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Self Reliance – Page 12 – Homesteader Depot

Homesteader Depot

Category: Self Reliance

  • Benefits of Protein in Your Pantry

    Benefits of Protein in Your Pantry

     

    Protein powder is usually known as the substance that bodybuilders use to bulk up. It’s more than that, however! There are protein powders out there that go into shakes, can be mixed with water and drank on their own, and that serve as meal supplements.

    Having supplemental protein powder can prove very necessary for those bad years when livestock doesn’t produce or you’ve come up empty-handed while hunting.  Your body needs a source of protein and when you can’t get it from meat, a supplemental powder is a great option.  It’s definitely something to consider in your emergency pantry.

    In fact, there are so many different types of protein powder that you might find yourself overwhelmed with options. We’ll help with that here.

    What Exactly Is Protein Powder?

    Protein powder is exactly what it sounds like – it’s a supplemental powder that contains protein and a number of other vitamins and minerals. There are versions with more protein than others (these are what bodybuilders use to bulk up) and some that are very well-rounded. If you’re looking for a good type to keep in your preparedness pantry, choose the well-rounded versions. They’ll serve your needs better and act as a meal replacement.

    Types of Protein Powder

    We’ve already covered one type of protein powder – the one used by bodybuilders. However, the types that serve as meal replacements come in a variety of types and flavors. Some use coconut to provide the protein, while others have some animal by-products in them. Make sure to read the labels carefully if you’re a vegetarian or vegan to avoid ending up with the wrong kind. On top of this, there are a number of different flavors, from strawberry to chocolate. In fact, some types are available in more than one flavor, making the decision even tougher. What it comes down to is finding the meal replacement kind in a flavor that you enjoy.

    How Long Will It Last?

    Protein powder is just that, a powder so that it will have quite a long shelf life. The standard types expire within four to five years, and, like with most canned and jarred items, if they are stored properly, they’ll last even longer than that. As long as the container isn’t opened, you can probably get a few extra years of storage time. However, if it’s opened, make sure to use it up as soon as possible. You don’t want to risk contaminating anything!

    Is Protein Powder Good For Kids?

    The answer here is yes. Protein powder is indeed good for children. There are even kid’s versions available on the market. Compare it to baby formula, only formulated differently and tastier. It contains the same number of nutritious elements as the adult versions; only it is made for children’s needs. In short, if you have kids in your house, you should have some protein powder for them store with your other emergency goods.

    Can I Do Anything Else With Protein Powder?

    While the most popular method of using protein powder is by mixing it with water and drinking it, you can always use it in a smoothie. In fact, if you mix some of your canned fruit in with the protein powder and maybe some powdered milk and water, you have the makings of a quite tasty drink. You’ll need some variety in your diet – you can’t keep eating and drinking the same things all of the time – and this is a great way to expanding things.

    Protein powder is a useful vitamin and mineral supplement that can provide some of the things that your average diet is lacking. Make sure to keep some containers of it in your emergency pantry alongside your other goods. You might want to pull it out when you tire of eating the same old things all of the time. The benefits are worth it, especially if you chose a tasty flavor.

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  • 5 Things to Consider When Building an Aquaponic System

    5 Things to Consider When Building an Aquaponic System


    Setting up an aquaponic system, although quite an easy task, requires some basic knowledge of aquaponics. If you have decided to install such a system in your house, then you probably know what this is and how it could help you. However, there may still be things which can interest or help you. Below you will find 5 essential things which you should know in order to obtain spectacular results.

    1. Location
    The place where you put your aquaponic system is highly important for the way in which the plants and the fish will develop. In order to obtain great results, you should make sure that the temperature from the room is not too high, nor too low, that there is enough light for the plants to prepare their food and that no wind or extreme weather conditions will reach them. Also, make sure that no harming chemical substances can get inside the water as this means death for both your fish and your plants.

    2. Oxygenizing the water
    The happier your fish are, the better your system will work! This is why you need to oxygenize the water on a daily basis and make sure your fish have all the “comfort” they need.

    Related Article: “Advantages of Aquaponic Farming”

    3. Choosing your fish accordingly
    The aquaponic system works well with almost all types of fish. Yet, there are states in which you are not allowed to grow whatever type of fish you want, so you will want to see what types of fish you are allowed to have before starting your aquaponic system as you do not want any problems with the law.

