Our family has a long history of preserving food, a skill passed down through generations. We share our knowledge and experience to help you learn the ropes and gain confidence in your preserving endeavors. It’s not just about extending shelf life. It’s about capturing the essence of each season and savoring it throughout the year.
This strawberry kombucha brewing guide walks you through the second fermentation process, where plain kombucha is transformed into a fizzy, flavored treat. Why Brew Your Own Strawberry Kombucha? On the homestead, we’re always looking for ways to stretch our dollar, reduce waste, and take control of our food and drink. Making your own kombucha at […]
How to Make Home Brewed Strawberry Kombucha Recipe Read Post »
Growing up, we didn’t see dandelions as weeds—we saw them as an opportunity for dandelion jelly and all sorts of concoctions. As kids, we’d wander the city streets and sidewalks, gathering armfuls of dandelion flower heads for our mom. She made all kinds of dandelion recipes, but her jelly was something special. It was our
How to Make Old-Fashioned Dandelion Jelly from Wild Blossoms Read Post »
With our easy guide you can make Kombucha. It’s easier than you may be thinking. Craft your own kombucha at home using pantry staples and a living culture. Learn the full process from sweet tea to SCOBY and beyond—with tips for first-time brewers, homesteaders, and fermentation lovers. Why Learn to Brew Your Own Kombucha? Making
Easy Guide How to Make Kombucha Primary Fermentation Read Post »
Are you storing onions the wrong way? Properly storing onions is the best way to keep them fresh and flavorful for longer. There’s nothing more frustrating than reaching for an onion only to find it soft or moldy. Fortunately, with a few simple storage techniques, you can extend their shelf life, reduce food waste, and
Are You Storing Onions the Wrong Way? Learn How to Store Read Post »
We’ll cover three easy methods to dehydrate apples using a food dehydrator, oven, and air fryer. It’s a great way to preserve fresh apples for long-term storage while creating a delicious and healthy snack. Whether you have an abundance of homegrown apples from your fruit trees or just want to make homemade apple chips, drying
How to Dehydrate Apples at Home 3 Easy Methods Read Post »
This homemade ketchup recipe is perfect for canning, allowing you to enjoy fresh, flavorful tomato ketchup all year long. Canning homemade ketchup is easier than you might think. With ripe tomatoes, a mix of spices, and a splash of vinegar, you can create a deliciously balanced ketchup that’s just the right amount of sweet and
Delicious Homemade Ketchup for Easy Canning Recipe Read Post »
A healthy sourdough starter smell is the foundation of delicious homemade sourdough bread. However, beginners often struggle with identifying whether their starter is thriving or failing based on its scent. My daughter and niece have both become quite good at growing their own fermented dough and coming up with lots of recipes for the discard.
Understanding Sourdough Starter Smell and Troubleshooting Read Post »
Today, we’re covering 3 foolproof methods of how to dry parsley right at home. Fresh parsley is a versatile herb that adds a bright, earthy flavor to many dishes. Whether you grow your own parsley in an herb garden or pick up a bunch of parsley from the grocery store, drying it is a great
How to Dry Parsley at Home: 3 Foolproof Methods Read Post »
The first thing to consider when storing fresh herbs is whether they’re tender herbs with soft stems, like parsley or basil, or hardy herbs with woody stems, like thyme or rosemary. Tender herbs are delicate and require a little water to stay fresh. One effective method is to treat them like a bouquet of flowers:
The Best Ways to Keep Fresh Herbs Fresh and Flavorful Read Post »
Learn how to make beef tallow on your homestead. This natural animal fat has been a staple in traditional kitchens for generations, and for good reason. This versatile, healthy fat is perfect for high-heat cooking, deep frying, and even skincare. Making your own beef tallow at home is simple, cost-effective, and satisfying. Learning How to
How to Make Beef Tallow: It’s Easy to Render Your Own Read Post »
Make Homemade Paprika with Fresh produce you’re your own garden. Imagine stepping into your garden, picking ripe peppers fresh off the vine, and transforming them into a rich, aromatic spice that will elevate your dishes all year round. Making your own paprika from garden-grown peppers is a rewarding journey that connects you to the land
Homemade Paprika with Fresh Flavors from Garden to Jar Read Post »
Store fresh eggs safely and maintain their quality and flavor. Knowing the best practices for fresh egg storage can help extend their shelf life and ensure you’re getting the most out of every single one. Whether you have your own backyard chickens, shop at the local farmers market, or buy eggs from the grocery store,
How to Store Fresh Eggs: Keep Them Safe and Fresh Read Post »
Good crisp salad greens are key and knowing the best way to store lettuce and keep it fresh and crisp for weeks is a must. If you’ve ever brought home lettuce from the grocery store or harvested it fresh from your own garden, you know how fast those vibrant leaves can lose their crispness. Whether
The Best Way to Store Lettuce to Keep it Fresh for Weeks Read Post »
Render pure lard from pork fat and create a liquid gold. It’s a rewarding process that connects homesteaders to traditional cooking practices. When I was first married years ago, my mother-in-law taught me how to render lard. She just used a roasting pan to melt the fat at a very low temperature. On the farm,
Simple Steps to Render Pure Lard for Cooking and Baking Read Post »
We spend so much time and effort in our gardens, storing squash for the winter is just as important to us. We had to do some research to find the best methods. Don’t worry, we are sharing with you so you can be successful in preserving your harvest too. As the growing season winds down
The Homesteader’s Guide to Storing Squash for Winter Read Post »
When the crisp autumn air rolls in, nothing beats the satisfaction of turning a bushel of apples into homemade applesauce. On the farm, apple-picking was always a family tradition. The apple trees were scattered throughout our 200 acres. But we knew where to find them. We’d head out to the apple orchards, and by the
Easy Homemade Applesauce Canning Recipe for Beginners Read Post »
There’s nothing quite like the taste of homemade tomato sauce made from fresh, ripe tomatoes. Whether you’re using garden tomatoes or the best tomatoes from your local farmers’ market, the deep, rich flavor of a homemade sauce is unbeatable. Are you tired of cooking down tomato juice to make a thick sauce. Are you tired
Easy Hack for Thick Tomato Sauce: Freeze, Blend, and Can Read Post »
How long does zucchini last? For homesteaders and backyard gardeners, harvesting fresh squash is one of the joys of the growing season. However, zucchini plants are prolific producers. Often leaving you with an excessive amount of squash to enjoy throughout the summer. To make the most of your harvest, it’s important to know how long
How Long Does Zucchini Last After Picked? Read Post »
An easy sourdough starter is made from a mixture of flour and water that captures wild yeast from the environment, which will naturally ferment to become the base for many tasty sourdough breads. Creating your own sourdough starter is simpler than it seems, and with a few basic ingredients and a bit of time, you’ll
From Scratch: How to Make an Easy Sourdough Starter Read Post »
We love pumpkins in the fall, but how do you keep pumpkins from rotting so fast? As the air turns crisp and leaves begin to change, one of the joys of the fall season is adorning your home with vibrant pumpkins. Whether you’ve picked them fresh from the patch or carefully selected them for their
How to Keep Pumpkins from Rotting This Fall Read Post »
