Homesteading Archives - Page 25 of 36 - Homesteader DepotHomesteader Depot

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 […]

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 […]

Homesteading Myths-Busted! (Video)

Homesteading is hard work and takes experience, know-how, and sensibility. Homesteading has gotten very romanticized as of late, and a lot of people are diving in head-first with a lot of preconceived notions and misconceptions about homesteading. This is a great little video busting some of the common homesteading myths and explaining the reality of homesteading from a seasoned expert. If you liked this, you might also enjoy… Natural Healing Secrets You Can Master… Great Skills for Homesteaders to Have…

Battery Reconditioning: Limitless Homestead Energy

One of the biggest concerns for long-term self-reliance as a homesteader is energy. Most energy sources that we rely on seem to be finite. Especially if you are focused on survival when the grid goes down or being completely off-grid. Gasoline, propane, coal, even wood, all will run out at some point and are difficult to regenerate. Batteries in particular run out quickly, and rechargeable batteries can be costly and unreliable. But what if you could have nearly unlimited battery power … Gasoline, propane, coal, even wood, all will run out at some point and are difficult to regenerate without […]

DIY Liquid Hand Soap

I am all about ways to make value-added products like liquid hand soap yourself to save money and reduce exposure to harmful perfumes and toxins. Liquid hand soap is a really great DIY because you can re-use old hand soap pumps, or if you put them in a pretty container they make great and meaningful holiday gifts. The ingredients are simple and easy to adjust for scents that you prefer. Using essential oils of choice, you can mimic your favorite soap scents or create ones! Let’s get started: Ingredients: Two 5oz bars of castile soap Essential oils of choice One gallon […]

Guppies for the Garden

When one thinks of raising animals that offer benefits for your garden, chickens are probably the first to come to mind. But not everyone has the ability or the desire to have animals that require as much care as chickens do, or make as much noise as chickens do. Luckily, there are animals that offer several benefits for the garden that require barely any attention and make absolutely no noise: guppies! Yes, the little fish. Guppies are freshwater fish that don’t require pumps of filters in their aquariums or ponds. Females can reproduce at 2 months Yes, the little fish. Guppies […]

Winterizing the Chicken Coop (Video)

We love our feathered friends, so it’s important that we make sure they have the best care through the winter! This clever Chicago couple kept getting questions as to how they cared for their backyard chickens through the notoriously brutal Chicago winters, so they made a video to show what they did. Their chicken coop looks nice and cozy! Check it out: If you liked this, you might also enjoy… Ancient Healing Secrets You Can Learn at Home… Yoga and Weight Loss: What You Need to Know… How to Become a Master Woodworker..

How to Clean Cast Iron

Cast iron cookware is fantastic. It is durable, lasts forever, can be used over an open flame and is often called “the original non-stick”. A cast-iron skillet is an essential to any homestead kitchen. However, they have to be cared for properly. There are differing opinions on how to properly clean cast iron, so this is just one way that I have found works best for me. Based on what kind of cleaning supplies and fat you regularly have available to season with, you might find a different method works for you. But I’ve been cleaning my cast iron skillets […]

How to Freeze Raw Potatoes

Keeping potatoes in a root cellar is a common way to store these essential root veggies through the winter, but plenty of people don’t have root cellars! Canning is another option, but that usually takes a pressure canner. If you find yourself with a lot of potatoes you’d like to store for a long time but don’t have a cellar or a pressure canner, freezing them is a great option-if you do it right. It can be kind of tricky, so here are some tips to ensure they remain fresh in the freezer. Use Fresh Potatoes Don’t use potatoes that have […]

Cultivate Your Own Wild Yeast Starter (Video)

As homesteaders, we’re used to growing our own food, raising animals, even fermenting and preserving. But something really cool you can cultivate is wild yeast! You are probably used to baking with active dry yeast that you buy in packets at the store, but did you know you can harvest the microorganisms that naturally occur in any environment to make your own active starter? It’s really cool! And if you don’t already homestead, it’s a very fun way to grow “food” right on your countertop, needing little more than flour, water, and time. Check it out! If you liked this, you […]

Drip System Installation (Video)

Recently I wrote about how to conserve water, time, and energy by watering wisely, but that is under the assumption that you, like myself, don’t have a drip system. If you have the money to invest in a drip system there is no better way to conserve water, time, and energy in watering your garden. With a timer added to your system you can pretty much forget about your garden and it will still grow. This video features a system that retails for about $30, in the video it irrigates a 8’x10’ bed with material to spare (the timer is […]

Growing Loofah Sponges

I always thought that loofah was the remains of some aquatic creature living on oceans reefs. But then when I was searching an online seed catalog I saw it listed. I had to click it to check it out, and then grow some for myself. It turns out that loofah is in the same family as cucumber, it’s a gourd, and it can be eaten or left to dry on the vine and used as the sponge you see in stores. Here’s how. They do not handle frost well, so don’t plant them too early if you live […]