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Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

Simple Modern Homesteading for a Healthy & Self-Sufficient Life

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Raising Your Own Food

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)
Dirty freshly harvested carrots on the ground.

How to Save Carrot Seeds + Understanding Pollination

Read moreHow to Save Carrot Seeds + Understanding Pollination
Four American Guinea Hogs eating.

5 Tips to Raising Livestock for Food

Read more5 Tips to Raising Livestock for Food
A woman pointing to a squash growing in the garden.

Gardening in October (Garden Tasks by Month)

Read moreGardening in October (Garden Tasks by Month)
A woman's hands holding a bean pod hanging on a trelis.

Gardening in September (Garden Tasks by Month)

Read moreGardening in September (Garden Tasks by Month)
Drone footage of a woman pruning apple trees in an orchard.

Gardening in August (Garden Tasks by Month)

Read moreGardening in August (Garden Tasks by Month)
Cucumber seedlings growing next to a cattle panel trellis.

Gardening in July (Garden Tasks by Month)

Read moreGardening in July (Garden Tasks by Month)
Wooden two-sided compost bin.

How to Compost at Home (7 Easy DIY Ways)

Read moreHow to Compost at Home (7 Easy DIY Ways)
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)
A woman's hand picking raspberries.

How to Plant Raspberries

Read moreHow to Plant Raspberries
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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 chili in a white bowl topped with sour cream, onions and cilantro.

Easy Instant Pot Chili Recipe

Buttermilk biscuits in a cast iron pan.

Easy Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits Ready to Eat in 20 Minutes

A jar of homemade cream of potato soup with potatoes on the counter.

Cream of Potato Soup Recipe

Homemade Pop Tarts From Scratch (Hand Pies)

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)

Winter Preserving Recipes

Jars of home canned applesauce.

Homemade Applesauce Recipe (+ How to Can Applesauce)

Fermented cranberry sauce in a white bowl.

Fermented Cranberry Sauce

How to Can Bone Broth at Home

Homemade Cranberry Sauce + Canning Instructions

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

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Melissa K. Norris

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Articles

  • Gardening
  • Homesteading
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Podcast

Why I’m Pressing Pause (And How You Can Help Shape What’s Next)

Root Vegetable Storage Without a Root Cellar: Simple Methods That Work

From-Scratch Cooking Made Easy: Myths vs. Reality

Refreshing Summer Drinks You Can Make at Home

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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