Name: Savory Lemonade Rehydration Drink
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 3
Ingredients: 3 c water; juice of ½ lemon; 1 tsp Himalayan salt (or other mineralized salt); 2 tbsp sugar

Improve Your Health by Homesteading

10.19.2021 by hope // Leave a Comment

When healthy living is your goal, homesteading offers some great benefits.

We’ve all been there. That point where we decide we need to live healthier. Then when we start researching how to do that, EVERYONE has a program to sell us. Right? Well, I’m not selling anything. I’m just sharing how our move to homestead over the past year has resulted in much better health for us.

We’ve not arrived at perfection, but the journey is satisfying and interesting. Trust me when I say that I never imagined myself being a ‘country girl’ or living a farm life, but here I am…with 68 chickens and on round two of raising meat pigs. My work clothes consist of muck boots, long pants, tank tops and work gloves. I’ve come a long way and I couldn’t be happier.

Benefits of Homesteading

Outsiders may think we are crazy but there are loads of benefits from homesteading. Here I will share six that are both physical and mental. I believe that everyone can find one or two that resonate with them.

1. Growing your own food brings a sense of peace.

Making food choices today can be confusing. Labels like ‘natural’, ‘cage free’, ‘hormone free’ and ‘organic’ can be both confusing and deceptive since labeling is anything but clear and honest. One way to know exactly what is in your food is to simply grow it or raise it yourself. There is a lot of peace that comes from knowing that we are feeding our family truly free range chicken that has not been fed genetically modified feed and raised their entire live in a factory or that our vegetables are fresh and local with no pesticides.

2. Homesteading provides an abundance of exercise.

Prepping and maintaining a garden, building fences and shelters and regular feeding of animals are just a few of the activities that will keep you moving…constantly. For us, this has definitely been an increase in physical activity and as a result both my husband and I have seen increased physical strength as well as some weight loss (or at least rearrangment). We’re making additional changes, but I’ll share about that in a different post.

If you struggle making time for daily exercise because you feel like you need to be doing something ‘productive’, well, homesteading allows you to get lost of exercise while caring for animals, structures and the land which are already on the ‘to do list’. It’s still a good idea to supplement to cover weak areas not addressed, but chores go a long way in providing physical activity plus a sense of accomplishment.

3. Homesteading provides plenty of fresh air and sunshine.

Physically being outside at least twice a day (and much more if you are full time homesteading), provides lots of exposure to fresh air and sunshine. So, vitamin D is plentiful. For those of us who spend a significant amount of time behind a screen, it is reassuring that we can get that daily recommended dose of the the good stuff just by taking care of daily chores. There’s no need for a spray tan or self tanner. Homesteaders keep a healthy glow year round.

4. Mental health benefits from caring for animals are priceless.

Putting the focus on the needs of livestock each morning keeps us from being so focused on ‘me’. Providing for an animal’s needs each day and appreciating that they will also meet your needs in time serves to keep us grounded and filled with gratitude.

There is also a sweet calm that comes from holding baby chicks, petting rabbits and hosing down pigs. It’s a therapy all to itself. It also keeps us grounded in the fact that we are responsible for these creatures. That’s a unique role God gave us in the Garden of Eden. It’s no wonder it feels so natural and soothing.

5. Working outdoors keeps us in tune with the seasons.

The time we spend outdoors planting, weeding, and harvesting along with watching our animals birth more livestock keeps us connected to the uniqueness of each season.

Spring brings the excitement of new birth, new growth and new beginnings. There is a freshness that carries over into our personal lives and homes as well.

Summer brings a bit of a break and a short time of relaxation while crops grow and pigs nap. It is the perfect time to kick back for a moment and enjoy barbecues and creeks. Evenings spent chasing fire flies are memories that last.

Fall brings the harvest and the job of putting away the bounty. It’s often the time of all hands on deck and there is nothing like having the joy of sharing this knowledge with new learners, be they adults or children. Then there is also the welcome break of cooler temps and a new scent in the air. In the U.S., this all culminates in the family gathering of Thanksgiving.

Winter is the time for really slowing down, finding rest and researching to make our plans for the upcoming spring season. What will we plant? What will we raise? What new ventures will we tackle? It’s a time for recovery and preparation.

6. There is never a moment without learning.

There is never a shortage of tasks to complete, plan or adjust on the homestead. Everyday is a learning experience. We make lots of mistakes, have plenty of regrets and sweat a lot but the joy that comes from all of the challenges and the successes keep us going and smiling.

We might smell, but we are definitely happier and healthier!

Make Natural Rehydration Drink at Home

05.11.2021 by hope // Leave a Comment

Making a natural rehydration drink is something you can easily make at home. No chemicals or ingredients you can’t read. You likely have everything in your kitchen right now.

Why hydrate?

Our bodies are made up of nearly 80% water and in order for our organs to function at their best, we must maintain that water supply. We we fail, we can experience headache, fatigue, dry mouth, weight gain and more. But those are just a few of the symptoms we see or notice. We are actually doing more harm to our organs when we allow dehydration to set in.

Spring has sprung and if you are like me, you are spending a lot more time outdoors. Physical exertion coupled with increased temperatures means we all have to be careful to stay hydrated. Failure to do so can cause all sorts of problems.

