Self Sufficiency
Grow Vegetables From Scraps Instead Of Seeds

Grow vegetables from scraps on your homestead with this fun and easy experiment! Growing vegetables from scraps is a gardening trend that’s been going for a while now, and it looks like it’s here to stay. So if you haven’t tried it, it’s time you get on this trend–it’s a really handy skill to master on the homestead, too. Help yourself to this infographic, which will make the experience easy for you. Find out what kitchen vegetable scraps you can start with and which vegetables are more challenging!
Grow Vegetables from Scraps with 10 Amazing Crops!
In This Article:
Easy Vegetables To Regrow
1. Garlic
Use a budding clove or the whole bulb. Fill a cup with water so it just covers the bottom of the cloves.
Take note, you will not grow new garlic bulbs from this method. What you will get are the greens, which are great in healthy salads and vegetable dishes. Learn how to grow garlic at home with this growing guide.
2. Lettuce
Take the lettuce base. Place it in water that is two fingers deep. Once the lettuce has some roots, you can plant it in the soil.
You cannot regrow lettuce from every lettuce variety. For this experiment, a healthy romaine lettuce variety will do quite well. Learn how to grow lettuce from scraps here, plus how to grow other lettuce varieties indoors.
3. Carrots
Cut off the top 2 inches from the crown of one carrot. Submerge the carrot top in water.
We have to remind you though, you are not growing a carrot root crop with this method. We are after the greens here, which are also great as a garnish for many delicious dishes. Take this guide on how to grow carrots if you want a year-round supply of whole fresh carrots!
4. Basil
Take 3 or 4 stems (10 cm in height) and place them in a glass of water. Once the roots are around 5 cm long, pot up individual stems into containers.
Basil is amazing and no homestead kitchen should ever be without it. Luckily, basils are easy to regrow from cuttings. In fact, you can root the cuttings right in your kitchen window sill. Learn more about growing basil indoors here!
Medium Level Vegetables to Regrow
5. Lemon Grass
Choose plants that look like they have some life left in them and cut the tops off. It should grow roots in 2-3 weeks. Change the water every couple of days.
For all those who love the Asian and tropical cuisine, you’ll love this growing technique for lemongrass. Besides adding flavor and aroma to your dishes, lemongrass makes great indoor plants, which is a plus!
6. Celery
Cut off the celery basement. Submerge the basement in water for 3 days. After that, you can plant it in a pot.
See how easy growing celery from scraps is? So, the next time you chop off off the base of your celery, hold off throwing it away. If you love celery and want more of it, you can learn how to grow them from seeds here, and plant away! It also comes with a detailed guide on how to grow celery from scraps.
7. Onion
Chop off the onion bottom with all the roots still intact. Allow it to dry for a few hours in a well-ventilated area. Fill the starter pot with soil and create an indentation in the center to cradle the onion. Make sure it has good contact with the soil.
This is how to regrow onions for its onion green stalks to garnish your everyday dishes. Green onions are very similar to lemongrass. All you need is water and light, and they’ll keep growing! This is how to grow green onions from kitchen scraps.
Hard Vegetables to Regrow
8. Avocado
Pierce the pit with four toothpicks and place the avocado seed half submerged in a glass of water. When the stem is 6-7 inches long, cut it back to about 3 inches; this will encourage new growth. When it hits 6-7 inches again, pot it up.
Take patience when regrowing avocado. It can take several days to root and a few more days to sprout. But, it will make a great kitchen countertop indoor plant.
Click here for a step-by-step avocado growing details.
9. Sweet Potato
Cut the sweet potato in half and pierce it with four toothpicks. Place it in a glass of water. Plant each shoot, and you will have a lot of them from only one plant.
Learn how to grow sweet potatoes from scraps. From scraps, I mean that withering sweet potato you forgot in the cupboard for days. Don’t throw it away, but regrow it instead. Seeing greens sprouting from all over the seemingly dying crop will give you a thrill. Try and experience the fun we’ve had!
10. Pineapple
Extract the pineapple crown. Put it in a glass of water and change the water every few days. Once roots appear, plant the pineapple in a fast draining potting soil.
Yes, that is how easy it is to regrow pineapples from scrap. It takes some patience though because pineapples take a long time to root and even longer to fruit–like a year-long, long. But it makes a great ornamental plant with a great surprise once it bears fruit!
