• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

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

Log In
  • Start Here
  • Podcast
  • Articles
    • Natural Medicine Cabinet
    • Recipes
    • Food Preservation
    • Gardening
    • Homestead-Life
    • Canning Recipes
  • Shop
    • Books
    • Classes
    • General Store
  • Academy
  • Log In
  • Start Here
  • Podcast
  • Articles
    • Natural Medicine Cabinet
    • Recipes
    • Food Preservation
    • Gardening
    • Homestead-Life
    • Canning Recipes
  • Shop
    • Books
    • Classes
    • General Store
  • Academy
  • Log In

Gardening

Peas and beans climbing a fence in a garden.

Woodchips for Garden Mulch (Back to Eden Method)

Read moreWoodchips for Garden Mulch (Back to Eden Method)
A woman in the garden with a frown pointing to her potatoes affected by early blight.

Preventing & Treating Early Blight of Tomato & Potato Plants

Read morePreventing & Treating Early Blight of Tomato & Potato Plants
Coffee grounds in a woman's hands by the garden.

Coffee Grounds in the Garden (4 Ways to Use Them)

Read moreCoffee Grounds in the Garden (4 Ways to Use Them)

How to Save and Store Your Heirloom Garden Seed

Read moreHow to Save and Store Your Heirloom Garden Seed

Pioneering Today-Preparing a New Garden Bed

Read morePioneering Today-Preparing a New Garden Bed
Picture of a vegetable garden with mountains and a blue sky in the background.

13 Basic Steps to Starting a Vegetable Garden

Read more13 Basic Steps to Starting a Vegetable Garden
A woman pruning an elderberry bush with loppers.

Fruit Maintenance & When to Prune Berry Bushes

Read moreFruit Maintenance & When to Prune Berry Bushes
Green beans growing at the base of a cattle panel trellis.

Gardening in June (Garden Tasks By Month)

Read moreGardening in June (Garden Tasks By Month)
A woman under a high tunnel working in the garden.

End of Summer Garden Tour (2023)

Read moreEnd of Summer Garden Tour (2023)
Wooden two-sided compost bin.

How to Compost at Home (7 Easy DIY Ways)

Read moreHow to Compost at Home (7 Easy DIY Ways)
A woman's hand planting a beet seed in the garden.

How to Grow Beets (+ Planting Tips)

Read moreHow to Grow Beets (+ Planting Tips)
Germinated seeds on a wet paper towel.

Cold Stratification of Seeds - Why & How

Read moreCold Stratification of Seeds - Why & How
chitting seed potatoes on a tray before planting

How to Grow Potatoes (+ Planting Tips)

Read moreHow to Grow Potatoes (+ Planting Tips)
Seeds just starting to germinate in small compostable containers.

Gardening in April (Garden Tasks by Month)

Read moreGardening in April (Garden Tasks by Month)
Large bean teepee with a mountain in the background.

Vertical Garden Planning & Expanding Growing Spaces

Read moreVertical Garden Planning & Expanding Growing Spaces
A garden in winter with much of it dead, and a mountain with snow top peaks in the background.

Gardening in November (Garden Tasks by Month)

Read moreGardening in November (Garden Tasks by Month)
A colander with Brussel sprouts and carrots harvested from the garden.

Gardening in January (Garden Tasks by Month)

Read moreGardening in January (Garden Tasks by Month)
A woman's hand pruning sage.

How to Prune Basil Plants to Double Your Harvest

Read moreHow to Prune Basil Plants to Double Your Harvest
A woman's hands showing how to braid garlic.

How to Braid Garlic (Step-By-Step Photos)

Read moreHow to Braid Garlic (Step-By-Step Photos)
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
A metal container with lavender growing inside.

Container Gardening for Vegetables- Everything You Need to Know

Read moreContainer Gardening for Vegetables- Everything You Need to Know
  • Previous
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
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.

More About Melissa
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

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

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!

Sidebar


Melissa K. Norris

Follow me:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • About Melissa K. Norris — Modern Homesteading ExpertStart Here
  • Classes
  • Academy
  • Contact
  • Log In

Articles

  • Gardening
  • Homesteading
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • DIY

Podcast

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)

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

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


© 2026 · Melissa K. Norris Pioneering Today LLC

  • Privacy Policy
  • Affiliate Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Accessibility

Melissa K. Norris and Pioneering Today LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Privacy Manager