Whether you are in or out of the housing market, there’s no doubt that you’ve seen the rise in alternative housing. These creative and ingenious options will have you reconsidering traditional houses as you know them. From shipping containers to pallet homes, tiny houses to mobile homes, and earth berms to treehouses, there’s one more...
Blueberry season feels too short. Yes, international farmers keep the berry section stocked for several more months, but there’s nothing like the fresh and local versions. If you enjoyed tasting blueberries straight from the bush, you know there’s no comparison. Fortunately, you can have that experience from the comfort of your own home. Growing blueberries...
Many people are in the habit of washing poultry before cooking it. After all, rinsing chicken and turkey helps remove bacteria, just like with produce, right? However, this is far from the truth. Raw turkey and chicken can be contaminated with bacteria like campylobacter and salmonella, which can cause foodborne illnesses. But rinsing poultry doesn’t...
The next time you’re cutting into a pineapple, don’t toss the spiky top. Instead, turn it into a houseplant that can eventually grow you another pineapple. You don’t need a tropical climate for this project, just plenty of space and bright light. If you don’t have much experience growing fruit, don’t worry. These plants are...
Vegetable broth is the core ingredient for many types of soups, stews, even risottos. It’s typically in grocery stores in the form of cans or powder cubes. But if you like soups and other hot dishes as the cold weather rolls in, store-bought broth can become pricey. But you can make your own at home....
It’s a weed of many names, including common nettle, stinging nettle, nettle leaf, and burn nettle. But don’t let some of these names scare you. Nettles have six subspecies, and only five sport hollow stinging hairs on the stems and leaves that are painful to touch directly. Nettles are found all over the world, and...
Yes, you can grow avocados indoors. You may not live in a summery climate, but if you have room for a tall potted plant, you can try growing your avocado tree. Because these plants can sprout up to 80 feet, dwarf species are highly recommended for indoor gardens. There are two ways to attain an...
Everybody loves summer, but not everybody loves the creatures that it brings, specifically the pesky mosquito. There’s nothing more annoying than constantly having to swat away mosquitoes when trying to enjoy the outdoors. Fortunately, we have some awesome bug-repelling mason jars that will help keep the creepy crawlies away. Although commercial bug sprays may be...
Summer vacation is synonymous with the great outdoors. Plans usually involve pools, beaches, picnics, barbecues, bonfires, camping, hiking, and many other activities that take advantage of the warm weather. However, summer days come with a major drawback, especially as the evening rolls in: mosquitoes. These pesky insects can ruin what would otherwise be a perfect...
A Montana couple built the cutest little tiny-house: An A-frame cabin that will make all of your outdoor living dreams come true. The best part? They spent only $700. This is how they did it. (1) Couple Builds a Tiny $700 Cabin Alla Ponomereva and her husband like tiny house DIY projects. With 20 acres...
In 2017, a homeless man in Conifer, Colorado, finally was able to get off the streets and live in an RV on property he purchased himself. Not long after, however, by-law officers all but kicked him off of his property. Unfortunately, his isn’t the only tale like this. Homeless Man Kicked Off Of His Own...
One wouldn’t imagine using fire to preserve wood, but the ancient Japanese technique does just that. Shou Sugi Ban is an exterior siding method; it charrs the wood, cools it, cleans it, and finishes it with oil. Traditionally, they use Sugi wood (also called Japanese cedar). Nowadays, Shou Sugi Ban is used as an environmentally-friendly...
