Tag Archives: self sufficiency

Our favorite articles about simple living and self sufficiency & preparedness posted on TexasHomesteader.com

Solar Cooking: Hard-Boiled Eggs In The Solar Oven

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by Texas Homesteader ~
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I love my solar oven. I’ve said it time & time again, I hate to fire up my electric oven during the heat & humidity of our Texas summers.

Not only does it cost fuel for the stove to operate, but boiling eggs adds even more heat inside our home. That requires our air conditioning to work overtime cooling it back down, therefore costing even more money.

Several years ago I bought a solar oven and I absolutely love it! What a great item in your Emergency Preparedness toolbox!

Then at a Mother Earth News Fair I attended a few years ago, a solar-cooking seminar presenter told us how easy it was to cook ‘hard-boiled’ whole eggs in the solar oven without even using water. Color me intrigued!

Solar-Cooking Eggs. I'm hearing that you can BAKE your eggs instead of boiling them. I decided to give it a try in my solar oven. Check it out. #TexasHomesteader

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How To Eat Your Compost BEFORE It’s Compost! Becoming A Food Waste Ninja…

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by Texas Homesteader ~ 

Have you ever thought about eating your compost to eliminate food waste?

Stay with me now, I’m not suggesting that you rifle through the compost heap and snack on its contents. Come see ways I’ve saved food previously destined for the compost pile. 

Can you actually EAT your compost? Stay with me now, I'm not saying you should eat the contents of your compost bucket. But there's LOTS of food you can make with scraps you'd previously just toss in the composter. Come see my favorite tips. #TexasHomesteader

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New To Composting? Don’t Worry, Compost Doesn’t Stink!

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by Texas Homesteader ~ 

Any gardener knows that compost is ‘Black Gold‘. But for those just starting out, there’s often some hesitation.

You’re rotting things in a pile, doesn’t that stink?

The answer is: No! 

Well actually, yes and no – the result depends on you. Don’t worry, it’s easy to make compost that smells only like rich planting soil! 

For those starting out with composting there's some hesitation. You're rotting things in a pile, doesn't that stink? The answer is: NO! #TexasHomesteader

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Grandma-Approved Cleaning Techniques For A Cozy Home

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by Texas Homesteader ~ 

Life is busy & days seem so crammed that many people struggle to keep a tidy house. But maybe there’s an easier way. We can learn to clean like grandma did.

I’m nowhere the housekeeper grandma was, but here are a few things we do here on our Homestead that grandma would surely approve of…

Why have we complicated cleaning? Here are a few cleaning techniques at our Homestead that grandma would surely approve of. #TexasHomesteader

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Emergency Preparedness: Cooking Without Electricity Using A Solar Oven & FREE Amazon Prime

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by Texas Homesteader ~ 

Emergency preparedness is important. When natural disaster hits & the electricity is out, a solar oven can help keep your family fed. Even if the power is out for days or weeks, you only need the power of the sun to cook. 

Don't wait for a natural disaster, make a solar oven part of your preparedness kit now! #TexasHomesteader

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Securing Our Underground Cistern: Use Whatcha Got!

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by Texas Homesteader ~

When RancherMan & I bought this piece of NE Texas paradise we were enamored with the rich history of the property. Apparently over the decades it’s been home to several homesteads, I’m assuming one of the first was in the 1880’s when our barn was built! The most recent home was located at the front of our property but it burned down in the late 1950’s. We’ve discovered whispers of their past lives that they left behind – so amazing!

There were two deep cement cisterns located where we think were either side of the house.  One had to be covered up when we moved here, but we preserved the deeper one to use as our Outdoor Irrigation for my veggie garden.

At the time we were living in the big city. Someone had a small cedar fence that they pulled down – it was almost brand new. That would be PERFECT to frame in our little cistern! So we brought it here and constructed a cute little wishing well with that discarded fencing & some leftover metal roofing. It looked cute & kept the cattle out of trouble when they were around the cistern.

When our cistern enclosure deteriorated we tore it down but we needed a way to keep our mini Schnauzer safe around it. Use Whatcha Got! #TexasHomesteader

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Homestead Hack: Easily Saving Painting Supplies

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by Texas Homesteader ~ 

When you have a painting project, each day means you’re cleaning brushes and reusing them day after day. I’ve found an easier way. See how we preserve brushes to resume painting at a later date – you’re gonna love this!

Homestead Hack: EASILY SAVING PAINTING SUPPLIES - see how we preserve brushes to resume painting at a later date - you're gonna love this! #TexasHomesteader

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