Re-purposing Ideas for the Homestead

Whether you have a hobby-homestead, are a frugal momma, or just spent a lot of time with the 'Greatest Generation,' re-purposing is a simple fact of life.  Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!  These five ideas will help you to save money, do a little recycling, and even bring a personal flair to your home!

	Bottle Cap Steps Coke, beer, kombucha, and more...they all come in bottles with handy little metal tops that can be re-made into many things!  My grandma used to make trivets, but we're making steps for the garden.  Using a plastic ice cream tub lid and some plaster of paris, create a unique design with your bottle caps to bring more color to your space! Need some lids?  Buy them in bulk here.
	'Smalls' Organizer Using a plank of wood, old peanut butter (or quart ice cream) jars, and some gorilla glue, you can make a shelf that doubles as an organizer below.  Glue the lids to the shelf (it's gorilla glue; they'll stay) and put washers, screws, and other small things into them.  Screw the container to the lid for storage. Gorilla glue is super strong!
	Zip-Tie Hose Planter Ran over the garden hose with the lawnmower?  Don't toss it!  Wrap it up, tie it with zip ties, and use it for a planter.  With the advent of our teenage sons doing the mowing, we have a few of these planters!  When duct tape no longer works for a patch, upcycle the holey-hose into something new and unique! Zip ties can be used for so many projects that we often buy them in bulk...
	Urine Fertilizer Pee-cycling.  It's a thing.  When you add urine - human or animal - to plants, they tend to grow much healthier!  Urine is a natural fertilizer (N-P-K...11-1-2.5).  Just be sure to dilute it 1:8 with water!  Some people are squeamish about collecting urine, and might try a special collector....or just peeing outside!
	Scrap Garden Apron Using some scrap heavy-duty cloth, I created this apron a few years ago.  It's not HAUTE COTRE, but it is durable and holds a lot of produce!  Using two large pieces, sew the apron base and create a pocket.  Using doubled-over heavy-duty cloth, create thick apron ties.  Triple or quadruple stitch both the pocket and the ties onto the apron.  I get get about fifteen pounds of produce in the pocket of this easily....the cloth was just project leftovers...and it makes harvesting the garden a little bit simpler!
	Solar-Powered Clothes Dryer There's a beautiful, fresh scent that comes from sun-dried clothes and sheets.  Spritz them with your favorite essential oils if you need a dryer-sheet scent.  A classic line works, if you have two anchors to string it on, but we like the vintage feel of this rotating umbrella line, which can be put just about anywhere! This one doesn't really re-purpose anything, but is always a great money-saving and earth-friendly idea!

City of the Plague God + Mesopotamian Mythology

Between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in the area of modern-day Iraq, the Babylonian, Assyrian, Akkadian, and Sumerian civilizations all together formed ancient Mesopotamia.  Their mythologies differ a little bit, but mostly share the same stories.

This is an area of the first known human civilizations, dating to nearly 5,000 BC.  It is where three of the major world religions - Christianity, Islam, and Judaism - began.

The story of human creation begins with people coming from the mother goddess Mami.  They were created to lighten the gods' workload, and were made of clay, flesh, and the blood of a slain god.  Much later, the god Enlil tries to control their population through famine, flood, and drought.  They are saved, though, by Atrahasis, who built a boat to escape the great flood.  This is similar to the Christian story of Noah and his ark.

Another story that is similar to one in Christianity is the story of Adapa.  He was a very intelligent Sumerian who made the south wind mad.  When called forth to be judged for his actions, he was tricked by An, who offered him the food of immortality.  He had been warned not to eat or drink anything before his judgment, and so he turned down the offer.  Because of this, he never became immortal and all men had to stay mortal.  It is the explanation for man's mortality.

The original book for this post was The Golden Bull.  When City of the Plague God was released as part of the Rick Riordan presents series, it was updated.  Both books make a good base for the study of Mesopotamian mythology.  If you are very interested in this subject, you may want to explore our high school curriculum Empires of the Ancient Near East.

Access the complete unit study in the World Mythology Unit Studies Bundle!

Includes sixteen unit studies covering world mythologies. Each unit addresses a new topic, spanning ancient through modern history.

• Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.
• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.

Product sample:  Percy Jackson & Greek Mythology

These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle + Novel Study

This unit comes with a fantastic workbook, too!  Our spine novel for is:

• True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
• Thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is excited to return home from her school in England to her family in Rhode Island in the summer of 1832.  But when the two families she was supposed to travel with mysteriously cancel their trips, Charlotte finds herself the lone passenger on a long sea voyage with a cruel captain and a mutinous crew. Worse yet, soon after stepping aboard the ship, she becomes enmeshed in a conflict between them! What begins as an eagerly anticipated ocean crossing turns into a harrowing journey, where Charlotte gains a villainous enemy... and is put on trial for murder!

Access the complete unit study in the World History Novel Studies Bundle!

Includes seven unit studies (plus a bonus!) covering World History. Each unit addresses a new topic, spanning from Pompeii to World War 2.  Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.

• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.

Product samples:   The Night Witches & Women in Aviation   &   The Lookout Tree & the Great Acadian Upheaval

These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

Home-Grown Herb Preservation

We grow tons of fresh herbs in summer, but sometimes we find that we've ended up with far more than we can use!  Bartering for eggs or milk is our first choice, but when that's no longer an option, we aim for preserving the fresh herbs for later.

