DIY Essential Oil Rollerballs for Fall & Winter
Essential oils are one of my favourite natural remedies to keep on hand at all times, hands down.
As far as remedies go, there’s an oil for just about everything that ails you. From headaches and hangovers to stress and anxiety to colds and flu to muscle pain and tummy aches and everything in between. Not to mention, they smell amazing and they’re also the number one weapon in my arsenal when it comes to creating a natural home.
I use essential oils in my homemade cleaners, bath and body products, candles, room sprays and even on my pillow at night. And I LOVE diffusing them to make my home smell amazing without using harmful synthetic fragrances.
But one of my favourite ways to use them as a home remedy is in the form of essential oil rollerballs.
Basically this is a small rollerball tube that contains essential oils diluted with a carrier oil so it’s ready to be applied directly to your skin when you need it. It’s absolutely essential (no pun intended) that you dilute essential oils before applying them directly to skin. Essential oils that are applied “neat” can irritate skin, cause rashes and even lead to permanent sensitization and allergies.
So when you want to apply essential oils directly to your skin, you need to mix them with a carrier oil first to dilute them and make them safe for topical use.
Using a rollerball makes this process quick and easy because your oils are pre-mixed and diluted. This means you don’t need to waste time measuring out your oils when you’re in need of a quick application.
Just roll the rollerball over the affected area and and you’re done!
You can also tailor your rollerballs for specific uses and applications by blending a mixture of essential oils that work together to support healing. You can also choose the carrier oil that you like best as the base for this “magic potion,” and dilute KidSafe oils even more so they’re ready to use on young, sensitive skin when your children are in need of some comfort or healing.
Related: Essential Oil Rollerballs for Spring & Summer
Diluting Essential Oils
First of all, we need to talk a little more about dilution. This step is really important, so please don’t ignore it or skip over it.
Okay, so how do you dilute essential oils, exactly?
Glad you asked:)
As a general rule, for adults you should be aiming for a 5% dilution. (Don’t worry, I’ll tell you how to do this in just a sec.) This is suitable for occasional or short-term use.
*** If you’re wanting a blend for chronic, daily application, you might need to dilute it a little bit more. If you have a specific problem you’re looking to heal, please consult your doctor or naturopath first and talk to them about incorporating essential oils into your healthcare regimen. ***
If you’re just looking for a general treatment or want to fill your medicine cabinet with natural, homemade herbal remedies for life’s everyday ups, down, bumps, bruises, coughs and colds then a 5% dilution is pretty much the standard for adults.
For kids ages 2 to 15, the safest dilution is around 1%. Babies under 2 need even more dilution at just 0.1% – 0.5% max, and essential oils are not recommended for use on premature babies.
For the purposes of this post, we’ll be focusing on general use rollerballs for adults and children aged 2-15. But if you’d like a more detailed look at dilution recommendations you can check out the chart below.
Source: Plant Therapy
How to Dilute Essential Oils
To dilute essential oils, you must mix them with a carrier oil. Essential oils are soluble in oil, meaning they will disperse easily and dilute effectively. They don’t mix well in water, so it’s always recommended that you dilute them in oil first for all topical applications.
When it comes to rollerballs, all you need to do is add the recommended amount of essential oils to your bottle and then top with a carrier oil of your choice. Then shake it up and it’s ready to use!
What Are Carrier Oils?
Carrier oils are just fatty oils that you can use to dilute your essential oils. Pretty much any fatty oil can be used as a carrier oil, so think coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, hempseed oil, etc.
So which carrier oil should you choose?
One of the most popular carrier oils is definitely coconut oil. But as you probably know, regular coconut oil that you buy from the grocery store is solid at room temperature. This doesn’t exactly make for a good carrier oil in your rollerball since it needs to be in liquid form at all times. So the popular choice is to use fractionated coconut oil, which undergoes a heating process that converts it to a liquid oil at room temperature or colder.
I’ve been using hemp seed oil the most simply because that’s currently what I have on my shelf. I find it really nourishing on skin and I like using it as a massage oil on my husband with the pain relief blend of essential oils listed in the recipes below.
Each carrier oil has its own special properties just like essential oils. The chart below gives an overview of the most popular carrier oils.
Source: Plant Therapy
What are KidSafe essential oils?
