Fruits And Vegetables

Living off grid is a term coined by Nick Rosen, an environmentalist. It’s defined as being independent of systems like utilities and other types of conveniences. Some consider it to be a sort of exile from society, others view it as being a more environmentally positive action, and technically, both are correct.
People who live off grid often have vastly simplified lifestyles. Buying stuff, convenience, and overconsumption take a back seat to more simplistic living. Lots of DIY, self improvement, and producing the things you need yourself.

Living off grid has numerous benefits. Off grid families tend to have a lower environmental footprint due to producing energy from clean tech sources like solar, less consumerism, and producing more food themselves. People who live off grid also experience a ton of personal satisfaction for the work they put in and what they get out.

Living off grid reportedly reduces stress and anxiety and improves health overall. The physical labor involved with off grid living is better for you than sitting at a desk in an office, and the food you grow yourself is often substantially healthier than what you would find in a grocery store.

Families who live off grid don’t just live frugally but can also make a little bit of money at it. Selling extra eggs, produce, and other things can help turn your off grid lifestyle into a net financial positive.

It’s not easy to be a fully off grid individual or family, but there are steps you can take to get you started without cutting off the world and living alone in a remote cabin.

14 Plants That Can Cross-Pollinate In Your Garden - Featured image
8 min read Fruits And Vegetables

Gardening is full of delightful surprises—and sometimes head-scratching mysteries—especially when plants start swapping pollen behind your back! Cross-pollination occurs when pollen from one variety fertilizes the flowers of another, leading to seeds that sprout offspring with mixed traits. Whether you’re saving seeds to preserve a cherished variety or experimenting with novel hybrids, knowing which plants...

12 Gardening Mistakes For Growing Garlic - Featured image
6 min read Fruits And Vegetables

There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of harvesting your own garlic—those pungent, flavorful bulbs elevate every dish from sauces to sautés! Native to the mountainous regions of Central Asia, Allium sativum has traveled the world on the strength of its culinary and medicinal uses. While garlic isn’t considered invasive when grown responsibly, I know how...

12 Gardening Mistakes To Avoid While Growing Radishes - Featured image
6 min read Fruits And Vegetables

Growing radishes is one of my favorite quick-win pleasures in the garden—their crisp, peppery crunch fresh from the soil is unbeatable! Radishes (Raphanus sativus) were first domesticated in Southeast Asia but now brighten gardens worldwide. While cultivated radishes aren’t invasive, their wild cousins (R. raphanistrum) can become weedy if you let them bolt. I know...

12 Gardening Tips For Growing Delicious Bell Peppers - Featured image
6 min read Fruits And Vegetables

Bell peppers are one of my absolute favorite garden gems—the crunch of a homegrown pepper, whether green, yellow, or ruby red, is simply unbeatable! Native to the highlands of Central Mexico, Capsicum annuum has been cultivated by Mesoamerican civilizations for millennia. While they aren’t invasive in most home gardens, I know how disheartening it can...

12 Gardening Mistakes To Avoid If You’re Growing Jalapeño Peppers This Year - Featured image
7 min read Fruits And Vegetables

Growing jalapeño peppers can be incredibly rewarding—those crisp, spicy fruits fresh from the garden add a punch to salsas, stir-fries, and more! Native to the highlands of Mexico, Capsicum annuum has been cultivated for thousands of years, delighting gardeners with its vibrant fruit and ornamental foliage. However, it’s such a bummer when your pepper patch...

12 Garden Plants That Love Baking Soda - Featured image
7 min read Flowers And Houseplants

I’m so excited to dive into the surprising ways a humble box of baking soda can be your secret weapon in the garden! Sodium bicarbonate isn’t just for baking cookies—it’s a gentle fungicide that helps control powdery mildew, a soil amendment that can nudge pH upward for certain acid-sensitive blooms, and even a slug-repellent barrier...

10 Gardening Tips For Growing Delicious Kiwi Fruits - Featured image
5 min read Fruits And Vegetables

I’m so excited you’re embarking on the journey to grow your own luscious kiwis (Actinidia spp.) at home! These vigorous vines hail from the mountainous regions of China, where they’ve thrived in well-drained soils and climates with warm summers and cool winters. In their native habitat, kiwis attract a bustling community of pollinators—honeybees and native...

14 Companion Plants You Must Grow With Your Cabbage - Featured image
7 min read Fruits And Vegetables

I’m so excited you’re diving into the world of companion planting with cabbage (Brassica oleracea)! Native to coastal southern and western Europe, cabbage has been cultivated for over 4,000 years and is prized for its versatility in the kitchen. Its broad leaves form wonderful shelters for ground-nesting beneficial insects like solitary bees and soldier beetles,...

14 Companion Plants That Love To Grow With Dill - Featured image
8 min read Fruits And Vegetables

I can’t wait to share these delightful companions that thrive alongside dill! Dill (Anethum graveolens) is not only a culinary superstar but also a magnet for beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps. Its feathery foliage creates inviting shelter for predatory insects that keep pests in check, and its umbrella-like flower heads provide nectar...

13 Gardening Mistakes To Avoid While Growing Onions - Featured image
6 min read Fruits And Vegetables

Getting your onions off to the right start—and keeping them thriving all season—can feel like a balancing act. Onions (Allium cepa), native to the mountainous regions of Central Asia, have been cultivated for millennia and, while they’re not generally invasive, they share a lineage with wild Allium species that can pop up in unexpected corners...