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Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

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

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Gardening

A woman harvesting tomatoes from the garden.

How to Trellis Tomatoes with Twine

Read moreHow to Trellis Tomatoes with Twine
A woman's hand picking raspberries.

How to Plant Raspberries

Read moreHow to Plant Raspberries
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
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
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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

Soft Sourdough Sandwich Bread (Beginner Friendly Recipe)

A fork and knife carving a whole roasted chicken.

Oven-Roasted Chicken Recipe | Crispy Skin & Juicy Whole Chicken  

A stack of homemade graham crackers on a plate.

Easy Homemade Graham Crackers

Peach cobbler served on a plate with vanilla ice cream on top.

Healthy Peach Cobbler

Close up shot of a double chocolate zucchini muffin.

Bakery Style Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

A stack of sourdough tortillas on a towel lined counter.

Easy Sourdough Tortillas (Soft and Flexible)

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)

Summer Preserving Recipes

Three jars of strawberry jam hot out of the canner.

Strawberry Jam Without Pectin (Low Sugar Recipe)

A jar of fermented pickles sitting on an outdoor table.

Fermented Pickles Recipe|Easy Old-Fashioned Salt Brine Pickles

Jars of blueberry jam with a jar of yogurt topped with blueberry jam.

Blueberry Jam Recipe Without Pectin (+ Low-Sugar)

placing dill in mason jar crunchy dill pickles on table

Best Homemade Pickles Recipe (Garlic Dill Pickles)

An opened jar of cherry jam with a spoonful.

Cherry Jam Recipe Without Pectin and Low Sugar

Jars of mustard pickles sitting on a counter.

Homemade Mustard Pickles (+ Canning Instructions)

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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
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • DIY

Podcast

Summer Meal Planning Made Easy (Quick & Easy Summer Meals)

Healing Plants of the Bible: 16 Biblical Herbs and Their Traditional Uses

Why So Many People Feel Called to Homesteading

What Grows Best in a Pacific Northwest Vegetable Garden?

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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