… and easily trade cost and environmental impact, for time! “Do laundry”… what does that mean to most of us?ย It means carting a large pile of clothes in a bin or basket to one’s home washer and dryer, or if you’re one of the many unfortunate bunch like me, you cart it to a […]
Search Results for: tea-infuser
Worm Bin Essentials: Getting Started with Vermiculture
Starting a worm bin can feel overwhelming – where do I keep it? What kind of worms do I need? What if it smells awful? What if I kill my worms? Not to worry! Humans have been throwing food scraps in a pile for thousands of years. Worm bins are a great way to turn […]
Indoor Pizza Ovens
Dreaming! and completely decadent unless you also cook multiple items in the warmed-up masonry. If you are going to opt for a wood-fired oven in your kitchen, do investigate including a masonry heater, as they retain much of the heat from the fire. Most of the stoves featured on this page were built with pizza […]
Fresh Drinking Water Resources & Links
Inspiration Green Fresh Water Resources. Links to water associations and organizations. Info on conservation, data, water and climate change, fresh water research organizations and much more.
The 4 Types of Solar Cookers
Downing trees or gathering sticks to fuel stoves is a major cause of deforestation and desertification. But if you could get that fuel free from the sun… The Panel Solar Cooker The Panel Solar Cooker uses reflective panels to focus sunlight onto a pot. These work best in tropical climates or in the warmer months
Charcoal Stick Filters
Charcoal Stick Filters
Safe Cosmetics
Safe Cosmetics
Chemical Fertilizer Issues
The Issues with Chemical Fertilizers
Upcycling Dinner Plates And Old China
Reuse of old plates, china, porcelain, and dishes. Yvonne Ellen homeware. Yvonne paints or decals contemporary and quirky illustrations on vintage plates and other china. Each piece is original and no two designs are alike.ย www.etsy.com Yvonne Ellen homeware. www.etsy.com Yvonne Ellen homeware. Antique plates with decals. www.etsy.com Yvonne Ellen homeware. Combining vintage items with contemporary
Wood Fired Pottery
Humans have been enamoured of wood fired ceramics for thousands of years. Yet since the invention of electric and gas kilns, wood firing was pushed aside by many. Fortunately the unique beauty of wood fired pottery is again becoming a highly appreciated art form throughout the world. (The Japanese have always held wood fired ceramics
10 Creative Upcycling Ideas Anyone – Even the Non-Crafty – Can Do
Not everyone is that crafty, and you might feel that you don’t have what it takes to upcycle anything worth keeping. But never fear – there are plenty of interesting and easy-to-make items that make upcycling a breeze.
Cereal Box Art
Cap n Crunch by Michael Albert. www.cerealism.com Lost in my Life (boxes), by Rachel Perry Welty, 2009, Pigment Print, available: 30 x 20 inches, Edition of 6; 56 x 35 inches, Edition of 6; 90 x 60 inches, Edition of 3. www.rachelperrywelty.com Hayes Trotter paints on recycled cereal and snack boxes. jordanartpartners.com The Pledge of
Angelo Musco
Mimics nature’s structures with the human form…hundreds of models, multiplied millions of times. Angelo was born in Naples, Italy and moved to New York City in 1997. Ovum, 2011. The human body (2 million of them in this image) is the artistโs medium. “He melds bodies like hundreds of brush strokes, creating large compositions that
Acronyms
Green Acronyms & Abbreviations A A Ampere AAAS American Association for the Advancement of Science AABW Antarctic Bottom Water AAC Antarctic Convergence AAIW Antarctic Intermediate Water A AMS Arctic Air Mass AAMW Australasian Mediterranean Water ABL Atmospheric Boundary Layer ABW Arctic Bottom Water or Antarctic Bottom Water AC Alternating Current ACC Antarctic Circumpolar Current ACIA
Best Dehydrator Recipes
If you’re lucky enough to have an overabundance of fruit, veggies, or meat, you also have a problem. How to preserve this bounty? Refrigeration may only keep the stuff fresh for a few days. Freezing? Maybe a few monthsโless if your power happens to go out. Dehydration is the best way to store food for
DIY Soap Recipes
As an urban homesteading enthusiast, I definitely have the DIY bug. Gardening, landscaping, and chickens are all great for outdoor ideas, but in rainy Seattle itโs nice to find an indoor project too. I love all of the crazy scents available at our local farmers market (thai basil & lemongrass?!), that I chose this as
Maine Solar
Going solar? Good call. Itโs the right choice for your pocketbook and for the climate. If everyone in Maine used solar power, it would take 8 billion pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every yearโaccording to the EPAโs greenhouse gas calculator, thatโs the equivalent of planting a forest that would cover 15% of the
Wrought Iron Fences
