Self Sufficiency 2009 copyright 404 Media, all rights reserved. en-us http://www.lifeunplugged.net Modern Homesteading Resources 5/27/2010 http://www.lifeunplugged.net/modern-homesteading-blogs.aspx 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. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/getting-started-with-beekeeping.aspx 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. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/modern-homesteading-blogs.aspx 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. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/alternative-fuels/how-to-make-bio-diesel.aspx 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. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/making-hard-apple-cider.aspx 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! http://www.lifeunplugged.net/alternativeenergy/benefits-of-a-solar-water-heater.aspx 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. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/gathering-wild-nuts.aspx Wild nuts are most abundant in the eastern and central portions of the United States, but almost every region has one variety or another. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/learn-how-to-brew-beer.aspx 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. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/everythingelse/harvesting-rainwater-with-rain-barrels.aspx 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. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/storing-food-without-a-refrigerator.aspx 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. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/greenbuilding/build-a-cordwood-home.aspx 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. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/homejobs/start-a-dog-day-care-business-at-home.aspx 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. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/gathering-wild-fruits-vegetables.aspx 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. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/submit-letter-of-interest.aspx 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. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/getting-started-hunting-game-for-food.aspx 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! http://www.lifeunplugged.net/everythingelse/making-candles-with-unrefined-beeswax.aspx 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! http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/how-to-harvest-and-hull-black-walnuts.aspx 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! http://www.lifeunplugged.net/greenbuilding/earth-berm-and-earth-sheltered-home.aspx 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. 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! http://www.lifeunplugged.net/everythingelse/how-to-wash-clothes-by-hand.aspx 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! http://www.lifeunplugged.net/everythingelse/making-soap-from-goat-milk.aspx 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. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/hybrid-vs-heirloom-garden-seeds.aspx 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. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/everythingelse/make-lye-from-wood-ash.aspx 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. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/homejobs/working-as-a-mystery-shopper.aspx 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. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/alternativeenergy/generate-electricity-with-a-wind-turbine.aspx 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%. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/gardenpantry/keeping-goats-for-milk.aspx 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. http://www.lifeunplugged.net/everythingelse/cooking-and-heating-with-a-wood-stove.aspx 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.