Off The Grid News Better Ideas For Off The Grid Living

The soil in my high-plains garden is nothing like the rich, chocolate cake loam I grew up with in southern Idaho. No, I’ve got two extremes—sandy and dry, and heavy clay. So now I’m constantly on the lookout for free ...

When I first started canning years ago, I had just a few basic supplies: a water-bath canner, a jar lifter, a funnel, and some jars. In general, I prefer simplicity, and I don’t have room to store a lot of ...

One of the best parts of any garden is the delight that comes from growing fresh herbs. While many types of herbs can be easily grown through the winter months, either in moderate outdoor climates or indoors on a sunny ...

Something that even the most seasoned gardeners often give little thought to is the quality of the soil they plan on growing their fruits, vegetables, and herbs in. The truth is that your soil is the heart and soul of ...

Warm weather often means jam-making time at my house. Raspberry jam is my particular favorite, but I make a big stock of strawberry for my husband too. Jams and conserves are among the simplest canning projects to undertake. All you ...

Gardener’s back may not be an official medical condition, but if you’ve ever felt twinges, aches, and muscle pains after an afternoon of tending to your plants, you know it’s no joke. What starts off as mild soreness can easily ...

Long before pressure canners or water-bath-canners existed, people preserved food by drying it. In fact, anthropologists have found dried corn and squash dating more than 6,000 years ago in ancient caves and dwellings. Home-canned foods do have a certain charm. ...

A bountiful harvest is a good thing… right up until you have too much of a good thing going on. Strong tomato plants will deliver just that – all the juicy, succulent tomatoes you can handle, plus all you can ...

On the altar of my church lies a tatted coverlet adorned with hundreds of small, intricate knots and rings. I’m always fascinated with this coverlet, and I’ll confess to having heard less than all of a sermon on more than ...

Gardening is one of the most satisfying activities you can find. Whether you garden as a hobby or a way of life, the process and the results are both immensely satisfying. Fresh air and exercise are guaranteed, while either beautiful ...