Gardening

Why Heirloom Seeds Are My Favorite

13 Basic Steps to Starting a Vegetable Garden

Fruit Maintenance & When to Prune Berry Bushes

Medicinal Herb Garden (Planning and Growing)

Non-GMO Foods & How to Avoid GMOs

End of Summer Garden Tour (2023)

Homemade Seasoning Blends (+ Free Printable Tags)

Succession Planting & Intercropping in the Garden

Heirloom Seeds – An Introduction

How to Grow Potatoes (+ Planting Tips)

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

My Most Popular Posts

How to Make a Sourdough Starter + Tips for Success

Soft Sourdough Sandwich Bread (Beginner Friendly Recipe)

Homemade Pop Tarts From Scratch (Hand Pies)

Easy Oven Roasted Chicken Recipe (Crispy & Juicy)

Strawberry Rhubarb Dump Cake without Jello & Homemade Cake Mix

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus (Easy Appetizer or Side Dish)

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

Pickled Asparagus Recipe (Canned, Quick, or Refrigerator)

Strawberry Jam Recipe without Pectin and Low Sugar

How to Store Lemons (For a Year!) – Fermented Lemons

Quick & Easy Fermented Pickles Recipe

How to Preserve Strawberries: Keep Those Berries Fresh!