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When and How to Plant Fruit Trees

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Late winter and early spring are the best time to plant fruit trees and bushes. This post shares everything you need to know from picking the right fruit tree, the correct variety, and even orchard planning tips if you're wanting to grow a variety of fruit trees.

A woman crouched down next to an established fruit tree with mountains in the background.

While I love my veggie garden, there is a beauty in only having to plant something once and being able to harvest if for years to come. Can I get a holler? No, sheesh, this is exciting stuff, okay, at least a high five.

Having a fruit source on your homestead is a great step towards self-sufficiency and lowering your grocery bill. Plus, there is nothing and I mean nothing, like fresh ripe fruit straight off the vine… or tree or bush. This makes jam, jelly, and syrup making almost free as well.

Growing Fruit Trees From Seed

I don't actually like to grow my fruit trees from seed, and the reason is that you're going to be adding that many more years before they being to produce fruit (usually bare-root trees or saplings you buy at a nursery are already 2-3 years old).

Another reason is that, depending upon the variety of fruit tree, when you plant them from seed, you don't always get the same variety.

So, to make sure that I'm getting the exact fruit variety that I want, I like to start with some immature, bare-root fruit trees.

When to Plant Fruit Trees

A woman crouched down next to a newly planted fruit tree.

Planting in the late winter or early spring is generally the best time to get your new fruit trees in the ground. As long as the ground isn't too frozen to dig a hole, you should be good to go.

Bare root stock should be planted in winter, while raspberries and blueberries can be planted into spring.

A good rule of thumb is to check the local nursery's in your area. If they have bare root fruit trees and other fruit plants out, then it's time to begin planting. Your goal is to have the fruit tree/plant in the ground so the roots can get over the shock of transplanting and begin establishing their root system before the stress of summer and the work of growing leaves and fruit begin.

Where to Get Good Fruit Stock

You have a few options for finding good fruit stock. Your best bet is to go to a local nursery (not the garden department at big box stores but a true independent nursery). You'll be able to inspect the stock, it's most likely grown in your region (acclimated to your weather), and the varieties best suited to where you live. Many nurseries will let you schedule a meeting with an experienced staff member to pick out the best varieties based on your needs.

We don't have any local nurseries with fruit trees and my favorite online source for healthy plants is  RainTreeNursery.com I've ordered both my elderberry bushes, strawberry plants, and received five fruit trees from them and all the plants are packaged excellently and have been very healthy. (Use coupon code: modernhomestead to get 10% off your order.) I've also had decent luck with fruit trees from Costco, they partner with regional nurseries/growers.

Bare root fruit trees are usually the cheapest route to go and most nurseries will have them on sale in winter, as this is the time they must be planted. Because you'll be purchasing and planting the trees before they've leafed and blossomed out, it may be harder to tell if the tree is healthy.

Branches in tiers and with even scaffolding are what I look for when purchasing bare root stock fruit trees. Make sure they're evenly spaced and not right on top of one another.

I look for a tree that has a good set of well-balanced limbs, a solid scaffolding in place, and no cracks or scabbing on the limbs or trunk.

If you have a friend with a good raspberry patch, ask if you can get a few canes (the viney branch part of the bush) to start your own patch. It will take a few years before your own canes need thinning, but this was how we got all of our raspberries. An overgrown patch was on my aunt's property and we transplanted an entire row in the early spring to our yard. Raspberries will also send out runners and you can dig those canes up as well.

How to Plant Fruit Trees

Digging a Hole

If you plan on moving an established fruit tree or fruit plant or planting a bare root or potted tree, be sure you dig a hole twice as wide and twice as deep. Create a cone shape of dirt in the bottom of the hole and spread the roots out and down this dirt cone (same technique in How to Plant Strawberries)

Filling the Hole

Backfill the hole with loose dirt and a layer of compost. If any of the roots are broken, remove them before planting. Keep the level of dirt at the same level it was in at the nursery. You can usually see the line on the trunk of the tree or bush.

Create a mote around the base of the tree to allow the water to filter down onto the roots instead of running off into the surrounding soil or land.

Use a small amount of water when you plant the tree. The soil will settle and you'll be able to see where you need to add more dirt.

Watering Schedule

Don't over water in the winter months. In the late spring, when the tree leaves out and the soil becomes dry, water deeply 5 to 10 gallons once a week.

Throughout the first few summers, you'll want to water the plant once a week if you don't have any rainfall. I neglected to this with one of our new apple trees and lost it. So even in the rainy Pacific Northwest, you'll still want to follow the rule of watering deeply once a week with a newly planted tree if there isn't any moisture falling from the sky.

Note: It takes an average of seven years before you'll be able to harvest a sizeable crop from your fruit trees. Most bare rootstock is a few years old, but you can ask the nursery for more specifics.

The bigger or older the stock, the more expensive it will be.

Raspberries will produce the following year (or the same year in the fall if they're an ever-bearing variety and planted in the spring) and blueberries usually take a couple of years. Learn how to plant berry bushes here.

Picking Your Variety of Fruit

A small apple tree with about a dozen apples on it.

An important thing to remember when planting your fruit trees is to be sure you either pick a self-pollinating fruit tree or you purchase two varieties that will cross-pollinate. A crab apple will cross-pollinate almost all apple tree varieties as it blooms for a longer period of time than a regular apple, allowing it to pollinate early, mid, and late-season apples. Although a crab apple is so sour you'll never make the mistake of biting into one twice, it is high in natural sources of pectin and will help you get a beautiful set on your jams and jellies.

Some varieties of apples become ripe later in the season. If you live in a zone with early frosts or shorter growing seasons, you might want to pick an earlier ripening variety.

You can also purchase “fruit cocktail” trees, where several varieties have been grafted onto one stock. We haven't had much luck with these as the grafted branches tend to die off after a year or two and the main stock of the tree takes over.

Even if a fruit variety is self-pollinating, you'll get a larger harvest if a cross-pollinator is nearby.

My favorite apple is the heirloom Gravenstein, but because it's sterile (doesn't pollinate anything else) so we have a crab apple, and also a Gala and Honeycrisp.

The best fruit trees for small spaces are dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties.

Need help picking the right fruit trees for your area? Read 5 Tips to Starting an Orchard

Self-Pollinating vs. Cross-Pollinating Fruits

Apple tree blossoms.

