Best Rain Barrels for Garden Watering: 4 Top Picks
Four rain barrels worth buying for garden watering, compared honestly by capacity, spigot quality, and price, from a budget collapsible tank to a decorative urn
Homesteading
From backyard chickens to canning jars — practical guides for building a more self-sufficient life, no matter where you live.
18 articles
Best Raised Garden Beds for Beginner Vegetable Gardens
The best raised garden beds for beginners, compared honestly by material, soil depth, and real price, so your first vegetable garden gets off the ground.
Best Beekeeping Starter Kits for Your Backyard
The four best beginner beekeeping starter kits on Amazon, from all-inclusive kits with bee suits to premium quality hives. What to look for and which to buy first.
Best Water Bath Canning Supplies for Beginners
The water bath canning supplies you need to start preserving at home: a reliable starter kit, the right jars, and the guide that explains it all.
Best Vacuum Sealers for Home Use That Actually Work
Three top-rated vacuum sealers for home food preservation, from the dual-pump Nesco VS-12 to budget-friendly options. Picks for homesteaders and meal preppers.
Best Cheese Making Kits for Beginners Worth Buying
The four best beginner cheese making kits on Amazon, from 30-minute mozzarella to a 10-variety kit. Honest picks from a homesteading mom who loves fermenting.
Best Pressure Canners for Home Canning: A Practical Guide
The best pressure canners for home canning, from a beginner-friendly digital model to the All American that lasts a lifetime. Honest picks from someone who tested them.
Best Food Dehydrators for Home Use, Tested & Compared
The best food dehydrators for home use, from beginner-friendly budget picks to the Excalibur 9-tray, tested and compared for homesteaders and home cooks.
Best Fermentation Supplies for Beginners at Home
Starting to ferment at home? These are the fermentation supplies that actually worked for me as a beginner, from airlock lids to a stoneware crock.
Best Seed Starting Supplies for Your Home Garden
The seed starting supplies that actually work, from sturdy trays to the right growing mix and a heat mat that changed my germination rate completely.
Growing Herbs at Home: A Complete Beginner's Guide
Learn how to grow herbs at home, the best herbs for beginners, indoor vs outdoor growing, harvesting tips, and how to preserve your herbs for year-round use.
The Best Homesteading Tools You Can Find on Amazon
My favorite homesteading tools and supplies on Amazon, garden essentials, canning gear, chicken supplies, and more. Tried, tested, and actually worth buying.
Composting for Beginners: Kitchen Scraps to Garden Gold
Everything you need to know about starting a compost system at home, bin vs pile, what to compost, green-to-brown ratios, and indoor composting options.
Homestead Pantry Essentials for a Stocked Kitchen
How to build a well-stocked homestead pantry with essential staples, from-scratch basics, smart storage tips, and a rotation system that actually works.
Beginner's Guide to Canning: Preserve Food Safely
Learn the basics of home canning, water bath vs pressure canning, essential equipment, easy first recipes, and safety tips every beginner needs to know.
How to Start a Vegetable Garden: Beginner's Guide
A no-nonsense beginner's guide to starting a vegetable garden. What to plant first, soil basics, raised beds vs in-ground, and seasonal planning made simple.
Backyard Chickens: A Beginner's Guide to Your First Flock
Everything you need to know about raising backyard chickens as a beginner, breeds, coops, feeding, eggs, and the mistakes I wish someone had warned me about.
Getting Started with Homesteading: A Suburban Guide
Ready to start homesteading but don't have acres of land? Here's how to embrace the homestead mindset and build practical skills wherever you live.