Category: Self-Reliance
These are all of the posts that have to do with homesteading, self-reliance of any sort. Getting our home business up and thriving is part of our self-reliance plan, so some of the posts are related to products and projects toward this end.
If you’d like to be able to do without a grocery store or Walmart, these posts may interest you.
Our goal is to be able to get by just fine if none of the usual shopping haunts are available anymore. We are not at that point yet, far from it. I personally will suffer extreme internet withdrawal symptoms if the grid suddenly crashes, haha, but I’m sharing what I know and as we learn something useful, I’ll try to post it.
If you have links to share, please add them in a comment on a post that is similar in nature or email me at madison(at)wildozark(dot)com. I’d love to hear from you!
-
Using a Spring for Water – Winter Issues
When you rely on a spring for water, you need a tank. This is our 1500 gallon water collection tank. Using a spring for water requires more effort than relying on tap water. Sometimes, just because you turn on the … Read the rest “Using a Spring for Water – Winter Issues”
Written by
-
New Tax Rule – Arkansas Sales Tax on Digital Products
This year there’s a new tax rule that will affect the people who buy digital goods from Wild Ozark. We have to pay retail sales tax on ebooks that I sell in our online shop as of January 1, 2018.… Read the rest “New Tax Rule – Arkansas Sales Tax on Digital Products”
Written by
-
Elderberry Flowers Oil Infusion
Herbalism, Herbs, Homestead, Native Medicinal Plants, Nature, Ozark Native Plants, Plants, Self-RelianceElderberry flowers have a light, sweet fragrance and all manners of pollinators love them. Which Elderberry Flowers? The variety I’m using for this is Sambucus canadensis, which is the native elderberry in our area. Black elderberry (S. nigra) is … Read the rest “Elderberry Flowers Oil Infusion”
Written by
-
2017 Farmers Market Schedule
I decided to just update the schedule on my “appearances page“. Please check there for the latest dates. The link to get there is https://www.wildozark.com/appearances-workshops-herb-walks-presentations/ Schedule of farmers markets & events 5/26/17 – Friday I’ll be in Jasper, … Read the rest “2017 Farmers Market Schedule”
Written by
-
Sunrise Sounds at Wild Ozark
In the mornings, we don’t hear highway noise of people rushing to get to work on time. Our sunrise sounds belong to nature. Sunrise Sounds Remodeling We’ve been particularly busy lately here. Rob’s remodeling the bathroom. We thought it might … Read the rest “Sunrise Sounds at Wild Ozark”
Written by
-
Compost Sifter
Rocks are everywhere here at Wild Ozark. Even when I rake leaves or clean out the chicken house I get rocks mixed in. A compost sifter would help when I’m trying to separate rocks and weeds out of the pile.… Read the rest “Compost Sifter”
Written by
-
Starting Seeds and Straightening Tines
Yesterday I decided it was time to get busy starting seeds for our garden. Hauled the seed vault out and began the painful process of picking which of the very many seeds I have saved that I want to start … Read the rest “Starting Seeds and Straightening Tines”
Written by
-
How to Identify Plants in the Wild, How to Search and Find Clues
Earlier this year I surveyed my newsletter members for their top questions. Here’s one about how to identify plants found in the outdoors. Top Questions It’s more of a comment than a question, but I’m creating this post in response to … Read the rest “How to Identify Plants in the Wild, How to Search and…
Written by
-
Keeping up the Juggling Act
It’s the holiday season, so it stands to reason that lots of folks are juggling lots of things in their lives these days. Juggling and Not Too Successfully I’ve been dropping a few balls lately. Right now the ones on … Read the rest “Keeping up the Juggling Act”
Written by
-
Get in Shape with Nature- Starting out the Day Hot & Sweaty
This morning kicked off my first effort at returning to a daily walk/jog routine. It’s time to get in shape after 6 months of trying to take it easy. Get in Shape I can’t *really* jog yet. My knee is … Read the rest “Get in Shape with Nature- Starting out the Day Hot &…
Written by
-
Installing a Culvert Retaining Wall was Today’s Homestead Project
Today I built a culvert retaining wall for the culvert on the shop driveway to keep it from washing out around the sides. I was grateful for the overcast and dreary day so I could do this work without getting … Read the rest “Installing a Culvert Retaining Wall was Today’s Homestead Project”
Written by
-
No Water
This morning I turned on the faucet to put some water on my toothbrush. Nothing but a few drops came out. Then, nothing. No water. No Water My thoughts immediately led to the question in my mind, which was “Where … Read the rest “No Water”
Written by
-
Photos of Plants – Medicinal & Useful plants down the Wild Ozark Driveway
I’m still mostly stuck in the house because of my knee (dislocated it a little over a week ago) but I took the four-wheeler and camera down the driveway to get a few photos of plants unfurling or coming into … Read the rest “Photos of Plants – Medicinal & Useful plants down the Wild…
Written by
-
How to move a round bale without a hay spike by using the front-end loader instead.
