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Growing Vegetables and Herbs Indoors

When the weather gets too cold for you to grow vegetables outdoors, you might want to be adventurous and try growing a few select vegetables and herbs indoors. If you live in an apartment, condominium or townhome without any outdoor space to grow a garden, you can grow some vegetables, herbs and even tropical fruit indoors if you create the proper growing environment. Sufficient light, either natural light from a door or windows or a grow light, is essential for an indoor vegetable garden to thrive naturally. There are some LED grow lights available on amazon.com that also make for […]

Getting the Kids Involved with Homesteading

If you have kids in the modern world, you probably know how quickly and easily they can become attached to electronic devices and the “easy” way of doing things. Of course, you can relate, as you are reading this on the Internet. However, you know how important it is for the kids to strike that balance. They can enjoy modern life, but they also need to learn some important skills that will last them a lifetime. The key to getting them interested with homesteading is to make it interesting for them. You can do this in many ways. Make the […]

Demonstration of Proper Tomato Pruning

Pruning is a great way to control the growth of your plants. It can help you increase yield and reduce disease by focusing your plant’s growth. One crop that pruning is a must for, but often gets neglected is tomatoes. Tomatoes can be difficult to prune because it is not always visually obvious which portions should be targeted for pruning and which should be left alone. This video does a great job of show, and explaining just what to remove and why, complete with close ups. If you liked this, you might also enjoy… Natural Healing Techniques Doctors Don’t […]

Easy Pickled Garlic

Pickling garlic is a great way to preserve it for the winter, or if you don’t grow garlic, to ensure that you always have it on hand. You may have seen minced garlic or even whole garlic cloves in the store, but those typically have lots of preservatives in them or take on the flavor of whatever they’re preserved in. This recipe isn’t like them. This method will keep your garlic tasting fresh, and just like garlic. Since it is preserved in vinegar, when you’re ready to use it, you can simply rinse off the vinegar and use as you […]

Wood Ash for the Garden

Any way that costs can be cut while increasing productivity and health in the garden is a good thing. One way to do just that is to use wood ash in your garden as a fertilizer. Not only does wood ash contain calcium and potassium, along with other nutrients, but an easy-to-obtain byproduct of heating your home with a fireplace, wood stove, or a bonfire to get rid of dead branches and yard waste. All that being said, don’t run out and smother your garden in a layer of ashes, it won’t have the desired result. Here are a […]

How to Make Moonshine (Humorous Infographic)

I saw this infographic on Pinterest recently and couldn’t resist sharing here! Moonshine is such a humorous cultural icon of the South and of “country living”. I wouldn’t actually recommend making moonshine, and you’ll see the infographic has a warning, since it’s most likely illegal to do so where you live and can be quite dangerous. *But purely for entertainment purposes*, as a DIY, fermenting, make-everything-at-home enthusiast, I still think it’s super cool and fascinating to see a breakdown of how moonshine is made. I feel like it’s a big part of our cultural history as a nation in a way. […]

No-Poo for Pets

No-poo for pets might not be what you are thinking it is. It won’t keep you from cleaning out a litter box or picking up after your dog in the yard. But it can help reduce the cost of keeping your pet healthy and reduce toxins in your environment. No-poo (short for “no shampoo”) is basically a way of cleaning off your pets without using shampoo, and in some cases without using water. Here are the supplies you will need and how to get started. Ingredients Baking soda Diatomaceous earth Neem oil Witch Hazel Water Directions The amount you […]

Simple Homemade Paleo Mayonnaise (Video)

Mayonnaise is a condiment staple that most houses stay well-stocked in. However, most store-bought mayonnaise, even the “natural” kind, is made from either unhealthy, caloric, “bad fat” oils, GMO soy ingredients, or both. Mayonnaise used to be something most homes made from scratch, and it is really quite simple to make your own, and requires ingredients you most likely already have! If the “paleo” part of this recipe sounds gross to you, don’t worry! “Paleo” mayonnaise is really no different than regular homemade mayonnaise. There are sometimes variations on this classic recipe, but it will taste no different than the […]

Easy Poison Ivy Remedy

Poison ivy is such a drag to get. It can debilitate you almost as much as an actual injury. Depending on where you get it on your body, it can make it difficult and even painful to move and get work done, and especially for little ones, can make life very uncomfortable. The uncontrollable itchiness makes it hard to heal, also, as resisting the urge to scratch can be very difficult. There are a number of good poison ivy remedies out there, but I love this one because it is super simple, very cheap to make and will last you a long […]

Tips to Help You Improve Your Soil

If you are going to be successful at homesteading, you need to have good soil. There are no two ways around it. However, this doesn’t mean that the soil on your land right now needs to be great. There are some simple things you can do to improve the quality of your soil so you can grow your food, and that’s what we’ll be covering over the course of this post. Composting Take the yard waste and your kitchen waste and create compost. Grass clippings, leaves, vegetable and fruit peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, and the like can make great compost. […]

