In a world where convenience often takes center stage, there’s something deeply satisfying about creating and preserving food, growing your own produce, and mending what you already have. Whether you’re looking to save money, reduce waste, or simply enjoy the art of doing things yourself, these five essential skills: baking from scratch, turning leftovers into hearty soups, gardening, water bath canning, and sewing, are a great place to start. Not only will they help you become more self-sufficient, but they’ll also reconnect you with traditions that have sustained generations before us. Let’s dive into each skill and discover how you can begin incorporating them into your daily life today!

Baking from scratch 

Why settle for store-bought when you can fill your home with the warm, irresistible scent of fresh-baked goodness? There is nothing like the scent of warm bread and fresh cookies. Baking isn’t just about the delicious end result – it’s about the joy of mixing, kneading, and taste-testing along the way. You control the ingredients, making treats as wholesome (or indulgent) as you like. Plus, nothing beats the satisfaction of pulling a golden, fluffy masterpiece from the oven and taking that first bite. Bonus? Your kitchen instantly becomes the coziest place in the house! #BakeAtHome #HomemadeHappiness

OK, it’s easy to be terrified to bake from scratch to begin with. So who says you have to? Start out with mixes – there is nothing inherently wrong with browning mix, quick bread mixes, even pancake mix. Even those taste better than store bought and are cheaper. And honestly, I almost never make pie crust, I buy the refrigerated ones just for the sake of consistency. We each use our strengths and pie crust isn’t mine.

As you get more comfortable, start making recipes completely from scratch. Quick breads and muffins are really simple and forgiving, about the only thing you can do “wrong” is over cook them so they’re dry. Hand your family a glass of milk to have with them. Cookies have more issues with wanting your butter to be soft but not melted, or too much sugar makes them gooey, but even then, who says no to a cookie?

Drop me a comment, what’s your favorite type of cookie?

#Cookies #bakedgoods #MuffiTime #MadeFromScratch

 

Leftovers to soup = meal prep

Leftovers looking a little… sad? Don’t toss them – turn them into soup!  It’s the easiest (and tastiest) way to give those lonely veggies, bits of meat, and random fridge finds a whole new life. Just toss everything into a pot with some broth, season to taste, and boom – you’ve got a cozy, flavor-packed meal with zero waste. I’ve even turned leftover spaghetti sauce into soup – it was quite good! Bonus: your kitchen smells amazing, it’s easy meal prep, and you get to feel like a frugal wizard.  #LeftoverMagic #SoupSavesTheDay

I do leftovers to soup in two ways. I save the little bits of leftover veggies, meats, and rice until the weekend. Then I consider what has similar flavor profiles. I saute up some onion in butter, add the meat, chop up any other veggies that need to be added for bulk, and then add stock. Seasonings vary a great deal depending on what the leftovers were but generally i add salt, pepper, and an Italian blend. However, sometimes it’s more of a bar b q or Cajun taste. It also depends on my mood. Usually I’m the only one who really likes soup, so I can flavor as I please. I generally have a bowl of it on the weekend, then I portion and freeze it. This is one of the ways that we use our vacuum sealer the most, meal prepping our lunches. By vacuum sealing them I never get freezer burn, so I can make up a pot of soup each weekend and keep a variety in the freezer so I don’t have to eat the same thing each day.

The second way that I do leftover soups is purposeful leftovers. In other words I may bake a ham on Sunday knowing that I’ll have leftovers. I chop up a cup or two of the ham and set it aside. A day or so later I’ll make a meal with mashed potatoes and purposely make extra. That way on Thursday or Friday I can make corn chowder by simply sauteing a chopped onion, adding a couple chopped potatoes, then the chopped ham, leftover mashed potato, seasoning, and broth. Just before serving I may add cream. It’s a super easy meal to throw in the crockpot and uses leftovers, and we ALL like it. I may or may not have any to save for my lunches.

What is your favorite soup? Let me know what soup you have made before, I need new recipes!

#HomesteadKitchen #SoupRecipes #SoupForDays

 

Gardening

Let’s talk gardening—whether you’re planting a tiny salad garden on your porch or managing a big backyard plot to feed your family, growing your own food is one of the most rewarding things you can do. And trust me, it’s not just about the fresh tomatoes or your fingers in the soil. Gardening brings health benefits, saves money, and gives you a sense of accomplishment – that’s hard to beat.

If you don’t have a ton of space, or time, a salad garden is the perfect way to start. A few pots or a raised bed with lettuce, spinach, a pepper plant, and cherry tomatoes, and boom! You’ve got the freshest, crispest salads without ever stepping into a grocery store.

If you’re ready to go all-in, a larger garden can seriously transform your food budget. Imagine walking outside and picking fresh cucumbers, peppers, squash, beans, and even potatoes – enough to feed your family for months. You can even preserve the extras through canning or freezing (hello, homegrown salsa all winter!).

Why a larger garden rocks:
✅ Less dependence on grocery stores and the supply chain.
✅ You control what goes into your food—no weird chemicals.
✅ Can lower your grocery bill in the long run.
✅ Nothing beats the taste of freshly picked produce!

