed, pointing at the black thing that sat atop a tall stem. “Black thing” was the best way I could describe it, though perhaps some avid gardeners would refer to it as deep purple. Not me! It definitely was black. With two wide flower petals flattened back like wings around what […]
5 Perennial Herbs For Fresh Garden Flavor All Year Long
Those of us with green thumbs may feel a bit of the winter blues once the first hard frost hits. Though the tender sprigs of our favorite basil and dill may look beautiful as the dawn strikes their fatally crystallized leaves, we know that soon those formerly verdant garden beds will be shriveled into a […]
Natural Roach Killer
Unless you’re a roach-loving entomologist, chances are you can’t stand having little critters all over your kitchen. Not only are they unsightly, but they are also known to be allergy triggers, especially for those who have been diagnosed with asthma. According to Pest World, cockroaches are said to spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, […]
Vegan Gift Guide: 25+ Items For Every Vegan On Your List
More and more people are turning to veganism as a compassionate and health-conscious lifestyle, so that means you probably have at least a few veg-heads in your life. And at some point, you’re going to have an occasion to give a gift to those vegan friends, family, or office mates. And to remove any anxiety […]
10 Gifts To Give That Will Change The World
Every time the holidays come around, do you find yourself wondering what in the heck you’re going to get for all those special people on your list? Chances are you have at least one relative or friend who literally never wants anything. And if you love the tradition of spoiling your loved ones during the […]
Microscopic Images Of Butterfly Wings
If you’ve ever taken a look at our microscopic images of seeds, you already know just how breathtaking tiny parts of nature can be. Especially when they’re placed under a microscope. Chris Perani has used his photography skills to create microscopic images of butterfly wings that are absolutely stunning. To create these works of art, Chris has […]
Try An Eco Friendly Christmas Tree
Upcycled, recycled, reused eco-friendly Christmas trees are a sustainable alternative to chopping down a living tree or buying a tree that’s been chopped down and shipped to you. Christmas tree farms are a classic example of monoculture, where a single crop is cultivated in a wide area. Row after row of similar trees does not make for a […]
Chia Plants: How To Grow and Harvest Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are nutritional powerhouses and have a huge range of versatility in the kitchen. They are my very favorite seed to use in the kitchen. But what about chia plants? In this article, we’re going to look at how to grow these awesome little plants that are easy to grow and beautiful to look at. […]
tentree Holiday Gift Guide
When you’re on the search for the perfect gift this holiday season, you may feel yourself completely overwhelmed and inundated by the number of newspaper advertisements and holiday sales there are to choose from. If you’re anything like us here at Insteading, you’re keeping your eye out for a high-quality gift that your family and friends […]
Farmhouse Table Plans
The dinner table is a symbol of unity. It’s where we discuss our life’s most recent events, positive and negative. It’s where we share meals with people that we love. Farmhouse tables, also known as harvest tables, enhance that familiar feeling. These strong and sturdy tables were once used as farmers’ workstations, but nowadays, they […]
12 Ingenious Everyday Borax Uses
Inexpensive and readily available, powdered borax, also known as sodium tetraborate, is a naturally occurring common boron mineral salt. Borax is a component in a diverse array of laundry soaps, bath salts, hand soaps, cleaning products, and cosmetics. It’s a product homesteaders have used for more than 100 years. First discovered in dry lakebeds of […]
Fireplace Mantels
There’s nothing quite like warming up next to the fire. Especially when it’s a fireplace in your own living room. But there’s something about a mantel-less fireplace that just seems off! A mantel adds a finishing touch to your fireplace that ties the whole room together. Though many fireplace mantels are just decorative, others offer […]
Kitchen Curtains
Picture this: You’re sitting in your kitchen, enjoying a cup of coffee, and reading the paper. A gentle breeze escapes through the window, and the sun peeks through just enough so that you can feel its warmth on your cheek. Now, this image just wouldn’t be complete without some kitchen curtains floating softly in the […]