As mentioned above, you'll want to be sure whether or not your fruit tree is a self-pollinating or cross-pollinating variety. Here's a list to keep in mind, but wherever you buy your tree, you should be able to find out which variety you're purchasing.

Self-Pollinating Fruits

  • Apricots
  • Pomegranate
  • Citrus Fruit
  • Grapevines
  • Persimmons
  • Sour Cherries
  • Blackberries
  • Raspberries
  • Strawberries
  • European plums

Most berries and European plums will do better if they have another variety to cross-pollinate with.

Cross-Pollinating Fruits

  • Apple (there are a few self-pollinating varieties like Golden Delicious, but they will do better if they have a cross-pollinator)
  • Blueberries
  • Elderberries
  • Pears
  • Japanese Plums
  • Sweet Cherries
  • Most nut trees

Bare Root Fruit Trees to Plant in Winter

  1. Apple
  2. Apricot
  3. Asian pears
  4. Crabapple
  5. Sweet Cherry
  6. Sour Cherry
  7. Pears
  8. Peaches
  9. Plums

Bonus: Use the same tips for planting Filberts or hazelnut trees.

Fruit Trees for Small Spaces

ripe blueberries on bush in summer

Even if you don't have a large yard or any land you can still plant fruit trees. Look for dwarf varieties. They can be grown in containers.

Berry bushes like blueberries are well suited to containers as well.

More Resources for Growing Fruit:

What kind of fruit do you grow? Do you have a favorite variety or tips to share?

Salt Cured Ham: Old-Fashioned Preserving

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How to salt cure ham at home has been on my homesteading bucket list for a few years now. Being able to preserve food with old-fashioned techniques, like salt curing pork, is a skill I find as fascinating as I do yummy. Bring me the bacon! And ham!

A ham roast in a salt cure.

When Lee from Tennessee Homestead offered to teach me and you how to salt cure a ham I got all kinds of excited. Lee, teach away!

What is Salt Curing?

Salt curing ham is an age-old tradition on our homestead.  We use a dry rub cure to make the best-tasting hams possible.  The salt/sugar mix adds color and flavor to the meat.  Additionally, some of our hams will also go into the smoker.  But, today I will discuss with you the first part of the process, how to cure pork with a salt dry rub.

Before reliable refrigeration, people would salt cure meat the old fashioned way because it was the best way to preserve pork.  Curing and smoking pulls the moisture from the ham to make it safe to store at room temperature.  We don’t cure for this purpose anymore, but rather to give the ham a great flavor and color.

Where can I buy a fresh ham to cure?

If you don’t have a fresh ham from your own hog you can find fresh ham at a meat market or packing house.  Remember the ham you buy at the grocery has already been cured and/or smoked.  A fresh ham is exactly that, a ham fresh from the hog.

You can also ask around in rural areas to see if you can find someone raising their own hogs. Many times families will raise extra hogs to sell in order to offset the cost of raising them.

Is Salt Curing the Same as Dry Curing a Ham?

Yes, salt curing is simply another term for dry curing. This is a process of coating the meat with a salt cure rub which draws out the moisture. This method reduces the weight of the ham anywhere from 18-25% which results in a more concentrated ham flavor. Many people prefer dry curing as opposed to injecting or immersing the ham with a curing solution. Once the ham is cured, it can be smoked, cooked or frozen for later cooking. Because dry hams are typically saltier than other products, they benefit from soaking in water for 1-12 hours (in the refrigerator) before cooking.

Supplies Needed for Dry Curing a Ham

  • Fresh Ham
  • Curing mix – you must use a curing salt to make this mix, not regular salt. (Salt used to cure meat has to be non-iodized.  If you use iodized salt it will make the meat have a metallic flavor.)
  • Plastic tray – to use during the curing process. (Do not use metal)
  • Sharp knife to cut in around joints
  • Refrigerator (preferably an old refrigerator that can be sacrificed to the salt curing process. The salt will ruin the metal parts inside of the unit including the gills that disperse the cool air.)
  • The Joy of Smoking and Salt Curing The Complete Guide to Smoking and Curing Meat, Fish, Game, and More (optional)

Homemade Salt Curing Mix

This dry rub mix recipe has been in my family and handed down for generations. It's a simple combination of four ingredients.

Does anyone else get giddy over these kinds of things? I may be a family recipe addict, it doesn't matter from whose family either. I know those recipes that get handed down are because they're just that good. ~Melissa

  • 2 cups Curing Salt
  • 1 Tbs Red pepper
  • 1 Tbs Black pepper
  • 1 cup Brown sugar

Most fresh hams will need a minimum of a triple batch, the recipe can be scaled up or down as needed, depending on size of the ham.

How to Salt Cure Ham at Home

  • For one ham start with 6-8 cups of mix.
  • The temperature will need to be between 36 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fresh ham sitting on a cutting board.
  • Take a fresh ham with skin on, wash off in water and pat dry.
  • Put a layer of curing mix on the tray to act as a bed for the ham. This bed of curing mix should be ¼” – ½” deep.
  • Place the ham on top of the layer of mix.A man cutting into the joint of a fresh ham with a knife.
  • At each joint, cut slits down to the bone. These slits are needed because you have to pack extra salt around the joint so the fluid will draw out.  Otherwise, you could spoil the ham.  There are two joints, the H-bone (hip) and the hock.A man packing the joints of a fresh ham with a salt cure mix.
  • Pack the slits you made at the joints with the curing mix.
  • Rub and cover the rest of the ham with the curing mix.A fresh ham sitting in and covered in a salt cure rub.
  • Leave the tray in a cool place (such as a refrigerator or a cooler packed with ice) for 18 days at 36-40 degrees. If using a cooler, be sure to check your ice daily and replenish it as needed.
  • After 18 days check the ham.
  • If you are going to put this ham in the smoker it has to be firm to the touch. If not firm to the touch it is not ready to come out of the curing mix. (If it is not firm it is because there is still too much fluid left in the ham.)
  • If ham is ready to be smoked, thoroughly rinse off the salt and pat dry before smoking.
  • If you are freezing then firmness does not matter. You can go on to the next step.
  • If freezing, slice the ham and freeze or freeze whole.
  • If ready to eat, you can bake the whole ham. Alternatively, you can slice the ham, soak the ham slices in cold water for up to an hour, then cook. Or, simmer the ham slice in a little water in the frying pan and then remove the water and continue cooking.

