Casual Homesteader

Our Friday Pizza Night: Two Homemade Pizzas for About $8 Pizza night has become one of our favorite family traditions. Every Friday, instead of ordering takeout, we make our own pizza from scratch. I mix up homemade dough, simmer a simple pizza sauce, pick fresh basil from the garden, and top each pizza with fresh mozzarella, Italian sausage, and pepperoni. The best part? We can make two homemade 11–12 inch pizzas for about $8 , which is a fraction of what we'd spend ordering takeout. Why We Started Making Pizza at Home Like many families, we noticed that ordering pizza has become expensive. Depending on where you order from, two medium pizzas can easily cost $30–$45 before delivery and tip . I've been making more of a conscious effort to be frugal with my money, so instead of completely cutting out pizza nights, we switched to making our own from scratch. Not only has it saved us money, but it's also become something we genuinely look forward to every week.

What Is Castile Soap? Is It Worth the Cost for Budget-Conscious Homesteaders? If you've spent any time looking up homemade cleaners or DIY personal care products, you've probably heard someone recommend Castile soap. It's often praised as an all-purpose cleaner that can replace everything from hand soap to laundry detergent, but is it really worth the hype? The answer depends on how you plan to use it. Castile soap is incredibly versatile and can help simplify your cleaning routine, but it isn't a miracle product. Knowing where it works well and where it doesn't can help you decide if it's worth adding to your homestead. What Is Castile Soap? Castile soap is a vegetable oil-based soap that was originally made from olive oil in the Castile region of Spain. Today, many brands use a blend of plant oils such as olive, coconut, hemp, and jojoba while maintaining the same gentle, biodegradable soap base (Dr. Bronner's, n.d.). Unlike many conventional soaps, Castil...

  Painted Garden Rocks: A Fun Gardening Activity for Kids There's something special about getting kids involved in the garden, and it doesn't have to involve digging or planting. One of our favorite low-cost activities is making painted garden rocks. They're simple enough for toddlers with a little help, older kids can get creative with their designs, and the finished rocks can brighten up flower beds, vegetable gardens, or container plants. Whether you're spending a rainy afternoon indoors or enjoying a sunny day outside, this is an easy project the whole family can enjoy. Why Kids Love Painting Garden Rocks Painting rocks lets children express their creativity while spending time outdoors. It also helps develop fine motor skills and encourages them to take pride in the garden. Once they're finished, they can hide their creations throughout the yard or use them to mark where seeds and plants are growing. Supplies You'll Need Smooth rocks (washed and completely ...

Composting for Beginners: How to Turn Kitchen Scraps into Garden Gold Every banana peel, coffee ground, and fallen leaf has the potential to become something valuable for your garden. Instead of sending organic waste to the landfill, you can transform it into nutrient-rich compost that helps plants thrive naturally. Whether you're growing vegetables in raised beds, tending a backyard garden, or just getting started with homesteading, composting is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to improve your soil. The best part? You don't need expensive equipment or years of gardening experience to get started. What Is Compost? Compost is the result of naturally decomposed organic matter such as leaves, grass clippings, kitchen scraps, and garden waste. As bacteria, fungi, earthworms, and other beneficial organisms break these materials down, they become a dark, crumbly material often called "black gold." This finished compost, known as humus , is one of the most valuab...

15 Garden Plants You Can Propagate Instead of Buying Again If you're trying to build a productive garden without spending a fortune every season, propagation is one of the easiest skills you can learn. Instead of buying new plants every year, many common vegetables, herbs, berries, and flowers can be grown from cuttings, divisions, runners, or slips. In many cases, one healthy plant can provide several new plants for free. The best part? Most of these methods are beginner-friendly and require little more than a pair of clean scissors and a little patience. Here are some of the easiest plants to propagate at home. Basil One basil plant can quickly become several. Simply snip a healthy stem about 4 to 6 inches long, remove the lower leaves, and place it in a glass of water. Within about a week, roots usually begin to form. Once the roots are an inch or two long, plant it in soil. This is one of the fastest and easiest herbs to multiply. Rosemary Rosemary is another excellent herb for...

