Page 16 of 22
1 … 14 15 16 17 18 … 22
DIY – Page 16 – Homesteader Depot

Homesteader Depot

Category: DIY

  • Essential Items for Your Emergency Survival Kit (Infographic)

    Essential Items for Your Emergency Survival Kit (Infographic)

    Whether you’re a survivalist, prepper, homesteader, or simply someone who wants to create a culture of self-reliance in your home, you need to be prepared for emergencies.

    It can be overwhelming thinking about everything you might need to survive long-term, but it’s always prudent to simply start with the basics. Every family should have a basic emergency survival kit, and this infographic from SHTFPreparedness.com is a great guide for how to build this kit and what you should have in it.

    These simple items are essential for any kind of emergency, and even if you’re not set up with enough food and water to survive a total zombie apocalypse, having this stuff on hand will greatly impact your odds of survival if there is a disaster or emergency in your area.

    If you enjoyed this, you might also like….

    Is Your Home Secure?

    Natural Healing Solutions…

    Why Everyone is Switching to the Primal Diet…

  • Make Money on Your Homestead

    Make Money on Your Homestead

    You love the idea of living simply and living on a homestead. However, you probably also love the idea of having some extra money coming into the household. Fortunately, you can combine these two loves and find some interesting ways to make money from your homestead, and it is easier than you might imagine. Here are just some of the different ways that you can start using your activities on the homestead to earn more to supplement your life.

    Grow and Sell Excess Food

    If you are already growing a nice garden, and perhaps some fruit trees to provide for you and your family, consider taking some of the excess items that you make and selling them at a farmer’s market. It is something you are already doing, and you do not want the food to go to waste, so why not make some money from it?

    Make and Sell Handmade Goods

    Consider some of the goods you are making for you and your family already. It could be something such as blankets and quilts, homemade soap, or even homemade artwork. No matter what you are making, there is a good chance that there will be a market for it online and offline.

    Sell Honey

    Another option is to start raising bees and collecting honey. People love to buy natural honey, and it is another good item if you have a farmer’s market in your area.

    Teach Homesteading

    Many people are interested in the homesteading lifestyle, and they want to try it out first. You can teach them the ins and outs of homesteading by having them come to your property to learn. In fact, you can essentially charge them to help with your chores and work on the homestead!

    Keep in mind that these are just a few of the different ways that you can start to earn from your homestead. Think about the things you do on your property that you can now start to monetize.

    How to Make Money From YourLivestock

    What type of livestock do you have on your homestead? You probably have some great animals that are working to provide well for you and your family. However, have you ever stopped to think that you might be able to get even more out of the animals? In some cases, your livestock will make money, providing you with some extra income. Let’s check out a few of the ways that your animals could make money for you.

    Selling Excess Eggs

    If you have some chickens, they are going to keep laying eggs each day in most cases. This means you will have more eggs than you know what to do with. Consider selling or bartering with the excess eggs. For example, if you have some neighbors who make soap or honey, trade the eggs for what you need.

    Selling Wool

    If you have sheep, you can only use so much wool, too. You can always sell some of the excess wool, or you can use it to make products that you can sell.

    A Petting Zoo

    Here’s an idea you might want to consider. If you have some animals such as goats, sheep, pigs, and the like, you may want to set up a petting zoo. For a few dollars, parents and their kids can come out to the farm and see the animals up close and learn more about life as a homesteader. The animals can be a real draw, especially when there are babies. Pony rides and horse rides are yet another option.

    These are just a few of the different ways that you can make money from your livestock. Consider the animals that you have and just how you might be able to profit from them, and then reinvest that money back into the homestead. There are tons of options.

    [Video] – What Really Happens When You Bury a Shipping Container?

  • 13 Useful Ways to Reuse Eggshells

    13 Useful Ways to Reuse Eggshells

    If you raise chickens or simply eat a lot of eggs, you probably produce a lot of egg shells! And simply throwing them in the trash is a huge waste. Egg shells are loaded with beneficial nutrients and properties, and there are lots of ways to reuse them and make the most out of your chickens or grocery budget!

    First off, you need to make sure you store them properly. You might be able to get away with tossing them all in a 5-gallon bucket on your back porch, or, if that attracts pests or mold, you might want to take more precaution. Depending on how you reuse them, you also might want to sanitize them before storing.

    The easiest way to sanitize the egg shells is to rinse them off, the spread them out on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. This will kill any harmful bacteria that might otherwise fester in your eggshell stash.

