Welcome to your common sense refuge in a crazy world. Hi, I’m Laurie. I believe in straight talk, hard work and a healthy dose of laughter. Being self-reliant isn’t about trying to tackle everything on your own; it’s about making common sense choices to improve your life. You can do it, we can help! Search the Site Search the SiteSearch Gardening Put Your Weeds to Work – 5 Reasons I Want Weeds in My Garden How to Grow Raspberries – Planting, Care and Harvest Working with Nature – Shifting Paradigms – Change the Way You Look at Gardening Learn more about gardening Homesteading 7 Reasons You Need Homestead Bees The Lean Farm – Making More Income with Less Work Our Homestead – Then and Now – How Things Have Changed Get Started with Homesteading Preparedness Living Ready Pocket Manual – First Aid Fundamentals for Survival 5 Lessons from Great Depression Life that Still Make Sense Today What to Get Ready for a Hurricane – Printable Hurricane Prep Checklist Get started with preparedness Using Wild Plants for Food and Medicine Put Your Weeds to Work – 5 Reasons I Want Weeds in My Garden Joe Pye Weed – How to Grow and Use It Queen Anne’s Lace – Butterfly Host Plant and Blueberry Protector Learn more about Wildcrafting Home Remedies Migraine Relief Tips and Treatment from a Long Term Migraine Sufferer Ear Mites in Cats – Easy Treatment, Plus Common Questions Flu Prevention and Treatment – 10 Quick Tips, Old and New Get Started with Home Remedies Recipes Toscana Soup Like Olive Garden Easy Chocolate Truffles Recipe (Just 3 Ingredients) Old Fashioned Church Dinner Chicken – Just Like Mom Used to Make Check out our recipes