Self Sufficiency Archives - Page 2 of 4

Hydroponics – A Small Garden with Big Benefits

(Editor’s note: Today’s post is about a subject that interests me greatly: hydroponics, because it works well in small spaces. The post is written by Chris Wimmer, who writes at Health Smart Living What is Hydroponics? Hydroponics is generally translated from the Latin and Greek languages meaning “working water”. The Greeks and Romans described this farming technique this way because the water was always in motion. A more modern way to explain hydroponics is growing plants without soil. A variety […]

Update on Homemade Vanilla

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This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com Back in November, I started my homemade vanilla project. Now that it’s been three months, I wanted to let you know how it’s coming along. Every couple of weeks, whenever I remember to do so, I swirl the mixture around a few times. The mixture has now turned a much darker brown. As far as smell, the vodka smell is still lingering, but the vanilla smell has gotten much stronger. I don’t think […]

Save Money! Make Soda at Home

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This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com Although I like an occasional glass of Coke, I prefer a glass of sparkling water with a twist of lemon or lime. La Croix Sparkling Water was a regular item on the grocery list. Until we spotted the Soda Stream and started to calculate whether it would save us money. After adding up what we spend on sparkling water, we figured we’d recoup the cost of the Soda Stream in four months. I […]

Reusing Zipper Plastic Bags

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This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com Part of becoming self sufficient is learning to make things last as long as possible, so you don’t have to keep buying replacements. I like the convenience of zippered plastic bags, but don’t like the expense. I resisted rewashing them because they took so long to dry and there is a chance for mold during our humid summers. So I figured a way to let them air dry the quickest way possible. […]

Homemade Vanilla

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This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com I’ve been wanting to try making vanilla for a long time. I use a lot of vanilla for making muffins and desserts, but always found real vanilla to be expensive. This is an ideal project for an apartment dweller: it requires no special equipment and does not take up a lot of room. And, it will save money in the long run. Ingredients: Vanilla beans – I chose organic vanilla beans that were […]

Recipes and Tips for Sustainable Living

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I was excited to receive a review copy of Recipes and Tips for Sustainable Living by Stacy Harris. Stacy has written several cookbooks and writes the Game & Garden blog. I am always interested in ways an apartment dweller living in the city can adapt a sustainable lifestyle so I asked the author, Stacy Harris the following question: What activities do you recommend for apartment dwellers living in the city who what to take small steps toward sustainable living? Stacy’s […]

An Easy Way to Cook Beans

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This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com Today we’ll take a look at a prepper’s staple: dried beans. It is an inexpensive source of protein, tasty and filling. Many people settle for canned beans, thinking it is too hard to make it yourself. It is actually very easy. How Much Dried Beans to Use 1 cup dried beans = 3 cups cooked beans Since I like to make a large enough batch to last for a few meals, I use […]

Self-Sufficient Saturdays: How to Make Banana Muffins without an Electric Mixer

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Welcome to the latest Self-Sufficient Saturdays feature, where we try out projects that can easily be done in an apartment. Breakfast muffins are a staple at our house for busy weekday breakfasts. I used to buy them at the store until I found out how easy it is to make muffins yourself. There are no special ingredients, and you can rescue overripe, black bananas from getting thrown out. Just one problem: my cheap hand mixer that I’ve had for six […]

How to Brew Coffee without Electricity

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This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com We all have our preferred morning beverage; for me, the daily cup of coffee is a must. A coffee drinker who is missing his or her daily coffee knows a caffeine withdrawal headache is coming. That’s why I made sure I include coffee in my emergency supplies. A few options for storage: Instant coffee – the “just add a heaping teaspoon to hot water” kind that comes in a jar (not my preferred […]

Reader’s Review: The Mini Farming Guide to Composting

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Editor’s Note: A few weeks ago, reader Dianna Anna won our giveaway of The Mini Farming Guide to Composting. She decided to write a quick review of the book and I thought I’d share it with everyone. Thank you Dianna Anna! The Mini Farming Guide to Composting by Brett L. Markham shows that composting in some form or fashion is entirely feasible no matter if you are just learning or have been doing this all your life. I first learned […]