This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. You might be thinking, “How can having a pet reduce stress?” After all, aren’t they a lot of work and responsibility? Yes, they are. But there are scientifically proven health benefits to living with a pet. Just having the chance to pet a dog or cat can reduce cortisol, lower blood pressure, improve mental health, and bring a smile to someone’s face. As I mentioned in a prior article about party planning, I always look for the dog when visiting someone’s home. Animals are stress relievers, and for me, a friendly dog always does the trick. If you’re a pet owner, you probably feel the same way. Pets encourage us to go outside, take walks, and socialize with other animal lovers. Dogs are especially good at reminding us to walk as part of our daily routine. But even pets that don’t enjoy going for walks (like fish, reptiles, or birds) can help alleviate depression and provide companionship. Cats have a special ability that no other pets can provide: they purr within a frequency of 20 to 140 Hz—a range known to promote healing in humans. My sister’s cat was able to detect skin cancer on my mom. The cat’s constant sniffing of my mom’s head every time she went for a visit prompted her to make an appointment with the dermatologist (and probably saved her from progression of the disease). 10 ways pets benefit our health. Boost your mood: Interacting with dogs or other pets increases our level of oxytocin (the “love hormone”). Oxytocin is associated with that warm, fuzzy feeling—what a great way to boost mental health! Increase socializing: Walking a dog encourages us to meet other animal lovers and provides opportunities to make new friends. Lowers blood pressure: Studies show that pet ownership improves our health in many ways, including lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Research on human and dog interactions shows that talking to and petting a dog—like a therapy dog visiting a hospital—lowers blood pressure in the person the dog interacts with. Decrease loneliness: Having a pet provides companionship and creates a mutual bond (another mental health benefit!). Data from Shelter Animals Count shows that dog and cat adoptions increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many people took on the responsibility of pet ownership to decrease their loneliness during the lockdown. Sense of purpose: The responsibility of pet ownership can be a joyful reminder that you are loved and needed by someone who depends on you. Reduces cortisol levels: Engaging with a dog or other pet during stressful times helps decrease cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and reduce anxiety. That’s why more courtrooms are including therapy dogs as part of the team—especially with children who are victims of crime. Give us someone to talk to: Have you ever just poured your heart out to a beloved pet? Pets sense our feelings and give us unconditional love. They can be great listeners and excellent secret keepers. Decrease fearfulness: Having a dog in the home can decrease feelings of fear for people who live alone. Even small, gentle dogs can alert us when someone approaches—you don’t need a large breed or guard dog to let you know when someone is at your door. Physical fitness: Walking a dog or working outside with farm animals encourages muscle building, strength, and coordination. Remind us to relax and live in the present moment: Pets live in the now and bring our attention to the little things around us—a slobbery ball to play fetch with, bubbles in a fish tank, or the smell of fresh hay when we’re feeding a horse. “Dogs are very present. If someone is struggling with something, they know how to sit there and be loving.” ~ Dr. Ann Berger, NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland What if I don’t live with a pet? You can still experience the benefits of being around animals even if you don’t have a pet in your home. Here are a few ways you can bring the joy of animals into your life. Volunteer to cuddle cats. Many shelters, humane societies, and rescues need volunteers to play with cats waiting to be adopted. Find a location near you, and indulge in some snuggle time. Volunteer to walk dogs. Just as cats need cuddling, dogs need to get out of their kennels and go for a walk. Contact a shelter near you to see if they have a dog-walking program you can join. Goat yoga: Yes, this is really a thing! If you enjoy a good stretch and love to play with goats, find a goat yoga location near you and get ready to make some new friends. Cuddle a cow. Farm animal rescues, sometimes known as sanctuary farms, are opening up to the idea of inviting visitors to interact with rescued farm animals. Cuddling a cow increases oxytocin—just like interacting with household pets! Get a lower-maintenance pet. Easy to care for pets, like goldfish or betta fish, are an option for people who want a pet in their home but aren’t ready for a dog or cat. Pets such as freshwater fish are lower maintenance and usually cost less to feed and take care of. Participate in a pet therapy program. Dogs are common therapy animals, but cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and miniature horses can participate in select programs. Some programs need volunteer handlers to work with animals who are in the process of earning a certification. Search Google to find a program near you. Whether you’re a dog owner or a cat cuddler, you can feel confident that you are gaining health benefits, reducing stress, and giving a loving creature some much-needed attention when interacting with animals. Know someone who loves dogs? You might enjoy this post with ideas for gifts for dog lovers. Have you ever thought of throwing a pet party? Check out this dog Halloween party post to get a free printable party planning checklist!

