Self-Reliance and Homesteading

I’m in the market for another car. Our family just has one, and it’s a trouble maker. It’s an extended length SUV (there are six of us, so we need lots of room) that gets somewhere around 16mpg. That’s not exactly economical. Since I’ve started working an hour away from home, that’s about 140 miles I put on that truck each day. Read the rest of this entry »

This latest natural disaster — that is still going on right now…oil pouring into the Gulf of Mexico — has really got me thinking about energy usage and alternative forms of energy. Face it people, our government is not going to lift a finger to fix our dependence on oil, even though it’s within their power to get the ball rolling. Read the rest of this entry »

When things are tough for you economically, it’s important to pay attention to your monthly budget. We all have bills to pay — some are must-haves, and some items are things we like to have and want to pay for. Among those things, we have fixed and variable spending items. Read the rest of this entry »

Anyone who has a garden, or a small scale farm, knows that you’re going to have extra food. What do you do with all that extra produce? Yes, you can give it away. There is another alternative, however. I found this great article detailing 11 different things you can do with a bountiful harvest of apples. Check it out. You might like some of these.

How to Use a Bounty of Apples

Organic Farming Vs Conventional Farming
By Richard Murray

Organic Farming is at a Crossroads

Organic, holistic, natural, back to the earth, and homesteading, are all disciplines of agriculture that are growing in popularity each day. People all over the world are extremely concerned about our environment especially as how it relates as to what we put into our bodies and also how it affects our earth and our lives.

Agribusiness and the multinational food producers over the years have done an excellent job of providing substantial amounts of nutritious food for a growing world population, but is this scenario of farming sustainable? Currently there is a tremendous amount of debate between organic farmers and conventional farmers who are looking for common answers to this question. Read the rest of this entry »

A Guide to Energy Conservation at Home
By Lee Maynard

Even though you may be considering adding an alternative energy generating system to your home like solar panels or a wind turbine, you can reduce your energy needs as well by starting a little home energy conservation. There are a few easy steps you can take to reduce your energy use at home without affecting your quality of life for comfort. Read the rest of this entry »

Composting is a great way to get rid of organic waste around the house, while at the same time sprucing up your garden. I found this great how-to article, complete with photos, about how to compost. I hope you enjoy it and learn something from it.

How to Compost

Your Garden Location – Eight Tips on Picking the Best Spot For Your Organic Garden
By Sue Merriam

Choosing the right garden location is one of the most important steps of organic gardening. You will either have pleasure and a bountiful harvest or years of headaches depending on the location. In her book, Organic Food Gardening Beginner’s Manual, Julie Villani says considering a few points now will make your organic gardening easier and fun. Here are eight tips on picking the perfect spot for your organic garden:

Let In The Sunlight

This is especially crucial if you plan to grow vegetables over the winter. You will want a spot that gets at least six hours of sunlight each day. If you live in an area where the temperatures are milder, then you will want a garden that gets its maximum sunlight in the morning. If the summers are hot where you live, look for an area that gets some afternoon shade. Read the rest of this entry »

Before you take the time and energy (and money…) to invest in an alternative energy solution for your home, you need to start conserving electricity with what you have now. By taking the time to pay attention to how much electricity you are using and how you can reduce that, you will be more prepared to implement an alternative energy solution for your home. Read the rest of this entry »

Can Home Made Wind Energy Power Your Entire House?
By Chris Steiner

Home made wind energy is one of the least expensive of all of the renewable energy options for homeowners today. It is also one of the easier ones for a do-it-yourselfer to build and install, making it a very popular choice. But do these systems generate enough energy to power your entire home?

The short answer to this question is yes. But to really answer that question for you and your home, we actually need to answer two other questions. How much energy do you use in your home? And, how much energy can a wind turbine or windmill produce? Read the rest of this entry »