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Self Reliance – Page 3 – Homesteader Depot

Homesteader Depot

Category: Self Reliance

  • 11 Simple Ways to Practice Sustainable Gardening

    11 Simple Ways to Practice Sustainable Gardening

    How much do you know about sustainable gardening? These useful tips might just fill in any gaps in your knowledge! The more you know about these practices the better. Do you think that you’ll use some of these in your garden this year?

    1) If you own cats or dogs, brush them and then sprinkle some of their hair around the edges of your garden. Sure, it might look weird, but it will keep any critters away. They’ll smell your predators and steer clear of your vegetables.

    2) Place a laundry sink in your yard, near where your vegetable garden is located. A bucket underneath will collect the water that runs through it as you hose off your newly picked fruits and vegetables. Then, you can use that water in your garden.

    3) Don’t use a machine to pull up weeds. Instead, get on your hands and knees and pull them the old-fashioned way – with your hands, or, if you need to, with a hand tool. You’ll have a better appreciation for your garden and the earth this way.

    4) Instead of using pieces of plastic in order to mark your plants, just grab some twigs. Shave off a section of the bark and write on it with an environmentally friendly marker. The best thing about this is that the twig will end up decaying over the course of the season, helping the composition of your soil.

    5) Repurpose old pieces of concrete that you find lying about. They make great stepping stones and even garden borders. Plus, they add a little rustic look to things, thanks to their broken edges.

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    6) Create a hot sauce spray in order to keep pests off of your plants. Certain ones will not appreciate the flavor of the spray that ends up on the leaves. (Note: this takes care of many critters as well.) Just mix some ground cayenne pepper, Tabasco sauce, and water in a spray bottle.

    7) Rather than buy twine to use as garden ties, just use some old pantyhose. You can even cover growing melons and other trellised vegetables in it, and then tie the pantyhose to the trellis. This is a great way to reuse something that would otherwise end up in the trash.

    8) Make your own mulch out of old tree limbs, pieces of branches that you’ve pruned off of your hedges, or anything else that you remove from your perennials. As long as it’s small enough, and you can guarantee that it won’t sprout seedlings, it’s safe to use. This is a great way to use yard waste.

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    9) Turn vegetable trimmings into stock. Rather than throw the ends of things right into the compost bin or the trash, place them in a freezer bag. When you have enough in the bag, make stock with them (all that you need is some water, those veggies, and a pot over low heat). Then, skim your stock and place the vegetable bits into your compost pile.

    10)  When you’re planting your vegetables, create a furrow on either side of them. This will hold water for some time, and allow that water to go straight to the roots of the plants. It’s like creating a mini irrigation system in your yard.

    11) Save items throughout the year and use them for other purposes in your garden. For example, you can use leftover rags (ripped into strips) as markers or ties. You can turn old popsicle sticks into plant markers. There are plenty of things that you can reuse as long as you get a little creative. This is one of the hallmarks of sustainable gardening.

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  • 11 Simple Natural Allergy Remedies

    11 Simple Natural Allergy Remedies

    Are you haunted by your seasonal allergies? Even if your “seasonal” allergies pop up all year ‘round, there are plenty of remedies that you can use. Some of them, like number 11, go beyond the chemical-filled pills and tablets and into the all-natural realm. Yes, you can help keep your allergies at bay without subjecting yourself to chemicals. Here’s how.

    1) Drink Tea

    There are certain types of teas that can alleviate your allergies. They include those that contain a mix of peppermint (which can clear up the sinuses), ginger (likewise), and nettle. However, if your outdoor allergies extend to include nettle, you’ll need to be careful here.

    2) Use a Neti Pot

    Neti pots can really clear out your sinuses. All that you need to do is mix bottled and filtered water (not tap water) with a salt packet. Then, follow the instructions, which usually involve placing the spout in one nostril, allowing all of the mucus to come out of the other one.

