I am pretty much convinced that when it comes to canning, there are really only two kinds of people in the world: People who love canning, and people who have never really tried it. I don't currently have the space or means to do much canning, but the benefits from putting up your own canned goods just go on and on. I think there is just something fantastic about knowing that you're not only being self-sufficient, prepared, frugal and also healthy. In fact, there are dozens of reasons why ... [ Read More ]
10 Homesteading Misconceptions
Homesteading has been around for centuries in one form or another. As all of you know, it is hard work and certainly isn't for everyone. In fact, homesteading looks a little different to different people and in this modern day and age has changed considerably from what it once was. So, for today's article I turned to some city friends of mine and asked them what, exactly, they thought homesteading was. Their answers were absolutely shocking, and the more people I asked the more I realized ... [ Read More ]
Ideas for Giving Kids an Old Fashioned Summer
As many you probably know, I grew up in the country and I have many fond memories of summers spent almost entirely outside with my older brother. We made forts and caught tadpoles and explored ever corner of my parent's 40 acres. We'd spend the entire day playing in the woods, tromping through the fields, eating wild apples or gooseberries or blackberries (depending on the season) and taming the barn cats (some of which I am fairly certain were actually wildcats). My brother and I only ... [ Read More ]
Disposing Spoiled Canned Goods Safely
While canning food is delicious and a great way to preserve excess food that you grow or purchase throughout the year, there are always some risks with home preparation. One of the biggest concerns of canners everywhere is botulism, a deadly bacteria that can grow on spoiled foods. While there are several methods for identifying spoiled canned goods, a lot of times, it is readily apparent that something is not right. Regardless of why it happened, the most important thing is to ensure that ... [ Read More ]
Identifying Spoiled Canned Food
Canning can be an incredibly rewarding process that is not only good for your budget but also pretty tasty. There's just nothing like opening a can of strawberry jam in the dead of winter and reliving some of that summer goodness yet again. But, canning is a very precise process and if done incorrectly, it can lead to all kinds of complications and illnesses including botulism. While it sounds pretty scary, there are a few things you can do to keep yourself and your family safe. Aside from ... [ Read More ]
10 Menu Planning Tricks
Whether you live 50 miles from the nearest grocery store, or just around the corner, planning meals ahead of time is a fantastic way to save time and money. It might be a little old-fashioned, but you'll be amazed by how much easier it can make the week out to be! Here are some of my tips for making menu-planning a success: Check weather - Check the forecast when you're making your menu. Is it soup weather? Do you need to avoid using the oven? Check schedules - If the kids have a ... [ Read More ]
Pat-in-the-pan Pie Crust Recipe
When I was growing up, the were two desserts that we nearly always had in the house: chocolate chip cookies and cherry pie. My father absolutely loves cherry pie, although I personally was always more of a pumpkin pie fan myself. So, needless to say, I have made a lot of pie crusts in my lifetime. While traditional crusts are delicious and yummy, sometimes you just don't have time to roll it out and mess with pie crusts. (Especially when I had that tiny apartment in college!) So, needless to ... [ Read More ]
Tips for Taking a Homestead Vacation
Everyone needs a vacation sometimes, but whether you have a small homestead or a large farm, finding the funds and means to leave for any amount of time can be quite the hassle. After all, someone has to take care of the animals, and those veggies won't pick themselves! So, what is a homesteadder to do? Well, here are some tips for how to take that much-needed vacation without letting your homestead fall apart while you're gone. Find a farm sitter If you only concern is finding someone to ... [ Read More ]
Freezer Pickles Recipe
I admit I'm not all that much of a canner. I have done some canning in the past (mostly strawberries) but it's not exactly a passion of mine and I currently lack the space to actually can anything. However, one of my coworkers gave me this fantastic recipe for simple freezer pickles and brought me a sample. I don't have any photos, sadly, but let me tell you; they were delicious! Freezer pickles are crisp and yummy and, best of all, require absolutely zero special equipment: all you need is a ... [ Read More ]
How to Live an Old Fashioned Life
If you're reading this blog, then it's probably a pretty safe bet that you're more interested in living a simple, old-fashioned lifestyle with less stress, clutter and more self-sufficiency. I personally feel like that's something that our society needs a bit more of. However, it seems like every time I say something like that, there is someone on the sidelines who quips about how most people tend to look at the past through a rosy glass, and that things weren't really all that great. Women's ... [ Read More ]