How Planting in Rows Could Destroy your Garden
Most of us grew up learning that planting in neat, straight rows is the key to a successful garden. It looks tidy, it’s easy to manage, and it’s what every gardening book tells you to do. But sticking to those rows might actually be harming your garden more than...
19 Ingenious Ways You Can Repurpose Tomatoes
If you grow tomatoes on your homestead, you probably already know how wonderful they taste fresh off the vine. But tomatoes are way more than just a tasty treat for your table. Around the homestead, they can be used in all sorts of clever and practical ways, from...
How To Grow Food for a Year in Just 4 Square Feet
If someone told me you could feed yourself for an entire year from a space smaller than your dining table, I’d probably raise an eyebrow too. But there’s a little-known method, rooted in old survival gardening tricks, that makes it possible to harvest baskets of fresh...
The Native American Way To Self-Water Your Backyard
For thousands of years, Native American tribes lived closely with the land, while growing their food in some of the toughest environments in North America. They didn’t have any of the modern tools we have today. Instead, they learned to work with the natural...
Asparagus – Where to Plant: Complete Location Guide for Growing Success
Choosing where to plant asparagus might be the most important gardening decision you’ll make this decade. Unlike annual vegetables that give you a do-over each season, asparagus location is a commitment that will define your harvest for the next three decades. Get it...
12 Trees Every Homesteader Should Plant In Their Backyard
Choosing which plants to bring to your backyard can be a tough decision indeed. Especially when you have a spacious lawn to cover, it is easy to get stuck dreaming instead of digging. However, for any homesteader, it’s wise to choose trees that give back year after...
The Weeds in Your Backyard You Should Start Eating Today
For years, I cursed them. Every Saturday, knees sore, I yanked weeds from my lawn and tossed them into the compost. It felt like an endless war. Then one frustrating morning, a neighbor leaned over the fence and asked, “Why are you throwing away dinner?” I froze....
How to Ripen Greenhouse Tomatoes (Without Guesswork)
Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse comes with a lot of perks—controlled temperature, protection from pests, and an extended season. But one challenge that even experienced growers face is this: Why won’t my greenhouse tomatoes ripen? You’re not alone. While the plants...
25 Wood Craft Projects You Should Have In Your Backyard
Even the smallest gardens offer us a place to enjoy the peace and beauty of nature. Simply to wonder about the freshness of new harvest growth, or to enjoy the shade of an old tree, gardens provide an endless ability to create beauty and nourishment. These following...
If You Have This Plant in Your Backyard, You Will Never Run Out of Soap
It’s easy to focus on the major needs when talking about survival. Food, water, fire and a few other things get a lot of airtime, when it comes to discussing what we need. But the reality is, there are a lot of minor things that are necessary as well. Having enough...
Easy DIY Winter Doghouse
Roughly two-thirds of US families have one or more dogs. Most allow their dogs in the house, but there are some families who keep their dogs outdoors. But even families who have their dogs living in the home need to leave them outdoors from time to time, close to some...
How To Make A Self-Watering Planter From A Water Bottle
If you’ve ever come home from vacation to a house full of dried-out plants or realized too late that you forgot to water something, you’re not alone. Even the most diligent gardeners forget to water their plants sometimes - but keeping them in a self-watering...
The 10-Dollar Jerky Maker
There was a time when you could purchase good jerky, but not anymore. Today it is illegal to sell jerky unless it has been raised to a temperature of 160 deg. for “health” reasons. The FDA has mandated that the meat used for jerky must be cooked to a state of “well...
DIY Bicycle Generator
Making your own bicycle generator is a good addition for those who are interested in going off the grid and finding a way to live on their own terms. It not only generates electricity but also provides you with a great cardio workout, which could be an alternative to...
How to Build a Smokehouse In Your Backyard (with Pictures)
One of the best and tastiest ways to conserve meat is to smoke it. The meat is delicious, and if you keep it in a cool, dry place, it can last up to a year and sometimes even longer. Here's how to build a smokehouse in your backyard. The system used is pretty simple....
DIY Stove Made From Used Tire Rims
I had two used tire rims and I decided to make a stove. They have enough holes for the fire to breathe well, and I could easily create an opening to fuel the fire. The easiest thing to do was to put the two rims on top of each other. This gave me enough height and...
