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Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

Simple Modern Homesteading for a Healthy & Self-Sufficient Life

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Homestead-Life

This is where I’m sharing my 20+ years of homesteading wisdom and sharing practical tips to make this life easier. From how to live frugally as a homesteader to choosing the best grain mill. I’m also sharing must-know emergency preparedness tips, how to stay warm without electricity, and how to keep cool without air conditioning.

Woman standing at stove putting jars of home canned tomato sauce into pressure canner

10 Food Preservation Methods Everyone Should Know

Read more10 Food Preservation Methods Everyone Should Know
Homemade all-purpose cleaner in a glass spray bottle with vinegar concentrate in a Mason jar.

Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner (Citrus or Pine)

Read moreHomemade All-Purpose Cleaner (Citrus or Pine)
A clothesline with white sheets and clothespins.

Frugal Living as a Homesteader (How to Save Money & Get Out of Debt)

Read moreFrugal Living as a Homesteader (How to Save Money & Get Out of Debt)
Mockmill grain mill grinding grain into a white bowl.

How to Choose the Best Grain Mill & Grind Flour at Home

Read moreHow to Choose the Best Grain Mill & Grind Flour at Home
A woman feeding cows in a large frosty field.

A Day in the Life: Winter

Read moreA Day in the Life: Winter
A woman crouched by a woodstove with a fire going, holding an oil lamp.

Must-Know Emergency Preparedness Tips (For Everyone)

Read moreMust-Know Emergency Preparedness Tips (For Everyone)
Up close shot of mint growing in a pot.

How to Make Mint Extract (With or Without Alcohol)

Read moreHow to Make Mint Extract (With or Without Alcohol)
Kitchen remodel photo.

Kitchen Refresh

Read moreKitchen Refresh

How to Start a Fire Without a Lighter

Read moreHow to Start a Fire Without a Lighter
Various food items on a kitchen counter.

Tips to Eat Real Food

Read moreTips to Eat Real Food
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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

placing dill in mason jar crunchy dill pickles on table

7 Tips for Crunchy Pickles Every Time

A stack of sourdough tortillas on a towel lined counter.

Easy Sourdough Tortilla Recipe

sourdough starter in Maosn jar on counter

Best Beginner Sourdough Sandwich Bread No Yeast

Fresh raspberry juice in a glass.

Fresh Raspberry Juice Recipe

Jars of home canned tomato sauce on counter with ripe paste tomatoes and wicker basket

Canning Tomato Sauce (Water-Bath & Pressure Canning)

Close up shot of a double chocolate zucchini muffin.

Bakery Style Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Want to grow a year’s worth of food?

Know exactly how many plants per person you need to plant with my easy worksheet and chart!

Summer Canning Recipes

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

Strawberry Jam Recipe without Pectin and Low Sugar

homecanned green beans in jar on counter

How to Can Green Beans the Easy Way – Raw Pack

How to Make Mustard Pickles – Great-Grandma’s Recipe

homemade cherry pie filling in mason jars on white towel

Cherry Pie Filling Recipe (Canning Instructions)

placing dill in mason jar crunchy dill pickles on table

Best Homemade Pickles Recipe (Garlic Dill Pickles)

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Melissa K. Norris

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Articles

  • Gardening
  • Homesteading
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Podcast

How to Get Rid of Parasites in Your Body

Back to the Frontier – Behind the Scenes

Immunity for Polluters: How New Laws Threaten Your Soil & Food Supply

Homestead Security: Why Community May Be Your Best Defense

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


© 2025 · Melissa K. Norris Pioneering Today LLC

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