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Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

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

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Recipes

two jars of strawberry jam sitting on a tabletop with fresh strawberries around it.

Strawberry Jam Recipe without Pectin and Low Sugar

Read moreStrawberry Jam Recipe without Pectin and Low Sugar
Two bowls of tomato soup with a loaf of bread and a jar of tomato sauce beside it.

Homemade Tomato Soup (From the Pantry)

Read moreHomemade Tomato Soup (From the Pantry)
Three jars of rendered lard on the counter.

How To Render Lard and Why You Should

Read moreHow To Render Lard and Why You Should
A pantry filled with home canned and home-grown food.

How to Keep a Well-Stocked Pantry for Easy, Nourishing Weeknight Meals

Read moreHow to Keep a Well-Stocked Pantry for Easy, Nourishing Weeknight Meals
homemade hot cocoa mix in a mason jar with red and white twine and pine cones on table top

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix 3 Ways (From Scratch!)

Read moreHomemade Hot Cocoa Mix 3 Ways (From Scratch!)
Finished loaf of artisan bread in a cast iron dutch oven lined with parchment paper.

Easy No Knead Artisan Bread Recipe

Read moreEasy No Knead Artisan Bread Recipe
Linen bread bag with two baguettes, cutting board with round loaf of artisan bread, butter and jam on counter top

How to Store Homemade Bread (Stays Fresh Longer!)

Read moreHow to Store Homemade Bread (Stays Fresh Longer!)
Red apples in a wooden crate with more crates stacked behind it.

12 Ways to Preserve Apples at Home

Read more12 Ways to Preserve Apples at Home

How to Make Homemade Yogurt That’s Thick and Creamy

Read moreHow to Make Homemade Yogurt That’s Thick and Creamy
A glass of ginger water with ginger, brown sugar and a spoon on a counter.

Old-Fashioned Ginger Water Recipe (Switchel or Haymaker Punch)

Read moreOld-Fashioned Ginger Water Recipe (Switchel or Haymaker Punch)
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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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Articles

  • Gardening
  • Homesteading
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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


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