10 Plants to Keep the Wasps and Hornets Away
Seeing wasps and hornets spoil your precious fruits in the garden can be distressing. However, rather than using harsh chemicals, which may disturb your homestead's habitat, many alternative options are available. In today's read, I'll share ten plants to help keep...
These Plants Are Killing Your Tomatoes
Growing tomatoes on your homestead can be super cool! However, these berries are very picky about where they live. Some of the plants nearby can be a bit greedy, sucking up all the good stuff that the tomatoes need to grow big and strong. This can seriously affect...
15 Tools That Should Not Be Missing From Your Gardening Kit
Having the right tools can make all the difference between a thriving garden and a struggling one. With the proper tools, you can ensure healthy planting, adequate maintenance, and effective care of your garden. However, choosing the right gardening tools can be a...
Why You Should Add Calendula To Your Garden
Calendula seems like a mouthful, but most of you have probably admired this colorful, flowering plant for years without knowing its name or perhaps calling it by another name: pot marigold. Not the same as your typical marigolds (though those can also be beneficial),...
Plant These To Keep The Pests Away
Are you tired of seeing your lovely plants eaten away by pests you've spent months nourishing? If so, then it's time to consider planting pest-repelling greenery in your garden. As a gardening enthusiast, it's always a struggle to protect your plants against...
Weeds You Should Never Pull From Your Backyard
The image of a gardener down on their knees, hard at work pulling weeds is one that we probably remember from watching our grandparents gardening. However, there comes a time when every gardener realizes that some weeds need to be left alone because they are actually...
Deadly Bugs For Your Crops
Your garden is disappearing and you don't know why. Cabbage rotting, fruits falling apart in your hands, leaves sad and yellowed; what is going on? Then, you turn over a leaf and you see them. These evil things: insect eggs. Even worse, you know what they are and you...
Vegetable Planting “Tips” That Ruined My Crops
People give all kinds of tips on how to grow vegetables; unfortunately, sometimes it’s terrible advice. Most of the time, people give advice that works very well in a particular climate and soil type, but they fail to specify their conditions. So, when people with...
Canning Recipes Grandma Made Every Fall
People have been canning for generations. Whether it be in true cans or glass jars, once we figured out how to preserve food, we were doing very, very well for ourselves. Today, we'll look at a few older types of canning: ones that you may not remember from your...
Long-Lasting Foods That Got Soldiers Through the Civil War
The Civil War's hidden battleground? Soldiers' stomachs. During the war, soldiers required sustenance that could endure brutal conditions and long marches. Forget gourmet meals—these were foods designed to withstand hell and high...
Wild Edibles Native Americans Survived On During Fall
Native Americans spent thousands of years farming, gathering, and hunting for their food across this continent. Today, we'll take a look at some very easy-to-find and gather nibbles that you can enjoy on the trail or at home. Your pick. Let's get started. Grains Your...
Signs We’ll Soon Be Eating Depression-Era Foods
I remember my grandma's stories about the Great Depression - tales of scraping by on whatever food they could get their hands on. Never thought I'd see anything like that in my lifetime. But lately? I'm not so sure. "Out of stock." Three words that have become my...
Dutch Oven Recipes Cowboys Survived On
Life as a cowboy in the Old West was tough, with few comforts. Cattle drives often kept cowboys on the trail for a month or more, and even on the ranch, they lived in simple bunkhouses with basic cooking facilities. Long days of hard physical work in all kinds of...
This Common Mistake Can Ruin Your Entire Food Stockpile
Food stockpiling forms the backbone of homesteading and emergency preparedness. Yet, several critical errors can render even the most meticulously planned food storage strategy ineffective. Today, we’ll delve into these mistakes, with a particular focus on the most...
How to Spot Spoiled Eggs Without Breaking a Shell
Being able to spot spoiled eggs without cracking them open is a handy skill for homesteaders, survivalists, or anyone living off the grid. It helps you avoid wasting food, keeps your meals safe, and makes your eggs last longer. But can you spot a spoiled egg without...
10 Expired Foods That Will Help You Outlive A Crisis
The storm rages outside. Power's out. Roads are blocked. Your perfectly tended garden? Decimated. Panic starts to set in as you wonder how you'll feed your family. But wait. You’ve got some dusty cans and boxes lurking in the back of your pantry. Yep. Those ones with...
Bucket Gardening: How to Grow Your Own Food Anywhere
Not everyone has access to sprawling garden beds or fertile farmland—but that doesn’t mean you can’t grow your own food. Bucket gardening is one of the simplest, cheapest, and most flexible methods for turning even the smallest spaces into productive gardens. With...
I Saved $400 a Month by Stockpiling This Way
Living off-grid, my main goal was always to live a sustainable life without overspending or wasting anything. However, when I first moved, my bills were skyrocket high and resources were often spoiled, which disappointed me. Later on, my fellow homesteaders advised me...
8 Invisible Threats Hiding in Your Water Supply
You hauled the buckets, dug the well, or set up the rain barrels. That clear water looks pure, tastes fine most days, and feels like victory. A direct line to your independence. But here's the hard truth nobody tells you upfront: you're now the entire water...
This Tiny Bug Can Destroy Your Garden in 48 Hours
It’s a scenario many homesteaders have faced — or will at some point. You step into your garden one morning, expecting to admire your thriving plants, only to find one reduced to a bare skeleton overnight. The speed of the destruction feels unreal, like something...
