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Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

5th-generation homesteader. Helping modern women live from scratch.

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Melissa Norris

chitting seed potatoes on a tray before planting

How to Grow Potatoes (+ Planting Tips)

Read moreHow to Grow Potatoes (+ Planting Tips)
A woman's hand planting a beet seed in the garden.

How to Grow Beets (+ Planting Tips)

Read moreHow to Grow Beets (+ Planting Tips)
Scottish Highland Cow grazing in a field with a woman by a truck throwing out feed.

Day in the Life on the Homestead

Read moreDay in the Life on the Homestead
Purple dead nettle growing in a patch.

Purple Dead Nettle - Foraging, Medicinal, and Cooking Guide

Read morePurple Dead Nettle - Foraging, Medicinal, and Cooking Guide
woman stacking firewood in field to dry

Essential Homestead Skills

Read moreEssential Homestead Skills
Scottish Highland Cow grazing in a field with a woman by a truck throwing out feed.

Scottish Highland Cows: A Unique Cattle Breed

Read moreScottish Highland Cows: A Unique Cattle Breed
A platter of veggies circled around a bowl of homemade buttermilk ranch dressing.

Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Recipe (Easy & Creamy)

Read moreHomemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Recipe (Easy & Creamy)
A woman pruning an elderberry bush with loppers.

How to Prune Elderberry Bushes for Maximum Growth

Read moreHow to Prune Elderberry Bushes for Maximum Growth
jars of canned chicken on a towel on kitchen counter

How to Can Chicken (SAFE & Easy Raw Pack Method)

Read moreHow to Can Chicken (SAFE & Easy Raw Pack Method)
A woman's hands opening a freshly cooked bao bun.

EASIEST Homemade Bao Bun Recipe

Read moreEASIEST Homemade Bao Bun Recipe
Mozzarella cheese and whey separating out.

How to Make Whey in Four Easy Steps

Read moreHow to Make Whey in Four Easy Steps
A woman cutting an elderberry cutting from an elderberry tree.

Growing Elderberry from Cuttings

Read moreGrowing Elderberry from Cuttings
Jar of fermented lemons on a counter with a bag of citrus and sliced lemons on a plate

How to Store Lemons (For a Year!) - Fermented Lemons

Read moreHow to Store Lemons (For a Year!) - Fermented Lemons
A cow eating Brussel sprout stems.

Signs To Watch For With An Expecting Cow

Read moreSigns To Watch For With An Expecting Cow
two week old seedlings in egg cartons ready to be transplanted

Gardening in February (Garden Tasks by Month)

Read moreGardening in February (Garden Tasks by Month)
A colander with Brussel sprouts and carrots harvested from the garden.

Gardening in January (Garden Tasks by Month)

Read moreGardening in January (Garden Tasks by Month)
home canned jars of tomato sauce on counter with ripe tomatoes

Proper Canning Headspace (Is it Important?)

Read moreProper Canning Headspace (Is it Important?)
A close up shot of an evergreen bouquet.

Easy Winter Bouquet (DIY Holiday Bouquet)

Read moreEasy Winter Bouquet (DIY Holiday Bouquet)
Chocolate gravy being spooned over a flaky buttermilk biscuit.

Chocolate Gravy Recipe | 1930s Southern Favorite

Read moreChocolate Gravy Recipe | 1930s Southern Favorite
Tomato sauce being poured into a large pot on the stove.

Weston Tomato Press (+ Tomato Sauce Recipe)

Read moreWeston Tomato Press (+ Tomato Sauce Recipe)
Green tomatoes in a basket.

Storing Green Tomatoes for Fresh Eating

Read moreStoring Green Tomatoes for Fresh Eating
A garden in winter with much of it dead, and a mountain with snow top peaks in the background.

Gardening in November (Garden Tasks by Month)

Read moreGardening in November (Garden Tasks by Month)
Pantry shelves lined with home canned food.

What you don't know about the USDA & Canning Safety Rules

Read moreWhat you don't know about the USDA & Canning Safety Rules
Two jars of bone broth and a spoonful of gelatinous broth.

Does Pressure Canning Ruin Bone Broth

Read moreDoes Pressure Canning Ruin Bone Broth
homecanned green beans in jar on counter

What Causes Canning Lids to Buckle? (+ Proper Tightening)

Read moreWhat Causes Canning Lids to Buckle? (+ Proper Tightening)
Canned pears in a steam canner.

How to Can Pears the EASY Way

Read moreHow to Can Pears the EASY Way
Dirty freshly harvested carrots on the ground.

How to Save Carrot Seeds + Understanding Pollination

Read moreHow to Save Carrot Seeds + Understanding Pollination
Four American Guinea Hogs eating.

5 Tips to Raising Livestock for Food

Read more5 Tips to Raising Livestock for Food
A woman pointing to a squash growing in the garden.

Gardening in October (Garden Tasks by Month)

Read moreGardening in October (Garden Tasks by Month)
A woman pouring vodka into a bottle for homemade vanilla extract.

