What do you think?
Rate this book
The Made-from-Scratch Life: Simple Ways to Create a Natural Home
Do you long for simpler days? Do you wish you had the time to offer your family home-grown meals? Does your heart cry for a quiet place in this fast-paced world?
Blogger and homesteader Melissa K. Norris inspires with practical and easy methods to help you cook from scratch, garden, preserve your own food, and see God's fingerprints in your everyday busy life. You'll learn how to plan, plant, and harvest for eating and preserving troubleshoot common gardening problems with natural solutions improve your family's health with natural cooking and cleaning methods
Whether you live in the middle of the asphalt jungle or on the side of a mountain, you can experience the pioneer lifestyle and start your own homesteading journey. Because when you surround yourself with things made from the hand of God, you can't help but see Him.
Blogger and homesteader Melissa K. Norris inspires with practical and easy methods to help you cook from scratch, garden, preserve your own food, and see God's fingerprints in your everyday busy life. You'll learn how to plan, plant, and harvest for eating and preserving troubleshoot common gardening problems with natural solutions improve your family's health with natural cooking and cleaning methods
Whether you live in the middle of the asphalt jungle or on the side of a mountain, you can experience the pioneer lifestyle and start your own homesteading journey. Because when you surround yourself with things made from the hand of God, you can't help but see Him.
208 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2012
138 people are currently reading
915 people want to read
About the author
Melissa K. Norris
11 books112 followersMelissa K. Norris is a 5th generation homesteader who helps others use old-fashioned skill sets and modern homesteading to grow, cook and preserve their own organic food no matter where they live. She's a Mason jar addict and thinks one can never have too many because everything looks and tastes better when it's in a Mason jar.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
August 31, 2020
I've enjoyed Melissa K. Norris' Pioneering Today podcast and YouTube for awhile. Her Made from Scratch Life is part biography, devotional through using her faith to God at work in her life, and recipes for food and household products.
For those looking for a step by step how-to or a magic recipe to follow for homesteading this is not it. This is Norris' story of her family and incidents that have happened to influence and change their lifestyle and home.
For those looking for a step by step how-to or a magic recipe to follow for homesteading this is not it. This is Norris' story of her family and incidents that have happened to influence and change their lifestyle and home.
August 2, 2016
Ugh, this book was useless. Norris is an awful writer, and she apparently had no decent editor, either. Each chapter meanders all over the place, ranging from personal stories about her home and family, to recipes, to "inspirational" religious advice, without much organization to it at all. She digresses from anecdote into Bible quotes, and maybe gets back to her original story pages later. The recipes look fine enough, but all the actual homemaking advice in this book is really basic and buried in with the spiritual stuff. Apart from the poor structuring of these... essays? are they essays?...her syntax and style are all over the place. Occasionally, she shows a knack for poetic description, but the imagery is just as likely to be cliched. She also sometimes leaves crucial information out of sentences, paragraphs, or whole anecdotes. For example, she tells a page-long anecdote about a campground "duck race" that her daughter wins after purchasing a duck for the event and never once mentions the fact that these are rubber duckies not live ducks. I was really confused when they turned the winning duck over to see whose name was written in Sharpie on the bottom.
March 23, 2016
A blessing at the right time, THE MADE-FROM-SCRATCH LIFE opens your eyes to a simpler way of life, possibly lessening your emotional burden with the light you’ve been seeking. It’s a good combination of gardening advice, preserving what you grow, cooking, homesteading and how all of that mixes with faith and scripture. THE MADE-FROM-SCRATCH LIFE is comforting in an easy, conversational style, as if you're sitting on the back porch with a friend.
For more reviews and articles on gardening and food related topics, visit my blog, The Zest Quest.
