Grit

We receive a lot of new books about dirt in the Grit office. They tell us how to improve soil with compost, how to dig out a pond, even how to build an earthen home. But the books I find most compelling have been written by people who believe dirt is

My wife and I live on the outskirts of downtown Bonita Springs, Florida, in a subdivision where the houses are on ¾-acre lots, spaced about 75 feet apart. One day, about 6 a.m., our dog jumped off the bed, ran to the kitchen, and started barking. I g

Imagine growing tomatoes slightly bigger than peas, or heads of lettuce smaller than baseballs! Baby vegetables are popular right now. Often the entire plant is dwarfed, making it ideal where growing space is limited. Since most mature more quickly t

“Help! We canned several jars of chili a few weeks ago, and now they’re popping! There’s chili all over the pantry. Can it be salvaged?” The friends who sent me this email are experienced home canners. They didn’t want to lose all their hard work, bu

Grilling is the world’s oldest and most universal cooking method, practiced in virtually every country and culture on six continents (seven if you consider the cookouts staged by grill-obsessed scientists in Antarctica). Especially during the warmer

When most people think about growing their own berries, the usual suspects come to mind: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries. But suppose you’re looking for something different, something special, something a little more — refine

The accepted wisdom on roses is forbidding: The Queen of Flowers requires the richest soil, drip irrigation, and a bed of its own. She has expensive fertilizer dependencies. She must be pruned at precise 45-degree angles, and if not cared for just ri

People dream about and acquire rural land or acreage for many reasons. They may long to return to their abandoned rural roots, or desire to live self-sufficiently by growing their own food and livestock. Regardless of your reason for owning rural lan

Buttons made from deer antler add a truly authentic, natural vibe to your leather projects. Better yet, these rustic fasteners take just a few minutes to make with ordinary hand tools. Antlers, a type of bone, adorn the heads of members of the deer f

I started making my own beauty products at a very young age. My father was a farmer, which meant we lived in the country. Commercial beauty products were hard to buy because they were sold in town, and I was too young to drive. But I loved reading be

The image of Dutch ovens that used to come to mind was my mother’s enormous crimson Le Creuset pot, which she always used on the stove to cook homemade chili or potato soup. But after spending time with the participants of the National Dutch Oven Gat

For most of human history, bark has been a hot commodity. The pursuit of various barks generated astonishing wealth, sent countries to war, and pushed explorers into unknown parts. Bark’s unique chemical and physical properties, adapted over hundreds

Bats lose suitable habitat every year as land is gobbled up by homes and industrial development. You can help provide these useful creatures with places to live and feed by making a few adaptations to your landscape. ■ Bats will live in man-made bat

Few animals in history have been so misunderstood and maligned as bats. For centuries, these flying mammals have been associated with evil and death, and reviled as carriers of disease. The media has perpetuated these myths, portraying them as fright

When I was learning to read, my mom gave me a copy of Little House on the Prairie, which I credit as the beginning of my fascination with all things homesteading. The Ingalls family made their own soap, and stuffed their attic or cellar with produce,

The United States and its territories have seen unprecedented destruction in the past two years due to hurricanes. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), major storms produced roughly $265 billion in damages in 2017, making it the costlies

As the chair of a university range and wildlife program, I’m often asked to speak to prospective students about our curriculum. I always ask students what job they’d like to pursue with a range and wildlife degree, and, incredibly, I always get the s

My hen is sitting persistently on her eggs — again. Many chicken keepers get frustrated when this happens, but I embrace her “broodiness,” because it makes my job a whole lot easier. Why spend the time, trouble, and money buying fertilized eggs, baby

Get everything you need to start making your own soil blocks! This kit includes: the Mini 4 Soil Blocker, the Micro 20 Soil Blocker, and Cubic Inserts for the Mini 4 Soil Blocker. Ladbrooke has created some of the most eco-friendly tools that will pr