    4. Placing the pots
    In order to make the harvest much easier, you should place the pots or the entire system at your waist level. This way you will not have to bend over, making the daily care routine a much easier activity.

    5. Adding additives
    There are cases in which your fish may not provide all the nutrients needed for your plants. If the quantity is lower than what the plants need, then you will have to supply them with the respective substances. In most cases, you will need to add iron, calcium carbonate or potassium carbonate.

    Aquaponics is an easy activity which will provide you with the necessary vegetables and fish in a short amount of time. Just follow the tips mentioned above and you will have great success in your attempt to grow organic food in your home. 

  • Advantages of Aquaponic Farming

    Advantages of Aquaponic Farming

    Aquaponics is a new way of approaching farming. Unlike traditional agriculture where you needed plants to grow vegetables, with aquaponics you need water and fish in order to have healthy food on your table each and every day. Basically, aquaponics relies on the interdependence between fish and plants: the fish produces bio-nutrients for the plants, while the plants clean the water, creating a perfect environment for the fish to grow and develop. It is a blend of aquaculture and hydroponics that has plenty of advantages. If you need some reasons to get your own aquaponic system started, then here are some of the advantages you will get once you assemble it.

    First of all, you will have fresh organic food on your table each and every day, regardless of the hour when you decide to cook your meals. You simply take your tomato, cucumber of your basil from the aquaponic “field” and use it for your meals. It is as easy as it sounds.

    The second best thing about it is that you not only grow vegetables, but you also have plenty of fish. Whether you want them for cooking tasty meals or simply for your décor, they are a great addition to your home! They also have a practical purpose, as you will never have to use chemical fertilizers on your plants, thus obtaining real organic food.

    If you ask how difficult is this system to put in practice, the answer is extremely simple. Not only will you be able to assemble it all by yourself, without the help of your family or neighbors, but you can also put it wherever you want. If you move from one house to another, then you simply disassemble the system and take it with you! What can be easier than that?

    Another great advantage of the hydroponic farming is that it offers you financial independence and control over your money. You know exactly how much you need to spend on your food and you will no longer depend on the market for your veggies’ supplies.

    Related Article: “5 Things to Consider When Building an Aquaponic System”

    Last, but not least, it involves no dirty hands and clothes, no bending and digging, no land and little maintenance time, so it will be like your veggies and fish grow all by themselves! Quite an easy to put in practice system, suitable for all types of people, even for busy and impatient ones!

    There are plenty advantages that the aquaponic system can offer you! Your health and your comfort will be improved, while your savings will considerably grow with the constant use of the aquaponic type of farming! If this is what you want, then why not give it a try? 

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  • 7 Interesting Ways to Use Excess Cucumbers

    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 be the centerpiece of an enormous veggie tray all from your garden. It is a straightforward recipe that can be made to serve with a meal or as a snack.

    Ingredients are three cucumbers, three diced tomatoes or a cup of cherry tomatoes, half (or more) of a sweet onion cut in small slices, a teaspoon of dill, and your favorite dressing. I like to use the cucumber dressing below. Just mix them all up and chill for an hour and serve.

     

    2. Cucumber Yogurt Dressing

    This dressing is so creamy and smooth that it melts in your mouth. It’s very healthy, especially if you make your own yogurt. It only has about two grams of fat per tablespoon. It is simple to make by just adding the ingredients into a blender and run it until smooth.

     

    Quick Trick: THIS grows 10 times more plants in half the time

     

    Ingredients are 1 cup of cucumbers, seeded, peeled and chopped; 3 tablespoons of plain or vanilla low-fat yogurt; 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, ¼ teaspoon of dill, along with salt and pepper to taste. Let all blend for a few minutes and then test it for taste. Chill and enjoy!

     

    3. Strawberry & Cucumber Smoothie

    Just the sound of this drink sends a cool smoothness through me that makes me feel like I’m doing something special for my body because there’s lots of potassium and Vitamin B in this smoothie that will give you a spurt of energy. What makes it so good is the sweet strawberry taste.

