Must-Have Supplies for Self Reliance by Amanda Hartvigsen

          

Must-Have Supplies for Self Reliance.

Guest Post By Amanda Hartvigsen

Freelance Writer

~~~~~~~~~

The goal of every homestead is to be self-reliant. Meaning, the ability to take care of our own needs without depending on anyone else. Even without the acres of land one usually associates with a homestead, this mindset is something we can all learn from and work on!


When Covid-19 hit the USA no one could have prepared us for the mayhem that followed. Going to the store and seeing empty shelves, no meat, no eggs... it was unsettling, to say the least. Like most of you, I'm sure, I went into survival mode. I wanted to make sure I had everything I needed to take care of my little ones!


Unfortunately, I don't think those days of uncertainty are behind us. In fact, I think our fall and winter months could be pretty scary, but I am determined to be even more prepared this time around and I want to help you do the same!


Worst-case scenario... nothing happens and we're all extra self-reliant... WIN

Let's not forget to mention how great it feels to have a bunch of your own canned foods from your garden to use! You do what works best for you! If you don't have a lot of room to store food, adapt the best you can.


Related Reading: Start Pressure Canning Now!

Food Inventory

I can't stress this enough! There is NO point in going to the store and buying a bunch of stuff you don't use or you already have a ton of. It may seem daunting but write it all down! If you're more tech-savvy, make a spreadsheet. Whatever will keep you the most organized, just write it all down.


Make sure to include quantity so that as you are figuring out meals, you know how many of each you have. (ex. I have 20 quarts of spaghetti sauce so I make sure I have enough noodles and then I'll know I can make spaghetti 20 times).

Plan Out Meals

Now that you know the contents of what you have, take some time to sit down and think about what you can make with it all. Try to think of things that you already know how to make (What if the power is out and you can't look up a recipe online)


Some of my most loved dishes are ones that I just threw what I had together with no recipe and my family loved it! You have 3 boxes of pancake mix? Ok! Breakfast for dinner! Don't be afraid to think outside the box!

Complement What You Have

Over the years our parents have given us food storage for Christmas (yay for being an adult) and we have LOVED it! So needless to say... I have a LOT of potato flakes in my storage room! They are in big #10 cans that can last for 30 years! It's great knowing we have those potatoes! I try to cook with them so I know how to use them and because of that, I know that if we need to use up those potatoes...


I'm gonna need to make some extras to make them more palatable like gravy, ingredients for Shepherds Pie, soups, casseroles, etc. If you have an abundance of canned beans that's awesome, just make sure you have other things you can add to them too so you can make something everyone will eat.

Soup

There's not much that can't be eaten if put into a soup. Make sure you have a good soup base! For a couple months I couldn't even buy chicken base or bouillon cubes at the store! Now, I grab some every time I go to keep on hand so I can whip up a quick soup!

Flour and Wheat

Luckily flour is super cheap and so versatile. If you know what to do with it you can go use a lot of flour! We go through so much at our house. I bake a lot, and I know how to use it so for us it's a really good staple to have on hand.


Wheat, however, is another story! Yes, I could buy huge quantities of wheat, but at this point in my life I don't have a wheat grinder (I want to get one and learn though!) so it doesn't really make sense for me to stock up on it. If you do though, GO FOR IT!

Short-term Storage

Short term storage is the foods that you eat every day that don't have a huge shelf life. Building up a supply of those items is just as important ( I'd say much more) than the long term items.


An easy way I have found to build this up is to buy in bulk as much as I can. Utilize Sams Club and Costco. I usually shop once a week for all the meals I have planned for that week.


Let's say I'm making my taco soup recipe, instead of buying the 1 can of olives the recipe calls for, I'll try to buy a case of olives to use in the future. This builds up a supply of what you normally use anyway and helps with the short term storage goals.

Long-term Storage

Long term is those awesome 25-30 year shelf life items. Your #10 canned and freeze-dried foods. There are so many options to choose from here.


As a precaution, I think it’s important to have some of these items because they do last so long, but we don't eat these types of food regularly so I don't purchase much of this type of food.


We do buy a lot from our church's local cannery where we can get #10 cans of rice, pasta, potato flakes, etc., by the case so that we can use them in the long term as well as the short. I personally wouldn't spend a ton of money on long term storage, I focus more on the short because I use it every day.

Water

It is ESSENTIAL to have a storage of water! It is something that everyone will have to approach differently depending on their space/storage situation.


For some, a few cases under the bed may be all you have room for, while others can store big water drums.


Another idea is to install a rain barrel in your yard. The most commonly-found types hold 50 gallons of water. Although you wouldn't be able to use that water for drinking unless you purify it, that water can be used for cleaning and bathing so you could keep your stored water for drinking.




Related Reading: Why You Need a Rain Barrell Now!


One thing that I will say about water is that if a situation occurred where you knew there was a possibility that you may lose your water source (i.e. earthquake, big storms, other natural disasters) fill up your bathtubs! That way you have at least something! We also like to keep purification tablets and Lifestraws in our storage as well.

Pets

Don't forget your pets! If food is scarce you're not going to want to have to feed your dog or cat from your pantry. Make sure to remember them in your preparations also. We try to buy things like hay, oats, other feeds for our animals in bulk too just to make sure everyone/critter is taken care of.

Household Items

As we learned back in March, things like toilet paper, paper towels, sanitizing wipes, will fly off the shelves. Don't forget to stock up on feminine products, medication, and vitamins (kids and adults), laundry detergent, dishwasher tablets, etc. Think about a day in your life and make sure you have well-built storage of all the things you use daily.


My Dad always told me to never let my gas tank go below half full. I use that wisdom when it comes to my toilet paper as well!

I know this list looks like a lot and especially like a lot of $! I know we can't all afford to go spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars. But I will say that if you are smart about it, and buying things that you TRULY use every day, it's money well spent and money saved when you can shop from yourself instead of hitting the store again.

There has never been a more important time than RIGHT NOW to start getting yourself prepared. Once things go bad, it's too late. 

Think of skills you want to learn, how to maximize what you have, and what items you need to purchase, to make sure that you and your families are safe, secure, and self-reliant!

