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Homestead Survival

  • Slow Cooker Apple Butter: A Magical Recipe for Your Homestead Kitchen
    Hey, homesteaders! Are you looking for a delicious, easy-to-make recipe that not only fills your home with the aroma of autumn but also serves as a fantastic gift for friends and family? Look no further! Sarah Olson over at The Magical Slow Cooker ha…
    - 5 days ago 20 Sep 23, 9:21am -
  • 5 Crockpot Freezer Meal Recipes – The Ultimate Guide to Crockpot Freezer Meals for a Busy Lifestyle
    Introduction Crockpot freezer meals are a game-changer for busy individuals and families. They offer a convenient, nutritious, and time-saving solution for those who want to avoid the fast-food trap. In this all-inclusive guide, we’ll delve into fi…
    - 5 days ago 20 Sep 23, 8:00am -
  • Harvesting, Drying, and Using Black Walnuts: A Comprehensive Guide
    Hey, homesteaders and foraging enthusiasts! We’ve stumbled upon an incredible resource that you’ll absolutely love. Jan Berry, the talented writer and herbalist behind Unruly Gardening, has penned an exhaustive guide on harvesting and using black…
    - 7 days ago 18 Sep 23, 8:47am -
  • Custom Merry-Go-Rounds for Chickens: A Whirlwind of Fun and Exercise!
    Hey there, homesteaders and chicken enthusiasts! Are you looking for a way to bring joy and excitement to your feathered friends? Well, you’re in luck! The brilliant minds over at My Positive Outlooks have shared an incredible idea—creating custo…
    - 10 days ago 15 Sep 23, 10:48am -
  • Salt and Vinegar Dehydrated Zucchini Chips: A Crunchy, Healthy Snack You Can’t Resist!
    Hey, fellow homesteaders and food enthusiasts! I recently stumbled upon this incredibly innovative and healthy snack recipe by Willow Moon on Create Mindfully. I was so thrilled by it that I just had to share it with you all. Willow Moon has crafted…
    - 12 days ago 13 Sep 23, 8:10pm -
  • How To Make Sun-Dried Tomatoes With a Dehydrator: A Comprehensive Guide
    Introduction Ah, the joy of harvesting tomatoes from your garden each summer! Whether you’re a fan of the cherry variety like me or prefer the robust Romas, there’s something incredibly satisfying about plucking these red jewels. But what to do w…
    - 12 days ago 13 Sep 23, 3:30pm -
  • 16 Ways to Purify Water Off The Grid
    Water is a fundamental necessity for life. However, just because water appears clean doesn’t mean it’s safe to consume. The World Health Organization has highlighted that millions succumb to diseases from contaminated water annually. Especially w…
    - 12 days ago 13 Sep 23, 3:08pm -
  • The Ultimate Guide to Chicken Dust Baths: What to Add and What to Avoid
    Hey, fellow homesteaders! If you’re as passionate about raising healthy, happy chickens as I am, then you’re going to love this comprehensive guide on chicken dust baths. I recently stumbled upon an incredible blog post by Tara Dodrill on Surviva…
    - 14 days ago 11 Sep 23, 3:13pm -
  • DIY Greenhouses: A Comprehensive Guide to Building Your Own Greenhouse
    Introduction Hey there, gardening enthusiasts! If you’ve ever dreamed of extending your growing season, then you’re in for a treat! We stumbled upon this incredible blog post by A Piece of Rainbow that covers everything you need to know about DIY…
    - 14 days ago 11 Sep 23, 3:02pm -
  • 40 Uses for Wood Ash: Practical Home & Garden Tips
    Have you ever wondered about the countless uses for hardwood ashes, especially fireplace ashes and woodstove ashes? They can be used as an effective fire starter. This versatile substance, fireplace ashes, left behind after burning wood in a woodstov…
    - 16 days ago 9 Sep 23, 11:28am -

