This post contains affiliate links. Full disclosure can be found here. A homestead pantry is one filled with homemade and homegrown ingredients,…

It’s 2024 and everyone loves the idea of homesteading. And what’s more natural than a beautiful homesteading design that incorporates houseplants that can benefit your home year-round! Houseplants offer much more than aesthetically pleasing greenery. They are essential elements in homesteading designs, providing a host of benefits that enhance your off-grid lifestyle. From improving indoor … Create a Off-Grid Oasis in 2024: Houseplants as Essential Elements in Homesteading Designs Read More »

If you want to fit more animals, gardens, and growing spaces on your homestead, this 1 acre homestead layout will help you optimize your acreage and yield.

It’s 2024 and everyone loves the idea of homesteading. And what’s more natural than a beautiful homesteading design that incorporates houseplants that can benefit your home year-round! Houseplants offer much more than aesthetically pleasing greenery. They are essential elements in homesteading designs, providing a host of benefits that enhance your off-grid lifestyle. From improving indoor … Create a Off-Grid Oasis in 2024: Houseplants as Essential Elements in Homesteading Designs Read More »

Potager Garden Definition : (pronunciation: puh ta zhay) a garden that combines both edible and ornamental plants; a vegetable garden th...

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In order to be successful as a homesteader, you need to realize that homesteading requires hard work and dedication.

This 2.5 acre homestead layout will give you the head start you need to begin farming your land and reaping the benefits of homegrown foods.

LA DOLCE VITA LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

When I set the goal to eat only the veggies from my garden for a whole year, I had one big problem. I had no idea how many plants we needed to grow for a years worth of food! Since I grow for six people in a 3500 square foot garden with some space allocated for fruits, my amounts needed to be precise.

Wanting to farm your backyard? This 0.1 acre homestead layout can help you design a small homestead that's functional, productive, and self-sufficient.

August has settled in like honey— sticky and sweet. The mornings greet us with dewdrops and cooler temperatures. But the sun, rich and golden, will still warm the days. The air is thick with change. Summer is fading into something more earnest. A squirrel on our front porch is eating a peach from ou

This 5 acre homestead layout will help you enjoy your property to the fullest by maximizing your space to grow your own food and raise small farm animals.

A recent refurb at Tswalu Kalahari – the biggest privately owned reserve in South Africa – has given the Tarkuni Homestead a makeover that both looks to the future and honours tradition. And then there’s the breathtaking restaurant Klein Jan...

Can you really homestead on 1 acre of land or less? Yes! Here's how to make the most of your small homestead by choosing the best livestock and plants!

Considering life as a homesteader? Check out these 10 types of people who may struggle with homesteading or have issues dealing with the homesteading life.

source. + fadedforest.

Don't have a traditional homestead yet, but you're still wanting to feel like a homesteader?! Check out this list of 27 homesteading skills you can practice up on before you have an ACTUAL homestead. Please note: This post may contain affiliate links, for our full disclosure click HERE. Are you interested in jumping into homesteading, even

Building a Homestead Root Cellar by Brian Thomas and Teri Page. A step by step how-to guide to building your own concrete block walk-out root cellar.

There can be a lot of information out there when learning how to start a homestead. But don’t feel overwhelmed! Taking it one step at a time and making small changes can help you adjust your lifestyle the easiest way. Only some people can jump into a self-sufficient homesteading lifestyle both feet in. Learn as...Read More

Turn your grass clippings into a valuable resource. Find out how to use grass clippings effectively on your homestead and reduce waste.

Have a look at our fabulous collection of DIY ideas to plan your own vegetable garden, to help create one that is attractive and edible.

Self-reliant living starts with re-skilling, and unless you have a mentor handy, there's no better way than hitting the books. These are my favorite books for self reliant living, and they're taught me more than

Green-thumbed friends gather among vegetable beds for a laid-back meal in a Phippsburg potting shed.

Are you not sure if you can make homesteading work with the amount of land you have? Here are 28 farm layout design ideas to inspire you.

Discover 15 tips to design a moody farmhouse kitchen with rustic charm. From earthy tones to vintage accents, create a cozy haven full of character.

You don’t need to move to the country to be a homesteader. You can do it anywhere. Here are the pros and cons of urban homesteading...

