Homesteading

I love chutney. I want that printed on a t-shirt, and maybe a bumper sticker too. Definitely a mug. (Sidenote: I just looked, you can get an “I Love Chutney” …

I promise this isn’t going to be yet another post about the food blogger who suddenly discovered they actually liked Brussels sprouts. Because let’s face it, everyone and their brother …

It’s officially autumn, and the leaves are turning colors before our very eyes into beautiful shades of yellows, reds, and oranges. Some of them have already been dipped in beeswax …

Fried green tomatoes are in season! It seems that every fall, without fail, you will end up with a certain amount of green tomatoes. That is, if you have grown …

Once you learn how to make applesauce at home, I guarantee that you will never want to get store-bought again. Not for fresh eating, and not for canning either. Why? …

Banana peppers are an interesting warm season crop to grow. At this time of year, your thoughts may be turning to making the most of this ingredient you’ve grown in …

Bacon is like no other protein. As a type of salt cured pork, bacon has a unique flavor profile that is above all savory and salty. Made crunchy or chewy, …

Did you grow ground cherries (sometimes referred to as cape gooseberries or husk cherries) this year? If you did, I’d bet you’re up to your eyeballs in pale yellow, papery …

Are you craving a taste of the tropics from your home garden? Consider the ground cherry. This humble berry is easy to grow and tastes reminiscent of mango mixed with …

A super spicy cultivar within the chili pepper family, the habanero (Capsicum chinense) is like a little ball of fire. Native to the Amazon and domesticated some 8,500 years ago, …

Keeping chickens on your homestead gives you far more than just eggs (and potentially meat). Chickens also help to incorporate organic matter by scratching, they eat pests that would otherwise plague …

Being a successful home grower involves understanding how to make the most of each and every crop that you grow. Experienced organic gardeners soon learn that not everything goes according …

While there are several ways to preserve fresh table grapes, making grape juice tops the list of most delicious ways to make those fragrant bunches last well into the winter …

Raising perennial berry bushes on the homestead can take years of effort, often with minimal reward. A better option? Focus on foraging the wild fruit abundant in your region. Autumn …

Look, I already know what you’re thinking. “Beet wine? Is she crazy? That sounds terrible.” Of course, beet wine. Maybe a little. And no, it’s quite wonderful actually. But it’s …

Am I the only one that grows herbs and then thinks, “Okay…now what the heck do I do with these?” I mean, for some herbs, it’s obvious. Mint you make …

With a bountiful apple season on the way, are you prepared for the work – and joy – that comes with preserving a hundred apples? Or a hundred pounds of …

Lemons are such an amazing and versatile ingredient, it’s always a good idea to have some on hand. The sweet and sour flavoring of all parts of the lemon fruit …

Elderberries are one of my favorite fall-garden attractions. Where elders grow, the glossy, black berries on their reddish-pink stems are a definitive sight of the season. Here on our homestead, …

Blueberries and basil go together like peanut butter and jelly. This flavor combo pops up everywhere these days, and for good reason. A couple of summers ago I was inundated …

We are always on the search for easy canning recipes that are not only delicious all winter long, but those that store well for several months too. As sweet as …

Keeping chickens is a lot of fun, but when you first start off, it can be so nerve-wracking. If you’re a nervous beginner, one of the best things you can …

So, I want to know who decided we should throw out carrot tops instead of eating these delicious greens? I know the thought of eating carrot tops seems strange. Can …

Honey is one of the coolest natural products we’ve got going on this planet. I mean, just think about it. Honey is a food made by insects; that in itself …