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        <category>Self Sufficiency</category>

        <copyright>2009-2011 copyright 404 MEDIA LLC, all rights reserved.</copyright>

        <language>en-us</language>

        <title>Life Unplugged - Modern Homesteading and Self Sufficiency Resources</title>

        <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net</link>

        <description>Modern Homesteading Resources</description>

        <pubDate>7/25/2011</pubDate>

        <item>

            <title>6 Secrets of the Frugal Shopper</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/everythingelse/6-secrets-of-the-frugal-shopper.aspx</link>

            <description>Check out these simple and surprising ways you can save money.  Take advantage of coupons, get the best deals on auto and home insurance, and perhaps most importantly learn how to spend less!</description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Efficient, Long Lasting Metal Roofing</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/greenbuilding/efficient-long-lasting-metal-roofing-diy.aspx</link>

            <description>Relegated to covering barns and sheds for decades, metal roofing has become a popular choice for residential roofing. See what has changed and a metal roof may be in your future.</description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Enjoy the 'Carpe Diem Acreage' Blog</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/modern-homesteading-blogs.aspx</link>

            <description>Carpe Diem Acreage is described as 'a family of four trying to improve our lifestyle by living a more simple life in a complicated modern world'.  Enjoy the recipes and stories that they have to share from their small homestead.</description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Book Review - The Complete Book of Butchering, Smoking, Curing, and Sausage Making - How to Harvest your Livestock and Wild Game</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/reviews/complete-book-of-butchering-smoking-curing-sausage-making.aspx</link>

            <description>The Complete Book of Butchering, Smoking, Curing, and Sausage Making, written by Philip Hasheider and published by Voyageur Press, is a must have for anyone interested in home meat processing.</description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Discover the Self Sufficiency Blog from Herne Cottage</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/modern-homesteading-blogs.aspx</link>

            <description>Self Sufficiency Blog from Herne Cottage is maintained by a self proclaimed 'dreamer' based in Buckinghamshire, UK. This couple is working to become self-sufficient in a semi-rural cottage. The site has great pictures and posts are interesting. Visit the site to see how they progress on future projects of adding bees, chickens, and goats.</description>

        </item>

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            <title>Getting Started with Beekeeping</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/getting-started-with-beekeeping.aspx</link>

            <description>Getting started with beekeeping is a great way to explore alternative livestock if you are starting on the road to self-sufficiency. Bees are easy to get started and the results of your efforts can be very rewarding.</description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Enjoy the Achorn Farm Blog</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/modern-homesteading-blogs.aspx</link>

            <description>Achorn Farm consists of a 200 year old farmhouse, on 100 acres of land, maintained by l loving family.  Follow along on their journey to self sufficiency as they raise crops, livestock, and children.  Achorn Farm is frequently updated with interesting posts and great photos.</description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Making Bio-Diesel for Self Sufficiency</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/alternative-fuels/how-to-make-bio-diesel.aspx</link>

            <description>Making bio-diesel is an idea that is gaining popularity with backyard enthusiasts and corporate processors. Best of all, it can be made from multiple components and bio-diesel processing is very scalable; make a single gallon or a hundred based on your need and facilities.</description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Making Hard Apple Cider</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/making-hard-apple-cider.aspx</link>

            <description>Making hard apple cider at home is a fun and easy way to tap into a lost piece of Americana. Hard apple cider could be stored for long periods in wooden kegs or glass bottles and the modest alcohol content meant it would be safe to drink when clean water was not available. With a minimum of equipment and ingredients, you too can make tasty hard apple cider at home!</description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Benefits of Solar Water Heaters</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/alternativeenergy/benefits-of-a-solar-water-heater.aspx</link>

            <description>Utilizing solar energy to meet your water heating needs is one of the most economical ways to implement alternative energy on your homestead. Solar water heaters are can function in nearly any climate and are a great solution for people living off grid.</description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Gathering Wild Nuts</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/gathering-wild-nuts.aspx</link>

            <description>Wild nuts are most abundant in the eastern and central portions of the United States, but almost every region has one variety or another.</description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Learn How to Brew Beer</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/learn-how-to-brew-beer.aspx</link>

            <description>Before mega-breweries began plastering their logos at every sporting event, beer was handcrafted in small batches. Forget the commercial, watered-down beer you're accustomed to and discover what has been lost by brewing your own beer at home.</description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Harvesting Rainwater with Rain Barrels</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/everythingelse/harvesting-rainwater-with-rain-barrels.aspx</link>

