melissaknorris Registration and Sign Up Information | melissaknorris

Hi Emma

I've had a lot of questions come in about the Pioneering Today Academy, so I wanted to take a minute to answer these in case you have the same questions!

Is the homemade bread baking course included with the membership?

Yes, the homemade bread and baking course (which includes my sourdough and fresh ground flour series) is part of the membership along with the Growing Your Own Fruits & Veggies, Seed Saving, Home Canning with Confidence, Livestock, and Herbs & Natural Remedies courses.

Do the videos expire?

No, as long as you're a current member you have access to ALL of the videos ALL the time. They never expire or go away.

How do I access the videos?

When you sign up you'll create an account with a password, you'll simply log-in and the searchable library of courses and videos will be waiting for you.

Can I download things or is it all online?

You can't download the videos but EVERY video has a written download guide that accompanies it that you can download and print out. Many members have their own Pioneering Today Academy binders with all of the written material for quick access (or if their power goes out).

Does the membership automatically renew?

Yes, if you choose the monthly option it will automatically bill each month on the same date. If you choose the annual membership it will automatically renew on your yearly anniversary date (and it keeps you grand-fathered in as the price IS INCREASING).

Can I cancel?

Yes, you're free to cancel your membership at any time, but most members have been with me since the Academy started in 2016. You can cancel under your account settings or shoot me an email and I will do it for you.

Do you offer a refund?

Yes, if you contact me in the first 30 days I will refund you, no questions asked.

Who is the Academy for?

The Academy is for anyone wanting to grow their own food, stock their pantry with food preserved at home safely, use natural and herbal remedies, use traditional cooking and skills in their kitchen, garden, and barnyard.
It's for parents, grandparents, single people, married couples, retired, young moms, homeschoolers, and busy folks who work outside the home, those who live in apartments, urban homes, small yards, or lots of acreage. The easy to follow tutorials and step-by-step lessons apply to everyone, whether or not you're brand new, young, old, or experienced, we have people from all walks inside the Academy!

How soon do I have to join?

Now! The enrollment for the Academy ends in just a few short days and I only have ONE spot left for the all-day workshop here on my homestead this July. I highly recommend taking action now so you don't miss out.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

I hope that answers your questions, but if not, please hit reply to this email for any additional questions.

That's it for now!

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Want to grow more fruits, vegetables, and herbs without spending hours on end or increasing your garden size?

I'm gonna take a guess and say the answer is yes.

I've always had a garden but that garden DIDN'T always provide us with a year's worth of food.

Over the past decade each year we've grown more and more of our own food, with the goal that one more crop would be a year's worth and an item we NEVER had to buy from the store again.

We've done this while still working our day jobs, in a northern shorter growing season climate, and our garden space is the same size.

Now we raise 100% of our own meat, 75% of our own fruit and over 60% of our own vegetables for the entire year.

I'm hosting a FREE online live class this coming Monday at 4 pm PST sharing how YOU can do the exact same thing with your space.

Click here to snag your virtual seat and get ready to plan a year's worth of food with me!

Can't wait to see you in the class.

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Great news!

The Pioneering Today Academy is open for enrollment for just 2 more days, you joined this waitlist because you know raising your own food with organic and natural methods, preserving it for a year''s worth of food, using herbs for a natural medicine cabinet, and knowing how to turn out a perfect loaf of bread, it''s the stuff a homesteader''s DREAMS are made of.

You know you want to create a natural and self-sufficient lifestyle for you and your family.

What most people do is start out with passion and excitement. You''re superman (or woman) and you go all out. But then:

how do you find the time to do all this
overnight your squash plant dies
how do you preserve all this food when you''re pressed for time
that homemade bread is as dense as a rock
your home-canned recipe didn''t turn out right and you lost jars of hard work (or you''re not 100% sure it''s safe)
insert any number of things that can and do stop us when we''re trying to make our way through gardening, preserving, and cooking for our family.

When last year''s garden was a total flop, you''re pressed for time (who isn''t these days), the latest healthy homemade version did not pass your family''s taste buds, and all your hard work feels like it was for naught, most people will give up.

Imagine you have a plan in place & the know-how to preserve the harvest in multiple ways, especially ways that are safe and the skills to do it.

Imagine growing and preserving your own herbs to turn into natural medicine for you and your family.

Imagine having a group of people you can turn to for help any time of day who are living this exact same lifestyle with years (even decades) of experience.

Imagine having tried and true time-saving blueprints, techniques, charts, and recipes at your fingertips that really work.

All of this and more is waiting for you in the Pioneering Today Academy

You''ve got a choice to make.

The path to the left is the way you''ve been doing things. Sometimes it works... and sometimes it doesn''t.

When it doesn''t, you''ve got to research what went wrong and how to fix it. Is the source reliable, where do you even find the info you need, can it be trusted?

You''re wasting literally hours of time searching for the info, without knowing if it will even work.

The path to the right gives you the exact framework and step-by-step information you need.

Imagine this, it''s October 2020 and after following the blueprints and lessons inside the Pioneering Today Academy you finally have:

seeds saved from the garden you grew (done the right way so they''ll actually sprout and grow next year)
fall crops planted for a longer growing season
your own meat in the freezer (or Mason jars)
rows of home-canned goodies in your pantry from items you grew yourself
a grocery store at home with fresh vegetables and herbs from your own backyard or patio
a stocked natural medicine cabinet

That''s right.

After years of wanting to, you know what it feels like to be ready for winter pioneer or Laura Ingalls style. (Every time my daughter sees me get the canner out she says, "Are we putting up food for winter?" and I smile and say, "Yes!")

What would having all that in place mean for you and your family?

I want to help you get to that point (if you''re not already there) without the stress of going it alone by trial and error.
It''s the steps we use and take on our homestead. All the way from planning out the seeds and putting in fruit trees and plants, to growing a summer garden, seed saving, raising all our own meat, canning up the produce, all while still working full time.

Which road are you taking?

The one on the left or the one on the right.

Circle the date, October 1, 2020.

Whichever path you chose, the left or the right, will it help you accomplish your self-sufficiency goals so when this date comes, you''ve checked off all the items, and then some, you wanted to accomplish with your homestead?

If the only thing you got from thePioneering Today Academy was to cut your time in half when canning and making homemade tomato sauce from didisease-freelants, it''d be worth it.

We won''t even mention the never having to buy tomato sauce, salsa, or canned tomatoes from the store ever again.

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I knew I was taking a risk when I shared this publically. I tend to be a glass half full and optimistic person.

I wrote I''d been feeling overwhelmed and struggling a bit over the past few weeks.

Part of the reason for that struggle is I feel a burden to prepare and to help others do the same.

When I shared this on my Facebook page many of you said you''d felt the Lord has put the same thing on your heart.

I realize not everyone who is on my email list or follows me on social media shares my faith, ?but many of us in the homesteading community are feeling an impression to put up more food and increase our self-sufficiency than ever before.

''tis also the season on the homestead of harvest and preserving over the next three months (and why you won''t see a new podcast episode or YouTube video from me this week).

Thursday we harvested our meat birds and as many of you are finding out, there are no deep freezers to be purchased. Stores are sold out and manufacturers say at least 6 months out.

We''d planned on getting an extra freezer but we weren''t quick enough.

We cleaned out the upright freezer in the house and defrosted it to make room for the 26 whole chickens.

In doing so, I discovered way too many bags of partially used fruits form past year''s harvest (like berries from 2017, 2018, and 2019, with this year''s berries just a few weeks away from picking, no joke).

Thankfully, it wasn''t wasted as the pigs don''t care if it''s 3 years old, but it made me realize I need to make sure I''m preserving the harvest in the way we''re eating it the most.

We don''t eat as much jam as we used to when the kids were small (I do a small batch of our favorite''s) but I tend to use more pie filling (in pies or cobblers) or as fruit canned in water or light syrup.

It''s always good to see how you most use your home preservers and make adjustments rather than going by what you''ve always done.

I also had several scrap bags of vegetables in the freezer and a few chicken carcasses I''d been saving to make stock. I made and canned a double batch of chicken broth (my tutorial below) to free up more room in the freezer.

Our freezer is now full of pasture-raised organic chicken and the most organized it''s ever been!

If you''re looking to fill your pantry with this summer''s bounty, my fruit to jar system is on sale at 50% off and teaches you how to can low sugar jam, pie filling, fruit butters, fruit and fruit syrup!

I just received 25 pounds of cherries from a friend''s orchard in eastern Washington and will be preserving them up (and eating bowls of cherries) this weekend.

I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July weekend.

Enjoy the articles and podcast episodes below!

If you''re looking to store your garden harvest to feed your family through the winter, it''s important you know when and how to harvest it.

Harvest for long term storage is different with onions and garlic than if using right away.

First tip, NEVER wash your onions or garlic when harvesting. Don''t spray them with water.

For more here''s how to harvest onions for long term storage (make sure you click through at the end of the harvest article to the curing tutorial)

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Were you unable or had a hard time finding certain supplies since the pandemic hit back in March?

Many items come in and out of stock, some are back-ordered, and others you just plain can''t get.

Homesteaders of old were used to stocking up on necessities well before winter approached and we''re taking the same measures this year.

In fact, where I live, the governor announced they''d be shutting down many small local farms this fall, or making the regulations so hard, they won''t be able to be open to the public.

Good news, there is still plenty of time to make sure you have what you need for your family, and if nothing happens, you just won''t have to go to the store for a while, score either way!

To see what we''re doing to prepare now, watch my newest YouTube video What to Stock Up On NOW for Fall/Winter Pandemic Realities

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I spoke with my pastor yesterday and there''s no denying that tomorrow is going to look different for most folks.

There won''t be regular Easter church services or big dinner with extended family.

But know what, there is a lot of GOOD that''s going to come out of this time.

I firmly believe we will look back on these days and see it was the turning point for many of us. A time to grow closer together as a family. To re-prioritize.

A time to lean on the Lord and our faith instead of other people or things.

A time to see we''d been relying on a few more convenience items than we thought.

A time to truly appreciate the fellowship of others and our community.

All though we got the announcement this past week that public schools will not be reconvening at all this year, my mental space is much improved.

I held our monthly gardening tasks live session inside the Pioneering Today Academy and even though it was virtual saw how wonderful it was for us to come together as a community to visit and learn. We were all blessed.

I realized how important staying in touch with others is, even if it is virtually, so I''m holding a FREE Live class this week on Thursday and you''re invited.

Even though a lot of us might be home right now due to stay at home orders (or working harder than ever if your job is listed as essential and you''re still open) we''re finding ourselves busier than ever filling the roles of teacher and full-time chef to name a few. I want to share how I create easy & healthy homemade baked goods in one hour of hands-on time a week!

Use a few simple ingredients already in your kitchen to create delicious homemade food for your family without ever leaving your house, click here NOW to register!

I hope to see you in the class and I pray you have a blessed day tomorrow that is filled with hope and joy.

Below are this week''s resources to help you with your homegrown and homemade journey!

Knowing what fruit and nut-producing trees to plant for an earlier harvest is extremely helpful so you can choose the best varieties to feed your family. I also highlight some fun uncommon plants that are edible and provide beauty to your yard and landscape.

Prior to the pandemic, I had planned to increase the number of fruit trees on my property. This has not changed, yet the pandemic has reinforced my belief that doing so is the right choice for my family.

You may be surprised though with the many options available out there that are lesser-known. And that there are many more plants that are edible than people know about.

Fruit & Nut Producing Trees to Plant Now & Uncommon Plants that are Edible

These traditional hot cross buns are an easy recipe for a delicious Easter tradition with sweet bites of raisin, lemon and honey. Topped with a cross and easy optional glaze recipe to make these a must serve.

The original recipe called for all-purpose flour, it was easily adapted for spelt flour or a whole wheat/all-purpose mix. Using an ancient grain flour for an old-fashioned traditional recipe just seems right, don't ya think?

Plus, spelt is one of my favorite ancient grain flour to use. Important note: if you use spelt flour, cut the water by 2 Tablespoons.

Easy How Cross Buns Recipe from Great-Grandma!

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Hi Emma

Want a soft sandwich bread that doesn''t use any store-bought yeast and still rises beautifully?

Yes, the answer is most definitely yes.

I have never shared this recipe outside of my book and/or my paid membership, the Pioneering Today Academy or my Bread & Baking Course, but I know MANY of you are unable to get yeast or bread from the stores right now.

One of the wonderful things I see coming out of this whole time is people returning to homemade and specifically homemade sourdough.

Not only do you NOT need store-bought yeast, but sourdough truly creates a healthier bread with more available nutrients, minerals and vitamins, it''s even the only way many gluten-sensitive people can eat bread.

Sourdough bread sometimes gets a bad rap as being too hard or difficult. It''s not if you have a healthy active starter and know how to read the dough, which is what I''m sharing today.

I created a step-by-step tutorial video for you on YouTube here, click here now for my Best Beginner Sourdough Sandwich Bread Recipe

Not a video kind of person? Here''s the written blog post for my sourdough sandwich bread recipe.

If you missed it, tomorrow at 1 pm Pacific (4 pm Eastern), I''m teaching a FREE online class my system for Easy & Healthy Homemade Baked Goods in One Hour Per Week, you can register for FREE here

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Calling all my Mason jar lovers! While I do love to fill mine with home-canned goodness, I use Mason jars for everything, they''re the glass pendant''s on my kitchen light fixtures, my dry good canisters, decoration, soap dispensers, leftover containers, I''m a full-on Mason jar addict, and I have the t-shirt to prove it!

But guess what, I made the t-shirts (and sweatshirts) so ALL my fellow Mason jar lovers can represent!

Not only that, but I have two other t-shirts and sweatshirt designs for all my fellow homesteaders and gardening peeps.

Tell me this isn''t one shirt you have to have or know someone who it will make the perfect gift for, get your shirts here.

Besides wearing my now new uniform of these shirts in many a different color (a girl needs options, right?), think if I just carry a Mason jar with me today and wear the shirt I could pass it off as a costume...

We started a big project of clearing out some of the dead trees in our upper pasture. Winter rains, winds, and snow are notorious for knocking them down and that is our least favorite time to wrangle in cattle or fix fence.

Ever have what you think is going to be a quick thing that morphs into more? We decided while the equipment was here to to do the whole area instead of just the front stand.

I''ll be burning sticks and getting the last of the summer garden put to rest. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Enjoy the articles and podcast episode below!

Pinterest pin with two images, one of a woman standing in the garden, the other of chickens in a coop.

Do you ever feel "stuck" when homesteading, not knowing where to start, or what to do next? When my husband and I first started our homestead journey we were renting land from my aunt in my parent''s old 1974 single-wide trailer. But we weren''t willing to wait until things were perfect (or we even owned any land) to get started.

This is the same process we used back then that I still use today to determine our next steps and you can too.

Homesteading is a lifelong journey, you have to love to learn because you''ll be learning the rest of your life!

In this week''s episode of the Pioneering Today Podcast, I''m talking all about the important questions to ask yourself to know where to start, or what to do NEXT. n-your-homestead.

Do This FIRST On Your New Homestead

Maybe you caught my video a couple weeks ago about my apple harvesting trick that actually DOUBLES their storage time?

Well, if you missed it, in that same video I actually share my homemade apple pie filling recipe AND canning tutorial!

Now, when it comes to pie, I''ll pick apple over pumpkin every time. My pantry shelves are happily lined with over 7 quarts of apple pie filling (along with blackberry and cherry!), and I''m eagerly awaiting that first homemade pie of the season.

If you have winter apples, consider canning some up! One year our neighbor gifted us jars of apple pie filling along with homemade pie crust to make a pie whenever we wanted.

I love gifts that like, both giving and receiving them, how about you?

If you''d like to add this to your Christmas gift giving this year, head on over and watch or read...

How to Can Apple Pie Filling

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Yesterday was the first time in over 4 weeks I''d been to the main grocery store. I had to make a trip into the large town about an hour away from us and because I was already out, grabbed a few essentials.

Being at home on the homestead, things had started to feel pretty normal again.

However, in town, there were still empty shelves in some spots.

Limits on how many bags of sugar, flour, and pasta you can purchase.

Some stores limit how many people can enter at once while others don''t.

Listening to people''s conversations, the fear, the isolation even in person (most people were really good about the personal 6-foot space rule), made me a little sad if I''m being honest.

But then I remembered the class I taught on-line this past Thursday.

The thankful and grateful attitude I witnessed in the 2 hours I taught was amazing. People were sharing with each other and their kindness truly touched me.