    Then, simply store in any container of choice, and use as needed!

    Here are some of the many ways you can reuse eggshells around the house:

    Compost

    The easiest way to put your egg shells to good use is to add them to your compost pile! They’re a great addition to any compost operation, and one of the most highly recommended organic materials to start a pile. You can save up a lot to get your pile started, and just toss freshly used shells on your pile as time goes on. If you’ve got a compost pile, you’ve always got something to do with leftover egg shells!

    Garden Fertilizer

    Eggshells are a fantastic garden fertilizer, as they contain up to 97% calcium carbonite, as well as phosphoric acid, nitrogen, and calcium. You can grind them up in a food processor and sprinkle around your plants, or work into the soil of a new garden bed.

    Pest Control

    Eggshells also work as an excellent pest control! Use ground eggshells and sprinkle in a circle around any plants that have been attracting slugs or snails. The sharp fragments of eggshells will be very uninviting to these little pests, and have the added bonus of fertilizing your plants too!

    You can also deter cats (of all things) from using your garden as their own personal litter box by spreading roughly broken up egg shells around the edges. They won’t want to step on those with their delicate paws, trust me!

    Dietary Supplement

    You’ll want to make sure to use properly sanitized egg shells for this, and grind them up very finely. You can use a powerful food processor or a coffee grinder, and then add to gel caps or simply mix into food. This is an excellent source of calcium and other nutrients, and about as whole as it gets.

    Chicken Dietary Supplement

    Your chickens can benefit from those healthy nutrients too! Simply add to their feed for an added calcium boost. Their eggs will be very healthy, because they’ll be supplemented by, well, the exact nutrients they need for healthy shells!

    Seed Starts

    A very fun and clever way to use egg shells is to start seeds in them! Simply fill the shells with potting soil and plant seeds. Once they’re sprouted, all you’ll need to do is to gently crush the egg shell and plant directly in the ground! It will slowly break down as the plant grows, and fertilize the soil as it goes!

    Bird Seed

    Chickens aren’t the only birds who will enjoy your egg shells! If you crush them up and sprinkle them on the ground, you just might attract a few wild birds who will enjoy the nutritious treat.

    Household abrasive

    You can actually use finely ground eggshells as a handy, and totally natural, household abrasive. Add 1 cup finely ground egg shells to baking soda and use as you would Bon Ami for stubborn stains or grime. It’s excellent for cooked on grease and grime.

    Smoother Coffee

    You can actually add egg shells directly to your coffee to help reduce the acidity. Since egg shells are basic, they counteract the otherwise highly acidic coffee. Add a few egg shells in the machine with the ground coffee, or simply toss into your freshly brewed cup (although the former is probably preferable, I’m sure gritty coffee isn’t too appetizing to many people!)

    Natural Remedy

    Ground up eggshells can actually make a wonderful natural remedy for skin irritants. Let soak in some apple cider vinegar for a few days, and apply to minor rashes, hives, or bug bites.

    Face Mask

    You can even use eggshells in an all-natural, skin-firming face mask! Wisk up finely ground eggshells with 1 egg white, and spread on your face. Let dry, and rinse, following with toner and moisturizer.

    Suggested Article: “Apple Cider Vinegar for Beautiful Skin”

    Laundry Whitener

    This might be in the realm of old wives’ tale, but some say that if you toss some egg shells in with your whites, they’ll come out brighter!

    Candle Craft

    You can make adorable votive candles by pouring wax into an eggshell. Get creative with egg dying or colored wax! Very fun and frugal gift.

    Eggs are a fantastic food, and their shells are almost as versatile! Have you tried any of these eggshell hacks before? Let us know in the comments below.

    If you enjoyed this, you might also like….

    Long-Term Survival for Homesteaders…

    Natural Healing Secrets You Need to Know…

    Effective Primal Diet Hacks…

     

     

     

     

     

  • Become a Better Homesteader Using These 4 Tips

    Become a Better Homesteader Using These 4 Tips

    When it comes to homesteading, there is no such thing as knowing too much or working too hard. Yet, many people want to get into this lifestyle without truly understanding what it means or by looking for shortcuts. Instead of trying to find the “easy” way to be a homesteader, you need to find ways that you can become a better homesteader. The life is not always easy, but it can be extremely rewarding. The following are a few tips that will help you to get into the right mindset and to make sure homesteading for the long haul is right for you.

    Learn to Live With Less

    This does not mean you need to give up all the things that you enjoy. It simply means that you need to learn to live within your means, which is something that so many people today have a problem doing. You do not need to have the latest phone and all the latest gadgets.