~~~~~~~~~~

Guest Author Spotlight: Amanda Hartvigsen
www.thehartshomestead.com

Amanda lives on her 1-acre farm in a small farming community in Utah. She loves raising her 3 little boys and a variety of animals on their small modern homestead. Amanda is all about finding joy in a simple life and inspiring others to do the same.

~~~~~~~~~~

See Our  Lists of Other Great Articles:

Homesteading Articles
Hosta Articles
Gardening Articles
Growing and Preserving Food Articles

This post may contain Amazon affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases without costing you anything extra.

All About Those Beautiful Blue Hostas!

All About Beautiful Blue Hostas

When it comes to the colors of perennial plants in the garden, blue is by far the rarest and is also one of the many reasons that blue hostas are so popular, and the bigger the better.  But how do blue-leafed hostas develop and keep that beautiful blue tint? 

Fragrant Hostas

All About Fragrant Hostas!

Although the blooms of hosta plants are commonly considered secondary to their beautiful leaves, there is a type of hosta, Hosta Plantaginea, that produces beautiful fragrant blooms that have been described as a strong honeysuckle-like fragrance. They are perfect for planting next to walkways, patios, decks, borders or near a garden bench.

Homestead Giving You Static Clutter by Brandi Goodnight

~~~~~~~~~~

Homestead Giving You Static Clutter?