I’m extremely fond of memoirs, especially by homesteaders, and this one tugged at my heart and soul. I think there's often a sense of a window opening when you’re ready, or in this case reaffirmation. I acquired some great tips for putting my budget into rehab at the exact moment I needed them, but it was the combined faith message that made me smile in agreement. Since there are so many categories in this book that may or may not hit your hot buttons, I’m sure you’ll find some hidden gems among what you already know. I reread sections several times because I did miss a lot the first time through.
THE MADE-FROM-SCRATCH LIFE is divided into four food categories that include growing your own food, harvesting, preserving and cooking. There are quite a few recipes for canning as well as other methods of preserving. It contains a section on cleaning and personal care products, such as making your own laundry soap and oven cleaner, plus a lotion bar or soothing salve for the body. The section titled Prepare covers budgeting and how to think about what you’re buying and why. I found the Prepare section especially wise, while the list of 7 Ways to Live like Laura Ingalls made me giggle with recognition. It’s simple advice but so true and it can open your eyes to living with what you need versus what you want. The final two sections cover livestock and traditions. Traditions includes a few recipes that are special to the author, but it seemed like the shortest chapter in the book. I would have preferred to have that section elaborated on a bit more because the book seemed to end too abruptly. Wanting more is a good thing, right?
There were moments when I felt the book could benefit from tighter editing to lessen repeated words or ideas, but that was a minor bump for me. I really enjoyed this author’s style of inserting her life experience into each chapter with a faith message that relates to the task. There are cute stories from her homesteading that gave this book a personal touch. Although there are several recipes that interested me, one I’ll try is the Ham and Bean Soup because it included parsnips or rutabaga. We get those in our farm share and I’m always looking for more ways to use them up. I’ll also use the Condensed Cream of Soup Replacement to get rid of one of my favorite processed foods. The idea of getting rid of processed that’s heavy in salt from our pantries is a good one, but it has to be a gradual process over time so it doesn’t overwhelm. I’m now at that point where I can add in a few more tasks to benefit my family’s health. Another recipe that caught my eye is the Chocolate Cake with Caramel Frosting. Who can resist that? It looks really simple and I’d like to break away from buying cake mixes that expire before I get to use them.
Author Melissa K. Norris has a similar philosophy to my own, so some of the cleaning and beauty recipes are familiar. I did learn one idea for oven cleaning that I’ll try. The gardening information is very basic, so if you’re a beginner you might want a more detailed book for your planting zone. As an experienced gardener, it was a synopsis, but it did remind me to concentrate on the basics such as planting more heirlooms, something I’ve nurtured but overlook in my haste to plant. I also appreciated some of the charts, such as a simplified method to keep track of planting dates, while another illustrates the best time to buy fruit and vegetables for preserving. Buying what’s currently in season is one important element that I’ve found lowers the overall food budget. I also enjoyed the shaded text boxes by subject such as 9 Ways to Preserve Apples at Home.
Even if you don’t plan on homesteading, many of the ideas within THE MADE-FROM-SCRATCH LIFE can be incorporated into your lifestyle. It is a how-to book heavily intermingled with spiritual ideas and Bible quotes so it will appeal most to believers who enjoy those reminders. If you’re at a crossroad with your faith and want a better balance to your life, then this book will speak to you. We won’t all become homesteaders or have time to do everything from scratch, but you’ll pull out pieces of value that you can accomplish even when living in the city. I thought the 8 Foods to Store at Home was a good list, the idea that you can make a lot from scratch if you have simple ingredients available. I was pleased that wheatberries were included instead of flour because that’s another item we get from our farm share.
More than anything, I think that THE MADE-FROM-SCRATCH LIFE will improve your spiritual balance, budget and health just from its back-to-basics approach. It reiterated many of the practices I adopted after a health scare, plus stimulated ideas for improvement. I found the comparison of want versus need extremely valuable and thought provoking. Sometimes we should remember to be satisfied with what we have and appreciate those riches. How many of us buy because we enjoy the euphoria of ownership? Whoever dies with the most toys isn’t really the winner, are they, so maybe looking at faith and family to motivate your joyful noise is more fulfilling. I’ll definitely use the idea of keeping a purchased item in the bag with the receipt, and if I don’t use it within a week or two, take it back to the store. So simple yet brilliant!
