Beaver.River.Bushcraft

🌱 𝐖𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞!

The next step in our self-reliance journey... and if you've been following along, you know we love a good experiment! 🧪

Earlier this week we transformed our beef bones into a rich, nourishing bone broth. Now those same bones are getting a second life as homemade bone meal.

Why make bone meal?
🦴 It's a natural source of calcium and phosphorus, two nutrients that help plants develop strong roots, healthy flowers, and abundant fruits.
🌿 It's a fantastic slow-release soil amendment for vegetable gardens, fruit trees, berry bushes, and flowering plants.
♻️ Best of all, it's another way to reduce waste and use every part of the animal—a core principle of self-reliance and homesteading.

If this experiment works, we'll have turned what we and many other people simply throw away, into something that can help feed next year's garden. That's the kind of full-circle living we try to achieve.

Have you ever made your own bone meal? We'd love to hear your tips, tricks, or lessons learned in the comments!

📚 Want to learn more?
• How to make bone meal: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/bone-meal-fertilizer.htm
• Benefits and uses of bone meal in the garden: https://extension.umn.edu/managing-soil-and-nutrients/fertilizers-home-gardens
• Composting and soil health basics: https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home

From bones to liquid gold. 🥣🐄

When we had our cow butchered this year, I made one special request:

"Keep all the bones... except the head."

On Monday, I filled my roaster with a bag of beef bones and a freezer bag full of vegetable scraps I've been saving. Then I let it slowly simmer for two full days.

Today, I strained everything out, and the reward was this beautiful, rich, homemade beef broth. ❤️

But I'm not done yet.

Those same bones went right back into the roaster with fresh water for another long simmer. Tomorrow, I'll strain it again and end up with a nourishing batch of bone broth. Nothing gets wasted around here.

I'm sure someone will ask why I don't just buy soup base or boxed broth from the grocery store.

The answer is simple...

Because when I make it myself, I know exactly what's in it.

No guessing about preservatives, artificial flavours, colours, or ingredients I can't pronounce. I put every ingredient into that pot myself. I cooked it. I'll can it. And I can feel confident serving it to my family.

For me, this isn't just about making broth—it's about using every part of the animal, reducing waste, building self-reliance, and knowing where my food comes from.

Would you rather make your own broth, or do you prefer the convenience of store-bought? Let me know in the comments! 👇

Well… last week I bought a bag of apples from No Frills and let’s just say… they had seen some things. 😬

These apples were so bruised and battered, I’m convinced they were dropkicked all the way from British Columbia and then emotionally processed before hitting the shelf. For over $9, I expected apples… not survivors. 🍎💀

BUT—I refused to let my money (and these war heroes) go to waste.

So instead of tossing them, and because I’ve officially entered my ✨homesteading era✨ I'm making apple cider vinegar.

Here’s what I did:
✔️ Apple scraps (because we’re not wasting a thing now)
✔️ About 1/4 cup organic apple cider vinegar with the Mother (yes, she’s invited)
✔️ Natural spring water (tap water = fermentation sabotage, apparently)

Dumped it all into a 1-gallon glass jar, topped it up to the ring, and then—pro tip—put parchment paper between the lid and jar so we don’t accidentally create a science experiment gone wrong. 🧪

Now it’s sitting in a dark place for 4–6 weeks, transforming from “grocery store disappointment” into “Pinterest-level life choice.”

Honestly, if this works, I might start buying ugly apples on purpose. If it doesn’t… well, at least I didn’t eat them. 😂

Once again, I found some early footage of our video trials while making and canning chicken broth. I stitched it together and we hope someone can learn from it. As a people, we really need to become better stewards of our pantry and we hope this helps motivate others.

There’s nothing quite like turning a simple chicken into jars of rich, nourishing broth that’ll feed your family for months to come. In this video, we take you step-by-step through making and pressure canning homemade chicken broth—packed with flavor, nutrients, and that unbeatable from-scratch satisfaction.

Whether you’re building your pantry, cutting grocery costs, or leaning into a more self-reliant lifestyle, this is one skill that pays off again and again. No fancy equipment, no wasted scraps—just honest food done right.

Watch as we transform humble ingredients into shelf-stable goodness you can rely on anytime.

Making and Canning Chicken Broth There’s nothing quite like turning a simple chicken into jars of rich, nourishing broth that’ll feed your family for months to come. In this video, we take y...

Our Lastest Video just got posted!!! Making chocolate Yogurt! Please check it out.

There’s nothing better than making simple, nourishing food right in your own kitchen—and today we’re whipping up a delicious batch of homemade chocolate yogurt! 🍫🥄

In this video, we walk through an easy, from-scratch method to turn basic ingredients into a rich, creamy treat the whole family will love. Whether you're building your homestead skills, focusing on self-reliance, or just looking to cut down on store-bought foods, this is a great recipe to add to your lineup.

Homemade yogurt is already a powerhouse, but adding chocolate takes it to the next level—perfect for breakfasts, snacks, or even dessert. Best of all, you control the ingredients, the sweetness, and the quality.

https://youtu.be/eiHFF9KgncU

No fancy equipment required—just real food, simple methods, and a bit of time.

If you're into practical food skills, preserving, and making more from less, you're in the right place.

Let us know in the comments:
Do you prefer your yogurt lightly sweetened or rich and chocolatey?

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Making Chocolate Yogurt There’s nothing better than making simple, nourishing food right in your own kitchen—and today we’re whipping up a delicious batch of homemade chocolate yogu...