Guest Post By  Brandi Goodnight

goodnighttobadhabits.com

~~~~~~~~~~

Have you ever felt a connection between the clutter in your house and your anxiety levels? When sitting in your space, you should be able to feel relaxed and safe. However, when your place is cluttered, it can feel overwhelmed, uncomfortable, uneasy, and all-around depressed.

If we consistently live like that, we retreat into our heads. Living like this can heighten our anxiety because we have nowhere else to go. When we relax, we give our minds a break and allow it to shut off. If we can't relax in our house, our minds can't take a break.

Static Clutter

I call this static clutter. I call it that because that was the only way I could describe how my house made me feel. That white noise static you get on your TV when it has no connection? That is what went through my head when I was home. My brain never got a break, my anxiety rose, and I started to shut down.

I struggled to make simple decisions, couldn't focus on the things I enjoyed, and my family suffered. I didn't transform my house overnight. It took me many years to get where I am today. I started with simple moves so I wouldn't get overwhelmed. I worked in one corner, on one table, or even one drawer. Sometimes I got the motivation to do entire rooms.

Listen to your Mind and Body

I tried to listen to my mind and body to tell me when to stop. There were times I didn't listen and got burnt out. I ended up taking a step back during those moments because I would have quit if I hadn't. I'll let you in on a little secret; my house was borderline hoarder status. I was too embarrassed to take pictures of my kids or let anyone visit. The turning point for me was my clothes. I found project 333 from Courtney Carver of Be More with Less. (Project 333)

Project 333

Project 333 is 33 items of clothing for three months. It includes purses, jewelry, shoes, and accessories. When I read about this, I found the motivation to go through my closet. I wanted to see if this was something I could do. I needed something extreme! I donated six trash bags of clothes! (jaw dropped to the floor) I didn't even realize I had that much stuff.

I have since modified it to 44 items for the year because I don't change my wardrobe for the seasons. Years later and I have stuck with it. At this point, I learned my mind craved minimalism. I think that is because I was in that never-ending cycle for so long.

Minimalism might not be what helps you with your static clutter. Just work on little steps to bring yourself to a point where you can breathe. 

Try Amazon Home Services

How to Start Out

Start with a drawer or a corner. Maybe pick a table or a shelf. Go as slow as you need. Through this process, you will learn how or why it got to this point. If you take it too fast, you may find yourself in a never-ending cycle. 

The most important part of this process is to figure out why. Why did it get to this point? Why does it affect me in this way? Figure these out and, you will get to your breathing point in no time.

So where you are in this process? Do you have static clutter? Are you a minimalist? Have you already made it through the process and made it to your breathing point? You can contact me at:   LiveLaughLoveHonestly@gmail.com.

~~~~~~~~~~

Brandi Goodnight, Freelance Writer

 

Guest Author Spotlight
My name is Brandi Goodnight, I am a mother to 3 teens and a wife of 16 years. When I had my oldest I became a SAHM, I went back to work 5 years ago. I have worked and continue to work on improving who I am as a person. I want to share my journey and help others on theirs.!

~~~~~~~~~~

See Our  Lists of Other Great Articles:

Homesteading Articles
Hosta Articles
Gardening Articles
Growing and Preserving Food Articles

This post may contain Amazon affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases without costing you anything extra.

Attracting Birds to your Garden by Brett Lewis

