As people become more interested in where their food comes from and how it is grown, the desire for organic produce has steadily increased. But the higher prices of organic vegetables put them out of reach for many families. This is why so many families are breaking ground and committing to growing their own organic food at home. As with any garden, common garden pests must be kept under control so they don't decimate the crops. In order to maintain the organic integrity of the garden, pest control needs to be done naturally rather than with some toxic synthetic chemical concoction from the...

There is something really special about filling the plates on your dinner table with food you grew and raised yourself, or that you bought from the farmer down the road and really know where it came from. Learning to preserve that food can extend that sense of accomplishment and connection all year round. Food preservation is one of the most basic skills any family looking to live a more sustainable lifestyle can have. It cuts down on food costs, extends the harvest, increases your self-reliance, and reduces waste. It allows you to reap the benefits of all your hard work over a longer time...

"Composting: How Organic Gardeners Let it Rot and Make Homegrown Humus" shows you how to take nature's way of recycling organic matter and give it a boost. By creating the ideal conditions for decomposition, composting systems speed up the process, turning kitchen scraps and yard waste into high-quality humus in a matter of weeks. This "black gold" can then be used to amend the soil, which increases its ability to hold water and nutrients. #1 bestselling author Gaia Rodale gives you the information you need to pick the right composting system for your garden, build it out, and manage it to...

The art of soap making is one of those time honored skills that our great-grandparents and their parents knew how to do that is quickly slipping from our collective consciousness. Luckily, people like you and like me are taking the time to preserve our history by learning these old skills like making our own soap. Frankly making homemade soap just makes good sense. Most of the ingredients are likely already in your home which can mean a real cost savings over the course of a year, and while our ancestors made soap from necessity, many of us choose to make our own soap because it allows us to...

For thousands of years, women have stocked their homes with herbs, spices, tinctures, infusions, oils, and ointments in order to treat the various illnesses and ailments of their family. With the rapid advances in modern medicine over the past century, though, most of this knowledge and experience has fallen by the wayside. But there is still benefit to be had in learning to grow, make, and use your own herbal remedies. In "Natural Cures: Herbal Medicine for Natural Remedies at Home," #1 bestselling author Gaia Rodale provides you with the information you need to start making your own herbal...

If you are like a lot of people you may have taken a step back and started to wonder if all of the "stuff" in our lives is making them better or simply making them full-of-stuff. Whether by choice or circumstance, taking this step back can be a shock to the system and prompt you to ask questions like whether or not you actually need the newest iPhone, those $100 jeans, or a newer car. If that sounds like you, you have come to the right place. In "Frugal Minimalism: Declutter and Simplify" #1 Bestselling Author Gaia Rodale provides you with the know-how you need to start thinking about money,...