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Companion Planting: A Simple Guide (Infographic)

Companion planting can be kind of confusing. If something goes well together, does that mean it might not go well next to another plant? Companion planting is really important to understand and utilize, because you can really maximize space, productivity, and also repel pests, with the right combination. It is also true, however, that planting “bad neighbors” together might result in increased pests or unhappy plants. There are a ton of potential good combinations out there, but it’s good to know the bad ones too, so you can prevent unhappy neighbors! This great little infographic for visual learners like myself, […]

How to Test Your Soil Using Only a Mason Jar

When starting a garden, it’s crucial to know what kind of soil you’re working with. It will help you determine what to plant and how to amend your soil. All soil is comprised of three basic components: sand, silt, and clay, and varying combinations of these three components determine what type of soil you have. Loamy soil is ideal, and it is typically more or less an even mix of sand, silt, and clay. It is slightly spongy and moist, but still light enough that it doesn’t get packed down too easily. In essence, it’s just right. To achieve this […]

5 Ways for Your Chickens to Earn Their Keep

Chickens are more than just egg producers, if you utilize them correctly, they can be a vital part of a smoothly running homestead! They are excellent additions to any gardening effort, and can even be useful with raising larger poultry as well! Here are some ideas for how to get the most out of your chickens, and as all these ideas utilize what chickens are born to do, your hens are guaranteed to be more happy as well! And happy hens means more eggs. It’s a win-win for everyone! 1. Prep garden beds You will probably want to keep your chickens […]

Back to Nature Garden (Video)

This is a super cool concept that I’ve often wanted to try myself. The folks at Deep South Homestead, one of my favorite YouTube channels, have tried the “Back to Eden” gardening method, without much success. Back to Eden is the gardening method that was shown in the film by the same name, that involves layering wood chips and manure that sit for a season. The idea is to mimic the natural formation of soil in the forest. Danny from Deep South Homestead explains in this video that because of termites infesting their wood chips, that Back to Eden did […]

The Easiest Gardening Method You’ll Ever Try

A thriving garden is the beating heart of the homestead. For many people, though, keeping a garden can be a challenge. Traditional methods require heavy machinery for soil preparation, questionable chemical fertilizers, all adding up to a prohibitive upfront cost. A great and easy method of gardening that has a very low financial demand is the “lasagna garden”. It was given that name because the method involves developing arable soil by composting an existing plot with layers of organic matter. You create the layers in the fall, to be ready for planting in the spring. Here’s a quick guide to […]

Understanding Garden Zones (Infographic)

Understanding garden zones is so important if you want to have a hearty garden. Some plants will thrive in one area and completely fail in others! Also, when you are buying seeds, they will usually come with indications as to what zone they will work in. When you get started gardening, figuring out your first zone is the first step you should take. That will dictate the research you do, the kind of seeds you can buy, when your growing season is, when you should start your seeds, and so on. You can find online forums specifically for your zone […]

Are Grow Lights Worth it?

For those that have outdoor gardens, the thought of growing food indoors with artificial lights can seem like a ludicrous concept. Providing your plants with access to the maximum amount of possible sunlight is a basic strategy for increasing growth, and the sun is free. Purchasing and the operation of grow lights costs money, and gardening should save you money and provide you with resources, not cost money and use resources. So, are grow lights worth their cost and the cost of their operation? Not to try to skirt the question, but it depends. If you live in an […]

How Does Homesteading Make You Healthier?

When you have a homestead, no matter the size, you do not have a lot of time to rest if you want it to stay up and running properly. Homesteading can provide you with a sense of accomplishment, but it certainly takes work. However, this work can be very good for your health. This is one of the “hidden” benefits of homesteading that many people do not think about. Let’s look at some of the ways that becoming a homesteader could make you a healthier person. Getting Exercise You are going to be outside and working quite a bit. Whether […]

Better Beans for Your Garden

Gardening is a part of homesteading, and one of the best types of vegetables to grow is beans. They are a healthy choice and you have plenty of options. Green beans, for example, taste great fresh and raw, as well as cooked. It is possible to can them and save them, and you will find that they are a great, healthy side for just about anything you are cooking. Of course, you can’t forget the deliciousness of a green bean casserole, too. However, if you want to have a great yield of healthy beans, you need to know how to […]

5 Things you Should NOT Compost

Since compost is the primary soil amendment (other than mulch since every garden should be mulched) in back yard gardens, it can be tempting to compost everything you can so that you can give the most back to your garden. While this is true for the most part, there are things that you should not be composting and could have an adverse effect upon your garden or your health. Here are 5 such items. Meat It’s a shame to waste food, especially meat which costs much more than other foods, but it’s better to feed meat that has […]