    3) Install HEPA Filters In Your Home

    HEPA filters are designed to trap allergens that are in the air system of your home. You can purchase furnace filters with this technology built into them, or use a separate air filtration system. Some vacuums even come with a HEPA filter.

    4) Take Stinging Nettle and Butterburr Supplements

    These two all-natural herbs are great allergy fighters. Stinging nettle can lower the histamine that naturally occurs in your body during an allergic reaction. However, you do need to ensure that you aren’t allergic to it first. Butterbur should only be taken in its processed form, but it does help relieve sinus symptoms.

    5) Eat Some Greek Yogurt

    You’re probably already aware of the fact that Greek yogurt contains probiotics that can help balance your digestive system. However, it also has Lactobacillus casei, which can control your overall reaction to allergens.

    6) Use Essential Oils

    Did you know that breathing in essential oils is a great way to help your allergy symptoms? Some of these essential oils, including basil, eucalyptus, and tea tree, can all stop an allergic reaction in its tracks. You’ll just need to find a way to breathe them in – don’t ingest them.

    7) Clean Your House Regularly

    We’ve already mentioned HEPA filters in your home, including in your vacuum cleaner. However, cleaning your house on a regular basis can really prevent your allergies from flaring up, since it removes any trapped pollen and dust.

    8) Eat Omega-3 Fatty Acid Rich Foods

    You’ve probably heard of omega-3 fatty acids since they are good for your heart health. The foods that contain them, such as salmon and mackerel, also have properties that reduce inflammation and help your lungs function better.

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    9) Eat Food Rich in Vitamin C

    Studies have shown that Vitamin C is actually a natural antihistamine. This means that if you eat fruits that contain this vitamin, you’re helping your system cope with your allergies. You’ll need to increase your intake of berries, oranges, lemons, limes, broccoli, and even kale.

    10) Exercise Indoors Whenever Possible

    It almost goes without saying that if you want to avoid allergic reactions to plants and pollen, then you need to avoid them. If you exercise outdoors, then you’re exposing yourself to everything that you’re allergic to.

    11) Get Acupuncture

    Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years for a very good reason – it helps a number of different conditions, including allergies. All that you need to do is find an acupuncturist near you who knows the right ways to insert the needles in order to relieve your seasonal allergies.

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  • How Can CBD Help You and Should it be Legal?

    How Can CBD Help You and Should it be Legal?

    Legalized cannabinoids have been in the news quite a bit lately, more than likely because of the fact that many U.S. states have started legalizing marijuana for medical reasons. Even though marijuana is still considered to be an illegal drug in the eyes of the federal government, several states have legalized it outright for recreational purposes. Of course, all of this overshadows the fact that CBD oil and other cannabinoids, which are derived from the hemp plant and have no (or very little) THC in them, seem to skirt these laws. Some states have regulated them to the point of lumping them in with marijuana, while others have no laws in place for CBD at all. This begs the question – should they be legal? Let’s examine this from several different angles.

    CBD Oil and Cannabinoids Have Medical Purposes

    Studies have shown that these cannabinoids actually have a number of medical purposes. They can help people with seizure disorders, like epilepsy, because they calm the brain and prevent seizures from occurring. They are also good for people with anxiety disorders, helping them to focus and remain calm. This is one large advantage that CBD oil has over marijuana since the THC in the latter actually makes anxiety worse by creating a sense of paranoia. CBD oil and cannabinoids don’t do this.

    In addition to those two medical purposes, cannabinoids can relieve pain, help cancer patients by giving them back their appetites (it’s crucial that cancer patients eat enough to keep their bodies in “fighting mode”), and even help prevent heart disease. There are so many medical uses for cannabinoids that it’s hard to understand why it’s still regulated.

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    It’s Much Safer than Two Legal Drugs

    There are two legal drugs that can cause a number of health problems, alcohol and nicotine, yet they are still completely legal. Of course, there are some regulations in place regarding them, as those under the age of 18 can’t purchase cigarettes and those under 21 can’t buy alcohol, yet people can purchase them freely. Both alcohol and nicotine are incredibly addictive, and studies have shown that CBD and cannabinoids are not. Cannabinoids don’t get you “high” to cause accidents as drunk drivers do. CBD oil doesn’t contain arsenic and other harmful compounds like cigarettes. Yet, there is more regulation surrounding cannabinoids than these two. It really makes you stop and think.

