During the summer Mustang grapes grow all over our area. Mustang grapes are similar to muscadine grapes. We use these tart grapes to make grape jelly and juice, of course, but we also use them to make grape jam. Grape jam is usually made with whole grapes that have been seeded but I prefer to […]
Safely Canning Soup at Home for Preparedness and Convenience
When you make home canned soups you end up with a meal in a jar instead of ingredients to make a meal. Canning soup at home helps you be better prepared for emergencies and for busy weeknight dinners. A friend recently told me that someone told her, “You can only can soups at home using […]
Home Canned Sausage, Potato and Kale Soup Recipe
This sausage, potato and kale soup is an adaptation of Olive Garden’s “Zuppa Toscana” soup. I love making soups but when I can adapt them for canning it’s even better. Keeping hearty, home canned soups on hand as saved more weeknight meals than I’d like to admit. The Ultimate Guide to Preserving Vegetables has step […]
Probiotic Rich Fermented Dill Pickles – whole, spears, and slices
Traditionally fermented pickles are easy to make and full of probiotic goodness for your gut. Every summer we make jar after jar of these naturally pickled cucumbers to preserve for the year. When I tell people we prefer fermented dill pickles instead of canned dill pickles, they usually get a confused look on their face. […]
Quick Start Guide to Growing Food
It is possible to grow enough food to feed your family even if you live on a small piece of property. Maybe not 100% of your fruit and vegetable needs but, honestly, I don’t know anyone who grows 100% of their food. This is a really long article, so you might want to grab a […]
What to do with mulberries? 10 Easy Mulberry Recipes
Mulberries grow in many climates and are often considered a nuisance. Put these tasty berries to use and treat your family to sometime they can get at the grocery store by harvesting them and making some of these mulberry recipes. What are Mulberries? Mulberries are small, usually dark but sometimes white, berries that grow on […]
Easy Homemade Cake Recipes That Even a Child Can Make
Homemade cakes are easy to make and they’re all make pretty much the same way. You need some kind of flour, sweetener, fat, liquid, leavening agent, and maybe an egg or two – that’s it. Here is a list of super easy homemade cake recipes that use staples from your pantry. Some of these recipes […]
What is a salve? And how to easily make one!
Salves are probably the easiest herbal skin care product to make at home. They’re fantastic for healing and soothing all kinds of skin conditions. If you’re new to this diy lifestyle you may find yourself asking, “Yeah, but what IS a salve?” What is a salve? A salve is basically an ointment that is applied […]
What you need to know about mulch for the vegetable garden
Using mulch in the vegetable garden isn’t just about having a prettier garden. Mulch can help control weeds, build the soil, reduce watering, and much more. So, exactly what is mulch? What is mulch? There are various definitions of mulch but basically it’s anything that you put on the soil around a plant – usually […]
Growing Loofah (luffa): eco-friendly sponge from the vegetable garden
I was an adult before I found out that the loofah “sponge” I buy in the bath section at the store is actually not a sponge. It is, in fact, a plant. When I learned that, I knew I needed to start growing loofah to provide bath scrubbies and sponges for cleaning. Loofah, also spelled […]