Foraging for fruit is not going to save the world, but it's an act that can help make us better people. It enriches lives, gets us out of doors, and ignites our curiosity. It connects us with subtle shifts in the seasons and brings us closer to the people and animals who share wild and settled spaces with us... - Sara Bir, author of The Fruit Forager's Companion Simply … [Read more...]
Bulk cooking and freezing meals
Aren't we always looking for ways to simplify life and cut back on weeknight stress? I'm convinced after reading Fix, Freeze, Feast: Stock your Freezer with Ready-to-Cook Meals, 2nd Edition, that bulk cooking and freezing meals is a great way to maximize time and still have nutritious, tasty meals. But bulk cooking is certainly not a new concept, particularly for … [Read more...]
Holiday Gift Guide: Favorite Homesteading Books of 2017
For your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping, we're excited to share ten of our favorite homesteading books that would make great gifts for many people on your list. We didn't want to play favorites -- and besides, it would have been way too challenging to rank these -- so they are simply listed here alphabetically. The Art of Natural Cheesemaking -- This would … [Read more...]
Natural Spa Recipes for Herb Lovers
Even though homesteaders tend to be really good at working hard, most of us need to get better at relaxing and pampering ourselves sometimes. That's exactly what The Herb Lover's Spa Book provides -- information and recipes for naturally pampering ourselves. Author Sue Goetz has put together a beautiful and informative book filled with stunning photographs and simple recipes. … [Read more...]
Can you tell the difference between edible and poisonous berries?
I recently met Helen Yoest who is an expert edible and waterwise gardener, garden stylist, and particularly an advocate for creating pollinator-friendly backyards. Lucky for me, I live in the same city as Helen so have been able to join her garden club! But even from afar you can benefit from her expertise by checking out her blog Gardening with Confidence and pollinator … [Read more...]
Celebrating summertime with the best varieties of tomatoes
Reading Epic Tomatoes by Craig LeHoullier took me back to my childhood and enjoying tomato sandwiches with my grandfather during the summertime. Though I've reviewed many books this year, this is one of the most delightful perhaps because of the many delicious-looking photos, descriptions, and the author's personal stories about different tomato varieties. LeHoullier even … [Read more...]
Save water, time, and money using drip irrigation
"Trees grow faster, with wider trunks. Shrubs and perennial flowers bloom more profoundly. Vegetables and fruit and nut trees yield more abundantly." - Robert Kourik How is this possible? In the quote above, the author of Drip Irrigation: For Every Landscape and All Climates is referring to the benefits of drip irrigation, compared to watering your garden by hand or using … [Read more...]
Getting started with saving your own seeds
During my cross-country farm tour last fall, I stopped by Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) in Iowa and was overwhelmed by their amazing heirloom seed collection and the many other resources that they offer. So, I was excited to read Seed to Seed, which was written by one of SSE's seed researchers - Suzanne Ashworth. At Del Rio Botanical near Sacramento, California, Ashworth conducts … [Read more...]
Natural & Nontoxic Beekeeping
You've likely heard about declining bee populations, but do you know why they are declining? In Natural Beekeeping: Organic Approaches to Modern Apiculture, Ross Conrad explains that some of the reasons for declining bee populations are pests like tracheal and varroa mites, colony collapse disorder (CCD), and the use of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals. In fact, … [Read more...]
Book review: Restoring Heritage Grains
I keep hearing more and more about gluten allergies. In fact, I learned in Restoring Heritage Grains that over the past 60 years, gluten allergies and celiac disease have become at least four times more common. The book's author, Eli Rogosa became interested in this topic after learning to grow wheat crops in the Middle East. She was impressed by how well these crops grow in … [Read more...]
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