How to Make Sourdough Starter

 Before yeast was commercially available, people made sourdough bread by capturing wild yeasts from the air in a process called fermentation. Fermentation is gaining a lot of attention lately because of all the health benefits including making food more easily digestible, the presence of good bacteria (think yogurt), etc.

FUN FACT: Alaskan Prospectors used to carry sourdough starter with them because they didn’t know when they would be able to buy supplies.

Click here to read the article

DIY Old Shirt Mat

Home Made Moist Chocolate Cake

 

This cocoa-based cake is deeply chocolaty and incredibly moist. It surprises me every single time with how good it is for something so easy. It is a great emergency cake to have in your repertoire for forgotten birthdays, last-minute visitors, or urgent Friday night chocolate cravings. Click the link below to see how to make this great looking cake.

Home Made Moist Chocolate Cake

12 Questions to Ask Before You Buy a Homestead Property

 

 

The Prairie Homestead website shares ” 12 Questions to Ask Before You Buy a Homestead Property “.

Ok, raise your hand if you one day dream of moving to the country and acquiring a homestead ?

Yes, there are things you should ask yourself before making the big leap.

This article will get you started towards the right direction.

What questions would you add to the list ?

 

Click here to read the article:

 http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2013/08/12-questions-to-ask-before-you-buy-a-homestead-property.html

BALL AMERICAN HERITAGE COLLECTION VINTAGE JARS

 

I am so excited for these to be released!  I have so many plans....

BALL AMERICAN HERITAGE COLLECTION VINTAGE JARS

Treadle Sewing Machine Advice

More Than A Little Advice & An Extensive Bonus Sewing Rant

You love to sew.
Or perhaps you are looking for a sensible off grid sewing machine and think you’d like to buy a treadle sewing machine but don’t know where to start or what to look for?
Maybe you are worried that all treadle sewing machines are expensive antiques and you can’t afford one?
Or you’re concerned that you’ll have to do without a zigzag stitch or machine made button holes if you use one?
Or maybe you don’t know how to sew but would like to learn?
Well grab a spool of thread and get ready to sew – because I’m about to give you some practical and very basic advice on one of my favorite off-grid topics – treadle sewing machines!
WHAT IS A TREADLE SEWING MACHINE?
A treadle sewing machine is simply a sewing machine that is powered by what you ate for breakfast instead of electricity.

Read more about them here....

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How To Make Your Own Pain Relief Lotion Bars

February 25, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

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Make sure you like Herbs & Oils World on Facebook to be updated every time we find a fantastic tutorial for exciting and innovative ways you can use herbs and essential oils.

Got sore or tired muscles? Then we have the perfect solution for you!
These DIY pain relief solid lotion bars are packed full of ingredients that help to relieve pain such as Arnica oil, menthol crystals and peppermint essential oil. Plus, it also contains wonderful moisturizing ingredients such as coconut oil, Shea butter and beeswax.
Pain Relief + Moisturizer + Smells Amazing = WIN!
Click the link to find out how to make your own pain relief lotion bars

How To Make Your Own Pain Relief Lotion Bars

How to Make Rhubarb Wine Recipe

Country Living In A Cariboo Valley blog share a great way to make Rhubarb Wine.
The article is filled with a lot of great details and pictures along through the whole process.

Click here to read the recipe:

 

http://www.countrylivinginacariboovalley.com/how-to-2/how-to-make-rhubarb-wine/

The Many Health Benefits of Diatomaceous Earth

I Breathe I’m Hungry blog shares how  Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth helps with food intolerances. Diatomaceous Earth has so many benefits for humans and pets alike.

Click here to read the article:

http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/2013/02/foodless-friday-health-benefits-of-diatomaceous-earth.html

Medicinal Moonshine to cure coughs

Ingredients
You will need three things to make this cough syrup. Moonshine, Honey and a lemon.

Get the recipe here....

A Plant Propagation Tip: Make a Mini Greenhouse

 

Click here for more info...

Seed Starting Heat Mat – Make It Yourself Project

Vegetable Gardener shares a step by step picture tutorial how to make a seed starting heat mat frugally.

Click here to see how to create this easy but highly functional project:

 

http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/11658/diy-heat-mat-speeds-seed-starting/

How To Pan for Gold – Step By Step

Instructables website shares how to pan for gold.
I love being out in nature and enjoying all it has to offer … so finding a hobby that puts me out in what I love is a bonus.If you have experience panning for gold, please share and tips you may have.

