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Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

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

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Homestead-Life

Why I'm Not Afraid of the Dark Anymore

Read moreWhy I'm Not Afraid of the Dark Anymore

When Someone Says They Don't Believe In Jesus

Read moreWhen Someone Says They Don't Believe In Jesus

Do You Ever Need To Be Reminded Of This?

Read moreDo You Ever Need To Be Reminded Of This?

Do You Use All 11 of These Tools?

Read moreDo You Use All 11 of These Tools?

Have You Written Your Letter? Dear Jesus, All I Want for Christmas

Read moreHave You Written Your Letter? Dear Jesus, All I Want for Christmas

Do You Need Faith That Moves Mountains?

Read moreDo You Need Faith That Moves Mountains?

Healing from Hurtful Words

Read moreHealing from Hurtful Words

When We Don't Feel God's Presence

Read moreWhen We Don't Feel God's Presence

When You Want to Feel God's Presence

Read moreWhen You Want to Feel God's Presence
A woman standing beside a mobile chicken tractor with chickens inside.

How to Keep Animals Cool in Hot Weather

Read moreHow to Keep Animals Cool in Hot Weather
A snowy road lined with trees.

Surviving Winter Without Power & Great Depression Christmas Traditions

Read moreSurviving Winter Without Power & Great Depression Christmas Traditions
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
A woman feeding cows in a large frosty field.

A Day in the Life: Winter

Read moreA Day in the Life: Winter
A woman laughing while petting pigs.

Bloopers & Outtakes

Read moreBloopers & Outtakes

Non-GMO Foods & How to Avoid GMOs

Read moreNon-GMO Foods & How to Avoid GMOs
Kitchen remodel photo.

Kitchen Refresh

Read moreKitchen Refresh

I'll Never Get My Life Back and Update on my daughter's condition

Read moreI'll Never Get My Life Back and Update on my daughter's condition

9 Things Every Mom Should Do With Her Daughter

Read more9 Things Every Mom Should Do With Her Daughter

How to Make a No-Sew Tutu Tutorial

Read moreHow to Make a No-Sew Tutu Tutorial

Pioneer Homemade Christmas-How to Make an Evergreen Swag

Read morePioneer Homemade Christmas-How to Make an Evergreen Swag
Image of a homemade Christmas ornament with text overlay, "Homemade Christmas Ornament using old canning lids".

DIY Homemade Christmas Canning Lid Ornament

Read moreDIY Homemade Christmas Canning Lid Ornament

11 Ways to Cook Off-Grid Without Power

Read more11 Ways to Cook Off-Grid Without Power
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

8 Ways to Live Like Little House on the Prairie

Read more8 Ways to Live Like Little House on the Prairie
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 to Live Like the Pioneers

Read more8 Tips to Live Like the Pioneers

6 Rules for Bartering Success

Read more6 Rules for Bartering Success

Homemade Vintage Star Ornament

Read moreHomemade Vintage Star Ornament
Oil being poured into a cast iron skillet.

How to Season a Cast Iron Skillet

Read moreHow to Season a Cast Iron Skillet
A clean cast iron pan sitting on a wooden counter top with a towel and a wooden bench scraper beside it.

How to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet to Maintain Seasoning

Read moreHow to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet to Maintain Seasoning
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
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
koa wooden dough scraper making pastry shells

10 Time-Saving Uses for a Wooden Bench Knife in the Kitchen

Read more10 Time-Saving Uses for a Wooden Bench Knife in the Kitchen
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)
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
Morel mushrooms in a basket on the forest floor.

Where to Find Morel Mushrooms

Read moreWhere to Find Morel Mushrooms
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

Pioneering Today- 1 Ingredient 5 Minute Natural Oven Cleaner

Read morePioneering Today- 1 Ingredient 5 Minute Natural Oven Cleaner
A bottle of Fairchild's apple cider vinegar on a kitchen counter.

39 Apple Cider Vinegar Uses

Read more39 Apple Cider Vinegar Uses
Image of an amber spray bottle and a quart Mason Jar filled with homemade cleaners against a white tile backdrop. A bottle of essential oil and a fresh lemon sit to the side. Text overlay says, "5 Homemade Natural Cleaner Recipes".

5 Homemade Natural Cleaner Recipes - DIY Cleaners that Work

Read more5 Homemade Natural Cleaner Recipes - DIY Cleaners that Work

4 Ways to Clean with Vinegar

Read more4 Ways to Clean with Vinegar
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)
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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
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Podcast

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

Spring Meal Planning (Without the Overwhelm)

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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