To grow vegetables from scraps is a fun gardening trend taking homesteads by storm. We cannot help introducing you to this gardening trend to help jump-start your gardening enthusiasm. Pretty soon you’ll want to grow vegetables from scraps more and more–probably a garden full of vegetables! Start with these 10 vegetables and experiment on other vegetable scraps before you introduce the scraps to the garden compost.
Does this make you want to grow vegetables from scraps or what’s left in your fridge? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Up Next: Growing Fruit Trees From Seeds You Save | Homesteading
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on March 14, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
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Self Sufficiency
NYC Adds Nearly 4,000 People Who Never Tested Positive To Coronavirus Death Tolls

New York City added nearly 4,000 people who never tested positive for the coronavirus to its death toll Tuesday, bringing coronavirus-related deaths in the city to around 10,000 people.
The city decided to add 3,700 people to its death tolls, who they “presumed” to have died from the virus, according to a report from The New York Times. The additions increased the death toll in the U.S. by 17%, according to the Times report, and included people who were suffering from symptoms of the virus, such as intense coughing and a fever.
The report stated that Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio decided over the weekend to change the way the city is counting deaths.
“In the heat of battle, our primary focus has been on saving lives,” de Blasio press secretary Freddi Goldstein told the Times.“As soon as the issue was raised, the mayor immediately moved to release the data.”
The post New York City added nearly 4,000 people who never tested positive for the coronavirus to its death toll appeared first on Daily Caller
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Self Sufficiency
How To Make Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut In A Mason Jar
The thing about homesteading is you get to create your own ingredient right from scratch! Cheese, yogurt, butter and now sauerkraut, a delightfully sour and crunchy ingredient you can use on your meals — or consume by itself — while on a homestead, or while facing this health crisis!
This homemade sauerkraut is a great meal because it has a long shelf life. You can either make plain sauerkraut or mix it with herbs and spices. In this tutorial let us make Lacto-fermented sauerkraut that preserves all the good probiotics in a jar, good for your guts.
So how to make sauerkraut in a mason jar?
RELATED: How To Make Buttermilk On Your Homestead
Delicious Sauerkraut Recipe Every Homesteader Should Know
Why Make Sauerkraut?
Not only does sauerkraut spoil a long time, but it is also a meal in itself, and it is also easy to make! You don’t need to be an expert cook, all you need to do is follow these simple steps.
So let us get started. Here are the steps in making sauerkraut in a mason jar.
Ingredients:
- 1 head of cabbage or 2 1/2 lbs cabbage
- 1 tablespoon of salt
Tools Needed:
- knife
- bowl
- mason jar
- smaller jar
- rubber band
Step 1: Wash & Clean the Tools & Ingredients
Wash all the equipment and utensils you need. Wash your hands too.
You don’t want to mix your sauerkraut with bad bacteria, anything that is going to make you sick.
Next, remove the faded leaves from your cabbage. Cut off the roots and the parts that don’t seem fresh.
Step 2: Cut the Cabbage Into Quarters & Slice Into Strips
Cut your cabbage into quarters and remove the core. Then, slice it into strips.
Step 3: Place in a Bowl & Sprinkle With Salt
Put the stripped cabbage into a bowl. Sprinkle the cabbage with 1 tablespoon of salt.
TIP: Use canning salt or sea salt. Iodized salt will make it taste different and may not ferment the cabbage.
RELATED: Homemade Yogurt Recipe
Step 4: Massage the Cabbage
Massage the cabbage for five minutes or more to get the juice out.
TIP: You’ll know it’s ready when you see a bit of juice at the bottom of the bowl and will look similar to coleslaw.
Step 5: Press Cabbage Into the Mason Jar
Add the cabbage to the mason jar gradually. Press it in hard to allow the juice to come out. Do this every time you add about a handful of cabbage.
IMPORTANT: Food should be covered by the liquid to promote fermentation. Add any excess liquid from the bowl to the jar.
Step 6: Press a Smaller Jar Into the Mason Jar
You want to squeeze every ounce of that juice from the cabbage. To do this place the mason jar in a bowl and get a smaller jar.
Fill it with water or marble to make it heavy. Press it into the bigger mason jar. Allow any juices to rise to the surface.
Step 7: Cover the Jars With Cloth & Tie With Rubber Band
Leave the small jar on. To keep your jars clean from annoying insects and irritating debris, cover your jars with a clean cloth. Then, use a rubber band to tie the cloth and the jars together, putting them in place.