Foodscaping 101: How to Create a Beautiful Yard That Feeds Your Family Have you ever looked around your yard and thought, What if this space could be beautiful and help feed my family? Instead of separating your vegetable garden from the rest of your landscape, foodscaping combines edible plants with flowers, shrubs, and trees to create a yard that's both attractive and productive. Whether you have a few flower beds, a small suburban yard, or several acres, foodscaping is a practical way to make the most of the space you already have. As a Florida gardener, I've fallen in love with the idea of growing food that's just as beautiful as it is useful. Throughout this post, I'll be using my own USDA Zone 9a garden as an example. If you live somewhere else, don't worry! The same ideas can work in your yard, too. Just be sure to choose plants that are well suited to your own growing zone. Before You Start: Know Your Growing Zone Before you head to your local nursery or st...

What Is Homesteading? A Beginner's Guide to Living More Self-Sufficiently Have you ever heard someone talk about homesteading and wondered what it actually means? You're not alone. In recent years, more people have become interested in growing their own food, raising backyard chickens, preserving food, and learning traditional skills. Whether it's to save money, become more self-sufficient, or simply slow down and enjoy a simpler way of life, homesteading has become more popular than ever. The best part? You don't need a farm or acres of land to get started. Here at Casual Homesteader , I believe anyone can begin their homesteading journey, no matter their budget or the size of their property. My goal is to share practical gardening tips, DIY projects, chicken-keeping advice, recipes, and money-saving ideas that make self-sufficiency achievable for everyday families. What Is Homesteading? Homesteading is a lifestyle focused on becoming more self-sufficient by learning t...

Why I Switched to the Cash Budgeting Method (And Why It's Actually Working) One of the biggest goals for our family has been becoming more intentional with our money. As we've worked toward a simpler lifestyle and financial freedom, I realized that using my debit card and credit cards made it far too easy to lose track of small purchases. A few dollars here. A quick stop there. An extra item in the grocery cart. Individually, they didn't seem like much. But by the end of the month, those little purchases added up. That's when I decided to give the cash envelope method a try. It has been one of the simplest changes we've made, but it's also been one of the most effective. Why I Chose Cash When money stays on a debit or credit card, it can almost feel invisible. You know it's there, but you don't physically see it leaving. Cash is different. Handing someone a $20 bill makes you think about the purchase in a way that swiping a card simply doesn't. As th...

How to Freeze Fresh Sweet Corn (The Easy Way) There's nothing quite like fresh sweet corn in the middle of summer. Every year, our local farm sets up a roadside stand, and it's one of those traditions I look forward to. This year I picked up a dozen ears for just $8, and instead of trying to eat it all before it spoiled, I decided to preserve it for later. Freezing sweet corn is surprisingly simple, and it means you'll have delicious, farm-fresh corn ready for soups, casseroles, side dishes, and skillet meals all year long. Why Freeze Fresh Corn? Fresh-picked corn begins losing sweetness shortly after it's harvested. Freezing it soon after buying helps preserve both the flavor and texture. Benefits include: Saves money when corn is in season Reduces food waste Keeps fresh corn available year-round Quick side dish for busy weeknights Perfect for soups, chowders, and casseroles Supplies You'll Need Fresh sweet corn Large stock pot Ice (I used ice packs)  L...

  👉🏼 Disclosure:  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The Pros and Cons of Line Drying Laundry If you're looking for a simple way to reduce household expenses and make your clothes last longer, line drying your laundry might be worth considering. While clothes dryers offer convenience, they are also one of the more energy-intensive appliances in many homes. Line drying can help lower energy use, reduce wear on clothing, and lessen environmental impact. However, it isn't without drawbacks. Here's a closer look at the benefits and challenges of hanging clothes to dry. Benefits of Line Drying Clothes 1. Reduced Energy Consumption One of the biggest advantages of line drying is the reduction in energy use. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that clothes dryers are significant household energy consumers, and reducing dryer use can lower household energy costs (U.S. Department of Energy, n.d.). Research from the University of Michigan found that household...

Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe (1 Gallon) 👉 Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Store-bought laundry detergent can be expensive, especially when you're washing gardening clothes, workout gear, chicken coop clothes, and everyday family laundry. After experimenting with homemade cleaners, I put together this simple gallon-sized laundry detergent recipe using a handful of inexpensive ingredients. Not only is it budget-friendly, but it also allows you to control exactly what goes into your laundry routine. Why Make Your Own Laundry Detergent? Making homemade laundry detergent can help: Save money on household expenses Reduce plastic waste from detergent containers Use simple ingredients you may already have on hand Create a customizable scent using essential oils Stretch your household budget without sacrificing clean clothes Ingredients For one gallon of homemade laundry detergent, you'll need: ¼ cup grated Zote soap ¼ cup borax ⅜ cup (6 table...