This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. Last weekend we met a lovely couple who live in an earth-bermed home about a mile from our ranch. They built the house after they retired and did most of the work themselves. They hired subcontractors as needed and put in long, knuckle-busting hours of manual labor to save costs. Their home is amazingly light, bright, and airy. Sun tubes brighten rooms without windows, and the walls are covered with the rich, earthy tones of a product called American Clay. The neutral color scheme—reflected on their walls and tile floor—tie everything together and provide a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. As they gave us a tour of their home, we took notes and a few photos to remember the pointers and helpful advice they were generously sharing. “You can install your own plumbing in this county, but if someone else installs it for you, they have to be licensed by the state.” “We changed the tile color in this room because of the way the sun hits the floor in the winter; a darker tile means it absorbs more heat.” Speaking of heat, they installed a radiant floor heating system entirely powered by the sun. This solar heating system, also known as hydronic radiant floor heating, transfers heated water and glycol through a closed-loop system from solar panels to long loops of PEX tubing under the floor and then circulates it back up to the solar panels to be reheated. That’s the simplified version, but I’ll go into more detail in another post. The important thing is that their home is toasty warm (with floors that feel great on bare feet!) even in the midst of a blizzard. And there are no air ducts collecting dust, pollen, or spores to trigger allergies. Amazing! They don’t really need window coverings for privacy since their earth-bermed home is in a remote location, but they made their own custom insulated window coverings to hold in the heat on extra chilly days when the sun is in hiding. The window coverings are made with a product I can’t wait to get my hands on—Warm Window, a multilayered insulating fabric from The Warm Company. We asked them how their well water tastes since we’ll be drilling into the same aquifer, about 500 feet below the surface. That’s when things started to get disappointing. First, they gave us a glass of water from the sink. It was delicious. Then they took us out to where the well water comes directly into their home before it enters a filtration system, and they opened the spigot to get a glass of water. The yellow liquid fizzed when it hit the air. “Don’t drink it! Just smell it.” That was great advice but unnecessary since the rotten egg smell reached my nose before the glass was up to my lips. It smelled like sulfur. And I was shocked. At my childhood home, the well water was a beautiful thing. It tasted great. It was crystal clear. And it was completely safe to use. That wasn’t the case with this glass of yellow yuck that we were presented with. So we asked, “How do you fix putrid well water?” They use a whole-house filtration system that removes the extra iron and softens the water. What comes out of the tap is an entirely different beast than what comes out of the well. Their filtered drinking and household water is soft, sweet, and allows them to use less soap for washing (bonus for sustainable living!). How can you tell if your well water is bad? First, make sure that your groundwater is the problem. Check your water heater and any filtration systems you currently use. Do you have a water storage tank or cistern? Check those, too, for sources of bacteria, algae, mold, or other contaminants. Well water that has an off color, fizzes when it comes out of the tap, or smells like sulfur, rotten eggs, or sewage should not be used for drinking or bathing until you’ve had it tested. Other signs to look for are cloudy water; green, pink, or brown stains on faucets and in sinks; or a salty, metallic, or chemical taste. Our house in town continually had pinkish-brown rings that would form wherever the tap water sat—like that little ring of water that stays right around the sink drain. We had the city come out to check it, and they said it is a type of iron bacteria. They also said it was safe to drink, but I’m glad we filter all our drinking water through a Berkey! If your well water smells like rotten eggs, it may be caused by hydrogen sulfide gas (which can naturally occur from the breakdown of organic matter deep below the surface). You’ll want a whole-house system if hydrogen sulfide is present—no one wants to shower or wash their clothes in stinky water! Call a local well service company to get your well water tested. You can also contact your state’s water quality division at the Department of Public Health and Environment to ask if they can test your water. Oh, and remember this: don’t use chlorine bleach to clean the ring out of your sink if you have a septic system. You don’t want to kill off the helpful bacteria while you’re getting rid of the bad! How do you fix smelly well water? What kind of system do you need when your well water smells like rotten eggs or has an off color? There are quite a few options to choose from. I’ll go over just a few here to get you started. A simple point-of-use countertop system, like Berkey filtration systems (which I love and use daily!), can remove the junk from your water and make it safe to drink. But this only takes care of drinking water. What if your well water is so bad that you don’t even want to shower in it? A whole house water filtration system, or point-of-entry system (POE)—like this one by Express Water—works to make all the water in your home safe to drink, wash dishes, and shower with. POE systems can even help reduce scale buildup in your water heater. Express Water has an under-sink reverse osmosis system, too. Pro+Aqua Elite makes a 3-stage whole-house well water filter—and it removes dissolved solids and heavy metals (like the iron in our water). Bad well water can destroy a garden Although this couple has a lovely garden area to the south of their home, there weren’t any plants growing in it (and not just because we went in the winter). Hard water is alkaline, and their well water is so alkaline that they spent two years figuring out how to get acid-loving vegetables to grow before they learned the water was the problem. Now, they acidify their garden water with a dose of white vinegar (they have a large reclaimed water tank for this) and easily grow an assortment of herbs. We plan to use the vinegar trick if needed, but we’ll also be dosing our vegetable garden with healthy servings of compost tea to make sure our plants get the nutrients they need. If you want to try this to acidify your water, start with one cup of white vinegar per gallon of water. If that's too much, try a half-cup of vinegar instead and gradually increase as needed. Use pH strips to check the balance before your pour the water on your plants. Wrapping it all up Smelly or discolored well water is a warning sign you should heed, but it doesn’t mean your water is useless. With proper testing and filtration, you can remove the foul odor and contaminants and turn your bad well water into safe, clean water for drinking and household use. Want more off grid living tips? Check out our other topics, like gardening for stress relief or grocery shopping once a month!

This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. Thinking of moving off the grid and becoming more self-reliant? Living in a remote location and providing for yourself is different from living in town and having the ability to go to the store or out to eat when you need something or don’t want to cook. And there are many things on a homestead that can break or need repairs. Just how far you live from town can help determine how self-sufficient you need to be, but even if you’re only a few miles from a small town, you will still need some basic skills to get by when help isn’t immediately available. You might not be able to get a repair person to fix something in your home—like your well pump—for days. You’ll want to be able to harvest food and preserve it for the lean months. You need to know some basic survival skills—like how to start a fire—in case you have days with particularly bad weather. And learning some basic first aid skills is a definite must. Thankfully, most people who want to build an off grid life are avid learners and do-it-yourselfers, so learning new skills and honing old ones is more of an adventure than another chore on the to-do list. If you’re dreaming of living an off grid lifestyle but don’t know how to get started—or you’re waiting to find the perfect piece of property and want something to do in the meantime—you can always start by learning new skills or improving the skills you already have. This is the first article in a series to help you gain the essential skills you need to live off grid. We’ll go over the basic ideas here and delve into more details on each topic in future posts. What skills do you need to live off grid? You don’t need a degree or a certificate in off grid living to build a sustainable lifestyle. But you should have a few basic skills under your belt to see you through day-to-day chores and hard times alike. Here are a few essential off grid skills every homesteader should have. Basic repairs Stuff