THE MADE-FROM-SCRATCH LIFE will help you establish a plan for a more fulfilling life by combining back-to-basics ideas with faith guiding your choices. The simple beauty of the book’s formatting with the shaded text boxes and use of white space encourages me to order a print copy for my keeper shelf.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Digital ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
For more reviews and articles on gardening and food related topics, visit my blog, The Zest Quest.
I’m extremely fond of memoirs, especially by homesteaders, and this one tugged at my heart and soul. I think there's often a sense of a window opening when you’re ready, or in this case reaffirmation. I acquired some great tips for putting my budget into rehab at the exact moment I needed them, but it was the combined faith message that made me smile in agreement. Since there are so many categories in this book that may or may not hit your hot buttons, I’m sure you’ll find some hidden gems among what you already know. I reread sections several times because I did miss a lot the first time through.
THE MADE-FROM-SCRATCH LIFE is divided into four food categories that include growing your own food, harvesting, preserving and cooking. There are quite a few recipes for canning as well as other methods of preserving. It contains a section on cleaning and personal care products, such as making your own laundry soap and oven cleaner, plus a lotion bar or soothing salve for the body. The section titled Prepare covers budgeting and how to think about what you’re buying and why. I found the Prepare section especially wise, while the list of 7 Ways to Live like Laura Ingalls made me giggle with recognition. It’s simple advice but so true and it can open your eyes to living with what you need versus what you want. The final two sections cover livestock and traditions. Traditions includes a few recipes that are special to the author, but it seemed like the shortest chapter in the book. I would have preferred to have that section elaborated on a bit more because the book seemed to end too abruptly. Wanting more is a good thing, right?
There were moments when I felt the book could benefit from tighter editing to lessen repeated words or ideas, but that was a minor bump for me. I really enjoyed this author’s style of inserting her life experience into each chapter with a faith message that relates to the task. There are cute stories from her homesteading that gave this book a personal touch. Although there are several recipes that interested me, one I’ll try is the Ham and Bean Soup because it included parsnips or rutabaga. We get those in our farm share and I’m always looking for more ways to use them up. I’ll also use the Condensed Cream of Soup Replacement to get rid of one of my favorite processed foods. The idea of getting rid of processed that’s heavy in salt from our pantries is a good one, but it has to be a gradual process over time so it doesn’t overwhelm. I’m now at that point where I can add in a few more tasks to benefit my family’s health. Another recipe that caught my eye is the Chocolate Cake with Caramel Frosting. Who can resist that? It looks really simple and I’d like to break away from buying cake mixes that expire before I get to use them.
Author Melissa K. Norris has a similar philosophy to my own, so some of the cleaning and beauty recipes are familiar. I did learn one idea for oven cleaning that I’ll try. The gardening information is very basic, so if you’re a beginner you might want a more detailed book for your planting zone. As an experienced gardener, it was a synopsis, but it did remind me to concentrate on the basics such as planting more heirlooms, something I’ve nurtured but overlook in my haste to plant. I also appreciated some of the charts, such as a simplified method to keep track of planting dates, while another illustrates the best time to buy fruit and vegetables for preserving. Buying what’s currently in season is one important element that I’ve found lowers the overall food budget. I also enjoyed the shaded text boxes by subject such as 9 Ways to Preserve Apples at Home.
Even if you don’t plan on homesteading, many of the ideas within THE MADE-FROM-SCRATCH LIFE can be incorporated into your lifestyle. It is a how-to book heavily intermingled with spiritual ideas and Bible quotes so it will appeal most to believers who enjoy those reminders. If you’re at a crossroad with your faith and want a better balance to your life, then this book will speak to you. We won’t all become homesteaders or have time to do everything from scratch, but you’ll pull out pieces of value that you can accomplish even when living in the city. I thought the 8 Foods to Store at Home was a good list, the idea that you can make a lot from scratch if you have simple ingredients available. I was pleased that wheatberries were included instead of flour because that’s another item we get from our farm share.