Salt Cured Ham: Old-Fashioned Preserving

Lee Totten
Salt cured ham has been around for centuries as an old-fashioned preservation method. It's simple to cure your own ham at home with this easy recipe.
3.83 from 29 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 18 d
Course Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 1 ham
Calories 69.7 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 6 cups Curing Salt
  • 3 Tbs Red pepper
  • 3 Tbs Black pepper
  • 3 cup Brown sugar
  • 1 Fresh Ham

Instructions
 

  • Mix salt, red pepper, black pepper and brown sugar in a bowl and set aside, this is your curing mix.
  • With a ham that's between 36 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, rinse in cold water and pat dry.
  • Put a layer of curing mix ¼” – ½” deep on a tray to act as a bed for the ham.
  • Place the ham on top of the layer of curing mix.
  • At the H-bone (hip) and the hock joints, cut slits down to the bone then pack with as much of the salt mixture as possible.
  • Rub and cover the rest of the ham with the curing mix.
  • Leave the tray in a cool place (such as a refrigerator or a cooler packed with ice) for 18 days at 36-40 degrees.
  • Cure for 18 days (or more – see recipe notes).
  • Once the ham is cured, rinse well with cool water then smoke it, cook it or freeze it for later (see recipe notes for cooking tips).

Notes

  • If using a cooler, be sure to check your ice daily and replenish it as needed.
  • If you are going to smoke your ham, it has to be firm to the touch. If it's not firm to the touch, continue curing and checking it daily.
  • If ham is ready to be smoked, thoroughly rinse off the salt and pat dry before smoking.
  • If you are freezing then firmness does not matter. Slice the ham and freeze or freeze whole.
  • When ready to eat, you can bake the whole ham.
  • If you'd like to serve the ham in slices, we recommend soaking the slices in cold water for an hour up to 12 hours in the refrigerator. Then cook up in a frying pan. (You can also simmer the ham slice in a little water in the frying pan, remove the water, then continue cooking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1oz.Calories: 69.7kcalProtein: 5.2gFat: 5.3gSaturated Fat: 1.9gCholesterol: 15.9mgSodium: 364mg
Keyword Cured Ham, Dry Cured Ham, Salt Cured Ham
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Here on the homestead, cured hams are just one of the products we make from our own hogs. Other products include lard, bacon, ham, ham hocks, sausage and souse meat.  If you are unable to raise your own hog many local custom slaughterhouses can help you find a producer you can purchase a hog from so you too can have your own fresh pork and enjoy the process of curing your own meat.

Lee'sbiophoto

Lee is a writer/blogger who is also a self-reliance promoter.  They call her chicken “Mama” at home where she considers herself an expert pitchfork operator. For more self-reliance and homesteading tips from Lee go to Tennessee-Homestead.com

7 Ways to Use Medicinal Herbs at Home

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Learning how to use herbs in your home medicine kit is an age old tradition our forefathers and mothers knew. Seeing a resurgence in folks like you and me who want to preserve these old time remedies makes my heart warm like a hearth stone near a crackling fire.

7 ways to use medicinal herbs in your natural, preparedness, and survival medicine chest! Great list of herbs and the ways to prepare them for different ailments. Grab this now so you're ready before you need it!

If you missed part 1 and 2 of this series, you'll want to catch yourself up with 6 Old-Time Natural Remedies that Work and 7 Herbs for Natural Remedies Your Grandparents Used

It's one thing to know which herbs are good ones to start with and work well for different ailments (see posts above), but we need to know the different ways to actually use our herbs once we've identified them.

I am not a medical doctor or professional, this is not meant to treat or diagnosis, it is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you or your loved one is sick, always seek medical care and advice from a trained medical practitioner of your choice. Never use herbs or herbal treatments without first doing research on that herb and its effects by a trusted source.

Resources for Using Medicinal Herbs at Home

No doubt about it you need a good reference guide for knowing how to use which herbs for what and the ways to prepare them.

Learn how to nourish your body with a natural medicine cabinet with items already in your spice and herb cabinet.

Grow your own culinary and medicinal herbs and learn how to easily preserve them to stock your pantry and medicine chest.

Easy guides and recipes to use your herbs in your own:

  • homemade soaps
  • herbal tinctures
  • nourishing lotions and soothing salves
  • tea

Plus our full herbal use medicinal chart. Get your copy of Hand Made: the Modern Guide to Made-from-Scratch Living by clicking here 

Beginner's Herb Guide–> Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbal Guide

Home Manual–> The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook

7 Ways to Use Medicinal Herbs at Home

1. Herbal Tea. Some herbs are meant to be ingested and brewing a strong tea is a good way to do this, especially for cough and colds as a warm tea will help soothe an irritated throat like little else. Some of our favorite medicinal herbs and those recommend by readers for this method include echinacea, licorice root (7 herbs for natural remedies for the cautions of this herb), ginger, lemon, and sage.

There are a few ways to make your tea, you can use fresh or dried leaves.

How to prepare herbal tea at home 

Fresh leaves: Rinse fresh herb leaves under cold running water and place about three large leaves in the bottom of a cup. Pour hot water over and allow to seep for up to 7  minutes.

Dried leaves: A tea ball (I use this stainless steel tea ball all the time and even have put spices in it when making jams or brines) or infuser works the best when using dried leaves. Fill your tea ball with dried leaves and pour hot water over and allow to seep for about 7 minutes, or to your desired strength.

Many people like a cup of chamomile tea at bedtime.

Flavoring options:

For therapeutic use I'll put some raw honey in my warm tea if I have a cough, otherwise I prefer not to add sugar, but if it needs some sweetness, then I use a few drops of this Stevia Extract.  I don't detect any bitter or weird after taste and have been using it for over a year now, I even use it when making sauces… shhh, don't tell my kids, they can't tell the difference.

Learn how to dry  your own herbs in our Ultimate Home Food Preservation Guide

2. Herbal Poultice. This is where you take the leaves (or sometimes root of the plant) and place them into a piece of gauze or muslin, apply to the affected area (feel like I'm at work typing out prescription instructions with that one) and leave it on for the preferred duration of time.