A resourceful couple with a "more is more" philosophy and a talent for thrift carves a hardscrabble lot into a series of exuberantly romantic gardens

My Shed Plans is the most popular Shed Plan collection around. It offers over 12,000 different shed plans and woodworking projects to…

Ready to transform your kitchen into a cozy haven? Click here to explore 40 rustic farmhouse kitchen ideas!

12:13 pm - 48 degrees - light rain and fog... You stroll out in to the garden, picking ripe fruits and vegetables, knowing that come February you’ll still be enjoying their freshness. For those of us attracted to the romantic aspects of self-sufficient life, this is an appealing scenario and one that we’re seriously looking into. After searching the internet and Pinterest – this is what I found out... {photo source: pinterest.com} Root cellars, the ancient technology that enables the long-term storage of your garden’s bounty, are currently experiencing a rediscovery, but not merely because of the pleasures of eating self-grown food, but also because of the actual possibility of reducing expenses and providing for significant food storage in times of potential trouble. Here is a little history on root cellars... Native Australians were the first people to take advantage of the cooling and insulative properties of buried foodstuffs in the earth. Records indicate that over 40,000 years ago they grew large amounts of yams and developed the technique of burying their produce in order to preserve it for future use. In the process, they also discovered the phenomenon of fermentation, and ever since, alcoholic beverages have been a large portion of those products stored in underground repositories. Underground storage facilities from the Iron Age have been discovered, and the Etruscans commonly buries their immature wine, but the actual use of walk-in root cellars as a means to prolong the freshness of fruit and vegetable crops was probably an invention that occurred in 17th century England. It might seem surprising that the great civilizations of China and Egypt did not develop root cellars, but the Chinese were the masters of food preservation via salting, pickling and the additions of spices; the Egyptians, residents of an arid environment, were the masters at drying food. It took the right combination of cool winters and hungry Englishmen to finally invent the concept of root cellars. Early American root cellar. {photo source: pinterest.com} Certainly the most notable practitioners of root cellar arts were the early colonists that arrived in North America from the United Kingdom. The eastern halves of America and Canada contain thousands of old root cellars, and the small Newfoundland town of Elliston actually claims the title of “Root Cellar Capital of the World,” and boasts of over 135 root cellars, some dating back 200 years. What exactly is a root cellar? A root cellar is a structure built underground or partially underground and used to store vegetables, fruits, and nuts or other foods. The basis of all root cellars is their ability to keep food cool. They were, essentially, the first refrigerators. A well-insulated root cellar can keep the food inside 40 degrees cooler than the summertime temperatures outside. This coolness also has benefits during the winter, as maintaining food at a temperature just slightly above freezing has the effect of slowing deterioration and rot. Temperatures inside the home, even in basements, are noticeably warmer, so food stored inside the house have a tendency to spoil much more rapidly than food stored in a cooler root cellar. Temperatures above 45 degrees F cause toughness in most stored vegetables, and encourage undesirable sprouting and considerably more rapid spoilage. The temperature in a root cellar is never uniform. The temperature near the ceiling is usually 10 degrees warmer than elsewhere in the cellar, so the ceiling area is therefore appropriate for placement of produce that tolerates warmer temperatures well, such as onions, garlic, and shallots. What can you plan on storing in your root cellar once you build it? Certainly, many of us probably have visions of root cellars in the 19th century, packed with bushels of apples and sacks full of potatoes. Today’s root cellars are really not much different, and potatoes and apples are two eminently storable garden products. But the problem with that pair is that they don’t really go well together. Apples have a tendency to emit ethylene gas, which causes problems for potatoes stored nearby, and will also make any exposed carrots or other root crops bitter. As a matter of fact, many fruits, including plums, pears, and peaches, and some vegetables, such as tomatoes, cabbage and Chinese cabbage, are also notorious ethylene producers. Luckily, there are ways around this problem. A good root cellar has a variety of shelves, some higher than others, and some closer to the air vents. Placing