Offering timeless romance and unrivaled strength, wrought iron has beenย trending since the 16th century. What’s the right style for your homesteadโutilitarian security-oriented fences or artistic statement accessories? Letโs explore. Wrought Iron in History Allow me to share a short history of wrought iron with you: ย royals of past (think Louis XIV, even olโ Al the
๐ Homestead Gear Reviews
Reviews of our favorite homesteading gear and guides to help you make more sustainable purchasing decisions. Gardening & Lawn Care Reviews Electric Lawn Mowers: Best Electric Lawn Mower Reviews Best Corded Electric Lawn Mowers Best Cordless Electric Lawn Mowers Best Robot Lawn Mowers Best Push Lawn Mowers Gardening & Lawn Equipment: Best Work Gloves Best
Outdoor Patio Furniture
More people are choosing to spend their limited leisure time with Mother Nature, in the form of backyard living. Enjoying our backyards has long been part of sunny summer days and crisp autumn nights, but now, weโre extending more of our indoor living activities into the outdoors. Things like outdoor kitchens and bars, televisions, furniture
How To Grow Hops In Your Backyard
We live in the rugged mountains of Western North Carolina. Some question the suitability of growing hops here, or think that growing hops is a new idea. To some it may be new, but those of us who are native to this area know differently. You only have to look back into the Agricultural Census
Live Edge Slab Furniture
Although it may seem like the modernized live edge wood slab furniture is a relatively new trend, it began and was popularized back in the 1940โs by furniture designer George Nakashima. The widespread appeal is easy to understand. Each piece is unique, telling its own story, and standing out as the focal point of the
8 Toxic Chemicals in Conventional Dish Soap
Choosing organic produce is important, but so is making sure that the dishes you use to cook and eat aren’t washed in toxic chemicals. Here are some common bad guys to avoid and why you should give them the boot from your kitchen.
Rustic Dining Tables
Thereโs something about a dining room table that suggests so much more than a practical piece of furniture. If you look carefully, you can almost see the story being told. The faded spot where the stain has worn off at the head of the table where Dad always sits with his coffee and his newspaper.
Soil Testing
The gardenerโs greatest asset is healthy soil. No matter where you are or what you are trying to grow, taking care of your soil will help your crops. Learning soil science can be overwhelming. It involves lots of chemistry, and you can easily get lost in technical details. We are here to help, with this
Polish
Characteristics With an eye-popping headdress, the Polish chicken isnโt your average bird. Ornately decorated with a head-encircling spray of feathers, sometimes a beard, and a wide array of colors, these crested cuties are the darling of the exhibition hall. But why limit their good looks to the catwalk? Perhaps this centuries-old breed could bring a
๐ Soil Building & Composting Resources
Great gardening starts at the source: the soil. Permaculturists, biologists, and farmers have argued for decades that soil is the key to a successful garden and farm. Healthy soil promotes strong roots, a hearty supply of microbes, and all of the nutrients your plants need to thrive. Soil is just as important as water and
Growing Herbs Indoors
The long, cold, winter months or even the fate of living in a small apartment are not enough to stifle the need for fresh herbs. The smell of basil, the sight of green cilantro, is something that we should be able to enjoy all year round, no matter where we live. If itโs the weather,
How To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes (Without All Of The Chemicals)
Nothing ruins a lazy, summer afternoon with a book and a tall glass of iced tea like a swarm of hungry mosquitoes. They buzz, they fly, they pinch and bite. Not to mention they can carry dangerous diseases that they can pass on to you and your family this summer. Come June and July youโll
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 find. If you are in a situation where you need to cut back on living expenses to stretch your budget, reducing the amount
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, magazines, cups, glasses, dinner, and letโs be honest, sometimes laundry. Related Post: Rustic Coffee Tables There is no reason why we shouldnโt
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 room beautifully. Natural dyes, dyes, or ants, as they are called, are derived from plants, invertebrates or minerals. Most natural dyes
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 as a beautiful piece of home dรฉcor. The options for storage benches are endless. Weโre using them in our living rooms,
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 maintenance of a real fireplace, along with it not being terribly environmentally friendly, makes some people reconsider having one at all.
