Homesteading Archives - Page 29 of 36 - Homesteader DepotHomesteader Depot

5 Space Saving Tips for Your Garden

For most of us, space is an issue in the garden. Whether your yard is small or you just haven’t converted as much lawn into growing space as you want to so far, space can be the number one determining factor for productivity in your garden. Here is a list of 5 ways that you can help make the most of the space you do have to grow more food. Raised Beds Growing in raised beds instead of rows helps make the most of space you have. With tightly defined borders you can plant right up to edge of […]

Chickens Do More than Just Produce Eggs

If you are new to homesteading, you will find that many who practice this way of living will tell you that you should get some chickens. What is it about chickens that make them so great? Well, in addition to producing eggs, not to mention meat, they have some other benefits as well, and they could be just what your homestead needs. Chicken waste is full of nitrogen, which is very good for the soil. In fact, chickens can help to produce some of the best manure you can find for your garden. All you need to do is keep […]

DIY Vapor Rub Recipe

Cold and flu season are no fun, especially if you are experiencing bad congestion that makes it difficult to sleep, breathe and go about your daily business. Vick’s is the classic remedy for terrible congestion, but it’s actually petrolium-based, which is pretty much as bad as it sounds. Who wants to add carcongens to an over-the-counter cold remedy? This natrual and homemade alternative is not only much safer and healtier, it also smells even better and is more effecive. Also, if you make the initial purchase of these basic ingredients, the essential oils will probably last for years of many […]

How to Make a Double-Sided Draft Stop

As winter rolls in and temperatures drop, you don’t need to freeze in your own home to keep your heating bill from climbing. Drafts can be a major source of heat loss, even inside your home from unheated portions that are not in use. Here is a great instructional video with simple to follow instructions on how to make a double-sided draft stop for doors. This is only a basic demonstration, you can substitute materials to fit what you have available, like using dried pop-corn instead of the pool noodle, or an old pair of jeans instead of new fabric. […]

Benefits to Cooking with Cast Iron

Cast Iron pans may seem like a relic of the past, but they are still in use today in modern kitchens across the world because these pans have stood the test of time. So with more options than ever, why should you choose cast iron over alternatives like aluminum, stainless steel, or non-stick cookware? Here are just a few of the benefits to be had from cooking on cast iron. Avoid The “Teflon Flu” Non-stick cookware is coated with a synthetic polymer called polytetrafluorethylene, or PTFE. This coating can degrade in high temperatures (something kinda common in cooking) and […]

All About Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is a perennial herb in the mint family. It gets its name from the strong “lemony” smell of the leaves, which also have a tangy taste to them. If you aren’t currently growing some, here are a few reasons why you should start. Ease: Lemon balm is easy to start from seed and once established it needs little care. It can be grown in full sun in areas with mild weather, or in partial shade in hotter climates. Anti-viral: Lemon balm can help fight off viral infections. Sleep aid: Lemon balm has shown in tests to provide […]

Tips to Keep Rodents OUT This Winter

As the temperature drops and food sources diminish, rodents are likely to want to relocate, and your home is going to be high on their list. They might start out in your garage, attic, or crawl space, but with the reproductive rate of rodents, they will soon be spreading out from there. Allowing these furry freeloaders to share your space isn’t only likely to lead to property damage, but it will also put you and your family in proximity to diseases like the hantavirus and the bubonic plague. Here are a few steps you can take to keep rodents where […]

Homemade Root Cellar

Freezing your food is a great way to preserve it. But if your freezer breaks, there’s no reason to take it to the dump. You can still use it to preserve your food by converting it to a mini-root-cellar. You will be able to store potatoes, carrots, onions, and other crops through winter and into spring without the need for electricity. Here’s how… The first step is to remove the mechanical components. This could include Freon, which involves using more care and disposing of it properly so you don’t contaminate your area. After you have stripped the freezer you are […]

Dandelion Balm for Aches and Pains

Keeping your homestead in working order is bound to give you sore muscles, joint pain, and irritated skin from time to time. Luckily you probably have the cure outside in your lawn. Dandelions can be used in a balm to help treat soreness and skin irritation. All you need other than dandelions are some oil (olive, coconut, almond, or sunflower will work), bee’s wax, and some canning jars. How to Make Dandelion Balm Gather up all the dandelions that you have available. Next, you want to dry them out so that your balm isn’t watered down. Spread them out […]

Food That Magically Re-Grows Itself

I recently found this awesome infographic on Pinterest that depicts several foods that can regrow themselves, no garden needed! It’s from WholeFoods.com. Most of these you can do on your counter, windowsill or on your porch, and it’s a great way to re-use scraps from vegetables (which, if you’re shopping at Whole Foods, will probably have cost a lot!) This is also a fun idea for winter. As your garden dies out, you can grow celery or what have you on your countertop! Not to mention, this would be a great little science project for kids, especially homeschoolers. Why should […]