More than anything, I think that THE MADE-FROM-SCRATCH LIFE will improve your spiritual balance, budget and health just from its back-to-basics approach. It reiterated many of the practices I adopted after a health scare, plus stimulated ideas for improvement. I found the comparison of want versus need extremely valuable and thought provoking. Sometimes we should remember to be satisfied with what we have and appreciate those riches. How many of us buy because we enjoy the euphoria of ownership? Whoever dies with the most toys isn’t really the winner, are they, so maybe looking at faith and family to motivate your joyful noise is more fulfilling. I’ll definitely use the idea of keeping a purchased item in the bag with the receipt, and if I don’t use it within a week or two, take it back to the store. So simple yet brilliant!
THE MADE-FROM-SCRATCH LIFE will help you establish a plan for a more fulfilling life by combining back-to-basics ideas with faith guiding your choices. The simple beauty of the book’s formatting with the shaded text boxes and use of white space encourages me to order a print copy for my keeper shelf.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Digital ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
May 24, 2020
I picked up this book hoping to find some tips for living a more sustainable life, and some old school skills that seem to be lacking in our lives today.
And while there were some of these, it wasn’t as detailed as I would have liked. And often times the details provided seemed a little meandering and confusing. For example a cake recipe said to pour the ingredients into greased and floured pans, but not the size of the pans or even how many.
There also was A LOT of religion throughout the book. I’m all for having a faith, but every chapter was littered with bible verses and praising of God and Jesus. Which is completely fine, and I’m sure some people will appreciate that, but it was not what I was expecting or looking for.
All and all not a bad read but not what I wanted. Glad I borrowed instead of buying as it isn’t something I would read again.
And while there were some of these, it wasn’t as detailed as I would have liked. And often times the details provided seemed a little meandering and confusing. For example a cake recipe said to pour the ingredients into greased and floured pans, but not the size of the pans or even how many.
There also was A LOT of religion throughout the book. I’m all for having a faith, but every chapter was littered with bible verses and praising of God and Jesus. Which is completely fine, and I’m sure some people will appreciate that, but it was not what I was expecting or looking for.
All and all not a bad read but not what I wanted. Glad I borrowed instead of buying as it isn’t something I would read again.
October 13, 2012
The first reason I was drawn to this book because of the title. I mean, it has "pioneering" in it. The whole concept of a modern pioneer intrigues me.
Of course I realize reading a book about pioneering does not a pioneer make, but I hoped it would help me envision a simpler life…in a condo in the centre of a city.
Author Melissa K. Norris leaves her heart all over the pages of this book. And she not only writes about pioneering but lives and breaths it in every aspect of her life from gardening to faith to homemade gifts. It's quite inspiring.
However, I did have to look a lot of words up. Having no experience with preserving, farming, or really anything covered in this book the tips were a little beyond my skill level. I think this is built for someone who already has some concept of what pioneering is all about and knows how to, like, use a pressure cooker. Or at least knows what one is.
At the start of each section Norris shares a story from her life to help connect the topic to real life. Then she shares some helpful tips and follows that with her favourite recipes. All in all it's quite a unique approach to a lifestyle book.
So far I've tried her tips for laundry (white vinegar, who knew!?) and have put white chocolate chips on my grocery list to attempt the amazing-sounding white chocolate popcorn. When I'm brave enough, I'm going for the five-minute bread.
Of course I realize reading a book about pioneering does not a pioneer make, but I hoped it would help me envision a simpler life…in a condo in the centre of a city.