I''ve taught hundreds of classes over the past 8 years and have seen some pretty rude and downright things from people even when you''re giving them things for free and of value, but I''ve honestly noticed a true shift in people.

We''re kinder. We appreciate the help AND the chance to connect with one another, even if it is virtually.

This is something I hope doesn''t go away after this has ended. In myself or others.

Thank you for being a part of this community and the things I''m thankful for. Sincerely.

Below are this week''s resources to help you with your homegrown and homemade journey!

NEW Pioneering Today Podcast Episodes:

Episode #252 COVID19 Food Production Plan & How to Plan for Livestock

Episode #253 13 Pantry Items to Always Have on Hand

Strawberry rhubarb dump cake is one of my favorite recipes, in fact, I started with this recipe when I was seven years old. A neighbor served this dish and the next day, I walked up the street to her log cabin and asked for the recipe.

his strawberry rhubarb dump cake from scratch now contains real strawberries, gelatin (totally a health food when sourced from grass-fed cattle), and a homemade cake mix that is light and fluffy. Can I get an amen!!!

Strawberry Rhubarb Dump Cake without Jello & Homemade Cake Mix

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Ever since I was able to heal my stomach acid and ulcers with food, I''ve been fascinated with natural medicine and herbs. Anyone else?

While not all herbs and spices can be grown at home, there are many that can. These are some of my top picks for this coming cold and flu season to have on hand.

Being able to grow and harvest our own medicinal herb plants to help aid our bodies without going to a store or pharmacy is a beautiful gift.

If you want to use and grow herbs medicinally, watch my newest YouTube video 15 Medicinal Herbs and Their Uses for This Fall | Herb Garden Tour

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After 8 days of travel, I made it safely home this week from the Homesteaders of America Conference and a business trip to Nashville. While I enjoyed the time spent with friends and making new ones, there''s no place like home.

We kicked off the fall herbal challenge inside the Pioneering Today Academy and the same day I came down with a horrible headache and vomiting. I honestly wasn''t sure if it was a migraine or the beginnings of the flu.

Thankfully, it was only a migraine as I felt fine by the next day, just a little tired. But I did have to cancel filming for YouTube, so for those of you who have been missing the videos, there will be one more week of the hiatus.

Being a homesteader, coming back from a vacation isn''t just catching up on laundry, but everything in the garden, and with the livestock as well.

The chickens are beginning to molt, the warm weather crops are at an end, the winter squash needs curing, and it''s time to pull out the crops and get down my layers for sheet composting.

We''re already determining how we''ll be expanding the garden next year and which crops we''ll increase and which ones we''ll decrease.

If you''re looking to grow in containers next year, my affiliate Greenstalk (I make a small commission if you purchase so thank you kindly) is having a sale through tomorrow on their vertical planters, with savings starting at $55 off through October 18th.

The wood stove has been going most evenings, both for heat and to dry out the shelled beans. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Enjoy the articles and podcast episode below!

"This is the sourdough sandwich bread I have been searching for! It is absolutely delicious and NO dry yeast! The first loaf barely survived dinner and was completely gone after bedtime snack. We all loved it SO much. I will likely be making 1-2 loaves of this a day from now on in addition to my regular sourdough recipe. My kids have always liked regular sourdough alone as a snack, but they just couldn't make it work with their PB&J. I have a feeling that will not be a problem ever again. So long, store-bought bread! Thank you so much!"
I don''t even have anything to add that except, go try this recipe Best Beginner Sourdough Sandwich Bread No Yeast

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Hey there,

Looks like you missed out on my masterclass yesterday:

"How to Plan Your Crops and Harvest for a Year''s Worth of Food"

And I know you had reasons.

a demanding job you couldn''t pull away from.
kids that needed help that took longer than expected.
another call or obligation at the same time.

With all that we''re dealing with right now, there''s never been a more important year to grow your own food, but you likely have more to deal with right now than you ever had before.

This is not the time to guess on where to plant, when to put in seeds, when things are ready to harvest, how to do succession planting successfully, how to preserve food (and how to know which method is best).

If you''ve ever grown a garden in the past, you''ve likely started out all gung-ho with visions of vines dripping with bushels of tomatoes. You''re Ma or Pa Ingalls and you go all out. But then:

your garden struggling to get growing... or it was growing great and something totally wiped out your plants
you''re not sure the best way to preserve the harvest, especially when you''re pressed for time
you don''t have any support for this lifestyle
that homemade bread is as dense as a rock
your home-canned recipe didn''t turn out right and you lost jars of hard work (or you''re not 100% sure it''s safe)
you don''t have time to waste figuring out if something is right or going to work
insert any number of things that can and do stop us when we''re trying to make our way through gardening, preserving, and cooking for our family.

Imagine you knew how to prepare your soil now so you eliminate many common diseases to your plants when you plant.

Imagine you knew how to use crop rotation with companion planting for your garden and plants for the best harvest and healthy plants.

Imagine you have a guide that shows you when to harvest (or purchase) foods in season, tried and true recipes from those foods for your family, and how to preserve them for year-round eating.

Imagine having a group of people you can turn to for help any time of day who are living this exact same lifestyle with years (even decades) of experience.

Imagine having tried and true time-saving blueprints, techniques, charts, and recipes at your fingertips that really work.

If you missed my class yesterday, you missed hearing I''m opening the doors to the Pioneering Today Academy and I have a special bonus if you join today.

The Academy holds all of my courses that teach you how to grow your own food, harvest, preserve and cook it with step-by-step videos, guided lessons, and printable download guides.

It''s a community of like-minded people living this lifestyle.

There''s never been a time when this information and support has been more needed.

You might be like Jennifer, who had never grown food before and went from a grassy backyard to raised beds of food for her family.

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Want to know why this is a few hours late?

Because I wasn''t sure how to write this. I know it''s going to ruffle some feathers of a few.

Sometimes we have to ruffle feathers in life and that''s okay.

What am I talking about?

The coronavirus, now before you roll your eyes because if your news is anything like mine it''s ALL they talk about, stay with me. Some people feel it''s fearmongering, others think people are being ridiculous, there are all kinds of opinions.

I happen to live in Washington state, where there have been 12 deaths two counties away from me, companies are issuing work from home, some schools (not in my county) were shut down Friday, there are quarantines, and stores have been wiped out of some supplies.

Regardless of how I feel about the seriousness of the coronavirus, this is the reality of where I live. Am I panicking? NO!

Nor is it my intent that these words or this week''s podcast episode makes anyone panic or feeds into the frenzy BUT nor can I ignore what''s happening around me.

What I can do is look at my own self-sufficiency plans for this year and make adjustments now. It''s what I encourage everyone to do. It''s what homesteading is about.

We were already planning on planting more spring crops this year, but this week I''ll be starting my cold frames earlier than ever before to grow more lettuce and start the broccoli and cauliflower.

We''re going to grow more a few more shelled bean plants (our October beans) along with more herbs than ever before. I also picked up some more broccoli seed for sprouts (I''ve been doing succession sprouts on the counter for the past 2 weeks now already).

Good news, I''m doing a FREE viewing of my Organic Gardening Workshop in a few weeks with step-by-step videos from:

seed starting
growing microgreens and sprouts indoors
easy cold frames for early spring planting (with supplies you likely already have)
crop-rotation for healthier soil and increased harvests
companionp planting to decrease diseases and pests naturally
raised bed garden guide
and so much more!!

Click here to register NOW for extra resources to grow more organic food in your backyard

Below are this week''s resources to help you with your homegrown and homemade journey!

We plan out our garden, start seeds, plant, lovingly tend to it, get a little sad over thinning out our darlings, water it, and then when it comes to harvest time we're drowning (if we're lucky) in bushels of produce and suddenly, we're not quite sure what to do with it or how to keep up with it all. Can I get an amen?

In years past, that might have meant you let it go to waste (sad but true, because my goal is to show the reality of homesteading with you, even when it's not pretty or ideal). Having raised all of our own meat for an entire year and close to 75% of our vegetables and fruit, while working a day job, running a website and podcast, I've learned a few things on how to preserve years worth of food without wasting a ton of food or feeling totally overwhelmed.

You need a plan in place, it truly does make things easier and it doesn't take that much work, but makes all the difference.
Home Food Preservation- Preserving Plan for a Year's Worth of Food

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It''s felt a little bit like Santa''s workshop around here this week, how about you?

My daughter LOVES to make gifts for people, it''s definitely her love language, and she''s especially excited about Christmas this year. Without being able to go to school and see her friends due to the pandemic restrictions, she''s like a little elf planning special gifts and projects more than usual.

My mom and I are going to surprise her by recovering the little wooden bench that matches the vanity in her bedroom (it belonged to her great-grandmother on my husband''s side) so it feels like both sides of the family are creating a special heirloom gift.

We''re having a rare sunny stretch in the Pacific Northwest so I''m planning on finishing mulching the garlic with an extra layer of straw. The autumn bearing raspberry canes need cutting back and an application of composted chicken manure added.

Sunday I plan on making some of the molasses sugar cookies below. I''m only baking half the recipe (the dough freezes wonderfully) because if I bake the whole batch I''ll eat the WHOLE batch. I have no will power with these babies.

I''m looking forward to some garden therapy. I don''t get much of it this time of year and it''s one of the best anti-anxiety remedies I''ve found. It''s the reason I made this t-shirt and sweatshirt that says "Gardening Feeds the Body and Soul!" Order now to ensure it arrives in time for Christmas...

... and check out the Mason jar and Homesteading shirts too. 😊

Enjoy the articles and podcast episodes below!

I''ve long wished for a root cellar or even a basement to store our food. As much as I love my canning, ferments, and dehydrating, not all crops are suited (or are not my favorite way to eat them) with some of the above methods.

Good news, you can use your garden as a root cellar in many climates (even with snow and freezing temps). In fact, would you believe me if I told you I still have multiple crops out in the garden, just waiting for me to harvest them?

That''s right! Even after a handful of hard frosts, my crops are happily waiting for me to come out and "shop" my garden as needed.

Now, if you''re someone who loves the summer months because of all the fresh eating from the garden, you may be excited to hear about the methods I use to store winter crops in the garden for MONTHS, and some even into next Spring when I''m ready to plant again! But be sure to listen to all my tips, because there are definitely things to avoid!

Vegetables You Can Leave in the Garden

One of my favorite things about Christmastime is the excuse to bake excess amounts of goodies all in the name of gift-giving!

I like to keep baked goods on hand during the holidays in case I need a quick hostess or thank you gift. It''s so easy to box up some cookies, tie it with a little twine, add a sprig or two of pine clippings and call it good!

Plus I''ve shared before how baking truly is a stress-reducer for me!

These old-fashioned molasses cookies scream of the holidays with their molasses, cinnamon, and ginger flavors all mingling together. You can almost hear the harness and jingle bells ringing as you pull them out of the oven!

Old Fashioned Molasses Cookie Recipe

There are still PLENTY of shopping (or CRAFTING) days left before Christmas...

If you''re in need of a little inspiration for what to get that special "someone" in your life, I''ve put together a slew of gift ideas, some homemade, some store-bought, ALL incredible gifts for the home and kitchen.

I think most online retailers are saying to have your orders placed a little earlier this year because so many more people are turning to online shopping with the current pandemic.

Hopefully this guide is helpful!

Homesteader''s Gift Guide

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Hi Emma

Growing a vegetable garden this year?

There are more people gardening this year than there have been in decades. This truly thrills my heart, but I also know there will be a lot of mistakes being made.

Gardening is a learning experience and every gardener has made a mistake at some point in their growing but good news, you can avoid making them and I''m going to show you how.

In the latest YouTube video, I walk you through the mistakes I''ve made in our vegetable garden & a sneak peek at what we''re doing different this year with our trellis system- Click here now for Gardening Mistakes to Avoid | Beginner Gardening Tips

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Hi there,

Ever wonder what it takes to raise all of your own meat for a family of four for a year?

If you use animals and land to benefit one another, it''s easier than you might be thinking, especially this time of year.

It also includes picking the correct breeds. You''ll hear my excitement when I share about the new to us heritage breed of pigs, the American Guinea Hog we''re raising. Their comeback story is nothing short of incredible (they were almost extinct in the 1990s) and why they''re the homestead breed if there ever was one.

I walk you through the morning feeding chores and care for our meat birds, laying hens, pigs, and cattle.

In my latest YouTube video you''ll see how much we feed, what type of feed, and practice pasture management with multiple animals Click here now for How Family of 4 Raises a Year''s Worth of Meat | Homestead Morning Schedule

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The members who get the MOST out of the Academy are usually the ones who ask the most questions and comment in the group.

The ones who want to understand the science and the "why" behind we do things a certain way.

The ones who aren''t afraid to sound like a newby and ask questions anyways.

The ones who jump in and share the hard things, the times when things don''t go as planned.

Personally, I love it.

Because at the end of the day, I only want you to join the Pioneering Today Academy if you know, without a doubt, that both the knowledge and community of others seeking the natural self-sufficient life you''ve been craving is what you''re missing.

So without further ado, here are the most common questions I've been fielding over the last few days.

If you're still on the fence, chances are at least one or two of them has been wreaking minor havoc on your sleep patterns. (sorry about that).

Let's jump in!

1. What if I can''t use a certain ingredient in the herbal remedy recipes?

All of the remedies in the Fall Herbal Challenge to have your natural medicine cabinet stocked for cold and flu season have listed by each herb any contraindications (when that herb should be avoided based on medical conditions).

If those contraindications mean you can''t/shouldn''t use that herb, you''ll simply omit it. All of the remedies (with the exception of the Astragalus root tincture) are made with multiple herbs, so if you can''t get an herb or need to omit it, you can still enjoy the remedy and benefits the other herbs offer.

2. What if I can''t make the live videos?

You're not the only busy homesteader looking to enroll in the Pioneering Today Academy. ; )

I've got you covered, my friend.

Every live video is available to watch later and recorded. The live videos, as well as the video lessons in the course, are available to watch whenever you want as many times as you want. As long as your membership is active they never expire.

3. How many remedies are included in the fall challenge?

We''ll be making a total of 10 different remedies, including two tinctures, two syrups, fire cider, herbal steams, four tea blends.

You''ll have remedies at your fingertips to help boost your immune system in preventative mode (before exhibiting symptoms), remedies with anti-viral action & immune boosting properties when you first begin to show symptoms, remedies to help aid your body based on symptoms commonly experienced with cold and flu''s.

Beyond that, you''ll have the knowledge as to HOW those herbs work and WHEN to take them so they''re most effective.

4. What if I decide it''s not for me?

If you decide it''s not for you, you can cancel the monthly membership at any time.

If you opt for the annual membership (smart cookie because it''s the best deal) then you have a FULL 30 days to decide if it''s right for you. If not, simply email me and request a refund and I''ll refund you immediately (I wish all companies worked this way, how about you?)

At this point you should have everything you need to make the best choice for you and your health (and that of your family).

If that road leads you into the Pioneering Today Academy..

Then I look forward to meeting you on the inside

Join PTA today because the doors close tonight >>

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Hi Emma

How awesome would it be to have a system in place where you created delicious homemade baked goods for your family every week without spending a TON of time every day in the kitchen?

Many of us need to make homemade versions now more than ever before but it can be tough to fit everything into a day we need to.

That''s why I''m sharing this FREE live training today.

The live training will be on Thursday April, 16th at 1 pm Pacific (4 pm Eastern).

Sign up for Easy & Healthy Homemade Baked Goods in One Hour Per Week by CLICKING HERE NOW!

I''ll be sharing how to use a few simple ingredients already in your kitchen to create delicious homemade food for your family without ever leaving your house!

You''ll learn how to create a system (no matter what recipes you''re using but I''ll give you some of mine) that allows you do to your entire week''s worth of baking in go, no matter what your schedule!

Can''t wait to hang out with you!

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Hi Emma

Ever wonder what people ate during the Great Depression and which crops they relied on?

My dad was raised during the Great Depression, but honestly, it didn''t change the way they lived even after it ended.

I''ve always lived a bit different than most people my age (do you say you were born a century too late too?), growing a garden, canning, knowing how to provide food off the land for my family, and live frugally, mainly because living through times such as the Great Depression changes the way you view the world and shapes you.

Thankfully, these skills have served us well and I''m putting more of them into practice this year than ever before and want to help YOU do the same.