    Ingredients are 1-1/2 cups of frozen or fresh strawberries, 1 large cucumber, with seeds removed and chopped, 1 cup of almond milk (cold), 1-1/2 tablespoons of honey, and a teaspoon of lemon juice. Blend on high, add more milk if desired,

     

    Non-food Uses

     

    4. Control Garden Pests

    Cucumbers are one of the most fascinating vegetables. Did you know they can get rid of garden pests? All you need to do is put 4-5 slices in a few small open containers and place them around your garden. They will repel all sorts of insects. You just need to replace them when they dry out.

     

    5. Breath Freshener

    Forget using mints to freshen your breath. Place a slice of cucumber on the roof of your mouth and hold for about 30 seconds. The chemicals in the cucumber will kill bacteria and bad breath.

     

    Suggested Article: “How to Use Extra Cucumbers”

     

    6. Hangover Relief

    This non-food use is one you will probably wish you knew about on New Year’s Eve. If you eat half a cucumber before going to bed after drinking, it will help relieve a hangover because they are high in nutrients and electrolytes.

     

    7. Mirror Defogger

    If you want to defog your mirror, rub a cucumber slice over the mirror before getting in the shower, and when you get out, the mirror will be clear of fog and your bathroom will have a fresh smell.

     

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  • Canned Corn: What’s the Trick?

    Canned Corn: What’s the Trick?

    A fond childhood memory is sitting on the back porch with my brother as we pulled husks off the bushels of corn on the cob. Somehow, we would always end up falling to the floor in a pile of husks with corn silk stuck in our hair laughing our heads off. You’d think our mom would have been upset, but all she could do is laugh with us.

    Since then I have assumed my mother’s role, canned many a cob of corn, and want to share with you how to process ‘doing it yourself’ canning corn. If you have never canned corn before, it may seem like a lot of work, but it’s the raw pack method, which is easier than other ways. If you follow these easy steps, you will accomplish some of the most significant things about homesteading—being self-reliant, saving money, and feeding your family the best kind of food.

    Gather Equipment and Ingredients

    1. Pressure Cooker – necessary to kill bacteria like botulism that can kill you if not cooked at 240 degrees in a pressure cooker since using stovetop doesn’t get hot enough.
    2. Mason canning jars with lids and rings to match
    3. Kernel stripper or sharp knife
    4. Jar lifter, tongs, and canning funnel
    5. Large pot of water at boiling temperature
    6. Shallow pan or cookie sheet
    7. Towels and hot pads
    8. Labels for jars and a thin tip marker
    9. Canning salt for flavor – the amount is optional
    10. A bushel of freshly picked corn on the cob – follow directions on the pressure cooker for exact amounts for the quantity desired.

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    Preparation

    • To begin you can either shuck the husks or just bend back each husk and use it to hold the cob as I slice off the kernels.
    • Remove the silk with a kitchen brush and rinse corn cobs in cold water.
    • Cut the kernels off each cob with a cookie sheet placed underneath to catch the kernels.
    • Slide the kernels from the cookie sheet into a large bowl.
    • Sterilize the jars, lids, and rings in the pot of hot water, remove right before filling.
    • Using the funnel, fill each jar with corn up to an inch from the top.
    • Add salt if desired – but no more than ½ tsp. for each pint or 1 tsp. for each quart.
    • Fill each jar with hot water up to an inch from the top.
    • Giggle the jars to remove any bubbles.
    • Wipe the edge of each jar making sure they are not cracked, place lids on, and tighten rings securely.

    Cooking

    • Using jar lifter, place jars in a pressure canner/cooker according to the user manual (if at high elevation, check instructions for the proper setting).
    • Close lid and cook pints for 55 minutes or quarts for 1 hour and 25 minutes.
    • Once done, turn off the cooker and wait for the pressure gauge to return to zero before opening.
    • Remove jars with the lifter placing on a towel to drain out of the way.
    • Let jars cool and check lids to make sure they are sealed. If the covers pop when touched, they are sealed.
    • Write the contents and date on labels with a marker and apply to jars.
    • Place jars in a cool, dry place until you are ready to

    Conclusion

    You can use the corn for all kinds of recipes from salads to enchiladas, and you will love how much better it tastes than the store-bought can or frozen versions. By the way, do not throw away the corn husks or cobs—use for composting. If you have children that can help with shucking the husks, let them have fun with it and send us some pictures.