Not all essential oils are safe for use on children, so you should be careful about which essential oils you blend together in rollerballs intended for use on kids.
Luckily, the brand of oils that I use and recommend has an entire line of KidSafe essential oils that are clearly labelled, so it’s easy to know which ones are safe for kids and which are not. (This is just one of many reasons why I genuinely love essential oils from Plant Therapy).
Remember you still need to dilute oils to 1% if using on children, even if they are “KidSafe.” I’ve included some specific KidSafe blends in the recipes below to take the guesswork out of blending and creating your rollerballs.
How To Make Essential Oil Rollerballs
Alright, now that you know the basics, it’s time to get blending and make some rollerballs!
These are an excellent addition to your own home medicine cabinet and also make awesome gifts and stocking stuffers at Christmas. I recommend purchasing a pack of rollerballs and making a variety of different blends to keep and to give away.
You can purchase rollerball bottles here.
I’ve chosen rollerball recipes that are tailored to illnesses and ailments that abound during the fall and winter months since we’re currently heading into Christmas and winter soon. But these can absolutely be used all year round.
You can also check out these rollerball recipes for spring and summer, including rollerballs for spring allergy relief, cuts and scrapes, bug bites, bumps and bruises. For now we’ll focus on healing what ails us during the fall, winter and holiday season.
Alright, gather your rollerball tubes, essential oils and carrier oil(s) of choice and let’s get blending:)
Rollerball Recipes for Fall & Winter
Disclaimer and safety notes:
Please note that all of these recipes are intended for standard 10ml rollerballs.
Add the essential oils listed in the recipe you’ve chosen from the list below and top with carrier oil. Shake well to blend before applying.
Also note that any rollerballs that contain lemon should not be applied to skin that will be exposed to direct sunlight as this can cause a phytotoxic reaction that can result in something similar to a sunburn.
Pregnant women should not use essential oils without first checking with their midwife or physician.
* All KidSafe blends listed below are intended for use on children over 2 years old. All essential oils listed in the KidSafe blends below are labelled KidSafe by Plant Therapy and diluted to 1%. *
As always, it is my legal responsibility to remind you that I am not a doctor and am simply sharing the essential oil blends that we use in our house and that I have researched thoroughly and understand to be safe. It is always recommended to consult your doctor, naturopath or certified health care practitioner before incorporating essential oils into your regular healthcare routine.
Rollerballs for stress and anxiety
This time of year can be stressful. Whether we’re running around like headless chickens trying to get it all done or visiting Santa Claus for the first time, there’s a fair amount of anxiety involved in the otherwise festive holiday season. Here are some rollerball recipes to calm the nerves and inspire deep breaths in kids and adults alike.
Relaxing Blend
- 5 drops lavender
- 5 drops sweet orange
- 5 drops vetiver
* KidSafe Relaxing Blend *
- 1 drop lavender
- 1 drop sweet orange
- 1 drop vetiver
Calming Blend
- 5 drops lavender
- 5 drops bergamot
- 5 drops chamomile
* KidSafe Calming Blend *
- 1 drop lavender
- 1 drop bergamot
- 1 drop chamomile
* Apply stress and anxiety blends to the neck, shoulders, wrists and and/or behind ears.
Rollerballs for Headaches & Hangovers
The holidays are synonymous with headaches and hangovers that result from stress and from having a little too much fun eating, drinking and making merry. Here are some rollerballs to ease a throbbing head and a queasy stomach.
Tension Relief Blend
- 5 drops lavender
- 5 drops peppermint
- 5 drops chamomile
* KidSafe Tension Relief Blend *
- 1 drop lavender
- 1 drop palmarosa
- 1 drop chamomile
Hangover Blend (Adults only!!)
- 5 drops peppermint
- 5 drops orange sweet
- 5 drops lemon
* Apply headache and hangover blends to the neck, shoulders, wrists and/or behind ears.
Rollerballs to Calm Upset Stomachs
Eat too many sugar cookies? Having trouble digesting turkey dinner? Reach for thee rollerballs to help calm tummy aches for kids and adults alike!
Tummy Ache Blend
- 5 drops lavender
- 5 drops peppermint
- 5 drops ginger
* KidSafe Tummy Ache Blend *
- 1 drop lavender
- 1 drop chamomile
- 1 drop spearmint
* Apply tummy ache blends to the belly; Roll on and massage in a clockwise motion. Or roll on the wrists and smell wrists to help calm stomach.
