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Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

Simple Modern Homesteading for a Healthy & Self-Sufficient Life

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Recipe Index

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)
An opened jar of cherry jam with a spoonful.

Cherry Jam Recipe Without Pectin and Low Sugar

Read moreCherry Jam Recipe Without Pectin and Low Sugar
Image of a small ziplock baggie filled with dehydrated sourdough starter and instructions written on the bag.

Rehydrating Sourdough Starter

Read moreRehydrating Sourdough Starter
Ingredients for elderberry syrup: honey, dried elderberries and apple cider vinegar.

29 of the BEST Elderberry Recipes (Dried Elderberry Recipes)

Read more29 of the BEST Elderberry Recipes (Dried Elderberry Recipes)

How to Make Real Buttermilk (Cultured Buttermilk Recipe)

Read moreHow to Make Real Buttermilk (Cultured Buttermilk Recipe)
Photo of chai tea concentrate being poured into a cup filled with a chai tea latte.

Chai Tea Concentrate (And Dirty Chai Recipe)

Read moreChai Tea Concentrate (And Dirty Chai Recipe)

Best Flaky Pie Crust Recipe – Without Shortening

Read moreBest Flaky Pie Crust Recipe – Without Shortening
Chocolate caramel cinnamon rolls baked in a cast iron pan sitting on a table.

Old-Fashioned Homemade Chocolate Caramel Cinnamon Rolls

Read moreOld-Fashioned Homemade Chocolate Caramel Cinnamon Rolls
DIY brownie mix in a jar sitting on a counter.

DIY Homemade Brownie Mix in Jar- Best Ever Fudge Brownies

Read moreDIY Homemade Brownie Mix in Jar- Best Ever Fudge Brownies
Cast iron skillet with green bean casserole and a wooden spoon.

Green Bean Casserole – From Scratch

Read moreGreen Bean Casserole – From Scratch
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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

homegrown ripe paste tomatoes in a wicker basket on the grass

How Much to Plant Per Person for a Year’s Worth of Food

A woman inspecting the apples on an apple tree.

How to Grow Fruit Trees

Vertical container planter with strawberries on cement patio

Small Space Vegetable Gardening Urban Gardening Tips

Baby meat chicks hanging out in the grass.

Raising Baby Chicks – Beginners Guide for the First 6 Weeks

A steak on a piece of butcher paper on a counter.

When Butchering a Cow the Best Cuts of Meat to Get

Chickens in a portable coop.

Integrating New Chicks to Existing Flocks Q&A Chicken Raising

Want to grow a year’s worth of food?

Know exactly how many plants per person you need to plant with my easy worksheet and chart!

Summer Canning Recipes

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

Strawberry Jam Recipe without Pectin and Low Sugar

homecanned green beans in jar on counter

How to Can Green Beans the Easy Way – Raw Pack

How to Make Mustard Pickles – Great-Grandma’s Recipe

homemade cherry pie filling in mason jars on white towel

Cherry Pie Filling Recipe (Canning Instructions)

placing dill in mason jar crunchy dill pickles on table

Best Homemade Pickles Recipe (Garlic Dill Pickles)

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Melissa K. Norris

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Articles

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Podcast

Farm Dog Breeds (Which is Best for You?)

Time Spent to Grow a Year’s Worth of Food

Fruits and Vegetables in Season by Month and Tips for Preservation

How to Start Seeds Indoors (Planning, Starting & Mistakes to Avoid)

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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