the ethylene producers up high and nearer the exit vents has a tendency to move harmful gases away from produce stored on the floor below. Many root crops are also regularly stored in boxes of loose soil or sawdust, further insulating them from their neighbors’ emissions. Some produce, like cabbages and onions, often emit odors that can taint the flavors of other vegetables, as well as fruits, so finding high, remote corners for these pungent items is a good idea too. One of the key control features of a root cellar is the set of air vents that allow air to enter and exit the cellar. These vents not only allow a greater amount of temperature adjustment than available to a static space, but the air circulation can also be a valuable tool to deal with the ethylene gases and odors produced by a mixed assortment of fruits and vegetables. Inside the cellar, the arrangement of shelves should allow for generous distances between them. The shelves should also be kept a few inches away from the walls to encourage greater air circulation. Materials placed on the floor should be raised a few inches by small blocks or racks. The down side to root cellars at the pests. Rodents are the single most common pest problem for food stored in root cellars. Installing metal wire mesh in common entry points, such as open vents, is a good idea, as is a frequent trapping program. The next most vexing problem for stored food is plain old rot. The saying that “one rotten apple with spoil the lot” is quite true in this situation, so care should be taken to remove any spoiling produce or other foodstuff. In general though, the lower temperatures will combat the mold and bacteria problems that are common in warm, wet conditions. {photo source: pinterest.com} {photo source: pinterest.com} {photo source: pinterest.com} Food You Can Store In Your Root Cellar APPLES – store at 32 degrees – 90-95 percent humidity – shelf life: 2-7 months depending on variety BEANS (dried) - store between 50-60 degrees – 60-70 percent humidity – shelf life: 1 year BEETS - store at 32 degrees – 90-95 percent humidity – shelf life: 3-5 months BROCCOLI - store at 32 degrees – 90-95 percent humidity – shelf life: 1-2 weeks BRUSSEL SPROUTS - store at 32 degrees – 90-95 percent humidity – shelf life: 3-5 weeks CABBAGE - store at 32 degrees – 90-95 percent humidity – shelf life: 3-4 months CARROTS - store at 32 degrees – 90-95 percent humidity – shelf life: 4-6 months GARLIC - store between 50-60 degrees – 60-70 percent humidity – shelf life: 5-8 months JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES - store at 32 degrees – 90-95 percent humidity – shelf life: 1-2 months LEEKS - store at 32 degrees – 90-95 percent humidity – shelf life: 3-4 months ONIONS - store between 50-60 degrees – 60-70 percent humidity – shelf life: 5-8 months PARSNIPS - store at 32 degrees – 90-95 percent humidity – shelf life: 1-2 months PEARS - store at 30 degrees – 90-95 percent humidity – shelf life: 2-3 months POTATOES - store between 40-45 degrees – 90-95 percent humidity – shelf life: 4-6 months PUMPKINS - store between 50-60 degrees – 60-70 percent humidity – shelf life: 5-6 months RUTABAGAS - store at 32 degrees – 90-95 percent humidity – shelf life: 2-4 months SQUASH - store between 50-60 degrees – 60-70 percent humidity – shelf life: 4-6 months SWEET POTATOES - store between 55-60 degrees – 60-70 percent humidity – shelf life: 4-6 months TOMATILLOS - store between 50-60 degrees – 60-70 percent humidity – shelf life: 1-2 months TOMATOES - store between 50-60 degrees – 60-70 percent humidity – shelf life: 1-2 months for green; 4-6 months for varieties intended for winter storage TURNIPS - store at 32 degrees – 90-95 percent humidity – shelf life: 4-6 months

This guide lists out the best animals for 1 acre homesteads, how much room they need to thrive, where to locate their housing & the benefits to consider before deciding to add them to your homestead.

After fire destroys their 100-year-old farmhouse, a Michigan couple rebuilds by blending classic charm with modern design.

This rustic Steamboat Springs retreat appears as if it’s been nestled in the valley overlooking Lake Catamount since the late 1800s.

An Atlanta couple and their son team up to build a multifaceted garden that's rooted to the house.

Tiered planters are beautiful and easy to do! You can DIY or buy one. Take a look at these amazing planter ideas and choose your favorite!

My end goal in life is to live off grid. I don't know if I will ever accomplish that, but I can dream. I know what it takes from my experience of living in a

If you are an avid gardener or wish to have a potting shed for putting around, why not add one to your garden for a charming environment.

We've all seen them. Those huge listicles with ideas for making money on your homestead. A laundry list of things that could potentially bring in income, but mostly just a few dollars here or there.