Rollerballs for Cold & Flu
It doesn’t need to be said that fall and winter is the worst time of year for cold and flu symptoms. Whether you’re trying to fight through the pain and keep up with your to-do list or laid up in bed looking for relief, there’s a rollerball recipe for you! Here are a few to get you started…
Breathe Easy Blend
- 5 drops eucalyptus
- 5 drops rosemary
- 5 drops tea tree
* KidSafe Breathe Easy Blend *
- 1 drop fir needle
- 1 drop cedarwood
- 1 drop frankincense
Immunity Blend
- 5 drops lemon
- 5 drops rosemary
- 5 drops clove
* KidSafe Immunity Blend *
- 1 drop lemon
- 1 drop frankincense
- 1 drop palmarosa
* Apply cold and flu blends to chest, neck, behind ears and on wrists.
Rollerballs for Skin Irritations
Dry, cracked skin is an unfortunate side effect of the colder winter months. Here’s how to soothe it with custom essential oil rollerball blends.
Skin Soother Blend
- 5 drops lavender
- 5 drops frankincense
- 5 drops palmarosa
* KidSafe Skin Soother Blend *
- 1 drop lavender
- 1 drop frankincense
- 1 drop palmarosa
Intensive Cracked Skin Antiseptic Blend
- 5 drops tea tree
- 5 drops rosemary
- 5 drops frankincense
* Apply skin soothing blends to the affected area.
Rollerballs for Muscle and Joint Pain
The cold chills of fall and winter can stiffen up our muscles and joints and turn simple tasks and fun-filled family days into painful experiences. If you’re in need of some pain relief, here are some simple homemade rollerball blends to help.
Pain Relief Blend
- 5 drops peppermint
- 5 drops black pepper
- 5 drops helichrysum
* KidSafe Pain Relief Blend *
- 1 drop lavender
- 1 drop spearmint
- 1 drop fir needle
* Apply pain relief blends to the affected area.
Rollerballs for Mental Clarity and Boosting Mood
The winter blues are a real thing. As the days get shorter, darker and greyer, sometimes we need a little extra support to help boost our mood during the dark fall and winter months. Here are some rollerballs that offer a little light in the darkness.
Focus Blend
- 5 drops lemon
- 5 drops rosemary
- 5 drops peppermint
* KidSafe Focus Blend *
- 1 drop lavender
- 1 drop grapefruit
- 1 drop cedarwood
Mood Boosting “Sunshine” Blend
- 5 drops sweet orange
- 5 drops bergamot
- 5 drops lime
* KidSafe Mood Boosting “Sunshine” Blend *
- 1 drop sweet orange
- 1 drop bergamot
- 1 drop steam distilled lime
* Apply mental clarity and mood boosting blends to neck, shoulders, wrists and/or behind ears. These blends are also highly effective when diffused.
If you’re looking to build your oil collection, you can check out Plant Therapy’s extensive list of essential oils here.
Or click here for KidSafe oils.
Labelling Your Rollerballs
You’ll want to label each rollerball you make as you go so you don’t get them mixed up.
DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF LABELLING!
Trust me, it’s really easy to get your rollerballs mixed up if you don’t label them right away, so put a label on it!
To help you out, I’ve created a rollerball free recipe guide complete with printable labels that can be found under the “Home Pharmacy” section of my Free Resource Library.
You can either print the labels out on regular printer paper and paste them onto your bottles or they fit perfectly on these sticky labels if you’d rather not have to manually glue them on. These are the same labels we use on our bottles at home.
So have fun and get cracking on some essential oil rollerballs this fall and winter season. When seasonal illnesses and ailments strike, you’ll be glad to have ’em on hand:)
For more in-depth general info. about using essential oils, check out this post on Everything You Need to Know to Get Started With Essential Oils.
Wishing you homemade, homegrown, homestead happiness 🙂
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Winter often gets a bad rap for being the coldest, darkest, dreariest season of the year, when life as we knew it in the summer ceases to exist.
But winter offers us a much-needed reprieve from the busy-ness of the rest of the year;
A time to slow down, rest, reflect and dream;
A time to give ourselves over to the projects, hobbies, crafts and activities that we just don’t seem to have time for the rest of the year;
A time to devour books, soak up knowledge, learn new skills and sharpen old ones.
