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Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

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

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Miscellaneous

A jar filled with DIY Italian seasoning mix, and labeled with a tag.

DIY Italian Seasoning (Homemade Italian Spice Blend)

Read moreDIY Italian Seasoning (Homemade Italian Spice Blend)
A jar filled with DIY ranch seasoning mix, and labeled with a tag.

DIY Ranch Seasoning Mix Recipe

Read moreDIY Ranch Seasoning Mix Recipe
A jar filled with DIY taco seasoning mix, and labeled with a tag.

DIY Taco Seasoning Mix (Better Than Store-Bought)

Read moreDIY Taco Seasoning Mix (Better Than Store-Bought)
Olive oil being poured into a saucepan.

Easy Homemade Garlic Infused Olive Oil Recipe (With Herbs)

Read moreEasy Homemade Garlic Infused Olive Oil Recipe (With Herbs)
Up close shot of mint growing in a pot.

How to Make Mint Extract (With or Without Alcohol)

Read moreHow to Make Mint Extract (With or Without Alcohol)
A stack of sweet potato tortillas with parchment paper between each layer.

Easy Sweet Potato Tortilla Recipe (+ Gluten Free Option)

Read moreEasy Sweet Potato Tortilla Recipe (+ Gluten Free Option)
Beef liver supplements on a wooden counter.

How to Make Beef Liver Supplements

Read moreHow to Make Beef Liver Supplements
Jars filled with DIY seasoning mixes, and labeled with a tag.

Homemade Seasoning Blends (+ Free Printable Tags)

Read moreHomemade Seasoning Blends (+ Free Printable Tags)
Homemade mayonnaise in a jar.

Fail-Proof Homemade Mayonnaise Recipe (In 2-Minutes)

Read moreFail-Proof Homemade Mayonnaise Recipe (In 2-Minutes)
Buttermilk ranch dressing in a Mason jar.

Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing (Probiotic)

Read moreHomemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing (Probiotic)
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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)

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!

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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

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

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