In my latest YouTube video, I walk you through the self-sufficiency tips I learned from my Dad having lived through the Great Depression- Click here now for Self-Sufficiency Tips from the Great Depression | What My Grandparents Raised

Blessings and Mason jars,
Melissa

P.S. Tomatoes are a staple food crop and the base of many a meal, but you''ll only get enough tomatoes to take you through a year if you understand how to stop blossom end rot, how to avoid blight, and how when you should prune to ensure a bumper crop. I''ve raised a year''s worth of tomatoes using these techniques from just 18 plants for years now. Get my Raising a Year''s Worth of Tomatoes Masterclass including the bonus on how to seed save here.

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Weeds in the vegetable garden have got to be one of my least favorite parts of gardening.

While I don''t mind a little bit of weeding, when you''re growing a large number of vegetables and work full-time jobs, it can be hard to keep up by the end of the season. Let''s be real, few of us have hours a day or week to devote to weeding.

We''ve been growing a vegetable garden for over 20+ years while working and have found three strategies that work well.

The ?key things you MUST know is the exact timing of each method in order for it to work right and cut your weeding time in half!

To cut down on your weeds, watch my newest YouTube video I Use to Spend Hours Weeding Every Week Until We Started Doing This

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There was a time when the only thing stocked in my medicine cabinet was over-the-counter pharmaceuticals.

I was always intrigued by herbs, but I honestly had no idea how to use them.

Did they even work? How would I know which ones to choose or even how to take them properly?

As a pharmacy technician, I was much more comfortable in the world of modern medicine. Before I tell you more about my brand new masterclass, How to Use Herbs Effectively During Cold and Flu Season, I need to share this with you.

In my late twenties, I had debilitating acid reflux and ulcers. I had two young children under the age of four and I was taking max dose prescription medications six times a day.

Problem was, it wasn''t stopping the acid. I was in horrible pain.

I couldn''t sleep.

Acid literally burned all the way from my stomach to my throat. NOTHING relieved it. My size 4 pants were falling off of me because it hurt to eat.

My doctor sent me to a specialist who ordered an endoscope. Once in, they ended up biopsying my esophagus and upper stomach.

Thankfully, it came back cancer-free, but I had cellular change and erosion. The specialist told me I had to go off the meds, I''d been on them way too long, and the only way to control it was with the food I ate.

If he had told me that day in six months I would be off all the medications and symptom-free simply by changing what I ate, I wouldn''t have believed him.

But that''s what happened. Literally, food was my medicine.

And it made me think if just changing my food had that big of an impact, what would using herbs do when myself and family fell ill?

So I slowly set out into the world of natural medicine. I didn''t grow up with herbs being used in our house. I''m not an herbalist nor a medical professional, but a student (and I always strived for straight A''s in school).

With the upcoming fall and winter (aka cold and flu season) this year, I knew it was time to increase my medicine cabinet and herbal knowledge even though I already stock a mostly natural cabinet these days.

When I mentioned to the members of Pioneering Today Academy they asked if I would share what I was doing and had learned with them. I realized there are a lot of people who want to learn about using herbs, so I''m hosting a free live masterclass this coming Thursday where you''ll learn:

5 tips to using herbs effectively
how to know where to start
my favorite immune-boosting herbs
what you need to know about safety and elderberries

Here''s the link to register

Hope to see you there!

Enjoy the articles and podcast episode below!

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With all of the stuff going on this week (let''s be real, this whole year it seems) I find myself treasuring the small things.

Baking is my mother''s love language and is now one I speak fluently. When the world is wonky, things are hard, it is one thing I find solace in. Even better, is when my children join me in measuring, mixing, and making.

Except during the week with homeschool, work, the weather changing, taking care of the livestock as we move into winter (more feeding as the grass is pretty much done growing), I don''t have the time to speak my love language as I want.

Couple this with the kids (hello teenage boy) eating more due to being home more (no sports or other activities we used to have outside the home), I have less time but need more food. Anyone else with this dilemma?

Over summer I got out of the habit of using this method, but it''s now back in full force!

Last spring I taught this class and it was incredibly popular, over 10,000 people signed up for it, and many of you asked if I would teach it again.

Just in time before the holidays hit, you can Sign up for Easy & Healthy Homemade Baked Goods in One Hour Per Week by CLICKING HERE NOW!

We''re still putting the garden to rest for winter and trying to finish up the last of the projects before the weather turns for good here.

Enjoy the articles and podcast episode below!

How many of my fellow Pioneers remember about 18 months ago when I experimented in the garden by adding a layer of wood chips to help with weed control?

Well, today I''m giving you an update! Listen to this week''s Pioneering Today Podcast (episode #279) to find out if the experiment was worthwhile, whether or not we''ll be laying wood chips in the garden again this year, and whether or not I''ll be telling my husband (who wasn''t sure this was a great idea) "I told you so!"

We Covered 1/2 the Garden in Wood Chips - 18 Month Update

Is there anything better than fresh homemade bread, straight from the oven?

OK, I guess fresh homemade bread, straight from the oven slathered in butter!

I''m a sucker for homemade bread, but with working from home full-time, a homestead to tend to, and two kids at home I rarely have the time to bake fresh bread.

But I''ve come up with a solution! My basic bread dough that sits in your fridge (for up to TWO WEEKS!) waiting for you to be ready to bake it!

It saves HOURS of kitchen time, and I can usually have a loaf hot out of the oven in about an hour, start to finish.

Even better, this dough takes about 5 minutes to whip up, then just sits there waiting for you to be ready.

(Psst, watch the video to the end for another SUPER YUMMY way I like to use this dough!)

No-Knead Homemade Artisan Bread Recipe

Every time I make these I wonder why I didn''t double the batch because I can''t STOP eating them. The good thing is, I don''t need to worry about scarfing them down (unless the kids wanted me to share) because they''re made with whole food ingredients.

Plus, you can swap in gluten-free flour if needed, adjust seasonings to what you have on hand, or add cheese. With the written recipe, these taste very similar to wheat thins.

Have you made them yet?

Easy Homemade Crackers in 5 Minutes

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Ever had fresh produce sitting on the table or in the fridge and you weren''t sure what the best way to preserve it was?

It used to be in kitchens of old, fruits and vegetables were enjoyed fresh but the extra bounty was preserved for the following year. No running to the store every week to get your fruits and veggies. The only way you enjoyed those foods was if you''d preserved it yourself.

Each household knew the ways the foods would store the longest, how their family enjoyed them, and what served them best.

Unfortunately, not many people in today''s day and age have the experience to know which way is best (especially if there are several preserving method options for a particular food) or how to ensure the food is done safely.

Thankfully, I was raised by someone who lived through the Great-Depression and passed down a lot of those skill sets. Over the past twenty years, I''ve built on that foundation and have been stocking our pantry with preserved food from the garden we use all year long.

I''ve taught thousands of other people how to do the same thing and right now, I am getting ready to take the largest group I''ve ever had through our summer challenge of preserving a year''s worth of food inside the Pioneering Today Academy.

Imagine having step-by-step video tutorials and written pdf guides, and joining the weekly guided challenge hosted by me to help keep things manageable as you follow along in your kitchen and preserve with me.

In year''s past, we''ve had members who had never canned or preserve food before end up with over 400 jars of canned food on the shelf (all done safely and with updated procedures). Click here now to become a member before the doors close to the Pioneering Today Academy.

I just put up our first jars from this year''s produce already last week and it feels so good to know the shelves are once again being filled. I hope the same for you this year!

Enjoy my favorite and new resources to help you with your homemade and homegrown journey below!

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Am I the only one feeling a bit different about Christmas this year?

With the pandemic, limits on gatherings, and the number of people being allowed in stores, I''ve found myself hungering for the joy of the holidays even more.

We put up our tree early this year for the twinkle of ornaments and lights.

Many of our normal Christmas activities like school programs, even our church play, going to the local production of the Nutcracker, all are canceled.

Though we can''t do some of the things we normally do or see all of the people we normally see. We can make homemade gifts.

Not only does this help take my mind off the things I can''t do, it helps to spread joy to others.

This year my kids are being home-schooled and without sports or seeing friends as often, it''s been harder on my daughter (aka social butterfly).

This year we''ll be making more of the gifts together. This will also give her some amazing skill sets at a young age.

But in order to teach her, I need to have the skill sets already mastered, especially for things like soap.

Five years ago I wanted to make homemade soap for gifts (I love gifts that can go for the ladies or the gentlemen), but I was SCARED I'd do it wrong.

Hello, it involves lye and I didn't want to explode anything in my kitchen or burn anyone's skin. So I waited for years before I ever got the guts to make it by myself in my own kitchen.

This can happen when you're trying to learn a new skill by searching the internet or asking in an online group.

How can you know for sure you're doing it right if you don't learn from a teacher and having someone experienced you can ask questions from?

Learning from blogs and books can be great, but there are some things you NEED to see the process.

There have been so many books where I've needed to see that one spot in action or ask just a few questions to make sure I had it right. Knowing how to get perfect sourdough bread and soap fell into this for me.

When I was learning sourdough baking this was especially true. I think I read the techniques and recipe part twenty times and still wasn't sure when to stop with the stretch and fold and how to tell if the loaf was proofed long enough.

Don't even get me started with soap making, my mom made soap but the whole lye thing terrified me until I had a friend walk me through it with safety tips, step by step.

An experienced person guiding you through each step makes ALL the difference.

Things have changed since then. I now make all of our own soap, lip balms, medicinal salves, candles, sourdough bread, sandwich loaves, croissants, we're almost a straight-up store and bakery in my small little kitchen.

I get emails and messages all the time expressing frustration over failed bread or fear of doing things wrong with lye and soap making.

ENTER MY NEW STRESS-FREE TRAINING IN THE HOLIDAY FAMILY BUNDLE

It's two of my comprehensive systems designed to help you feel confident in making your own natural homemade items from soap to bread.

I will walk you through every step of safely creating luxurious soaps and salves that nourish the skin, herbal balms, and salves that moisturize without petroleum-based ingredients, homemade bread, and baked goods that will feed your family and soul with increased nutrition.

Not only is this a gift of learning traditional skill sets that will fill you with pride and satisfaction, but they will benefit your family beyond this holiday season for a lifetime, and honestly, longer as you pass these skill sets on to your children, grandchildren, family, and friends.

Instead of standing in long lines in the cold to get into stores for things that will get donated to the Goodwill or tossed out in a decluttering spree six months down the road, you can easily spend just 30 minutes making gifts for yourself and those on your list with the Holiday Family Sale.

If you''re feeling the strain of this year, imagine the joy you''ll feel creating something for those you love in your own kitchen.

There has never been a greater need to bake a beautiful from-scratch loaf of bread, learn how to make homemade croissants (seriously much easier than you think and so worth it), along with a batch of hand-crafted soap or lotion bars for anyone you wish to gift to those who need some uplifting.

Right now, during my Holiday Family Bundle, you can save more than 65% off the regular price of $296, and get it for just $97!

It's an incredible deal to bring your family together for the holidays and gift them with items from your heart, hands, and kitchen that they'll not only use, but they can join you in learning how to make to create a generations-long legacy.

Get the Holiday Family Bundle here

I'll see you inside the course and kitchen!

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Seed saving used to be something every homestead and gardener did in order to have seed for the following year.

My family has been seed saving our own strain of two different beans for over 100 years and 5+ generations. I''ve never purchased beans from the store, either to eat or plant (with exception of the new Cherokee Black Beans I added to our garden this year).

There are key things you MUST know about the type of plant your seed saving from if you want it to grow true to type AND timing is critical for a healthy viable seed.

To never buy garden seed again, watch my newest YouTube video My Family Has Been Saving These Seeds for OVER 100 Years! Secrets to Never Buying Garden Seed Again

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Hey there,

Last Thursday I taught my free masterclass on Using Herbs Effectively During Cold & Flu Season, and over a thousand people tuned in LIVE.

Except for the first 10 minutes of the class, I couldn''t connect to teach. Many people thought they had the wrong time because it just showed a chatbox and nothing on the screen.

For those of you who stayed on live, I did get connected and it was one of the BEST classes I''ve ever taught.

This is what attendees said:

"This is one of the best lectures on herbs and I have seen many many teachers." L.

and

"The best thing I learned was definitely taking a look at how herbal medicine is so different from over the counter medication." S.

A few people reported not getting the link to watch the class the morning of. If you have a yahoo or Hotmail email address, they block (don''t even let it hit spam) emails and there''s nothing I can do about it on my end, I strongly recommend using a Gmail or other email to sign up for the class.

Because the class was such a huge hit and due to the tech issues, I''m going to teach it one more time this FRIDAY. This is the last time I''ll teach this class in 2020, so don''t miss it, register here for free now for How to Use Herbs Effectively During Cold & Flu Season

Most people suffer through a cold or flu, not realizing there is a lot they can do to before and during to help ease duration and severity. I''m not saying you can prevent catching them all together or never get sick, that is not true, but there''s a lot you CAN do. In my free class you''re going to learn:

what do now to boost your immune system
5 tips to using herbs effectively
How to know where to start
Best herbs for getting your immune system in tip-top shape
What you need to know about safety and using elderberry

Click here NOW to register for the FREE Herb Class

These always fill up fast, so snag your seat now!

Can''t wait to hang out with you!

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Winter hit overnight.

The summer crops are officially done. A mix of snow and rain dumped throughout the day here Friday and clear skies with freezing temps greet us for the rest of the weekend.

I''m feeling quite fortunate our first killing frost hit this late. One of the most valuable things a gardener can do is keep records. It''s one of the reasons I created my new Family Garden Planner, with yearly, monthly, and weekly charts to record harvests, weather, planting, and more.

I shelled out the majority of the black Cherokee beans and have a few more of the October beans to join the trays drying by the woodstove. Honestly, I find shelling beans a very relaxing evening chore.

We''re taking stock of this year''s harvest, making notes of what we''re increasing and decreasing.

We''ll be putting in more shell bean plants, winter squash varieties of Delicata, butternut, and acorn with slightly less spaghetti and pumpkin for starters.

Looking at the notes from spring we''re also going back to a later planting date to make sure the soil is warmer.

It''s important to jot these things down now because despite how well I''d like to think my memory is, the gardening years run together and I''ll forget come seed starting and planting time.

On to preserving some of the delicious harvests, either from your own garden or another source, and an honest look at homesteading.

Enjoy the articles and podcast episode below!

Pumpkin sitting on a wooden table with fall leaves around it.

It''s the time of year when pumpkin EVERYTHING sounds like a little slice of heaven. Pumpkin bread, cream cheese pumpkin roll, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pie... shall I go on?

But before we can enjoy all those pumpkin goodies, we have to get our pumpkins in from the garden, cured, and then properly preserved so we can enjoy those pumpkin goodies well into next spring.

Am I the only one who loves a pumpkin spice latte any time of year?

In this blog post and podcast, I''m discussing the 8 ways to preserve pumpkins at home (or catch my YouTube video where I demonstrate how to can pumpkin puree). If you''re wanting to bake with pumpkin puree, follow the instructions for canning cubed pumpkin, which can then be opened and pureed on demand for recipes throughout the year.

If you didn''t grow pumpkins, now is the perfect time to visit your local pumpkin patch and pick up a few!

8 Ways to Preserve Pumpkin at Home

If you''ve been homesteading for any length of time, you know all too well that feeling of overwhelm and burnout.

Homesteading definitely has tough seasons.

For me, that time of year usually comes just as the fall turns colder and the garden comes to an end. It''s the time of year the grass stops growing, the animals need more feed and attention, preservation is at an all-time high, and my body just wants to curl up in front of a cozy warm fire with a good book.

In this podcast, I''m discussing the realities of when homesteading gets tough, how I ask myself the hard questions, how I put things into perspective in order to prioritize each task, and, most importantly, to remember my "why".

Hopefully, this episode brings some encouragement and solidarity as this homesteading lifestyle is not for the faint of heart.

What to do When Homesteading Gets Tough

The Family Garden Planner book sitting on a table with a bowl of green tomatoes sitting
next to it.

If you''ve been tuning into my podcasts lately, you''ve likely heard that I published a companion planner that goes along with my book, The Family Garden Plan.

This planner can be used as a stand-alone planner (meaning you don''t need my book in order to use it), or you can use it alongside my book as they easily go hand-in-hand.

This planner is filled with daily, weekly, and monthly schedules to help keep you and your garden organized and working FOR you.

This is the journal where you''ll jot down all your gardening notes: how many plants you planted, the varieties you planted (including which varieties you loved most!), the yields, how many jars you put up from each crop, etc.

I love using this planner to keep track of how much produce I bring in from the garden each week so I can tally it up and know exactly how much money I''ve saved from not buying those products at the grocery store.

Pre-Order the Family Garden Planner now!