    The Seeds Themselves Have Great Qualities

    Did you know that you can eat hemp seeds? They can be sprinkled on salads and added to smoothies. You can make granola bars with hemp seeds in them, and even include them in your salad dressing recipes. They are incredibly versatile, which is good because they contain omega 3 fatty acids, as well as things like iron and calcium. Omega 3 fatty acids are great for your heart health, iron helps your red blood cells stay at the level that they need to be, and calcium is good for your bones. And all of this derives from hemp seeds.

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    The Plants Are Good For the Environment

    Did you know that hemp plants pretty much grow themselves? Of course, you need to water and fertilize them (sparingly), but they help clean the air around them and don’t require the use of pesticides. Most pests won’t go near a hemp plant, simply because they are turned off by the smell. As a result, these plants are very environmentally friendly and are quite good for the world around them.

    What’s your final verdict? Hopefully, all of these points explain why CBD and cannabinoids should be legalized once and for all.

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  • 5 Great Uses for Cheesecloth in Your Garden

    5 Great Uses for Cheesecloth in Your Garden

    Cheesecloth is a very useful material. While it has its obvious uses in the kitchen, including cheese making and filtering various products, this fabric can also be used in your garden. One of the reasons why you can use it outdoors is the fact that it’s such a natural material that it can be composted. On top of this, you can use it more than once, turning your small investment into something that will stick around for a while. Here are some additional uses for cheesecloth – and all of them take place outdoors in your garden.

    Protect Your Plans

    Your young plants need protection from the elements. This means that they need to be covered, especially when they’re still in the seedling stage. If you don’t have the space to start your seeds indoors and need to place them outside (as long as your climate allows for it, of course), then you can create a small covered “house” for your plants. Leave them in the large planter, place some stakes in the four corners, and then drape your cheesecloth over it. The cheesecloth will protect those seedlings, while still allowing plenty of air, light, and water in.

    Scare Away Pests

    Did you know that you can keep pests out of your garden with cheesecloth? This is another great use for this material. All that you need is a pair of scissors, some small stakes, and a liquid that will keep squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, and more at bay. Ammonia is a great example. You want to use something that won’t harm your plants. Just slice the cheesecloth into strips, dip them in the liquid, and then tie them to the stakes. Plant the stakes near the crops that you want to protect.  Check out: 5 Tricks for Keeping Animals Out of Your Garden

    Create Plant Food from Compost

    Cheesecloth can even help you create plant food from compost. How? All that you need is to grab a scoopful of compost from your bin. Place it in a square of cheesecloth and fold up the corners. Then, tie them closed with a piece of string. It’s like you’re making a tea bag – and that’s exactly what this is. Place your cheesecloth bag, with the compost in it, of course, into a watering can full of water. Let it steep for around half an hour, and then remove the bag. Pour the water, which is now mixed with nutrient-rich plant food, onto your plants. Voila! All-natural fertilizer.  Check out: Benefits of Compost Tea

    Tie Your Plants to Stakes

    If you have plants that waver in the wind, either because they’re too tall to support themselves or too young to stay up properly, you can use strips of cheesecloth to tie them into place. Some plants, especially those with thin, young stems, can droop over, causing damage. Thankfully, tying these plants to a support system, like a series of stakes or even a trellis, can give them the support that they need in order to remain healthy. Just make sure to not tie them to the stakes too tightly, as that can damage them as well.

    Start Your Seeds

    You can make a sprouter for beans or sprouts out of a simple canning jar and a piece of cheesecloth. Soak your bean seeds or sprouts overnight and then place them into the bottom of a canning jar. Take your canning jar and remove the metal lid, leaving behind only the band. Cut a small square of cheesecloth and fit it over the top of the jar, securing it into place with the band. Leave the jar in a sunny area, and keep removing and then adding more water every day, until you see the sprouts emerge.

