Have you seen this plant in your garden? If you have, you probably have a lot of it. Itโs purslane, one of the most persistent weeds in North America. Have you seen this leafy green in your salad? Itโs purslane, a leafy green that was enjoyed by early Americans like Martha Washington. It was cultivated […]
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Chickweed
Type: AnnualRegion: Native in all temperate regions; found naturalized worldwideUsed For: Food, medicine, fodderSeason: Year-round, but particularly in the spring and fall Crisp, sweetly fresh-tasting, and quite literally, growing in the cracks of the sidewalk, chickweed is a plentiful and delicious wild edible that’s usefulness is belied by its humble stature. Excellent as a salad
Cattle Breeds: The Best for Milk and Meat
Raising cattle might be worth trying as a way to expand your homesteading horizons. Raising cattle can supply you and your family with homegrown meat and dairy products while teaching your kids valuable life lessons. Owning cows can also provide a second income if you’re interested in selling meat and dairy products at the market.
Pendant Lighting: 30 Rustic, Modern, And Farmhouse Options
We’ve all been there. You move into a new house or apartment, and everything seems perfect until you realize just how dark certain parts of your home are. Or, you find your dream home, but the 90s light fixtures are begging for an update. When you’re lighting your home, your options include recessed lighting, chandeliers,
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.
15 Trellis Plants For Your Wall, Pergola, And Arbor
Pergolas, arbors, and trellises look mighty boring without a plant wrapped around their nooks and crannies. But why should you bother finding trellis plants to cover your garden structure? It might be to provide privacy, add a decorative element, or save space in a small area. And if youโve run out of room on the
20 DIY Wall Art Ideas To Give Your Home Some Personality
Wall art provides the finishing touch to a room and can pull an entire space together. The addition of wall art creates a focal point, adds texture, offers a splash of color, and shows the unique personality that makes your space feel like home. Here are 20 amazing DIY wall art projects to spruce up
How To Grow, Harvest, And Use The Humble Fennel Plant
We didnโt go to farmers’ markets often when I was a kid. When we did, my dad always purchased a fennel bulb with the huge spray of feathery leaves that make it so attractive. I think he liked how it looked sticking out of the bag he carried. He would rip off a few leaves,
Lard: What It Is And How To Use It
Lard is a type of animal fat specifically derived from a pig. Itโs available both rendered and as unrendered fat. When fatty cuts of pork are cooked, lard is the liquid left behind. Its primary use is culinary, and itโs often used as a replacement for other types of fat in a variety of cuisines.
17 Effective DIY Dishwasher Detergent Recipes
Iโm probably one of the few people in this world who loves doing dishes — I love to load up the dishwasher and forget them, that is! Washing dishes by hand is an annoying and time-consuming task. And did you know it often uses more water than dishwashers? Handwashing dishes can use up to 27
20 Homemade Floor Cleaners For A Sparkly Clean House
Mopping is one of my least favorite chores. At least, it was until I stopped using store-bought cleaners and transitioned to homemade solutions. The store-bought stuff never seemed to clean my floors (they’re mainly wood, laminate, and tiles) and left them feeling tacky to the touch. I also hated the odor of anything store-bought. Everything
10 Types Of Moss For Your Garden
Thereโs something mysterious and intriguing about moss. Maybe itโs because of the way it drapes over trees and rocks in places like the Hoh Rain Forest of Washington state. It looks like a land outside time. Or maybe itโs a bit of residual childlike wonder from the days we were small enough to crouch on
Growing Swiss Chard
If a garden was a high school movie drama, tomatoes would be the prom queen cheerleader, corn would be the basketball star jock, fennel would be the weird kid who dislocates his fingers and thinks itโs entertaining, and Swiss chard would be the really nice, helpful girl who just isnโt popular. And I think thatโs
Homestead Stories: St. Benedict’s Herb
โA rose is a rose is a rose,โ I muttered as I worked through my herb garden. โUnless, of course, itโs St. Benedictโs herb.โ 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
