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Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

Simple Modern Homesteading for a Healthy & Self-Sufficient Life

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homemade Christmas

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)
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

6 DIY Re-Purposed Sweater Projects

Read more6 DIY Re-Purposed Sweater Projects
Flavored butter on a tray.

How to Make Flavored Butter 4 Easy Recipes

Read moreHow to Make Flavored Butter 4 Easy Recipes

Handmade Gift Bags & Tags from the Great Depression Era

Read moreHandmade Gift Bags & Tags from the Great Depression Era

Homemade Rag Quilt Christmas Wreath

Read moreHomemade Rag Quilt Christmas Wreath

Homemade Vintage Star Ornament

Read moreHomemade Vintage Star Ornament
Image of bars of soap with decorative twine. Crochet and needle point projects are to the top and side.

How to Make Homemade Melt & Pour Goat’s Milk Soap

Read moreHow to Make Homemade Melt & Pour Goat’s Milk Soap

How to Make a No-Sew Tutu Tutorial

Read moreHow to Make a No-Sew Tutu Tutorial

Pioneer Homemade Christmas-Day 1 Pumpkin Applesauce Cake

Read morePioneer Homemade Christmas-Day 1 Pumpkin Applesauce Cake
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

Best Beginner Sourdough Sandwich Bread No Yeast

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
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • DIY

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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