How To Make Survival Dandelion Jelly with 2 Years Shelf Life
If you’ve ever yanked a dandelion from your yard without a second thought… you might’ve just tossed away one of the most underrated survival foods out there. In a pinch, these so-called “weeds” can be turned into a golden jelly that’s not only packed with nutrients,...
Canning Myths Debunked By The Amish
The Amish have been safely canning for generations — without pressure gauges, modern recipes, or fear. So what do they know that we don’t? For most people, canning feels risky — something best left to factory equipment and sterile labs. Yet, the Amish have done it...
Tinderbread: The Fireproof Biscuit That Lasts Forever
During the Great Depression, when hunger was constant and every crumb counted, families relied on a biscuit that refused to fail them. This fireproof, nearly indestructible biscuit wasn’t just food. It was survival in a bite. Made from simple ingredients, this biscuit...
Can You Freeze Hard Boiled Eggs? Essential Tips for Safe Storage
A Natural Way to Preserve a Protein Staple Eggs have long been a symbol of simplicity and sustenance. Whether plucked fresh from a backyard coop or brought home from the store, they carry a versatility few foods can match. But what happens when you’ve boiled a dozen...
How Long Do Apples Last in the Fridge?
When stored in the fridge, apples can last up to six weeks while retaining their crispness. This article discusses the factors that influence their shelf life and offers tips on how long do apples last in the fridge and how to keep them fresh for as long as possible....
DIY Edible Insect Farm
Of all the ways you can make your homestead more self-reliant, few are as overlooked — or as surprisingly practical — as starting an insect farm. A food source so odd, most folks overlook it… yet it kept people fed through the harshest times. When pioneers crossed...
Storing Your Food Like This Could Make It Toxic
Many people think they’re protecting their food by storing it a certain way. But what if that common method is actually turning your safe food into a hidden danger? The truth is, a simple mistake in food storage can invite toxins, dangerous mold, or harmful bacteria...
Big Mason Jars: The Self-Sufficient Kitchen’s Best Friend
If you’ve ever tried stuffing an entire summer’s worth of pickles into a tiny jar, you know the pain—and the brine all over your counter. That’s why big mason jars are a game-changer for anyone living the homesteading, prepping, or full-on back-to-the-land lifestyle....
7 Amish Blacksmithing Skills That Will Save You $500 a Year
Blacksmithing is a skill that the Amish have embraced for centuries. It’s one of the key skills that enables their self-sufficiency and provides resources from the home to the barn to the farms and fields. It’s a simple craft and the primary tools include an anvil, a...
Faraday Cage Fabric: A Practical Guide for Everyday Preparedness
Modern life depends so heavily on electronics that we often forget how fragile these systems can be. A single surge, an EMP, or even a severe solar event can damage devices we rely on for communication, power, and safety. While a traditional Faraday cage offers...
Why You Should Garden After Dark
For most of us, morning and afternoon are prime time for gardening. Those of us who have jobs during the day usually get out there early in the morning or after work or dinner or weekends, but few of us think about gardening or watering at dusk or after dark. What...
Do Amish Drink Alcohol?
Among the Amish, every choice reflects a balance between tradition, practicality and spiritual grounding. Their relationship with alcohol is no exception. While many imagine the Amish as strictly abstaining from anything modern or indulgent, the truth is far more...
How to Grow 100 Pounds of Potatoes in Trash Bags
Any of us who have grown potatoes in the past know the challenges. Unlike many other vegetables that mature quickly, potatoes need the whole season to reach maturity. That means a part of our gardens are dedicated solely to potatoes from Spring through Summer and into...
Copper Cookware Pan – Pros, Cons, and Choosing the Right One
Copper cookware has a long, respected history in traditional kitchens. Its beauty is obvious, but its real value lies in how intuitively it cooks. Copper responds instantly to heat changes, distributes warmth evenly across the surface, and gives you control that few...
7 Low-Budget Projects You Should Make This Winter
Summer is primetime for projects. The sun’s out, the weather is fair, and the temperatures are comfortable. Winter is another story. Windchills dip below zero, snow covers the ground and most of us succumb to varying degrees of cabin fever. That’s a good time to roll...
Livestock Guardian Dogs: The Silent Protectors Every Homestead Needs
Livestock guardian dogs have been part of traditional farming for thousands of years, and for good reason. Long before modern fencing, alarms, or surveillance existed, a well-trained guardian dog was the only line of defense between a shepherd’s animals and the wild...