~~~~~~~~~~

Tips On How To Attract Birds To Your Garden

Guest Post By Brett Lewis

Contributor for:  BirdInformer.com

~~~~~~~~~~

Attracting Birds to your garden is a fairly simple task. It takes a considerable amount of work to get started, but the payoff of a garden buzzing with birds is sublime. To make birds regularly visit, this article will show you tips on how to attract birds to your garden.

Entice them with Flowers

Planting flowers, shrubs, and bushes around your garden that produces food are one of the most effective ways of attracting birds. Flowers that produce seeds that birds find delectable are:

Sunflowers - Their bright yellow color and the seeds that they produce are enticing to birds. Even if sunflower seeds are not part of a particular bird's diet, they are still quite attracted to its dazzling color.

Daisies - Similar to sunflowers, their bright yellow center and ability to produce seeds that birds can eat makes this a great choice. An advantage of this flower to the common sunflower is that it is not an annual flower meaning it doesn't bloom once then perishes.

Coneflowers - This type of flower is easy to grow and maintain, which makes it a wonderful option for those who do not have that much time to tend to their garden.

You don't necessarily have to replace all of your flowers to attract birds. Birds are also attracted to bright natural colors, so flowers that make non-edible seeds are also an option; they're just less effective.

Entice them with Shrubs, Bushes and Vines

Shrubs, Bushes, and Vines that produce fleshy fruits not only provide bird's food it also provides them with shelter or a place to perch. Here are some examples of Shrubs, Bushes, and Vines that you can plant in your garden.

Elderberry - Even if their raw berries and other parts are considered toxic, they have little to no effect on birds and other animals. A large number of bird species love elderberries!

Winter Honeysuckle - Usually grown as hedges and used as ornamental plants, their red fruits persist throughout the winter giving your garden visitors during those cold months.

Highbush Blueberry - A variant of the wild blueberry. They are taller and have larger berries compared to their wild cousins that birds widely prefer.

Winterberry - Known more as Holly. The vibrant colors it displays, as well as the fruits they produce, make this very enticing for various species of birds. True to its name, it lasts throughout the winter months.

Use Bird Feeders As An Enticement

Bird Feeders are another option to take if you want to draw in birds. This can be a quick way to attract birds in your garden while your plants grow. Avoid filling your bird feeders with cheap bird feed. Most birds do not eat the filler found in cheap bird feed. The best things to fill your bird feeders with are shelled nuts (peeled), suet or, black-oil sunflower seeds.

Further reading: Choosing the Right Bird Feeder

Provide Plenty Of Water

Placing birdbaths in your garden gives birds a place to drink water and clean themselves. Every bird needs a clean source of water, and adding birdbaths will definitely make them flock to your garden making your bird watching experience all the better.

Further Reading:  Choosing the Best Birdbath

Bird Watching Binoculars

Other Birdbath Tips

• Make your birdbath look as natural as possible. A bird would feel more comfortable if it was drinking somewhere familiar. To make your birdbath look natural, place it near the ground, and getting its water to move is a more alluring sight compared to a static birdbath.

• Some birds steer clear from crowded birdbaths. To circumvent this problem, place multiple birdhouses around your garden. It's good to give your birdbaths considerable distance between each other. Placing a birdbath in a shaded and secluded area makes it so that your garden can attract shy birds like woodpeckers.

• Be sure to regularly maintain your birdbaths for dirty birdbaths that will deter birds from using them.
  
  

Give Birds a Nesting Spot

Leaving your gardens plant debris, twigs, fluff, and dead leaves encourage birds to nest near your garden. Grass trimmings are also a popular building material birds use for their nests. Having grass in your garden is a huge plus to incite nesting.

Birdhouses provide a fast solution for birds who are looking for somewhere to settle or rest. Place your birdhouse between 5 to 20 feet. Take note that different height placements of birdhouses attract different species of birds. Lastly, place your birdhouses near foliage or trees to give additional protection and security against predators.

Further Reading:  Great Gifts for Bird Lovers

Conclusion

Having a nice looking garden is great but complimenting it with beautiful birds can be the difference between great and phenomenal! With a little bit of patience, these tips will definitely help you attract birds into your garden.

~~~~~~~~~~

Guest Author Spotlight

Brett Lewis is the founder and a content contributor for BirdInformer.com. He is an avid bird watcher and has built a bird sanctuary in his backyard following guidelines provided by the National Wildlife Federation. Additionally, Brett loves to travel and when he does, Brett is always looking for unique and interesting birdlife to write about.

~~~~~~~~~~

See Our  Lists of Other Great Articles:

Homesteading Articles
Hosta Articles
Gardening Articles
Growing and Preserving Food Articles

This post may contain Amazon affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases without costing you anything extra.

Grow Crisphead (Iceberg) Lettuce

 

Growing Crisphead Lettuce

The article post you are looking for has been moved to our sister blog, The Homestead Village.  Tap the link above to be redirected.

Growing Leaf Lettuce

 

Growing Loose-Leaf Lettuce

The article post you are looking for has been moved to our sister blog, The Homestead Village.  Tap the link above to be redirected.

Growing Butterhead Lettuce

The article post you are looking for has been moved to our sister blog, The Homestead Village.  Tap the link above to be redirected.

 Battling Slugs in the Garden

 

Besides being darn ugly and slimy, slugs look like snails without the shells. They love to chew on plant leaves, and if they're not battled early, they can ruin the look of your plants for an entire season.

Slug damage can appear as multiple holes chewed through the leaves of the garden plants as shown above. The most damage will be done to plant varieties with thinner leaves that are easier for the slugs to chew, like hostas.

Misconceptions about Hostas

  

Common Misconceptions About Hostas

Hostas continue to be one of the most popular perennial plants for a number of reasons, including the variety of sizes, shapes, and colors that they come in. In addition, their ability to grow in less than perfect gardening conditions is unmatched. 

Hostas of the Year

  

 

Hostas Named Hostas of the Year

Every year since 1996, the American Hosta Growers Association has chosen the winner from an increasing number of hostas.

These hostas are usually the cornerstones of most hosta collector’s gardens making these selections a great choice for beginning collectors as well as avid hosta collectors alike.