How to Prepare an Herbal Poultice

There are two ways to make a poultice, one is using the leaves and roots raw and the other is heating them.

For the raw poultice: finely chop up the leaves/roots or use your blender and make a puree. Place this into your gauze or muslin. For a case study and more in depth look at using comfrey for this method go here. 

For a hot poultice: Take the leaves/roots and place them in a saucepan with a double ratio of water to herb (example 1/4 cup herbs to 1/2 cup water), bring to a simmer and cook for a couple of minutes. For more information on this method check out how to make an herbal poultice and compress tutorial here.

How long to leave poultice on: The time will vary depending upon the ailment and the herb, for example, mustard poultice would not be left on for a long period of time due to its hot burning nature, where as a comfrey poultice might be left on for up to 24 hours. You need to replace your poultice regularly.

You'll want to use gauze or a breathable fabric over your poultice to keep the poultice in place and to help protect your clothing.

3. Infusion or Decoction. An herbal infusion is simply an herbal tea fully matured… instead of allowing the herbs to seep for minutes, you let the tea seep for an hour, putting it on super strength. Confession: I've done this with tea simple because I forgot about it.

A decoction is when you boil the smashed or chopped herb, root, or sometimes bark in water for and allow it to boil and seep for sometime, so basically, the extended hot water bath version of an infusion.

4. Syrup. I have to say if you have children or picky finicky people in your household, then a syrup will probably be your easiest option as far as compliance goes. Medicinal syrups are shelf stable and last longer than infusions or decoctions, which means you can make them ahead of time so when you're not feeling up to par, you don't have to deal with making something, it'll be ready to go.

To make the syrup you'll start out making a decoction and then add in your sweetener. For full instructions here is a great tutorial on how to make medicinal syrups.

5. Tincture. A tincture is basically making a homemade extract, in fact, that's exactly what it is. You can use either alcohol or apple cider vinegar, though your shelf life is better with alcohol and less chance of mold. Here's how to make extract, or mint tincture, swap out any herb for different tinctures.

Tinctures can be taken by themselves, added into syrups or salves and lotions.

6. Salves, balms, creams and lotions. Many homemade salves, balms, creams and lotions, even lip balm will benefit from the addition of medicinal herbs. Usually this is done by infusing your oil with the herbs of your choice. This is a really simple procedure but takes a bit of planning ahead.

Learn more on making all of these yourself at home in the Hand Made Masterclass here

To infuse oil with herbs watch our totally FREE video training with both the traditional method and the fast I need it now method, both are easy click here to make your own herbal infused oil.

Place jar in a sunny windowsill and allow it to seep for 6 to 8 weeks, shaking every few days or so. After 8 weeks, strain herbs and keep use infused oil in recipe of your choice.

Tip: Olive oil works well for this as coconut oil solidifies at 76 degrees. I love to do this with calendula blossoms and it's the base for my Homemade Soothing Salve featured in The Made-From-Scratch Life: Simple Ways to Create a Natural Home along with other awesome recipes and tips for natural living.

Another favorite is this homemade peppermint salve for dry skin. 

7. Herbal Steams. An herbal steam not only makes your house smell wonderful while eliminating those fake chemicals in other scented options, but it has therapeutic benefits as well. I enjoy cooking on our wood stove during the winter months and also like to put a kettle of water on to act as a humidifier, but adding some medicinal herbs to the mixture will punch things up even further.

You can use any herbs you like, but for congestion both peppermint and eucalyptus are favorites, however people who are sensitive to seizures, infants, or young children should proceed with caution.

Add herbs to a pot of water and allow to lightly simmer. Or, you can add herbs to a heat proof bowl and pour just simmered hot water over it.

Want to use more old-fashioned natural remedies? Grab our Seasonal Wild Edibles Foraging Guide 

4 Tips on How to Start a Fire w/out Matches or Lighters Outdoors

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When it's cold, there is nothing as welcoming as a nice crackling fire. I've been known to cozy on up to our wood stove many a chilly damp night.

f you don't know how to start and build a fire outdoors without matches or lighters, you need to read this immediately. It's an important skill that could save your life! Great tips and a video.

Having a fire is a basic skill that human's have used since the beginning of time and it can literally save your life. But, if you've never built and maintained a fire before, it can be a little bit harder than you'd think, especially if you use the wrong fuel or techniques. Hello, all smoke, sting my eyes till I'm crying, no heat, and now I'm cold and mad.

Let's erase that last sentence. Because you my friend, are going to skip all over that whole part, and go straight for the crackling, flames dancing, high five you just built your first fire kind of thing.

4 Tips on How to Start a Fire

First thing you need is a means to start a fire. Obviously, there's matches and lighters, which are what most people use on a daily/regular basis. You should have them on hand, especially a set of strike anywhere matches. Keep them dry, wet and fire are not friends.

However, a true fire builder and preparedness person, will have another way to start a fire that doesn't require constantly purchasing the item from a store. This is the friction method, and though you can rub two sticks together, I recommend investing in a magnesium fire striker. It's a one time purchase and when done correctly, produces a fire very quickly. (However, when not done correctly you can sit there for 15 minutes and a blister for your trouble, check out my video for two simple tips to avoid that and get your fire started super quick!)

We bought this fire striker for my son for his birthday and he had much better luck with it
than the smaller strikers–> Exotac polyStriker XL

Second thing you need is tinder. This is what your baby fire will eat to grow. Many folks will use a crumpled up paper bag or newspaper. Dry moss, dry grass, small dry wood shavings (are ya getting the dry part 🙂 ), and one of my favorites, is dryer lint.

Third thing is your kindling. This can be small pieces of dry wood or actual small dry twigs and sticks. But they need to be small for our little flames.

How to keep your fire going

When your fire is first started, in your excitement, it can be tempting to pile a whole bunch of wood on top of your flames to make sure your fire doesn't burn out, but fire needs oxygen and you may end up smothering it. The best way is to add two to three pieces of wood in a teepee fashion to ensure enough air flows between the wood.

Fourth thing is larger fuel. This is small to medium pieces of wood and last, you'll put on regular pieces of firewood or logs.

A note about wood. You're going to want seasoned or dry wood. If you use green or wet wood, then you're going to be producing smoke, lots of creosote, and very little heat. Green wood is when you fell a living tree and the moisture in the wood hasn't had a chance to dry out yet, we want seasoned or dry wood.

