One of the coolest things about sharing our story through our blog has been meeting other people who are on the same kind of path as us. I wanted to share some other perspectives on homesteading, home building, and what living a self-sufficient life really looks like. This week we’re talking with Jozie about what it…
Reader Feature: Mark and Bailey (and what happens when you give a couple a cabin)
One of the coolest things about sharing our story through our blog has been meeting other people who are on the same kind of path as us. I wanted to share some other perspectives on homesteading, home building, and what living a self-sufficient life really looks like. Over the next several weeks, we’ll be looking at…
Reader Feature: Hannah and Her Path to Debt-Free Homesteading
One of the coolest things about sharing our story through our blog has been meeting other people who are on the same kind of path as us. I wanted to share some other perspectives on homesteading, homebuilding, and what living a self-sufficient life really looks like. Over the next several weeks, we’ll be looking at the…
“What Next?”: The 5 Important Things We’re Doing AFTER Building a House
Several months back, I asked you, dear readers, what you wanted to know more about, and one of the responses I got was, “What are you going to do now that the house is finished?” My goodness if that isn’t a loaded question. If you’re new to our adventure, my husband Mark and I just…
Mortar Mixes for Cordwood Masonry
Choosing the right mortar mix for your cordwood masonry construction project doesn’t have to be difficult. Here’s how we made ours and what you need to know to make the most of your mortar mix.
Comprehensive FAQs About Our Cordwood Building Project
It’s not super common for people to build their own houses without hiring a general contractor. It’s even less common for people to build with an alternative method the way we did. So naturally, we get a LOT of the same kinds of questions about our house.
10 Surprising Lessons We’ve Learned About Living Off The Grid
Living off the grid seems like THE DREAM for so many people. The idea of not relying on power and water companies and not paying their high bills is certainly appealing. There’s something romantic about the notion of living in a home that allows the freedom of self-sufficiency. But is it really everything you THINK it…
Is Rainwater Harvesting ILLEGAL?
Updated October 10, 2025 Every now and again I notice in the various Facebook groups I frequent for homesteaders and off-gridders, people ask this question: “IS IT ILLEGAL TO HARVEST RAINWATER?”
13 Easy and Totally Normal Items That Reduce Plastic Waste (besides straws)
There’s a lot of fuss about single-use plastic straws right now. “They’re decimating ocean life!” “They’re ruining the environment!” “Why are we focusing on straws when there are other worse pollutants?” “But wait! Some people with disabilities need them!” I’m with ya. But no matter what side of the argument you come down on, one…
9 Questions Skeptics Ask About Cordwood Home Performance
This post is a continuation of some of our biggest cordwood FAQs. The first section was about some of the basics of cordwood and how it is constructed. This section is entirely about how well cordwood walls perform in different situations. How does cordwood handle the cold? The heat? Pests? Rot? FIRE???? We’ll explore those…