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  • Harvesting Your Own Maple in Just a Few Simple Steps

    Harvesting Your Own Maple in Just a Few Simple Steps

    Tapping maple trees for sap may seem like a daunting task. However, it really is not hard to do. In fact, this outside activity can be fun as the days get warmer in anticipation of springtime.

    But what if you are not sure which trees are maple? Or which maple trees are the best to tap? Be assured that being self-sufficient doesn’t mean you need to be a pro at tapping. Why not start out with tapping just a few trees? You could join in with neighbors or homesteading friends to see if it is something you want to do every year.

    The time of year to do the tapping depends on when the temperature warms up over 32 degrees in the day but still freezes at night, generally from February through late March or early April. With the following tips, you’ll be serving homemade pancakes with maple syrup in a matter of a few weeks.

    Preparing to Tap

    The tools needed are a hammer, a bucket with a cover (or buy a maple pail at the local home improvement store), a drill of some sort, 5/16 or 7/16 drill bit, and a few spiles (or taps). To cook the sap, having two crockpots (a large and a medium size) works best but you can also use large and medium-size pots. You need a colander, some coffee filters, jars for the syrup, and something like a giant pitcher to store the sap.

    Finding the Best Maples

    If you didn’t get the chance last fall to mark the trees you want to tap, identifying the right type of maple trees by other means is possible with a few tips from us. The best kind of sap to tap comes from the sugar (aka hard, black, or rock) maple and you can tell a sugar maple by the type of branches they have. Their branches are what is called “opposite” as opposed to “alternate” branching. Opposite means the branches shoot out from the stem directly across from each other in opposite directions in a uniform manner, whereas alternate branching means that the branches shoot out from the stem alternating without being directly across from each other. If there are any leaves left on the tree or on the ground to examine, sugar maples are usually big with a smooth outline of the leaf, not real jagged or tooth-like. Don’t worry if you get the wrong kind of maple; you will still get some sap.

    Tapping

    Look for older large size sugar maples so you can put two or three taps in one tree. You should drill the hole for the spiles on the south side of the tree about at chest height at a slightly upward angle so when you hang the bucket, it won’t slide off the spile. Pound the spile into the hole with the hammer and place the bucket with the cover on it to keep pieces of wood or leaves from getting blown into the sap. To get the sap to start flowing, you may need to blow your hot breath into the spile. Once it starts, you should check the buckets every day and remove sap to store in the fridge until you have enough to start cooking a batch in a large crockpot.

    Making Maple Syrup

    You should cook the sap within seven days of harvesting it. The best way to prepare sap is in a large crockpot. To strain the sap, place a colander with several coffee filters spread out and flattened to pour the sap through into the crockpot. Fill the crockpot almost full with sap. Bring it to a simmer on high setting and then turn down to low until it has reduced down to half, which will take about eight hours or overnight. If you have more sap to cook, pour the melted amount into another smaller crockpot. Keep on warm until it gets darker and the consistency of syrup. Keep filling the large crockpot with more until you are finished with the season’s amount.

    Conclusion

    Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it? You may have surprised everyone with more than you expected. If so, you can always have pancakes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus give some away as gifts!

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  • How to Make Delicious Homemade Butter

    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 is better for you than margarine as long as it is raw organic butter made from organic cream.

    You can make butter with just a few steps. You do not need one of those old-fashioned butter churns or a cow to milk. Although having a cow or two that eat green grass may be a good idea when homesteading, this recipe uses an electric mixer instead of a butter churn. You can even use a mason jar with cover and shake the cream instead of using a mixer. Shaking it will take more time but would be a fun thing for your kids or grandkids to do. If you don’t have cows, you can make butter from organic heavy whipping cream (butterfat content of at a minimum of 35 percent) from your local grocery store.

    Making the Butter

    The amount of cream needed depends on how much butter you want. It should be kept at room temperature for about 12 hours before mixing. About 15-20 minutes (or amount of time that water can be kept in the freezer before freezing) before mixing you need to place 2 cups of water in the freezer so you will have ice water for the recipe. You can make butter with any amount of cream and here is the typical breakdown for a pound or half a pound:

    • 1 quart of cream = 16 ounces (1 pound) butter and two cups of buttermilk.
    • 1 cup of cream = 8 ounces (1/2 pound) butter and about 1/2 cup of buttermilk.