            <description>According to the University of Rhode Island, using rain barrels can save a single household up to 1,300 gallons of water each summer. While you can't drink the water -- at least without first filtering it -- it can be used for almost anything else. Few measures so simple can make such a dramatic contribution towards a sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle. </description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Save Energy and Eat Fresh; Unplug Your Refrigerator</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/storing-food-without-a-refrigerator.aspx</link>

            <description>According to the U.S. Department of Energy, refrigerators use more power than any other commonly owned appliance -- about twice as much as a dishwasher. Believe it or not, going fridge-free isn't as hard as it sounds and some of the benefits may surprise you.</description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Building a Cordwood Home</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/greenbuilding/build-a-cordwood-home.aspx</link>

            <description>Building with cordwood is a great way to construct a unique and energy efficient green home from locally grown wood and scrap wood found on your property. Cordwood homes are pleasing to the eye and require very little maintenance.</description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Start a Dog Day Care Business at Home</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/homejobs/start-a-dog-day-care-business-at-home.aspx</link>

            <description>While thinking over the possibilities of small business ideas, a neighbor asked if I could take her dog while she attended a conference, and said she would be glad to pay me for the service. I ve been a dog-owner and dog-lover all my life: this was just the business I had been hoping for and it fell into my lap.</description>

        </item>

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            <title>Gathering Wild Fruits and Vegetables</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/gathering-wild-fruits-vegetables.aspx</link>

            <description>Hundreds of varieties of wild fruits and vegetables can be found in the United States, many of which undoubtedly grow overlooked in your own yard. In fact, most wild plants are edible and many are both delicious and packed with nutrients.</description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Want to be on Television?</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/submit-letter-of-interest.aspx</link>

            <description>Are you trading in your cul-de-sac for a cabin? Or just tossing the kids' toys as you plan to downsize from a McMansion to a city-based rowhome? A prominent television production company is developing a series profiling families opting to trade in their status quo lifestyles for something more intentional and/or unusual. If you fit this bill, we'd love to hear from you.</description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Getting Started Hunting Game for Food</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/getting-started-hunting-game-for-food.aspx</link>

            <description>

                Hunting for food is an environmentally sound choice, especially if you don't want to invest the amount of time raising your own animals requires. Wild game doesn't need to be transported cross-country, consuming fuel, and hunting doesn't cause the toxic run-off and other environmental concerns that large meat processing companies often create.



                Read the full article!

            </description>

        </item>        

        <item>

            <title>Making Candles with Unrefined Beeswax</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/everythingelse/making-candles-with-unrefined-beeswax.aspx</link>

            <description>

Historians believe the first candles were made from beeswax in ancient Egypt, and despite thousands of years of technological advancement, beeswax remains among the best candle making materials. You can find purified beeswax sheets and pellets in most craft stores, but with a little extra work and a lot less money, you can make your own candles from unrefined beeswax.



Read the full article!

            </description>

        </item>        

        <item>

            <title>How to Harvest, Hull, and Store Black Walnuts</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/how-to-harvest-and-hull-black-walnuts.aspx</link>

            <description>

Black walnut trees are commonly found in mixed forests in the central and eastern parts of the United States,

especially in the Midwestern states of Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky. Unlike the common English walnuts

sold in grocery stores, black walnuts have an intense earthy flavor.



Read the full article!

            </description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Benefits of an Earth Berm or Earth Sheltered Home</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/greenbuilding/earth-berm-and-earth-sheltered-home.aspx</link>

            <description>

Some people assume that an earth berm home is dark, cave-like, and buried in the ground, but it is in fact quite the 

opposite. Instead of the builder placing the home under the ground, he or she brings the earth up, so to speak, to 

cover the outside walls of the dwelling. In some cases, the roof has a layer of soil on top of it, too, which turns 

the earth berm home into an earth sheltered home. In all cases, the earth is tightly packed and sloped so there is 

little risk of erosion and drainage is not compromised. Earth berm homes (and earth sheltered homes) have many 

benefits to both the homeowner and the planet.

            </description>

            <description>

Homesteading, or living off the land, will never be seen as a particularly modern lifestyle; many dedicated homesteaders 

trade their iPods and HDTVs for rain buckets and trowels. However, it is interesting to note that homesteading -- as 

it's thought of today -- is a relatively new practice that has greatly evolved over the past several decades.