breaks, and when it does, someone has to fix it. Learning to spot problems early can save money in the long run. If you use solar energy for electricity, regularly inspect your solar panel and batteries, and keep them clean so you’ll spot any irregularities early on. Make sure the wires are intact and firmly attached, and check your inverter to make sure it’s working properly. If you live where it snows, you’ll need to clean snow off your solar panel array using a soft brush to maintain your system’s efficiency. Wind systems also need regular maintenance and cleaning. Check the concrete foundation under your wind turbine so you can catch small cracks and fill them before they grow into a problem that compromises the foundation’s integrity during the next freeze-thaw cycle. You should also check the bolts and blades on your small wind turbine. Tighten bolts that have started to work loose, and make sure the leading edge of the turbine’s blades are free from damage, like cracks and erosion. Your water source and pump will also need regular maintenance. You may be able to fix small issues yourself, like replacing a switch or repairing a pipe. But bigger issues with the submersible pump require a call to your local well company. A septic system needs to be professionally inspected every one to three years, depending on the recommendation from your septic installer and the type of septic system you own. Regular maintenance—like keeping trees and shrubs away from the drain field and using septic-friendly cleaning products—can lengthen the timespan between pumping the system. Rain catchment systems, including gutters and the rain barrel you use for water storage, must be kept free of leaves and debris. And although you might not have a sprinkler system to blow out before the first deep freeze of the year, you’ll need to drain your rain barrel and detach the garden hose to avoid splitting or busting the barrel, pipes, or hoses when the weather turns cold. You can learn to do minor household repairs, like fixing a leaky faucet, touching up paint, and cleaning sink drains. Find detailed information on basic repairs in books such as The Encyclopedia of Country Living and Beginner's Guide to DIY & Home Repair: Essential DIY Techniques for the First Timer or through searching online resources. Build a fire If you enjoy off grid living, then you probably also love the smell of a warm, crackling campfire. But when you live off the grid full time, fires are not just for camping trips. You depend on them to warm your home and cook your food, and a steady fire can be a lifesaver. Building a fire is an essential bushcraft skill, but it comes in handy at home, too. Learn how to build a fire without matches or a lighter, and you’ll immediately feel a renewed sense of security and self-sufficiency. Gardening One of the main reasons people begin homesteading is to grow and harvest food. I feel such a sense of accomplishment when I watch seedlings grow from seeds I saved from last year’s harvest—and filling my pantry shelves with jars of home-canned, homegrown goodness? No trip to the grocery store can match that feeling of self-sufficiency and preparedness. Grow heirloom, non-GMO and non-hybrid varieties for hardier plants with seeds you can save to grow again and again. Harvesting Whether you’re harvesting fruit from your orchard or wild, native trees and shrubs, learning to watch the seasons and harvest fruits in their prime is an essential skill. If you’re used to grabbing fruit from bins in the grocery store, you may think harvesting food from the wild is something you can do on demand. But that isn’t how nature works. Plants that grow in a natural environment in sync with the seasons can have fruit ripening over a span of time—and the date range can vary slightly from year to year depending on rainfall, hours of sunlight, and soil conditions. Spend time in nature watching plants grow and see how they change with the seasons. Soon, you’ll be telling the weather by the way leaves turn or by the activity of the birds in your area instead of tuning in to the local news. Food preservation Along with learning to grow and harvest food comes food preservation. Food preservation is an essential homesteading skill when you’re living off grid. Building a root cellar and learning to dehydrate and can foods will stretch your harvest into the lean months of winter. How reassuring is it to know that you have your very own healthy grocery store equivalent in your at-home food storage? Shelves lined with jars of fruits and vegetables in every color of the rainbow are a comforting sight to behold. Follow safe canning precautions when you learn to preserve food, and you’ll be able to feed your family all year long. I particularly love the Ball canning books, like the Ball Complete Book of Home Canning, as a reference for how long to water-bath can and pressure can specific recipes. Wildcrafting Wildcrafting is the art of using wild plants for medicine and food (although some refer to food harvesting strictly as foraging). If you live in an area with any kind of plant life, some of those plants can be made into herbal medicines or used as supplemental food sources. I recommend consulting with an herbal expert in your area and using several sources to verify which plants grow locally. You can sign up to go on an herb walk and read books such as Wild Edibles: A Practical Guide to Foraging, with Easy Identification of 60 Edible Plants and 67 Recipes and other edible and medicinal plant field guides to gain knowledge. Sewing and mending I’m not going to suggest that you have to start sewing all of your family’s clothing when you live off grid. But it is important to learn how to do some basic sewing and mending to save money and trips into town. Sewing a button on a shirt and mending the hem on a pair of pants requires minimal skills, and the only tools you need are a needle, thread, and scissors. Nicki Callahan has a wonderfully simple video on YouTube that shows hand-sewing techniques, such as sewing on a button. If you already know some basic hand sewing techniques but need ideas for upcycling used clothes, try Wear, Repair, Repurpose by Lily Fulop for fresh, new ideas. Cooking I’m always amazed when I realize that not everyone learns to cook when they’re growing up. My mom turned the holiday baking over to me by the time I was twelve years old, and when I was sixteen, I had to start cooking dinner one night per week. One of my daughters loves to cook anything and everything. Another one learned to love baking at an early age and is now the cupcake and brownie master of the family. But some of my other children had no interest in learning to cook while growing up. They’re learning these skills as adults, and that’s okay, too! Cooking is part of food preservation and another one of the essential homesteading skills. After all, you probably won’t be able to get pizza delivery to your remote off grid home. Learn to boil water, and you’ll be able to make pasta and soup. Learn to make basic bread (like tortillas and flatbread), and then expand your skills so you can maintain your very own sourdough starter and bake fresh rolls for the holidays. If you already have basic cooking skills but need some hacks to make life a little easier, click here to read my post on 15 Off Grid Cooking Hacks to Save Time and Fuel. Animal husbandry Animal husbandry is another piece of the sustainable living puzzle. Knowing how to raise chickens for eggs, a backyard cow for milk, and sheep for wool is a skill that most modern Americans lack today. Yet as our society turns more toward sustainable living and moves away from mass production, these skills are being relearned and recognized for the value they hold. One quick look and you’ll see how the bright, orange yolks of home-raised chickens are so vividly different from the pale yellow centers in eggs from chickens raised in confinement. And the only cooking oil that’s practical to raise at home is butter from the family cow. (You need a lot of equipment to make your own vegetable oils, but butter churning is a super-easy skill to master.) Another benefit of raising livestock? Organic fertilizer for your garden! Goats and rabbits produce dry pellets that you can put in the garden right away. Cow, horse, and chicken manure are considered “hot” and should be aged before application to avoid burning your plants with a high concentration of nutrients. First aid I think first aid is the skill that worries me the most. What do you do if there’s an accident, but the closest hospital is an hour away? I’m CPR certified and I’ve taken basic first aid certification classes, but the advanced wilderness survival first-aid course I planned to take was canceled (thanks to the pandemic). I need to add it back to my to-do list! If you’re not a doctor, nurse, or EMT, you could probably polish up your emergency first aid skills. Take a class from the Red Cross, buy a how-to book, and put together a first aid kit or two. (How about one for the house, one for the car, and one for the barn?) One more thing you should know … Whatever your current skill level is, there is always more to learn. If you yearn for a sustainable lifestyle and plan to move off the grid, begin gaining skills now. You’ll be so much better prepared when you finally start living your off grid life!

