Using sound judgment to be more self-reliant.
Rain barrels are a great water conservation option, but there are a few things you need to know to avoid a mess and get the most out of your storage. We’ll share how to make a rain barrel (or get one cheap or decorative), plus installation and maintenance tips for rain water collection.
Beekeeping for Beginners by Amber Bradshaw shares tips and ideas to help you create a backyard bee haven. From beehive selection to honey harvest, and everything in between, Amber walks you through step by step. You’ll have all the information you need to decide if beekeeping is right for you.
Maple syrup is a delicious, healthy alternative to refined sugar, and is enjoyed on the table as well as in many recipes. It’s simple to make maple syrup in the backyard, though once bitten by the sugaring bug, many go on to expand their operations!
Note: If you’re here from the “50 Things You Should Make Instead of Buy” article, we do have a quick and easy homemade maple syrup substitute at the bottom of the page.
…These instructions will help you make your own burn barrel for a country property or for emergency trash disposal. There are also a couple of commercial burn barrel options you can buy at the end of the post. You don’t need to “build a burn barrel” so much as assemble the right parts correctly to minimize smoke and ash. Love them or hate them, burn barrels are a part of country living. With the cost of dropping trash at local dumps going up, more and more people are returning to using burn barrels. People sometimes complain about the smoke and the smell of a burning barrel of trash, but if you burn correctly, smoke and odor should be minimal.
One of my favorite things about fall and winter is the availability of fresh citrus. The lower temperatures also mean cold and flu season, not to mention another season that is my favorite – the holiday season! I use citrus to do many things – quench my thirst, treat my colds and inspire my gifts. I let no part of the citrus fruit go to waste.
In this post, I’ll share some affordable and easy to make homemade citrus gifts that are sure to please. (You can also check out a delicious citrus cider blend in the spiced apple cider recipe roundup.) These gifts are simple enough to make that the kids can lend a hand, making them great for family project times.
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