Benefits of Homesteading for the Kids

Kids today are very different from kids a hundred years ago, and the idea of homesteading and sustainable living might seem very foreign to them. This is especially true if you are introducing this sort of lifestyle to a child who has already passed a couple of years old. However, living sustainably is very important, and you need to be the one to guide the children. One of the first things you have to do is show them the importance of sustainable living. Explain to them why it is so important that they learn to reuse items and to learn […]

Using Rain Catchment Water on Your Homestead

If your homestead is off-grid, then water catchment is essential. But even if you are connected to the grid, why pay for a resource that you can get for free? No matter where your homestead is, water catchment is not an option that you should dismiss without consideration. Why use Water Catchment? If your homestead is off-grid then you will either have to haul water, or run a generator to power a pump to get your water. Both of these options require you to have a steady supply of fuel for either your vehicle, or your generator, and that […]

Brewing Mead at Home

Winter’s coming up, and on top of being cold, it can be boring! You’re stuck inside, there aren’t many chores to take care of, things to do or fun to have. With lots of free indoor time during winter, it’s a great time to try your hand at brewing some mead! It’s lots of fun to drink as well. If you’re a fan of fermenting already or simply would like to give brewing a try, it’s a great fermenting project for winter time. Why Brew Mead? If you’ve never heard of mead, it is essentially wine brewed with honey […]

3 Ways to Save on Raising a Dog

Dogs can be expensive to keep, but they don’t have to be! You can maintain a high quality of life for your dog while cutting costs at the same time. Here are three ways to save money on raising a dog. Selection The first cost to consider is the price of the dog itself. A specialty breed can easily cost you thousands of dollars, and that’s just to get the dog. Then there are the health complications that go along with dogs that have been bred for specific traits. One the other hand, you can get a rescue dog […]

All About Alpacas

Finances can be a determining factor in the success or failure of your homestead. Finding a way to make a living on your homestead, or better yet, through your homestead, can have you go from scraping by to rolling in money. That may sound like an exaggeration, but it’s been done before. One way is to raise alpacas. What is an Alpaca? Alpacas are basically a half size llama. But unlike llamas alpacas are not bred to be pack animals, they are bred for their fiber (it is similar to sheep’s wool but softer and contains no lanolin), or […]

How to Make Bone Broth (Video)

This time of year is perfect for bone broth. It’s finally cool enough to have something cooking in your kitchen for a long period of time, and odds are, if you raise animals and are slaughtering some for the winter, you’ll have lots of extra bones lying around. Bone broth is a great way to use up these bones, and it’s incredibly nutritious as well. As flu and cold season rolls around, you’ll be glad to have a nice supply of hearty, nutritious broth to help you heal. But it’s healthy on a daily basis too, and you can use […]

Winterizing Small Engines

Tools aren’t cheap, but preventative maintenance is. Don’t overlook properly winterizing your small engines this year. If you do, it could mean having to spend hundreds of dollars on repairs next spring. Instead, follow these easy steps to take care of your tools. Clean Them Spray off your mower or trimmer with a pressure washer and soapy water. If you don’t have a pressure washer just use a hose, or what you have available, and a scrub brush. Make sure you remove all debris. Spray WD-40 into any tight areas, or areas that you notice any rust. Change Oil […]

Storing and Protecting Summer Clothes

Getting ready for the winter doesn’t just require getting out your warm clothes, but also packing up your summer ones. Depending on where you live, this might mean that your clothes will be packed up for 4 to 5 months. Improperly storing clothing for that period of time could result in damaged or ruined summer wear by the time it gets warm again. The biggest threats are typically mold and moths. Here are a few tips on how to fight these threats and keep your summer clothes safe all winter long. Combating Mold Nobody wants to wear moldy clothes. […]

Slaughtering Pigs: A Simple Guide

After investing so much time, energy, money, and emotion into raising your pigs you want things to go right when you slaughter them. If it is your first time slaughtering a pig, a sloppy kill and messing butchering can really turn you off from wanting to raise pigs in the future. The following are directions and tips on slaughtering and butchering pigs. Make sure to thoroughly plan things out before you begin, you will not be able to stop half way through and finish it later. Clean Kill Plain and simple, shot the pig between the eyes. You […]

Getting the Homestead Ready for the Winter

Days are getting shorter and nights are getting colder. Are you and your homestead ready for the changing season? Here are a few tips on getting ready for the winter so that you don’t get caught out in the cold. Preparing the Home The first preparation should be firewood. If you don’t already have a nice big pile of wood cut and dry, then you are going to go buy a cord of wood or have it delivered. Locate gaps and cracks that will cause drafts, fill them with caulk or foam to help insulate your home. If your home […]