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Melissa K. Norris

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

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natural health

Do Natural Insect Repellents Work?

Read moreDo Natural Insect Repellents Work?

Two lotion bars siting on a table.

How to Make Homemade Lotion Bars - Just 3 Ingredients

Read moreHow to Make Homemade Lotion Bars - Just 3 Ingredients

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

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)

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.

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Spring Preserving Recipes

Jars of canned pickled asparagus on a counter.

Pickled Asparagus Recipe for Canning (Crisp, Easy, and Shelf Stable)

Three jars of strawberry jam hot out of the canner.

Strawberry Jam Without Pectin (Low Sugar Recipe)

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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About Melissa K. Norris — Modern Homesteading ExpertStart Here
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Gardening
Homesteading
Recipes
Lifestyle
DIY

Podcast

How to Plan Your Food Preservation Year Without Burnout

Herbal Remedies for Summer: Natural Relief for Sunburns, Bug Bites, Stings & Scrapes

Why Your Food Preservation Isn’t Working (And How to Fix It Safely)

Feeding a Family on a Budget

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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