About the Author
Marissa Ames
Articles by Marissa Ames
Families Learning Together
Deep in Appalachia lies a verdant paradise of sustainability. The brainchild of Eustace Conway, mountain man and naturalist, Turtle Island Preserve now serves to teach forgotten skills back to the community while protecting a pristine environment that would have otherwise become a development for the wealthy.
Read More
What is the Best Mulch to Prevent Weeds?
Add to Favorites All Photos By Shelley Dedauw The best mulch to prevent weeds depends on where the mulch lies, what else you need it to do…and, of course, cost. …
Read More
Garden Hoops: Low Tunnels for Frost and Insect Protection
Add to Favorites When you’re itching to get your hands dirty, garden hoops can extend the season enough to avoid disaster. Midway between full-sized greenhouses and the gamble of throwing …
Read More
Early Spring Vegetables List: Don’t Wait on Winter Waning
The snow is melting and daytime temperatures are calling you outside. Leaf buds swell on trees and your hands long to feel the soil once again.
Read More
Planting for Seasons and Garden Zones
Add to Favorites Knowing when to plant your garden involves a combination of researching garden zones and knowing the individual crops. If you’re new to gardening, you may not know …
Read More
Crop Rotation: Benefits and Why it Matters
Add to Favorites Not sure about crop rotation benefits? Here’s a science lesson for you. Our produce contains wonderful nutrients. After all, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants are the reasons our …
Read More
A Guide to Growing Vegetables in Pots and Containers
How often have you strolled through a farmer’s market or eyed a friend’s fresh produce and wished you had your own garden? Perhaps you lack space.
Read More
Avoiding, Recognizing, and Treating Hypothermia Symptoms
An enemy lurks in the coldest depths of the land, taking thousands of victims. But it’s not wildlife. It’s the cold itself.
Read More
Self-Watering Planters: DIY Containers to Combat Drought
What holds five gallons of soil, uses 80% less water and costs less than a dollar? Self-watering planters! DIY instructions are simple and most materials can be recycled.
Read More
An Easy Guide to Tanning Rabbit Hides
Many homesteaders see the value of raising rabbits for meat. Rabbits reproduce well, grow fast, eat food you can grow yourself, and produce manure for the garden.
Read More
How Zombie Culture Shaped Homesteading Today
We can thank apocalyptic fiction and zombie mania for a giant surge in self-reliance and homesteading today. It’s amazing how people grow when they question, “What if?”
Read More
How to Keep Plants from Freezing in Vegetable Gardens
Fall can be death to gardens if you don’t know how to keep plants from freezing. Follow these easy methods to extend your harvest.
Read More
10 Frugal Homemade Fire Starters for Your Hearth or Emergency Pack
Add to Favorites Save money on your survival gear list by making items from scratch. Homemade fire starters combine free or upcycled materials with inexpensive combustibles. Whether you need to …
Read More
A Guide to the Best Survival Foods
Emergency survival and preparation is a hot topic right now. You’ll find many articles online regarding what foods should be on your survival items list.
Read More
What Should be in an EDC Bag?
Every Day Carry or EDC bags are about prepping on the smallest scale. You’re more likely to use what’s inside this kit than your food storage or bug out bags.
Read More