The Homestead Guru
We share what we are passionate about.
We help you unleash the guru, inside you.
The Homestead Guru was a project born by people who love talking about and trying practical solutions. We have hundreds of articles on all things practical and have built a sort of community over the years for those who want to learn and grow along with us.
Here we aren’t here to be your gurus. We are here to help you learn how to be your own guru, while we become our own gurus. Thank you for being here.


Years of Growth


Featured Posts
The Latest and Greatest

Shared Earth: Where Gardeners and Landowners Connect and Grow (The Rideshare of Gardening!)
This is the ultimate sustainable opportunity for the gardener stuck in an apartment complex and the landowner looking for a flourishing yard and free food

Best Damn Instant Pot Beef Tamales Recipe
The BEST Instant Pot Beef Tamales You’ve Ever Had When many think of Mexico, they think of the food. Tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas and tamales. Tamales

New Study: Women Sleep Better With A Dog in the Bed
Dogs are an important part of any homestead. They protect our livestock, make us aware of approaching visitors, and run off snakes when we walk

Couple Builds Amazing Cordwood House for Less than $5,000
Build your own home! Doing it yourself is always the most rewarding way to do it! Especially when you can build your own home with

Gardening with Essential Oils – Companion Plants to Attract Pollinators and Repel Pests
Companion planting is a common practice among gardeners. The most common popular method of companion planting is the Three Sisters method of putting squash, beans, and

Pavlov, Roller Skates, and Why We Don’t Punish Our Kids – Unschooling
I originally wrote this in 2012, when my children were much younger. Gentle discipline. That sounds pretty progressive, right? Not spanking or hitting children IS

Henry Ford’s Hemp Car: The Truth Behind the Car “Made of Hemp that Runs on Hemp”
Did you know Henry Ford invented a hemp car that ran on hemp? There’s been rumor of a car made entirely out of hemp that

Natural Pest Control for Your Home and Garden
Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth is one of the best natural pest control products on the market. The powdery substance is a powder that comes from fossilized diatoms

Too Hot? Too Cold? When Should I Plant These? Seed Starting Calendar
Spring is in full swing here in the Southern United States! Every big-box store is rolling out lovely new transplants in biodegradable pots. The glossy

18 Vintage Motorhomes – They Don’t Make ’em Like They Used To
These amazing motorhomes were once found roaming the streets. Check out their unique designs, almost all built on a Ford or Chevrolet chassis. 1926 Motor Home

Gardening by the Constellations? Learn about Biodynamic Farming and Planting!
This year we’re trying something new and planting our seeds according to the biodynamic farming method. This method has been around for about a hundred

A Simple Guide for Starting Difficult Seeds
Something I miss very much on my mountain here in Acapulco is the presence of a winter. Many consider coming from a cold temperate climate

Most Popular Posts
Our Greatest Hits

BioIntensive Gardening – How to Double Dig, Make Compost, & Companion Plant
Biointensive gardening is an organic method designed to creative highly productive gardens with long term sustainability at its core. What is so great about this

IT’S ALIVE! Living No-Turn Compost: BioChar
Maybe you wanted to start composting this Earth Day, but you’ve heard it’s tricky to get right. I understand–nobody wants a stinky mess out back

The Tropical Fruit Tree Americans Forgot: The Pawpaw Tree
What if I told you that North America has an easy-to-grow native tropical fruit tree that you’ve never even heard of? The Pawpaw is our

Tomatoes Hate Cucumbers: Secrets of Companion Planting + Popular Planting Combinations
Did you know that tomatoes hate cucumbers? Consider companion planting. While they might taste great together in a salad, tomato plants dislike growing in close

How To Start a Kitchen Scrap Garden
How to Regrow Kitchen Scraps Feel like you never really get your money’s worth of lettuce or celery at the store? Why not grow another

This is Why Your Compost Stinks
You started out with good intentions–wanting to create richer soil for your garden and reduce your waste. Maybe you even bought the pretty compost crock