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Hey there,

Victory gardens and putting up food like great-grandma is something more folks than ever are thinking about this year.

If you''ve already been homesteading, these are things you''ve dreamt about OR been practicing for a while.

Even though my husband and I have been homesteading seriously for over a decade, we''re taking everything we''ve learned these past years and kicking things into high gear.

Thankfully, I have generations of experience to glean from beyond what we''ve discovered. I''ve shared before my grandmother raised my father and his siblings through the Great-Depression by what they grew and preserved themselves.

We''re implementing these same practices and I want to share them with you.

You don''t have to have acres of land in order to grow and put up food for your family BUT you do need a plan.

While I love herbs and do grow most of our own, a year''s worth of herbs in the cupboard isn''t going to feed your family (but can go a long way in flavoring many a dish or doubling as the natural medicine cabinet).

You need to know which plants to focus on to give you the maximum harvest AND for preserving.

If you plan on eating from your own stores for a year then YOU definitely need a preserving plan.

While I love canning, not all foods are safe to can, and some foods can be easily preserved without a canner (when you''re putting up a lot the easiest route is what I''m after, provided it''s safe and effective). You need a full repertoire of preserving options.

I''m sharing how we do this and how YOU can do the exact same thing this year.

Specifically, this Thursday, May 15th, at 1 pm Pacific I''m teaching a FREE live class giving you my best tips on How to Plan Your Crops and Harvest for a Year''s Worth of Food including:

an increased harvest with the same amount of space
choosing the correct varieties for maximum harvest
a customized plan for YOUR garden and where you live with plant types that give you the most harvest time for your growing season
which crops will give you the most yield
how much time does this truthfully take
ways to store the harvest and that much food

Click here NOW to register for the FREE Class

These always fill up fast, so snag your seat now!

Can''t wait to hang out with you!

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If there''s one thing this year has taught me (thankfully I''ve learned more than one thing because I believe life is meant to be filled with new discoveries) but this year brought home that when things get tough, we tend to appreciate the small and little things that much more.

Many of our "normal" events for Christmas aren''t happening. No Christmas programs, plays, or school assemblies, live choirs, or even our annual large cookie and ornament exchange with the ladies group from church, BUT this Saturday the small town nearest our homestead is having a holiday drive-thru lane.

Any home or business that decorated the outside of their building or home could submit to be on the map and enter to win "best decorated."

You begin by driving through the main street and town square to wave to Santa and get a map. Then you can drive around looking at all the pretty displays.

It doesn''t sound like much but my daughter and I are so looking forward to it. I''m going to make special homemade hot chocolate for our thermos with special peppermint marshmallows (the hot chocolate recipe is in my book Hand Made but I confess I purchased the marshmallows).

This year I''m learning to treasure every small moment. To find joy in the things we can do, instead of bemoaning what we can''t and what''s different.

My hope is my children will see and learn that the only thing we can control is how we''ll react in situations. That they''ll learn we can pick to find the good, to find the beauty in something as small as twinkling Christmas lights, and make the little moments worth savoring.

I know things look different this year for many of us but my hope is you too will find the beauty in the small things and make a moment worth savoring any way you can.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your year and holidays.

Enjoy the articles and podcast episodes below!

Have you been crafting and DIY gift making this year? It seems like a great year to start, mostly because in store shopping is at an all-time low thanks to COVID restrictions.

If you''re running short in the DIY gift ideas department, I''m here to help!

In today''s Pioneering Today podcast, I''m sharing some of my favorite easy (and frugal) DIY gifts to give.

These gifts are great for everyone on your list, PLUS, they''re gifts that I''ve had the receiver come back and ask for more, so I KNOW they''re well received!

Easy (and Frugal) DIY Christmas Gifts

If I''ve said it once, I''m gonna keep on saying it again and again... Great-Grandma really knew how to bake!

I find myself getting very nostalgic this time of year because I tend to make more of her recipes around the holidays.

This Jam Roly-Poly is no exception and should be a staple in anyone''s home this Christmas.

The best part is, you can mix up the flavor each time you bake it by changing out the jelly filling!

Grab this amazing recipe (that may or may not appear on my table for breakfast!) here...

Great-Grandma''s Jam Roly-Poly

Earlier this week I published a new YouTube video where I shared how to make (almost) FREE Christmas decorations from evergreen cuttings.

It''s one of my favorite ways to liven up the house for the holidays, especially since we put up a fake Christmas tree, I love having the wreath and centerpieces for the heavenly pine scent.

Come watch this quick tutorial, you won''t believe just how easy it is to make a holiday wreath, even if you don''t have a wreath form!

Easy (almost) FREE Christmas Wreath (and centerpiece)

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The past few weeks have been a little rough.

I find myself avoiding the news more than ever. I get tired of all the sensationalism and the focus on mainly negative things.

I''ve found solace in baking. Something I don''t do as much of during summer and harvest time.

This is the first fall I''ve had the kids home full time as they''re not back in regular public school.

Coupled with moving into the holidays, I don''t have much extra time (anyone else) so I''ve been putting my baking method to the test each week.

This is the last time I''m teaching this LIVE class today (Thursday Nov. 12th), on how to have Easy & Healthy Homemade Baked Goods in One Hour Per Week

If you want delicious homemade food for yourself and your family without going crazy trying to find extra time, you need to snag your seat. Here''s the link to register

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Hey there,

People are fed up with modern medicine and big pharma.

We don''t want to just treat symptoms.

Truth is, most pharmaceuticals don''t help us heal our bodies, they simply manage symptoms (and sometimes create more symptoms than what we took them for to begin with).

As we move into this cold and flu season during the pandemic, it can be hard to even get into offices or appointments.

The truth is in most cases (not all) there is a lot we can do to heal our bodies and take care of our own health naturally.

Which is what I''ll be teaching in my masterclass: How to Use Herbs Effectively During Cold & Flu Season

Most people suffer through a cold or flu, not realizing there is a lot they can do to before and during to help ease duration and severity. I''m not saying you can prevent catching them all together or never get sick, that is not true, but there''s a lot you CAN do. In my free class you''re going to learn:

what do now to boost your immune system
5 tips to using herbs effectively
How to know where to start
Best herbs for getting your immune system in tip-top shape
What you need to know about safety and using elderberry

Click here NOW to register for the FREE Herb Class

These always fill up fast, so snag your seat now!

Can''t wait to hang out with you!

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Hi Emma

Want an easy and delicious homemade pop tart recipe?

I''ve never thought pop tarts were that great, but my kids, let''s say grandma spoils them and they love them. But I refuse to buy them for a variety of reasons.

Now we can all be happy because this homemade version is mom-approved and the kids LOVE them. Plus, they''re super versatile with tons of different filling options.

Last week I briefly mentioned these in the pantry items video and I don''t know if I''ve ever received so many requests for a recipe, so I made this YouTube video for you on how to make them

Homemade Pop Tarts From Scratch | Pantry Cooking

or if you want to skip straight to the printable version snag it on the blog here

Either way, make sure you snag the recipe because you NEED it in your baking arsenal.

Enjoy!

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What if you didn''t have to go to the grocery store for food?

I''ve been known to open cupboard doors just to stare at the gorgeous lines of Mason jars filled with our fruits, veggies, and meats.

One of the things that bring me pure joy is the rows of home-canned goods lining my pantry.

Especially with the way things are playing out in Washington state. The county I live in has it''s first confirmed case of the coronavirus and with that, the college shut down yesterday.

My daughter has worked for 2 months writing a book for the Young Author''s conference (yes, she''s totally following in her Mama''s footsteps there) and we received notice last night the conference was canceled even though it''s not for another two weeks.

It''s reported a ban on gatherings of 250 or more people will be put into place later today.

I''ve no idea what will happen from here. This is new territory for me and one I wish wasn''t playing out, regardless if it''s truly necessary or not.

But here''s the thing, I''m NOT worried about feeding my family.

If we''re quarantined, I don''t have to run to the store, my jars are stocked.

If this blows over and nothing else happens (which is my true prayer) then we''ll continue to eat from our home-canned goods. On busy nights when I don''t have time to prepare a full meal, I can grab a few jars and have supper on the table in MINUTES.

My home-canned food isn''t just for emergencies, it''s for our everyday life.

But it is definitely a form of comfort and insurance for anything that comes our way. It''s seen us through cut work hours (aka income loss), when I''m sick and don''t feel like cooking, when I have no time, or when I don''t want the items from the grocery store for various reasons.

Over the past few days, I''ve had several people reach out to me about wanting to learn how to can or asking if me if some of the food they''ve canned is safe.

Unfortunately, I''ve had to be the bearer of bad news and tell people to throw out what they''d canned because they didn''t use safe practices. I hate having people waste not only their food but the time and energy they put into canning it.

If you don''t know how to tell if a procedure or recipe is safe, and just because someone has been canning for years doesn''t mean they know tested and safe procedures, I can''t tell you how many people have inadvertently played Russian roulette using Aunt Ruthie Lou''s recipe or advice, which is why I created my Home Canning with Confidence System, that covers every aspect of canning, from safety, terminology, water bath, pressure canning, and over 65 recipes to create easy shelf-stable meals for your family.

As I watch events play out, I want EVERYONE to have the comfort and reassurance of a pantry of homegrown and home-canned food at their fingertips, with confidence, it was put up correctly.

Knowing that more people will be turning to home-canning during the days and months ahead, I want to make sure they have an excellent resource at their fingertips, right from their home.

So right now, for the next two days only, during my Flash Sale,? you can save 50% off the regular price of $199, and get it for just $99.

It''s an extremely good deal, but you''ll have to act quickly.

Get my full Home Canning with Confidence System Now

If you''ve been wanting to get into home canning for health reasons, self-sufficiency, or just the convenience, TODAY is the time to do so.

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How many of you, like me, don''t have a proper root cellar to store all your root crops and other veggies throughout the winter months?

Thankfully, I''ve come up with a great solution that works really well for me (I''m in gardening zone 7 with plenty of freezing temperatures) and it doesn''t require special garden heaters or row covers.

Much as I love Mason jars, canning, dehydrating, and fermenting, I''m a huge fan of not having to harvest and bring food inside to preserve when I can!

This method also works great if winter just snuck up on you and you didn''t quite have enough time to harvest all your produce from the garden before that first hard frost!

Head on over and watch my new video for all my tips on storing your crops in the garden for winter, including which crops this method works well for and which crops I DON''T recommend.

How I Store Vegetables in the Garden During Winter WITHOUT Row Covers

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Hi Emma

Want to grow more crops in the same space and cut back on disease?

Yes, please!

Over the past five years, we''ve increased the amount of food we grow from our garden space and I''ve implemented more vertical options every year. This year is no exception.

In fact, we added another garden bed and doubled the crops I''m growing vertically.

The vertical growing helps me cut back on disease AND allows me to grow cool-weather crops straight through the heat of summer., and will do the same for your garden too.

In the latest YouTube video, I walk you through the new garden beds, success planting tips, AND my newest forms of vertical gardening- Click here now for Spring Garden Tour | Grow MORE with Vertical and Succession Planting

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Are you looking at growing and preserving your own food this year?

I know many people are planning on putting up more food this year than they ever have in the past.

We are, even though I''ve been canning over 400 jars of food a year for my family, we plan on doing more than we have in the past.

But here''s the thing, home-canned food is more than just security that you''ll always have food to put on the table.

My home-canned food isn''t just for emergencies, it''s for our everyday life.

On busy nights when I don''t have time to prepare a full meal, I can grab a few jars and have supper on the table in MINUTES.

It is definitely a form of comfort and insurance for anything that comes our way. It''s seen us through cut work hours (aka income loss), when I''m sick and don''t feel like cooking, when I have no time, or when I don''t want the items from the grocery store for various reasons.

Over the past few days, I''ve had several people reach out to me about wanting to learn how to can or asking if me if some of the food they''ve canned is safe.

Unfortunately, I''ve had to be the bearer of bad news and tell people to throw out what they''d canned because they didn''t use safe practices. I hate having people waste not only their food but the time and energy they put into canning it.

If you don''t know how to tell if a procedure or recipe is safe, and just because someone has been canning for years doesn''t mean they know tested and safe procedures, I can''t tell you how many people have inadvertently played Russian roulette using Aunt Ruthie Lou''s recipe or advice, which is why I created this free video series teaching you how to safely can food at home.

As I watch events play out, I want EVERYONE to have the comfort and reassurance of a pantry of homegrown and home-canned food at their fingertips, with confidence, it was put up correctly.

Knowing that more people will be turning to home-canning during the days and months ahead, I want to make sure they have an excellent resource at their fingertips, right from their home.

Click here NOW to register for my free 4 video canning series

If you''ve been wanting to get into home canning for health reasons, self-sufficiency, or just the convenience, TODAY is the time to do so.

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In case you missed it, I just opened the doors for open enrollment to the Pioneering Today Academy.

This membership has literally been DECADES in the making.

It's based on what I learned growing up as 5th generation homesteader, how to make it work as a full-time working mom and wife, AND what I learned in healing through whole foods, giving you EVERYTHING you need to successfully start living your homesteading and self-sufficiency life now.

If you've been hanging out with me for a while waiting for the right time
to finally go "all-in" on living a self-sufficient and natural life .

This is it.

The Pioneering Today Academy is all about taking out the overwhelm and implementing homegrown and self-sufficiency practices in your life now to create a solid foundation of health and self-sufficiency for yourself and your family for decades.

How to prepare for each season ahead of time so you don''t miss crucial planting dates and have supplies BEFORE you need them.

Therefore, I ONLY recommend that you consider a spot inside the Pioneering Today
Academy if you can check off at least 3 of the following:

1. You're already "sold" on living a homestead lifestyle. You just haven't found the
right guidance, information, or accountability to confidently get it done.
2. You've already been investing time, energy, and perhaps money building up your skillset but have suffered from disappointments and failures and so-so results.
3. You're open to gradually restructuring your kitchen and garden for more homegrown food and herbal remedies.
4. You're excited to start investing the upfront work to create a foundation for a healthy and self-sufficient homestead (even if you still live in the city) that will pay off for years to come.
5. You're ready to go "all in" and do the work as long as you feel that it will bring success.
6. You're excited to live this lifestyle with other people who understand why you''d rather put in the work and effort to harvest it yourself and bake it from scratch when you could just buy it from the store.

If you found yourself nodding your head to at least 3 of those.

I'd love to personally invite you to check out more details here.

Contrary to popular belief, being a homesteader doesn''t require you to quit your day job and move off-grid (though if that''s your goal you definitely can). We''ve been homesteading for over 20 years while still working day jobs, sometimes two jobs each, and taking vacations (usually camping), even with livestock and a garden in the middle of summer.

The Pioneering Today Academy has been serving members for over four years and thousands of homesteaders are living their dream now. Check out their stories here.

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Drying herbs by hanging them is the method used for thousands of years, but knowing when to harvest them is key for the strongest medicinal properties (and flavor).

My goal is to increase the herbs I keep on hand and grow every year. It can feel overwhelming to try and become a home herbalist overnight, but for the past seven years, I''ve slowly built up my knowledge, stock, and plants here on the homestead.

Even if you have one plant or several, knowing when to harvest for the strongest medicinal purposes, how to dry them so they retain them, AND the proper way to store them is KEY.

Many people unknowingly handle them wrong and release the medicinal properties with their prep and storage, instead of right at the time of use.

To fill your cabinet with herbs at their strongest, watch my newest YouTube video Secrets to Drying Herbs With This Centuries Old-Method for Stronger Medicinal Properties

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We''re in the state of winter where the weather is fickle. The sun came out for a few brief hours today and I jumped into working on the fruit trees.

With shovel and wheelbarrow in hand, I quickly worked up a sweat and had to take off my vest and pull my hair up.

Within two hours the wind kicked up and the rain was back. Such is the Pacific Northwest.

It teaches me to take advantage of every break in the weather. But it also makes me glad the full work of spring and summer isn''t quite here.

This weekend I''m tackling the other side of the kitchen cupboards (if you watched this week''s newest YouTube video you heard first we''re doing a kitchen reno).

But that means I have to go through and get everything organized before the demoing can fully begin.

Any veteran gardener knows to take advantage of this time of year to get the house stuff done because it seems once full-time garden and preserving season hits, there''s rarely time for anything else.

There something about seasonal living that teaches you to appreciate each moment as it comes, the time indoors readying up the house and body for the growing time with little moments to help ease you into it.

Speaking of gardening... I''ve got a fun announcement that will help YOU grow your best garden ever so keep an eye out on your inbox.

Below are this week''s resources to help you with your homegrown and homemade journey!

