Soaking and Cooking Beans the Right Way

soft beans next to hard beans

Beans are one of the most versatile staples eaten around the world. Packed with protein and minerals, there are dozens of varieties out there, each with a different flavor profile and texture. They make a wonderful addition to nearly any meal, and are used in countless recipes, but dried beans can also be an important … Read more

So, How Long Do Clif Bars Last?

holding two clif bars in the forest

If you are like me, you always have a few energy and meal replacement bars stashed here and there to provide a quick bite when required. Kept in a vehicle, stashed in a bug-out bag or wherever, they are convenient and generally filling. One of the best around is the Clif Bar. But considering that … Read more

Is Raw Milk Good or Bad?

pouring milk into jars

Usually, when we think of milk, we think of supermarkets, plastic bottles, or cardboard cartons. We also typically think of pasteurized milk, not the raw, unpasteurized milk that comes straight from the cow. This begs the question: is it good for you? No, raw milk is not good for you. While it does have a … Read more

White Pumpkins: Are They Edible?

white pumpkins

Although they were once rare commodities in most parts of the United States, white pumpkins are seeing a huge surge in popularity. They are fun to decorate with, lending your home a festive fall feel that works well with any style of decorating. So that leads to the question of white pumpkins: are they edible? … Read more

Top 20 Edible Flowers to Try Out

If you have a backyard flower garden, you may have pondered whether you could use those flowers for purposes other than ornamentation. While garnishing and cooking with flowers saw a drop in popularity in the last few years, it is luckily rising to prominence once again. This style of cooking was quite popular in ancient … Read more

Introduction to Coffee and its Varieties

coffee

There are so many choices today for coffee drinkers. The popularity of coffee drinks such as cappuccinos, lattes, espressos, and Americanos offer variety the American coffee did not have available 40 years ago. The (brief) history of coffee The legend of coffee is that an Ethiopian goat farmer noticed his goats jumping around and dancing … Read more

How to Make Lard Step by Step

rendering lard in a cast iron

Rendering animal fat into lard will not only save you money, but provide you with a sustainable source of cooking and baking material from the hogs you raise yourself. This may be the easiest and cheapest self-reliance skill you will ever learn. Tallow and lard are high heat stable, and unlike polyunsaturated fats found in … Read more

Kefir vs. Kombucha: Which One Is Best?

Kefir and kombucha are all the rage in the natural and holistic health community. They are high in nutrients, as well as sources of rare probiotics. Probiotics are beneficial for both digestion and overall gut health, providing the healthy bacteria necessary to prevent constipation, bloating, and other unpleasant ailments. Probiotics are found in few food … Read more

How to Make Dandelion Wine, Step by Step

Dandelion Wine fermenting in a 1-gallon container

All homesteaders should learn how to make and enjoy dandelion wine.  Dandelion wine is hard to find, unless you make it yourself. Fortunately, it is very simple to brew at home. No matter how big or small your homestead is, it is easy to gather enough dandelions up to make this delightful beverage. And dandelion … Read more

Essential Homestead Kitchen Tools

sanitizing canning jars in dishwasher

Anyone running a homestead will likely spend quite a bit of time in the kitchen, whether this may be preparing daily meals or preserving a harvest for the winter months. There’s no denying that kitchen work can be time-consuming and tiring, which is why we have put together this list of essential homestead tools, which … Read more