    You do not need to spend on all the fancy, shiny new equipment, and gear that you think you need for the homestead either. If you need a tractor, you do not have to buy one that is brand new. Buy a used one and learn how to do the repairs yourself. This leads us into the next thing you will want to do to become a better homesteader.

    Learn a New Skill Each Day

    You are never done learning when it comes to homesteading. There is always something new that you can learn, and you should make it a point to try to learn something each day. It might be something simple, such as how to cook a new meal or how to clean a fish. It might be something more complex, such as making repairs to that tractor we mentioned earlier. Strive to learn something new and find people who are willing to teach you things. You can also share the knowledge you have with them.

    Learn this simple step by step process to recondition old batteries and NEVER buy batteries again>>>

    Focus on the Task at Hand and Work Hard at It

    When it comes to homesteading, you can’t put things off until later in most cases. If you do, you will have too much work piling up and it will be overwhelming. You need to have a plan of action for each day and you need to focus on each of the tasks you need to get done. If there are others in the family, spread out the tasks and chores among everyone and work together to get things done.

    Consider New Ways to Boost Your Income

    Another way to improve as a homesteader is to find some ways to make some extra income that you can invest into the homestead or put into your savings. If you are doing woodworking or making soap or candles, for example, you could sell those goods online and at craft shows. There are plenty of ways that you can make money doing what you love.  Take a look at the following links to learn some super simple crafts:

     >> 5 Step DIY Soap

    >> 16,000 Woodworking Plans

    These are just some of the ways that you can become a better homesteader. Start implementing these tips now, and keep on learning.

     

     

  • 10 Powerful Plants That Repel Mosquitoes

    10 Powerful Plants That Repel Mosquitoes

    While I’m thrilled for warm weather to finally return, I’m not as excited about the flying pests that come with it. As spring marches on and the land is replenished with rainfall, potential hotspots for mosquitoes are developing. In addition to checking your property for areas where water is allowed to pool (your mosquitoes will use these as their own personal birthing centers), you can take safe steps to prevent infestation with these naturally-repellent plants!

    • Citronella Grass/Lemongrass is the source of citronella oil that is used in many commercial insect repellent products like citronella candles and tiki torches. It can be grown just about anywhere in North America, but expect it to die off during the winter unless you live in USDA climate zones 10-12. Citronella grass grows best in full sun, requires lots of water and can grow 5-6 ft tall. 
    • African or French Marigolds have a very strong aroma that is pleasing to people but off-putting to bothersome bugs! They’re great for repelling garden pests, but you can also plant or pot them around your home or patio to keep mosquitoes at bay. The African marigold is the bigger of the two and can reach heights of 30 to 40 inches. Their gorgeous blooms feature different shades of yellow and orange. The French marigold only gets to be 6 to 24 inches tall but is much more colorful with the added shades of deep brown and crimson. All marigolds need full sun and do best in well-drained, moderately fertile soil. 
    • Basil, a member of the mint family, is a popular culinary herb in Italian cuisine. One small basil plant may not have the repellent power of an African Marigold, but planting several basil stalks for culinary use will have the added benefit of driving away mosquitoes. Basil’s many hardy varieties prefer full sun and can be grown in containers or in the ground. 
    • Lemon Thyme is quite promising in terms of its repellant potency. In a study done by the University of Guelph in Ontario, they found that the crushed leaves of lemon thyme had 62% of the repellency of DEET. Lemon thyme is very easy to grow, needing only partial or full sun, occasional pruning, and enough water to keep from dehydration in climate zones 5 and up. 
    • Catnip is a perennial herb and feline favorite. While it may attract your cats (or your neighbor’s!) researchers have found that it has the opposite effect on not one but two nasty little bugs: the mosquito and the cockroach. In fact, they found that one of catnip’s essential oil constituents, Nepetalactone, has roughly ten times more mosquito repellency than DEET. Catnip is a hardy herb, but it requires plenty of water, sun, and a bit of pruning to thrive.
    • Sage is yet another herb that offers its services as a multi-insect repellant. Mosquitoes, flies, cabbage moths, and black flea beetles all keep their distance from sage plants. This perennial likes full sun with well-drained soil does well in pots or gardens and grows to be about 18 inches tall. 
    • Pennyroyal is known mostly as an ancient culinary herb and herbal remedy, but it has a bit of a bad reputation because its essential oil is highly toxic. Consider whether you have pets or small children that may pick a leaf to nibble on while exploring outside. Pennyroyal really packs a punch when it comes to repelling insects–fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, the terrors of outdoor living, all stay away from Pennyroyal. The plant grows to about 12 inches tall and is best grown in partial-to-full sun in zones 5-9. 
    • Rosemary is an aromatic evergreen sub-shrub that is used in culinary seasonings and herbal remedies. It is commonly known to repel fleas and mosquitoes. Rosemary grows best in hardiness zones 7 to 10 and prefers full sun and dry, rocky, well-drained soil. Rosemary starts off small, but can spread and grow to 6 feet tall or more over time! 
    • Geraniums (sometimes called citronella or mosquito plants) are often sold in garden centers as natural repellants. While lemongrass is the true source of citronella oil, geraniums still do a great job keeping mosquitoes, cabbage worms, and Japanese beetles out of your space. Geraniums thrive in climate zones 9 to 11 but can be grown in pots and moved inside in colder climates. Like pennyroyal, the geranium plant is poisonous, so exercise caution with pets and small children. 
    • Lavender is a beautiful plant with many uses in aromatherapy, herbal remedies and repelling spiders and unwanted insects such as ants and moths. As a herbal remedy, it can alleviate the pain and itching associated with all types of insect bites including mosquitoes. Lavender is typically used as an essential oil but can be used as fresh or dried cuttings. Lavender grows happily in climate zones 4 to 9 but can be kept indoors in extreme north or south locations.