How To Grow Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are really delicious, tasting like a mild and firm cabbage—which is basically what they are! While Brussels sprouts are available year-round in our global food economy, they are really at their peak in the Northern Hemisphere in the late summer and fall months, which is why they are a cornerstone of fall cooking […]
7 Indoor Trees To Add Some Greenery To Your Home
When one thinks of trees, visions of vast swaths of forested mountains, steamy jungles, or frosty taigas may come to mind. But not every tree needs a scenic backdrop to flourish—some can be content to live in your home with you. And you have to admit, few things can enliven a bitty apartment or a […]
35 Headboards To Tie Your Bedroom Together
When you’re decorating your bedroom, you may find yourself on the search for bed frames, dressers, armoirs, and bedside tables. But nothing will tie your space together quite like a headboard. Headboards are available in just about any style, so adding them into your current decor is simply the cherry on top! On the other […]
Growing Kale
Kale has become somewhat synonymous with the modern health movement, but this nutrient-packed green has been a bastion of good eating for centuries. In fact, there’s an old Scottish story that tells of a young doctor, traveling in search of a town to start his practice. He was advised, “If you see kale growing in […]
Fast Growing Shade Trees For Your Homestead
It always seems like you don’t realize the lack of shade in your backyard until it’s too late. You’ve already settled on a good book, put out the lawn chair, and made yourself a nice lunch when you discover that the heat of the sun is simply too much. While you could settle on a […]
The Hosta Plant
“Oh my! That hosta is huge!” I was standing in my front drive, surveying what I called the circle garden. It was encased in a rock wall that outlined a circle around a gracious, old willow tree. And the hosta was huge. Not just the expanse of the plant itself, but the leaves rivaled those […]
tentree – 10 Trees Planted For Every Item Sold
Here at Insteading, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Sustainability is the reason why we skip pesticides, collect rainwater, compost, choose solar and wind energy, and strive to live more self-sufficiently. Of course, we’re always on the search for brands that use sustainable materials and business practices. As for a company that […]
How To Get Rid Of Yellow Jackets
When you’re working your own land, there’s an inevitable moment when you find yourself butting heads with nature. You may discover a nasty poison ivy rash, a particularly troublesome patch of morning glory that you just can’t seem to eradicate, or a copperhead den smack dab in the middle of your field. But of all […]
21 Bathroom Shelves To Organize Your Space
Ah yes, the bathroom: One of the rooms that we tend to shut the door and forget about when it’s not in use. I don’t know about you, but my bathroom tends to be more of a chaotic mess than a place of zen and relaxation. When you think about your bathroom organization, chances are […]
Edible Landscaping: The Basics And Plants To Get Started
What if you could turn your yard into an edible landscape with fruits, vegetables, and herbs? Edible landscaping, also known as foodscaping, brings more homegrown foods into your life while beautifying your home landscaping. And it’s easier than you think! While a lush green lawn is lovely in its own way, edible landscaping is, as […]
7 Tips For Raising Animals In A Tiny House
As a tiny homeowner, caring for your pets shouldn’t be affected by the size of your home. Tiny living encourages you to embrace unique ways of doing things, and looking for creative storage and organization solutions is at the top of that list. This is particularly true when you consider the needs of your pets. […]
Delphinium Flowers: Beautiful But Poisonous
“What is that tall blue flower? I can see it from my kitchen window.” My neighbor was intrigued by the bursts of growth and color in my ever-expanding garden. “Delphinium,” I said. “It was here when we moved in. Stunning, isn’t it?” “It certainly is.” I thought it was more purple than blue. But the […]
19 Small Kitchen Tables For Conserving Space
Whether you’re an apartment dweller or a tiny house owner, limited kitchen and dining space can cramp your style. Small apartments tend to have a compartmentalized layout, and often times you can’t fit just any old dining table in the space. When it comes to tiny living, you have to get a bit more creative. […]
Natural Ant Killer
As impressive as ants are, what with being able to lift 50 times their body weight and building their fancy colonies, they can become a bit of a nuisance in our gardens and homes. It’s sometimes difficult to remember that ants are vital to the ecosystem and do have a positive role to play as […]
