Self Sufficiency
Self Care For The Self-Sufficient | Homestead Wellness

Self-care is a must, especially when you work so hard making a living and a home! Do yourself a favor learn how to take extra care of yourself while prepping for winter.
Self Care Tips For A Blissful Homestead
Autumn is here, and winter is definitely just around the corner! As the weather becomes colder our nutritional requirements, mood, and energy may naturally change with the season–some even suffer from SAD, which is common when we’re cooped up indoors and not getting as much sun.
Luckily, we don’t have to snuggle up and hibernate just yet! Now is an awesome time to set new goals for self-care, start a new wellness routine, or patch up what you have been practicing. The holidays will be here before you know it ,and focusing on self care now will help you stay on track and start your homestead’s new year on the right foot.
What Is Self Care?
Self care is a vital way of helping us boost our overall wellbeing. It is anything we do that helps us maintain mental, emotional, and physical health. Things like exercise, hobbies, relaxation methods – these are all examples of self-care endeavors. Self-care will help us feel relaxed, healthy, and ready for whatever life throws at us.
Why Is Self Care Important?
Self-care is essential for me within these months of autumn as I start to slow down and finish off what has been a busy year. If I’m not sane, strong, and healthy, how can I move through life productively and happily? How can I ensure everyone and everything in my homestead thrives?
Each of us can find many reasons why we should prioritize self care. And here are the main reasons why I give it some time even with all the prepping I have.
1. It Helps Me Manage Health Problems
I find self care an effective way of managing mental or physical health problems. Every time something makes me feel tired, lonely, or depressed, I use self-care to acquire more energy to fight off an overwhelming feeling of restlessness, and it helps me keep my blood pressure in check. Self-care aids me in finishing my daily tasks as well as it gives me a little motivational push.
2. It Helps Me Rejuvenate
Just like many other people, I use self care to de-stress and unwind after a long day in my homestead. Giving myself a luxurious bath with my favorite homemade bath bombs and taking a nap during the day brings back wonderful childhood memories that lighten up my mood, and it gives me a second wind for the rest of my daily chores.
3. It Keeps Me Healthy
Physical exercise can be an excellent form of self-care — it burns off negative energy, it helps boost physical strength, and it breaks us up from things that stress us out. However, self-care is not all about physical stuff. Giving some time to do something you really enjoy, like cooking, reading a book, or gardening is also an awesome way to separate our body and mind from the stressful things in our life. That is why as early as now, I’m already starting my winter gardening and prepping my homestead for the challenges cold weather brings.
Self Care Strategies
Take some time or as little as ten minutes of your day to do at least one of these simple self care strategies for you and keep yourself sane in the coming cold winter months. I’ve been doing these for as long as I can remember, not only during autumn, but I find it much needed when the frigid cold months are fast approaching.
1. Create A Time For Self Care
Set a time every day to practice self care. Regardless of it being just a few minutes, or an hour or two. Have a date with yourself and accomplish something that helps you feel easy and relaxed.
2. Keep It Simple
Don’t get crazy when setting goals for yourself. It’s essential to consider your current schedule and responsibilities when you are creating new goals to achieve. Making reasonable goals and then adding from there are more beneficial in a long run. Keeping a mindset of all or nothing does help me in setting reasonable and obtainable goals for myself and my homestead. I’ve learned from the experience of trial and error that I function well with more reasonable benchmarks, and this guarantees my practices are manageable and I am working at a level where I don’t get easily beat down.
3. Practice Deep Breathing
This is a no-brainer, right? That is the whole purpose of this practice. Stand, sit down, anything, and if you can close your eyes, do so. Breathe in for 3 or 4 seconds. Hold it for around 6 or 7. Then, breath out for 8. Repeat. This will help clear your mind, reduce stress and anxiety, and recharge your spirit.
4. Stretch
Don’t forget to stretch! You can do this anywhere and anytime. It’s taking a short break while you are at something. Simply raise your arms up and above your head and breathe. Incredibly simple and easy but it will help you feel much better once you’re done.
5. Declutter Simple Things
Don’t overthink this! It can be anything (rusty nails, broken glass, random paper, etc.) sitting around giving you no joy and purpose, get rid of them. It doesn’t have to be plenty, it can only be as little as a handful of clutter. It doesn’t have to require tons of thought behind it, it just needs to go.
6. Look For 5 Beautiful Things
Look around you. Find 5 beautiful things that can uplift your spirit. If you think you have plenty, don’t get overwhelmed because it will become tiring. Find the simplest! It could be the way the sun is peeking through your kitchen window, the way your child or grandchild’s smile lights up a room, or the way your pet begs for treats. Anything you can find beauty in, list them all.
7. Take Note Of Your Emotions Right Now
We have a tendency of letting our emotions take charge with our action. This is a bad idea and more often than not it will become a challenge. Yes, our emotions are part of us, but we don’t need to let them dictate and control our actions. When you are having a terrible day, acknowledge it, feel it, and let it go. This must not be deeply involved. Relax, sit down, write down your current emotions, and let them go. You can have it in sentences or just one word, it doesn’t matter. What matters most, is you acknowledge and let them go.
8. Nourish With Seasonal Food
Autumn is one of my favorite seasons! My garden is overflowing with great produce and I know for sure the markets as well are packed with fresh and delicious vegetables and fruits. Dark leafy greens, squash, beets, apples, stews, and soups are all perfect places to get started. Autumn is the best season to spend quality time in the kitchen cooking your favorite comfort food. It’s the best time to savor warmer meals prepared with love. Make sure to set aside a couple hours each weekend to prepare some of your favorite food for the week. This is an incredible way to take care of yourself, align with the reward and the vitality of the season, you’ll have food to enjoy at your homestead for the whole week, or food to bring for work.
9. Laugh And Find Joy
Laughter is the best medicine and a nourishment for the soul! It can transform a negative energy into a positive one. So, read a comic strip, watch a funny video. Find something that will make you genuinely laugh and go for it! At the end of the day, it is the little things that bring us true happiness, so focus on them.
10. Stay Connected With Yourself
As leaves start to fall from the trees, the plant’s energy goes back where it came from. Our lives reflect that feeling of establishing when we set aside an opportunity to connect to the innermost parts of ourself. Spend a wonderful afternoon in nature, enjoy a cup of tea, or take a moment and reflect. There are numerous ways on which we can connect with ourselves and consider what gives our life meaning. Autumn summons us to slow down and examine our hearts to find out where we need to go from here.
Want to know where to begin with your self care? Check out this helpful video from How to Adult:
Autumn is a beautiful season to give your self care strategy some evaluation and embrace the wonderful things autumn has to offer. It doesn’t have to be time-consuming and super complicated. And, there’s no better time than now to start acquiring the amazing benefits of self care and love. Happy Homesteading!
This Article Was Found On pioneersettler.com Read the Original Article

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Self Sufficiency
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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.
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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?
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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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In this article:
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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