    This year, be prepared! Don’t become a slave to sticky, toxic bug sprays and calamine lotion. Plant any (or all) of these natural repellants around your home, patio, and garden to enjoy your outdoor space freely all summer long.

    [Suggested Video] Discover almost all the edible and medicinal plants in North America <<< Watch Here >>>

  • 7 Simple Ways to Keep Your Homestead Safe

    7 Simple Ways to Keep Your Homestead Safe

    You love living on your homestead, and you cannot imagine living in anywhere but a rural area. One of the elements of having a homestead that deserves plenty of attention is keeping it safe. Whether it is wild animals that decide to get a little too close for comfort or people who are looking to steal from you or do you and your family harm, you need to have a method of keeping things secure.

    Since you might be far from local law enforcement and help, it is up to you to take measures to secure your property. You do not want to have to wait half an hour – or longer – for help to arrive. Here are some ways that you can improve your home’s security from threats.

    Use Fences, Gates, and Signs

    You should have fences around your property, as well as a gate at the start of your driveway. Keep the gate and the fences in good condition, and be sure that you are posting the appropriate signs warning people not to trespass. This will not keep out the most determined of intruders, but they can work to keep many people away.

    Do Not Leave Equipment Out

    You never want to make your home appear like a buffet for thieves. This means you need to put all the equipment that you have into the garage, shed, barn, or other secure areas. This includes the mowers, tractors, four-wheelers, snowmobiles, bikes, boats, and anything else you have that others might want for themselves.

    Related Article:  Stay Safe on the Homestead

    Make Sure You Have Good Locks

    Go through your house and make sure that you have good locks on all the windows and doors, including the basement, and those on the second floor. If they are shoddy or not working properly, replace them sooner rather than later. Make sure the locks on any other buildings on your property are in good condition, as well.

    Get to Know the Neighbors

    Make it a point to get out and talk with your neighbors. You will find that most people are friendly, and once you get to know them, they will keep an eye on your property and let you know of any suspicious activity, just as you would do for them. It is always a good idea to be neighborly, as you can help each other out in many ways, not just security.

    You Need Proper Lighting

    Good lighting on the outside of the property, including motion sensor lighting, can help to thwart people and animals that get too close. They do not want to be seen, and the lights can help to give you notice that someone or something is on your property. Of course, if you have livestock, cats, and other animals on the property, you will need to think carefully about where you put the motion lighting.

    Dogs

    Having a dog, or multiple dogs can be a great deterrent too. Dogs bark whenever there are intruders, whether they are human or animal, so you can be alerted to presences on your property. Even if you have the sweetest dogs on the planet, intruders would rather not have to deal with them.

    Weapons

    Weapons, whether firearms or bear spray, can be a great option. Most homesteaders are also hunters, so having a firearm and knowing how to use it should not be a problem.

    These quick tips are simple and can help you make your property as secure as possible.

    If you enjoyed this, you might also like….