How To Protect Your Food Storage From Insects
The silent threat to your food storage isn’t moisture or temperature – it’s insects. And these three will be your main culprits: pantry moths, weevils, and beetles. These sneaky creatures have taught me some tough lessons about food storage security that I’ll be...
Why You Should Cure Potatoes Before You Store Them for Winter
Some years ago, I divided my harvest of Red Pontiacs into two batches: one I cured, and one I didn’t. By January, nearly half of the uncured batch showed signs of rot, while only a handful of the cured potatoes were affected. Here's why you should cure potatoes before...
Power Outage: How To Survive The First 7 Days
This 7-day blackout scenario draws from a real experience with a prolonged power outage. It occurred during a period when supply chain issues and labor shortages made it difficult for utility companies to fix the electrical grid. Here's how to survive the first 7 days...
How to Keep Looters Off Your Property After a Disaster
Something that often follows a disaster is another form of disaster. Looting has become all too common in disaster areas, especially when authorities have evacuated them. Worse, many homes and buildings sustain damage, giving looters easy access to property and...
50 Powdered Foods That Last Forever
If you want a way to make certain foods last longer, have you thought about turning them into powder? Many powdered foods, especially those high in protein, are versatile and practical to use. Let's talk about 50 powdered foods that last forever. Of course, you won’t...
How to Get Running Water When the Next Hurricane Hits
Though food and shelter are of exceptional importance during a natural disaster, we cannot live for long without water. It is a simple fact of life and, when you are faced with no water at all, an extremely irritating one. We spent two weeks with no running water due...
DIY Apple Cider Vinegar
The concept of vinegar first showed up about 8,000 years ago. Ancient people discovered that juice made from fruits would eventually turn into wine. They also realized that wine would turn into vinegar when exposed to air. Eventually, they noticed that vinegar from...
Household Items People Repurposed During the Great Depression
During the Great Depression, when times were incredibly hard, people got by by repurposing everyday household items. Homesteaders can take inspiration from the resourcefulness of the Depression era. Reusing items creatively can be a lifesaver in emergencies or tough...
Homesteading Skills You Need Before The Next Crisis
Homesteading skills were first defined by our pioneer ancestors. It’s essentially the ability to make use of available resources in our surroundings to survive. What they basically did was live off the land. Homesteading Skills Defined The skills that homesteaders...
6 Foods You Should Bury in Your Backyard
Three generations of my family have used the same backyard storage pit. My grandfather dug it by hand in 1962. These were called "root caves" by ancient Scandinavians. This simple, straw-lined hole helps keep our vegetables safe in harsh winters. Do you want to know...
How Long Do Potatoes Last?
Have you ever harvested potatoes on your homestead? It’s a feeling of pride, knowing that the fruits of your labor are about to become part of your next meal. Potatoes are such a staple in every kitchen, and the possibilities are endless. Whether it’s creamy mashed...
Common Plants You Can Turn Into Flour in a Crisis
Is it possible to make flour without using wheat? According to Grandpa—YES! Did you know that there are several common plants you can turn into flour in a crisis or before one? I can confirm it too, having experimented with a variety of plants that make incredible...
How to Survive a Winter Power Outage
Power outages are all too common and are usually the result of weather. High winds take down trees that take down power lines and ice storms can be worse. In fact, in Quebec, Canada an ice storm took out power for months across parts of Canada in Winter. So let's see...
This Water Source Will Disappear in a Crisis
Water is essential for survival. Without it, you won’t last long. That’s why, as a homesteader, making sure you have a reliable, clean water source should be your top priority. Don’t waste time on other supplies until you’ve secured this. Water can be more dangerous...
I Ate Only Canned Meat for 6 Months and This Happened
Fresh meat is tough to keep in your homestead pantry, especially if you ate only canned meat for an extended period. It’s an excellent source of protein, but it spoils quickly. Even in the fridge, it only lasts a few days. Frozen meat keeps longer, maybe a year or...
How To Protect Your Food Storage From Insects
The silent threat to your food storage isn’t moisture or temperature – it’s insects. And these three will be your main culprits: pantry moths, weevils, and beetles. These sneaky creatures have taught me some tough lessons about food storage security that I’ll be...
