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Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

Simple Modern Homesteading for a Healthy & Self-Sufficient Life

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Cooking

A Mason jar of cream of celery soup on a wooden counter.

Cream of Celery Soup Recipe

Read moreCream of Celery Soup Recipe
A jar of homemade cream of potato soup with potatoes on the counter.

Cream of Potato Soup Recipe

Read moreCream of Potato Soup Recipe
Papaya bars dusted with powdered sugar on a white cutting board.

Quick & Easy Papaya Bars Recipe

Read moreQuick & Easy Papaya Bars Recipe
Rutabaga fries on a white plate with dipping sauces.

Crispy Rutabaga Fries Recipe

Read moreCrispy Rutabaga Fries Recipe
A stack of sweet potato tortillas with parchment paper between each layer.

Easy Sweet Potato Tortilla Recipe (+ Gluten Free Option)

Read moreEasy Sweet Potato Tortilla Recipe (+ Gluten Free Option)
A jar of fermented hot sauce on a counter next to fresh peppers.

The Best Fermented Hot Sauce Recipe

Read moreThe Best Fermented Hot Sauce Recipe
Two jars of homemade cake mix on a wooden counter top.

Homemade Cake Mix Recipe

Read moreHomemade Cake Mix Recipe
Fermented cranberry sauce in a white bowl.

Fermented Cranberry Sauce

Read moreFermented Cranberry Sauce
Herbs and spices on spoons and in a bowl.

4 Homemade Herb & Spice Blends (+ Free Printable Tags)

Read more4 Homemade Herb & Spice Blends (+ Free Printable Tags)
Baked raspberry cream cheese muffins sitting on a marble cutting board.

Homemade Muffin Mix 

Read moreHomemade Muffin Mix 
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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 chili in a white bowl topped with sour cream, onions and cilantro.

Easy Instant Pot Chili Recipe

A buttered biscuit served on a white plate.

Old Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits

A jar of homemade cream of potato soup with potatoes on the counter.

Cream of Potato Soup Recipe

Homemade Pop Tarts From Scratch (Hand Pies)

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)

Winter Preserving Recipes

Jars of home canned applesauce.

Homemade Applesauce Recipe (+ How to Can Applesauce)

Fermented cranberry sauce in a white bowl.

Fermented Cranberry Sauce

How to Can Bone Broth at Home

Homemade Cranberry Sauce + Canning Instructions

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

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Melissa K. Norris

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Articles

  • Gardening
  • Homesteading
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Podcast

How to Winter Sow Seeds

The “Healthy” Oils That Are Fueling Inflammation (And What to Use Instead)

Chronic Inflammation, Blood Sugar & Why Your Body Feels Off

When Your Health Forces You to Stop, Here’s What Actually Matters

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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