Author Melissa K. Norris leaves her heart all over the pages of this book. And she not only writes about pioneering but lives and breaths it in every aspect of her life from gardening to faith to homemade gifts. It's quite inspiring.
However, I did have to look a lot of words up. Having no experience with preserving, farming, or really anything covered in this book the tips were a little beyond my skill level. I think this is built for someone who already has some concept of what pioneering is all about and knows how to, like, use a pressure cooker. Or at least knows what one is.
At the start of each section Norris shares a story from her life to help connect the topic to real life. Then she shares some helpful tips and follows that with her favourite recipes. All in all it's quite a unique approach to a lifestyle book.
So far I've tried her tips for laundry (white vinegar, who knew!?) and have put white chocolate chips on my grocery list to attempt the amazing-sounding white chocolate popcorn. When I'm brave enough, I'm going for the five-minute bread.
October 4, 2016
This was a really quick read that goes over some basic areas where you can create a more "made-from-scratch" life. It's broken down into 8 chapters that each deal with a specific area - growing food, preserving food, cooking, cleaning, etc. I liked how she divided up the book and I liked that each chapter started with a personal story. There are also lots of recipes both for food and for homemade cleaning products or gifts. The author is a Christian so that shapes her views and how she lives her life. My only complaint was that sometimes her parallels between homesteading and Christianity were a little heavy handed. I appreciate and agree with her, but it just seemed a little forced at times. Overall, I did like the book and Norris definitely has a LOT of great, easy to incorporate tips on doing more things the "made-from-scratch" way.
December 22, 2018
The Made-from-Scratch Life by [Norris, Melissa K.]I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book, The Made From Scratch Life, takes the reader to their roots to help create new traditions. Inspired by her life with her family and their cattle and other activities. She teaches how to take a garden from planning to preserving and eating, how to use natural solutions for common garden problems and she teaches how to use natural cooking and cleaning to improve the health of your family.
This book is less than 200 pages in length but it is filled with pioneer goodness, filled with faith throughout the book. I felt like she was sharing her wisdom with me in person.
This book would be great for anyone that would like to learn how to cook from scratch, garden, raise animals, preserve food, clean naturally and more.
This book, The Made From Scratch Life, takes the reader to their roots to help create new traditions. Inspired by her life with her family and their cattle and other activities. She teaches how to take a garden from planning to preserving and eating, how to use natural solutions for common garden problems and she teaches how to use natural cooking and cleaning to improve the health of your family.
This book is less than 200 pages in length but it is filled with pioneer goodness, filled with faith throughout the book. I felt like she was sharing her wisdom with me in person.
This book would be great for anyone that would like to learn how to cook from scratch, garden, raise animals, preserve food, clean naturally and more.
October 13, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
Pioneering Today: Faith and Home the Old Fashioned Way by Melissa K. Norris, ©2012
~*~ Sharing gifts with friends of food, fellowship and faith, Melissa has written a generation-to-generation keepsake. ~*~
Available in paperback or eBook, you will love this new book by Melissa K. Norris. I remember voting for the cover photo. Being a quilter, I LOVE STARS ~*~ big ones, little ones, and in-between ones.
Apple Pie Filling
Dusting off my canning jars and filling my baking pans with awesome tasting bread dough ~ without it being hard and yeasty smelling (a memory here, lol) will be a fun accompaniment to this book. Recipes with great hints for turning out successful end results and preparing your own food from start to finish homemade instead of buying store-bought, this book will shine for you! Here are some of my favorite quotes and notes I took while reading [My comments in brackets.]:
Page 7: “I don’t feel it’s coincidence we feel closer to God while gardening.”
[My love of the well-watered garden Scriptures that speak to me! Isaiah 58:11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.]
Page 10: Blueberry Buckle recipe
Page 16: “He’ll never leave us without a harvest, because whatever He touches grows, and I pray that He will continue to touch us daily.”