Click here to read:

http://www.instructables.com/id/How_to_Pan_For_Gold/step1/Equipment-Needed-for-Gold-Paning/

 

Canned Chuck Roast and Carrots ~ Quick and Easy Beef Bourguignon

Before passing along the recipe and the processing instructions I just want to say that if you want to can anything at home,always refer to a canning manual. Canning, especially pressure canning is not something you want to mess around with.

Do not consider the internet or blogs to be a tried and true resource. That being said I am not responsible for mishaps that may occur in your kitchen as a result of canning projects. Nor can I be responsible for lids that don’t seal, an exploding canner, a messy kitchen, spouses or children that refuse to eat the end result.

Click here for more info.....

A Beginners Guide to Home Canning & Food Preserving: Recipes, Jams, Marmalades, Jellies, Chutneys, Relishes Plus More

Free Kindle Book as of Now!

 

A Beginners Guide to Home Canning & Food Preserving: Recipes, Jams, Marmalades, Jellies, Chutneys, Relishes Plus More... (Simple Living) [Kindle Edition]

A Beginners Guide to Home Canning & Food Preserving is for anyone wanting to learn the art of Home Canning. The book cover such topics as:

History of Food Preservation
Definitions of Various Food Preservation Methods
Food Safety and Safety Precautions
Sourcing Tools, Equipment and Food
Altitude Adjustments
Water Bath Canning Details & Pressure Canning Details
Recipes Including Jams, Jellies, Butters, Chutneys, Relishes, Pickles and Meat Fish and Poultry

If you are an old hand at food preserving and canning you may even find a new recipe included in book.

Although the canning process is the most labor intensive procedure, all methods promote a sense of pride, accomplishment, and self-reliance. There’s nothing like opening the pantry or freezer door on a frigid winter’s day, where the snow - already up to the window sills - is coming down so hard you can’t see your mailbox, and finding row upon row of neatly labeled produce and meats and remembering once again that if the world ended outside your door, your family would still eat well.

13 Pioneer Skills You May Need

Besides their obvious uses to yourself and your family, most of these skills can be used to barter with as well.  So while you’re acquiring your preparedness gear, remember to add some skills to your inventory also.

 

 1. Gardening
 2. Saving seed
 3. Blacksmithing
 4. Shooting your dinner
 5. Dressing that game
 6. Cooking over a fire
 7. Making a fire
 8. Riding a horse 
9. Building a home 
10. Making fun with sticks and rocks 
11. Knowing and preparing wild edibles
12. Herbal remedies 
13. Sewing

Go here for more info......

Different Types of Wood Fired Soaking Hot Tubs

Tiny Go Go blog shared a look at a few different wood fired soaking hot tubs including one his friend Doug made. This is an up close look at the project in action.

Click here to read:

 

http://tinygogo.blogspot.com/2009/11/doug-and-erins-wood-fired-hot-tub.html

 

Click here to read Mother Earth News wood fired soaking hot tub project:

 http://www.motherearthnews.com/do-it-yourself/how-to-build-a-hot-tub.aspx#axzz2Leer5aAI

Fantastic Idea on Naming Your Animals So That You Know What Year They Were Born

Lambing season started here on the farm last week (February 14) with a set of twins. One being larger than the other one. As you know when I started raising sheep about 8 years ago now, I wanted an easy way to know what year they were born and how old they were. So I started with the letter "A" all sheep born my first year were given names starting with the letter A. So here we are a few years later a ton of lambs and now I am up to the letter "H".

So meet Hart and Harry

Read more at White Sheep Farm

Different Stages of Ripening for Tomatoes

Tip Nut website shares tips and tricks to ripen tomatoes that are still on the vine and indoors.
Tip nut has tons of great articles, you will enjoy exploring the website for hours.

Click here to read the article:

 

http://tipnut.com/ripen-tomatoes/

Getting Started Vermicomposting – Raising Worms

 

Vermiculture composting (Vermicomposting) is the act of creating rich, organic humus for your garden or lawn by allowing red worms to help in the decomposition process. The resulting castings enrich soil by improving texture, increasing nitrogen, trace minerals, and natural growth hormones from the worms themselves.

Read more here.....