The winter issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine showcases just a few of the many unique activities, projects and opportunities that this season affords us the time to immerse ourselves in.
Here’s what you’ll find in this issue:
✨ Inspiration and ideas to help you make the most of winter on the homestead
🌱 The many ways to put a greenhouse to use all year long
🥂Homemaking tips for the holidays (and beyond!) with Homemaker Chic podcast hosts Shaye Elliott & Angela Reed
🍴Holiday recipes & comfort foods, featuring Honey Taffy, Mulled Wine and Winter Squash
🪵 Winter woodworking tutorials with The Humble Handyman and Anne of All Trades
❄️ And more!!!
To read the full issue AND get instant access to our entire library of past issues (26 value-packed issues and counting!), click the link in my bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://modernhomesteadingmagazine.com
P.S. When you subscribe during the month of December, you’ll also get a coupon code for a free one-year subscription that you can gift to someone you love!
Give the gift of self-sufficiency this Christmas —> https://modernhomesteadingmagazine.com
Winter often gets a bad rap for being the coldest, darkest, dreariest season of the year, when life as we knew it in the summer ceases to exist.
But winter offers us a much-needed reprieve from the busy-ness of the rest of the year;
A time to slow down, rest, reflect and dream;
A time to give ourselves over to the projects, hobbies, crafts and activities that we just don’t seem to have time for the rest of the year;
A time to devour books, soak up knowledge, learn new skills and sharpen old ones.
The winter issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine showcases just a few of the many unique activities, projects and opportunities that this season affords us the time to immerse ourselves in.
Here’s what you’ll find in this issue:
✨ Inspiration and ideas to help you make the most of winter on the homestead
🌱 The many ways to put a greenhouse to use all year long
🥂Homemaking tips for the holidays (and beyond!) with Homemaker Chic podcast hosts Shaye Elliott & Angela Reed
🍴Holiday recipes & comfort foods, featuring Honey Taffy, Mulled Wine and Winter Squash
🪵 Winter woodworking tutorials with The Humble Handyman and Anne of All Trades
❄️ And more!!!
To read the full issue AND get instant access to our entire library of past issues (26 value-packed issues and counting!), click the link in my bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://modernhomesteadingmagazine.com
P.S. When you subscribe during the month of December, you’ll also get a coupon code for a free one-year subscription that you can gift to someone you love!
Give the gift of self-sufficiency this Christmas —> https://modernhomesteadingmagazine.com
We’re all familiar with eggnog, but have you ever wondered what “nog” is anyway, or how this decadent holiday drink came to be?
The general consensus is that eggnog originated in England in the 17th Century and was made with eggs, milk and some sort of alcohol (aka. “nog”).
It may have even been enjoyed earlier than this, as a similar beverage called posset (a hot, milky, ale-based drink) has origins dating back to the 13th century.
As I was researching this topic, I found at least one source that claims eggnog was created by mixing alcohol with eggs and milk earlier in the season when egg and milk production was at a high. The alcohol was used to preserve the dairy products so that they could be consumed during the winter months when egg and milk production was low.
It was originally made with sherry or brandy, but when eggnog reached America it was typically spiked with rum because rum was easier to come by. Eventually some people started substituting American whiskey.
Nowadays we can drink eggnog with or without alcohol, but traditionally eggnog was always an alcoholic drink that wealthy folks (who could afford milk and eggs and alcohol) would use to toast to their prosperity.
Eggnog has remained a favourite beverage around Christmas time; One that most of us are accustomed to buying in a carton from the grocery store. But like most processed foods, store-bought eggnog is often loaded with additives like high fructose corn syrup and thickeners.
This holiday season, why not make your own eggnog instead?
All you need are fresh eggs, milk, cream, sugar and a little nutmeg (and an optional cinnamon stick) to garnish.
If eggnog is on your list of holiday must-haves but you’d rather avoid the processed grocery store stuff and make your own with fresh ingredients, you can grab the full recipe via the link in my bio @thehouseandhomestead or by visiting https://thehouseandhomestead.com/old-fashioned-homemade-eggnog-recipe/
What’s your position on eggnog? Do you love it or hate it? And if you spike it with alcohol, what alcohol do you prefer?