    Long-Term Survival for Homesteaders…

  • Why You Should Keep a Homesteading Journal

    Why You Should Keep a Homesteading Journal

    As you embark on your homesteading journey, whether that is buying several acres of land and starting a full-fledged farm, or simply growing herbs on your windowsill and trying a few simple home ferments, it is incredibly beneficial to keep a journal.  Heres a few tips on why and how to journal.

    Why? 

    Journals are, literally, records of events. So as you begin gardening, raising animals, trying home cultures, and generally doing more things simpler, greener, and for yourself, you’ll want to keep track of your efforts, method, and progress.

    First of all, it’s fun! You can look back in a few months and remember how far you’ve come.

    But more importantly, it can be extremely helpful. As you work with inexact sciences like gardening or fermenting, you’ll probably want to remember what worked, and what didn’t. If you battled a serious bout of pests, it might be very helpful next year to look back and pinpoint the precise timing so you can take precautionary measures this year, for example. Or if you are selling eggs, keeping track of your chicken production and income can help calculate the cost and whether or not is productive for you.

    How to journal?

    The great thing is, there’s no exact science for homestead journaling!  You can find tons of great, free resources on the internet for worksheets, charts, and recordkeeping for gardening and homesteading, if you like that sort of thing, or you can simply keep a diary and record your day-to-day events.  What works for some folks may not work for you and vice versa, this is about you and recording what was successful for you.

    Bullet journals are very popular these days, and the simple method for a sort of DIY journal might be ideal for tracking planting records, daily tasks, and achievements, etc. The sky is the limit!

    However you choose to record your journey, you’ll learn as you go what’s helpful to record and track. The important part is to do it! This is how homesteaders and farmers learned and grew back in the day, so it’s just as beneficial today as always.

    If you enjoyed this, you might also like….

    Long-Term Survival for Homesteaders…

    Natural Healing Secrets You Need to Know…

    Effective Primal Diet Hacks…

  • 6 Creative Ways to Use Bone Broth

    6 Creative Ways to Use Bone Broth

     

    You’ve probably heard of the growing popularity of bone broth lately, and if you haven’t, you should definitely know about it.

    It’s not really anything new, but recent trendy diets have emphasized the regular consumption of hearty, super-nutritious bone broth as a way to get essential vitamins, minerals, and, most importantly, gelatin. 

    Gelatin is a wonderful addition to any healthy diet, but particularly beneficial for anyone concerned about bone or joint health.

    The great thing is it’s very cheap and easy to make, unfortunately, it’s not always so easy to find creative ways to consume it! Especially this time of year, sipping on a warm, frothy cup of broth might not sound so appealing to you.

    So we’ve come up with some clever ways to consume broth in your diet that you might not have thought of. Let’s begin:

    Soups and Stews

    Using bone broth as the base for hearty soups and stews is, of course, the most obvious way to get this hearty, healthy broth into your diet. You can use as you would chicken broth or even water. But, since the weather is warming up this time of year, if warm tomato soup or hot, spicy chili isn’t sounding too appealing to you, don’t forget there are great cold summer soups like gazpacho and vichyssoise that bone broth can be used for too.

    Related Article:  How to Cook Bone Broth in Your Slow Cooker

    Steaming Vegetables

    If you are one to enjoy some simple steamed vegetables in a quick weeknight dinner, you’ll be happy to know that you can use bone broth in place of water! Steaming vegetables with bone broth infuse the veggies with the health benefits of the broth and add a rich, deep, flavor as well.

    Cooking rice, pasta, beans, etc. 

    As with steaming vegetables, you can use your bone broth in place of water when cooking rice, pasta, beans, quinoa, lentils, or other legumes or grains. It will add a rich flavor as well as the nutrients and minerals of the broth.

    Sauteeing Vegetables

    You can always throw a little bone broth in when you are sauteeing vegetables or making a stir-fry. It will help the vegetables cook faster as well as lend it’s rich flavor to your dish.

    Related Article:  How to Make Bone Broth (Video)

    Sauces and Gravies 

    Many sauces require a fatty broth or milk to be reduced, and bone broth can almost always be used for that. It makes a wonderful base for a wide range of sauces and is always ideal for gravy.

    Egg Dishes

    Use bone broth in place of water or milk when cooking scrambled eggs, frittatas or quiches.

    Get Creative!

    Hopefully, this has given you an idea of just how many options there are for using bone broth! Try to see if there are other creative ways to incorporate bone broth into your daily life. Happy cooking!

    If you enjoyed this, you might also like….

    Cooking Skills Every Homesteader Should Cultivate

    Effective Primal Diet Hacks…