Handmade Holiday Gift Idea: DIY Infused Vodkas
A bottle of vodka infused with your own creative blends of local fruit and organic spices also makes a great gift for those that imbibe.
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 vinegar, a legendary herb and vinegar infusion believed to protect against the plague. The story goes that a group of thieves was caught robbing
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 to keep the eggs coming. We figure, if they naturally take a break for the season, we’ll let them follow
Everything Basil
Of all the herbs, basil is by far my favorite. The sweet, subtle aroma washes over me like velvet. And the taste? It certainly embellishes many of my savory dishes with flair. The benefits of this luscious herb are multiple. And the best part is that itโs easy to grow, both indoors and out. Consequently,
Chia Seeds Vs. Flax Seeds: What’s the Difference?
We hear a lot about the benefits of eating seeds. But when it comes to the goodness of chia seeds vs. flax seeds, do you know the differences? I’m learning.
Vegan Bulletproof Coffee
You can skip the butter and coconut oil: this vegan bulletproof coffee is so delicious, making a great morning or afternoon treat, with the benefit of healthy coconut oils and superfood maca.
Zero-Waste Grocery Shopping for Beginners
Iโm always ready to take on a new eco-challenge. Inspired by trash-free enthusiast Lauren Singer, this month I tried zero-waste grocery shopping, and it was awesome!
Herb Gardening 101
Planning and planting an organic herb garden is a traditional part of the homestead lifestyle goal of self-sufficiency. Growing rare and beautiful culinary and medicinal herbs is a glorious gardening experience. Herbs offer brilliant flowers, delightful fragrance, eye-catching foliage, and they are one of the easiest types of plants to grow. Think of the herbs
Wild Spinach (Goosefoot, Lamb’s Quarters)
Type: AnnualRegion: Native to the Americas, India, Australia, and South AfricaUsed For: Food, medicine, fodder, bioremediation When it comes to good advice for what you should eat, including dark, leafy greens is always at the top of any list. But with greens like organic spinach sometimes being sold at a wallet-busting $8 a pound, what is one to
Food Industry
Why You Should Keep Your Dandelions
Yellow, yellow everywhere. Interspersed with the yellow, were just as plentiful white puffballs of fluff. Hardly any green. It was a dandelion haven. As a child, I recall picking dandelions as a flower bouquet for Mom or Gran. They loved them, or so they claimed, and made a big deal of placing them in water
Foraging For Wild Berries
If you are looking to find berry variety beyond what your local grocery store or farmer’s market offers, you can look to berry foraging to seek and find a delicious array of berry options in your backyard or further afield. When foraging for wild berries, you’ll learn about your environment, connect with nature, and diversify
Homestead Stories: How I Accidentally Grew Trout Lilies
When I first moved to the country, I was amazed at the bounty of both wildlife and wildflowers. I had a big job ahead of meโtidying the forested part of our property. I wanted to clear out the brambles and remove the garbage that had been randomly dumped in a place the previous owners believed
Homestead Stories: What’s False About False Solomon’s Seal?
โFalse Solomon’s seal? Whatโs that? And why is it false? Whatโs the real thing?โ Questions. Always lots of questions. Each new discovery on my country property opened up a new page of learning, understanding, and appreciating. I had been studying the knee-tall foliage that arched over my flower beds. With oval-shaped leaves draping along the
Living Off-Grid: What Itโs Actually Like
In our modern day, with cable TV shows banking off of the “weirdness” of living off the grid, the very phrase “Off-Grid” images of end-of-the-world preppers stocking up MREs and ammo, wild-haired hermits digging in the dirt for acorns and mushrooms, or maybe criminals attempting to elude capture. But if you visited our off-grid homestead,
How To Get Rid Of Gophers
Thereโs nothing like planting a beautiful garden, only to have burrowing animals eating your carrots and making tunnels through your lettuce patch. Despite being cute and fluffy, gophers are a farm and garden pest. Along with rabbits and field mice, gophers are some of the most common mammals that disrupt growing crops. There are plenty