The Hands-On Home book was just released a few days ago and features DIY cooking and home keeping projects for a more productive home. Host Theresa Loe got a sneak peak at this book and she brings on author/blogger Erica Strauss to share what this book is all about AND ways to better utilize the food that we grow or buy locally.  In this episode you learn: Professional chef tips for saving flavor and money, Why you should get creative with food scraps, How just a little kitchen prep can save you at dinner time, How you can win a FREE copy of Erica's book for yourself. As always, you can visit www.LivingHomegrown.com/26 for all the links mentioned, a PDF of the transcript, and information on the Canning Academy (Theresa's online canning course). 

You've got questions and Theresa has your answers. In this episode, Theresa answers a few questions from a listener about quick pickles. You learn: What you should do if you run short on brine, The most important ingredients for safety in quick pickles, Which ingredients you can change or leave out, What happens if the cucumbers are NOT covered in brine, If natural sea salt may be substituted for pickling or Kosher salt in refrigerator pickles. As always, there is lots more info (including a pickle making video) and the full PDF transcript of this episode at LivingHomegrown.com/25 - So be sure to check out the website!

Discover the wonders of flavored vinegars using seasonal produce and herbs. They are super easy to make, packed with flavor and make great gifts come holiday time. In this episode, host Theresa Loe shares: The basic formula for making flavored vinegar that always works, Some sample flavor combos that pack a punch, The 3 best vinegars to use as your base (pros/cons of each), Which vinegar you should never use, The exact steps needed to make your first batch of flavored vinegar, How best to store them for longevity and flavor. As always, you can get a full PDF transcript of the entire episode at www.LivingHomegrown.com/24 and you will also find links to everything mentioned in the episode. 

Learn all about Weck® Jars in this episode including: What they are, What it means to NOT be USDA approved, The 4 components that make them work, The basics of how they are used, How to test seals and open jars, The benefits and drawbacks compared to standard jars in the United States. Be sure to visit www.LivingHomegrown.com/23 to get the full transcript as well as related links for more information. 

Learn what the fuss is about with the organizational method of KonMari and how you can apply the principles of the hugely popular book: "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo to your homestead organization. It is NOT just for organizng your sock drawer. Using this method (even in small portions of your homelife), can help streamline all of your homesteading efforts. But you need to decide if this method is for you. So, tune in to learn: What the KonMari Method is and how it works, Why host Theresa Loe was initially skeptical, How she is now using it to work more efficiently, How you can apply it to your basic homestead organization. Visit www.LivingHomegrown.com/22 to get all the links mentioned in the show notes or to download the full transcript of the episode.

Discover how easy it is to help support the bees while also improving your own backyard food production. In this episode, Theresa Loe interviews garden expert Robin Haglund of Garden Mentors® to discuss: Why bees are so important to our everyday lives, What makes bumblebees best suited to pollinate our tomatoes, What flower we should always plant near our tomatoes if we want a good crop, Why cleaning up the garden can be a BAD thing, The top 5 tips for supporting bees in our backyard and...How it might be possible to have bee hives in your yard WITHOUT being the beekeeper. Be sure to visit LivingHomegrown.com/21 for links, bee-related videos and to download the full transcript of this episode.

Learn how to make pickles THE EASY WAY - in the refrigerator! These pickles are fast, delicious and you never have to break out the canner. In this episode you learn:  The 3 main types of pickles,  What to do with large and small harvests of cucumbers,  Why refrigerator pickles are so great for newbies,  Three advantages of refrigerator pickles, Theresa's top 10 tips for getting a good pickle, A walkthrough of a simple bread n' butter recipe.  For more information (including links) be sure to visit: www.LivingHomegrown.com/20 and download the full transcript.

Learn all about how to use a steam juicer for canning. In this episode, Theresa gives you the whole scoop on: What a steam juicer is, How it works, The 5 key advantages of using one, Why it is NOT just for large batches of produce, Why Theresa uses marbles when canning, The differences between steam juicing and mechanical juicing, The nutritional differences between different methods and Where you can find steam juicers for purchase. As always, you will find show notes at LivingHomegrown.com/19 which includes photos, links and a full downloadable transcript of the episode. You can also sign up for Theresa's weekly newsletter and for information on her online canning classes on the website. Come on over and join in on the preservation conversation!

How to make wine salt: Learn all about this delicious season salt which combines a wine reduction with salt and herbs. It is simple to make and adds a punch of flavor to any savory dish. Once made, it lasts up to 6 months on your pantry shelf.  

In this episode you learn: What foods pair well with this seasoning, The key to getting good flavor, Two ways Theresa bumps up that flavor, The exact recipe and a walk through of how to make it yourself.  If you would like to see a quick (2 min) video on how it's done, go to the show notes for this episode at: www.LivingHomegrown.com/18 and you can also get the full recipe in text form to print for later.  

For more information on Living Farm Fresh Without The Farm (Preserving, Small-Space Food Growing & Living Sustainably) and Theresa's online Canning Academy, be sure to visit the website: LivingHomegrown.com

Learn tips for getting the most from your canning efforts.  
Have you ever made a canning recipe and ended up with way MORE or way LESS than you were supposed to? In this episode, Theresa explains why that happens and offers tips for how you can always get the most from your hard work when canning. She covers: Is it you or the recipe?, The two main reasons for yield discrepancies, Different units of measure, and more...   
As always, you can learn more over at LivingHomegrown.com/17 where there are free resources to help you live farm fresh without the farm.