Guides

How to Get Smoke Smell Out of Wood Furniture

I've brought home more than one "great deal" piece of furniture that turned out to be a smoke bomb in disguise. Estate sales, thrift stores, and...

The Only Way to Save Your Garden and Produce Water When It Doesn’t Rain

A while back, I kept running into the same problem every summer. I felt like I didn’t have a reliable water source in case of an emergency. My rain...

What July Says About Your Homestead

You might think the big work is done by July. You’ve planted your vegetables, the animals are settled, and all you have to do now is just water and...

What Is a Homestead? The Complete Guide to Starting and Living the Homesteading Life

Somewhere between a backyard garden and a full working farm, the homestead occupies a unique space in modern life. It is a place built around...

How to Use Cornstarch Around Your Homestead

You probably have a box of cornstarch sitting in your pantry right now, and you probably think it is only good for thickening gravy and pie...

How to Keep Deer Out of Your Property Without Building a Fence

Yes, they're cute and all, but deer are a huge problem all over the country. You might have encountered them in your garden eating your crops, and...

What June Says About Your Homestead

We started the journey of this series in the winter and here we are… It’s already June! How is time even flying this fast? This is technically the...

How to Butcher a Pig at Home (Step-by-Step)

The modern world has led us to be dependent on stores, public services, and the grid. But you might not want to put your lives in the hands of...

What May Says About Your Homestead

When May is here, you know things are going to move fast. This month comes with a lot of wonderful changes, such as rising temperatures and longer...

How to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade (Step-by-Step Guide)

A dull lawn mower blade does not cut grass cleanly. Instead, it tears and shreds each blade of grass, leaving ragged brown tips that invite disease...

What April Says About Your Homestead

April is finally here, and there's a lot to talk about. Most folks see it as that in-between month where spring has shown up, but winter's leftovers...

Spring Maintenance for Lawn Mowers, Chainsaws, and More

As soon as spring comes, it’s time to get out and about and do some summer maintenance. But before I start on the yard and garden, the equipment we...

DIY Heavy-Duty Hand Salve for Homesteaders (to Protect Your Skin During Chores)

If yard work and gardening are your thing, your hands usually take a beating. Mine sure did. Split knuckles from cold mornings, calluses from...

What January Says About Your Homestead

For most of us, January is one of the coldest months of the year. It can make a lot of outdoor activities challenging or at least difficult to...

The Holistic Guide to Wellness: Herbal Protocols for Common Ailments Book Review

When I first received The Holistic Guide to Wellness: Herbal Protocols for Common Ailments, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve seen herbal guides...

DIY Anti-Microbial Laundry Soap

Whenever possible, I try to use a natural product that is safe for me as well as the environment, but finding a detergent that fulfills both...

8 Backyard Projects You Can Make on a Budget

For many of us, our backyards represent both a comfortable and functional living space. How much we use that space can be limited by the seasons in...

How I Made a Solar Herb Dryer with Scrap Materials

You need a reliable way to preserve your harvest without plugging into the grid. Hanging herbs indoors works sometimes. But it’s slow, risks mold in...

How To Make Natural Glue from Backyard Plants

Most folks don’t realize it, but some of the stickiest, most reliable glues don’t come from a store-bought bottle. They come from right outside your...