The Homestead Guru
We share what we are passionate about.
We help you unleash the guru, inside you.
The Homestead Guru was a project born by people who love talking about and trying practical solutions. We have hundreds of articles on all things practical and have built a sort of community over the years for those who want to learn and grow along with us.
Here we aren’t here to be your gurus. We are here to help you learn how to be your own guru, while we become our own gurus. Thank you for being here.
Years of Growth
Featured Posts
The Latest and Greatest
Dandelion Jelly Recipe: How to Make Food From Weeds
Dandelions in particular have been known to be a pesky weed to gardeners when actually, they provide many great benefits. Dandelion leaves are edible and
How to Prevent (and Treat) Frostbite in Chickens
There are four articles in this series on different strategies for cold-weather chicken care. This article explores how to prevent and treat frostbite in chickens.
Pavlov, Roller Skates, and Why We Don’t Punish Our Kids – Unschooling
I originally wrote this in 2012, when my children were much younger. Gentle discipline. That sounds pretty progressive, right? Not spanking or hitting children IS
Companion Planting Romance: Tomatoes Love Basil
Companion planting in gardening and agriculture is the planting of different crops in proximity for the benefit of both plants such as pest control, pollination,
No Yard? No Problem. How to Garden in a Small Space
So you’ve been bitten by the RV bug but still want to garden? Container gardening might be your solution! Maybe you’re still dreaming of the
Wild Parsnip BURNS! Worse Than Poison Ivy?
Parsnip burns? That’s right. Did you know you can get third-degree burns from a weed that’s commonly found in most gardens across America? Last month,
The 13 Best Chicken Breeds for Cold Climates
This article was originally published on the Grow Network. There are four articles in this series on different strategies for cold-weather chicken care. Below, we
From Academics to Relationships – Unschooling As A Paradigm Shift
This article is part 1 of a longer series, called Does Unschooling Have Natural Limits? Please subscribe to get future installments. Awareness of others’ needs
Learn the Mosquito Magnets: Blood Type, Pregnancy, Clothing, and How To Repel Them!
New research has proven mosquitoes prefer to bite some people more than others. In a feature by WebMD, Jerry Butler, PhD, professor emeritus at the
Zero Waste – Plastic Free Grocery Store of the Future
In.gredients is a plastic-free based grocery store up in Austin, TX. This zero waste market is making waves in hopes for a more sustainable tomorrow.
IT’S ALIVE! Living No-Turn Compost: BioChar
Maybe you wanted to start composting this Earth Day, but you’ve heard it’s tricky to get right. I understand–nobody wants a stinky mess out back
Nature Study – Why Children Thrive Learning Outside
Sometimes, when we’re out with our nature club, people stop us ask why we do nature study. Honestly, there are so many reasons that we
Most Popular Posts
Our Greatest Hits
BioIntensive Gardening – How to Double Dig, Make Compost, & Companion Plant
Biointensive gardening is an organic method designed to creative highly productive gardens with long term sustainability at its core. What is so great about this
IT’S ALIVE! Living No-Turn Compost: BioChar
Maybe you wanted to start composting this Earth Day, but you’ve heard it’s tricky to get right. I understand–nobody wants a stinky mess out back
The Tropical Fruit Tree Americans Forgot: The Pawpaw Tree
What if I told you that North America has an easy-to-grow native tropical fruit tree that you’ve never even heard of? The Pawpaw is our
Tomatoes Hate Cucumbers: Secrets of Companion Planting + Popular Planting Combinations
Did you know that tomatoes hate cucumbers? Consider companion planting. While they might taste great together in a salad, tomato plants dislike growing in close
How To Start a Kitchen Scrap Garden
How to Regrow Kitchen Scraps Feel like you never really get your money’s worth of lettuce or celery at the store? Why not grow another
This is Why Your Compost Stinks
You started out with good intentions–wanting to create richer soil for your garden and reduce your waste. Maybe you even bought the pretty compost crock