We participated in a recent marketing promotion and received several packages of Smoked Sausage Slammers from Southside Market and Barbeque in Elgin, Texas. You know what they say about Texas and their Barbeque, right? Southside Market and Barbeque has been around since 1886 along with some name changes and different owners through the years. From their humble beginnings selling meats from the back of a truck — to four popular restaurants in Texas, along with a nationwide network of retailers and distributors – all are shipped fresh from their Barbeque Pits to our door. These Sausages arrived ..read more

Guest Post by Karlyn McKell If you want to live a sustainable lifestyle, your home is a great place to start. Using natural or recycled materials during the construction reduces waste during the building process and reduces or eliminates energy consumption once you move in.  While some of these materials, such as stone, have been used for centuries, other methods, such as building with recycled tires full of rammed earth, are less common in residential structures today.  Living in a natural home in a rural environment will help you and your family slow down and reduce stress. You’ll ..read more

Guest Post by Okonkwo Noble “Winter is almost here!” While these four words equate to holidays, merriment, and restfulness for some, homesteaders may not be quite as excited. Winter can be a harsh season on the homestead. That’s why it’s important to know four key questions to ask yourself when preparing your homestead for winter. Winter Hardships There’s no question that the extreme cold and heavy snows of winter can create serious hazards for homesteading families and their animals. But winter can be enjoyable on your homestead if you prepare effectively. What you should know is that prepari ..read more

Guest Post by Agostina Chemello If you’re looking for a better and less expensive way to power your house, you should go solar. Residential solar panels transform sunlight into electricity for your home. Solar panels can help you reduce your electric bill or even eliminate it. Solar panels do require an up-front investment, but you can recover the initial cost, and more, over time. Remember that the more electricity you usually use, the sooner you can recoup your investment by going solar According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), about 600,000 U.S. homeowners currently enjoy ..read more

Like many rural homesteaders, I have become interested in growing mushrooms at home. Mushrooms can be used for consumption at your own dinner table, for medicinal purposes, or grown commercially to sell to local restaurants or at farmer’s markets. Growing and harvesting your own mushrooms takes some effort, but the rewards are well worth it. Note: This post contains affiliate links. See full disclosure. Learning From An Expert Although many people like to go on forays through the woods to harvest wild mushrooms, doing so can be both risky (due to the extreme toxicity of some mushrooms) and dis ..read more

There’s plenty of good news in the tiny house world as we head into a new decade. Many states and local governments have adopted supportive Tiny House Regulations in the past few years, and the positive forward momentum shows no signs of slowing. As the popularity of tiny houses grows, so does the public’s push for favorable allowances for these dwellings. While there is still a long way to go in gaining acceptance of tiny houses across the board, we’re happy to report on the progress that’s been made in our tiny house regulations update for 2020. Appendix Q Tiny houses gained formal rec ..read more

When we were planning our Shed to House Conversion, I decided that we would use PEX plumbing over conventional PVC both for ease of use and affordability. I was fortunate enough to come across a PEX Plumbing Kit that included absolutely everything I needed for the job. I’m writing this PEX Plumbing Kit review based on my personal experience because it was such a good one! PEX Plumbing Kits PEX Plumbing Kits are designed specifically for use in tiny houses, cabins, sheds, and shed conversion projects such as ours. The kits include: 100 feet of 1/2″ Blue PEX Cold Water Pipe 100 feet of ..read more

In the Tiny House and Shed to House Conversion world, I continue to see the same question daily about tiny house building codes: Can I legally put a Tiny House or Shed House on my property? Unfortunately the only accurate answer is Maybe. State and local codes vary drastically, so let’s explore the most common tiny house building code myths. Navigating the Maze Building codes and zoning regulations can be very confusing for those interested in living in a tiny house or a converted shed house. The maze of rules can make just getting started an exercise in frustration, especially for ..read more

Some followers have  been wondering where we have been and what has happened to our blog posts. While I wanted to start writing some serious blog posts about homesteading, life around our own property has been keeping us a little too busy.  But I knew it was time to share a little bit about what we’ve been up to – what’s worked out and what hasn’t! Back in mid-February (2018) I was installing a propane heater in our home and somehow ended up pulling a muscle in my knee.  I am still not sure what happened or what I did. Unfortunately I ended up going through an x-ray, MRI, and subsequent ..read more

Product Description Eccotemp iE18, 18Kw Electric Indoor Tankless Water Heater Ideal for a large apartment or townhome. The Eccotemp iE18 18Kw Electric Tankless Water Heater can be used for up to two applications at once, and its compact design allows for easy installation in any home. Rated at a 2.5 GPM flow rate, the iE18 can produce a constant and steady temperature from 86 to 140 F (30-60 C) that can be set on the front panel. This model requires a 240-volt electric service and has a max amp draw of 75 amps.  Along with the iE’s sleek and modern design, this energy efficient unit makes ..read more