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Learning to make things from scratch is one of the main goals of anyone who desires to live a homesteading lifestyle. Even if you don’t have a homestead of your own yet, learning to make things from home with whole, real ingredients can be a skill you practice! Long before you buy the farm! Begin with something simple! Like applesauce!!!What you will need: Food MillRipe ApplesStockpotUsing a stockpot, some ripe apples, and Roots & Harvest food mill and you are on your way to fresh, homemade …

Having the proper equipment makes any job easier, and poultry processing is no exception. If you've processed your poultry with a homemade DIY scalding system, you'll appreciate the benefits of a purpose-designed Poultry Scalder. And if you're new to processing, it just makes sense to have what you need to make your first experience successful.A scalder is one of the most important items for successful home poultry processing. You spent time and money raising your backyard birds. Why not ensure …

If you plant your fruits and vegetables, you probably want to use them for your holiday meals too. Regardless of the fruit, you want to ensure that you can comfortably use it for a meal. But first, you need to ensure you keep your garden well-kept for when you need them.Some fruits and vegetables you need to use from your garden can be included with late fall foods and canned foods. Below are some ideas for your garden produce for the late summer and early fall foods in combination with the frui …

Does your homestead menu include “coop-to-table” meat birds? Or are you in the planning stages for a backyard flock? Either way, an important step is figuring out how you’ll defeather the birds.If you’ve ever plucked poultry by hand you know that it takes practice, skill, and patience. Plucking a few birds is doable but can be fatiguing and strain hands and fingers. Plucking dozens of birds is downright exhausting!And if your goals include the satisfaction of bringing a beautifully roasted whole …

Shrink wrapping is an ideal way to prepare meat birds for the freezer. Our Poultry Shrink Bags are a fast, no-hassle, and secure way to wrap poultry or small game using our Poultry Scalder (SKU #1644) or another hot water set-up. In addition to minimizing freezer burn, the clear, glossy bags give the birds or game a tidy, professional appearance. The concept is simple: Place the item in the bag, give it a dip in hot water, and the bag shrinks to form a tight fit that removes the air and protects …

Garlic is an important ingredient on my homestead. I find ways to use it on the farm, in the kitchen and for my animals. Here in Ohio garlic is planted in the fall and harvested in late June. Being such an easy crop for us to grow, I make sure I have multiple beds dedicated to it every year. In honor of National Garlic Day, I will be sharing 3 different ways I use garlic on my homestead!One simple and easy way to use garlic is to incorporate it into Chicken magic water. Chicken magic water is a …

My newborn was nestled into her make-shift bed on the kitchen floor. My two-year-old had just been toddled up to her bed for an afternoon nap. Now it was my turn to address the boxes of WA state deliciousness – freshly picked, perfectly ripened, peaches.I’d been given step by step instructions from a dear, older friend, who’d been canning for years. The canning skill was not part of my heritage, and this was my first attempt. I may have been a little overzealous about this endeavor, clearly …

Making sauerkraut at home is something I’ve been doing for two years now. It’s a perfect way to preserve your garden’s cabbage while creating gut healthy, delicious fermented food. Sauerkraut is packed with beneficial bacteria, vitamins, and a tangy flavor that enhances many dishes or is great as a side. Let’s dive into the process of turning fresh garden cabbage into homemade sauerkraut.Why Make Your Own Sauerkraut?There are several compelling reasons to make your own sauerkraut: Health Benefit …

Confession. I have a “thing” for the Roots and Harvest yogurt maker. I don’t know if it’s the cute little jars or the fact that I can set a timer and a temperature and walk away. When the time goes off, voila! Yogurt in a cute little glass cup, the perfect portion size.The other day I was making yogurt. The final product was fine, but I wanted something a little thicker, like Greek yogurt. I remembered I had purchased the Greek yogurt strainer from Roots and Harvest, so I pulled it out. My 3-yea …

Butter Boards! You’ve seen the in-foodie magazines and social media as the latest greatest trend … but in truth, they’re really not all that new. Chef Josh McFadden popularized the age-old concept in his James Beard Award winning cookbook, Six Seasons: A NEW WAY WITH VEGETABLES. He began serving this easy nosh at dinner parties to draw guests to the table, giving them something to nibble as soon as they sat down.Inspired by the fresh herbs and edible flowers from his garden, he’s devised numerou …