12 Beneficial Plants That Attract Dragonflies To The Garden
Swat! My right hand slapped my arm. โOne down, zillions more to go.โ I wasnโt one for using bug spray, and these pesky mosquitoes were leaving their itchy mark — though Iโd tried herbal alternatives to the chemically-based bug sprays. Even the mentholated smell of Vicks VapoRub had a minimal effect on these pests. Besides,
Homestead Stories: Creeping Avens
โA rose?โ I glanced at my friend. Was she pulling my leg? I knew she loved roses, but to claim this bloom as a rose? โNo way! Too poofy. It looks more like cotton candy.โ โCotton candy?” She smiled. “Hardly. Itโs called creeping avens (Geum reptans) and it’s definitely part of the rose family.โ โNo
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
Homestead Stories: Beautiful Wild Asters Galore
Generally speaking, I donโt like fall. Why? It precedes winter โ which is a long, cold, nongrowing, nongardening season that seems to stretch on forever. However, I do enjoy some of the pretty colors and flowers of fall, particularly wild asters. The tiny, purple (both dark and light purple) and white flowers pop up everywhere
20 Cozy Fall Soup Recipes to Try When the Weather Gets Cool
There is just something about the crisp air of autumn that brings out a desire for a delicious hot fall soup. Butternut squash is ripe and abundant, pumpkins are in their prime, and so many other delectables are available — leading to crockpots full of fresh soups and stews. Some soups are thick and creamy
Homestead Stories: The Stinky and Captivating Konjac Plant
โWhatโs that smell?โ I wrinkled my nose. โIt smells like rotting meat.โ โItโs my newest addition to the garden,โ my friend explained. โI decided to plant it far away from the house.โ โThat thing over there?โ I asked. โItโs huge!โ โThe worldโs largest flower.โ My friend was gleeful. โItโs called the konjac plant.โ โImpressive.โ My
15 Weird and Wonderful Tropical Fruit Trees for Tropical Homesteads
Living in the tropics allows the homesteader to go wild with unique tropical fruit trees and shrubs. You really canโt get a better climate for fruit production. The majority of the tropics worldwide are completely frost free with warm and humid weather year-round. In other words, exactly what most fruits need to thrive. Sure, you
Different Ways to Cook Wild Greens
One of the delights of foraging is realizing just how much food is –quite literally –beneath your feet. It can be exhilarating to go out into the field or forest with a basket in hand, and return with free berries, nuts, and more greens than you can shake a stick at. Watch The Video But
Shutting Down the Garden for Winter Checklist
Thereโs a huge amount of anticipation when the first frost is close. It sometimes feels like youโre preparing for some sort of icy nighttime raid. Should you panic-pick all the remaining green tomatoes and beans tonight, or try to ride it out for another week in hopes that theyโll ripen? Should you cover the beds,
8 Best Plants for Clay Soil
Clay soil can be a challenge for gardeners. However, some plants can tolerate and benefit from those growing conditions. Shallow-rooted vegetables, for example, can tolerate clay, and others can benefit from the stability of heavy clay soil. Root crops like potatoes and daikon radishes help break up clay. One of the issues with rich clay
6 Reasons You Should Have Flowers in Your Vegetable Garden
With self-sufficiency as the someday goal, my first gardening days were purely practical. I browsed through seed catalogs with an iron will, bypassing the flower sections with a steely gaze — and a resolved set to my jaw. I was convinced I didn’t need that flouncy, frivolous, floral frippery in my veggie patch. I was
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.
The Greenpeace Australia GMO Wheat Action: A Sad Day For Bread. A Sad Day For Science
On July, 14, three Greenpeace activists dressed in hazmat suits scaled a fence, and used weed whips to destroy a GMO wheat experiment in Canberra, Australia. The experiment was being conducted by CSIRO (the USDA equivalent for Australia). The activists posted video of the attack on You Tube. They also posted “explanations” by activists who could
10 Ground Cover Plants to Replace Your Grass Lawn
Though it’s outside, there’s really nothing all that natural about the picture-perfect lawn. Artificially grown, watered, fertilized, and maintained, it’s a strange picture of modernity. We’ve made our case against the “normal” patch of featureless fescue, and if you agree with us, perhaps you’re ready to change up the backyard for something new and less