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Homesteading – Page 87 – Homesteader Depot

Homesteader Depot

Category: Homesteading

  • Highly Effective Natural Bug Repellents

    Highly Effective Natural Bug Repellents

    A lot of people think that living the homesteader lifestyle means giving up on modern amenities, like mosquito repellent. While you might not be buying chemical-heavy sprays like others, though, you don’t actually have to just sit back and let mosquitoes and other bugs take over your life. In fact, there are a lot of highly effective natural ways to keep those bugs away from you, your home, and your garden.

    Make Your Own Bug Spray

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    Grab a spray bottle and fill it halfway with distilled water. Fill it the rest of the way with witch hazel, and then add about 50-60 drops of rosemary, eucalyptus, or clove oil. Shake it up, and spray it on your skin. It’ll leave you feeling refreshed, and it’ll keep insects away, as well.

    Plant Rosemary in Your Yard

    Almost all insects are repelled by rosemary, making it a great herb to plant in your yard. You can plant it around your garden to keep pests out, and you can plant it around your patio or your fire pit to create a bug-free zone in the yard. Other good plants for this purpose include catnip, mint, citronella, and wormwood.

    Learn How To SUPER-CHARGE your garden or farm…

    Put Your Eggshells to Work

    If you’re trying to keep pests out of the garden, including insects, slugs, and snails, crush up eggshells and spread them around the bases of your plants. This makes it difficult for the pests to traverse the ground to get to the plants, and they’ll soon go looking elsewhere for food.

    Spread Mulch Around the House

    Finally, if bugs keep getting in your home, try spreading cedar mulch around the outside of the house. Much like rosemary, this deters pests and will make them want to go somewhere else.

    Try out one or all of these tips to enjoy a bug-free living and gardening space in and around your home.

  • 5 Survival Foods That Virtually Last Forever

    5 Survival Foods That Virtually Last Forever

    When stocking up a survival stash, it’s important to maximize your space with items that will last the longest. Below is a list of items that will virtually last forever…

    1.Dried Beans

    Dried beans are probably one of the most common items to stock up on and for good reason. When kept away from moisture and light, they can last for decades. Vacuum sealing is a great option for storing beans, as they keep best in an absence of oxygen.

    2. Vinegar

    Due to its high acidity, vinegar will last essentially forever. Vinegar is a great item to stock up on for any long-term survival situation because it can be used as a disinfectant and all-purpose food preservative for other food items that might not last so long on their own.

    Learn How To SUPERCHARGE your garden or farm…

    3. Salt

    Like vinegar, salt is also a food preservative with many practical applications that will keep indefinitely. Not to mention, it’s always going to be your first choice for making bland survival food tastier. All you need is to protect it from moisture, of course (because we all know plenty of salt doesn’t pour when it rains!)

    Related Article: 9 Practical Emergency Foods and How to Store Them

    4. Honey

    Honey lasts so long, it has been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. Unless it gets exposed to moisture, it will pretty much last forever. Just keep it stored in an airtight container. And amazingly, while it may crystallize or change color, it will remain edible for possibly hundreds of years.

    5. Rice

    Rice is quite possibly the ultimate survival food. Like honey, rice has also been found in Egyptian tombs. Most varieties (other than brown rice, which is more perishable due to its high-fat content) will last indefinitely, especially when stored in a cool, dry place.

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  • 4 Underrated Medicinal Herbs

    4 Underrated Medicinal Herbs

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    Herbs like mint, Echinacea, aloe and chamomile are common fixtures in medicinal gardens. But here are some lesser-known medicinal plants that make great additions to any natural healing arsenal. Some could even be already growing in your backyard!

    Marigold

    Commonly grown for its beautiful bloom, marigold has some wonderful healing properties as well. The calendula variety, otherwise known as “pot marigolds” are the most beneficial. You have probably already heard of calendula ointment, which is used to reduce swelling and inflammation in sore muscles, sprained ankles and bruising. When taken internally, marigold can improve circulation, boost the immune system, detox the liver, fight off cold sores, sooth sore throats and toothaches, and balance the digestive tract.

