Self Reliance Archives - Homesteader DepotHomesteader Depot

Super Easy Homemade Buttermilk

Buttermilk isn’t something that you only need to buy at the store. Instead, you can make it yourself. The results will be much tastier and better for you. The buttermilk that you find in the dairy section (if your grocery store even carries it) is cultured. This type takes at least 24 hours to make, and you need to start with cultured buttermilk, making it a bit redundant, or active buttermilk culture. This process is fairly labor intensive. However, if you have a recipe that requires buttermilk and you don’t have any on hand, these quick methods will work nicely. […]

Is Grass Fed Beef Really Better Than the Alternative?

As people work to become more health conscious, we are taking a closer look at the foods we eat regularly. And, while some have chosen to avoid animal products altogether, others have instead made an effort to find healthier versions of the product they already know and love. Take beef, for example. Most of us know from grocery shopping that it’s now possible to buy items like ground beef with different levels of fat in them. And, you would think that when spending the extra money per pound on 93% lean beef that, that is hormone/additive free you’d be getting […]

9 Practical Emergency Foods And How to Store Them

Long term food storage is a good idea in many, many circumstances. There are several basic food types that you should consider stocking up on that will last for years if needed. Beans Dried beans of every variety are super cheap and even easier to store. Store them in a dark, dry and cool place for best results. Coffee and Tea Most of us consider ourselves in an emergency situation if we run out of coffee. So, try to imagine going through an actual emergency without it…OH…THE HORROR!!! Just make sure you keep it in the right […]

Can You Grow Miniature Fruit Trees and Non-Native Plants?

Can You Grow Miniature Fruit Trees and Non-Native Plants? Well, the short answer? Yes. It is possible to grow just about anything on a homestead or even in an urban environment, with the right care and maintenance. And, if you are successful, you can provide yourself with your own rice, coffee, citrus fruit and more. The main trick? Growing everything in planters and pots, essentially creating a mobile farm. During the summer they can be kept outside. When it turns cold you have a few options: Cover the plants with clear plastic to create mini-greenhouses Move them inside your home […]

10 Amazing Uses for Lemons

Lemons, good for making lemonade, adding to your tea with honey, squeezing over fish, the list could go on and on. It even goes on to some amazing home remedies! Who knew? Someone apparently because we’ve been able to put together a list of 12 you can try in the comfort of your own home. Break up Congestion in Your Sinuses and Chest Getting that familiar sore throat or wheezing sound? No problem. Heat 4-6 oz of water and mix in 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar, and 2 Tsp of honey. The honey will soothe your […]

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 […]

Treating Your Homestead Wounds the EASY Way

As the name suggests, an open wound is an injury that has resulted in an opening in the skin. Minor versions are commonplace and can be treated at home with over the counter first aid products. Fundamental wound care is a useful skill to have in any situation. Keeping a First Aid Kit handy can go a long way to ensuring they don’t develop complications. In this post, we’re going to take a quick look at the different types of open wounds that can happen as well as basic instructions on how to care for them. TYPES There are four […]

Solar Energy Options for Homesteaders

You want to live off the grid, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need electrical power to operate your lights and appliances. You can use a generator, but generators require gasoline. A generator is a good backup solution for people who are on the grid when they lose power. However, if you want to be independent, the best way to do it is to invest in solar energy options for your home and property. It used to be that solar panels were prohibitively expensive. That’s no longer the case. In this post, we’ll detail some of the solar energy options […]

5 Ways Pigs Are Valuable Beyond Just Meat

When you are living off the land, owning animals that can provide you with food can be extremely beneficial. You may grow plenty of crops and fill your pantry with canned vegetables, but if you aren’t getting enough protein, you won’t have the energy to tend to your farm and home. While there are some homesteaders who don’t want to commit to raising a large farm or a herd of cattle, there are plenty of other animals such as chickens or turkeys that can ensure you have meat and eggs throughout the year. They are also low-maintenance so that […]

4 Weird but Effective Ways to Avoid Deadly Bacteria

The primary reason we need to stay clean is to maintain control over the harmful bacteria that can manifest itself in all the crevices of our body that make us smell bad and breed disease. The easiest way to accomplish this is to focus on the areas with the most potential for bacterial growth and go from there. What areas are those? Just follow your nose. It’s no coincidence that the areas that provide our embarrassing body odor are the areas we most need to target. Just like a clogged kitchen drain or backed up sewer system, if the smell […]

Survivalist or Homesteader? (Video)