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  • 7 More High Tech Tools and Tricks for Modern Homesteading

    7 More High Tech Tools and Tricks for Modern Homesteading

    Modern homesteaders can take advantage of a number of different high tech tricks and tools in order to make their lives easier. Technology has changed quite a bit since the original homesteaders claimed parcels of land back in the 1800s. Just because you’re trying to recreate that lifestyle, doesn’t mean that you need to utilize their old technology, like pot-bellied coal stoves and outdoor bathrooms. Instead, use these seven tools in order to make your modern homestead run much more smoothly. You’ll be glad that you did!

    1) 3D Printers

    When something breaks, it can be hard to run out and get a part, especially if you’re located hundreds of miles from the latest town or store. For example, if a crucial part of your tractor breaks, you could be stuck without one for quite some time. This is where a 3D printer comes into play. These printers make three-dimensional objects out of sturdy plastic. While the part that they make may not hold up for years, it should do the job well enough to keep the tractor running until a proper replacement can be procured.

    2) Grafting Plants and Other Gardening Techniques

    Did you know that you can graft plants together in order to create a kind of hybrid? For example, if you graft branches of one apple tree to another, you’ll end up with a tree that produces two different types of apples. This is quite a space saver! On top of this, you can also create your own plant hybrids by using cuttings and breeding them together. This is a less expensive option than purchasing new plants and seeds every year, plus you’ll end up with a plant that will thrive on your specific plot of land.

    3) Canners and Dehydrators

    Saving every last bit of the fruits and vegetables that you grow is a crucial part of homesteading. You don’t want to waste anything. Since you’ll inevitably grow more crops than you can eat fresh, you’ll need to rely on canning and dehydrating in order to save them for later. Modern canning devices are very easy to use and heat the jar’s contents to safe levels. Dehydrators are another simple tool that can help you waste less food.

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    4) The Internet

    This one seems obvious since you’re reading this article online. However, you need to keep in mind that the internet is a huge resource for things like recipes, instructions, and more. Everything that you need in order to be a great homesteader is right at your fingertips, through your WiFi connection.

    5) Electric Bikes

    These bikes have a power source, so they move faster than a standard bicycle. They charge themselves as well when you use them to travel from one spot on your land to another. Why do you want an electric bike on your homestead? They are cheaper to maintain, store and insure than a regular vehicle, and they have a smaller environmental footprint.

    6) Drones

    Drones are more than those tools that the military uses in order to shoot at and keep an eye on enemies. You can purchase a non-military drone and use it to watch everything that takes place on your land. This will save you time and energy since you won’t have to walk your land yourself.

    7) Micro-Electric Power

    Harnessing nature to create power for your homestead is always a great idea. You can use these micro-electric generators in order to gather power from a local stream or other water sources. While they won’t be able to generate enough electricity to run your entire home, they can be good for smaller things, like the electric pumps on your well or even the lights in your livestock barn.

  • 6 Natural Ways to Rid Bugs from Your Kitchen

    6 Natural Ways to Rid Bugs from Your Kitchen

    BUGS…No matter how hard you try, you’ll probably find a few of them in your kitchen. They sneak in through tiny cracks in your walls, foundation, and may even hitch a ride in on someone’s shoes. Thankfully, once they’re in, you have several methods of getting rid of them that don’t require the use of pesticides. After all, you don’t want those harmful chemicals in your kitchen.

    1) Put a Basil Plant on Your Kitchen Counter

    Basil smells great. Many people find that its aroma adds a little something to air quality in their homes. It’s also a great additive to your foods, as it works well on things like baked chicken and pork chops. This amazing, multi-use plant can even repel any insects that try to find their way indoors. Although humans like the smell of basil, most bugs are turned off by it and will head back outdoors from whence they came. Thankfully, live basil plants are easy to find. They’re sold in the produce section of many grocery stores.