This Homemade sandwich bread is a must, but it can be tricky to get a whole wheat bread recipe to turn out light without a ton of crumbs, so I don't make this claim lightly when I say this is the best whole wheat bread recipe ever.

It's foolproof and easy using 100 % whole wheat flour but is light and soft inside with a chewy buttery crust that will hold all of your favorite toppings.

You can make this all-purpose, whole wheat or fresh ground flour, no worries, I walk you through it all.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread Easy Sandwich Bread Recipe

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Ever reach a point when you know you can''t keep going at the same pace?

Having gardened and preserved our food for decades I know the upcoming season is about to get BUSY.

We''re also bringing home piglets in a few weeks which includes pen building and another chicken tractor for the meat birds once they''re big enough to leave the heat lamp.

We increased our garden size this year, both in square footage and the number of plants I''m putting in (see the link to the newest YouTube video below for a tour).

This week I had several amazing opportunities come my way in the space of 1 hour (I kid you not).

Instead of being able to fully appreciate them, my eyes burned.

My breath shortened and overwhelm seized my muscles.

I''ve been logging in 60+ hours a week since March 11th and I''m beyond thrilled to help people grow and preserve their own food, but I can''t keep burning the candle at both ends.

I struggled all day long with saying no to one of the opportunities because it wasn''t that many years ago I longed for something like it.

I called my husband, talked with a few trusted advisors, and even asked my children what they thought and prayed.

In the end, I turned it down. I simply don''t have the bandwidth to take on anything new right.

Maybe you feel this way too. You want to help as much as possible but you''re stretched too thin.

It''s okay for you to say no. To draw the line in the sand and say I can''t do anymore...

... or maybe, take something off your plate.

It''s one thing to say something is important to us, but if our actions don''t match with that, is it really that important?

I know there are seasons, and this is a season, but if you found yourself resonating with anything I was sharing, take some time to evaluate.

And because putting up more of our food this year is a priority, while having the space to enjoy it and one another, I decided I''m not doing any more live training outside of the Pioneering Today Academy in the month of June.

Which means, this is your last chance to join me for one of my free masterclasses.

Last month over 3,250 people joined me live during my canning masterclass. But many people emailed later to say they missed it and to please do another one.

I know how important this information is (because I''ve been doing a lot of damage control these past weeks on bad and unsafe canning recipes/procedures that people simply don''t realize are unsafe), so I''m doing ONE more class.

This coming Thursday, May 28th, at 1 pm Pacific/ 4 pm Eastern I''m teaching a FREE live class giving you my best tips on home canning including:

the essential supply list (you don''t need as much equipment as you think)
my system for making sure we have the staple home-canned goods we need to create meals for my family without spending a TON of time canning (and how to customize it for your kitchen).
what you MUST know in order to stay safe with canning
my TOP home-canned items to help create the most versatile meals
BONUS: how to can jams and jellies WITHOUT store-bought pectin (sneak peek at one of those recipes below)

Click here NOW to register for the FREE Canning Class

I can''t wait to see you in the class, there''s nothing like being on live and getting to ask your questions in real-time!

Enjoy my favorite and new resources to help you with your homemade and homegrown journey!

There is much we can embrace and learn from the Amish for self-sufficiency and simple living.

While most of us don''t plan on becoming Amish, one company has been working with them to preserve this way of life for over 60 years and now has come full circle and offers Amish made products as well as providing the tools they need.

Good news, not only can we use these tips but anyone can get these tools as well as the Amish made products!

This was such a fun interview 7 Self-sufficiency and Simple Living Lessons from the Amish

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Sometimes I forget homesteaders aren''t normal.

Let me explain, not normal compared to the majority of modern society.

We live rurally, a good portion of our neighbors have some type of livestock and/or a garden to some degree or another.

I spend my days recording podcasts and interviewing other homesteaders, teaching with live videos inside my membership the Pioneering Today Academy, and visiting with people online who are eager to live a self-sufficient lifestyle.

Especially with the pandemic and stay at home orders, I didn''t realize how much of a bubble I was in until the past weekend when I had a conversation about us just getting done butchering 26 meat birds.

This has become a normal way of life, to raise and process as much of our own food as possible. We don''t buy eggs, whole chickens (you''ll hear in the newest podcast episode below occasionally I''ll buy a package of just wings or thighs), beef, pork (except bacon, you only get so much bacon per animal), fruit, jam, pie filling, canned vegetables, tomatoes, beans- this email will be a mile long if I go on, but you get the picture.

I''m lucky to be surrounded by my online community of people who want to learn this that I forget this isn''t quite so normal for most of modern society. Many of them don''t want to be a part of the process with eggs and meat.

It''s not that they don''t know how and haven''t learned yet, it''s that they DON''T want to do it. They have no desire to raise or process their own food.

I''m not knocking them, I happen to love the person I had the conversation with a TON.

But it threw me for a minute to remember that not everyone has this desire, this calling for homesteading, but if you''re reading this, good chance you''re like me.

You want to know exactly where your food comes from, how it was raised, what''s in it, what''s not, and to know you can provide that for yourself and your family no matter WHAT happens in the world in the coming months and years.

You feel a great sense of satisfaction and joy watching the shelves and freezers fill up with food you''ve preserved. When you replace a store-bought item with a homemade one, it feels like a victory.

That my friend, means you and me, we''re pioneers. Old-fashioned souls in a modern world.

And not everyone has to be like us with this desire, but I''m extremely grateful to be with you in this community where we totally get the glee that the sound of a canning jar lid pinging when it comes out the canner brings.

Speaking of growing more of your own food, if you watch my newest YouTube video of my garden tour, you''ll see the vertical garden container I''m using to grow strawberries and basil in. If you don''t have a ton of space or want to take advantage of having your strawberries from being decimated by slugs, you definitely want to check them out.

Because it''s a deeper pocket than many stackable containers, you can also grow root crops in it and we''re coming up on planting time for fall crops of carrots and beets as well as sugar or snow peas (plant taller/vining plants in the bottom tiers). Get the vertical GreenStalk Container Tower from my affiliate (I make a small commission and you get a coupon code!) use this coupon code for $10 off : PIONEERING at http://lddy.no/h10b

Enjoy the articles and podcast episodes below!

Ya know what, I''m finding I use more pie filling than I do jam.

Mainly because it''s so versatile, for a fast cobbler, dump cake, on top of cheesecake might be my favorite), inside my homemade pop tarts (the kids favorite), or swirled into homemade yogurt (see, it works for so many things!), and of course, pie.

While you can''t use flour or cornstarch when canning, you don''t have to buy ClearJel (I do because I don''t always want to thicken it before use) but in this newest recipe/tutorial I give you options for both!

Now go get yourself some cherries and can them up. How to Can Cherry Pie Filling

We started raising and butchering our own meat chickens six year''s ago. This year we butchered 26? meat birds to fill our freezer for a year''s worth of chicken for our family.

I outline in the podcast episode the other meat we have and why this amount is perfect for OUR family.

Not everyone wants to raise and butcher their own meat but many of you do. This tutorial is updated with new pictures (we''ve gotten better at our processing over the years) and is step-by-step with pics, as tastefully done as you can.

For all the details, click here and learn How to Butcher a Chicken at Home

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One thing I''ve learned over the past few months is the need to evaluate and shift priorities when needed.

Last week I shared with you how I have really been struggling emotionally and mentally over the last few weeks. First off, thank you for your prayers, I know they made a difference.

Second, while I don''t wish any of you to struggle, it was nice to know we''re not alone and many of you have been feeling the same way.

I tend to pride myself on being a hard worker and resilience. We already live rurally, practice going to town for groceries a few times a month, so I didn''t really think the social distancing was having that much of an impact on me.

But I allowed myself to grieve the cancellation of many events (including sadly the homestead in-person meet up I host here for members of the Pioneering Today Academy). The tears surprised me at times but I felt so much better afterward.

I gave myself some space and there isn''t a new podcast episode (there won''t be for the next 2 weeks).

I spent more time in the garden (it is now gorgeous and freshly weeded), planted the last of the corn and potatoes (better late than never), and instead of jumping back on the computer after the kids go to bed, read some fiction novels.

If you are struggling, know it''s okay to acknowledge what you''re feeling, even if you don''t feel you have an exact reason.

And then look at what you have control over, the activities you''re doing, the things you''re reading, and see if it''s perhaps time to change any of that.

It doesn''t mean you won''t pick them back up, it might just be you need a break...

... or, it might be you realize you don''t need to return to them.

Rest assured, I''m NOT giving up the podcast, the blog, YouTube, or my membership, but I definitely needed a break for a while.

This coming week we''ll be harvesting the meat birds and prepping for our summer fishing to fill the freezer with seafood for the fall and winter.

Thank you for being a wonderful community who lifts up one another and helps all of us live a healthier and self-sufficient life.

Enjoy the articles and podcast episodes below!

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This week I traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, Baltimore, Maryland, and Virginia for the first time. Yes, all in one week.

On my ride to the airport in Nashville, my Lyft driver asked me what I was doing in Tenessee. When I told him I was a homesteader he quickly began telling me about the plan he and his fiance have for moving to the country and starting a small dairy herd within the next two years.

He asked me how many acres he''d need per cow and if two acres sounded right. With their growing conditions, I told him it sounded pretty close.

When I arrived at the airport he took out his phone so I could type in my website and podcast to help him get started.

Despite what the media would push us to believe, no matter where we live, there are good people out there. People eager to help one another and share what we know to get others started on their homesteading journey.

Yesterday I taught my online class for the Homesteaders of America''s Conference on Creating a Custom Home Food Storage Plan for a Year''s Worth of Food. Today at 12:45 pm Eastern I''ll be on the Q&A panel, if you have your ticket already I can''t wait to see you there, if not, Register Now to Reserve Your Spot for the 2020 HOA Online Conference

With all the travel this week, I''ve been sticking to my elderberry and Vitamin D routine to keep my immune system up.

As fun as it''s been, I''m missing my family and yearning for home. It''s one time I''m very glad I''m not like Laura Ingall''s and can get back there in a day rather than an almost year long wagon ride.

Enjoy the articles and podcast episode below!

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I''ve had a lot of questions come in about the flash sale on the Home Canning with Confidence system, so I wanted to take a few minutes and pop in here in case you had the same questions.

WHAT IS INCLUDED WITH THE HOME CANNING WITH CONFIDENCE SYSTEM?

You''ll receive digital access to the Homecanning with Confidence System, which will show you the exact steps to begin safely canning food at home right now.

So much more than just recipes, this comprehensive system also includes printable resources with my custom designed canning jar labels, recipes, operating guides, and safety procedures.

Best of all, you''ll get the support, know-how, and motivation you need to take control of your family''s food and pantry.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

The Homecanning with Confidence System will:

Walk you step-by-step through the process of updated and safe canning, including water bath and pressure canning.
Provide access to 30 different video tutorials with 65 recipes and notes.
Show you how to easily make each recipe safely with time-saving tips.
Breakdown of terms, safety, and equipment for water bath and pressure canning.
Help you create a shelf-stable pantry filled with homemade goodness for quick and easy meals.

HOW DO I KNOW WHETHER THE HOME CANNINGTH CONFIDENCE SYSTEM IS RIGHT FOR ME?

My system is designed to help you quickly and easily give you a solid foundation of canning safety so you can immediately start putting up fruit, vegetables, and meat.

It is perfect for anyone who wants to create shelf-stable foods, needs quick items to create homemade meals at their fingertips, less time searching for reliable and safe canning recipes, less time buying store-bought food, while at the same time gaining valuable traditional skill sets that will serve them and their family for years to come.

It is probably not right for anyone who considers using tested recipes for canning safety an overstep or thinks there''s nothing wrong with GMO''s in their food.

WHAT IS THE COST OF THIS SYSTEM?

It''s normally valued at $199 but during this sale, you can grab it for just $99.

HOW SOON AFTER PURCHASING WILL I RECEIVE MY SYSTEM?

You''ll create your log-in at checkout and be in immediately.

WHAT IS YOUR RETURN POLICY?

I am confident that you are going to love the Homecanning with Confidence System (along with the 1,000 other customers who have gone through it), but if for any reason you are not satisfied, I do provide a 30-day happiness guarantee.

HOW SOON DO I HAVE TO ORDER?

Now, this sale ends tomorrow at 8 AM, which means it''ll be easy to miss. I recommend taking advantage of it now so you don''t feel frustrated you missed it.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER

I hope this answers any questions you may have had, if no, hit reply and I''ll make sure I get to them.

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We may be in the throws of summer, but my mind is already jumping ahead to fall and winter. Blame it on the pioneer in me who knows in order to be prepared you have to be thinking of the months well ahead of time.

All the hay is in for the cattle. Evenings are spent picking the over-burdened blueberry bushes, dehydrating herbs, and this weekend the fall crops are being sown (see article below).

I''d already expanded my medicinal herb garden this early spring ( I started many from seed back in February before COVID) but I''ve been digging in deep learning about using herbs for viruses and cold and flu symptoms. Members of the Pioneering Today Academy voted on our fall challenge and lessons and by far building a well-stocked herbal medicine cabinet won.

One of the things I find myself doing even more than usual is making sure I''ve got things ordered NOW for fall. If you''d like a more in-depth video/podcast episode on everything we''re doing, let me know (sometimes I feel like I might be the only one who thinks this way, so let me know if I''m not alone).

From my studies (seriously feel like I''m back in college), elderberry is truly amazing not only at boosting the immune system but has anti-viral properties, particularly for helping aid against influenza A and B strains. My elderberry bushes are too young to provide us with enough berries for the coming fall/winter and I know last year many sources sold out.

I just placed an order from my friend and affiliate Farmhouse teas here for both the syrup kit and the dehydrated elderberries (I ordered a full pound of berries alone). If you''re planning on making syrup or tincture I highly recommend stocking up now and not waiting.

I''m enjoying my time in the garden and am thrilled to see little blossoms FINALLY forming on my poor stunted cucumbers. I''ve never seen a cucumber plant blossom with only ONE set of true leaves, but that''s for real in my garden right now.

In case you have cucumbers already on, make sure you check out the post below for delicious crunchy pickles every time.

Enjoy the articles and podcast episodes below!

The first few years I planted a fall garden I didn''t get much of a harvest. It''s amazing what two weeks too late means for your harvest.

Thankfully, for the past two years, we''ve harvested our fall vegetables clear through until January, straight from the garden!

If not going to the grocery store for fresh veggies this fall/winter sounds good to you, read this one now to know when and what you should be planting.
Planning a Fall Garden 28 Crops to Plant

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Hi Emma

Need a little help keeping the kitchen and pantry organized?

Ten years ago I started moving into using herbs and natural remedies. I realized that I had stashes of over-the-counter meds in my cupboards that we hadn''t TOUCHED in years.

Every time I or my family comes down with a cough or cold, I reach for my herbs first, but I never actually moved them into our medicine area. Instead, I was schlepping over to the pantry food storage area and leaving VALUABLE cupboard space just sitting there.

If you have any cupboards that you KNOW you need to get organized then today is just the inspiration you need my friend.

I walk you through an organization with Mason jars, including my best thrift store shopping advice for jars.

And if you were ever curious what I look like without makeup on, the first few minutes are for you 😉 (and if you don''t care about that you''ll love the other tips!)

Click here to watch Organization with Mason Jars | Herbal medicine cabinet | Thrift Store Finds

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There are some things you just don''t see coming and I think it''s safe to say most of us never saw all the events from March onward coming quite as they did.

Here we are, almost 5 months in, and things still haven''t gone back to the way they were before.

What surprises me, is how it''s forced us to make some changes that even when/if we can, we won''t be going back to the way we did before (new post link to this below).

In year''s past, I''ve always known if something happened to the garden or I didn''t get as much put up as I wanted, we always had the grocery store as a back-up.

With everything that has happened this year we''re making sure we have our own stores and supplies unlike ever before. You''re likely thinking about your food supply and pantry stock more than usual too.

It really wasn''t that long ago many families depended on what they grew and preserved to feed themselves but in just a few generations, this know-how has been forgotten or not practiced by most.

My grandmother raised a family through the Great-Depression and the years after. My father said if it weren''t for the food they canned in the summer, they would have gone hungry during the winter months.

But they didn''t, because my grandma spent her summer months canning.

I can well over 400+ jars a year for my family but this year, we planted twenty-five percent more than we normally do and I plan on making sure every single jar is full by the end of the season. If these past 6 months of pandemic taught me anything, it''s how fragile our food system and supply chains are and the importance of being prepared.