Root Cellar vs. Solar Fridge
When living off-grid, keeping food fresh becomes a daily challenge that affects every meal you eat. Two storage solutions stand at opposite ends of the spectrum: the centuries-old root cellar and the modern solar-powered refrigerator. Each serves the same basic...
DIY Harvest Booster Tonic
When I started living off-grid, I remembered this rule: your land will give you back what you sow into it. So, when it came to feeding my crops, I always ensured I used sustainable, natural and budget-friendly options. And when I wanted to boost the yield, I resorted...
How to Store 2+ Years Worth of Food in a Small Pantry
Small spaces force you to think differently about food storage. When you have limited square footage but need to store enough provisions for two years or more, every inch counts. Standard pantry advice falls short because it assumes you have abundant space. You don't,...
This Is How Your Compost Could Kill You
Compost is usually thought of as safe, natural, and even healthy for your garden. But beneath the surface of that pile, there can be hidden dangers you might never expect. There’s something no one tells you when they gush about compost’s magic: under the wrong...
What’s The Closest Natural Nuclear Bunker to Your Home?
Since recent events around the world, concerns over the potential use of nuclear weapons have grown. Imagine a nuclear strike occurs. Where would you and your family take refuge? The closest natural nuclear bunker may be your best bet. This comprehensive guide...
11 Household Items You Need To Stock Up On Before The Upcoming Great Depression
Most people would probably name the great depression of the 1930s as the largest example of a worldwide economic crisis in US history. But did you know that there have been over 48 total recessions in United States history? As we all know, history tends to repeat...
Foods The Pilgrims Ate When They First Arrived in America
When the Pilgrims first arrived in America in 1620, they faced many challenges, including food scarcity and unfamiliarity with the local flora and fauna. Their first winter in the New World was harsh, and many died due to malnutrition and disease. However, with the...
Painkiller In A Jar
If you’re looking for a versatile painkiller that you can make yourself and have on hand when SHTF, consider making a feverfew tincture. Feverfew is a widely available perennial in the daisy family that you can grow on your own or find in the wild. Making a tincture...
10 Items To Stock Up On Before Hyperinflation Hits
The word hyperinflation has been making its way into the news cycle and our everyday conversations for the past few months. We have seen hyperinflation before, and we will see it again. Argentina, Zimbabwe, and Germany are only a few historical examples. There may not...
I Tried Eating Like a Pioneer for 100 Days and This Is What Happened
When the pioneers were moving out West, they didn’t have any grocery stores, supermarkets, or restaurants they could stop by to resupply themselves as they went. Instead, they had to stockpile foods that wouldn’t spoil and carry them on their wagons, as well as live...
The Only Plants Soldiers Looked For During The Civil War
During the Civil War, soldiers often faced food shortages and had to resort to foraging and hunting for sustenance. Many turned to eating wild plants to supplement their rations, some of which were surprisingly nutritious. Here are ten plants soldiers ate during the...
10 Frugal Items You Must Have In Your Pantry
The pennies are pinching all of us these days. Every time you go to the grocery store, it feels like you're spending more than you did the last time you were there. As inflation rises and the general public tightens its belt, people are constantly craving ways to save...
8 Things Our Grandparents Did Better Than Us
Our culture of convenience has caused many to undervalue self-sufficiency and hands-on skills. But rewind to your grandparents' generation who weathered the Great Depression and wars, resourcefulness wasn't a choice - it was key to survival. They didn't call...
Hiding Spots In Your House Where Looters Always Look First
When stockpiling supplies, it’s vitally important to hide as much of your stockpile as you can. Hiding spots in house become essential in these scenarios. If the grid goes down, desperate people may turn into thieves, raiders, and looters, stealing to survive. They’ll...
Do NOT Store Your Dry Goods Like This
Dry storage is one of the greatest achievements of humankind. Drying fruits, vegetables, meats, and grains until they’re shelf-stable for months, years, or even decades is an incredible achievement. Whatever you do, do not store your dry goods like this!...
Foraging Mistakes You’re Probably Making
Are you a seasoned forager, confidently trekking into the wild in search of nature’s bounty? Or perhaps you’re just starting to explore the world of gathering your own food from forests and fields. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, we can all agree that...
What You Should Stockpile For The Next Great Depression
We've all been exposed to the haunting tales and stark images of The Great Depression, prompting thoughts that such a calamity couldn't occur in the 21st century. While optimism is admirable, we mustn't take our current lifestyle for granted. Rather than complacency,...
10 Foods To Store In Lard For A Long Shelf Life
Preservation methods have evolved throughout history, from canning and pickling to freezing and dehydrating. One traditional method that remains effective is storing certain foods in lard. If you're exploring the best foods to store in lard, this age-old technique...
People Used to Eat These During Famines
My guess is none of you experienced a long-time hunger. But probably most of you are familiar with the feeling of skipping 2 or 3 meals. Not a very pleasant one. During that time did you experience fatigue or dizziness? These are the first general symptoms of...
What’s The Closest Natural Nuclear Bunker to Your Home?
Since recent events around the world, concerns over the potential use of nuclear weapons have grown. Imagine a nuclear strike occurs. Where would you and your family take refuge? The closest natural nuclear bunker may be your best bet. This comprehensive guide...