Step 8: Set Aside & Check Daily
Set it aside in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight. Check the water level daily. It should always be above the cabbage.
Step 9: Taste Your Sauerkraut & Keep at Cool Temperatures
After about five days, you can taste your sauerkraut. If the taste is to your liking, tightly cover it with the lid and store in the fridge or cellar.
NOTE: If after five days it’s still not your desired taste, leave it for a few more days. This will allow the fermentation process to continue.
You can now enjoy your sauerkraut in a mason jar. Enjoy its goodness! You can use it as a side dish or mix it with your favorite sandwich.
Things to Remember in Making Sauerkraut
- Store away from direct sunlight and drafts.
- Colder weather will make the process longer. Spring is the best time to make them since the warmth helps activate the fermentation.
- Always make sure that the cabbage is below the water level during the entire fermentation process.
- If the water level decreases during the fermentation process, you can make a brine and add it.
Let us watch this video from Kristina Seleshanko on how to make delicious Lacto-fermented sauerkraut in a mason jar!
So there you have it! Making Lacto-fermented sauerkraut in a mason jar is as easy as slicing the cabbage into strips. Remember that as long it remains unopened, your sauerkraut can last for months. Best of all, you can partner this sauerkraut in many recipes.
What do you think of this homemade recipe? Share your best sauerkraut recipe in the comments section below!
Fellow homesteaders, do you want to help others learn from your journey by becoming one of our original contributors? Write for us!
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Self Sufficiency
9 SPRING VEGETABLES FOR YOUR GARDEN
Having plants in the house will bring peace to people. Having a little garden with vegetables is even better! You can grow these vegetables in your backyard garden easily as well!
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Growing veggies in your garden will give you an opportunity to understand what you eat and value it more. Early spring is when most vegetables are being planted. Keep reading to learn about 9 spring vegetables that anyone can grow in their garden!
Tomato
Tomato is the most popular garden vegetable in the States! There are different varieties to choose from. Tomatoes need to be planted in early spring because they won’t survive a frost.
Because tomatoes are consumed daily, try adding them to your garden! They’re not difficult to grow either.
Eggplant
Eggplants are known to have low-calorie, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Plus, they are delicious! So why not plant them in your garden?
Eggplants shouldn’t be planted too early because they won’t be able to survive a frost. So you could consult an expert in your area before you plant your eggplants.
Beets
Beets are known to be a superfood for its various health benefits. They’re easier to grow in the garden, usually around late March or early April.
If the weather is always cool, beets will keep getting bigger and bigger. Once the weather starts to warm up, you’ll need to harvest them, or they’ll go to waste.
Spinach
Spinach is a delicious early spring veggie, and it’s also very beneficial for health. And it’s not difficult to grow spinach in your garden!
Spinach needs cold weather to grow. Getting spinach to grow is easy, but keeping it growing will require some extra care.
Pea
Peas are usually planted in late April. Peas will die in freezing temperatures, but they also won’t survive the heat either. So make sure you plant your peas in early spring.
Peas are widely used in many different ways, and there are different types of peas. The soil you’ll be planting your peas should be suitable for them, so make sure you ask while buying seeds.
Carrot
There are different types of carrots, but regardless of their size and color, it’s a fact that carrots are both delicious and rich in vitamins.
They’re root vegetables, so with proper sun and watering, they can be picked up as baby carrots as well.
Radish
A radish is an excellent option for beginners because it doesn’t require too much care. Radish is easy to harvest.
Radish grows fast, so it’s better to keep an eye on it after a few weeks. Radish usually is grown pest-free, but there’s always the chance of unwanted guests, so watch out for worms. Radish can be eaten raw or can be added to garnish recipes.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower isn’t the easiest vegetable to grow at home, but it is very popular.
Cauliflower grows better in colder weather, so before you plant it, consider the climate of your garden. Cauliflower can be eaten raw or cooked, and it is known to be very beneficial for health.
Asparagus
Freshly picked, tender asparagus is very delicious!
Asparagus plants get more productive with each harvest, and mature asparagus harvest can last for months! Make sure you plant them at the correct time, or else they might go to waste.
All the vegetables listed above are great for your healthy diet, and it’s fun to watch them grow. So don’t miss out on the opportunity to grow your own veggies and eat healthy this spring!
So tell us which veggies will you be growing this spring? Tell us in the comments section!
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