Living with hard well water is...well, hard! Toilets with stained bowls and spots on dishes are just some issues hard water can bring, but another downside to living on a well is the yellowing whites and smelly laundry! Yuck!
What is a homesteader to do?! 

Wood kitchen tools add warmth and texture to your home. They also require some extra love and care to prolong their life and beauty. 

Is seed starting a frustrating experience? I would gather all my supplies, ripe with excitement for spring, only to be disappointed when my tiny seedling soon died. I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong.

I had almost given up on the entire notion that I could start a garden indoors and therefore give myself a head start. After consulting a few garden friends, I was able to up my seed starting game and turns out I'm actually pretty good at it! As a zone 5 gardener, this was a major victory! 

There are so many options in the world of potting soil; seed starting mix, extended release fertilizer blend, veggie garden mix...the list goes on! I have found a simple recipe that works well in a pot indoors or to start my seeds in the spring. This recipe is not only easy, but it will same some money too (and what homesteader isn't thrifty??). 

You will find many recipes online for seed starting mix or potting soil. My version contains just three sustainable ingredients.