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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more