If I''m upping my game I know this means more of us than ever before need to put up our own food.

I also know many people don''t know how or don''t realize the info they''re getting in a Facebook group or from Aunt Ellie Suzy May isn''t safe (I know this because almost daily I get messages from people asking if the way they canned something was safe and many times I have to be the bearer of bad news and tell them no, it isn''t).

There''s also a myth the only way to put up that many jars of food are to spend hours a day slaving over the stove and there''s no way people who work have time to do it.

This is simply not true and good news!

Many of you asked if I would be teaching this free class again (I usually one do it a few times a year), and I''m sharing my system for getting jars on the shelf the safe way for free in a LIVE training this week!

Specifically, this Wednesday, August 12th, at 4 pm Pacific I''m teaching a FREE live class giving you my best tips on home canning including:

the essential supply list (you don''t need as much equipment as you think)
my system for making sure we have the staple home-canned goods we need to create meals for my family without spending a TON of time canning (and how to customize it for your kitchen).
what you MUST know in order to stay safe with canning
my TOP home-canned items to help create the most versatile meals
BONUS: how to can jams and jellies WITHOUT store-bought pectin

Click here NOW to register for the FREE Canning Class

These always fill up fast, so snag your seat now!

Can''t wait to hang out with you!

Enjoy the articles and podcast episodes below!

Growing up we didn''t have a lot of extra money. I actually had no idea my parents were such super sleuths at being frugal until I was much older because we never went without good food.

Every summer my mom and I would pick blackberries. They grow wild here (they''re actually a noxious weed but at least they taste delicious). Almost all our jam and jelly was blackberry because it was free fruit.

Even better, you can make blackberry jam without any sugar, as in zero.

Easy Blackberry Jam Recipe Low Sugar with Canning Instructions

I confess, usually, by mid-summer, we give up and the weeds take over, but this means they can choke out some of the plants. I really wanted to try the wood chip mulch to see how it worked but my husband didn''t want to risk all of our gardens in case it didn''t turn out.

In order to keep some peace in the marriage (always a good idea) I tested half of the garden with wood chips for a full year. We Covered 1/2 the Garden in Wood Chips | One Year Later | Did it IMPROVE the Soil?

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There are some things you just don''t see coming and I think it''s safe to say most of us never saw all the events from March onward coming quite as they did.

Here we are, almost 5 months in, and things still haven''t gone back to the way they were before.

What surprises me, is how it''s forced us to make some changes that even when/if we can, we won''t be going back to the way we did before (new post link to this below).

In year''s past, I''ve always known if something happened to the garden or I didn''t get as much put up as I wanted, we always had the grocery store as a back-up.

With everything that has happened this year we''re making sure we have our own stores and supplies unlike ever before. You''re likely thinking about your food supply and pantry stock more than usual too.

It really wasn''t that long ago many families depended on what they grew and preserved to feed themselves but in just a few generations, this know-how has been forgotten or not practiced by most.

My grandmother raised a family through the Great-Depression and the years after. My father said if it weren''t for the food they canned in the summer, they would have gone hungry during the winter months.

But they didn''t, because my grandma spent her summer months canning.

I can well over 400+ jars a year for my family but this year, we planted twenty-five percent more than we normally do and I plan on making sure every single jar is full by the end of the season. If these past 6 months of pandemic taught me anything, it''s how fragile our food system and supply chains are and the importance of being prepared.

If I''m upping my game I know this means more of us than ever before need to put up our own food.

I also know many people don''t know how or don''t realize the info they''re getting in a Facebook group or from Aunt Ellie Suzy May isn''t safe (I know this because almost daily I get messages from people asking if the way they canned something was safe and many times I have to be the bearer of bad news and tell them no, it isn''t).

There''s also a myth the only way to put up that many jars of food are to spend hours a day slaving over the stove and there''s no way people who work have time to do it.

This is simply not true and good news!

Many of you asked if I would be teaching this free class again (I usually one do it a few times a year), and I''m sharing my system for getting jars on the shelf the safe way for free in a LIVE training this week!

Specifically, this Wednesday, August 12th, at 4 pm Pacific I''m teaching a FREE live class giving you my best tips on home canning including:

the essential supply list (you don''t need as much equipment as you think)
my system for making sure we have the staple home-canned goods we need to create meals for my family without spending a TON of time canning (and how to customize it for your kitchen).
what you MUST know in order to stay safe with canning
my TOP home-canned items to help create the most versatile meals
BONUS: how to can jams and jellies WITHOUT store-bought pectin

Click here NOW to register for the FREE Canning Class

These always fill up fast, so snag your seat now!

Can''t wait to hang out with you!

Enjoy the articles and podcast episodes below!

Growing up we didn''t have a lot of extra money. I actually had no idea my parents were such super sleuths at being frugal until I was much older because we never went without good food.

Every summer my mom and I would pick blackberries. They grow wild here (they''re actually a noxious weed but at least they taste delicious). Almost all our jam and jelly was blackberry because it was free fruit.

Even better, you can make blackberry jam without any sugar, as in zero.

Easy Blackberry Jam Recipe Low Sugar with Canning Instructions

I confess, usually, by mid-summer, we give up and the weeds take over, but this means they can choke out some of the plants. I really wanted to try the wood chip mulch to see how it worked but my husband didn''t want to risk all of our gardens in case it didn''t turn out.

In order to keep some peace in the marriage (always a good idea) I tested half of the garden with wood chips for a full year. We Covered 1/2 the Garden in Wood Chips | One Year Later | Did it IMPROVE the Soil?

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I''ve never been more determined and convinced that self-sufficiency and homesteading are THE skills we need to embrace.

Even having been raised in this lifestyle and embracing it as an adult for 2 decades, we''re doing more now than we ever have before.

It doesn''t matter where you live, there are ways you can grow some of your own food and definitely start being more self-sufficient in the kitchen, from city apartments to the suburbs, to acreage.

Right now, these skill sets are more important than ever, and when this passes, it''s my hope that those who had never grown their own food will discover they''ve fallen in love with having their hands in the dirt, watching seeds grow, and eating straight from their own garden.

I hope they''ll notice how MUCH BETTER their food tastes and how their body feels with the increased nutrients.

Now is the time we can come together and help each other learn these skills and I''m partnering with Homesteaders of America and dozens of other homesteaders over the next 6 days to get you the info you need for FREE.

Today kicks it off and I''m sharing How much to plant per person for a year''s worth of food and answering how to decide how much food to grow for your family. Click here to watch

We''ll be covering gardening, seed starting in warm climates, seed starting in cold climates, seed saving, growing by the seasons and making homemade mozzarella (all on Day 1).

Hop over and watch my video and click on my video description for links to watch all the other videos for today.

This might just make it the best Monday ever... or at least better than before you opened this email 😊

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Hi Emma

Want a food source that you plant ONCE and feeds you and your family for the next 20 years and beyond?

My hand is raised high!

Many people think you need acres of land in order to grow your own fruit and have a backyard orchard, but it''s just not true. You can grow bushels of fruit from a few well-cared fruit trees in a pretty small area.

The key is knowing how to plant your fruit trees correctly AND how to maintain them.

Today I''m giving you a tour of my orchard and sharing the evaluation of my fruit trees, including rather or not my honey tree apple tree is beyond saving or not, with a professional from RainTree Nursery.

You''ll learn how to plant a fruit tree the CORRECT way and more in this new video Plant Your Fruit Tree Correctly & Have Food for 20+ YEARS | Orchard TOUR

and it gets even better. I don''t think I''ve ever been more excited to grow a plant on the homestead than this one.

In the name of convenience and big agriculture, we''ve almost lost certain heirloom and native plants.

This fruit tree is called America''s LOST tree for good reason, I bet you''ve never seen this fruit on the grocery store shelf (I haven''t).

But we''re bringing it back and I''m sharing the specifics you need to know at planting time (it''s not like regular fruit trees) in order to grow it in your backyard! Click here for Planting America''s LOST fruit | Growing Paw Paw Trees

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It''s been an epic week here on the homestead.

I taught a large herbal class online this past Thursday and opened the doors for enrollment to the Pioneering Today Academy for new members in time for people to join our fall herbal challenge and I''m not sure we''ve ever had so many people come in at once.

It''s exciting to see how many people are taking the steps to live a healthier and more self-sufficient life.

Between the 2 hour class on Thursday and then another live in the members-only group for almost another 2 hours, my voice was a wee bit horse. But a big cup of my immune-boosting tea (it has some amazing throat soothing herbs in it) it''s back to normal...

... though I''m sure my kids wouldn''t have minded a bit that mom wasn''t as chatty. If you have teenagers you know what I mean.

We had a large wind and rainstorm roll through so the apple picking was on. We got half the tree picked (about 15 gallons) of apples and today I''ll be preserving the majority of them (see the article below).

I pick the best ones to keep in the crisper drawer of the fridge. The rest will be going into my dehydrator and canning jars.

This is always a mad time of year, trying to beat the weather and get all the food preserved, so I shared in my latest YouTube video what I do when I''m running out of time because this week I had very little actual homestead time but the harvest waits for no man or woman.

Enjoy the articles and podcast episode below!

Update: there are now 11 ways and thank goodness because I''ve got over 10 gallons from picking just half of one tree! Who else is putting up apples?

One of the beautiful things about apples is there are so MANY different ways to preserve them. I think more than almost any other fruit or vegetable, and that''s a very good thing. Because one can only eat so many apple pies, right?....

... hmmm, not sure that''s a true statement.

11 Ways to Preserve Apples at Home

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Sorry!

Yes, that's what I'd, unfortunately, have to say if you email me wanting to join once the timer above runs out.

You can see all that''s included in The Pioneering Today Academy here, so I'm going to keep this email somewhat short and hopefully, sweet! ?

Here's the thing. If you're straddling the fence of indecision and wondering if Pioneering Today Academy is for you, this is what I want you to know:

Pioneering Today Academy is the ONLY training-slash-community program that gives you the single-stop, easy-button, plug-and-play solution for self-sufficiency that busy modern day living needs.

It's no surprise then, that our members celebrate accomplishments like these:

"Well, it took a couple of days (and a couple of posts asking questions... thanks for your help), but it''s finally done! 40 pounds of chicken breast canned (12 qts and 19 pts), and 1qt plus 4 pints of chicken bone broth. 😊😊 Feels good to have it all done! I couldn''t have done it without your tutorials on safety and canning!" ~Kathy, member of Pioneering Today Academy

You''ll see video stories on the signup page from several members as well!

You get your hands-on practical, easy-to-follow tutorials {over 75+ of them and counting!} that help you understand:

when to plant those fruit trees
how to can that strawberry jam without store-bought pectin
what techniques to use to keep seed strains pure
how to prune your plants for increased harvest
how to rotate crops
and so much more!!

Most importantly, with Pioneering Training Academy, you have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that all the groceries you need comes from your own garden. So when storm clouds gather or money runs low, you don't stress out one bit.

Imagine never having to fork out money for chicken, eggs, jams, vegetables, fruits or even soap, ever again!

How amazing would it feel to know that you have everything you need to feed your family without having to wonder what's in your food?

You'd be able to do all of this even if you live in the city, have a full-time job, a seemingly unending commute or have never ever grown anything.

That is what Pioneering Today Academy does for YOU.

It gives you the skills our forefathers took for granted without you having to time-travel or give up your modern comforts.

Now, there are mere hours to go before the doors close.

I spent years wanting to play pioneer, Laura Ingalls-style, and while I am a 5th generation homesteader, I did have a learning curve and with Pioneering Today Academy I'm shortening that learning curve for YOU and smoothening out speed bumps so you don't get overwhelmed or stressed out at all.

You won''t be able to get into the Academy after tonight!

Here's your money-saving link>> http://melissaknorris.com/PTA

I'll see you in the private community!

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Our goal is to grow as much of our own food as possible.

When I first started gardening over 21 years ago, we grew quite a few crops, but the only thing we grew a year''s worth of was green beans.

After a biopsy of my esophagus and stomach a decade ago, it became my MISSION to grow more organic food in our backyard to help heal my body.

But it didn''t happen in one garden season.

Each year we pick one crop to increase to provide us with a full year''s worth of food.

This list of crops we don''t purchase from the store is now pretty long, green beans, tomatoes, garlic, onions, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, pumpkins, numerous herbs, pickling cucumbers, and spaghetti squash.

We grow more than that, but not a full year''s worth... yet.

It really doesn''t matter if it''s a full year or just a few months, the satisfaction of harvesting vegetables from your own backyard (or patio) is almost magical.

Today only (November 30th) my publisher is offering HALF OFF all my books, including The Family Garden Plan and The Family Garden Planner.

If you want to learn WHAT to grow for food, HOW MUCH to grow, and HOW to grow it...

If you want to keep ALL your garden''s information in one place with accurate planting and planning help...

If ?you need logical, visual tips to help know when to harvest, not just the number of days that the plant theoretically needs...

You''ll learn all of this and more with The Family Garden Plan and The Family Garden Planner.

Don''t just take my word for it, here''s what other readers have to say:

"The book is worth the charts alone! The companion planting charts, the pest control charts, the charts on how much of each plant it takes to feed one person for a year so you know how many to plant, the charts for everything--these charts are so amazingly helpful in the garden planning stage as well as the actual gardening phases for succession planting and tracking pest control.

Last year, I found Melissa''s blog post on how much to plant for a year, and my husband and I took the plunge. We didn''t get there, not by a long shot, but it was the best gardening year we''ve had yet, and even the teens ate the fresh produce without grumping about it. This year, with this book''s help, we have a better handle on what we''re doing (again, those charts are huge!), and we are really planning out our succession planting, pest control, and just how much to plant this year. Even my husband is 100% on board and making plans for helping more with canning this year.

We have three teens, one on the high school swim team, and growing enough to feed them for months, if not a year, has seriously helped our food budget. Add in some sustainable gardening practices, which Melissa goes into practical detail in the book, and it isn''t as much work as a traditional garden, not to mention cheaper in terms of water and seed saving and more. I''ve read through a lot of sustainable gardening and permaculture books, and honestly, this is the most practical, most useful book I''ve seen yet." Amazon Review on The Family Garden Plan

"With the first book, you learn about WHAT to grow for food, HOW MUCH to grow and HOW to grow it.

This planner gives you ample room to write down your plans, your process and anything you learn during the gardening process. (With helpful tips along the way) I went from using any notebook I could find at the moment to moving it all in one organized space." Amazon Review on The Family Garden Planner

Hurry, the half-off is today only! Get it here now (right beneath my picture you''ll see each of my book covers, simply click on the cover to go straight to the discount page)

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There''s no way of avoiding this.

Our first frost is hitting this weekend (if not tonight). That means the end of the summer garden.

But if you planted some cool weather crops, it''s a time of rejoicing!

Brussel sprouts are a fabulous cool weather crop, they actually taste BETTER after going through a few hard frosts.

But if they only taste better if you actually have Brussel sprouts formed on the stalks.

Growing Brussel sprouts can sometimes be challenging, in today''s video I break down how to grow Brussel sprouts including how to encourage your sprouts to grow to bigger and faster when to top a plant, fertilizing schedule, and best times to harvest.

Watch this YouTube video Growing Brussel Sprouts [ Increase Growth, Pruning, and Harvest ]

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Hi Emma

Want to have healthy homemade bone broth sitting on the pantry shelf ready to go?

Bone broth should be a staple in any from-scratch cooking kitchen.

It makes a fast gravy, mix it with tomato sauce for easy tomato soup, flavor up soups, stews, and chilis, use it as your cooking liquid for beans and rice, any way you use it, you''re adding nutrient-dense goodness to your family''s food.

Plus, if you or your family begin to come down with cold symptoms, a hot mug of broth not only helps warm up the body (bye-bye cold chills), it truly provides gut health (where our immune system lives) with the collagen and gelatin as well as nutrients to help fight off illness. It''s food and medicine in one!

Bone broth is fast and easy beginners home canning recipe, as long as you know a few important tips to keep it safe.

I walk you through my time-saving tips without sacrificing safety, to can up healthy bone broth at home in this week''s newest video How to Can Broth Safely (EASY Homemade Bone Broth)

If you didn''t see this morning''s email, my full canning course with 65 recipes and step-by-step tutorials is 50% off through tomorrow, click here for the details!

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Despite a long cold start to summer, I''m now beginning to harvest the cabbage and beets planted this spring.

Supper is planned around what''s fresh and ready in the garden.

There would absolutely be a garden in every home if people knew how delicious and satisfying to the soul it is to pick your dinner from the backyard, amen?!

