Best Method to Make Sauerkraut.

I have tried the crock method to make my sauerkraut, but the mason jar and ziplock bag of brine method has given me the least amount of fuss. I found this video to be the most instructive in this method. I usually forgo canning to keep the probiotic effects of fresh kraut. It keeps well in the fridge so I don't find canning necessary.

Save on produce: Root Cellaring

To add to ideas to save money on fresh produce found here, you can take a page from the pioneers playbook and install a root cellar. This is not for everyone or even possible with where you live. If you are able to use a portion of your property to build one or even utilize part of your basement, you can take your gardens bounty and enjoy it through out the winter. Root crops like carrots, beets and potatoes are fairly easy to grow and keep well as do many of your gourds and squash. If you are unable to build a root cellar but have room for a garden, don't fret, many varieties of beets, carrots etc. do fine over winter just keeping them in the ground. Winter keeper varieties give you fresh produce in parts of the garden that aren't being uses during that season.

A basic walk through of building a root cellar can be found in Mother Earth News.



The wine cellar idea give a great dual purpose to the root cellar. As a brewer/vinter/meadmaker I like the idea of a place to ferment that will keep a fairly constant temperature as well as a place to keep produce.

Here are some useful links on root cellaring:

Build a Basement Root Cellar

Home grown fruit and vegetable storage.

The return of root cellars.



Using a root cellar for restaurant storage and eating local all year long.



Small scale root cellaring with food grade barrels. This is a simple easy solution for surplus crops.

More mead recipes!!! Good stuff and not just for Renaissance faires.

Several mead recipes that look good though I haven't tried them exactly. 

Mead Brews

Beeswax Pomade

This is a popular use for beeswax.  This is a straight forward low cost recipe to make your own at home.  Also use the link below to find more DIY recipes for beeswax.

1 Decide what are you going to use it for what style. 

2 Depending on what you will use it for will give you a general idea of the measurement of the ingredients.

3 If you want more hold give it more bees wax than petroleum jelly or oil.

4 First melt your bees wax in a clean pan until its a liquid, then pour into a cooling container.

5 Add oil or Vaseline so the wax doesn't go hard again.

6 Remember more oil or petroleum jelly: less hold, but more shine.

7 If you like, add some mint or some kind of nice-smelling oils to cover up the smell of the petroleum jelly.

Tips

• Make it in large batches because if you're a greaser, you will use a lot.
• For it to wash out, use detergent, (like for your dishes.)
• I personally prefer to use corn starch and shampoo because it's better for your hair. 

Warnings

• You are handling hot wax, be careful!.
• Don't use paraffin wax or any artificial waxes instead of bees wax.
• Don't melt it in a microwave, only on a hotplate or stove.
• Never put pomade in your eyes or in your mouth.
• Keep away from kids.
• Use only cooking oils like olive or vegtable never use motor oil.
• Use only natural scented oils or edible oils for your pomade.

Things you'll need

• a kitchen
• a pan a skillet
• a stirring spoon
• oven mitts
• a container
• bees wax
• oil or petroleum jelly
• scented oils (needed if you want it to smell good)

For this and other beeswax recipes wikihow has  plenty.