Hard wood will burn hot and for a longer period of time than a soft word. Maple is a good all around choice where we live.

And though it's not life or death, every campfire needs something to cook on in it and though it's not very pioneerish, s'mores are my favorite. So get your fired started and invite me over, I've got my roasting stick and Dutch oven ready!

6 Old-time Natural Remedies That Work

by 26 Comments

Ever wonder if those old-time natural remedies really worked? I love old-fashioned things, but I also know some things we used to do way back when just weren't smart. That's what we're looking at today my friend, the smart things!

Seems everywhere I look, people are turning back to the old ways. There's something to be said from our mother's, grandmother's, great-grandmother's wisdom, or great-great-grandmother (you whippersnapper you).

Want to use natural remedies that actually work? These are 6 old-time cures your grandmother and great-grandparents used that actually work. Grab these now for the next you or a loved one is feeling under the weather.

One of my favorite things is learning about old-fashioned skills I can use in my every day modern life. You, too? Ahh, I love kindred spirits. And because we're kindred spirits you need to make sure you get yourself on this Pioneering Today Free newsletter to get our weekly old-fashioned tips and articles, and our Ultimate Home Food Preservation Guide, putting up food like our great-grandparents!

I bet when you come down with the sniffles or common ailments, your mother or grandmother had a bunch of different remedies she'd recommend. Some of them are plain odd and really have no place accept for the fondness of telling the tale.

My grandmother told my mother quite seriously when she was pregnant with me to never lift her hands above her head or the cord would tangle around the baby's neck. And she seriously meant it. My grandmother was a smart woman, she survived the Great Depression and was widowed twice. She had her last child in her forties. She could squeeze four quarters and a penny out of a dime. But some of the things she was taught about medical things, we now know to not be true.

Resource for Old-Time Ways and Living

One of my absolute favorite old-timey ways is the Foxfire Books! I purchased the first of our set for my husband for Christmas, and they instantly became one of my favorite treasures. Full of pictures and old-fashioned wisdom from the Appalachians, you're going to love them.

This is the edition I have with over 100 page section on herbal remedies–> Fox Fire Book 11

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You have to take old-time remedies with a grain of salt and do a bit of investigating before using them. After researching common old-time advice and “cures” this is a list of 6 that have been proven or have evidence that they actually work. This isn't an exhaustive list, but a great place to start. We'll be diving further into herbal medicine and treatments coming up soon!

6 Old-Time Natural Remedies that Work

1.Chicken soup is good for a cold. Grandma knew her stuff on this one. Chicken soup is good for a cold and there's science to prove it, even though us homesteaders knew it before they did, cuz we're cool like that. This article from the New York Times says: “In a study done in 2000 by Dr. Stephen Rennard at the University of Nebraska, lab tests on both homemade and commercial chicken soup with blood samples from volunteers, showed that chicken soup could help reduce upper respiratory symptoms.”

Homemade chicken soup made with traditional bone broth and lots of vegetables is going to be even more beneficial. As we move into cold and flu season, I recommend stocking up on your stock. (You got that little pun, right?) Here's How to Make and Bone Broth & 5 Ways to Preserve It

2. Mustard plaster for chest congestion. My husband's mother and grandmother swore by this one and he still remembers having to wear the stinky mustard plaster. This is one of those that goes both ways. It's actually better for sore muscles and pain because it's a counter irritant (good info here on the actual enzyme), think capsacian cream, and warms the skin.

Note: mustard plaster applied directly to the skin can result in blistering burns! Do not apply it directly to the skin. Here are instructions on how to make a mustard plaster, application and how long to leave it on. 

3. Baking soda for a bee sting. My daughter was stung by a bee a few weeks ago. The sting itself wasn't hurting, but she was itching it like crazy. I mixed up a paste of baking soda and water and applied it directly to the sting. It took away the itching and she was back to playing and running around in no time. This gets a thumbs up as works for me!

Note: If you're allergic to bees or suspect an allergic reaction, Benadryl or Diphenhydramine is always smart, along with a call to a Doctor.

4. Inhaling steam. When your nose is congested and you feel like you can't breath, take a hot shower, fill a sink or pot with hot water and make a tent. Take a towel and cover your head with it while leaning over the hot water, trapping the steam and allowing you to breathe it in. Make sure you use common sense and don't burn yourself. The steam will help loosen up your congestion (sounds much nicer than saying snot, right?) and allow you to cough up the ick easier.

Menthol (derived from the mint family) is often used in humidifiers and as aroma therapy and you can try adding a vaporizer or diffusing the oil to help. However, some small children and others may have sensitivities to peppermint and especially eucalyptus, so it' s not recommended to use this method with infants or small children. Watch for any signs of irritation when using this method of adding in the menthol family to your steam.

5. Honey. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down…. well, actually, if you're using good raw honey, your medicine is in the sugar. A cup of warm honey tea with a bit of lemon doesn't just help warm you up, it actually helps your cough symptom.

Honey is now being (again, us homesteaders were ahead of the curve on this one, because we're cool that way) recommended as a cough suppressant in the medical community instead of over-the-counter products. Is there anything more cool than being able to use your food storage as your medicine cabinet, too?

Here's an article from the MayoClinic that talks about honey being an excellent cough suppressant all on its own.

I prefer local raw honey for all of the benefits it offers. If you can find a local bee keeper or local source, I'd go with that, otherwise look for raw honey at your local co-op or grocery store.

Learn how to make this ginger infused honey for a powerful two for one punch!

Note: Do not give honey to children under 1 years-old due to the risk of botulism. 

6. Ginger for nausea and upset stomach. If you had an upset stomach, there's a good chance your granny might have given you some ginger tea. Turns out, ginger is actually a powerhouse in the medicine cabinet and can be used for not only nausea and upset stomach, but also for headaches, arthritis pain, and cold feet. Check out this article from WebMD on the powers of ginger.

Note: Ginger works well for helping soothe an upset stomach, but if you're on blood thinning medications or have a blood clotting disorder (such as my daughter) you shouldn't use ginger. 

6 Rules for Bartering Success

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Learn how to purchase goods like our great-great-grandparents did with the old-fashioned art of bartering. These 6 rules will help you make the best deals and learn where to begin bartering in your area. Love these old timey tips, good for being prepared, too.