This weekend we''re bringing in the hay for winter, which means I''ll be getting my workout in helping my husband roll the 1/2? ton + bales off the back of the truck by hand (cross-fit doesn''t have anything on us). I''ll post pics on my Instagram feed & stories.

Summer definitely holds hard work here on the homestead, but this lifestyle, growing and raising our own food, is what keeps us healthy.

I''m still amazed that switching to homegrown and organic practices healed me of stomach ulcers and acid reflux when prescription medications six times a day couldn''t.

If you want to grow more of your own food this year, my friend and affiliate Stacey from is hosting the Superfood Garden Summit airing July 22-25 where you will discover some of the simplest strategies for growing nutrient-dense superfoods right at home.

Check out this free online event here...

If you want fresh food for vitality and longevity,
lawns replaced with gardens,
regeneration of our soils,
mitigation of climate change,
roofs, walls, and balconies teeming with life,
and garden traditions passed on from generation to generation.

This event is for you! Even if you've never planted a seed or think you have a brown thumb ;)

Growing food is easier than most people imagine when you create a healthy eco-system.

And that's just what this event will help you do:

Join tens of thousands of Homegrown Revolutionaries around the world and claim your spot in the Superfood Garden Summit today.

I hope your weekend is filled with some garden-fresh food and health. I''ll definitely be taking some time to put my feet up after unloading the last truckload of hay this morning.

Enjoy the articles and podcast episodes below!

Growing up my mom NEVER bought green beans, we spent all summer growing and canning them.

Any time I went to someone else''s house or rare times we went to a restaurant as a kid I could never figure out why the green beans were so tasteless and bland...

... until I was older and realized they were store-bought. Good news, green beans are seriously one of the easiest vegetables to can, especially when using the raw pack method (completely following updated tested canning guidelines).

Here''s my step-by-step tutorial (and video if you need it) on how to safely can up all your homegrown green beans! How to Can Green Beans the Easy Way - Raw Pack

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Hi Emma

Want a healthy and easy homemade snack?

I don''t know about you but finding a healthy and easy snack that my kids like and I approve of isn''t always easy. Especially when I need to use the ingredients we have on hand.

This homemade cracker recipe uses just 5 basic ingredients and allows you to customize the herbs and spices to suit your tastes and get this, the dough takes less than 5 minutes and they''re outta the oven in 10 minutes.

Seriously, a simple, healthy, and crispy cracker in this step-by-step video tutorial (don''t worry there''s a link to the printable recipe too) EASY Homemade Crackers in 5 Minutes

I haven''t bought store-bought crackers in years since we started making this recipe. I whipped them up on Christmas Eve and am always surprised when people say, "these are better than the store-bought."

Homemade should taste better than store-bought, not only do these taste better, but they''re better FOR you.

You can make them with regular flour, whole wheat flour, fresh ground flour, bread flour, whatever you have on hand!

You probably will want to double these because they tend to go fast Click here for my Easy Homemade Cracker Recipe!

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I thought it would be different, things would be closer to normal. I went to our large town for the first time since March yesterday.

Because it had been over 8 weeks, I honestly expected to see things improving.

It hadn''t.

Costco has been out of organic chicken (or struggling with supply) since well before the coronavirus. We took last year off from raising meat birds because I still had quite a bit left in the freezer, along with all of our homegrown beef and fish. But I would supplement some organic pasture-raised thighs and breasts from them.

That is no longer an option. Even their regular meat department was limited and the amount you could purchase was limited.

While I understand the limit to help ensure everyone gets some if you''re a large family or live far out and try to only shop every 2 months, the limit of 1 or 2 packages makes it near impossible.

We''re growing more this year than ever before, because frankly, with the way all of the limitations are affecting farmers, we don''t want to be dependant on what stores have come fall and winter.

I am not a doom and gloom person (I definitely see my glass half full) but I also believe in assessing the realities and creating a plan for what I can do when I see potential problems on the horizon.

Many of you asked for a podcast/article on raising chickens for meat. We''re raising 25 meat birds (see article/podcast below if you''re planning on raising meat birds), pigs, and increased the garden space and plants.

This is one of our busiest seasons here on the homestead with the extra livestock and planting the full warm weather vegetable garden.

If you want to grow more of your own food this year and preserve it, I''m teaching a LIVE class this Thursday. I usually only teach this class once a year, so don''t miss it! Click here NOW to register for How to Plan Your Crops and Harvest for a Year''s Worth of Food

You need to go in with a plan for your garden and preserving this year. If you don''t, it can be easy to become overwhelmed and discover you didn''t either have enough planted/purchased or preserved once it''s too late.

I''ll walk you through how to customize a plan for your family, so snag your seat now!

Even though my heart was heavy as I drove back home yesterday, the evening spent in the high tunnel with my family planting 30 of the tomato plants and 9 of the pepper plants was a balm.

Growing a garden is as much food for the soul as it is for the body. Let us feed both.

Enjoy my favorite and new resources to help you with your homemade and homegrown journey!

Raising chickens for meat can be extremely rewarding as well as delicious. Knowing what to expect throughout the process of raising meat birds is important.

Often times people have a bad experience because they don't understand how the care of meat birds differs from heritage meat birds or laying hens. No worries, I lay it all out for you in this guide.

Including breed options, where to purchase, how much feed you''ll need, shelter, and what you MUST do different with meat birds to avoid leg or organ failure.

10 Tips on Raising Chickens for Meat

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Our garden is severely behind this year.

Earlier this week our overnight lows were in the 40''s. Warm weather vegetables don''t like to get below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, let alone lower.

I just finished picking the last of the blueberries. Usually, the blackberries are almost finished and they''re not even ripe yet.

I''ve gotten two pickings from the cucumber plants, about 15 ripe tomatoes (considering I have almost thirty plants that''s not very many), but the zucchini and green beans are beyond prolific.

I''m praying we have a very late first frost and prolonged summer weather to get a decent harvest on the warm weather crops.

Thankfully, I put up extra salsa and stewed tomatoes last year, so I can focus on tomato sauce this year in case the harvest is cut short.

Home-canned good has the most nutrients when used in twelve months, and one should always practice good food rotation, but honestly, when stored correctly (and assuming you followed updated and safe canning recipes/procedures) it will be good for a couple of years.

I''ve been giving away zucchini to some friends and neighbors who aren''t able to physically garden anymore and the rest we''ve been enjoying fresh (slice it lengthwise into quarters, brush with olive oil, grill, and then season with garlic salt, it''s delicious this way) and I''ve been grating and freezing excess while baking our weekly baked goods from it (see recipe link below).

My daughter discovered the joys of lightly breading it and then popping them in the air fryer, it''s safe to say we''re consuming zucchini in about three different forms a day right now. But that''s the beauty of homesteading, gorging on the food when it''s in season.

I hope your weather is a bit more cooperative than ours has been this year.

Enjoy the articles and podcast episodes below!

My son is a teenager but has the tastebuds of a two-year-old when it comes to pickiness. Blueberry zucchini muffins are one of the few ways I can sneak a vegetable into his snack or breakfast. ?

They're also an excellent way to take advantage of the summer harvest (but you should totally freeze some of the bounty to make these year-round as a good pioneer!)I like to use some applesauce for both natural sweetness and in place of some of the oil, but even if you use all melted butter, these are a must-make!?

Blueberry Zucchini Muffins from Scratch

Talk soon,
Melissa

P.S. It's harvest time and the 2020 growing season, with many staying home and practicing social distancing, its been a landmark one for home gardeners and livestock farmers. Now, what do you do with your garden bounty? The new Food Preservation Course from my affiliate Mother Earth News, features some of their most popular Fair speakers discussing tips and tricks for freezing, canning, curing meat, dehydrating, jam-making, fermentation, and more! (And I''m one of them this year!!)

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Hi there,

Ever wonder if our great-grandparents might have done a few things better than we do with all of our modern tech and society?

When I was eight-years-old my grandmother was working on a quilt. She had a large quilting frame that hung from hooks from the ceiling of her living room in her log cabin.

Even then my desire to learn old skill sets was strong. A family friend took me to buy material to make my own quilt and my mom taught me how to hand stitch a quilt top.

The stitch she taught me has been the MOST versatile and used stitch even to this day. I share my sewing kit with you (which belonged to my mom when she was a kid) and how to easily mend a ripped seam by hand along with 5 other things our great-grandparents did better than us.

We can all pick up and start doing some of these tips RIGHT now if we aren''t already.

Looking at the way my dad was raised, things my grandma did, and how households and communities functioned 80 and 100-years-ago gives us some excellent insights on things we can start doing differently right now to increase our self-sufficiency but ALSO help one another (especially tip #1 and #6).

Another tip is basic sewing.

In my latest YouTube video, I walk you through the things our great-grandparents did better Click here now for 6 Things Our Great Grandparents Did Better Than Us | How to Mend a Seam by Hand

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I''m just going to come out and say it, the past few weeks haven''t been the best.

I''m a go-getter, I wake up with a fire in my belly to get stuff done. I usually have more ideas than hours in a year and love to create and share with other people.

But over the past couple of weeks, it seems my drive has down-shifted past first gear all the way to neutral. What normally brings me joy and satisfaction has become drudgery. Do you ever feel this way?

In the past, when dealing with low thyroid and adrenal gland issues, I''ve been physically spent. But this is different, I physically have the energy, thankfully my sleep is great, it''s my mental game.

I''ve spent time this week in prayer, asking the Lord to show me what He would have me do. To fill me with His joy and purpose, and not my own. And for discernment.

I don''t have all the answers but I do know this, if you''re not happy with how your life is, you''re the only who one can change it.

It might be a change in your perspective and not your circumstances.

OR it might be time to let some things go or find a different way to do them.

I spent yesterday canning nine jars of strawberry jam and five jars of strawberry rhubarb pie filling, got a super late crop of corn planted, and was able for the first time in three weeks to line dry laundry.

The canning recipes are listed in the 129+ canning jars article (all arranged by alphabetical order) if you want to try them out too.

Enjoy the new articles and podcast episodes below!

Learn how to make fruit vinegar from scratch with just 1 ingredient!

Once you see how easy, and delicious, it is to make without any special equipment, you''ll never go back to store-bought.

Not only is it easy and remains shelf-stable for years, but it can also be used for natural medicine that tastes delicious and aids the body.

Find out how to make it, troubleshooting, and favorite recipes in this week''s newest podcast episode and blog post.

How to Make Fruit Vinegar at Home with 1 Ingredient

Learn how to preserve the harvest with these easy home canning recipes.

Canning is an excellent way to reduce food waste (no more molding cucumbers in the crisper drawer) and stock your pantry with healthy shelf-stable meals at the ready.

You need to make sure you''re using safe canning recipes and methods (and trust me Pinterest and YouTube AREN''T a good source for safe canning unless you know updated brine ratios, outdated thickeners, and proper acidic foods and pH levels with canning).

Good news, I''ve personally vetted all these recipes and only linked to safe ones!

129+ Best Canning Recipes to Put Up This Year

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Is self-sufficiency and homesteading a newer way of life to you?

I was raised in a homesteading family though back then we didn''t call it that (and now I sound ancient!), we just grew as much of our food as possible, had cattle for beef, and cooked almost all of our food from scratch.

I remember my mom would deliver us our food (totally homemade but "disguised" in a brown paper bag) in the back of my dad''s Model A when my friends came over for a special treat as we "played" going out to eat.

I''m so grateful she didn''t tell us to quit being silly but did her best to make things feel fun and special even if she wasn''t really giving us food from a drive-thru. It''s a lesson I need to keep close to my heart with my own children during our current situation.

While I never got completely away from my roots, I didn''t always grow or preserve as much of our own food as we do now.

No matter which camp you fall in, I truly believe this is the summer everyone should pay more attention to putting up fresh produce as it''s available. Hopefully from your own garden, but also from farmer''s markets, fruit stands, or even the grocery store.

I''ll be purchasing a flat of organic strawberries next week from a local farm as my own strawberry plants are in their first year so they won''t be producing enough to take us through until next summer yet.

I stocked up extra canning lids a few months ago as we watched the beginnings of COVID-19 play out. I knew we''d be preserving more food and wasn''t sure of the supply.

Having been raised through the tail end of the Great Depression and World War II my father always stressed being prepared. That advice has served me well over the years.

I''ve purchased my canning lids in bulk for a number of years from my affiliate Lehman''s (I make a commission if you purchase through my link and you get 10% off, score!). They''ve always sealed awesome for me and it saves me time and money to have several hundred lids delivered one time in a bulk sleeve.

Through the end of this month, Lehmans'' is offering an additional 10% off to my readers with any order $50 or over (I used it myself to order supplies last week!). Enter coupon code PIONEER at checkout

The lids are made in Pennsylvania they''re trying to meet the higher demand. The good news is, you can order them here (even if they show out of stock they''re about 2 weeks out and will ship as soon as they come in).

Another item in high demand is pressure canners. I''ve had my All American 21.5 quart for a number of years now and truly love that thing. It allows me to double-stack pint jars so I can put up a lot of food in one go. While they''re also currently showing out of stock, Lehman''s is giving the option to order and they''ll ship it out as soon as they arrive.

I hope you''re able to preserve some food this year and to remember to indulge in the little things. Something as simple as pretending with your kids, it will be memories you both carry for a lifetime.

Do you have any special memories of something small someone did for you?

Enjoy my favorite and new resources to help you with your homemade and homegrown journey!

They use these tips to grow over 300 pounds of food on 1/40th of an acre in a tiny townhouse flanked by other townhouses, which means for those of us who have larger yards can REALLY grow a lot more food.

We're applying permaculture in our small yard to maximize efficiency. There are things that you can do to easily multiply the harvest that you get. We're doing four-season gardening where we rotate three separate annual crops through the same space. We're also growing perennials in that same space. So we're doing a rich diverse polyculture of both perennial and annual crops.

10 Things Most Organic Gardeners Forget About

Are you looking for healthy treats for you and your kids? We are not the only generation to worry about the amount of sugar consumed by our young children.

"As I have been sorting through my great-grandmother's recipes, I discovered a newspaper clipping dated 1952, where the Red Cross suggests substituting "Fruit Candies" in the place of "rich confections" which might make children ill.

The article continues with several recipes for making these delicious fruit candies at home, even perhaps enlisting the help of the children themselves!"

Historical Recipe: Dried Fruit and Nut "Candy"

While homesteading and self-sufficiency has a romantic side (hello fresh eggs in my basket daily) there''s also the let''s be real side. Free-ranging sounds awesome until in two days time only 1 of your 18 chickens is still alive due to predators.

A chicken tractor is an excellent way to have the best of both worlds, but I need to be able to move things as quickly and efficiently as possible and I''m not going to be transferring chickens from coop to tractor all the time.

We combined the two. I give you the coop and chicken tractor in one in my latest video here (and check out what it does for that pasture peeps!)

YEAR ROUND Chicken Tractor & Coop IMPROVES Your Ground & Health of Chickens

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This year I''m planting more in my fall garden than ever before.

I''ve felt like we have a good handle on the number of summer crops we grow and preserve but I''m determined to go to the store as little as possible this fall and winter, which means planting more than ever before of those cool weather crops that flourish during fall and winter, but the trick...

... to have them successfully produce this fall they must be planted at the RIGHT time.

Plus, for most parts of the country, you''re planting cool weather crops during the hottest time of the year.

Thankfully, I''ve learned from my mistakes over the past years and share my tips with you!

If you want fresh vegetables throughout the fall and into winter, watch my newest YouTube video Do This Now For Fresh Vegetables All Winter WITHOUT a Greenhouse

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Anyone else having trouble keeping track of what day it is?

Our state officially went on "shelter-at-home" or lockdown mode except for essential business''s Monday evening. The kids had already been home for almost two weeks but now my husband officially joins the ranks as they shut down his work too.

Without being able to go to church or teaching at my local fitness center, I confess, I have a hard time knowing what day it is. I''m still busy at work at home, because honestly, more people than ever need the information on how to live homegrown and homemade and I truly feel honored to help as much as possible.

Even though we''re prepared, we''re taking extra steps as we approach this growing season and if I''m being truthful, dealing with the new normal and the sometimes hour by hour changes in our state, I feel an underlying level of stress I''m not used too.

I''m not complaining. We are blessed.

No one is sick in my house, we have food to eat, and the means to grow more (my rhubarb is popping up and I have some cool weather crops already in the ground!) but these events definitely are defining and truly life-changing.