Common Sense Homesteading

  • Grape Gummies Made with Juice (Easy Recipe)
    These homemade grape gummies are a fun way to enjoy the grape harvest. You can start with fresh grapes or store bought grape juice. We'll take you through the process step by step. Why Make Homemade Grape Gummies? Why take the time to make homemade g…
    - 8 days ago 17 Sep 23, 2:31am -
  • Common Evening Primrose, Oenothera biennis
    Oenothera biennis, Common Evening Primrose, is a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), and edible from root to seed. We'll share how to identify and use this native wildflower. Where to Find Common Evening Primrose Common evening primrose is nat…
    - 15 days ago 10 Sep 23, 7:26pm -
  • Harvesting Rose Hips for Food and Medicinal Uses
    Several years ago, we planted about half a dozen rose bushes as part of our homestead permaculture plan. This year, the plants are loaded with fruit, so I'm sharing tips for harvesting rose hips and how to use them. They're a great natural source of…
    - 16 days ago 8 Sep 23, 9:44pm -
  • Carrot Cake Jam – Tastes Like Carrot Cake in a Jar
    This carrot cake jam recipe is a fun mix of fruit, carrots, and fall spices. As the name implies, it tastes like carrot cake in a jar. This is a great recipe for gift giving, and makes your morning toast extra special. The fall spices make it a nice…
    - 22 days ago 3 Sep 23, 12:15am -
  • How to Make Elderberry Syrup with Fresh or Dried Berries
    In this post we'll share how to make elderberry syrup with fresh or dried berries or juice. Making your own is a great way to save money on this wonderful immune supporting tonic. It's great for kids and adults during cold and flu season. I noticed y…
    - 27 days ago 29 Aug 23, 4:49pm -
  • Spiced Crabapples and Honey Cinnamon Crabapples
    I was introduced to spiced crabapples by my neighbor, Betty, when she invited us to pick apples at a friend's house. We had so many apples that we made some spiced/pickled, and some with honey and cinnamon. I'm sharing both apple recipes. We also hav…
    - 29 days ago 27 Aug 23, 7:01pm -
  • Blackberry Jam Recipe (Low Sugar)
    Homemade blackberry jam is a tasty way to enjoy the bounty of summer blackberries all year round. We usually make our jam seedless, but feel free to leave the seeds in if you prefer. This small batch recipe uses less sugar and Pomona's Universal Pect…
    - 36 days ago 20 Aug 23, 8:49pm -
  • Cucumber Onion Salad (Small Batch)
    When I was growing up on the farm, mom always kept a batch of cucumber onion salad in the fridge once cucumber season hit. It's made with common pantry ingredients, and comes together in minutes. The tangy vinegar dressing adds some kick to this easy…
    - 43 days ago 12 Aug 23, 9:55pm -
  • Goldenrod – Growing, Foraging, Uses, & Control
    Our land has an abundance of goldenrod plants, which provide a blast of fall color and food for pollinators. They're also useful for food, medicine, and more. We'll share tips for identifying the plants in the wild, growing them in the garden, and ho…
    - 50 days ago 6 Aug 23, 12:46am -
  • Best Lighter for Emergencies and Every Day Use
    We set out to find the best lighter for every day use (like camping) and emergencies. Sure, heavy duty matches are good, too, but a good lighter is fast and efficient. (And they don't make matches as sturdy as they used to make them.) These are the l…
    - 54 days ago 2 Aug 23, 5:11pm -