I’ve been using a chain with the tractor and front end loader to move round bales to the horses. We don’t have a hay spike or fork attachment. This how-to assumes you have a tractor with a front end loader … Read the rest “How to move a round bale without a hay spike by…
Written by
-
Repairing Our Wild Ozark Spring Water Line
Today I repaired our Wild Ozark spring water line Since I’ve learned how to do this myself, I figured I’d do it while Mr. Wild Ozark was at work. Later this summer we have plans to change out the entire … Read the rest “Repairing Our Wild Ozark Spring Water Line”
Written by
-
A problem in our gravity feed spring water system
What is a gravity feed water system? We are fortunate to have our very own spring fed water source that runs all year long. It is a spring that pumps out enough water, without fail, to serve our household with … Read the rest “A problem in our gravity feed spring water system”
Written by
-
Warm Egg on a Cold Day
There is something quite satisfying about finding a warm egg in the henhouse on a blustery 15*F morning. I tried something new to help me wake up a little earlier this morning. It wasn’t until 5 a.m. when the strange … Read the rest “Warm Egg on a Cold Day”
Written by
-
Exercising in Nature – or – Why it takes me an hour to walk to the mailbox and back
Exercising in nature is as easy as taking a walk to check the mail. It helps if you have a long driveway. One of my resolutions for the new year and the rest of my life is to get into … Read the rest “Exercising in Nature – or – Why it takes me an…
Written by
-
Did you know Osage Oranges evolved with wooly mammoths?
Osage Maclura pomifera, also known as Osage Orange, Bois d’Arc, Hedge-apple, or Horse-apple, the osage tree is native to our area. Even so, there aren’t very many of them in our particular neck of the woods. A bedraggled osage tree. … Read the rest “Did you know Osage Oranges evolved with wooly mammoths?”
Written by
-
Killing Pretty Roosters
First I tried selling pretty roosters. Then I tried gifting pretty roosters. Yesterday we killed pretty roosters. It was my chore to pick which ones. I felt a bit like Kali (Goddess who is both giver of life and bringer … Read the rest “Killing Pretty Roosters”
Written by
-
Coffee Break Reading and some pretty cool Leggings
Get “No Qualms” delivered to your inbox in daily short bites. Perfect for coffee break reading. And check out the cool leggings featuring one of my nature journal entries. One of my passions that I haven’t indulged much in lately … Read the rest “Coffee Break Reading and some pretty cool Leggings”
Written by
-
The Business ‘Circle of Life’ at Wild Ozark
An older post, but still representative. Eventually I’ll update it but for now, I’ll leave it alone: This is the second year since making Wild Ozark my full-time endeavor. Over the past year, I’ve noticed a life-cycle of sorts. It’s … Read the rest “The Business ‘Circle of Life’ at Wild Ozark”
Written by
-
Gathering Lobelia inflata Seeds
Looking for Lobelia Today I donned a surgical mask to go out and gather the seed pods of Lobelia inflata. Why the mask? Well, it’s the time of year when ragweed tries to assault me when I go outside. I’m … Read the rest “Gathering Lobelia inflata Seeds”
Written by
-
An Herbal Hoof Poultice for a Horse
Both of our horses foundered recently and I’m not sure what caused it. I suspect there was a large fruit drop from the persimmon and plum trees after the big flood in June. The problems caused by eating something … Read the rest “An Herbal Hoof Poultice for a Horse”
Written by
-
A Homesteading Hermit Self-Reliant Writer’s To-Do List
I’m a self-reliant writer for the most part. I’m also a homesteader and close to being a hermit (hermitress) these days. It would take a lot more money than I make at it to delegate any of the tasks, homesteaderly … Read the rest “A Homesteading Hermit Self-Reliant Writer’s To-Do List”
Written by