Bartering is a life skill our ancestors knew how to use and used often, but in today's society, bartering isn't as common practice as it used to be. However, bartering is a skill still used by many and is definitely something any self-respecting homesteader, preparedness, or self-sufficiency person will want in their tool chest.

Bartering is simply using something you posses in exchange for something someone else has. Actually, it's the same thing as using money, because we've put a value on money ( though the value of our money today is definitely up for debate) and set the value of the item we're buying at a certain amount. However, for the sake of this article and most references to bartering, it is the means of exchanging goods without money.

Watching someone experienced with bartering is like watching a skilled dancer and partner go through an intricate dance so effortlessly, you don't realize how hard the dance is until you try it for yourself, and discover you not only step on your partner's toes, but your own as well. Of if you me, you might end up tripping yourself.

My father grew up during the Great Depression and has bartering skills like no other I've seen. He learned from people where this was a way of life, when people didn't have money, but they had other things and got by just fine without it. Credit cards were unheard of and purchasing things on credit has never been something my father has ever practiced.

He's never demanding or rude, but can move through the negotiations smoother than freshly spun silk. Even witnessing his negotiations my whole life, I still don't have his depth of skill and have even had him go with us when we purchased a used truck last year.

But, I have learned a lot from watching his negotiations and want to share those with you.

6 Rules for Bartering Success

First rule of bartering, you have to have something someone else considers valuable. You can't come to the table without anything to offer.

However, it doesn't necessarily have to be something that's tangible. You can barter a skill set in exchange for another skill set. For example, you might know how to fall a tree, but need help with some electrical work. Your neighbor or an acquaintance is an electrician who needs a tree fell on his property. You agree to fall the tree and he agrees to wire your shed for you or install a new light on your house.

Neither of you actually bartered an item, but a service, a skill set. We've used this type of bartering many a time.

It can also be a combination of skill set traded for an item or help. For example, we had a large amount of fire wood, more than my husband and I could chop, stack, and clean up. So we offered our neighbor some of the wood if he helped us chop it up in exchange for his help. Worked great!

Second rule of bartering, both parties need to feel that they received a good deal. Nobody likes to feel like they got the short end of the stick. And if you plan on staying in an area and bartering, you don't want to be known as a cheat or someone who is unfair, at least, I wouldn't. You'll find it harder to find someone to barter with and frankly, I don't think any of us want to be known as someone who takes advantage of others.

Now, you might be bartering something that you don't have much use for or doesn't seem important to you, but if the other person places a high value on it, then they're going to be thrilled with deal. It's all in the eye of the beholder, right?

Third rule, know what you value the item at. In other words, know what you're willing to take for the item and what you're not before you begin bartering, and don't budge. Sometimes, in the heat of the barter, you might take less or make a trade for less than you really want. If you tell yourself ahead of time, you're less likely to budge from what you want.

This doesn't necessarily mean the dollar value of an item, but what you're willing to exchange it for. Say you have a saddle, but no longer have a horse or ride anymore, you might have paid several hundred (or thousands, depending upon the saddle) dollars for this saddle, but it's useless to you at the moment. However, you might really be in need of a tiller for your garden. So even if the tiller is less expensive than your saddle, you'd be willing to trade because the tiller is much more valuable to you than the saddle, especially when you count in the amount of food you'll be able to grow on the newly tilled land.

Fourth rule, don't be in a huge hurry. There's a certain art to negotiation and it often involves several back and fourths, though not always. If you already determined what you'll take for the item, and the person you're bartering with isn't willing to give you what you want, be okay with walking away. You might find something better to barter on or the person may see you're not budging and come back and accept your deal.

Fifth rule, let the other person present the first offer. If possible, let the other person offer up the first terms of the bargain or negotiation. This lets you know how much they value your item at and what value they're putting on their own and gives you a bit of an advantage. It's not always possible and doesn't mean if you go first that you'll end up on the lower end of the deal, but if possible, see if the other party will go first.

Sixth rule, don't show your excitement too soon. I'm horrible at playing poker. I wear my emotions on my face and if I really want something, it's hard for me not to show it. But when bartering, you don't want to show too much enthusiasm too fast, as not all people adhere to our second rule and play fair. If you show you really want an item, they might drive a harder bargain than they would have previously.

Where to barter? 

There are many places to barter, even more so now with social media and the internet. There are usually bartering groups for your county or city on Facebook.

There are often swap meets or bartering fairs in cities. Flea markets are another place you can barter.

A reader shared with me there was a bartering fair in a wooded area near his home. There were blankets and other handmade goods available for barter, but the most sought after item for bartering were 100 pound bags of wheat. And if you've been following our food storage series, you know wheat is an item I recommend stocking up on, and in bulk (6 Tips for Buying Food in Bulk)

Check the local section of newspapers or bulletin boards for bartering places or meetings.

Never be afraid to ask someone if they're willing to barter or accept something else in exchange for an item. You'll never know unless you ask.

Do you have any tips for bartering?

5 Reasons Dehydrated Food is a Preparedness Must & 5 Tips for Dehydrating at Home

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Want to be prepared with food storage that is portable and doesn't take up much space? Learn how to dehydrate food at home (awesome free guide that covers dehydrating everything, did you know you could dehydrate liquid at home?) Grab this now!

Dehydrating food is an excellent way to preserve your food, build your own pantry, cut down on your food bill, and up your preparedness level. In fact, dehydrating could be called the prepper and survivalists top food preservation mode.

Benefits of Dehydrated Food for Storage

Removing the moisture from food allows it to store indefinitely in proper conditions, making it a preferable choice for the preparedness minded individual. Smoking is another form of dehydrating food and creates delicious meats and cheeses, as well as preserving them. Learn how to smoke cheese at home here.

Dehydrating allows you to harvest your food in season and preserve it for year round eating. From foraging, to harvesting from your garden, or even purchasing food in season, dehydrating lets you build your own food supply for year round use. Note: Dehydrating or freezing is the only safe way to preserve wild mushrooms as canning is not recommended for wild mushrooms.

One of the beauties of dehydrating food is its portability and ease of storage. When all of the moisture is removed from the food, it shrinks up considerably. This is done either through salt or the movement of cold or hot air through the food. Because organisms that cause food spoilage need moisture to grow, dehydrating them makes the food a perfect candidate for long term food storage. Plus, unlike a freezer, dehydrated food requires no electricity to maintain its stability.