Rural Revolution

  • Frugal beef jerky
    I took a deep dive into our chest freezer last week, inventorying as I went. It's too easy for things to get lost in the bottom depths.Which is why I was surprised to find four five-pound bags of solid beef, left over from the last cows we butchered…
    - 1 day ago 24 Sep 23, 3:07am -
  • Advice for economic troubles
    The subject of debt has been all over the news lately. Personal debt, national debt, student loan debt, credit card debt, car loan debt, mortgage debt ... the list goes on and on. Then, of course, there's rising food prices, rising interest rates, ri…
    - 5 days ago 20 Sep 23, 12:43pm -
  • Nature's guy wires
    I noticed a T-post the other day that, in the morning sun, looked like it had multiple guy wires holding it up.The spiders around here seem unusually active right now. I'm sure it has something to do with the waning season and the subconscious realiz…
    - 5 days ago 19 Sep 23, 9:48pm -
  • Gender reveal
    Some of you have been following the saga of our pastor's love story. It all started a year and a half ago when he announced his engagement.The wedding was a bit over a year ago.In June – on Father's Day, no less – the pastor announced in somewhat…
    - 7 days ago 18 Sep 23, 12:28am -
  • Are we in for a hard winter?
    The wild roses are producing tons of rose hips already. As I remarked while walking with Older Daughter the other day, we'll never lack for Vitamin C in this corner of the world. (Rose hips are rich in Vitamin C.)It was while glancing at these rose h…
    - 9 days ago 16 Sep 23, 12:32am -
  • Hay today, cows tomorrow?
    Summer is slipping away from us, and it doesn't look like we'll manage to get cows this fall. However that doesn't mean we're not planning for them.Now that the barn is vastly cleared out after our humongous yard sale, we've got room to move around.A…
    - 12 days ago 13 Sep 23, 2:44am -
  • Lest we forget
    Never forget.
    - 14 days ago 11 Sep 23, 2:02pm -
  • The new normal?
    We got to church early today because Don and I both had duties: I was working the Altar Guild, and Don was ushering. Our departure after the service was also delayed because of the aftermath of these duties. It wasn't u…
    - 15 days ago 10 Sep 23, 8:17pm -
  • Another solution to a vexing problem
    Older Daughter has been working very hard supplying wholesale customers with tankards. This is her busy season, so she's been putting in long hours. Last week, she packed up four huge boxes for shipment.This cleared out a significant amount of chaos…
    - 16 days ago 9 Sep 23, 1:58pm -
  • Squee! My birthday present!
    Today is my 61st birthday. We spent it doing something very exciting: Bringing the car into an auto-repair center to have a cracked windshield replaced. Whee.But on the way home, we stopped and picked up my birthday present, and I'm giddy with deligh…
    - 17 days ago 8 Sep 23, 1:13am -

New Life on a Homestead

  • newSo, Do Rabbits Bite?
    Most animals no matter how docile, timid, and friendly are capable of defending themselves. Although it seems unthinkable when you look at them, even a wonderfully soft and fluffy rabbit is capable of hurting you if it is scared or injured. You proba…
    - 19 hours ago 24 Sep 23, 2:30pm -
  • 12 Cute Lop-Eared Rabbit Breeds
    It’s surprising just how many different kinds of domestic rabbit breeds are out there. All sizes, all colors, all with all different personalities. Then you have the purpose of the breed, with most being bred for different characteristics in terms…
    - 2 days ago 23 Sep 23, 2:30pm -
  • So, Do Coffee or Coffee Grounds Keep Mosquitoes Away?
    It’s hard to imagine a more hated and more dangerous insect than the mosquito. Yes, I said dangerous. That’s because mosquitoes are, in fact, one of the most lethal animals on Earth, as each and every year the diseases that hey spread kill millio…
    - 3 days ago 22 Sep 23, 2:30pm -
  • 16 Goat Milking Supplies to Make Your Job Easier
    If you keep dairy goats, you already know that milking is an essential task. But for many goat-owning homesteaders, providing a sustainable source of fresh, nutritious milk for consumption is quite a chore! Goats are rarely cooperative, and milking i…
    - 5 days ago 20 Sep 23, 2:30pm -
  • So, What Is Rabbit Meat Called?
    You already know that many kinds of meat have special names, distinct from the name of the animals that it comes from. For instance, beef comes from cows; their meat is not referred to as cow meat. Likewise, from pigs we get pork; you never hear it c…
    - 6 days ago 19 Sep 23, 2:30pm -
  • So, Do Fire or Smoke Keep Mosquitoes Away?
    No matter what you’re doing outside- camping, exercising, barbecuing, or just visiting with friends- there is no situation that can’t be made worse by biting, blood-sucking mosquitoes. In peak season, they can make being outdoors absolutely unbea…
    - 7 days ago 18 Sep 23, 6:00pm -
  • 23 Beautiful Black Rabbit Breeds
    No matter what sort of animal we’re talking about, there is always something mysterious, majestic and beautiful about all black fur or feathers. And rabbits are no different. Most rabbits have a calm, serene disposition, and when their velvety for…
    - 7 days ago 18 Sep 23, 2:30pm -
  • How to Make Garlic Powder Step by Step
    I don’t know about you, but I use entirely too much garlic when I’m in the kitchen. I can’t get enough of the stuff! Fresh garlic, of course, but it’s garlic powder that I reach for from time to time. And even better, it’s my own garlic pow…
    - 8 days ago 17 Sep 23, 6:00pm -