Best Ways to Use a Pumpkin

Pumpkins are for far more than just carving into jack o’ lanterns on Halloween or holiday pumpkin pie! You can find tons of fantastic uses for pumpkins as a homesteader. Let’s look at a few of the different things you can do with pumpkins to make them even more useful. The Seeds With the seeds, you have a couple of options. First, you can collect the seeds and then use them the next time you plant pumpkins. It’s a way to keep the crop going so you have plenty of quality pumpkins each year. Of course, you do not have […]

Avoid Homesteading Mistakes

Whether you are new to homesteading, or you’ve been homesteading for years, you know there are always things you could do better and ways that you could improve. You also know that it is possible to make some costly mistakes if you aren’t careful. Let’s look at some of the biggest mistakes homesteaders make so you don’t fall victim to them. Not Having a Plan This is one of the biggest problems facing brand new homesteaders. They have the desire and they’ve started to acquire the skills, but they simply don’t take the time to put together an actual plan […]

How to Grow Garlic

Depending on how cold it gets where you are located, now is a good time to start getting some room in your garden ready for planting garlic. Garlic is a low-maintenance crop that isn’t cheap to buy at the store, at least not if you are buying organic. It can be preserved easily so that you can benefit from your entire harvest, and you can plant again from your own stock further reducing costs. Here’s how to get started. Get Your Garlic If you have the money and you are the nervous type, or if you have had problems […]

Benefits of Simple Raised Bed Gardens

Raised bed gardens are an ideal concept for today’s lifestyle trends. Raised bed gardening transcends generations and is a viable option for various size budgets. You can enjoy this method of gardening whether you have an expansive outdoor area or a space-challenged lawn. If you’re the DIY type, you can easily find detailed instructions for building raised beds. However, if constructing beds yourself isn’t a project you have the tools or time for, a quick Internet search will reveal many raised bed garden kits and design ideas that do not require construction skills. Eco-friendly living and an awareness of […]

Quick Candle Making Tips

Making candles is fun and easy, and it can be a great activity for any homesteader. You can make candles for you own use, for gifts, and even to sell if you choose. Getting started with candle making is much easier than you might think, and before long, you will even be making custom candles that are good enough to buy. Get the Right Supplies First, you need to make sure you have the right supplies on hand. If you are making pillar candles, you will need to have aluminum molds, which are readily available online. You could also make […]

Homestead Thanksgiving Dinner (Video)

I feel like Thanksgiving in particular is a great holiday for homesteaders. The traditional Thanksgiving feast is very reflective of the seasonal delights many North American homesteaders know all too well: sweet potato, pumpkin, turkey, seasonal greens, apple pie, etc. This morning this old video floated across my YouTube suggestions of the butchering of a Thanksgiving turkey that had been raised on this couple’s homestead from a few weeks old. This used to be how the traditional Thanksgiving turkey was acquired for many Americans! Raised all year and butchered once it was fully fattened in the Fall. I love to […]

Creating An Accessible Garden

Gardening is a hobby that can be enjoyed by everyone. With the numerous types of accessible gardening methods available, physical limitations or mobility concerns should not prohibit you from growing a garden. An online search of photos of accessible gardens that creative individuals have designed will give you some ideas as to how you might want to design your garden. Keep in mind that accessible gardening is just like traditional gardening in that the design you choose and the plants you include can be tailored to your individual preference. Raised beds are a popular form of accessible garden. When you […]

Tips for Fall Gardening

Fall gardening involves some different techniques than summer gardening. The following tips, ideas and suggestions can help you get the largest harvest and the most enjoyment from your fall garden. Location It is recommended that a fall garden be planted in well-drained soil and in a sunny location. There is less sunlight during the fall season. Therefore, if possible, consider relocating your fall garden to a different spot. If you are growing your fall garden in containers, simply put them in a different location. Another way to gain the maximum benefit from the sun during the fall is to construct […]

Calculating Your Wood for the Winter

Many homesteaders prefer to utilize wood stoves to help offset the cost of other power sources. It can help them to limit their dependence on the electric company, and if they have solar panels as well, it could eliminate the need entirely. However, if you are going to use wood for heating and even for cooking, you need to make sure you have enough to last the entire winter. Think about how often you will be using the woodstove or the fireplace. If you will only be using it during the night, you will need to have less wood on […]

DIY Powdery Mildew Treatment

Powdery mildew can be a real threat to the health of your garden. It can get in unnoticed, spread quickly, affect production, and it can be difficult to get rid of. There are numerous products on the market that are sold under the claim that they treat powdery mildew, but products don’t always fulfill their purpose and they can add unnecessary costs to your garden. Instead, treat powdery mildew with a simple and inexpensive homemade recipe and a few easy precautions. Recipe 2 ounces of whole milk 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 tablespoon baking soda Just a little dish […]