One of the things I love MOST about homesteading is that it empowers us to become producers of goods rather than merely consumers.
It allows us to become less dependent on outside sources to provide for us because we can provide for ourselves.
But that doesn't mean we don't need any outside help or resources ever when we're striving to become more self-sufficient. In fact, it's even more important that we have the right tools, equipment and resources on hand so that we can be more self-sufficient and consume less overall.
Every year around this time, I compile a list of my favourite things: Things that I love and use on a regular basis, and things that I know other modern homesteaders will love too!
This year I've narrowed it down to my top 10 favourite things; Things I've been using for long enough now that I know they're a great investment and I can feel confident recommending them to others.
For the most part, these are things you're going to buy once and never have to replace.
I put a lot of thought into this year's list, made some ruthless cuts to last year's list and added a couple new things I've come to love over the past 12 months.
If you're looking to invest your money rather than waste it this holiday season –whether you're taking advantage of sales for yourself or looking to buy for others on your list– you have my personal guarantee that the items on this year's favourite things list are well worth the money.
Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/favourite-things/ to check out the full list if you’re looking for the perfect gift for yourself or for another homesteader on your list, or if you’re just curious to see what we use around our place:)
What are some of your favourite homestead-y things??
🥧 Wanna know the secret to a perfect, flaky pie crust EVERY TIME??
It all comes down to 3 simple rules…
Rule # 1 - Keep your butter (or lard) as cold as possible.
Freeze it even!
The colder the better when it comes to the fat source in a pie crust because you want the fat to stay solid until it melts in the oven. Then when it does melt, little air pockets will remain in the crust which is what makes it flaky and light (instead of everybody’s least favourite alternative: chewy and dense).
Rule # 2 - Keep the fat content as high as possible.
Fat equals flavour, and also helps keep the crust light and flaky.
Consider using whole fat milk instead of water, along with your butter or lard.
Rule # 3 - Don’t overwork your dough.
Unlike bread, pie crust should not be kneaded and should actually be handled as little as possible.
The more you work your dough, the more gluten strands will form, and which is what makes bread (and sadly some pie crusts) chewy.
Work your dough only as much as necessary to form a dough ball before you put it in the fridge to chill. The less you touch it, the lighter, flakier and more delicious your pie crust will be!
At the end of the day, homemade pie crust is almost always better than store-bought, but you’ve gotta follow a few simple rules to knock it outta the park.
I’ve spent a lot of time perfecting my own flaky pie crust recipe, which I use for sweet and savoury pies alike.
Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead for more tips and to get the full printable recipe or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/flaky-pie-crust/
What’s your favourite kind of pie? Answer with an emoji below!
(Mine’s 🍒;)
#pie #homemadepie #thanksgivingrecipes #homesteadkitchen #piefromscratch #fromscratch
The worst part about every holiday dinner is being stuck in the kitchen cooking while everyone else is just enjoying each other’s company.
The second worst part is store-bought cranberry sauce —You know, the kind that makes that oh-so appetizing slurping noise as it slides out of the tin and into the bowl, still shaped like the can it came out of.
Homemade cranberry sauce is stupidly easy to make and tastes SO much better than store-bought. Plus you can add spices to put your own delicious spin on this holiday classic.
While it takes just a few minutes to whip together homemade cranberry sauce on the big day, you can make it ahead of time and either refrigerate it (up to 3 days), freeze it or even can it to enjoy later!
Canning is my favourite method of preservation when it comes to homemade cranberry sauce because I can make it well in advance and I don’t have to worry about remembering to defrost it ahead of time.
Canning it means you’ve always got a jar of made-from-scratch cranberry sauce ready to go in your pantry long before you’re ready to set the table (and trust me, it’s a lot prettier coming out of a Mason jar!)
Plus you can make enough for both Thanksgiving AND Christmas, all in one go, and even keep enough on hand to enjoy mixed into yogurt, oatmeal or over ice cream whenever you like!
Now is the time to start your holiday dinner preparations to ensure you don’t spend all day in the kitchen and get to soak up as much valuable family time as possible.
Yesterday I shared my family recipe for homemade Perogies, which you can make ahead snd freeze. Here’s just one more recipe you can make ahead of time and preserve to make your life easier this holiday season.
Recipe link in bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/spiced-homemade-cranberry-sauce/
Have you ever made your own cranberry sauce from scratch, or will this be your first time??
