Author: Anne

  • How to start composting: Black gold for beginners

    How to start composting: Black gold for beginners

    Composting might sound a bit intimidating for beginners who haven’t tried it, but really, it’s like creating your very own eco-friendly magic trick in your backyard or even your kitchen! Compost (black gold) is an organic, nutrient-rich material that turns your yard waste and kitchen scraps into an incredible, nutrient-rich…

  • 11 perfect perennial fruits and vegetables for a thriving, low-maintenance garden

    11 perfect perennial fruits and vegetables for a thriving, low-maintenance garden

    Here’s the thing: if you’re serious about self-reliance or just want to make gardening a little easier for yourself, perennial fruits and vegetables are your heroes.  When I first started gardening, I did what most newbies do — I planted a bunch of annuals. Tomatoes, lettuce, zucchini, and all the…

  • 11 budget-friendly homesteading secrets to start saving money today

    11 budget-friendly homesteading secrets to start saving money today

    So, you’ve been thinking about dipping your toes in the homesteading pond for a while now. You see others do it. And it seems like it should be so easy. But every time you get close to taking that first step, the costs start to overwhelm you, and you end…

  • The complete beginner’s guide to raising chickens

    The complete beginner’s guide to raising chickens

    Raising chickens is a really fun experience, especially for first-time poultry keepers. Your tiny fluff balls will grow so quickly, and with the right care, they’ll become healthy, productive, egg-laying yard dinosaurs. If you’re a first-time chicken parent, this practical and easy-to-follow beginner’s guide will walk you through everything you…

  • Stop murdering your seedlings: Successful gardening tips for beginners

    Stop murdering your seedlings: Successful gardening tips for beginners

    Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a total beginner, there’s nothing quite like growing your own plants from seed, and there are a lot of tips and tricks that can take you from seed-starting misery to harvest satisfaction. Seed starting lets you choose from a wider variety of plants, enjoy…

  • Everything you need to know to start raising ducklings now

    Everything you need to know to start raising ducklings now

    If you can handle a mess, raising ducklings is the absolute best whether you’re doing it for fresh eggs, meat, pest control, or family pets. Ducklings are hardy (hardier than chickens!), sociable, and relatively easy to care for. They do have specific needs that differ from other poultry, but it’s…

  • How to start homesteading for beginners: 8 practical steps for success

    How to start homesteading for beginners: 8 practical steps for success

    So, you’ve caught the homesteading bug! Was it an inspiring article, a video, or just the urge to live a more self-reliant, back-to-basics lifestyle? Deciding to start homesteading at any level is exhilarating. But it can also feel overwhelming. Where do you even begin?  The reality is that you can…

  • Stop waiting! Here’s how to start a garden right now

    Stop waiting! Here’s how to start a garden right now

    In today’s world, where convenience tends to trump everything else, there’s a kind of decadence in reconnecting with the world. Whether you’re drawn to the idea of harvesting vine-ripened tomatoes from your backyard or snipping fresh herbs for tonight’s dinner, deciding to start a garden promises not just delicious rewards…

  • Raising rabbits: The secret sauce for better self-sufficiency

    Raising rabbits: The secret sauce for better self-sufficiency

    I started raising rabbits this year, and I’m in love. I really didn’t realize how much they have to offer. Raising rabbits is a fantastic decision, whether you’re doing it for an endless supply of plant food, sustainable meat production, fiber, or to support a hobby or income source. I…

  • How to make a homemade ranch dressing that stops traffic

    How to make a homemade ranch dressing that stops traffic

    What could possibly be better than a sunny and warm early summer afternoon filled with family, chilled wine, and cool and creamy homemade ranch dressing with a rainbow of crunchy raw vegetables?  With family unexpectedly in town for a few days, we get to focus on the important stuff, like breathing, relaxing, and simply…