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Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

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

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You are here: Home / Blog
Ginger cream cookies on a plate with holiday decor on the table.

15 Cookie Baking Tips for the Best Cookies Every Time

Read more15 Cookie Baking Tips for the Best Cookies Every Time

DIY Canning Ring Wreath

Read moreDIY Canning Ring Wreath

3 Ingredient Homemade Lip Balm Recipe

Read more3 Ingredient Homemade Lip Balm Recipe
A cast iron skillet with fresh made bread rolls.

Grandma's Easy Homemade Dinner Rolls (With Fresh-Milled Flour)

Read moreGrandma's Easy Homemade Dinner Rolls (With Fresh-Milled Flour)

6 Rules for Bartering Success

Read more6 Rules for Bartering Success
Dehydrated tomato slices on a dehydrator tray.

5 Reasons Dehydrated Food is a Preparedness Must & 5 Tips for Dehydrating at Home

Read more5 Reasons Dehydrated Food is a Preparedness Must & 5 Tips for Dehydrating at Home
Picture of an antique violin hanging on a painted barn wood door. Text overlay says, "6 Things to Do for Fun When the Power Goes Out".

6 Things to Do for Fun When the Power is Out

Read more6 Things to Do for Fun When the Power is Out
Picture of an antique kerosene lamp sitting on a bed of hay with barn wood in the background. Text overlay says, "4 Things You Need When the Lights Go Out".

4 Things You Need When the Lights Go Out

Read more4 Things You Need When the Lights Go Out

8 Tips for Bulk Food Storage

Read more8 Tips for Bulk Food Storage
Five bags filled with dried beans. Text overlay says, "6 Tips on Buying Food in Bulk".

6 Tips on Buying Food in Bulk

Read more6 Tips on Buying Food in Bulk

5 Things You Shouldn't Ignore

Read more5 Things You Shouldn't Ignore

Vintage Recipe: Peach Blueberry Breadcrumb Crumble

Read moreVintage Recipe: Peach Blueberry Breadcrumb Crumble
Three mason jars filled with sweet and spicy plum sauce. Text overlay says, "Sweet & Spicy Plum Sauce".

Sweet and Spicy Plum Sauce Canning Recipe

Read moreSweet and Spicy Plum Sauce Canning Recipe
homecanned green beans in jar on counter

How to Can Green Beans the Easy Way - Raw Pack

Read moreHow to Can Green Beans the Easy Way - Raw Pack
Picture of a vegetable garden with mountains and a blue sky in the background.

6 Ways to Drought Proof Your Garden

Read more6 Ways to Drought Proof Your Garden

Historical Recipe: Dried Fruit and Nut "Candy"

Read moreHistorical Recipe: Dried Fruit and Nut "Candy"
Jars of mustard pickles sitting on a counter.

Homemade Mustard Pickles (+ Canning Instructions)

Read moreHomemade Mustard Pickles (+ Canning Instructions)
homemade cherry pie filling in mason jars on white towel

Cherry Pie Filling Recipe (Canning Instructions)

Read moreCherry Pie Filling Recipe (Canning Instructions)
placing dill in mason jar crunchy dill pickles on table

Best Homemade Pickles Recipe (Garlic Dill Pickles)

Read moreBest Homemade Pickles Recipe (Garlic Dill Pickles)
Plate of healthy carrot cookies on table with old newspaper bulletin

Healthy Carrot Cookie Recipe from WW2 & Great-Grandma

Read moreHealthy Carrot Cookie Recipe from WW2 & Great-Grandma

How to Make Pasta Sauce with Spinach and Fresh Oregano

Read moreHow to Make Pasta Sauce with Spinach and Fresh Oregano

How to Make Buttermilk Fried Chicken Strips

Read moreHow to Make Buttermilk Fried Chicken Strips
1940's Honey Date Square Recipe

Historical Recipes: Honey Date Squares

Read moreHistorical Recipes: Honey Date Squares
Basil salt three ways in jars on a counter.

Homemade Basil Salt Recipe (3 Ways)

Read moreHomemade Basil Salt Recipe (3 Ways)
Cocktail meatballs and sauce in a white serving bowl and garnished with scallions.

Best Cocktail Meatball Recipe | Sweet & Savory Party Favorite

Read moreBest Cocktail Meatball Recipe | Sweet & Savory Party Favorite
Two tins filled with homemade candles. Text overlay says, "How to Make Old-Fashioned Beeswax Candles".

How to Make Candles at Home (Beeswax and Lard)

Read moreHow to Make Candles at Home (Beeswax and Lard)

How to Make Homemade Mozzarella in 30 Minutes

Read moreHow to Make Homemade Mozzarella in 30 Minutes

8 Tips to Live Like the Pioneers

Read more8 Tips to Live Like the Pioneers

8 Ways to Live Like Little House on the Prairie

Read more8 Ways to Live Like Little House on the Prairie
Image is a bird's eye view of an open jar filled with Bentonite clay. Scattered around it are sprigs of dried lavender and dandelion heads. Text overlay says, "DIY Herbal Bentonite Clay Face Mask and Scrub".

DIY Herbal Bentonite Clay Face Mask and Scrub

Read moreDIY Herbal Bentonite Clay Face Mask and Scrub
Flavored butter on a tray.

How to Make Flavored Butter 4 Easy Recipes

Read moreHow to Make Flavored Butter 4 Easy Recipes

Handmade Gift Bags & Tags from the Great Depression Era

Read moreHandmade Gift Bags & Tags from the Great Depression Era

Homemade Rag Quilt Christmas Wreath

Read moreHomemade Rag Quilt Christmas Wreath
A jelly jar full of finished herbal salve.

Herbal Salve Recipe for Dry Skin

Read moreHerbal Salve Recipe for Dry Skin

Homemade Vintage Star Ornament

Read moreHomemade Vintage Star Ornament
Image of bars of soap with decorative twine. Crochet and needle point projects are to the top and side.

How to Make Homemade Melt & Pour Goat's Milk Soap

Read moreHow to Make Homemade Melt & Pour Goat's Milk Soap

25+ Cast Iron & Dutch Oven Recipes

Read more25+ Cast Iron & Dutch Oven Recipes

7 Frugal Fall Recipes for Real Food Kitchens

Read more7 Frugal Fall Recipes for Real Food Kitchens

3 Reasons You Should Use Honey

Read more3 Reasons You Should Use Honey
Homemade Indian Fry Bread Tacos

How to Make Homemade Indian Fry Bread

Read moreHow to Make Homemade Indian Fry Bread

11 Ways to Cook Off-Grid Without Power

Read more11 Ways to Cook Off-Grid Without Power
Peach muffin on a cutting board.

Bakery Style Peach Muffins

Read moreBakery Style Peach Muffins
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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

  • Gardening
  • Homesteading
  • Recipes
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Podcast

How to Plan Your Food Preservation Year Without Burnout

Herbal Remedies for Summer: Natural Relief for Sunburns, Bug Bites, Stings & Scrapes

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

Feeding a Family on a Budget

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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