Check out this, when dehydrated, one pound of fresh apples becomes just two ounces. Each food will vary on the how much it shrinks down, but you can see why dehydrated food quickly becomes essential when you’re on the go or for bug out bags. Some dehydrated foods needs water for reconstitution, but many items can be eaten as is, which is ideal in emergency situations.

Fruit leather, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, apples, peaches, pears, bananas, pineapple, and zucchini chips are all easily eaten without reconstitution or the need to soak in water. Plus, they’re quite delicious and packed with nutrients.

While I love home canned food for many reasons, you can’t beat dehydrated food for the ease of carrying or storage. From meals on the go, to hiking and camping, in your emergency bag or extended times in the wilderness, you can pack much more dehydrated food than any other form. Dehydrated food requires no refrigeration and very little storage space. It can easily fit in backpacks, purses, or pockets.

Resources for Dehydrating Food at Home

Drying food is one of the old traditional methods of food preservation known to man. In hot climates, food can be dehydrated simply by laying it out in the sun on a screen or rack. A solar Sun Oven (which I'm so grateful Sun Oven sent to me in exchange for my review, because I was skeptical of it working in the Pacific Northwest where sun isn't something we have a lot of, but it has quickly become my new favorite toy) is also an off-grid dehydrator!

Off-grid dehydrator–> Solar Sun Oven and Preparedness Accessories 

Frugal dehydrator–> Nesco Dehydrator It's 42% off at the time of this posting!! I purchased this dehydrator two years ago when my garage sale one bit the dust and have been very happy with it.

I'm never buying another dehydrator again–> Excalibur Dehydrator

5 Tips for How to Dehydrate Food at Home

For optimal long term storage, dehydrated foods should be stored in a dark cool area in an airtight or vacuum-sealed container. Pantry shelves or cupboards work well, but under beds or anywhere out of direct light is fine.

Grab your free copy of the Ultimate Home Food Preservation Guide

The foods you can dehydrate are limitless, from fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, to meat, and even liquid. You can make your own soup mixes, fruit leather, jerky, beans, onion and garlic powders, powdered cultures, to powdered eggs. Grab access to all of our free tutorials for dehydrating to build up your home food storage and sign up here!

Canning tomatoes? Save the skins you'd normally discard and dehydrate them, then grind up into a tomato powder for use later in sauces and soups.

There are many options for dehydrating your food from hanging meat on racks next to a warm outdoor fire for smoking, to racks indoors next to your wood stove, and in your oven if it goes down to 150 degrees. You can dry herbs by hanging them upside down in bunches in a dry warm area for about a week.

When dehydrating your food, the biggest tip is to chop or slice all of your food as close to the same size as possible. The more uniform, the more they’ll dry at the same rate. An easy way to do this is to use a mandolin. Another option is a food chopper for items that need to be chopped or minced instead of sliced.

Want to be prepared with food storage that is portable and doesn't take up much space? Learn how to dehydrate food at home (awesome free guide that covers dehydrating everything, did you know you could dehydrate liquid at home?) Grab this now!

Think about how you want to use the food before drying. If you’re drying apples, do you want apple rings to eat as snacks, or wedges to use in pies and desserts, or chunks to add to oatmeal? You might decide to dry some in all forms, but thinking it out ahead of time will be key.

Place your food on the dehydrator trays. Make sure none of the food is touching one another. You want the air to be able to circulate all the way around each piece. Fruits don’t put off much odor, so you can dry different fruits at the same time.

Strong odor items like onions and garlic should be dried by themselves or you’ll have onion flavored strawberries. Some folks will put their dehydrator outside or in the garage when drying onions and garlic if the smell is too strong.

Select the appropriate setting on your dehydrator. Be sure to check on the food periodically throughout the drying time. You’ll want to rotate trays, especially if one tray is drying faster than the others.

Use the manual times as a guideline as the time it takes to dry your food will vary upon your climate, how thick you cut the food, and how much water it had in it to begin with. For storage purposes, you can’t over dry your food. The drier, the longer it will store. Some people prefer their fruit to be dry but still flexible, while others prefer it on the crisper side.

Once your food is dried to your liking, you’ll want to package it. You can place them in Mason jars and use a vacuum sealer attachment to make it air tight. You can use mylar or vacuum sealer bags. Another option is to double bag Ziploc bags and squeeze as much air out as possible. Be sure to always mark your containers with the date for proper food rotation in your pantry.

Learn how to dehydrate fruit at home to save money and build up your food storage. This simple tip will cut hours off your dehydrating time. Grab this now to preserve the summer berry and fruit harvest.

To reconstitute vegetables, soak them for 10 minutes to 2 hours, but no longer, as they can start to spoil if soaked too long. They’ll return to almost fresh state and cook as you would regularly.

Want to save hours and days of drying time when dehydrating berries? Here's our complete tutorial on How to Dehydrate Berries the Easy Way. 

6 Things to Do for Fun When the Power is Out

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When the power goes out, how long can you go before boredom sets in? For most American households, the television or some form of electronics is the go to for something to do. But when the power is out, so is your t.v. and once the batteries die, there goes the electronics.

Tired of your families entertainment relying on television and electronics? These 6 activities are perfect for when the power goes out, but really, are things we should all be doing in every day life. Do you practice any of these regularly? Our great-grandparents might have been onto a few things we need to remember.

If your power is out for only a few hours, this isn't such a big deal, but when it's out for days or weeks, you'll come to realize how much you did rely on said television or computer for entertainment.

My father remembers when the first television came to the valley where he lives. Everyone piled into see it, but it was years before most families had one. In face, when I was growing up (which wasn't that long ago) we had a television, but there was no cable (still isn't) where we live. If you turned the antenna just right and there was snow on the mountain, and the wind wasn't blowing, you could get a fuzzy show on one channel and sound. No joke.

I never had a Nintendo or Atari (really going back now, aren't we?). Which might be why I love Laura Ingalls so much. I related to her and adored her stories.

If we look at generations past, we see how folks used to spend their leisure time.