This week I''ve been humbled by the outpouring of messages from people who are sharing they''re prepared and able to stay home because of my books. They started gardens last year, learned to safely can, ferment and dehydrate their food, and make many homemade items like bread, sourdough, pasta and crackers, so they don''t have to go out.

I didn''t know this was coming, but God did. My newest book, which shows you how to raise a YEAR''S WORTH OF FOOD, just released THIS January. He knew that people would need this info more than ever.

And I''m humbled.

I''m also thrilled to announce my publisher (surprisingly authors have no control over pricing and sales) have put ALL of the kindle versions of my books (all three!) on sale through the end of this month.

That means you can get The Family Garden Plan for only $4.99 and my book Hand Made: the Guide to Made-from-Scratch Living (with over 100+ recipes including tips & recipes from the Great Depression) is only $2.99 (and paperback is down to $8.21)!

Plus, I''m still honoring all the bonuses, and if you already purchased but didn''t know about the bonuses, just click on the title above and go to the claim bonus section on the book website.

To those of you who have already purchased the books, thank you for your support and for helping others.

If there are areas you need help learning, please hit reply to this email as I''m trying to create videos, podcasts, and blog posts with the info you need most during these times.

Below are this week''s resources to help you with your homegrown and homemade journey!

I''ve been getting asked a lot of questions about my favorite homemade sandwich bread.

This is an easy honey whole wheat bread recipe that can easily be adapted (and I share it in the recipe notes) for regular all-purpose OR fresh ground flour.

It's foolproof and easy using 100 % whole wheat flour but is light and soft inside with a chewy buttery crust that will hold all of your favorite toppings.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread Easy Sandwich Bread Recipe

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Ever wish you could snap your fingers and get rid of all the weeds in your garden?

While sometimes I find weeding therapeutic, most summers I don''t have the time to devote to hours of weeding. If I''m being honest, many a year we just let the weeds go by mid-August as most the garden plants are established and hope for the best. Anyone else do this too?

But this year, we''re depending on our harvest to feed us through the upcoming fall and winter and a lot of weeds will steal nutrients from your vegetables, which means decreased harvest.

Last year I wanted to test the Back to Eden method of using wood mulch in the garden. But my husband wasn''t sure it would work well and didn''t want to damage our soil.

So we did an experiment. I covered half of my garden in wood chips.

It''s been a full year later and I''m revealing the results!

If you want to know if wood chips are right for your garden (and if we''re keeping them), watch my newest YouTube video We Covered 1/2 the Garden in Wood Chips | One Year Later | Did it IMPROVE the Soil?

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Hi Emma

Love vintage farmhouse and kitchen items?

Even though farmhouse seems to be all the decorating trend right now, I''ve been a long time fan of cast iron, Mason jars, wire baskets, and hand-operated kitchen tools since birth (seriously, I''ve always been drawn to the old-fashioned). You too?

Much as I love how it looks, I love that they STILL WORK. A kitchen scale from the 1930''s that''s still right on the money with weight (almost a hundred years later and was CHEAPER than a new replica) and a hand-operated egg beater with a wooden handle, they just don''t make things as good today as they did back then.

I walk you through my tips for thrift store and antique shopping for vintage kitchen items and share my best finds!

Plus, I share how I make a healthy naturally sugar free HOMEMADE mocha with organic cocoa powder that is GUT healthy (because ya''ll asked).

Click here to watch Antique & Thrift Store Shopping for Farmhouse Kitchen | Homemade Mocha

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Hey there,

Just a few hours until I''m going live and in-person to teach about raising and preserving your own food in "How to Plan Your Crops and Harvest for a Year''s Worth of Food!"

Many registrants have emailed their biggest hurdles and concerns as well as their goals for this year''s garden and crops.

But I noticed you weren''t on the registration list. Do you have dreams for your garden this year?

Is it mostly about knowing how much and when to plant?

Or is it more to do with planning and finding the time to do everything?

Or maybe you've been focusing on the challenges of weeds and pest control (and finding organic solutions) so you have enough of your harvest to preserve (and then knowing which method is best).

I've been thinking a lot about all of those things, lately. Putting this masterclass together takes me right back to our garden and pantry 10 years ago, when the only thing we raised a full year''s worth of was green beans.

I had a 4-year-old and infant, a day job, plus all our livestock on the homestead. My husband worked full time along with being an EMT and volunteer fire-fighter. We didn''t have tons of time to devote to a garden and preserving but after having my stomach and esophagus biopsied for cancer, it became a huge priority.

I knew I had to figure out a way to raise as much of our food organically as possible with the time that I had but I didn''t have any idea how much of each crop to plant and how to preserve it other than canning or freezing.

Honestly, it felt overwhelming but I knew if I wanted to heal and be around for the long haul, I had to figure things out.

Now, a decade later, we raise a year''s worth of over half our food, meaning I never buy those items from the store.

I can''t put into words the incredible feeling of accomplishment and security to see rows of homegrown food in Mason jars on the shelves, a freeze full of food (not all foods can be canned), crocks of ferments, and baskets full of cured squash, onions, and garlic knowing ALL of it is done without any pesticides or questionable ingredients/growing practices.

Do you want the same thing?

Then click here NOW to snag your seat for the FREE Masterclass How to Plan Your Crops and Harvest for a Year''s Worth of Food

Then I can''t wait to see you in the live class at 10 am Pacific/ 1 pm Eastern today!

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Ever been overwhelmed by your garden or intimidated by home food preservation?

If you''ve ever seen a natural weed killer floating around that says to use dish soap, epsom salt and vinegar, run away.

I''ve seen this thing circulate so many times from well-intentioned folks but at best you''re wasting ingredients at worst you''re damaging your soil with the vinegar and the weeds come back because it doesn''t kill the root.

When it comes time to preserve your food, you search online for a tutorial, the perfect recipe, reread everything twice, and then go to get out your canner and supplies.

You pause, what if you don''t do it right?

If you follow through (some don''t, see what Gail did with her canner below) you wonder if things are going right.

Is the canner supposed to sound like that?

Why did that much liquid leak out during processing?

Can I can this soup recipe safely?

You pull out your jar of pie filling and see bubbles. What went wrong?

If you''ve ever started down the path to canning, you''ve experienced this.

It can be frustrating and you wish you had someone experienced right there with you to show you the little secrets that you learn over months and years of growing your own food and preserving it via canning, fermenting, dehydrating and more, especially someone who understands the updated safety guidelines.

Add to this the inability to get ingredients from the store, like pectin and sugar, and you find yourself with a whole new set of questions.

There''s so much downright inaccurate and unsafe canning recipes online, can you add dry beans to a jar, fill with hot water and process (the answer is no), is it okay to can ham and bacon, how do I get my jam to set, if the jars didn''t seal can I reprocess, these are just a FEW of the questions.

This weekend alone I had to tell people the canning advice they''d followed from someone on YouTube was NOT safe and those jars of food weren''t done to proper tested times or procedures.

And your vegetable garden, you need it to flourish but how do you know the best way to grow?

Like when to plant for their area, is it too late, how to get rid of the potato bugs literally crawling all over and eating their potatoes, can you pinch of sucker shoots on your tomato to grow new plants?

All of these were questions from Academy members just this weekend inside or private FB group ad they all got help and answers from experienced people.

There is a lot of bad advice floating around out there.

I teach you how to can using updated canning procedures and the science behind why we do or don''t do certain things with canning.

That''s why I created the Pioneering Today Academy. Not only does it work for me, but I''ve taught thousands of people (some who had failed in the past, were just getting started, or wanting to go even further faster) to successfully grow and preserve their own food.

This is not the time to waste ingredients or toss out food because it wasn''t processed properly. You need someone who is experienced and has been teaching thousands of people for years how to do this because most of us find ourselves NEEDING to grow and preserve food for our families that is shelf-stable and delicious without sacrificing safety.

We don''t have months or years to get it down.

That''s why the Academy is so amazing.

It''s designed to teach you step-by-step how to grow your own food, preserve it, and create delicious healthy meals for your family from what you''ve put up.

See what other members are learning and doing for their family!

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Want to grow more of your own fruits & vegetables this year?

You said yes, right?

Perfect because this afternoon I''m sharing how we grow a year''s worth of fruits & vegetables without spending hours on end doing it, and literally thousands of people have signed up, but I didn''t see you on the list and wanted to make sure you didn''t miss out.

It''s completely free and I''d love to have you join me.

I''ll be teaching "How to Grow More Fruits, Vegetables, & Herbs
Without Spending Hours on End or Increasing Your Garden Size."

You''ll learn:

The #1 step you can''t skip
How to increase your harvest without expanding your garden
Hidden spots in your yard for food production
Easy ways to stop disease WHEN your planting
and more!

If you want to grow more of your own food this year then sign up now to reserve your seat.

The training is this today, Monday at 4 pm PST (5 pm MST, 6 pm CST, 7 pm EST). Sign up now for How to Grow More Fruits, Vegetables, & Herbs Without Spending Hours on End or Increasing Your Garden Size for a Year''s Worth of Food.

I can''t wait to hang out with you and talk about one of my all-time favorite things, homegrown food!

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Hi Emma

Most likely you already know the value of homegrown and homemade and have been growing a garden and making your own food from scratch to some degree... or were planning on starting very soon.

But in light of all that''s going on now, you''re likely finding yourself having to do more of it than usual because we''re all eating at home more than we were AND you might be finding yourself filling the role of a teacher if you weren''t homeschooling already.

There''s a reason households of old had specific tasks set to a day of the week.

When you''re dependant on your own kitchen and home to provide all the food for your family, you quickly realize it can take a LOT of time (and dishes) to prepare all your food from scratch.

I realized I''d been relying on convenience or store-bought items more than I realized prior to the shelter-at-home order. Yep, even me.

This means more of us are needing to make more homemade food than ever before.

I don''t know about you, but I don''t have any extra time to devote to making all these wonderful homemade foods. I already work from home but I''m also now a full-time homeschooling mom as the kids won''t be going back to public school this year (no one in these state of Washington will). And let me tell you, a teenage boy eats a lot.

Last month I did a special live training on this and had over 4,000 people register! Many of them told me how much it helped and have been sharing pics of all they''re now able to bake for themselves and their family thanks to it.

I thought it only fair to offer this FREE live training again.

Sign up for Easy & Healthy Homemade Baked Goods in One Hour Per Week by CLICKING HERE NOW!

I''ll be sharing how to use a few simple ingredients already in your kitchen to create delicious homemade food for your family without ever leaving your house!

The live training will be on Thrusday April, 16th at 1 pm Pacific (4 pm Eastern).

These always fill up fast, so snag your seat now!

Can''t wait to hang out with you!

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Hi there,

If you''ve ever heard free-ranging is best for chickens, you heard correct, except if you''ve tried it and you have predators around, you know it isn''t quite so cut and dried.

We strive to raise our animals as close to the way the good Lord intended on pasture, plenty of fresh air, and clean water.

But when you have dogs, coyotes, eagles, and other wildlife, and discover in just two days time your flock of 18 chickens is down to 1...

... you have to do things a little bit differently so they live long enough to enjoy the fresh grass.

A chicken tractor is a fabulous way to go, but I wanted my chickens on fresh grass all year-long, and that meant we needed a coop with the tractor.

In my latest YouTube video, I walk you through the system we''ve settled on that combines a chicken tractor with our coop that we use even in feet of snow or the hot days of summer. Click here now for YEAR-ROUND chicken Tractor & Coop IMPROVES Your Ground & Health of Chickens

Blessings and Mason jars,
Melissa

P.S. Tomatoes are a staple food crop and the base of many a meal, but you''ll only get enough tomatoes to take you through a year if you understand how to stop blossom end rot, how to avoid blight, and how when you should prune to ensure a bumper crop. I''ve raised a year''s worth of tomatoes using these techniques from just 18 plants for years now. Get my Raising a Year''s Worth of Tomatoes Masterclass including the bonus on how to seed save here.

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Hey there,

I''m going live today to teach one of my most requested classes for FREE and I don''t want you to miss it!

It''s probably been on your to-do-list for a while... or you were planning on doing more of it than last year.

In light of current circumstances, you''re likely thinking about your food supply and pantry stock more than usual. It really wasn''t that long ago many families depended on what they grew and preserved to feed themselves but in just a few generations, this know-how has been forgotten or not practiced by most.

My grandmother raised a family through the Great-Depression and my father said if it weren''t for the food they canned in the summer, they would have gone hungry during the winter months.

But they didn''t, because my grandma spent her summer months canning.

I can well over 400+ jars a year for my family but this year, I''ve already purchased extra jars and plan on making sure every single jar is full by the end of the season. If I''m upping my game I know this means more of us than ever before need to put up our own food.

I also know many people don''t know how or don''t realize the info they''re getting in a Facebook group or from Aunt Ellie Suzy May isn''t safe (I know this because almost daily I get messages from people asking if the way they canned something was safe and many times I have to be the bearer of bad news and tell them no, it isn''t).

There''s also a myth the only way to put up that many jars of food are to spend hours a day slaving over the stove and there''s no way people who work have time to do it.

This is simply not true and good news, I''m going to be sharing my system for getting jars on the shelf the safe way for free in a LIVE training this week!

Specifically, TODAY Wednesday, April 29th, at 1 pm Pacific / 4 pm Eastern I''m teaching a FREE live class giving you my best tips on home canning including:

the essential supply list (you don''t need as much equipment as you think)
my system for making sure we have the staple home-canned goods we need to create meals for my family without spending a TON of time canning (and how to customize it for your kitchen).
what you MUST know in order to stay safe with canning
my TOP home-canned items to help create the most versatile meals
BONUS: how to can jams and jellies WITHOUT store-bought pectin

Click here NOW to register for the FREE Canning Class

These always fill up fast, so snag your seat now!

Can''t wait to hang out with you!

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Wondering what goes into planning a garden that grows a year''s worth of food, especially in a pandemic year?

I know many of you are avid gardeners, like myself, but many of you may not even be aware that you can actually get THREE gardens throughout the year if you plan accordingly and know which crops and which varieties of those crops to plant!

Come watch to get my best tips for planning your garden this winter to have your best spring, summer, and fall garden.

I''m talking about the best seed companies, storing seeds, knowing the correct number of crops to plant, and how to plan for starting seeds indoors or planting at just the right time for your garden zone.

With the year we just had, wouldn''t it feel great to make 2021 the year where we have food security right in our own home?

Planning a year''s worth of food | Ongoing COVID realities and the food supply

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Want a quick and easy but delicious drink ready whenever you are? I''m sharing my favorite easy chai tea concentrate to turn into three different drink recipes with you. I make mine on the woodstove but rest assured, a regular stovetop works fine.

I don''t claim to be a professional singer (although I do sing on the praise and worship team at my church), I normally don''t belt it out in my YouTube videos...

I mistakenly wrote last week I sang on video, but it''s really this one (for those of you wondering if you missed it).

My daughter (and probably my son) are going to be mortified I sang part of this song on camera, but it''s one of our Christmas traditions and if you can''t embarrass yourself (or your kids) every now then, are you really living?

Do you have any Christmas traditions as a family?

Easy Chai Tea Concentrate and Dirty Chai Latte Recipe

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Hi Emma,

My FREE gardening training, Fruits and Vegetables: Growing Big Crops in Small Spaces, is happening TODAY at 1 pm Pacific Time (2 pm MT, 3 pm CT, 4 pm ET).

Click here to instantly sign up if you haven't already saved your seat.

By the end of this training, you'll know the exact steps to take to grow more food in your garden than ever this year, and with less effort!

I've helped thousands of people grow an abundance of organic food right in their own backyards and balconies, and you know what they say?

"I can't believe how much food I was able to grow!"

That's because, like most of us, they used to think they needed big gardens and hours of free time to grow enough food for their family when in reality, you don't need much time or space to have a thriving garden.

You just need to follow a proven system that helps you maximize your space and save time!

Today, I'm going to teach you that proven system in a FREE training. You'll learn to PLAN, PREPARE, and PROSPER in your garden the way I do in my own home.

I'll teach you how to fit gardening into your busy schedule so that it doesn't take over your life, while still maximizing the amount of food you grow, even if you have limited space.

You'll learn:
- The #1 gardening step you absolutely CANNOT skip (but most people do)
- The secret to MAXIMIZING your space and creating a thriving garden
- How to increase your harvest without expanding your garden
- Avoid common container gardening mistakes
- And much more

Click here to instantly sign up for the FREE gardening training.

I'll see you there!

Love,
Melissa

P.S. Not interested in learning about gardening? You can opt-out of these promotional emails by clicking here, without unsubscribing from all of Pioneering Today emails.

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