This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. I’m not a coffee drinker. In fact, I rarely even taste the stuff unless it’s coffee-flavored ice cream or coffee-flavored candy … or maybe a milkshake with a chocolatey mocha flair. But I have plenty of friends who rely heavily on their morning cup of joe. There’s even a sign hanging on the wall in our office building that reads, “This office runs on laughter, love, and strong coffee.” Coffee is one of those plants that will only grow in a particular climate and growing zone (zones 10–11). Not all of us are fortunate enough to live in tropical areas with plenty of moisture and just the right amount of warmth and daylight to grow every plant we desire. However, there are plants you can grow in just about every growing zone that make an absolutely delicious morning beverage to help you get out of bed and get your day started on the right foot (without those caffeine-heavy jitters)! The key to creating a successful coffee substitute is that you’re not looking to replicate the authentic flavor of coffee (everything will fail to some degree if you’re expecting an exact duplicate). Instead, aim to create a flavorful brew that satisfies the craving for an earthy, roasted flavor and early-morning energy boost. You can create a pleasing, aromatic brew by combining flavors from two or three different roasted ingredients. The flavor profiles of each component will determine your signature blend’s overall taste. Add creamer and sweetener to your liking, and voila!—say goodbye to unhealthy caffeine and good morning to your new favorite functional beverage! If you’re looking for a coffee substitute that you can grow on your homestead (or stockpile for when the SHTF), check out my herbal coffee suggestions below and create your own delicious designer blend. Pro tip: All of the following ingredients should be dried and roasted before brewing. See the instructions in the dandelion section for starters, and repeat the process for whichever ingredient you choose to grow, harvest, and brew. Dandelion root (growing zones 3–10) Dandelions are one of those pesky weeds that everyone tries to eradicate from their yard. But did you know that every part of the dandelion plant is edible, and roasted dandelion root makes a delightfully refreshing coffee substitute? You will need to dry the roots in a dehydrator or let them air dry in the sun, then chop or break them into crumbs and roast them in a hot skillet over low heat until they turn a rich brown color. Alternatively, you can roast the roots in a 350F oven until they darken. Stir every 10–15 minutes to make sure they roast evenly—and to keep an eye on the color so they don’t burn. Once the dandelion root is roasted, run it through a spice grinder or coffee grinder in small batches to make a fine to medium grind with more surface area to release the flavor. Approximately one teaspoon of dandelion root to one cup of water makes a delightfully earthy brew. Add the dandelion root to boiling water and keep over low heat for about 5–10 minutes. You don’t want it to boil, but it should stay very hot while it steeps. After brewing, strain the solids out by pouring through a coffee filter. Add your favorite sweetener and creamer, and enjoy! (You can also serve this iced if you like iced coffee beverages.) Chicory root (growing zones 3–10) The chicory plant has beautiful blue flowers, but you’ll use the root to make your chicory root coffee substitute. Chicory root is loaded with inulin, a healthy prebiotic fiber that can help keep things running smoothly in your digestive system. Chicory root has the added benefit of eye appeal, mimicking traditional coffee's rich, dark color and lending itself to various creamy caramel shades of lattes and mocha blends. Sweet potato (growing zones 7–8) This sweet tuber shows up in casseroles loaded with marshmallows at Thanksgiving and as a healthy baked side dish all year long. But sweet potatoes can also be part of a deliciously smooth brew you can enjoy in the morning or as an evening wind-down drink. Combine dehydrated, roasted sweet potatoes with chicory or wheat for a dark brew that more closely resembles the rich color of regular coffee. Or combine it with dried turmeric root and ginger for a nutrient-boosted variation of golden milk. Wheat berries (growing zones 7–10) Wheat berries are the whole grain of wheat, minus the inedible husk. The same wheat berries that we grind into whole wheat flour can be dry roasted and ground into a nutty-tasting beverage. Dry roast the wheat berries in a skillet over low heat, stirring frequently, until medium to dark brown (like the light to medium roast color of a coffee bean). Allow them to cool, then grind and add to boiling water. Use about one tablespoon of ground wheat berries to one cup of boiling water per serving. Burdock root (growing zones 2–10) Another common weed, burdock grows in disturbed soil throughout much of North America (it is native to Northern Asia and Europe). Sticky burrs from the burdock plant cling to socks and animal fur alike—one drawback to growing this nutritious vegetable—so if you choose to plant some in your garden, keep it somewhat contained to prevent it from taking over and causing more trouble than it’s worth. Burdock roots are long with a thin brown skin that can be easily removed with a vegetable peeler or the back edge of a spoon. The white root quickly begins to turn brown once it is exposed to the air, but this discoloration does no harm and won’t be noticable after it’s dried and roasted. Acorns (growing zones 3–8) Acorns are used as a food source by both humans and animals and star in Native American recipes such as acorn stew. To process acorns into a beverage, you’ll need to add in an extra step beyond what I described above. Before drying and roasting the shelled acorns, first boil them for about 20 minutes (or until the water looks like tea) to leach out some of the bitter-tasting tannins. Start a second pot of water boiling before the first 20 minutes is up, and transfer the boiled acorns into the second pot after the first pot’s water has colored. Boil the acorns in the second pot until the water (again) turns color, then switch back to another pot of clean, boiling water. Repeat this process a third or fourth time if necessary—you’ll know they’re ready when the water remains relatively colorless. Strain and dry your boiled acorns, then dry roast and grind them the same way as the dandelion roots. (The oven method is easier than the skillet method since acorns are larger than chopped dandelion.) Rye, barley, and other grains (growing zone varies with grain type) Grains such as rye and barley can be roasted and ground like wheat to make a coffee substitute. Just follow the skillet roasting method, and grind them when darkly colored and completely cooled and dry. Sunchoke (growing zones 2–12) Sunchokes are a member of the sunflower family and have chunky edible roots that look similar to ginger but have a mellow flavor (similar to a potato). Sunchokes are simple to grow and will easily take over a garden if left unchecked. If you already enjoy sunchokes roasted, boiled, or pickled, why not try dehydrating and dry roasting them to create one more coffee substitute variation? Thinly slice or grate your sunchoke tubers before dehydrating them, then chop finely and stir continually while dry roasting in a skillet to avoid burning the small pieces. Carob (growing zones 9–11) I used to have a carob tree growing in my front yard when I lived in the desert, in USDA growing zone 9. Unfortunately, my tree was