Seed Saving Tips (Infographic)

Seed saving is one of the most important skills to have for self-reliance. If done properly, one packet of seeds could last for generations. One of the biggest reasons to seed save is that if you choose the seeds from a healthy, productive plant, is that you are choosing the plant with the genes that will thrive in your particular environment, and, over time, it will become perfect for your gardening zone. “Heirloom” seeds are seeds that have been collected and re-planted each year by farmers for generations, and ideally you could create your own! Not every seed will be […]

DIY Root Tone

Propagating plants through cuttings when possible rather than using seeds can save time and produce more predictable results. However; commercially produced root tone can be expensive, and some products are also unhealthy. To save money, and stay healthy, you can make your own root tone at home. Here are two methods that are so simple, healthy, and cheap you will never buy commercial root tone again. The first method is to make a solution rich in IBA from willow cuttings. IBA is a hormone found in high concentration in new growth on willow trees that promotes root growth. If […]

How to Homestead When You Live in An Apartment

For many wannabe homesteaders, an apartment probably seems like the last place you’d be able to homestead. And of course, you won’t be able to grow (very much) food of your own, raise livestock, or live off the land. There are however, many things you can do to make your apartment a mini-homestead. While you’ll still be reliant on the outside world, the truth is, most homesteaders still are too, and no matter what your living arrangement, there’s always something you can do to be more self-reliant. Here are some tips for apartment homesteading that anyone can do: 1. Grow […]

5 Ways to Increase Your Garden’s Productivity

If your garden just isn’t meeting your expectations or productivity don’t get discouraged, there are plenty of things that you can do that can increase your production of food this coming growing season. Here is a list of 5 things you can do that will increase the amount of food you can produce in your garden. Interplanting Interplanting different crops together (not all crops grow well together so check individual crops for what will work and what will pose its own problems) will allow you to grow more food in the same space. The “3 sister” method is […]

Crops that can Earn you Money on your Homestead

When most people think of growing crops to earn money on their homestead, they think of growing extra vegetables to sell to their friends, neighbors, or at local farmer’s markets. While there are plenty of people who do make extra money through this, it can be difficult to produce enough fruit and vegetables for you and your family let alone enough that you have extra to sell. These are just a few plants that I have personally seen grown easily in small, backyard operations that earned money. Herbs Vegetables, especially fruiting vegetables can be difficult to produce in […]

3 Tips for Healthier Tomatoes

Tomatoes are one of the most commonly grown crops in back yard gardens. But it isn’t always easy to grow healthy, productive tomatoes. And it isn’t really worth it to grow tomatoes if they aren’t healthy and producing to their full potential. If you have had problems with tomatoes in the past, here are 3 tips you might want to try. Epson Salt Epson salt is made of Magnesium and Sulphur. Both of which are vital nutrients for growing healthy tomatoes. If you have had issues with tomatoes in the past try watering them with ½ tablespoon of […]

Tips for Installing PVC for Irrigation

In ground irrigation can make a real difference for your lawn and garden, saving you time in water, and time and energy in failed crops due to your not watering. But installing PVC doesn’t always come without headaches, and for those that have never done it, it can be intimidating. It can also be expensive to hire someone to do. Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you are thinking of installing PVC in your lawn or garden for irrigation. Spray paint, or otherwise mark out where you are going to lay your PVC so […]

Getting the Garden Ready for Spring Now

Just because you don’t have a garden, or if yours is covered in snow and not producing, doesn’t mean there is nothing you can do now to get ready for next season. Getting ready now will help you start early and thereby increase the length of your growing season and with it, the amount of food you are able to produce next year. Here are a few things you can do now to be ready early for next spring. Start shopping now for deals on spring crop seeds. The longer you wait, the more uniformity you will see in rising […]

Crops to Get Kids Excited About Gardening

Gardening can be fun for kids, though it requires more patients than most kids can muster up. Getting them started with an interest in gardening at a young age will increase their likelihood of eating healthy and continuing gardening as they grow older. Gardening can get kids off the couch and outside where they belong, learning about the world around them, and how they can relate to it in a beneficial way, both for them and the natural environment. Here are a few crops that are more likely than others to get kids excited about gardening. Stevia Stevia seeds […]

Beer for the Garden

Beer isn’t just great for the gardener after a hard day’s work, it’s also great for the health of your garden. One way to put this beverage to work for you is to use it to attract and to kill slugs that can damage your crops and even spread disease. Here’s how to use household items and little extra beer to keep your garden healthy and productive. You will need a small tin, like a tuna can or a cat food container, a large plastic bottle, and some beer. Empty and clean the tin. You don’t want to try to […]