Page 23: “Tired of feeling constantly beaten, I surrendered to God. On bended knee, I asked Him to put me where He wanted me. I prayed He’d allow me to serve Him wherever and however He chose, regardless of what I wanted, I would trust Him.”
Page 26: “Even though they squeeze me and steal joy, I’m unaware of their presence—until I call on God to weed out the hidden places of my soul.”
[Psalm 139:ff ~*~ ff ~ end of chapter. You will want to read it all!!]
Page 36-37: “This is like our hearts. God has a hard time using someone to their full potential if they’re not mature in His ways. Those who have hardened their hearts against Him can’t be reached. I pray that you and I will always fall into the ready-to-harvest category.”
Page 56-57: Good Word! [Oops! Guess you'll have to read it to find out what I liked!]
Page 59: Cornbread recipe (page 58 seasoning cast iron pans)
Page 62: Buttermilk biscuit recipe
Page 63-64: Pizza recipe
Page 71: “The lint in your dryer is fibers being knocked off your clothes.”
Page 87: Dinner and cinnamon roll dough recipe!
Page 93: “A smudged and soiled recipe card, from a neighbor long moved away, but her smile still winds through my heart every time I drive by her little house tucked among the waving grass.”
Page 93: “Recipes are more than just food, they are memories, past and present.”
Page 125. [Oh, no, the close of this pioneering book!!]
~*~
I found my own little house in the big woods, where I live with my husband and two children in the Cascade Mountains. I write a monthly column, Pioneering Today, for the local newspaper that bridges my love of the past with its usefulness in modern life. My books and articles are inspired by my family’s small herd of beef cattle, my amateur barrel racing days, and my forays into quilting and canning—without always reading the directions first.
I grew up reading Laura Ingalls Wilder and my love of books has never stopped. [Visit Melissa's website.] Once a month, I’ll share a book I’m reading and offer up a copy for one lucky winner.
When I’m not reading, you can find me running, gardening, camping, wake-boarding, or sitting outside in the beautiful nature God created for us.
--Melissa K. Norris
~*~
Thank you to author Melissa K. Norris for this invaluable copy of Pioneering Today: Faith and Home the Old Fashioned Way to review in my own words.
Posted by Lane Hill House at 2:30 PM
Pioneering Today: Faith and Home the Old Fashioned Way by Melissa K. Norris, ©2012
~*~ Sharing gifts with friends of food, fellowship and faith, Melissa has written a generation-to-generation keepsake. ~*~
Available in paperback or eBook, you will love this new book by Melissa K. Norris. I remember voting for the cover photo. Being a quilter, I LOVE STARS ~*~ big ones, little ones, and in-between ones.
Apple Pie Filling
Dusting off my canning jars and filling my baking pans with awesome tasting bread dough ~ without it being hard and yeasty smelling (a memory here, lol) will be a fun accompaniment to this book. Recipes with great hints for turning out successful end results and preparing your own food from start to finish homemade instead of buying store-bought, this book will shine for you! Here are some of my favorite quotes and notes I took while reading [My comments in brackets.]:
Page 7: “I don’t feel it’s coincidence we feel closer to God while gardening.”
[My love of the well-watered garden Scriptures that speak to me! Isaiah 58:11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.]
Page 10: Blueberry Buckle recipe
Page 16: “He’ll never leave us without a harvest, because whatever He touches grows, and I pray that He will continue to touch us daily.”
Page 23: “Tired of feeling constantly beaten, I surrendered to God. On bended knee, I asked Him to put me where He wanted me. I prayed He’d allow me to serve Him wherever and however He chose, regardless of what I wanted, I would trust Him.”
Page 26: “Even though they squeeze me and steal joy, I’m unaware of their presence—until I call on God to weed out the hidden places of my soul.”
[Psalm 139:ff ~*~ ff ~ end of chapter. You will want to read it all!!]