Storing Fresh Herbs

• Rinse the dirt and and debris from the herbs after cutting
• Wrap stems in a moist paper towel and put into a plastic bag with small holes in it
• Keep in the refrigerator for no longer than a week

Four Preservation Methods

• Freezing 
• Y'all know we love our freezer to bits (check out our freezer cooking recipes, if you're new here)...and did you know that you can freeze herbs, too?  Leafy herbs (think : basil, parsley, cilantro) are the best ones to freeze.  After washing, chop them up and pack them into an ice tray.  Cover each "cube" with broth or olive oil.  Once frozen, you can pop them out and store them all in a bag.  They'll keep for up to three months.
• Oven Drying
• This is the fastest drying method that we have tried (see below), and is perfect for humid environments.  After washing, spread herbs on a pan lined with parchment paper.  Put into an oven at 150° F with the door slightly ajar.  Check frequently and take them out when they get crunchy and crumbly - takes 1-4 hours.  Store in an airtight jar for up to a year.
• Microwave Drying
• So...this is supposed to be an even fresher option than oven drying, and we've heard good things about it, but have never actually tried this method.  Here is a great tutorial from Serious Eats about drying herbs in the microwave : Microwave Drying
• Air Drying
• After washing, dry thoroughly (prevents mildewing) and tie the stems together.  Hang upside-down in a warm, dry, well-ventilated place out of the sunlight.  If dust or sunlight is a concern, cover with brown paper sack.  Make sure air is circulating - takes 1-4 weeks to dry.  Store in an airtight jar for up to a year.

Learn more about herbs in Simple Kitchen Fixes.

Pick up the Homemaking & Homesteading Bundle in our Cottage Shoppe!  

The bundle includes twenty-four tutorials with background information for anyone who is interested in homemaking and homesteading. Topics are broken down into:

• In the Kitchen – Fall & Winter
• In the Kitchen – Spring & Summer
• Around the Homestead – Inside
• Around the Homestead – Outside

For more great homesteading fun, check out the Homesteading Course at SchoolhouseTeachers!

This homeschool homesteading course is designed for anyone who has a desire to live more independently and prepare much of what is needed each day using their own hands. In this elective course, the student can learn how to work for what they want by making it themselves, instead of participating in an “on demand” society. Homeschool students of all ages learn patience, along with the skills needed to make their own cleaners for the home, sunscreen, homemade ketchup and dry mixes, as well as how to choose animals and prepare for emergencies, and much more. Learning the patience and usefulness of “doing it yourself” can be immensely helpful not only in the sense of living a healthier life, but also for the budget!

Nick & Tesla's Solar-Powered Showdown

Our spine novel for this unit is...

Solar-Powered Showdown - Kid inventors Nick and Tesla Holt have outsmarted crooks, spies, and kidnappers. Now they have to crack their biggest mystery yet: Where the heck are their parents? To outwit the criminal mastermind who’s holding their parents hostage, the twins will need all their brainpower, the help of their eccentric Uncle Newt, and an assortment of homemade solar gadgets. Will the Holt family be reunited at last? Or will a hijacked solar satellite beam down doom from the skies? The adventure includes instructions for creating a solar-powered hot-dog cooker, alarm, secret listening device, and model car, plus a nighttime signal cannon that fires illuminated ping-pong balls.

Learn more about Nikola Tesla and this series at our introductory post!

Access the complete unit study in the Science-Based Novel Studies Bundle!

Includes nine novel studies covering science-based topics. Each novel addresses a new topic, primarily falling into STEM, technology, and modern science.

• Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.
• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including one featured novel – the spine of the unit.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.
• Some units also have cooking projects.

Product Samples – Fever 1793 & Nick and Tesla: High Voltage Danger Lab

These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

The BEST Zucchini Bread

Historically, the kids haven't been a fan of green things, with the exception of green beans (every family has their one "thanks heavens!" veggie...right?).  

But this recipe, thanks to its chocolate-y goodness, is a hit!!

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 c olive oil
• 1/4 c sugar
• 1 c molasses
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 c grated, packed zucchini, not wrung out
• 3 c all-purpose flour
• 1 c chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.  Spray two loaf pans (to prevent sticking).
2. Mix wet ingredients.  Mix dry ingredients (except flour) separately.  Whisk all together.  Stir in flour until flour disappears.
3. Bake 55-70 minutes, until inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Nick & Tesla's Special Effects Spectacular

Our spine novel for this unit is...

Special Effects Spectacular - In Nick and Tesla’s Special Effects Spectacular, 11-year-old siblings Nick and Tesla Holt find themselves on the set of a big-budget superhero movie. But someone’s sabotaging the onscreen debut of their favorite comic book hero, so the brother and sister sleuths must crack the case with the help of a fresh assortment of homemade special-effects gadgets. This cinematic saga features instructions for all-new movie magic projects that kids can build themselves, such as camera gear, stunt dummies, make-up magic, and more. Science and electronics have never been so much fun! 

Learn more about Nikola Tesla and this series at our introductory post!

Access the complete unit study in the Science-Based Novel Studies Bundle!

Includes nine novel studies covering science-based topics. Each novel addresses a new topic, primarily falling into STEM, technology, and modern science.

• Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.
• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including one featured novel – the spine of the unit.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.
• Some units also have cooking projects.

Product Samples – Fever 1793 & Nick and Tesla: High Voltage Danger Lab

These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky + African-American Folklore

When the African slaves where brought to America, starting in Jamestown's latter years, they were forbidden to be educated.  This did not prevent them from bringing their own culture and languages, and keeping their heritage alive. They kept the stories going through storytellers and oral communication. As time passed, the stories changed and grew. New stories were written, while some were unfortunately lost. These stories served as a way to connect the slaves and free blacks to their heritage, and sometimes as a way to keep records of events. Today, many of the stories are still passed down as African-American Folklore.

For this unit, we are using Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky as the spine read.

Access the complete unit study in the World Mythology Unit Studies Bundle!

Includes sixteen unit studies covering world mythologies. Each unit addresses a new topic, spanning ancient through modern history.

• Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.
• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.

Product sample:  Percy Jackson & Greek Mythology

These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!