a male, so I was never able to harvest carob seed pods to use in cooking. But the tree grew well in the heat with just the right amount of weekly watering, and I would encourage anyone who lives in zones 9–11 to add a pair or more to your edible landscape. I love the flavor of carob, but since I can’t grow it in my current climate, I purchase carob powder (like this Chatfield’s brand) and add it to my herbal coffee blends. Carob is naturally sweet, low-fat, and contains calcium. It makes a wonderful hot chocolate substitute when added to milk, too! Figs (growing zones 8–10) Figs are delicious fresh or dried, and they offer yet another option for a caffeine-free coffee substitute. Although most fig varieties flourish in zones 8–10, there are a few cold-hardy varieties that grow well in zones 6 and 7. Simply dehydrate and chop your figs (black mission figs work best) before roasting them. You’ll need to make sure they’re super dry before you start, or the sugars may burn in the skillet even with constant monitoring. Coffee alternatives you can buy Would you like to taste test some of these herbal coffee alternatives beefore you devote an entire growing season to producing the plants? Here are some of my favorites you can purchase and try at home: Dandy Blend is a combination of barley, rye, chicory roots, beet roots, and dandelion roots. It dissolves instantly in water (like instant coffee) and is a great way to explore the pleasures of root- and grain-based coffee substitutes. Mushroom coffee isn’t exactly a coffee substitute; it combines the health benefits of dried mushrooms with the flavor and caffeine-boost from ethically harvested coffee beans in one deliciously nutritious functional beverage. Coffig is an herbal coffee substitute made entirely from dried and roasted figs. Orzo is an Italian roasted barley beverage that tastes great when added to hot milk. Cafix is another healthy coffee alternative made from roasted barley, chicory, barley malt, figs, and sugar beets. Pouring it all together Although no coffee alternative tastes exactly like traditional coffee on its own, you can replicate the deeply roasted, slightly bitter flavor of coffee by combining flavor profiles and adding your choice of sweetener and creamer to create your own healthy brew. By using plants you grow in your garden (such as wheat or chicory) or harvest in the wild (like dandelion or acorns), you can create a flavorful and sustainable morning beverage routine to boost your health and vitality.

This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. I love walking into a room filled with the fragrance of a scented candle. There's something about the way warm scents rise on the air and welcome you home. Candles are soothing, and their fragrances can calm us down or lift our spirits. But why are candles relaxing? Can you really use scented candles for stress relief? Let's examine some of the reasons why candles are good for stress relief—and justify your desire to bring more candles home. I mean, we all like to make excuses for our splurges! Gentle, diffused light The soft glow from a candle creates a soothing atmosphere that helps us calm down and create a quiet space. This gentle, diffused light is similar to early morning or late evening hours when the sun sits below the horizon, and our eyes are protected from the harsh brightness of midday (or fluorescent office lights). Focused attention Candles help us with meditation by giving us something to focus on. The mesmerizing dance of the flame helps us bring our thoughts back to the present moment. Candles can help with meditation, yoga, and tai chi or add to the ambiance when we take a luxury bubble bath, sit quietly sipping tea, or when reading a favorite book. If you'd like to try a candle gazing meditation for stress relief, just follow these simple steps: Light a candle, and dim all other lights in the room. Place the candle where it will be at eye level a few feet in front of you when you are comfortably seated on the floor or in a chair. Rest your hands in your lap, and take three deep, slow breaths with the out-breath lasting slightly longer than the in-breath. Then return to normal breathing. Let your eyelids relax, but try to keep your eyes open, gazing at the candle's flame. Let the image of the flame be your focus. Imagine that you are breathing the light in and out with each breath. If you feel the urge to close your eyes, allow them to softly close and visualize the image of the flame in your mind as you continue to breathe the light in and out. Continue this practice as long as you feel comfortable. Aromatherapy candles You've heard the hype about essential oils, but how does aromatherapy work? Aromatherapy stimulates our scent receptors. These receptors send messages to our nervous system and limbic system (which controls emotions). Different essential oils produce a variety of responses, including relaxation, improved sleep, and happier moods. Kevill and Green, in their book Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art (Crossing Press, 2009), provide evidence that scented candles and aromatherapy oils can improve well-being. To benefit from aromatherapy, choose candles made with pure essential oils (not artificial fragrances), and select scents known for their relaxing qualities. Not sure which essential oil fragrance to choose for your aromatherapy candle? These are some of my go-to scents for stress relief: Lavender Lavender is one of the most popular essential oils and aromatherapy fragrances. Believed to promote relaxation and encourage restful sleep (so long, insomnia!), lavender is a favorite for pillow sachets and nighttime diffusing. Add a lavender candle to your collection for those sweet dreams moments. I really like this Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day lavender-scented soy candle! Clary sage Clary sage might be related to culinary sage, but its sweet, herbaceous fragrance reminds me of an early morning herb walk. Clary sage is believed to help us release tension and inspire inner balance. Sweet Orange Sweet orange must be one of my favorite year-round fragrances. Combined with lemon in the spring or cinnamon in the fall and winter months, sweet orange brings its clean, citrus scent into my home no matter the season. Sweet orange has been shown to reduce anxiety and lessen feelings of depression. Peppermint Peppermint essential oil adds a bright note to any aromatherapy experience. Especially popular around the holidays (candy cane scented candles, anyone?), peppermint has been shown to improve mental function and reduce stress. Vanilla Vanilla is my favorite flavor, and I love the sugar cookie fragrance that fills my home when I burn a vanilla candle. This warm, comforting smell brings me back to carefree childhood days and freshly baked treats. Vanilla pairs well with many other fragrances, too. Try combining it with almond—or sweet orange for a Creamsicle-inspired scent. Frankincense Frankincense has a sweet, woody fragrance that calms the mind and decreases feelings of stress and anxiety. If you're making your own soy candles (beeswax works, too!), combine frankincense with myrrh and sandalwood so you can de-stress after all those holiday parties. Ylang ylang Ylang ylang's bright floral fragrance is believed to soothe away stress, tension, and sadness. It combines well with jasmine or eucalyptus. Use ylang ylang scented candles during your meditation and envision yourself walking through a field of flowers on a warm, sunny day. Artificial fragrances What if your favorite fragrance isn't an essential