Back when every home had a rain barrel stationed below the rainspout, our grandmothers knew rainwater was a must for washing hair. Grandma probably even knew why water falling from the sky felt better than that pumped from the ground. Admittedly, I didn’t know the benefits of cleaning with rainwater […]
Having clean laundry was my greatest off-grid obstacle until I discovered two secrets – washing with rainwater and a hand-crank wringer. During long-term power outages before we transitioned off-grid, I washed clothes by hand. It was not terribly difficult, but I was never thrilled with the results. I haven’t used an electric […]
Ever since they were youngsters on opposite sides of the globe, Kirsten and Albert Kosinski dreamed of being farmers. After decades of living in metropolises that included Los Angeles and Detroit, Al and Kirsten’s mutual dream ultimately came true. Building a farmstead as newlyweds in their 40s and 50s required […]
Ripping apart old clothing and other rags to remake into useful items takes more time than purchasing new fabric, but the rewards – reducing landfill overload, reviving an old-fashioned skill, conserving a treasured memento and saving money – are worth the extra trouble. My mother never visited a fabric store […]
For anyone lucky enough to have a shallow water table without bedrock, a do-it-yourself driven well saves thousands of dollars compared to drilling a bored well. Under ideal conditions, a well can be driven in a few hours and fitted with a pitcher pump, creating an uncomplicated, inexpensive backup or […]
An enlightening chat with my local plant supplier taught me yet another discouraging fact about seedlings sold by large commercial nurseries. Many are treated with neonicotinoids to kill insects, hormones to retard plant growth and yet more poisons to prevent disease. Then, the plants are doused in chemical fertilizers to […]
Well WaterBoy Products and the WaterBuck Pump are in the Summer 2015 issue of Capper’s Farmer magazine that hit newsstands today. It’s an honor to be featured in a publication that for more than 100 years has been giving practical advice for the homestead life. Besides the DIY plans for garden […]
Along with six other nifty inventions, the WaterBuck Pump was featured this month in Hobby Farms Magazine. You can find us on Page 60 of the January/February 2015 issue in the Farm Storehouse section, the one that showcases “New Products to Help and Inspire.” We’ve been fans of Hobby Farms […]
After years of looking for the most durable, yet simplest homemade rugs to wash, I have finally hit on a winner – shag throw rugs made of old T-shirts and towels. Besides being easy to make and care for, the rugs are fabricated from goods from the rag bag. With […]
We now ship our treadle-sewn goods free anywhere in the United States. This includes our popular Granny’s Clothespin Bags, Super-Tuff Firewood Carriers, Triple-Pocket Aprons and all of our quilted patchwork items. We also have a host of bright and cheery colors in stock of our patchwork potholders and place mats. […]