#cranberrysauce #fromscratch #homesteading #homesteadkitchen #canning #preserving #thanksgivingdinner #christmasdinner
I’m Ukrainian-Canadian. It’s an important part of my identity that my family never lets me forget.
I grew up doing traditional Ukrainian folk dancing, beginning at age 3 and performing and competing until I was 19 years old.
My mom danced too, longer than I did, and she even studied dance in Kiev for a year when she was 21: in the 1970s when Ukraine was still part of the Soviet Union.
I’m Ukrainian on both sides of my family, but the music and dancing comes from my mother’s mother’s lineage. My mother’s mother even used to dance around the house, dusting and vacuuming to traditional Ukrainian music!
And it was my grandma’s mother -my great grandmother who I called Baba Sophie- who passed down the real cultural gem in my family: Her traditional Ukrainian perogies recipe that we still get together to make every year.
If you’ve never heard of perogies before, they’re essentially dumplings filled with mashed potatoes that are then boiled or fried and topped with loads of fried onions and sour cream. At least, that’s the traditional way to eat them.
There are, however, many varieties of perogies, including meat-filled ones, fruit-filled ones and sauerkraut-filled ones. But traditionally they are made with potatoes, and they’re a crowd pleaser, I tell you what!
This traditional Ukrainian perogies recipe has been passed down through generations in my family. It uses simple, frugal ingredients, and makes enough to feed a small village, just like back in the old country:)
Whether you’re Ukrainian or not, this recipe is a crowd-pleaser and is always a welcome addition to holiday meals like Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.
Plus you can make a big batch now and put them in the freezer and have enough for both Thanksgiving and Christmas! (And maybe even extra leftover for when you need a quick meal).
They go great with roast meats, sausages, pickled beets and sauerkraut, and are always best served with a lot of fried onions and sour cream.
Get your friends and family together and make a day of making pirogies!
Recipe link in bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/ukrainian-perogies-recipe/
Have you ever tried perogies before??
Did you know that the fragrance industry has a stockpile of over 3,100 synthetic chemicals that they use to concoct their signature fragrances?😬
And get this: Because of trade secrets, they’re not even legally required to disclose the list of chemical ingredients in their products! 😱
Luckily, there’s an easy, affordable synthetic-chemical-free alternative…. Make your own DIY home and body sprays with essential oils and all-natural ingredients!
If you wanna learn how, you can check out my DIY Home & Body sprays Masterclass for FREE today only by joining me and a whole bunch of other simple living bloggers for the last day of A Cozy Gathering.
Learn how to create your own all-natural sprays, craft handmade rope coil baskets, cook delicious and nourishing winter soups, make herbal honey infusions and more!
If you’ve already signed up, be sure to check your email for the links to all of today’s presentations!
And if you haven’t signed up yet, there’s not much time left, so click the link in my bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://bit.ly/307P0cT to sign up and watch for free before it ends tonight!
You also have the option of purchasing lifetime access if you miss it:)
I’ll be making more of these for Christmas gifts this year, along with candles and baskets of goodies from our pantry 😊
Let me know if you’ll be making some too!
Up until the 1800s, lard was commonly used much like butter is today.
It’s a natural source of fat that’s been used in cooking and baking for millennia.
But about a century ago, Procter & Gamble launched a very successful –as well as deceptive– marketing campaign that convinced people to switch from traditional and natural sources of fat like butter and lard to what they called the “altogether new and better fat” - hydrogenated vegetable oil (aka. Crisco).
Lard began to fall out of fashion as Crisco rose to popularity, and that’s pretty much how it stayed for 100 years or so. But as people are becoming more aware of the dangers of highly processed foods like hydrogenated vegetable oils, traditional foods like butter and lard are regaining popularity.
While you could technically just buy lard from the grocery store, much of the lard that you’ll find on grocery store shelves contains added preservatives including BHA and BHT, both of which are on the EWG’s Dirty Dozen list of food additives.
Homemade lard is made from 100% pure pig fat, plain and simple.
If you raise your own pigs, making your own lard is a no-brainer!
If you’re not raising your own pigs, you can still get your hands on some pork fat by asking for it at your local butcher or by making friends with a local pig farmer.
