Editor’s Pick

The first time you reach into a nesting box and pull out a blue egg, you stop and stare. I did. It was sitting right there next to the usual brown...

Maybe you’ve decided you want to grow fruits; after all, they are an amazing investment for self-sufficiency since you can make jams, can them, dry...

You probably have a cabinet full of plastic containers. I sure do and some of these plastic containers are stained orange from spaghetti sauce, a...

Has this ever happened to you before?  You go into your pantry ready to grab a jar of whatever you canned last season you look at it... and...

Has this ever happened to you? Staying in your backyard on a nice summer morning, thinking about what to do with this beautiful day and then...

Every once in a while, somebody emails me asking the same thing. They want to know where in the country they should move if they are serious about...

The traditional methods for water purification have usually involved boiling the water for at least 3 minutes or treating it with chemicals with...

The first time I planted thyme, I spent $4.99 on a tiny plant from the hardware store. That was eight years ago. The same plant is still out there...

You’re about to discover something most people never learn: the most powerful medicine doesn’t come from a pharmacy—it comes from seeds you can...

I lost an entire garden in 2021 during the Western drought. Everything from tomatoes to squash gave up and I was desperate. All my hard work was...

Some people actively prospect for gold and other precious metals across rivers, creeks, and streams. Images of Alaska Sourdoughs and California...

You don't need a big piece of land to grow real food for you and your family. What's more, you don’t even need special crops. Basic crops, the ones...

A well-stocked pantry is the heart of any homestead. You already know the drill and that's why you are canning your harvest, drying herbs, and also...

Every spring it's the same thing. You pick up more seedlings, start more trays, squeeze in one more row, and somehow the harvest doesn't change at...

I was maybe ten years old the first time I saw my grandfather put a coffee can into a fence post hole. He didn't explain what he was doing. He just...

It comes as a surprise to some, but the combination of magnets and spark plugs will generate electricity strong enough to power a light bulb. Even...

Cinder blocks might be some of the most useful construction items that people waste thinking they are trash. The truth is that cinder blocks are...

You probably wash your hands after using the bathroom or handling trash. But there are other everyday items collecting much more dangerous bacteria!...

Foraging has a special way of making you see the world. It changes your perspective, and for example, a sidewalk crack stops being just a crack....

You, like many other people, might have considered raising chickens at some point. And if you did, it was probably because of their eggs. Real eggs....

One of the common activities that defines a homestead is animal husbandry. But raising animals can be a challenge if space is limited for any...

Food gardens have been an existing self-provisioning practice in families for centuries now. Since their first appearance in the urban context in...

As more and more people acknowledge the importance of a healthy lifestyle and a good diet, a certain superfood has made its way into the spotlight....

Cheese used to be simple. Milk, salt, time, and care. Today, many products sold as “cheese” barely resemble it. They melt strangely, taste flat, and...

You've probably installed foam insulation because every building supply store pushes it first. I did the same thing on my barn renovation five years...

Stop uprooting Nettles! You probably remember just how much it stings, but did you know what it can actually do to your skin? Rich in silica,...

Let’s face it, when a disaster strikes, you can’t always rely on your local pharmacy being open or well-stocked. But what if you had a mini pharmacy...

When the world seems to turn upside down, having a secure backup plan is not just smart—it’s crucial for survival. Looters, desperate neighbors, and...

If recent years have taught us anything, it’s that the supply chain stability we rely on every day can be disrupted overnight. Whether it’s...

Summer is primetime for projects. The sun’s out, the weather is fair, and the temperatures are comfortable. Winter is another story. Windchills dip...

When you first hear it, it doesn’t seem to make sense. People for centuries have successfully preserved meat in wood ashes. It seems to contradict...

Throughout the growing season and into the fall our gardens often provide us with a regular harvest of fruits and vegetables. We carefully cook...