This is a great video from a popular homesteading and survivalism vlogger I really enjoy. He poses the questions: which will survive longer, a homesteader or a survivalist? Are they the same thing? Does one come before the other? I think this is a really great topic since, while homesteading and survivalism are not necessarily synonymous, there’s a lot of overlap. The ultimate goal of homesteading is self-reliance and independence, and survivalism is all about preparing for any number of scenarios in which you will not be able to rely on others to save or help you. If you’ve ever […]

Make Money on Your Homestead

You love the idea of living simply and living on a homestead. However, you probably also love the idea of having some extra money coming into the household. Fortunately, you can combine these two loves and find some interesting ways to make money from your homestead, and it is easier than you might imagine. Here are just some of the different ways that you can start using your activities on the homestead to earn more to supplement your life. Grow and Sell Excess Food If you are already growing a nice garden, and perhaps some fruit trees to provide for […]

Skills Every Homesteader Should Master

Homesteading is more than just what you do with your land or in your home, it’s a way of life. And with that culture comes a certain set of skills that every homesteader should learn to master. Modern humans have forgotten so many of the specialized skills our ancestors relied upon for daily life. But the entire spirit of homesteading is to regain this knowledge, this autonomy, by doing it ourselves. Here are some of the most important homesteading skills that everyone should master, whether you’re living on a 10-acre farm or a studio apartment-turned-urban homestead. Gardening/Regional Gardening Growing your […]

Simple Steps to Greater Self-Sufficiency

The goal of everyone who is interested in homesteading is to become more independent and less reliant on the “machine” that seems to run the lives of most people. Many today have no real idea of where their food comes from or what would happen if they no longer had easy access to electricity. They need the modern conveniences of the world to live. You do not want to be like those people, and you do not have to. The following are some easy things that you can start doing now, and expanding upon later, to help increase your level […]

Why Should Homesteaders Hunt?

If you love the idea of homesteading, and you want to do the same types of things that your forefathers and foremothers did, you will want to add hunting to your list of activities for the homestead. Of course, it is about far more than tradition. You will find many benefits for the homesteader who hunts. When Times Are Lean One of the biggest benefits to those who hunt is that they have the capacity to put extra meat on the table. Even if you raise chickens and other livestock to use as meat, having extra in the freezer is […]

How to Catch and Use Rainwater

To make sure that you always have the water you need for your garden and for other uses around the home, you will want to learn how to capture and make use of rainwater. Fortunately, the process is very simple. If you want to catch rainwater, the easiest way to do this is to utilize rain barrels. You can find these barrels online, and most of the 50-gallon options are under $100. In a pinch, you could use just about any barrel or container, if you are sure it will not leak, for the collection of water. You can set […]

Thriving 23-Year-Old Permaculture Food Forest (Video)

I recently had the pleasure of watching this amazing video on a 23-year-old food forest that Robert and Robyn Guyton have grown in the small town of Riverton on New Zealand’s South Island. This is the ultimate goal of permaculture, to create your own natural, sustainable ecosystem that you can live off of, but that thrives and grows on its own. It takes many years and a lot of patience to cultivate something like this, but hearing the couple talk about their relationship with their food forest and watching the blossoms, insects, and hearing and seeing the birds and other creatures […]

Clever Ways to Teach Children About Self-Reliance

Kids these days! The new generation seems to be so fixated on their devices and pop culture, and I think a lot of us who grew up with these things are looking at today’s youth and shaking our heads. But of course, the truth is, that adults as well as kids need to learn more about self-reliance and basic survival skills, because our world is in a precarious state! Start them young, and we just might be able to raise a few kids who can carry on the traditions and self-reliance of past generations. Here are a few ideas for […]

How to Grow Watermelon in a Pot

There’s nothing quite as refreshing on a hot summer day as a nice, juicy watermelon. Unfortunately, the watermelons you find in the supermarket are often conventional and even GMO. If you’d like to harvest some of your own this summer, you don’t need a whole field, you can grow them right in your backyard or porch! Here’s how: Container: Watermelons will need a large, deep container, at least 2′ deep, so that it’s long taproot will have enough space to expand. Choose something sturdy as well, and with proper drainage. Soil: Watermelons like both sandy and loamy soil, with plenty of […]

Top Five Reasons to Homestead (Wherever You Are)

“Homesteading” typically means living on a homestead, raising animals and growing your own food, and being independent and self-sufficient. As the global economy seems to teter on the brink of total collapse, modern life becomes more and more reliant on large-scale grids subject to fail, and urban environments are becoming increasingly dangerous, more and more people are becoming drawn to the idea of homesteading. Now, as we’ve often discussed, you don’t need to own your own land to homestead. There are many ways you can homestead right where you are. And here are the top five reasons why you should […]