diy Archives - Homesteader DepotHomesteader Depot

Why Do You Need a Greenhouse and Things to Look for

Many avid gardeners have considered putting a greenhouse in their yards. There’s just something about having the ability to grow tropical and warm-weather loving plants year-round that really appeals to them. If you’re one of these people, then you need to read this primer about greenhouses. It contains just about everything that you need to know about them. What Is A Greenhouse? Let’s start by defining exactly what a greenhouse is. These are structures of various sizes that have clear walls and roofs. Some of the fancier greenhouses have glass walls, although you can use clear, plastic polycarbonate sheeting as […]

7 Clever Uses for Cheesecloth

How much do you know about cheesecloth? This porous cloth was initially designed to help cheesemakers squeeze the liquid out of cheese curds, hence its name. However, it has a number of other uses as well – many of which you probably never considered. Here are seven of these incredibly clever uses for cheesecloth. You’ll want to keep some in your home after reading them. 1) Polishing Your Silver All that you need in order to make your silver shine is a little silver polish, some water, and a piece of cheesecloth. The steps are very easy. Start by […]

Super Easy Homemade Buttermilk

Buttermilk isn’t something that you only need to buy at the store. Instead, you can make it yourself. The results will be much tastier and better for you. The buttermilk that you find in the dairy section (if your grocery store even carries it) is cultured. This type takes at least 24 hours to make, and you need to start with cultured buttermilk, making it a bit redundant, or active buttermilk culture. This process is fairly labor intensive. However, if you have a recipe that requires buttermilk and you don’t have any on hand, these quick methods will work nicely. […]

5 Great Benefits of Having Succulents in Your Home

Plants help clean the air, add oxygen and any number of other benefits. The problem? Not everyone has a green enough thumb to keep their plants alive, let alone flourishing. Fortunately, you don’t have to have a degree in botany to enjoy having plants indoors; you have to pick the right ones. Enter the succulent. Succulent plants, or succulents, are a type of plant that displays parts that are especially thick and fleshy. This characteristic lets the plant retain water in drying climates and soil types in a similar manner to cactus plants. These wonderful little plants have become even […]

How to Prune your Roses the Proper Way

Roses come in a plethora of species. Over a hundred of them are available to be exact. They can be climbing, bushes, or trailing with long stems. You can grow just about any color that you can imagine at this point as a result of cross-breeding different ones to achieve the desired shades. They are gorgeous, they have a pleasant aroma, and they brighten up the exterior of any homestead or home. That’s why they are one of the most popular flowers found in gardens all over the world. Even though roses are pretty easy to grow and to […]

3 Surprising Ways to Reuse Old Electrical Cords and Cables

Since the dawn of cable TV, the number of electrical type cording we have around the house has expanded almost exponentially. What started with coaxial and extension cords now include shorted out or plain outdated AV connectors, HDMI wiring, and USB cords in about every shape, size, and color. If you are anything like my family, you have at least one box filled with outdated wiring, some of which is so old you probably have no idea what ancient piece of tech you’ve since gotten rid of it used to go to. The first idea we usually have is […]

5 Wonderfully Natural Remedies to Fight Dry Skin

Dry skin can be extremely uncomfortable to those who suffer from it chronically. From cold weather to medications that bring about this most inconvenient side effect, it can sometimes feel daunting while trying to find a solution and get relief. Fortunately, there are some natural remedies that may be the answer you’ve been looking for. Avocados This wonderful fruit (yep, it’s in the pear family) is packed with Vitamin E plus Omega-3 fatty acids. It’s a very popular ingredient for people who suffer from chronic dry skin. How to Use Avocados Cut the avocado in half and scoop […]

Never Waste Water Again

Picture this, for every inch of rain that falls on a 500 square feet area of your roof; you can collect up to 300 gallons of it to use around your property. If you live in an area that doesn’t restrict the use of rain barrels, you could be saving money every month on water. Rainwater can be used for a variety of tasks including: Rinsing off your garage floor Watering your indoor plants Watering your outdoor plants Flushing your toilet Creating an outdoor shower And more I know a potter who has a studio in her garage. If […]

10 Amazing Uses for Lemons

Lemons, good for making lemonade, adding to your tea with honey, squeezing over fish, the list could go on and on. It even goes on to some amazing home remedies! Who knew? Someone apparently because we’ve been able to put together a list of 12 you can try in the comfort of your own home. Break up Congestion in Your Sinuses and Chest Getting that familiar sore throat or wheezing sound? No problem. Heat 4-6 oz of water and mix in 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar, and 2 Tsp of honey. The honey will soothe your […]

Simple Reduce – Reuse – Recycle Methods

If you are a parent, the words “Reduce – Reuse – Recycle” may conjure up the theme music of Bob, the Builder. But, that’s not a bad thing, unless you can’t get it out of your head. I used to enjoy watching that show with my son when he was still part of “Bob’s” demographic because very often they gave the adults sitting through it really good ideas about upcycling stuff. If you’re looking for ways to put into action the three R’s at home, here are some ideas to get you started. Paper Products Egg Cartons – […]

