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Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

Simple Modern Homesteading for a Healthy & Self-Sufficient Life

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homemade

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 Pierogies- Traditional Ukrainian Perogi Recipe

Read moreHow to Make Pierogies- Traditional Ukrainian Perogi Recipe
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

Read moreStrawberry Rhubarb Dump Cake without Jello & Homemade Cake Mix

Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Sugar Cookies Recipe

Read moreOld-Fashioned Pumpkin Sugar Cookies Recipe

DIY Canning Ring Wreath

Read moreDIY Canning Ring Wreath

Homemade Barbecue Sauce Recipe

Read moreHomemade Barbecue Sauce Recipe
Plate of healthy carrot cookies on table with old newspaper bulletin

Healthy Carrot Cookie Recipe from WW2 & Great-Grandma

Read moreHealthy Carrot Cookie Recipe from WW2 & Great-Grandma
1940's Honey Date Square Recipe

Historical Recipes: Honey Date Squares

Read moreHistorical Recipes: Honey Date Squares
Plate of sweet and sour meatballs with text overlay that says, "From Scratch Sweet and Sour Meatballs".

How to Make Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Read moreHow to Make Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Image is a bird's eye view of an open jar filled with Bentonite clay. Scattered around it are sprigs of dried lavender and dandelion heads. Text overlay says, "DIY Herbal Bentonite Clay Face Mask and Scrub".

DIY Herbal Bentonite Clay Face Mask and Scrub

Read moreDIY Herbal Bentonite Clay Face Mask and Scrub
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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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