Read the full article!

            </description>

        </item>        

        <item>

            <title>Washing Clothes by Hand</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/everythingelse/how-to-wash-clothes-by-hand.aspx</link>

            <description>

Many people make the decision to give up their clothes dryer -- at least during the summer -- to cut back on power use. 

Giving up your washing machine is much harder choice, but it is certainly possible to get your clothes just as clean 

with hand washing. There are quite a few tools available to make the job a little easier, but the only things you 

absolutely must have are plenty of water, a large container, some kind of soap or detergent, and a clothes line 

or drying rack.  

               

Read the full article!

            </description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Making Soap From Goat Milk</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/everythingelse/making-soap-from-goat-milk.aspx</link>

            <description>

Goat milk soap is sometimes thought of as gimmicky, but it's popular for good 

reason: the specific blend of nutrients contained in goat milk absorbs readily 

into the skin, leaving it soft, supple and moisturized. Goat milk contains three 

times as much beta-casein (a type of protein) as cow's milk does, which along 

with the butterfat content, moisturizes and conditions skin. It's also rich in 

Vitamin E and fatty acids, both of which nourish the skin and keep it healthy.

            </description>

        </item>

            <item>

            <title>Hybrid vs Heirloom Garden Seeds</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/hybrid-vs-heirloom-garden-seeds.aspx</link>

            <description>

Planting a garden from seeds is the most economical way to start growing vegetables and herbs, 

and it has the added advantage of providing you with many more options than if you use nursery 

plants. For homesteaders, the question is usually not whether to plant from seed, but which kind 

of garden seeds to use.

            </description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>How to Make Lye from Wood Ash</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/everythingelse/make-lye-from-wood-ash.aspx</link>

            <description>

Largely forgotten by the modern world, lye is still important to those interested 

in self sufficiency. The modern world wouldn t be the same without lye either; oven 

cleaner, drain opener, and biodiesel production all use lye.

            </description>

        </item>        

        <item>

            <title>Working as a Mystery Shopper</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/homejobs/working-as-a-mystery-shopper.aspx</link>

            <description>

Many people would love to find a way to boost their income in their free time. Sadly, it s often 

difficult or impossible to find a part-time job that will work around your existing work or family 

schedule. Finding work as an independent contractor is ideal for anyone who wants flexibility, as 

steady work hours each day are not necessary and each contract is dependent on a particular task. 

This makes mystery shopping, which is generally done entirely by independent contractors, appealing for many people.

            </description>

        </item>

        <item>

            <title>Generating Electricity with a Wind Turbine</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/alternativeenergy/generate-electricity-with-a-wind-turbine.aspx</link>

            <description>

                Wind energy is the fastest-growing source of energy in the United 

                States. Clean and relatively inexpensive wind turbines harness the 

                energy in wind and are an attractive option for those looking for 

                an alternative way to power their homestead. Wind turbines can be 

                used to power a single home, or several turbines can be connected 

                to power an electrical grid. Using a single residential wind 

                turbine can decrease the homeowner's electrical bill by as much as 90%.

            </description>

        </item>

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            <title>Keeping Goats for Milk</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/keeping-goats-for-milk.aspx</link>

            <description>

                If you want to keep animals for milk, you should buy cows, right?

                Think again. Goats are easier to care for, easier to milk, and goat

                milk has unique properties that make it better suited for human

                consumption. Goat milk is widely believed to be a healthier choice

                than cow's milk, and a study conducted by the University of Granada

                seems to confirm this. Goat milk is also hypoallergenic because of

                its similarities to human milk; many people who cannot drink cow's

                milk have no problem digesting goat milk.

            </description>

        </item>       

        <item>

            <title>Cooking and Heating With a Wood Stove</title>

            <link>http://www.lifeunplugged.net/everythingelse/cooking-and-heating-with-a-wood-stove.aspx</link>

            <description>

                Wood stoves have been used for centuries as an economical method 

                to heat homes and cook meals. They're an obvious choice for 

                homesteaders on large, wooded parcels, and for those who live 

                in rural areas where wood is inexpensive and readily available. 

                Wood stove costs much less to buy and to operate than central 

                heating systems, and aren't as expensive to operate as space 

                heaters and typical electric or gas ranges. However, they do 

                have several limitations that must be carefully considered 

                before making the decision to move to wood-fueled cooking 

                and heating.

            </description>

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