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Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

Simple Modern Homesteading for a Healthy & Self-Sufficient Life

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You are here: Home / Blog
Dried elderberries in a jar and two small jars of elderberry syrup sitting on a counter.

How to Make Elderberry Syrup + Additional Add-Ins

Read moreHow to Make Elderberry Syrup + Additional Add-Ins
woman in pasture with cattle

Planning your Livestock for a Year’s Worth of Meat per Person

Read morePlanning your Livestock for a Year’s Worth of Meat per Person
A woman's hand putting whole grain into a measuring cup with a Mockmill home grain mill in the background.

13 Healthy Ingredients to Swap Out Now

Read more13 Healthy Ingredients to Swap Out Now
Photo of chai tea concentrate being poured into a cup filled with a chai tea latte.

Chai Tea Concentrate (And Dirty Chai Recipe)

Read moreChai Tea Concentrate (And Dirty Chai Recipe)

Best Flaky Pie Crust Recipe – Without Shortening

Read moreBest Flaky Pie Crust Recipe – Without Shortening
Chocolate caramel cinnamon rolls baked in a cast iron pan sitting on a table.

Old-Fashioned Homemade Chocolate Caramel Cinnamon Rolls

Read moreOld-Fashioned Homemade Chocolate Caramel Cinnamon Rolls
DIY brownie mix in a jar sitting on a counter.

DIY Homemade Brownie Mix in Jar- Best Ever Fudge Brownies

Read moreDIY Homemade Brownie Mix in Jar- Best Ever Fudge Brownies
Cast iron skillet with green bean casserole and a wooden spoon.

Green Bean Casserole – From Scratch

Read moreGreen Bean Casserole – From Scratch

Canned Apple Pie Filling Recipe & Tutorial

Read moreCanned Apple Pie Filling Recipe & Tutorial
fermented asparagus and sauerkraut in mason jars

Ultimate Guide to Fermented Vegetables: What You Need to Know

Read moreUltimate Guide to Fermented Vegetables: What You Need to Know
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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)

two jars of strawberry jam sitting on a tabletop with fresh strawberries around it.

Strawberry Jam Recipe without Pectin and Low Sugar

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

Fermented pickles in large jars.

Quick & Easy Fermented Pickles Recipe

A basket full of strawberries.

How to Preserve Strawberries: Keep Those Berries Fresh!

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Melissa K. Norris

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Articles

  • Gardening
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Podcast

How My Mom Fed Our Family on $100 a Month (And the Simple Habits That Still Work Today)

Spring Meal Planning (Without the Overwhelm)

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

Why Winter Isn’t Actually Slower (and What to Do Instead)

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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