15 Plants that are Natural Sweeteners

stevia plants in the garden

I’m sure we all enjoy a nice, sugary drink every now and then; maybe you like to put loads of sugar in your tea or coffee. Maybe you eat a lot of sugary foods/sweets. Whatever the case, it’s clear that humans have developed quite the sweet tooth since we first started using sweeteners/sugars in our … Read more

Is Poison Hemlock Deadly?

poison hemlock

When I was a kid, my parents used to take us out on hiking trails almost every weekend. I was also a cub scout for a few years, and so I spent a lot of time in nature reserves on hiking trails. One thing that I learned every quickly was: leave. plants. alone. This is … Read more

Top 20 Summer Bedding Plants and Flowers to Grow

Bedding plants are either annuals or biennials and are grown for the continuous color they provide over many months. The plants are normally short-lived, but because of the huge range available, you can have color in the garden almost all year by using bedding plants. Summer bedding plants are a fantastic choice for a new … Read more

The Ultimate Guide To No-Till Gardening

walkways in no-till garden

No-till gardening is a recent trend for homesteaders looking to improve their land instead of depleting it. Traditional farming and gardening tactics reduce soil biology and fertility, leading to successive plantings that are less productive. No-till gardening aims to build soil life and structure while reducing some backbreaking jobs that traditional gardeners deal with regularly. … Read more

How and Why to Grow Red Winter Wheat

mature red winter wheat

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

20 Medicinal Herbs You Can Grow Indoors

3 pots of lavender on a windowsill

Cultivating medicinal herbs indoors increases the homegrown seasonings and herbal remedy ingredients available on the homestead year-round. Unlike traditional crops, herbs and medicinal flowering plants do not take up much space nor do they require deep soil to thrive. Windowsill herb gardens were once commonplace throughout America. Growing your own spices or even an aloe … Read more

So, How Long Do Seeds Last?

peas and beans seeds in glass jars

Saving seeds so you can start a new crop the following season only makes good economic sense. Preserving the seeds from a tasty and bountiful vegetable, fruit, or herb harvest also helps you increase the odds of replicating the same flavor and yield the following year. Typically, seeds will last between 1 and 5 years … Read more

3 Ways to Cold Stratify Seeds and Why

10 jars with seeds for cold stratification

I have tried to start different types of fruit trees without much success. I mean, I was really getting angry at my inability to do so as I generally have a green thumb. After several failed attempts and then one accidental that worked, I decided I should do some research. The answer is stratifying your … Read more