Eventually everything comes back into style, doesn’t it? I’m happy to see lard back in a positive light, and even happier to see old-fashioned skills, like learning how to render lard making a resurgence! While you can buy rendered lard that’s ready to cook with, making your own is often more affordable, plus it’s a […]
Honey & Lard Lip Repair Cream
Yep, I’ve been slathering lard on my lips. And honey, naturally. Join me, won’t you? My lips need extra TLC all year round: in the below-freezing winter weather the dry air really takes a toll on them, and in the warm summer months I spend a lot of time outside in the wind and parching-sun, […]
How to Eat Your Christmas Tree
After convincing Karl to try a piece of our Christmas tree, I asked him if he had any witty openings for this “How to Eat Your Christmas Tree” post. He says: “If you like trying new wild edibles, then this post is sure to have you on pines and needles.” And then, with a big cheesy […]
Cranberry & Pine Centerpiece for the Holidays: Easy and Inexpensive!
I can’t quite put my finger on why homesteaders appreciate frugality so much. Is it because we are a most-practical bunch? Is it because we look towards simple pleasures and shy away from extravagance? Is it because we want to save as much money as possible so we can buy more livestock?! Whatever it is… […]
How to Make Vegetable Stock Powder
A great way to preserve the summer’s bounty is by turning into shelf-stable, ready-to-use vegetable stock powder! Also perfect for using up past-their-prime vegetables in the back of the fridge. This method doesn’t require a dehydrator and is simple and easy to do! Although you can make a larger quantity faster with a dehydrator —> I […]
Homestead Monthly: October 2015
Egg Shop Closed for Business Well, it’s happened. Our 1.5 year old hens are in the middle of a molt PLUS are feeling the effects of shorter days and cool nights… which means that we are getting 1-4 eggs per day from 14 hens. And between the two of us, we eat at least six […]
The Everything Cast Iron Guide: How to Buy, Clean, Use, Restore and Season Cast Iron Pans
In my modern kitchen, on my modern stove sits a piece of equipment that connects me to the generations of cooks that came before me. It’s something that people have used for hundreds of years to make nourishing food for their families, and I love carrying on this tradition. If you don’t have a cast iron pan in your kitchen […]
Tips, Tricks & Techniques for Starting Seeds Indoors, Plus What NOT to Do!
My gardening goals have always been to grow as much of our food as I can, while saving as much money as possible, and not making a lot of work for myself. I want gardening to always remain fun and never become a chore. And I want to grow the biggest, most beautiful, lush and healthy plants. […]
10 Creative Protein Sources for Chickens to Help You Save Money on Chicken Feed
Don’t be fooled, “creative” is just a code word for weird. We’re about to dive into some really odd stuff here. It might make your stomach crawl, but your chickens will love it! Plus, these ideas really can help you save money on chicken feed. We wanted our meat birds and egg-layers to be of the […]
Homestead Gifts: Handmade Holiday Evergreen Kissing Ball
I love a gift straight from the heart- and this Kissing Ball is just that. I grew up on a Christmas tree farm; the trees were planted when I was about four years old, and for many years- from middle school to college, every holiday season I stood out in the cold Wisconsin weather and sold Christmas […]