I apologize for being a bit absent from the site. My husband, Matt, started a lot of gardens at the beginning of the pandemic and our pear tree decided to produce like crazy this year. I have been helping get things preserved and reorganizing everything so that we are in a better position going into winter. Our pantry and food supply look a bit different than it did last year. There are barely any small packages of store-bought goods. Purchasing in bulk means providing your containers. Good ones are not cheap, but they will last forever with care, and they...

Sometimes you just have to improvise. At the beginning of the pandemic, when we first realized that we were probably going to have to stay at home for an extended period of time, we decided to buy some veggies that would keep. We picked up 20 lbs of russet taters, 10 lbs of carrots, and 8 lbs of onions. You can do a lot if you have those veggies, spices, and a little meat, you are not doing too bad. We stored our veggies in a Coleman cooler but that only kept them ok for about 6 weeks. After that,...

When the pandemic started, it was a kick in the pants to try to produce as much as possible at home. My husband, Matt, started building up raised beds near our house. Our beets got planted a little late so they didn’t get to the large size they have in the past. Despite that, we did harvest some tasty beets so we decided to pickle them. This is a fairly easy process that I wanted to share with you in case you are trying to find creative ways to use up produce. Another benefit of pickled beets is that after...

If you are planning on expressing your opinion at a rally for any cause, there are some things you should consider so that you can stay safe. These guidelines are not just for those on one side, they are for all. No matter where you stand on an issue, there are some basic rules that apply. That being said, I firmly support the 2nd Amendment. I have owned my own firearm since I was 8 years old and I have been loading and shooting guns since I was so small I required assistance to hold it and pull the trigger....

I wanted to do this post just to have a good overview of survival gear that provides a good foundation for a variety of situations. This is a starting point article for those that feel overwhelmed with the enormous amount of gear and supplies being marketed to preppers and survivalists. Starting out with a good base and adding extras as needed helps you not fall into the trap of getting too much fancy stuff while ignoring the foundation items that will do the most for your odds of survival and help keep your mind and body healthy. The products I...