    2) Place Bay Leaves Around Your Kitchen

    Bay leaves can add plenty of flavor to your food, and they can keep bugs at bay. No matter the form of the bay leaves – dried or fresh – bugs hate the smell of them, so they’ll steer clear. If you’re worried about insects getting into your flour, dried beans, rice, any other grains, or the other opened containers that you have stored in your pantry, just place a bay leaf on top of them, inside of the package. You will never have to worry about weevils again. Plus, the bay leaves don’t harm the food, so everything stays edible.

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    3) Purchase or Make a Batch of Hot Pepper Wax Insect Spray

    Along with the smell of basil and bay leaves, insects absolutely hate hot pepper spray. You can make some yourself by mixing together water, dried red pepper flakes, and even a few drops of liquid hot sauce. With that said, many stores sell this pre-mixed, as well. The liquid contains capsaicin, the stuff that makes the liquid spicy, which deters insects such as spider mites, aphids, and more. It’s harmless to plants to the point that you can spray it right on and everything will be fine.

    4) Mix up Some Essential Oils

    Essential oils are great for clearing out your sinuses, relieving stress, and much more. But did you know you can even mix a few of them together and use them to ward off insects? Some suggestions include tea tree oil, lavender, lemongrass, citronella, and peppermint. Mix them into a spray container and mist the corners of your kitchen.

    5) Place Some Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth in Your Kitchen

    Food-grade diatomaceous earth won’t harm humans, but it does kill insects. It will remove all of the moisture from the insect’s casing, forcing it to dehydrate and die. Now there’s an easy solution to your insect problems!

    6) Make a Fly Trap Out of Vinegar

    Vinegar, which is a great all-natural cleaning solution, is also one of the crucial components of a fly trap. Place a little bit of vinegar in a bowl (you can use either white vinegar or apple cider vinegar – both will work just fine), and then add in a bit of dish soap. Fruit flies will be attracted to the sweet smell of the dish soap, but when they hit the liquid, the vinegar will kill them. You can set a trap by placing some plastic wrap over the top of the bowl and poking a few holes in it. The flies will get in, but they can’t get out.

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  • Urban Homesteading Alternatives

    Urban Homesteading Alternatives

    You don’t need to live on a farm or even in the country in order to be a homesteader. In fact, even people who reside in the suburbs or even the city can homestead in their own ways. Homesteading generally means using the land to provide for yourself and your family in one way or another. You can get a little creative with this and find ways to make it work no matter where you live, even if all that you have is a small apartment. Here are some great suggestions that you can utilize. Build off of them and find ways to make your own urban homestead.

    Set Up a Clothesline

    Yes, drying clothing outdoors is a practice that many homesteaders partake in. A clothesline is easy to set up when you have a yard of any particular size, as well as a fence, post, or even tree to anchor it on. City living makes this a bit trickier, especially if you lack a yard. Thankfully, they sell retractable clotheslines that you place on a balcony. When you’re done, just roll them up. There are also devices called “airers” that are meant to do the same thing, only they stay indoors.

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    Start a Garden

    Gardening is an essential part of homesteading. You need to grow your own food in one way or another. Again, this all comes down to the size of your yard. Even some city dwellers may have enough land for a small garden plot. They just need to use that space wisely. Alternatively, plants can be grown on a porch, a back deck, or even an apartment balcony. If you’re truly landlocked, find a community gardening program in your area and then join it. This way, you can fulfill this general homesteading practice.

    Join a Composting Program

    Composting is tricky when you’re in the city. Compost bins tend to get a bit smelly, which can annoy your neighbors. With that said, there are still programs that you can join, including city-wide ones where they’ll collect your food scraps and use them to create a large batch of compost. Of course, not all cities do this, and if yours doesn’t, why not convince them to start one? Sometimes you have to take homesteading into your own hands.

