Chicory plants are often foraged in most regions of the United States as a wild edible and medicinal. But, if they do not happen to grow where you live because of either the climate or urban environment – or simply because you want more chicory plant than you can find, it is quite feasible to … Read more
Three Sisters stew is filled with the protein, fiber, and vitamins that are necessary to keep the body strong for homesteading or survival homesteading chores. This ancient Iroquois recipe was created to make use of every last ounce of a bountiful harvest from their traditional garden guild growing methods. The Three Sister Garden provides all … Read more
Goldenrod is a superb plant for novice foragers to discover because it boasts a plethora of edible and other uses. But, this hardy wild “weed” does also have some potentially lethal look-alikes. There are about 130 species of goldenrod plants. All of the species except one, white goldenrod, feature bright yellow blossoms. Each of the … Read more
Red clover lemonade may have been one of the items Mary Poppins kept tucked away in that big bag of hers. The first time I sipped it the “spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,” lyrics danced around in my head while my tastebuds rejoiced. Making a “medicine” that cost merely pennies that even … Read more
Three Sisters soup is a filling and nutrient rich delicious recipe that you can whip up in large amounts after the harvest – and then preserve so it can be enjoyed all winter long. The base ingredients for this homesteading favorite come from the ancient Iroquois Three Sisters Garden. The tribe may have created the … Read more
Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is probably the easiest of nearly all wild “weeds” to identify. Only daisies and dandelions might be simpler to safely identify for a novice wildcrafter. Not only are the flowers quite distinctive on a chicory plant, but it has no toxic look-alikes, as Queen Anne’s Lace and so many other plants do. … Read more
Starting an herbal business can bring both added fulfilment, joy, and extra cash to your homestead. Growing or foraging for natural herbal ingredients to create salves, tinctures, infusions, chapstick, deodorant, cleaning products, soaps, cosmetics, and candles can be quite lucrative. Cottage industry is now becoming big business all across the United States.Thanks to high speed … Read more
Poison hemlock is a beautiful plant… that’s also lethal! The unseasonably wet winter and spring – followed by flooding in many regions of the United States, has caused this deadly toxic and invasive plant to pop up all around the country. Once the shock of spotting it on your land wears off, then your real … Read more
Scouring the kitchen is not a fun job, but sometimes the messes around the homestead simply call out for that type of abrasive elbow-grease type of scrubbing. Just because your need a quality scouring powder you can depend on to clean up and disinfect life’s messes, that does not mean you have to allow chemicals … Read more
Dyeing raw wool is a fun and simple project the whole homesteading family can enjoy doing together. You can probably dye the wool sheared from your sheep with ingredients you already have stockpiled in your kitchen. As already noted, dry wool takes either natural or artificial dye really poorly. If you plan on drying the … Read more
Hang drying flowers by is the traditional way of preserving them to use as food, medicine, or decoration. While this method of drying flowers takes a lot longer than using an oven, it works just as effectively. If you are an off the grid homesteader, or simply want to dry a large batch of edible … Read more
Natural deodorant recipes have a lot in common with commercially manufactured deodorants and antiperspirants, but it is what they don’t have that is most important. The vast majority of store-bought deodorants contain aluminum and other potentially harmful toxins. DIY natural deodorants are our best only option to control sweat and body odor without infusing your … Read more
Corn smut is something most homesteaders hate to see develop in their growing plot. Just about when big juicy ears of sweet corn are ready to harvest and be enjoyed is when the ugly knobby growths appear. Outbreaks of this type of corn disease usually happen when temperatures range from 80F to 92F (26C to … Read more
Bagworms are tiny little creatures that will not harm you, but can be highly destructive to the trees on your homestead. These non-poisonous worms feed on the leaves of trees and plant foliage – sometimes in massive quantities. Nearly 200 different trees are targeted by bagworms. These parasites are native to North America, but primarily … Read more
Drying flowers to preserve them has been a homesteading tradition going back hundreds of years. The only downfall to the process is all of the patience it requires. There are many reasons to dry flowers to preserve them. The dried flowers can be used in far more than just beautiful homemade wreaths and craft projects. … Read more
