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Safe Homemade Weed Killer (Video)

If you are homesteading and have not heard about the dangers of using chemical herbicides like Round Up, then you have probably been living under a rock. For everyone else, controlling weeds with natural methods can be time consuming and energy intense. Aside from mulching your garden heavily, what can you do? Here is a short video of a recipe for homemade weed killer, it even shows some of the results at the end. If you liked this, you might also enjoy… Natural Healing Techniques Doctors Don’t Want You to Know… The Weight-Reducing Magic of Yoga… The Ultimate Woodworking […]

Preserving Meat with Salt

Whether your homestead is off-grid, you don’t have enough room in your freezer, or you want meat that could last when power is interrupted, salting is a great time-tested option. In this article, we will discuss dry salting. The process works by using the salt to draw out the moisture from the meat and any potentially harmful bacteria until microbial growth is prohibited. It is basically chemically induced dehydration. There is always a risk of food poisoning when one is consuming meat that is moths, or even a year old, get properly prepared and use caution when salting your meat […]

The Benefits of Having a Rooster

Roosters have a bad reputation. Many people who want to raise hens for eggs choose not to have a rooster in the flock. Some have heard that roosters are aggressive, or they don’t want to noise, or they just so the reason to have one. But the reality is that hens can be just as aggressive; if there is no rooster around the dominant hen will take on the role of rooster. If noise is keeping you from having a rooster around then you shouldn’t have chickens at all because hens make plenty of noise. There are benefits to having a […]

Nutritional Supplements for Off-Grid Homesteaders

Most people associate homesteading with healthy living. This isn’t without cause, most homesteaders have a higher level of physical activity than those living a typical modern sedentary life, fresh and air and sun, and a more direct relationship to their food. But homesteaders, especially off-grid homesteaders, will be functioning off of limited resources, and this will sometimes include their access to nutrient-rich foods. When your homestead is not able to supply your nutritional needs your body is going to suffer, if your body suffers, your output suffers, and if your output suffers it will inevitably follow that your homestead will […]

All About Feverfew

Feverfew is a great resource to have on your homestead. With so much work to get done, you can’t just take a sick day every time you don’t feel good. You need to have a medicine on hand to get you back on your feet. Feverfew can help with that. Uses Feverfew can be used to treat headaches, reduce fever, and help with inflammation. It works by opening up your vascular system and allowing the blood to flow smoothly as it should. Feverfew is said to be safe for pregnant women and children. Cultivation Feverfew is grown from seed. […]

Tips for Stretching Wire Fence

Whether you are trying to keep your animals in, or wild animals out, a good fence is going to be an essential part of nearly all homesteads. Simply putting up some wire between posts will not get you much. Even if you are able to contain your animals, it could be because there is a steady supply of food and water available, rather than their inability to escape. But potential predators will not be deterred so easily. The following is a few tips on getting your wire fence stretched out tight and started right. Determine the Grade After getting […]

Household Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide

Every knows that hydrogen peroxide can be used as an antiseptic to treat wounds, but hydrogen peroxide can be used for more than just wound care. Here is a brief list of other ways you can use this cheap, versatile, and safe product. Oral Care H202 (hydrogen peroxide) can be diluted with an equal amount of water and be used as a mouthwash to kill gingivitis and help with toothaches. A bonus is that it will help whiten your teeth. Don’t go overboard with this, though, using it too regularly can damage tooth enamel. Laundry Boost Do you remember […]

What Is Hugelkultur?

The name is funny, but for those seeking to have a garden that requires less water and fertilizing, hugelkultur is something to take seriously. The basic idea is to create raised beds on top of buried wood. It may take a little more effort to get in place, but in the years to come, it will require less attention and resources than conventional beds. Why Use Hugelkultur As with any other aspect of homesteading, resource conservation is critical in gardening. Hugelkultur allows you to make use of wood that is not suitable for fuel or building since you can […]

Why Baking Soda is Awesome

Two of the most constant themes in homesteading are resource conservation and improvisation. Having items that can be used in a variety of ways will help make both of these possible. One such item is baking soda. Baking soda can be used in virtually every aspect of homesteading life. It is cheap, natural, and safe. With a nearly limitless amount of uses this will probably not be the last time we talk about baking soda, but for now here is just a short list of a few ways that it can help you save money and improve your quality of […]

Super Simple Tips for Splitting Wood

Having a good supply of wood for fuel is crucial for your homestead. While using the proper technique is important for efficiency and safety, using the right tool for the job can be just as important. Here are a few items that will help save you time and energy as you get ready for the winter. Maul A splitting maul has several benefits over a chopping axe. Its wider angel will spread the wood easier, while a thin chopping axe can get stuck in the wood. It is less likely to bounce off hard wood because of its weight and the […]

