Tara Dodrill 
Instilling a love of learning into a child is completely unnecessary – they are born with it. What parents really should be focusing on is fanning the flames of that inherent joy and preventing it from being stifled by exposing them to rigid forms of education. Children are born with a sense of wonder and … Read more
Caring for ducklings in the winter is not necessarily a difficult task, but does require the following of some specific husbandry techniques. Ducklings are, of course, baby ducks. And like all babies, they are fragile, vulnerable, and depend entirely on the help of grown ups (either feathered or human) for their survival. Both ducks and … Read more
Making soap is not a complicated process, but it is a process that involves some very specific steps … unless you want to wind up with a useless pile of goop. Soap is basically a mixture of combined oils, fats, and a caustic solution. So, can you make soap without any lye? No, you can’t … Read more
Dandelion soap is such a mood lifter in the early spring as the bright yellow flowers start popping up everywhere after the long, cold winter. This colorful and fragrant soap is wonderful to use any time of the year, and leaves the skin feeling fresh and well moisturized. This recipe used a glycerin melt-and-pour base … Read more
Ducks are far easier to care for during the winter months than chickens, according to my years of personal experience. If you start preparing for the coming months of frigid cold in the fall, just as you do for firewood and hay bales, keeping your duck flock safe, healthy, and laying eggs will be a … Read more
The first thing you should do when trying to figure out a way to stick to a homeschool schedule is stop thinking of the daily learning plan as well… a schedule. Developing a homeschool routine instead of a rigid schedule that mirrors a public school day is often a part of the “deschooling” process for … Read more
Bees are one of the most vital creatures on our planet. Without bees one of every two to three morsels of food that we put into our mouths would simply not exist. Because of both the crucial role these tiny pollinators play in the food cycle and their dwindling numbers around the world, teaching children … Read more
The Amish lifestyle in real life is a lot different than what most folks watch on television reality shows. Amish communities are present in most regions of the United States, but the largest congregations are located in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The culture in Amish communities varies in many cases. Amish and Minnonite communities may share … Read more
Making floral soap with a melt and pour glycerin soap base is both fun and easy. The process is so simple and safe, that children can also help with the project – or do it themselves under adult supervision. Suspending flowers inside of a clear soap base with dried flowers allows you to harness both … Read more
There are pros and cons with raising any animal, ducks included. But, from my many years of personal experience, the pros far outweigh the cons when it comes to duck keeping. Ducks, like chickens, can be kept not only on spacious rural homesteads, but in suburban or urban areas as well. A small flock of … Read more
How many hours you homeschool a week must take into consideration a myriad of factors. The age of the children, how many children you are teaching, the homeschool method or curriculum you are using, and last but not least – the rules of your state. Homeschooling attendance is almost exclusively determined by hours and not … Read more
Homeschooling should be a fun and exciting journey of discovery. I keep that crucial fact in mind when homeschooling my three grandchildren. All learning should be approached in this way, but such a concept is rarely ever found in public schools these days. Homeschooling is not merely schooling at home. Nope, not at all. You … Read more
Lady’s Thumb (Persicaria maculosa, Polygonum persicaria) is viewed by uninformed folks as merely an invasive weed that needs whacked and disposed of quickly. But, to homesteaders and fans of wild edibles in general, discovering this plant on your land can provide a natural bounty of home remedy ingredients. This annual wild plant is a part … Read more
Buying ducks can be an exciting, rewarding, and fun experience. But, keeping ducks might just not be for everyone. While duck keeping may involve a bit more space than keeping chickens, these egg and poultry birds can be kept not just on large rural homesteads but in small town backyard, suburbia, and sometimes even by … Read more
Rosemary and lemon soap is not only good for your skin, but will help eliminate odors from your skin after working in the kitchen with onions, garlic, fish, and other odoronous foods. Lathering up with a natural homemade soap with these two sweet smelling ingredients can also help repel pesky insects. Making your own soap … Read more
Growing red winter wheat does not require a large homestead with double digit acres of fields. Nope, you can grow this shelf-stable food in small patches or even in 5-gallon gardening containers. By cultivating your own wheat your are not only saving money by growing your own groceries, you also know exactly what is going … Read more