Fresh eggs are a staple in almost every kitchen, but if your chickens are laying faster than you can use them—or you found an incredible sale at the grocery store—you might be wondering how to preserve them before they go bad. My chickens typically go through spurts when they lay more, and since my kids…
Blueberry jam SCREAMS summertime. I have yet to plant blueberry bushes in our garden, so each summer, we head to local farms and pick fresh blueberries to turn into delicious jam for our pantry shelves. Canning blueberry jam is simple, taking less than an hour and requiring only 4 ingredients. I’m personally a fan of…
If you’ve ever walked out to your garden and suddenly found yourself with more cucumbers than you know what to do with, you’re not alone. One day, you have just enough for a salad, and the next, you’re carrying in an overflowing basket, wondering how you’ll use them all before they turn soft. Honestly, it’s…
Have you ever tried a gooseberry? Until recently, I had never tried one, but when I went to pick at a local orchard, I had to give some a try. My sister mentioned she tried gooseberry jam once, so I set out to try it. It turns out that gooseberry jam is quite a treat!…
Raspberry season is upon us in Ohio, which happens in June and July. I typically buy quarts for fresh eating, but this year, I grabbed extra to make a large batch of raspberry jam. I’m so glad I did! Homemade raspberry jam may be my favorite jam I have made yet, and that’s saying a…
In a world of convenience and fast living, many traditional homemaking skills have quietly faded into the background. But here’s the truth: those “old-fashioned” ways weren’t just about nostalgia—they were practical, cost-saving, and deeply fulfilling. I see so many people online, saying things like “maybe grandma was right about this way of life.” I’ve found…
If you’ve ever pulled stiff towels or crunchy jeans off the clothesline, you know the struggle. I love line drying for the savings, the fresh air scent, and the simplicity—but I don’t love the rough, scratchy feeling it can leave behind. Over the years, I’ve figured out how to keep clothes soft when line drying…
If you’ve been wanting to learn how to can but feel overwhelmed by all the rules, you’re not alone. Canning can seem intimidating at first—but it doesn’t have to be. I felt the same before I got started. I had visions of giving my family food poisoning, or worse – botulism. However, with time and…
If you’ve ever walked out to your garden expecting tender greens and instead found tall, bitter plants shooting up flower stalks, you’ve experienced bolting. It’s one of the most frustrating parts of growing cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach, and many herbs—especially when it happens sooner than expected. I recently walked in my garden to find…
If you had told me a few years ago that I could actually lower my grocery bill without clipping coupons for hours or giving up the foods my family loves, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. But the truth is, it’s not the big, overwhelming changes that make the biggest difference—it’s the small, consistent habits….