Building Your Very Own Smokehouse

There are a number of DIY smoker methods, ranging all sizes and prices. If you only need to smoke small items or one medium item at a time, like a Christmas turkey, all you need is a large terracotta pot or unused metal trash can. But, if you need a good-sized smokehouse to help you prepare for winter on a homestead or other rural area, this design based on pallet wood should provide what you need without breaking the bank. Its also designed so that you only need the most basic of woodworking skills to complete it. An important […]

Fascinating Ways to Reuse Old Sweaters

If you are into crafting with felt pieces, it’s actually possible to create your own felt material just by cleaning out your closet. Then, for the low cost of a few washer/dryer cycles and detergent, you can have some large pieces to use that will let you “think big” for your next project. Felt itself is a non-woven textile. It is normally created by matting and compressing the fibers together until they connect to become a very sturdy fabric. Known as the oldest form of cloth, it has an extremely long historical record. Felt has been used in numerous cultures […]

7 Interesting Ways to Use Excess Cucumbers

Congratulations on producing a successful homesteading garden this year! Now all you need to do is find ways to use your excess cucumbers. You’ve come to the right place. There is nothing as refreshing and crispy as a cucumber straight out of the garden. Even better are cucumbers in a salad or other yummy cold recipe made just for hot summer days and nights. We can suggest seven ways to use those lovely crunchy cucumbers. There are three recipes and four are for non-food uses that will surprise you. Food Uses 1. Cucumber Tomato Salad This salad could […]

How to Make Delicious Homemade Butter

Imagine the smell of freshly made homemade bread. Now imagine spreading your own homemade butter on a slice of steaming hot bread. Is your mouth watering yet? Mine is! One of the things about my mom that I miss the most is her homestead cooking and one of my favorites was that creamy homemade butter that melted on my tongue. Butter Basics Homemade butter does not have an oily taste like margarine. The cream and butter that comes from grass-fed cows are high in vitamin E, beta-carotene, and it can lower cholesterol. Even though butter has saturated fat, it […]

How to Ferment Vegetables

Fermenting vegetables grown in your garden accomplishes two things at once. First, it enhances the nutritional value of the vegetables by preserving them at their peak. Second, it preserves the vegetables, so you can enjoy them all winter long. The process used for fermenting vegetables is simple. You need the right equipment and the right ingredients – and before you know it, you’ll have a pantry full of delicious, fermented vegetables for your family to eat. Fermentation Equipment The equipment you need to ferment vegetables is minimal and inexpensive. Here are the basic things you’ll need to have on hand: […]

Simple 5 Step Homemade Salsa Recipe

One of our favorite things about homesteading is that it has allowed us to reconnect with food in a new way. Let’s face it, a lot of the fruits and vegetables we buy at the supermarket are grown using chemicals and harsh fertilizers. They’re harvested before they’re ready, as a result, they don’t have the rich, delicious flavors as they do when fresh. By contrast, home-grown produce is bursting with flavor. Once you’ve tried growing vegetables and cooking with them, you’ll never want to go back to boring supermarket produce again. Are you looking for ways to use the vegetables […]

Super Simple DIY Fishing Net

Time is always scarce on a homestead so spending days on end catching 1 fish at a time is not the best use of your limited time. How can you catch crazy amounts of fish in a short amount of time so you can get back to doing other necessary things on your homestead? If you use fishing and fish as a regular food source, a net is basically a mandatory piece of equipment. If you find you need a larger net than you want to spend your hard-earned cash on, you can DIY it for a fraction of the […]

DIY Animal Shelter

Many structures you see on larger farms will often rival a designer house in style and amenities. However, if design awards are not what you are looking for but only to keep your friends protected from the elements, this basic structure will do. A simplified shelter with basic material will satisfy all of these requirements. What You’ll Need 3 Posts = Eight-Foot (8’) Long Pressure Treated Four-Inch by Four-Inch (4”X4”) 3 Posts = Ten-Foot (10’) Long Pressure Treated Four-Inch by Four-Inch (4”X4”) 6 Roof Boards = Eight-Foot (8’) Long Pressure-Treated Two-inch by Six-inch (2”X6”) 17 Roof Joists = Ten-Foot (10’) […]

Homestyle Skillet Pizza (Video)

Who doesn’t love pizza? Ordering in from your local pizzeria is great, but like so many things in life, homemade is always better. You get fresher dough, you can tailor ingredients to your personal A really fun and easy way to make homemade pizza taste delicious and cook perfectly is to cook it in a skillet, like this video shows. Cast iron skillets are so useful in the kitchen, but they don’t have to be restricted to stir-fries and bacon! Baking in cast iron is a great way to add some versatility to your dishes and your cooking talents. Enjoy, […]

Healthy Sweet Tea (Video)

Well, Memorial Day has come and gone, and while it’s not officially summer until June 21st, the bar-b-ques have started, the pools are open, and you’ve probably already done some tanning in your front lawn. With summer often comes delicious sweet tea, which is a staple summer drink in the South (apparently, this is what “tea” means in the Southern states. There is no other kind of tea but sweet tea, so don’t ask, or at least this is what I’ve been told). The downside of many sweet teas, especially those purchased at the store as opposed to homemade, is they’ve got […]