oil? Familiar fragrances, whether natural or artificial, evoke memories and emotions. If you've ever wondered if scented candles help with mental health, there is some evidence to show that the positive associations we make with certain smells can help restore feelings of calmness and relieve stress. If the scent of clean linen (like this Yankee Candle) reminds you of grandma's house, or apple cinnamon brings back memories of a special holiday, I say go for it! Although artificial fragrances are not the same as aromatherapy, use the fragrances you love, and you will still benefit from the relaxing quality of scented candles. Should I choose soy candles or beeswax candles? Soy candles and beeswax candles are dominating the scented candle market, and for a good reason. Traditional paraffin wax candles (paraffin is a petroleum byproduct) release toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. These toxins are known to be carcinogenic and can cause issues with asthma and allergies. Some soy candles have paraffin added to make the wax harder and longer-lasting. But you can also find candles made from a blend of pure soy wax and beeswax. Soy candles and beeswax candles release fewer toxins into the air (without the soot!) and are considered by many to be a healthier alternative. What about the candle wick? If the crackling sound of a fire soothes your soul, look for candles with a wooden wick (a cotton wick is silent). Wooden wicks make a natural crackling sound that provides gentle background noise for your meditation or book snuggling. What else should I know? The US does not require manufacturers to list all ingredients in scented products, so if you have an adverse reaction, it might be to something that isn't listed on the label. Use plant-based ingredients that are not tested on animals when making candles, and stick to natural essential oils for your fragrance combinations. To sum it up … If you're still asking yourself if candles can really be used for stress relief, the answer is yes. By choosing a fragrance that evokes feelings of calmness and relaxation and selecting candles made with natural ingredients, you can add beauty and pleasing scents to your home, bath, or meditation practice. How do you use aromatherapy in your daily life? Share your ideas with us, and we'll add them to an article or share them on social media!

This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. Living a sustainable off grid lifestyle means being disconnected from public utility systems. So how do you take care of your family’s needs while still enjoying modern conveniences, like running water and warm baths? When you start planning a water supply system for your home and family, make sure you check local regulations, permit requirements, and restrictions on water use. Most states require homeowners to obtain a permit before constructing a new well or refurbishing an old one. And in many places, only licensed contractors are allowed to drill wells. But water wells aren’t the only option for your renewable water supply. Let’s discuss off grid water system alternatives to public water utilities, their pros and cons, and how you can incorporate them into your off grid life. Water Water is a necessity of life, and taking care of your water source is an essential off grid skill. Living in a remote location may mean going without a public water source, but you’ll still need water to survive. So will your plants and animals. Unless you have a live water source on your land—along with the rights to use it or redirect it—you’ll have to find a way to provide water to your home. Another factor you’ll need to consider is the layout of your land. Will your water storage tank be placed on higher ground than your home, allowing gravity to assist with the water flow? Or will your storage tank be downhill and require a booster pump to increase the pressure and flow? Do you want a water filtration system, like reverse osmosis, a bio-filter, or a UV purification system? These things will also add to the cost of your off grid water system. Hauling water For the first few years that we lived in my childhood home, my parents hauled water. My dad had a big, round, metal (steel?) tank welded to a trailer. He would pull it behind his Chevy pickup to the private water supply company a few miles down the road. I’d climb up on top of the tank while the water ran into it from a giant hose, listening to the sounds change as the water rose higher and the sides of the tank cooled off against my legs. When the tank was almost full, I’d yell to him so he would quit chatting with the other guys who had come to fill up their tanks, and he could shut off our spigot before the tank overflowed. We’d drive home, attach a hose to the tank, drain all the water into our underground cistern, and then repeat the process a couple more times in the same day. Our cistern was large, so we only needed to haul water once a month during the off months—and twice a month during the growing season. My dad installed a pump going from the cistern to the house, so we always had water from the tap whenever we needed it. So what are the pros and cons of hauling water? Well, for one thing, you’re still dependent on a public or private utility company to provide you with potable water to haul. If they have a problem with their system, you’ll have to find another company within a reasonable distance or find an alternative water source. Aside from that, let’s look at some other advantages and disadvantages. Pros You always know how much water you have available in your cistern. You can choose which days you want to haul water and budget what you have stored as needed. Hauling water is typically less expensive than drilling a well. As long as you already have a truck, you’ll just need to purchase a cistern and a trailer with a tank. If you don’t have a truck, you may need to spend more to buy one than the cost of a well. Cons You can only store as much water as your cistern and hauling tank can hold. You have to spend gas money every time you make a water run. You’ll still have a monthly water bill; you’ll be paying it to the company where you fill your tank. Hauling water to a remote location can be time-consuming and difficult in adverse weather conditions. Well water In some states, you have to own a certain number of acres to get a well permit, or you may be restricted to a certain type of well permit depending on how much land you own. After a couple of years of hauling water, my parents were able to save up enough money to dig a well. The well drilling company had to dig down around 700 feet before they found water, but that was the best tasting water I had ever had! Installing a well can be expensive, and several factors determine the cost. How deep it needs to be (which will also determine whether you need a submersible pump or a jet pump) What kind of water pump you choose (A/C or D/C, solar or generator-powered, or even a hand pump) What size of pressure tank you need Whether you need to pump into a cistern or storage tank and from there into your home, etc. Pros You can rely on your own source of water year-round. You can avoid chemical additives such as chlorine and fluoride. You won’t have a monthly water bill. Cons If you live in an area that freezes during the winter, you’ll need to protect the well pump by insulating it and the pipes. The cost can be prohibitive. You need to maintain the system, check the health of the water, and call the well company to inspect the well if any issues arise. Rainfall catchment systems In areas with adequate rainfall and