6 Things to Do For Fun When the Power is Out

1. Reading. Big surprise, but books were a treasure. Many people only had one or two and they would reread these treasures over and over again. How spoiled we are today, where we have millions of books at our finger tips.

Though I do love my Kindle, it's not best to rely on during a prolonged power outage. Besides, there's nothing quite like the weight and feel of a physical book in one's hands. Because I know many of you are pioneer and homesteading fans like myself, I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favorite novels and you can do the same in the comments!

Christy by Catherine Marshall. I can't believe I just now read this wonderful story. My grandparents lived in the gaps and hollers of North Carolina's Appalachian mountains and I felt like I'd traveled back in time to my grandmother's youth.

Emma of Aurora by Jane Kirkpatrick. This trilogy is delightful-and the paperback of all 3 books is on sale! This story ranges from Missouri to Washington (which makes it a fun read for a native like myself) and shows the hardship of the time along with the beauty.

Cadence of Grace series by Joanne Bischof. This series is seriously one of my favorite ever. I cried with Lonnie and Gideon and my feet trudged up the mountain and down into the twists of the hollers with them. You'll be enchanted with the homespun setting and love the twists and turns that develop.

Ways to become more self-sufficient of course, The Made-From-Scratch Life, not only life changing information, recipes and how-to's, but true stories of hope and humor.

2. Board and card games. This is one of our favorites and we frequently bring out card games to play. One word, make sure you have a print out of different card games and the rules, because you might not be able to look them up online… or you'll end up making our own rules, which can be fun as well. We like to play Spoons with the cards as it's a game all of the kids can enjoy and understand.

3. Handwork. Quilting, embroidery, crocheting and knitting are all ways to not only pass the time, but also create both things of purpose and beauty. While I sew, I give my daughter a small piece of scrap fabric to practice on. I've gotten many a Christmas presents done when the power is out.

Again, make sure your patterns are printed out or you have a physical book, for crocheting and knitting.

4. Music. Playing an instrument or picking parties were a thing of many weekend nights back in the day. There's something about music that soothes the soul and it can do wonders when you've been without entertainment.

It shouldn't be saved just for emergency situations, but something enjoyed all the time. If you know how to play an instrument, make sure you take out and keep in practice, along with  maintenance care. If you don't know how to play, consider beginning lessons now. Life is too short to not have music.

My grandfather was an expert fiddle player. He actually played in Loretta Lynn's band and I miss listening to him make those strings sing! My mother plays guitar and I enjoy singing with her. I can play a little guitar, but I haven't kept up on my practicing, so I need to take my own advice there.

My husband is a sawyer for guitar tops and beings he cuts the tops for these, we're kind of partial to Taylor Guitars.  They do make a fine guitar, if I do say so myself.

I play the flute and you'll want to make sure you have sheet music, and perhaps a few new songs to learn to keep busy as well, unless you're one of those blessed people who can play by ear. If that's the case, I'll do my best not to be envious, because that's just not nice…

5. Go for a stroll. There's something to be said for meandering for pure enjoyment. Many times we're outside when we're exercising, working on chores, feeding animals, and not that we can't have or don't have enjoyment in that, but there is something wonderful about just strolling. Find a wooded path, or an open field, along a river bank or the curve of a stream. Even one a paved street and watch the way flowers and clover creep onto the pavement, a silent statement that no matter what us humans do, nature and God will gently and persistently still exist.

6. Visit with your family and neighbors. How often do you have your neighbors over for a meal and visit? Our ancestors probably did a better job at this than we do, even though you'd think we'd have more time with all of our modern conveniences. But I'm not sure that's really true. There is nothing like a good conversation spent in the company of friends. It's amazing how swiftly time passes when we're visiting up a storm.

Even though I intended this to be a guide for entertainment when the power is out, I really think it could and should be a guide for every day living. I think we'd all be happier if we did these a bit more often, how about you?

Grab our other posts in this series 10 Ways to Keep Warm When the Power is Out and 4 Things You Need When the Lights Are Out

10 Ways to Keep Warm Without Electricity

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No one likes to be cold, unless you're Olaf (yes, my daughter is part of the Frozen frenzy). When the power goes out, having a way to keep warm becomes a top priority.

We have a wood stove, which acts as our heat source, part light with the glass front, and the top is designed for cooking, so like any good homesteading or preparedness tool, it serves three functions.

If you have a wood stove or propane heat source, then being without power isn’t that big of a deal for you in regards to staying warm.

 

Stormy window with text overlay "10 Ways to Stay Warm Without Electricity" Pinterest Pin.

But if you rely on electricity for your heat source, then you’re teeth are going to be chattering and in the middle of winter, could lead up to a very bad situation.

This advice will serve you well not only at home without power, but if you’re out in the elements as well. The most efficient material for warmth is wool. It can be itchy, but when it comes to keeping you warm, nothing is better than fur or wool. It was made by nature and God to keep an animal warm and safe when out in the exposed elements and it will do the same for you.

10 Ways to Stay Warm Without Electricity

1. The more body heat we can contain around us, the warmer we'll be. Put a snug fitting wool hat on your head that fits down over your ears. You’ll instantly begin to feel warmer.

Our body will do its best to keep our internal organs protected, even at the expense of our limbs. This means if you keep your core warm, you’ll also be keeping your extremities warmer, too.

2. Layering is your best bet. You want to make sure you bottom layer (the fabric against your skin) will wick away moisture. If you sweat in cotton, and then it turns cold, the wet fabric will begin to suck all the body heat straight out of you. Not a good thing. Many folks like these shirts as their base layer.

A wool or wool blend long sleeved shirt as your next layer will give you lots of warmth. You can then layer on a vest or coat if needed.

3. Don’t forget about your toes. A pair of thick wool blend socks (can I get a prize for saying wool the most times in a single article?) will keep your feet warm, especially when paired with a pair of lined boots. Of course, in doors, you probably won’t need the boots unless you’re in freezing conditions for a long period of time.

4. Gloves are another must. I really like this pair of wool fingerless gloves with the mittens that flap over (double bonus, they have a place for heat packets!! This way, I don’t have to take off my gloves when I need to chop wood or use my fingers for a few minutes. Because I don’t know about you, but I tend to fumble everything with gloves on, my fingers just don’t work right in them.

You may also like our 11 Ways to Cook Off-Grid without Electricity

For Tips 5 through 10 nextpagearrow