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Tag Archives: self sufficiency
Those people aren’t off grid! How dare they claim that!
Those people aren’t off grid! How dare they claim that! The following was written by two off grid people, Ron and Johanna Melchiore, sent to you via satellite for distribution on social media. A couple of weeks ago, our publisher … Continue reading
Posted in Off Grid Living
Tagged homesteading, off grid, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance
6 Comments
Our Solar Greenhouse Construction
We’ve mentioned our solar greenhouse many times over the years both in Saskatchewan and now here in Nova Scotia. Our greenhouse is an indispensable necessity for us and an invaluable resource for maintaining our self-reliant lifestyle. It not only allows … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening
Tagged Gardening, homesteading, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance
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12 Steps to Becoming More Self-Reliant
If you’ve been wanting to become self-reliant but are unsure how to proceed, consider these 12 steps to becoming more self-reliant to get you started. If you’re already on your path to self-reliance, there may be some items in this … Continue reading
Posted in Homesteading/Prepping
Tagged homesteading, off grid, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance
2 Comments
Six Herbs for Homegrown Herbal Teas
If, like us, your goal is to be as self-sufficient as possible, we can recommend you raise these 6 herbs for homegrown herbal teas. We’ve grown these 6 herbs for years and never tire of drinking them. They are as … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening
Tagged Gardening, homesteading, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance
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Basic Knitting Equipment for the Self-Reliant Homesteader
As we’ve eluded to in previous posts, winter on the homestead is the perfect time to engage in pursuits there’s no time to do during the busy summer months. Knitting is a pleasurable hobby but for the self-reliant homesteader it’s … Continue reading
Winter Activities on Our Homestead
We had a recent inquiry about our woodlot work as well as our winter activities on our homestead so here it goes. With gardens put to bed, preserved bounty socked away in the root cellar, pantry and freezers, life on … Continue reading
Posted in Off Grid Living
Tagged homesteading, off grid, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance, Woodlot
2 Comments
2023 Resolution – 100% Self-Reliant Vegetable Production
Is raising 100% of your own vegetables possible? Absolutely. We’ve done so for decades. Why not make 100% self-reliant vegetable production your 2023 resolution. We raise 100% of our vegetables which means we don’t rely on the grocery store for … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening
Tagged Gardening, homesteading, off grid, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance
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The Aging Homesteader
Aging is a fact of life. Even though we’ve been homesteading for over 43 years and we’re in our 60’s, we haven’t slowed down much. But we know the day is coming when we’ll slow down to the point it … Continue reading
Posted in Homesteading/Prepping
Tagged Gardening, Homestead Building, homesteading, self sufficiency, self-reliance
5 Comments
Green Manures for Increased Garden Fertility
Green manures, sometimes referred to as cover crops, are crops that are grown with the intention of tilling or plowing them back into the soil for increased garden fertility. They include legumes such as clover, alfalfa, beans, peas and vetch … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening
Tagged Gardening, homesteading, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance
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Grow More Perennials and Save Labor
Whether you’re a backyard gardener, a homesteader or someone contemplating joining the ranks of those desiring to be more self-sufficient, we’re all busy and are looking for ways to save time and effort. Raising perennials is the answer. Why not … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening
Tagged Gardening, homesteading, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance
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Compost is the Lifeblood of any Organic Garden
Compost is the lifeblood of any organic garden since it not only enriches the soil, but also improves soil structure. Both clay soil or sandy soil can be transformed into a productive loam through the addition of compost. What is … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening
Tagged Gardening, homesteading, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance
2 Comments
Woodlot Thinning
For 42 years, I’ve actively managed and worked in the woods. The forest has been a source of firewood, income, recreation and exercise. Johanna and I cannot imagine living anywhere else other than surrounded by forest. I cannot look at … Continue reading
Posted in Homesteading/Prepping
Tagged homesteading, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance, Woodlot
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Wood Cookstoves – Tips and Tricks
Given a wood cookstove is the only appliance we’ve ever had in our off-grid kitchen for the last 42 years, we’ve learned lots of tips and tricks that a novice may find useful beginning with the selection of a stove, … Continue reading
Posted in Homestead Cooking
Tagged Homestead Building, homesteading, Off Grid Cooking, self sufficiency, self-reliance
2 Comments
A Homestead Staple – Potatoes
Potatoes are a staple vegetable for us. We grow several hundred pounds each year for just the two of us. Let’s explore how we grow and harvest a homestead staple – potatoes. Here’s a video we did on potato planting. … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening
Tagged Gardening, homesteading, Off Grid Cooking, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance
2 Comments
Using Our Cast Iron Waffle Maker
In a previous post we extol the virtues of cast iron for any homestead kitchen. Cast Iron Cookware for the Homestead Kitchen. Below is a video of me using our cast Iron waffle maker to make homemade buttermilk waffles. See … Continue reading
Posted in Homestead Cooking
Tagged homesteading, Off Grid Cooking, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance
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Cast Iron Cookware for the Homestead Kitchen
Having lived off-grid for over 40 years, I’ve always used a wood cookstove for all my cooking, baking and canning and have found that cast iron cookware for the homestead kitchen can’t be beat.
Posted in Homestead Cooking
Tagged homesteading, Off Grid Cooking, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance
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The Fall Garden – A Key Component to Vegetable Self-Sufficiency
The fall garden is one that is still producing after the first fall frosts and is a sign of a dedicated, committed and skilled gardener. While keeping a garden productive well into fall is a key component to vegetable self-sufficiency, … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening
Tagged Gardening, homesteading, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance
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Bountiful Harvests Grown on Small Plots
Recently, our publisher put up an inspiring post about an urban garden in Detroit on our book’s marketing page. That post garnered over 250,000 likes and loves and wonderful comments from so many people. As you might imagine, it also … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening
Tagged Gardening, homesteading, Off Grid Cooking, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance
2 Comments
Ten Non-electric Small Appliances for the Off-Grid Homestead Kitchen
For the off-grid homestead kitchen with limited power options, there are non-electric versions of various small appliances available to make kitchen duties easier. If, like us, you are solar powered with ample power, the following non-electric utensils are still invaluable. … Continue reading
Posted in Homestead Cooking
Tagged homesteading, Off Grid Cooking, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance
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Home Grown Rhubarb Juice for More Self-Reliance
While home grown orange juice is out of the question for us self-reliant homesteaders in most of North America, home grown rhubarb juice isn’t. In our book, The Self-Sufficient Backyard: For the Independent Homesteader, we write about rhubarb and rhubarb … Continue reading
Posted in Homestead Cooking
Tagged Gardening, homesteading, Off Grid Cooking, self sufficiency, self-reliance
6 Comments