Get Healthy with the Right Spices

Part of homesteading has to be about living a healthy lifestyle. You know the importance of having fresh and healthy food, so you can stave off common avoidable illnesses that are plaguing so many people in the country today. However, you might not have thought about all of the benefits that can come from using certain spaces in your food. Different herbs, plants, and roots can help to increase your health and make all that healthy food taste even better. Let’s look at some of the best options when it comes to spicing up your food. Cinnamon Most people like […]

3 Easy Ways to Keep Your Chickens Healthy

Chickens are some of the most common animals to see on a homestead or farm. One reason is that they are some of the easiest animals to care for. But even chickens can develop health issues like tape worms, mites, and various intestinal infections. As with everything else, taking care to prevent these issues will be easier than treating them retroactively and will ensure that you have a healthy supply of eggs and meat without interruption. These are 3 easy ways to help your chickens stay healthy. Pasture Just like you, chickens are healthiest when they are eating well. […]

Everyday Laundry Hacks for Off-Grid Living

Your clothes are not only going to get dirtier faster when living off-grid, but you will quickly find out how much more difficult it is to get them clean again, and how drying them can be even harder. Washing an average sized load of clothes by hand will take you close to an hour, then there is hanging them. And of course, while you are occupied with your laundry, you aren’t taking care of any of your other projects that all need your attention. Laundry is definitely a big chore without a machine! These are a few simple and practical […]

3 Things to Consider When Felling a Tree

Cutting a tree down can be dangerous, even deadly. But it is something that, if you are homesteading, you will probably be faced with sooner or later, if not regularly. Felling a tree is not something that should be rushed into or taken lightly, especially if the tree is particularly large, or close to a structure. Before felling any tree, give it some thought, and be careful. Limb pattern Trees are not 100% symmetrical. If a tree has anything obstructing its access to light on one side, it will grow more limbs in the other direction. Limbs can also […]

3 Dog Breeds to Consider for Homesteading

Dogs have the reputation of being man’s best friend for good reason. The possible benefits of having a dog on your homestead, whether it be urban or country, are virtually endless. But domestication of dogs has led to a wide array of physical and behavioral traits. Over breeding for desired traits has also led to genetic issues, for this reason a “mutt” is always preferable since it will have less health issues. For this reason, when selecting a dog that is right for you, you should consider what breed you are looking for, and search for a mutt that has […]

One Way to Clean a Chicken

As with the proverbial cat, I’m sure there is more than one way to clean a chicken. This is just one way, you can tweak it however you feel the need to for your situation. Kill it first Starting with a live chicken that you have a hold of, grab its neck with your strong hand down, so that your thumb is closer to its wings and your pinky is closer to its head. Now spin your hand in a tight circle fast so that the chicken’s body spins in a larger circle. This will kill the chicken for sure. […]

Developing Skills Prior to Homesteading

Given the drastic lifestyle changes inherent in making the transition from typical modern life to homesteading, preparation is a must. Along with gathering tools and resources, one should not overlook practicing the skills that are soon to be a regular part of your life, but which are typically unfamiliar to those living in suburban or urban settings. While not everything can be simulated, even a little experience can provide you with the skills and attitude that can transfer to many other aspects of your new homesteading life. Gardening Starring at a plot of fallow ground without having any experience gardening […]

How to Safely Handle Raw Milk

Probably the primary appeal of having a family cow is the delicious, nutritious and plentiful milk you can get from her. Raw milk, meaning fresh, unpasteurized milk, has many more beneficial enzymes and bacteria than store-bought milk. But it is important to handle it safely to maintain optimum freshness and sanitation. This is particularly important if you plan on selling your raw milk. If you want to sell your milk, make sure to check your local laws. In some states, it is highly illegal to sell raw milk. In other places, there may be certain restrictions. But even if you […]

Tips to Keep Your Chickens Safe from Predators

Most homesteaders have chickens. The chickens are essential for providing eggs, so you don’t want anything to happen to them. Of course, we all know chickens are delicious. And quite a few predators know the same exact thing. Therefore, you need to take steps to keep your chickens safe from all manner of predators. Here are some tips to make it easier on you. What Predators Are in Your Area? The first thing you need to do is take some time to research what types of predators are in your area that are likely to prey on chickens. You may […]

Going From Urban to Country Homesteading: What You Need to Consider

If you are one of the many people these days considering a transition from urban or suburban life to country homesteading, then you are in for a massive lifestyle change. This will involve things you may have never considered since they might not have had a large impact on you in your current way of life. Considering what these factors are and preparing for them may just make the difference between living happily ever after in an idyllic setting of your choice, or blowing your savings only to move back to the city with nothing to show for it. […]