No matter the size of your garden, spending time outside, getting your hands in the dirt, and watching something grow is incredibly satisfying. It’s a stress reliever, a workout (have you ever hauled a bag of soil? That’s a full-body exercise!), and it connects you to nature in the best way.

So whether you start small with a couple of herb pots or dive into a full backyard homestead, there’s a place for gardening in your life. And trust me—once you taste your first homegrown tomato, you’ll never go back. 

Are you gardening this season? Tell me what you’re growing! 

#GreenThumb #GardeningJoy #HarvestTime

Water bath canning

I have yet to invest in a pressure canner. I find that all the veggies and pickles I want to can I can do by water bath canning. Someday,I may purchase one so that I am able to can meat and soups. You will want to do your research of what can and cannot be water bath canned safely. Remember, food will look safe, but may not be without pressure canning. The last thing you want if for your hard work to make someone ill.

Alright, let’s talk water bath canning, the magic trick that lets you stash all that garden produce in jars instead of watching it wilt in the fridge. If you’ve ever found yourself drowning in tomatoes, up to your elbows in beans, or wondering what to do with way too many strawberries –  this is your answer.

What is Water Bath Canning, Anyway? Basically, it’s a method of preserving high-acid foods (think tomatoes, jams, pickles, and fruit) by sealing them in jars and boiling them in water for a specific amount of time. The heat kills off the bad stuff, the jars seal, and boom—you’ve got homemade pantry staples that’ll last for months.

Worried about how hard it is? Honestly? It’s not as scary as it sounds. You’ll need a few basic supplies (a big pot, some jars, and a canning rack), and from there, it’s mostly chopping, stirring, and boiling water. If you can follow a recipe, you can absolutely master water bath canning.

And let’s not forget, learning this simple skill extends your garden life, saving you grocery money, but also is a skillset that produces amazing gifts. You can even sell these amazing canned goods at farmers markets, craft fairs, etc – just check your local regulations.

Now your possibilities are pretty endless. Something high acid like tomatoes can be canned as is for a day when you have more time. Or you can turn that red gold into salsa and spaghetti sauce (just remember no meat in the sauce). Some jams are easier than others, but try your hand at blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, apple butter,… There are hundreds of pickle recipes from your standard dill and bread & butter, to dilly beans and dilly carrots, to pickled radishes.  In the fall, applesauce is another that we have done a lot and apple pie filling. You have soooooooo many options! The hardest part is the cleanup, the best part is a toss up between hearing the jars ping (as they seal) or tasting your bounty through the year.

Have you tried water bath canning before? What’s your favorite thing to preserve? Drop your faves in the comments! 

 #CanningSeason #HomesteadKitchen #PreserveTheHarvest

 

Sewing

Sewing: The Ultimate Homesteading Superpower 

Let’s talk about sewing, a skill that somehow went from being an everyday necessity to feeling like an old-fashioned hobby. But here’s the thing: if you’re into homesteading, self-sufficiency, or just love the idea of making things with your own two hands, sewing is a total game-changer.

Why Bother Learning to Sew?

Sure, you could just buy new clothes every time something rips, or spend money on store-bought curtains, quilts, and table linens. But why? Sewing isn’t just about making things—it’s about taking control, and even your budget will thank you. You can suddenly make, fix, and repurpose so many things!

The Homesteader’s Guide to Sewing Superpowers:

🧵 Fix It, Don’t Toss It – That hole in your favorite jeans? A quick patch and they’re good as new. Learning basic mending means less waste and less money spent.

👗 Make Your Own Clothes – Ever notice how store-bought clothes fall apart way too fast? Sewing your own means better quality, a perfect fit, and styles you actually love, but this is the advanced skillset.

🛏️ DIY Home Essentials – Pillowcases, curtains, quilts, bags, pot holders…sewing lets you create cozy, one-of-a-kind pieces for your home. Bonus: They’ll last way longer than mass-produced versions!

🎁 Handmade Gifts That Actually Matter – A homemade quilt, apron, or tote bag? Way more thoughtful than a gift card. (psst, I have the instructions to show you how to create tote bags from empty feedbags. Just send me a message and I’ll give you the password.)

💰 Save Money – Fabric might have an upfront cost, but a few basic sewing skills can save you tons on clothes, repairs, gifts, and home décor.

Sewing & Homesteading: A Perfect Match

If you’re already into gardening, preserving food, raising animals, or DIY projects, adding sewing to your homesteading skills just makes sense. It’s another way to be more self-sufficient, reduce waste, and take pride in creating something from scratch.

And let’s be honest, there’s something ridiculously satisfying about finishing a sewing project. Whether it’s a new apron for the kitchen, a patched-up pair of jeans, or a beautiful quilt to curl up under, sewing brings that same joy you get from a fresh batch of homemade bread or a thriving garden.

Do you sew? What’s your favorite thing to make or mend? Share in the comments—I’d love to hear! 

#HomesteadingSkills #SewingForSelfSufficiency #MendAndMakeDo