Ruby Burks

Ruby is a first generation Californian who grew up in the heart of the Central San Joaquin Valley farming community. She's been involved in agriculture for 40 years and learned to preserve food, traditional home arts, to hunt and fish, raise livestock and garden from her Ozark native mother.

How Goats Can Alert You To Their Health Issues

Experienced goat herders know that each goat has their own unique personality. Their quirks can be a way of alerting you to their ailments.

The Lemon Lady: A True Story of How Bartering Pays Off

In this day and age, bartering is coming more into focus. When good bartering relationships are forged, they become dependable, solid relationships where goods are honestly sold. Ruby Burks shares how a chance encounter started a long-time bartering friendship.

So, You Want a Goat? Here Are the Challenges You’ll Face

Homesteading comes with many trials and having a herd of goats in one of them. Know the challenges you will face will help you in your homesteading endeavors.

The Good and the Ugly: Beneficial Creatures You Need Around Your Garden

There are many beneficial insects and animals for our garden that prefer not to have around. Knowing a little more about your strange neighbors in or near your garden may help you in unexpected ways.

Hedgerows: A Modern Take on an Ancient Homesteading Practice

This modern take on ancient homesteading practices uses hedgerows as a way to use natural resources to create borders, contain livestock and can provide habitat to wildlife and a screen from pesticide drift, and control soil erosion.

Fall brings forth an abundance of winter squash that can easily be incorporated into dishes. Here is all you need to know about harvest, storing and cooking with winter squashes. #ReadyNutrition

The Autumn Harvest: How To Store and Cook With Winter Squash (plus recipes)

Fall brings forth an abundance of winter squash that can easily be incorporated into dishes. Here is all you need to know about the harvest, storing and cooking with winter squashes.

The Functional Vintage Kitchen

Vintage kitchenware that are off-grid capable and built to the last are becoming all the rage. Homesteader, extraordinaire, Ruby Burks talks about her favorite utensils and heirloom books to keep an eye out for.

Three Natural Approaches To Clearing Land of Tree Stumps and Invasive Plants

Clearing the land in a natural capacity is harder work than it seems. These three natural approaches can cut down on time and money so that you can create a chemical-free environment.

DIY Vermicomposting: The Most Efficient Way of Using Organic Material

Vermicomposting is one the most efficient ways of using up organic kitchen scraps and ridding your home of unwanted paper piles. The end result of feeding this natural material to worms is a natural soil amendment for the garden to help grow.

When the Lights Go Out: Tips and Tricks for Priming Off-Grid Light Sources

When the lights go out, you want to make sure these off-grid light sources are primed and ready to go!

Primitive Living Skills: Creating Off-Grid Light Sources

So many of us have become accustomed to the convenience of electricity that we’ve forgotten how to get along without it.

Cooking utensils on a dark grey background.

Cook Like Grandma: Nothing Goes to Waste

Vintage cookbooks and recipes from around the world can open up possibilities for delicious recipes that allow one to use every part of the animal for human consumption and to reduce waste. So, before tossing these bits to the dogs, spend some time exploring these lesser-known or forgotten recipes.