There are 2 types of pork fat (leaf fat and fatback). For pure, white, odourless, flavourless lard that’s prized for cooking and baking, always choose leaf fat.
How to render lard at home:
Step 1: Cut the fat into cubes and add to a slow cooker or stockpot along with 1/4 cup of water. Cook on low heat for several hours, checking on it every hour or so.
Step 2: Once the leftover bits of meat and fatty bits rise to the top, strain the lard through a fine mesh sieve, reserving the liquid fat. Store the liquid fat in a glass jar. The liquid lard will be yellow at first, but as it cools it will turn solid white.
Step 3: Store lard in the fridge or freezer for months!
Get the full recipe plus bonus tips by clicking the link in my bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/how-to-render-lard/
Have you ever rendered your own lard before??
I woke up this morning and it was still dark as night.
The rain was pelting down on our roof and the wind was howling.
Outside it was cold and dreary, but inside I lit my morning candle, turned on the soft white fairy lights we have strung in our kitchen, put a few drops of oil in the diffuser and snuggled back under the blankets with a hot cup of coffee before it was time to “officially” start the day.
I just love this time of year!
I talk a lot about seasonal living, mostly because as a homesteader, you have no choice but to live with the seasons.
You’re either starting seeds and planting in the spring, tending your garden in the summer, preserving in the fall or sitting by the fire in the winter as you eat from the larder full of food you worked so hard to put up the rest of the year, and dreaming about starting all over again in the spring.
Our success as homesteaders really does depend on us changing up our routines and making the most of each season, though this can sometimes feel easier said than done when the weather outside is dark and miserable.
But there’s something magical and deeply nourishing about this time of year, should we choose to embrace it for all it has to offer.
If you’re looking for a little help or inspiration to help you approach the winter months with intention and make this season as cozy, joyous and restful as it can be, I’m so excited to invite you to A Cozy Gathering: a 3-day virtual summit featuring 16 expert speakers, giveaways, and a lifetime’s access to a wealth of information and actionable ideas for simple-living during all four seasons (but especially fall and winter!)
The summit starts on Monday, November 8th and is completely FREE to attend.
OR you can upgrade and get instant, lifetime access to the entire summit, including all of the presentations and exclusive bonuses for just $47 (until Sunday only).
Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead to register for free and save your seat, or purchase instant, lifetime access to A Cozy Gathering!
Tell me, what’s your favourite thing about this time of year??
We woke up to a killing frost the other day. If you’re a farmer, gardener or homesteader, you know what that means…
It means our days to get everything done outdoors are numbered.
It means we need to make sure the chickens and rabbits have fresh, warm bedding.
It means we need to finish putting the garden to bed, which includes adding a layer of compost and mulch to feed and protect the soil until we’re ready to plant again next spring.
It means tidying up our tools, putting away our hoses and making sure the water’s turned off so it doesn’t freeze.
So much of life as a homesteader is dictated by the weather and the seasons, and while that can often mean a mad scramble to get everything planted, harvested and/or put to bed, there’s something invigorating about every seasonal transition and shift. It gets my adrenaline going!
But it’s still work. Nobody said that the “simple” life would be easy!
But it’s precisely that hard work that makes falling into bed each night so gratifying. It’s the feeling of a day well spent and a job well done.
If you’re looking for some tips on what to do now before the ground freezes solid to make sure you’re ready for winter AND ready to start all over again in the garden next spring, be sure to check out the fall issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine, which is full of tips and advice to help you wrap up the growing season and get a head start on the coming months.
As always, a little bit (more) hard work right now will definitely make life easier down the line.
Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead to subscribe and read the latest issue if you haven’t yet, or go to www.modernhomesteadingmagazine.com
#homesteading #homesteadersofinstagram #simplelife #selfsufficiency #winteriscoming
Fact: You can use a cast iron skillet to cook your food, get extra iron in your diet and even to ward off criminals!
These are just a few of the benefits of cooking with cast iron. Wanna know more??
Click the link in my bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/7-benefits-of-cooking-with-cast-iron
Do you cook with cast iron? If so, what do you like most about it? Let me know down below!👇
#castiron #castironcooking #homesteadkitchen
Thank you! I was looking for a list of specifically Plant Therapy diy recipes and this helps me greatly! I can’t trust other companies to use safe dilutions and I’m especially careful when making blends for gifts.