    Catnip

    Mostly known for making cats act crazy, catnip is also an amazingly effective healing herb. It is a great sedative and fever reducer, particular for children. It also improves digestion, eases morning sickness, is an antifungal and a bactericide, and even repels some insects-great to add to some homemade bug repellant!

    Dandelion

    Dandelion is an herb most people know for popping up annoyingly in their perfectly manicured lawns, but it’s actually a fantastic medicine! The flower, leaf and root all have amazing healing properties. It is most valued for its use treating liver and kidney disorders and its incredible detoxifying properties. Dandelion root tea can also be used as an alternative to coffee, and tea made with the flower is wonderfully nutritious, high in Vitamin A, C and potassium.

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    Plantain

    Plantain, like dandelion, is most commonly found in lawns and also has amazing medicinal and nutritional benefits. It is not to be confused with the thick, starchy bananas used in Caribbean cooking. Cooked or eaten raw, plantain herb is an excellent source of vitamins A, C and K. Used in a tincture, it is beneficial for upper respiratory sickness and mild throat or lung inflammation, and used topically, in a salve or poultice, it can be used to reduce inflammation and swelling as well as relieve itching and irritation.

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  • Age-Appropriate Farm Chores for Kids

    Age-Appropriate Farm Chores for Kids

    If you’re getting started with a family homestead, one of the things you’ll have to learn very quickly is how to delegate. Even a small farm takes a ton of work, and one person can’t do it all. Whether you pay an allowance, or simply make chores a part of learning life skills, yourfarmChore kids should be a part of caring for your family homestead. If you have younger children, there are still plenty of ways that they can help out around the farm.

    Pre-School Aged Children

    While you may have to help 2- or 3-year-olds with some of the delicate jobs, getting kids started young is a great way to help them get interested in the world around them. Doing simple chores beside you as you do your own allows them to learn, develop motor and language skills, and spend some quality time with you. They can:

    •    Pull weeds (with direction)
    •    Collect eggs
    •    Plant seeds and help water plants
    •    Help feed and water smaller animals (calm family pets are a good place to start)
    •    Pick up sticks or rocks from the yard or garden
    •    Sweep leaves or dirt off the walkway or patio

    Elementary Aged Children

    As children grow past the age of five, they can often begin taking on more responsibility with less direction. Anything listed above should be chores they can do on their own by now. Additionally, they could also:

    •    Feed and water animals
    •    Rake the yard
    •    Assist with laundry
    •    Clean small animal pens
    •    Bathe animals
    •    Harvest vegetables

    Middle School Aged Children and Up

    By the age of 10, children can:

    •    Mow the yard
    •    Help build or repair fences or enclosures
    •    Milk animals
    •    Clean large animal pens
    •    Hang laundry unassisted
    •    Assist with medical care for animals
    •    Operate machinery

    Every child is different, so it’s important to allow your child to move up in responsibility only as their development allows. These lists should give you a good idea of how easy daily homestead management can be when your whole family pitches in.

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  • Get Lost In This Weapon Build…

    Get Lost In This Weapon Build…

    The Mesmerizing Build Of A Long Bow…

    I love watching people build things. I get lost watching people use techniques that have been refined over generations. Watch this master of his craft create a weapon that has been used to conquer and defend millions of people for centuries…

    If you are looking for something a little more practical and DIY, I would suggest checking out the PVC builds of long bows. For a relatively small cost you can build your own accurate and effective long bow (but it won’t be as beautiful as the one this film)…

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  • Understanding Gardening Zones

    Understanding Gardening Zones

    When planning a survival garden, it’s tempting to just start with a list of vegetables that you like to eat, or the ones that will offer the most nutrients and highest yields in the least amount of space. But it’s probably best to begin bygardening zones learning about your gardening zone, so that you don’t waste your time with plants that aren’t a good fit for your area.

    Garden zones, also called hardiness zones, are the areas that have been defined by the USDA, that show which plants grow best in which areas. These zones are defined by the temperate range of the area, and can be very helpful when getting started.