Homemade Vanilla Extract

Read moreHomemade Vanilla Extract
A woman's hands holding a bean pod hanging on a trelis.

Gardening in September (Garden Tasks by Month)

Read moreGardening in September (Garden Tasks by Month)
Kahm yeast on the surface of a ferment in a mason jar.

Kahm Yeast (What, Why & Does it Ruin a Ferment)

Read moreKahm Yeast (What, Why & Does it Ruin a Ferment)
Celery salt in a half-pint mason jar.

How to Make Celery Salt (Preserve Celery)

Read moreHow to Make Celery Salt (Preserve Celery)
Three jars of jam in a steam canner.

No Sugar Strawberry Jam Recipe

Read moreNo Sugar Strawberry Jam Recipe
Drone footage of a woman pruning apple trees in an orchard.

Gardening in August (Garden Tasks by Month)

Read moreGardening in August (Garden Tasks by Month)
A white bowl of cooked green beans.

How to Cook Leather Britches Green Beans

Read moreHow to Cook Leather Britches Green Beans
Two pressure canners and jars of home canned food sitting on a kitchen counter.

How to Choose the Best Pressure Canner

Read moreHow to Choose the Best Pressure Canner
Cucumber seedlings growing next to a cattle panel trellis.

Gardening in July (Garden Tasks by Month)

Read moreGardening in July (Garden Tasks by Month)
Wooden two-sided compost bin.

How to Compost at Home (7 Easy DIY Ways)

Read moreHow to Compost at Home (7 Easy DIY Ways)
Apricots hanging on a tree with the sun shining through the leaves.

How to Can Apricots- Easy Canned Apricots Recipe

Read moreHow to Can Apricots- Easy Canned Apricots Recipe
Coffee grounds in a woman's hands by the garden.

Coffee Grounds in the Garden (4 Ways to Use Them)

Read moreCoffee Grounds in the Garden (4 Ways to Use Them)
A woman's hand picking raspberries.

How to Plant Raspberries

Read moreHow to Plant Raspberries
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A woman in the kitchen with jars of home canned food.

Howdy, I'm Melissa!

I’m so glad you're here. This is the place for all of us who loved Little House when we were young and thought Laura was our best friend. It's where we grow dinner in the backyard and think everything looks and tastes better when it comes from a Mason jar. Here, you'll find my favorite from-scratch recipes, herbal remedies and tutorials, and all my gardening tips from my 20+ years of growing and raising our own food.

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My Most Popular Posts

Sourdough starter in a jar with a loaf of bread in the background.

How to Make a Sourdough Starter + Tips for Success

Soft Sourdough Sandwich Bread (Beginner Friendly Recipe)

Homemade Pop Tarts From Scratch (Hand Pies)

A cooked whole roast chicken in a cast iron skillet.

Easy Oven Roasted Chicken Recipe (Crispy & Juicy)

A white plate with a helping of strawberry rhubarb dump cake and a fork. Text overlay says, "Strawberry Rhubarb Dump Cake Real Food Style: Homemade Cake Mix & No Jello".

Strawberry Rhubarb Dump Cake without Jello & Homemade Cake Mix

Bacon wrapped asparagus on a white plate.

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus (Easy Appetizer or Side Dish)

A stack of homemade graham crackers on a plate.

Easy Homemade Graham Crackers

Plated by Season: Home‑Cooked. Home‑Grown. On Your Table in 30 Minutes or Less.

75+ seasonal, from‑scratch recipes + a monthly harvest chart. Real meals. Minimal fuss.

Grab Your Copy ($20, Free Shipping)

Spring Preserving Recipes

A jar of pickled asparagus with spears on a plate.

Pickled Asparagus Recipe (Canned, Quick, or Refrigerator)

Three jars of strawberry jam hot out of the canner.

Strawberry Jam Without Pectin (Low Sugar Recipe)

Jar of fermented lemons on a counter with a bag of citrus and sliced lemons on a plate

How to Store Lemons (For a Year!) - Fermented Lemons

A jar of fermented pickles sitting on an outdoor table.

Fermented Pickles Recipe|Easy Old-Fashioned Salt Brine Pickles

A basket full of strawberries.

How to Preserve Strawberries: Keep Those Berries Fresh!

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Melissa K. Norris

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  • About Melissa K. Norris — Modern Homesteading ExpertStart Here
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Articles

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Podcast

Why Your Food Preservation Isn’t Working (And How to Fix It Safely)

Feeding a Family on a Budget

Spring Meal Planning (Without the Overwhelm)

Why Dieting Stops Working After 40 (The Blood Sugar Loop Explained)

Books

  • Everything Worth Preserving
  • The Family Garden Planner
  • Handmade
  • The Made from Scratch Life
  • The Family Garden Plan

Education

  • Organic Gardening Workshop
  • Home Fruit Preservative Canning e-course
  • Home Canning With Confidence
  • Homemade Bread & Baking Class
  • Natural Homemade Bath and Beauty
  • Pioneering Today Academy


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