The Prairie Homestead

  • The Best Canning Lids? A Review
    My pile of empty jars is growing… The larder is emptying… It can only mean one thing: Canning season is right around the corner. As the tomatoes ripen and the cucumbers grow, it’s wise to take a quick inventory of your canning supplies. (Becaus…
    - 18 days ago 7 Sep 23, 6:26pm -
  • Top 10 Tips for Building a Chicken Tractor
    I’ve become a huge fan of chicken tractors in recent years. A few years ago, I shared about how I’ve been changing my relationship with our chickens on the homestead. I’ve been shifting my viewpoint from seeing chickens as a chore and instead t…
    - 57 days ago 30 Jul 23, 6:14pm -
  • The Best Garden Trio for Building Healthy Soil
    Stillness. As I sat down to write this, I was trying to think of a word to sum up the hours I spent in my greenhouse and garden over the weekend. That was all that came to mind. No grand revelations. No long-winded observations. Just blissful quiet.…
    - 84 days ago 3 Jul 23, 5:27pm -
  • How to Fix Tainted Soil
    I’m not stranger to dealing with poisoned and tainted soil in my garden. I wish that I could say that tainted and damaged garden soil has only happened to me once, but it’s actually happened multiple times… –> The first time was when we accid…
    - 92 days ago 25 Jun 23, 8:00pm -

Homestead Bloggers Network

  • How to Easily Dry Your Own Fresh Rosemary
    It’s no secret how costly dried herbs are in the baking isle at the supermarkets. Learn how easy it is to dry your own fresh rosemary and save on the family budget. You’ll be amazed at how much better freshly dried rosemary tastes as well. Try th…
    - 23 Aug 19, 1:00am -
  • Oven Canning: Should You Try It?
    Oven canning used to be popular around the turn of the 20th century, where it seemed a handy way to keep the house cooler (before air conditioning, better home insulation, etc) than water bath canning. Some found that their fruit and veggies canned h…
    - 22 Aug 19, 5:00pm -
  • Best Way To Sterilize Canning Jars
    Lookup sterilizing canning jars and you’ll get all kinds of ideas from putting them into the oven, the microwave or running them through the dishwasher. But just what is the correct way to sterilize jars and do you have to do it every time? You’l…
    - 22 Aug 19, 9:00am -
  • Learn How To Control and Get Rid of Tomato Fruitworms
    If you pulled an almost ripe tomato from the vine only to find that it has an eraser size hole in it? Nothing is more frustrating than picking a tomato off the vine only to find that it is rotting from the inside out and has this pencil eraser size h…
    - 22 Aug 19, 1:00am -
  • Best Summer Blog Posts
    Summertime is a fun time and these summer blog posts will take you from homemade crafts to the kitchen, to identifying wildflowers to the right way to cut off shorts, and to making delicious homemade drinks. There are a few tricks to making perfect c…
    - 21 Aug 19, 7:00pm -
  • Chicken Breeds for Colorful Eggs
    When you have your own backyard flock, you don’t have to settle for boring white and brown eggs. To get a colorful, varied egg basket you will need a variety of chicken breeds. Chickens can lay a variety of egg colors, depending on their breed, but…
    - 21 Aug 19, 5:00pm -
  • The Best Tuna Salad Recipe Ever
    This is a very flavorful tuna salad recipe. Once you try this recipe, I am sure you’re going to take your old boring tuna salad recipe and toss it to the curb.
    - 21 Aug 19, 3:00pm -
  • How to Get Started With Caning Food – FREE Printable Guide
    Not sure how to get started canning food? Canning food can be intimidating if you’ve never tried it. But following some simple canning instructions, you can preserve your spring harvest for long-term storage. Get your free printable guide and learn…
    - 21 Aug 19, 1:00pm -
  • How to Make Southern Style Sun Tea
    I have been enjoying sun tea as long as I can remember. I had a gallon of it seeping outside recently when a friend dropped by and she asked me why I had a jug of dirty water sitting out. Making sun tea is great for many reasons but the main reason i…
    - 21 Aug 19, 11:00am -
  • How to Perform Beehive Inspections
    A good beehive inspection will let you know how your bees are doing. Honey bees are very competent and can take care of themselves for the most part. Taking a peep into the hive will make sure that they are healthy and don’t need any outside help f…
    - 21 Aug 19, 9:00am -

The Homesteading Hippy