Just drink more water? Not so fast…

The solution to avoid dehydration seems to be to just drink more water, right? Well, not so quick. We do need to increase our water intake, especially in warmer weather when we are sweating. However, often we need a little more of a boost with some electrolytes.

ingredients for savory lemonade on countertop

The benefit of a natural rehydration drink

If you are like me, you’ve likely consumed more than your share of some of the old faithful rehydration drinks that have been around for ages. You know, the ones that come in every color and flavor imaginable with an ingredient list that would make your head spin.

There’s just something about combatting the heat and exhaustion with chemicals that just doesn’t sit right with me. This journey to better care for the body God has given me has me questioning a LOT of old habits. I’ve also done more research regarding nutrition over the past couple of years than ever before.

I’ve found that one of the most important ingredients in a natural rehydration drink is a good quality salt. Weston A Price Foundation posted a great article about the benefits here. There is also a link to the Wise Traditions podcast interview on the same topic. If you have the time, it’s a great listen or read. It definitely inspired me to be more intentional about making wise choices regarding salt in my diet.

Last summer, I began experimenting with natural rehydration drink recipes. Some were winners and some, well, not so much. I’ve come up with a four ingredient version of rehydration drink that I call Savory Lemonade and it has become quite popular in our home. You probably have all of the ingredients in your kitchen right now. So, how about whipping up a small batch right now?

Yield: 3 cups

Savory Lemonade Rehydration Drink

Rehydrate your body naturally with this Savory Lemonade sure to perk you up on summer days or anytime you are feeling drained. Forego the energy drinks that only dehyrdate you further and replenish with this tasty drink.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

3 c water
juice of ½ lemon
1 tsp Himalayan salt (or other mineralized salt)
2 tbsp sugar

Instructions

Warm 1/2 c water with the salt and sugar to dissolve the crystals.
Add juice of half lemon to a storage container with the salt and sugar mixture.
Add remainder of water and stir.
Store in the refrigerator.

Healthy bone broth: Why you should make some now

03.27.2021 by hope // Leave a Comment

Healthy homemade bone broth is super simple to make and can be so useful and beneficial. You’ll wonder why you never knew about this old homesteading staple.

If you are like me not so long ago, you may have never made your own bone broth or even be sure you know what it is. That’s okay and all the more reason to continue being a lifelong learner. It was just a few years ago that I started to read and begin to understand the just how powerful good food can be for us and the healing power it holds. At the time of my dad’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis, I was on the search for ways to help with his nutritional needs. I discovered an excellent cookbook for cancer patients and those caring for them.

The biggest takeaway from that book, though, was healthy bone broth. Over the years, it has gradually become a staple in my kitchen and now that we are raising our own chickens, I have established an easy routine of preparing a whole chicken each week and using the bones from that chicken to make a batch of delicious and nutritionally dense bone broth.

Benefits of bone broth

1- Helps with digestion issues. Many people suffer from leaky gut and other digestive issues which can be helped by the gelatinous elements of bone broth. This element of bone broth helps to ease the discomfort of damaged lining of the digestive tract.

2. Boosts your immune system. Bone broth is almost like a superfood for a weakened immune system. Because the main ingredient in this liquid gold is bones and the marrow that is steeped from them is a great source of nutrients and vitamins.

3. Great source of amino acids. Bone broth contains several different amino acids including proline which is great for helping to reduce wrinkles. Hey! That should motivate many of us women to plop a chicken in a pot for a day or so. These amino acids are also great for heart health.

4. Promotes joint health. Bone broth contains glucosamine which can be a big help keeping your joints pain free. This is probably my husband’s favorite reason to sip on bone broth.

white mug of broth next to notebook, pen and tray — **Hot bone broth soothes achy joints**

Additional uses for bone broth

While one of the most popular ways to consume bone broth is simply by the cup, there are also many great uses in the kitchen. Here are just a few:

Use as a base for soups and stews. Many recipes will call for water or stock, but bone broth is a sure way to beef up the nutritional score of any recipe.
Use as the liquid for gravy and sauces. Many recipes will work to substitute bone broth for other liquids.
Use in the place of water for cooking rice. You’ll get instant flavor, not to mention better nutrition.
Add to leftover dishes as you reheat them either in the oven or on the stovetop to keep them from drying out. Sometimes rice or pasta dishes need a little extra liquid and this is a great way to boost the flavor and the minerals.

Making bone broth is simple and a great way to save you time while building a healthy body

It’s as simple as this

Making healthy bone broth is very simple using an instant pot or slow cooker, but you can also use a regular stock pot on the stovetop. All you need to do is toss a few ingredients into a pot, top with water and your favorite leftover raw veggies like carrots, celery, onion and garlic. I recommend simmering the broth for at least 12 hours, but the longer it simmers, the more nutritionally dense your broth will be. I aim to keep the pot simmering for 24-48 hours.

adding water to instant pot of bones and veggies — Ingredients are few but they pack a punch.

Once you have reached your desired time, allow the pot to cool a bit and prepare several jars to store your bone broth. I usually end up with one half gallon jar plus an additional quart size jar of broth. Place a strainer inside a funnel over the top of the first jar and ladle the liquid into the strainer. You can speed the process along by scooping out the larger bones and vegetables in advance. This process takes about five minutes and the reward is great!

Sip from a cup (add salt to taste) or add to your favorite recipes. You’ll love knowing you have done something great for your family!

Looking for ways to use that chicken meat? Check out these ideas here.

Enjoy!