Ever find yourself reaching for chili powder only to realize you're out again? Same here. And if you're anything like me, buying the good stuff can get pricey fast. So I decided to try my hand at making my own. It’s not the classic bright red kind I usually go for, but the flavor and aroma are amazing. Earthy, rich, and full of character. I used pasilla chilies, but ...
How to Identify Dandelion and Why It Matters
For the past couple of years, I’ve been quietly watching the plants around my yard, trying to learn who's growing where and what they're trying to tell me. There’s one plant in particular that kept catching my eye: the humble dandelion. I’ve always been drawn to it. Something about those sunny little flowers showing up in the middle of a rough patch of lawn or sneaking into ...
Homemade Chili for the Shelf and Other Ways to Use Dehydrated Beans
One of the best things about beans is that it is a completely perfect food to convert into convenience food! Don't believe me? Well, why not dehydrate some beans and I'll show you how you can have home-cooked convenience foods Burritosside dishin chilienchilida as a side dish in chili enchilada casserole There's nothing like opening up the cupboard an hour ...
How to Freeze Green Beans at Home (Easy Step-by-Step Guide)
Today I had a small batch of green beans to get into the freezer, and I thought of you. Maybe you’ve got a couple extra pounds of green beans sitting around, and you don’t want them to go to waste either. I really love having frozen veggies on hand. They’re perfect when I need to pull a meal together fast, especially since I don’t always plan ahead. Between 4 and 5 pm, I’m ...
How to Harvest Radish Seeds from Your Garden
Every spring, I somehow manage to forget to pull a few radishes in time. Instead of crisp little roots, I end up with thick stalks and woody radishes that are way past their prime. For years, I didn’t know what to do with them besides toss them into the compost pile or into the green waste bin the city provides. But this year, I got smart. From Woody Radishes to Seed ...
How to Flash Freeze at Home to Save Time, Money, and Your Harvest
I absolutely love freezing food. It’s one of the easiest ways to preserve the harvest and cut down on meal prep time. I’m super thankful to have both an upright freezer and the bottom freezer on my fridge, and I keep them well stocked year-round. That way, there’s always something ready to toss into a soup, blend into a smoothie, or bake into a pie. Most of the time, I stick ...
Harvesting Seeds from Your Garden and How to Harvest Coriander
I love sustainable ideas. I'm always trying to figure out ways to use every bit of something or find new uses for old things so that we can do that much more to stretch our dollars, limit waste, and do my part to keep things out of the landfill. I don’t always succeed, and sometimes I am downright lazy about it, but I really love it when things come together and I can find one ...
How to Make an Embroidered Heirloom Tablecloth for the Holidays
Heirloom treasures are one of the most precious things that can be passed down the family line, especially when family members are represented through the years. This embroidered tablecloth can be made and used at the holidays, and will serve as a precious memory of past holiday gatherings. Handmade Holidays has pretty much been my theme for 2020, and I have really been ...
How to Make a Small Plant Cage in 15 Minutes
Small animals can really do a number on our seedlings. Their tender leaves are so yummy to chickens, rabbits, squirrels and other pests. It's not unusual to find that our seedlings have been chewed down to the stems if we are not careful to protect them. Here's how to make a small plant cage that will protect your seedlings until they are large enough to withstand small ...
HOW TO CROCHET A CHICKEN PIN HOLDER FOR STRAIGHT PINS
In just about an hour you can crochet the most adorable gift for the chicken lover and sewing enthusiast in your life. This chicken pin holder is so cute and will keep your favorite seamster or seamstress company while they work. And the bonus is that you can make it the same day you need it! How to Crochet a Chicken Pin Holder This little chicken pictured above is ...
How to Make a Simple Organic Banana Peel Fertilizer for a Healthy Garden
Most plants need a certain amount of these top three macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. While there are TONS of different ways to get nitrogen to your vegetable garden, there are fewer to boost potassium. Banana peels can help with that, and and banana peel fertilizer is so easy to make. Potassium helps your plants move water and nutrients between cells. ...
How to Make an Easy, Shelf Stable Homemade Fertilizer from Banana Peels
Banana peels make a great liquid homemade fertilizer to provide essential nutrients to our potassium-loving plants. But sometimes you just need a shelf-stable option, and it's tempting just to go to the store and get something that fits the bill. Instead, make this version of homemade fertilizer that you can keep on your shelf for a couple of months, ready to use! Homemade ...