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    Raise Some Animals

    Obviously, your animal choices are limited based on your location. Some cities allow people to keep chickens in their backyards, while others have strict laws against this practice. If you’re lucky enough to live in an urban location that allows chickens, then, by all means, build or purchase a coop and buy a few chickens to raise. You’ll get plenty of fresh eggs and will learn quite a bit from the chickens themselves, as these animals all have very interesting personalities. However, if you’re in an apartment, you obviously can’t have a chicken coop. You’re limited to cats and dogs, depending on the rules in your lease. While you can’t obtain food from them like your chickens, you still receive many of the mental benefits of raising a pet. This is a good thing.

    As you can see, there are a number of things that you can do in order to be an urban homesteader. You just need to get a little creative and find ways around the problem. For example, if you live in an apartment, you can start a container garden and have a cat or two. If your city lot is large enough for a garden, then feel free to start one. There are so many options available to you if you know where to look for them.

  • 7 High Tech Tools and Tricks for Modern Homesteading

    7 High Tech Tools and Tricks for Modern Homesteading

    Homesteading is the basic art of living off of the land. Homesteaders get their inspiration from the settlers who moved out west during the 1800s. They had to do things themselves because there were no cities, town, or even villages yet. Everything had to be transported out there by the homesteaders, from the livestock that they raised to the plant seeds that they used to grow food. Thankfully, some things have changed over the centuries, and modern homesteaders are no longer limited by the constraints of the past. There are plenty of high tech tools that they can take advantage of. Here are seven of them

    1) Rain Barrels

    Water is very important. Every homesteader needs access to plenty of uncontaminated water for a number of different purposes. Rain barrels are one great tool that can help. While the wells on a homesteader’s land can produce drinking water, what about the plants? Rather than waste drinking water on them, set up some rain barrels and collect the water as it falls from the sky. Place rain barrels around your house, near your gutters, so that the water flows into them during a storm. This is a great way to collect water for various non-consumption purposes.

    Related Article: DIY Rain Barrel System

    2) Install Solar Panels

    If you want to live off of the grid as much as possible, then you’ll need to take advantage of alternative ways to produce electricity. Solar panels are just one of the many options. These panels are placed on your house and they collect and store energy produced by the sun. The system connected to them switches the current from direct to alternating, and then it flows into your home’s electric panel where it powers everything within it.

    Related Article: Solar Energy Options for Homesteaders

    3) Wind Turbines

    Speaking of alternative ways to produce electricity, wind turbines are a great option. The only issue is that you need to live in an area that has enough wind for them to work properly. Otherwise, you’ll have spent a lot of money on wind turbines that don’t do what you want them to. The best thing to do here is to have a company come out to check to see if your homestead is a good candidate. If it is, then you’ll be able to save even more money in the long run by taking advantage of alternative energy producing methods.

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    4) Cell Phones

    Your cell phone is a very useful high tech tool that can help you quite a bit on your homestead. For example, you can set up a security system and monitor it from your phone. If your livestock manages to get out, an alert will sound on your smartphone, and you’ll know right away that you need to get your cattle or pigs back into the pen.

    5) Solar Ovens

    We’ve already discussed solar panels in general, but what about solar ovens? These ovens sit outdoors and aren’t connected to your electrical system at all. Instead, they receive their power from the sun, thanks to their built-in solar panels. If you really want to cook off the grid, then this a very useful option. You’ll find that they work just as well as standard ovens.

    6) Aquatic Livestock

    This is one thing that many homesteaders don’t think about. Aquatic livestock, like fish that are essentially raised in tanks on a farm, plays a crucial role in an aquaponic system. They purify the water that standard livestock drink, and so on. The entire plan here is symbiosis.

    Suggested: DIY Aquaponics… “Break-through Organic Garden Secret”

    7) Yurts and Instant Homes

    If you truly want to create a homestead in a quick manner, then consider purchasing an “instant home.” These homes are compact and easy to set up, as they contain everything that you need, except for furniture. You can even make an instant home out of an old shipping container if you’re feeling particularly creative.

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