As promised, today I am going to post some of my cleaning recipes. For the most part, they are very simple and involve basic ingredients. I’m sure you can find many variations on the internet, but these are what I use. Dishwasher detergent:  Combine equal parts of Arm&Hammer Washing Soda and Borax. I keep... »

People like homesteaders, farmers, and ranchers can be a very spiritual group.  I think it is because our lives are so intertwined with nature.  Our livelihoods depend on the right amount of rainfall, warm nights for proper plant growth, and good weather.  All of these things are completely out of our control.  We have no choice but to take our... »

If I ever decide to dig an underground cellar, I would want to hire a group of rabbits. They are amazing engineers. God has equipped rabbits with the ability to dig extensive tunnel systems while keeping the ground above stable and strong. My husband, Lane, built our doe rabbits a hotel. They are spoiled... »

Every home school family I know wants to develop a love of learning in their children. This of course does not mean hitting the books 24/7, but rather giving your child the tools and desire to continuously learn something new. How? Well I want to focus on one way... »

It’s the time of year that I just want to thank Lady Bird Johnson. She is responsible for the Highway Beautification Act of 1965. She had a love for nature and wildflowers. Ms. Johnson also founded the National Wildflower Research Center. Because of her legislation, wildflower seeds were sown alongside state highways. As... »

My Son, JakeAs I mentioned before, my family and I have both food, chemical, and/or airborne allergies. Jake, my seven-year old has the most shocking allergy of all. He is allergic to formaldehyde. Months ago I found an afghan my husband’s grandmother had made before she died. Jake really liked it and started sleeping covered up in it. Then I... »

This past fall I decided to try planting a new vegetable: Swiss chard. I had been reading up on gardening from Carla Emery’s Encyclopedia of Country Living book, which is my go-to book on anything related to homesteading. Anyway, I was intrigued by Swiss chard because it seemed very versatile. You can eat the greens in... »

Since I wouldn't tell you to do something I won't do myself, I want to suggest seven relatively easy ways to lives greener using the 5 R's of Recycling. Reduce your electric bill dramatically with the use of a clothesline.  My summer utility bill alone is over a hundred dollars cheaper without using the dryer. Reduce you waste by vermicomposting.  Red wiggler... »

This is the face of someone with food allergies. When Isaac was one year old, I began weaning him from breastfeeding. I gave him a cup of cow’s milk and went on preparing breakfast. Shortly after, I noticed that he was very cranky and had broken out in hives from head to toe. I suspected that he was allergic to... »

Wintertime is so mild in southeast Texas. We enjoyed fresh vegetables all winter long, but now the seasons are changing and spring has sprung. The first thing the kids and I did was pick the remaining vegetables from our winter garden. On Valentine’s Day, we filled a huge red wagon with cabbage, carrots, shallot onions, Swiss chard, broccoli, and spinach.... »

10. The commute is great; there is no traffic. 9. No need for alarm clocks. 8. Great parent/teacher conferences. 7. Teaching and learning happen 24/7. 6. The kids work at their own level and pace; no child left behind here. 5. My children have more time to pursue other interests. 4. My sons can learn to be men by working alongside their father. 3. I learn as... »

If you have not read Part One "On the Treadmill of Life," you might want to start there.  If so, click here. "Off the Treadmill of Life" I wanted to get off the “treadmill” that before the accident I did not even realize existed. It is rooted so deeply in all of us by society to work hard, to make more money,... »

The DeHaven Family "On the Treadmill of Life" As a little girl, my favorite books were the Little House on the Prairie series written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I loved her experiences as a girl growing up in much more simple times. I was inspired by the love and happiness their family shared with each other as well as... »

10.  Spending less money at the grocery store. 9.  Living a more green existence. 8.  Enjoying the wild fruits and animals provided by nature. 7.  Learning  to be more and more self-sufficient. 6.  Feeling a sense of accomplishment after a hard day’s work. 5.  Grinding my own flour yields better tasting baked goods. 4.  Collecting a constant supply of fresh chicken eggs to use and sell. 3. ... »