    If this is the first time making butter, you may want to start out with the smaller amount of 1 cup of cream. Pour the cream into a mixer bowl and blend with an electric mixer at medium speed for 10 to 15 minutes. When the cream turns into curd-like lumps, keep blending until it starts to thicken and a watery/milky liquid forms at the bottom of the bowl.

    Stop the mixer and pour off the liquid into a sealable container that will hold about 1-2 cups. The buttermilk will not look like the kind you buy at the store. It is thinner but still can be used in place of water for cooking and baking.

    Suggested Article:  “Canned Corn: Whats the Trick”

    Use a stiff spatula to press the butter up against the walls of the bowl to squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Add about 1/2 cup of ice water and press up against the walls of the bowl to release the buttermilk liquid. Repeat two more times or until water loses its cloudiness.

    Continue to pour the liquid into a container and when finished, seal and refrigerate. Once all the buttermilk is collected, you can add a pinch of sea salt (per pound) to the butter unless you want to keep it unsalted. This process will give you buttermilk to cook with and keep the butter from spoiling.

    Storing the Butter

    Pack the butter you plan to use for the next week into a container with a cover and refrigerate. To store the remainder, wrap in parchment paper and then in foil or plastic wrap. You can store in the freezer for up to six months. Enjoy!

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  • Easy Checklist to Winterize Your Garden

    Easy Checklist to Winterize Your Garden

    As a homesteader, you may be wondering where you’re going to get the energy for preparing your garden for winter after all the hard work of harvesting the vegetables from your garden.  Remember how happy you were when you realized that you wouldn’t need to buy any vegetables all winter long? Keep that in mind along with the fact that it will now be cooler to work outside.

    You can print out the below list to check off items as you complete them and before long you’ll be done so you can take a break for a few days. Those gardeners in warmer southern areas can ignore the items not applicable.

     

    Before Winter Check List

    • Harvest any remaining root plants such as potatoes and carrots after their foliage has withered and died
    • If you didn’t harvest all crops of specific vegetation such as winter squash, eggplant or cucumbers so you could collect their seeds, now is the time to pick before any frost
    • Remove and discard all dead vegetation and rotten vegetables or fruit to keep away any pests that may cling to them for the winter
    • Rake to remove small debris and to turn the soil
    • Now is the best time to do a soil test for PH levels and minerals; adding a fertilizer such as fish and seaweed is excellent for adding minerals
    • Be sure to have some covering handy for signs of the first frost and cover annuals as soon as there is a hint of frost on the way
    • Cut back dead leaves on perennials that can survive winter and rose bushes, cover with about 3 inches of mulch; fragile rose bushes need protective covering if in colder climate
    • Water shrubs and evergreens before a freeze and mulch after freeze
    • Root crops such as parsnips, arugula, or sprouting broccoli can be stored in the ground for the winter (overwintered) and depending on your USDA zone, will need the protection of heavy mulch, a thick layer of straw, tarp or row cover
    • After the first frost, cut back and dig up perennial bulbs such as gladiolus that can’t survive colder climates, dust off and store in breathable container like a cardboard box in a cool, dry place; cover beds with evergreen boughs
    • Repair raised box beds and make more boxes if needed
    • Pruning of shrubs that bloom in the summer should be done after all leaves are gone and while dormant or in early spring; however, hydrangea types such as mopheads should be pruned in June

     

    More Garden Tips

    • If you haven’t started a garden notebook yet, this is an excellent time to make notes on how each plant did, what problems it may have had, and if any areas didn’t grow as well as others.
    • To tell when to harvest potatoes, rub the skin and if it doesn’t scrub off quickly, it’s ready.
    • To save time and wear on your back when pruning plants, use a pole pruner to remove stems down to the base of the plant.

     

    Conclusion

    Winterizing your garden is the best way to ensure it will come back next spring looking as good or better than it did this year.  How much time preparing your garden for winter will take depends on how big your garden is, what type of plants you have, and if applicable, when the first frost usually comes and how cold it usually gets where you live.

    No matter where you live or what type of garden you have, we want to wish you a Happy Homestead Winterizing!

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