where catchment systems are allowed, harvesting rainwater is a viable option for supplementing household water needs. The goal of rainwater catchment is to harvest the water and use it for a specific purpose in the home or garden instead of letting it run off onto barren ground. A rainwater harvesting system typically includes gutters (or some way to direct water from a roof), a tank (like this recycled rain barrel), a water purification system, and a pump. Pros Rainwater is free. Rainwater catchment systems are usually low maintenance. If you aren’t using the water for drinking, you don’t need a sophisticated purification system. Renewable resource that reduces stress on groundwater systems. Reduces soil erosion around your home by capturing the water and redirecting it. If your rain barrels are placed on a raised platform, gravity should provide enough water pressure for your gardening needs. Cons Areas with low rainfall may have restrictions on capturing rainwater. Weather is unpredictable; some years may not provide enough rain to meet your demands. Rainfall catchment systems can be costly to set up (but usually costs much less than drilling a well). Some states limit the size or number of rain barrels per home. Contamination from roofing materials: some roofs release chemicals into the water that runs off of them. If possible, plan ahead and install a metal roof instead of asphalt shingles. Make sure to direct the rainwater away from your septic tank and drain field; you don’t want to oversaturate the soil. Hydropanels Hydropanels collect condensed, clean water from the atmosphere and store it in small tanks connected to a home’s plumbing or a designated dispenser. Current systems, like SOURCE Global (previously Zero Mass Water), claim to collect up to 7.5 liters of water per day even in low humidity conditions. Pros Humidity in the air is a renewable resource. Hydropanels do not rely on rainfall or groundwater. The collected water is filtered and remineralized to provide pure, clean-tasting water. You can install multiple panels to increase the amount of water collected. Cons Small water storage: A relatively small amount of water is collected; one two-panel system provides drinking water but not enough water for household needs such as bathing, showering, or laundry. High cost initially. Air filters and cartridges require regular maintenance (yearly for some parts, every five years for others). Some users complain about the noise level generated by their hydropanel system. The panels hibernate in freezing conditions. Conclusion Off grid living has many benefits—having a reliable and renewable water source is one of them. Do your research, plan your budget, and choose the system that is best for you. Since off grid water systems provide a host of options, you can have more than one water source. Plan two or three, so you always have a backup (like a well and a rainwater catchment system, for example). It's what self-reliance is all about. Want more off grid lifestyle tips? How about supporting your favorite off gridder or homesteader by giving them a unique gift!

This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. “When we have the freedom to shape our surroundings, we experience a heightened sense of personal control, which reduces stress and improves our confidence.” ~ Ron Friedman, PhD, The Best Place to Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace, Perigree Publishing, 2014. Does creativity reduce stress? Can art help you relax? Whether you are a practiced artist or just starting with your first attempt at crafting, the simple answer is yes!—art and creativity reduce stress hormones and help you relax. Although art therapy is a specific field in which a licensed therapist guides clients through art exploration as a way to reduce stress, develop coping skills, and gain personal insight, everyone can benefit from creating arts and crafts at home. Benefits of creating art Creating something beautiful or useful engages both your brain and your hands. You think about each step, and the movement of your hands across the media brings you into the present moment. The ability to focus mindfully on the present boosts our mental health by putting worries on the back burner. Creative expression helps us release emotions. Engaging in a creative activity encourages us to think of new ideas—or new uses for old materials (upcycling used objects or finding new ways to make crayon rubbings or mud pies!). Viewing art can help improve your mood and lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone), too. If you come home from work feeling bogged down with work stress, try spending some time at an art museum or visiting an art walk on the weekend. You might just feel your spirits lift and come home with new, creative ideas. Art is beneficial for children, too. When my children were little, we made DIY wrapping paper using finger paint and giant sheets of Kraft paper. Making prints with their little hands and feet encouraged creative thinking and gave them a healthy creative outlet. As a bonus, I had some adorable wrapping paper to use for the holidays! By encouraging children to participate in art and craft activities, they learn how to reduce anxiety and gain focus (which can help when they study). 7 tips for using art to reduce stress Whether you’re looking for a new creative hobby or just want to benefit from creativity, here are seven ways you can use your creativity as a tool to reduce stress and practice a little self-care. Be present. When you engross yourself in the art of creation, your mind becomes so involved with the task at hand that you get into a zone and temporarily stop worrying about the past or future. Creating art is an excellent mindfulness activity. Start a dream journal. Writing down your dreams reveals patterns. These patterns can help you understand how your mind is reacting to daily stressors while you sleep. Decorate your journal, inside and out. Use your favorite markers or colored pencils, and sketch your dreamscapes as well as writing down important details. Color an intricate design. Adult coloring books come in various styles and themes, including mandalas, animals, and floral patterns. You can also print free coloring pages from sites online. Create a gratitude journal. Writing down the things that you’re grateful for helps you look at the positive side of life. If you want to expand this activity, you can make handmade thank-you cards to give to the people in your life you are grateful for. Find an emotional release. Drawing, coloring, and painting can help you express your emotions in a healthy way. Use colors and strokes that exemplify how you feel. You don’t have to share it with anyone to gain personal benefits. Make a sculpture. If you’d like a more tactile form of art, molding and sculpting clay might be just the thing you’re looking for. You can make homemade play dough or buy air-dry clay if you don’t have access to a kiln. Put together a collage. Gather images that represent your hopes and dreams. What would you like to accomplish in the future? Combine the pictures on a poster board, and imagine yourself experiencing success now. Bonus tip: Doodle! Stressed out during a meeting? Doodle in the margins of your notebook. Doodling can help you maintain focus by giving you an outlet for fidgety fingers whether you’re on a conference call or listening to a recorded webinar. If you’re looking for a little positive emotion mojo, grab some supplies and start creating. Have a favorite art, craft, or DIY project? There’s no better time to start than now!