    The zones are divided in 13 areas, from zero to 12, and move from the northern part of the country down to the southern part. Each of those zones are divided into “a” and “b”, so that there are 26 zones in all. At the northernmost parts of the country, in northern Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana, you’ll find zones 2b through 3b. Moving down into the Midwest, you’ll find zones five, six, and seven. California and the Pacific Northwest is mostly made up of zone eight, which is also found in the southeastern states. New England follows the same pattern as the flyover states, starting with about three and moving down to about six or seven.

    On the backs of seed packets, and on the information included with plants, you’ll find a recommended zone for the best growth possible. It’s important to note that garden zones are not the absolute authority on what will or won’t grow in your area. They don’t take into account soil moisture, humidity, or the frequency of cold snaps, for example. But they will give you a great place to start as you plan your garden.

    Find your plant hardiness zone here.

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  • Turn Your Garden Into A DIY Spa

    Turn Your Garden Into A DIY Spa

    Besides creating a surplus of food, and being used for medicinal and cleaning purposes, your garden has many other uses. One of those is allowing you to pamper yourself once in a while! After you’ve put in all that hard work, you can harvest a few ingredients out of your garden and use them to create your veryspa own DIY spa day.

    Citrus fruits are perfect for giving oily skin a detoxifying facial. Mix the juice of a lemon, orange, or other citrus fruit, with honey and yogurt for a creamy cleanser that can also help lighten sun spots and exfoliate the skin.

    If you grow roses, you have the perfect ingredient for a relaxing soak in the tub, and for a purifying facial. Allowing the steam from a hot bath filled with rose petals to surround your face will unclog pores, and get rid of blackhead and whiteheads. Rose water is also a classic perfume that smells lovely without being overpowering.

    Rose water is also a great moisturizer. For those of you who keep bees, use a bit of grated beeswax with an equal amount of rose water, and a double portion of almond oil. Heat until the beeswax melts, and then cool and mix for a light cream that will pamper the skin without clogging pores.

    It may seem cliché, but those cucumbers on the eyes while you let a cleanser, mask, or steam treatment work actually have a purpose! Raw cucumber slices can help reduce redness and puffiness around the eyes. A face mask of marigold petals along with honey and whole milk will also help get rid of redness and thin skin.

    Include a few of these fruits, flowers, and other plants in your garden next year and don’t forget to schedule a spa day to reward yourself for all your hard work.

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  • 10 Ways to Reuse Citrus Peels

    10 Ways to Reuse Citrus Peels

    Reusing things is more than just a habit for self-sufficient homesteaders; it’s an essential part of living. Food scraps are often tossed to animals, or composted for great gardening material. But there are many ways that you can reuse citrus peels,including lemons, oranges, grapefruits, and limes.

    1. Create an eco-friendly cleaning solution by tossing lemon peels into a re-sealable container, and adding just enough vinegar to cover the peels. After two weeks, the mixture will have taken on the smell of the lemons.

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    Related Article: Easy and Effective All Natural Homemade Citrus Cleaner

    2. Small pieces of lemon peel scattered around windowsills and other thresholds will help keep ants out of the home.

    3. Lemon peels can be used to polish chrome, copper, brass, and stainless steel.

    4. Leftover orange or lemon peels can be baked until they are darkened and dried, and then used as a natural fire starter.

    5. Boil orange peels, and then strain the peels out of the water. This liquid becomes a natural glass cleaner that won’t leave streaks like some vinegars. Toss the peels into the garbage disposal when you’re done to make your sink smell great.

    6. Cut up citrus peels of any sort can be added to brown sugar to keep it moist.

    7. Adding dried, chopped citrus peels to tea makes a flavorful treat that brightens up your afternoon break.

    8. Citrus is a great bug repellant. Fill a small herb pot with soil, coffee grounds, and some dried citrus peels. Plant your starter herb, and place on the picnic table, or near the window. Bugs won’t come near it.

    9. Make a citrus-infused oil to use for cooking.

    10. Dried lemon, lime, or orange peels added to either salt or sugar can make a wonderful skin cleanser. Try this one out for gifts next time the holidays roll around.

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