This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. Bath bomb fans have known for a while how relaxing it is to soak in the glorious scent of essential oils. But what if you prefer showers to baths? Shower steamers (also known as shower bombs or shower melts) are a great way to enjoy the stress-relieving benefits of aromatherapy and essential oils without having to fill up the tub. Since shower bombs are designed to have high amounts of essential oils for aromatherapy benefits, don’t use them in the bath. Bath bombs are not as concentrated; shower bombs are too strong to soak in. If a stress-relieving shower is just what you need, and you have a little creative energy to expend, try your hand at making a homemade shower steamer. You can cut the recipe in half or double it if you want to make a bigger batch. Things to keep in mind If you find that your shower steamer fizzes away too quickly, you can make it last longer by moving it further from the water source. Place your shower tablet at the opposite end of the shower floor (out of range of the spray) to extend its life. You can make shower steamer tablets with or without citric acid—just be aware that the citric acid and baking soda combo is what gives them their fizz. If you leave out the citric acid, replace it with an equal amount of baking soda or Epsom salt. There are several liquids you can choose from when making your DIY aromatherapy shower steamers: water, witch hazel, and isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Water and witch hazel create an instant fizzing action when added—so you’ll need to be careful and either use a spray bottle or add the liquid a tiny bit at a time. Rubbing alcohol will also get the fizz going, but since it evaporates quickly, you won’t lose as much fizz if this is your liquid of choice. Using a spray bottle is still a good idea, though. Some people like to add Epsom salt to their shower steamers for a soothing effect on tired feet. I’ll include options below for you to try out both methods: with citric acid or substituted with baking soda or Epsom salt. One of the best things about making your own shower steamers is the ability to customize your fragrances. I prefer to use essential oils (not artificial fragrances) and choose them according to the desired effect. Essential oils can vary in strength depending on the brand, how the essential oil was collected, and how long it has been stored. You can adjust the recommended amount of essential oil by adding a few more (or less) drops if needed. Here are some essential oil blend ideas to get you started with your at-home spa experience. (Numbers in parenthesis are the number of drops of each oil to use. You can adjust the drops to your sensitivity level.) Relaxing Lavender and sweet orange (100:50) Chamomile (80) Rose (rose absolute), ylang-ylang, and vetiver (100:60:40) Stress-relieving Clary sage (100) Bergamot and lime (80:50) Energizing Peppermint* and pine (50:30) Lemon and sweet orange (100:50) *Peppermint essential oil gives a cooling effect, but too much can cause a burning or tingling sensation. If you’re sensitive to peppermint, try using the citrus essential oil blend as your energizer instead. Sinus soothing Eucalyptus and spearmint (80:50) If you’re not an essential oil fan, you can use soap fragrance oil instead. You may need to adjust the number of drops you add according to the strength of the fragrance and the manufacturer’s recommendation. You want to be able to inhale the shower steam without it causing any side effects (like sneezing, coughing, or an unpleasant sensation in your lungs or on your feet). Ready to make your DIY shower steamer? Let’s get started! DIY shower steamer recipe and tips for success Tip #1: If your shower steamer is expanding in the mold, you have added too much water or witch hazel. Just spritz on enough to make a barely wet, sand-like consistency, or the fizz will fizzle before it makes it out of the mold and into your shower! Tip #2: What if my shower steamers are too dry? If your shower steamers crumble when you remove them from the mold, it just means they need a little more liquid added. Go ahead and crumble them back into the mixing bowl, spritz with a little more water, witch hazel, or rubbing alcohol, and press the mixture back into the mold. Tip #3: Wear gloves to protect your nail polish and hands. Citric acid can remove nail polish and irritate sensitive skin. Tools you will need Silicone mold with 1–2 ounce-size shapes Mixing bowl (I prefer glass since it won’t interact with the oils.) Mixing spoon or wire whisk (Avoid wooden spoons since they will absorb the essential oil.) Nitrile gloves (Protect your hands.) Spray bottle Ingredients for stress-relieving, sinus-soothing shower steamers 1 cup baking soda ½ cup citric acid (You can substitute Epsom salt or baking soda if you don’t want to use citric acid, but the shower bombs won’t fizz.) ½ cup cornstarch or arrowroot powder ⅛ cup kaolin or bentonite clay 80 drops eucalyptus essential oil** 50 drops spearmint essential oil** **(Or your chosen essential oil blend) Water or witch hazel or rubbing alcohol Combine all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Gently whisk them until they are evenly distributed. Add the essential oils by sprinkling the drops randomly over the surface of the dry ingredients. The oils won’t initiate the fizzing action, so don’t worry about stirring between different oils. After the essential oils are added, use the whisk to blend them with the dry ingredients. Using a spray bottle (or very small spoonfuls), add your chosen liquid to the dry ingredients a little at a time. Mix well in between spritzes. At this point, you may want to use your hands to knead the mixture to give you a better idea of how the consistency is coming along. You want to add just enough liquid to dampen the dry ingredients so they will stick together like wet sand. Be aware that humidity in the air can affect how much liquid you will need. If you make this recipe on a dry day, it may require slightly more liquid than if you make it on a humid or muggy day. Using a mixing spoon or your hands, scoop the damp mixture into the silicone mold. Press firmly, and make sure the edges are smooth and not too thin. Allow the shower melts to dry for several hours or overnight before unmolding. Stress-relieving shower gift ideas It seems like there’s always a birthday, holiday, or another gift-giving occasion right around the corner. Homemade shower melts are an easy make-ahead gift idea. Whip up a few batches, and tuck them away for last-minute gift ideas. Create a DIY spa gift basket. Include shower steamers, bath melts, sugar scrub, and a relaxing massage oil. Individually wrap shower bombs in clear cellophane and tie with raffia or ribbon. Give several different scents, artfully arranged in a gift box, to a tired or overworked friend for a fun pick-me-up. Stack shower melts in a mason jar and top with a pretty painted lid in a coordinating color (pink for rose-scented, mint green for minty shower melts, etc.). Create a themed gift basket. For sleep, include a lavender shower steamer, lavender tea bags, and a lavender essential oil pillow sachet. If the recipient loves roses, use a rose absolute shower steamer, rose bath melts, and a pretty potpourri made with rose petals from your garden, and other rose-scented ingredients.