Page 36-37: “This is like our hearts. God has a hard time using someone to their full potential if they’re not mature in His ways. Those who have hardened their hearts against Him can’t be reached. I pray that you and I will always fall into the ready-to-harvest category.”
Page 56-57: Good Word! [Oops! Guess you'll have to read it to find out what I liked!]
Page 59: Cornbread recipe (page 58 seasoning cast iron pans)
Page 62: Buttermilk biscuit recipe
Page 63-64: Pizza recipe
Page 71: “The lint in your dryer is fibers being knocked off your clothes.”
Page 87: Dinner and cinnamon roll dough recipe!
Page 93: “A smudged and soiled recipe card, from a neighbor long moved away, but her smile still winds through my heart every time I drive by her little house tucked among the waving grass.”
Page 93: “Recipes are more than just food, they are memories, past and present.”
Page 125. [Oh, no, the close of this pioneering book!!]
~*~
I found my own little house in the big woods, where I live with my husband and two children in the Cascade Mountains. I write a monthly column, Pioneering Today, for the local newspaper that bridges my love of the past with its usefulness in modern life. My books and articles are inspired by my family’s small herd of beef cattle, my amateur barrel racing days, and my forays into quilting and canning—without always reading the directions first.
I grew up reading Laura Ingalls Wilder and my love of books has never stopped. [Visit Melissa's website.] Once a month, I’ll share a book I’m reading and offer up a copy for one lucky winner.
When I’m not reading, you can find me running, gardening, camping, wake-boarding, or sitting outside in the beautiful nature God created for us.
--Melissa K. Norris
~*~
Thank you to author Melissa K. Norris for this invaluable copy of Pioneering Today: Faith and Home the Old Fashioned Way to review in my own words.
Posted by Lane Hill House at 2:30 PM
February 6, 2016
When I started gardening almost three years ago, I also started listening to some podcasts. Those two interests combined when I found Melissa K. Norris (http://melissaknorris.com). I learned many gardening tips, food preservation tips and, very importantly, seed-saving tips. I couldn’t have learned to save tomato seeds the right way without her.
When I found out she was writing a book, I added it to my Amazon cart right away – four months before the release date. I am so glad I did.
The size of the book is deceitful – in less than 200 pages, Melissa shares how to garden, harvest, preserve food, cook from scratch, make natural cleaning products, prepare for tough times and take care of livestock. She also shares family traditions and weaves personal stories throughout the book to show you how her heart is in this lifestyle. She also brings in her faith to the topics with Bible stories and verses that apply either to the stories she is sharing or the topics in general. The combination of faith, personal stories and tips is not awkward, but it told in a natural voice – almost like she is sitting in your kitchen talking to you over a cup of coffee.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in cooking from scratch, gardening, raising animals, preserving food or using natural cleaning and beauty products. It has it all, along with recipes. I have a lot of this information scattered about my house in different books, cookbooks and pinterest pins, and I am so glad now to have it all in one place.
She includes a planting guide, harvesting guide, list of natural pest control, blanching time for freezing vegetables, seasonal guide to produce and so much more.
Enjoy her book, visit her blog, follow her on Facebook, listen to her podcasts and watch her periscopes – you won’t regret it.
When I found out she was writing a book, I added it to my Amazon cart right away – four months before the release date. I am so glad I did.
The size of the book is deceitful – in less than 200 pages, Melissa shares how to garden, harvest, preserve food, cook from scratch, make natural cleaning products, prepare for tough times and take care of livestock. She also shares family traditions and weaves personal stories throughout the book to show you how her heart is in this lifestyle. She also brings in her faith to the topics with Bible stories and verses that apply either to the stories she is sharing or the topics in general. The combination of faith, personal stories and tips is not awkward, but it told in a natural voice – almost like she is sitting in your kitchen talking to you over a cup of coffee.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in cooking from scratch, gardening, raising animals, preserving food or using natural cleaning and beauty products. It has it all, along with recipes. I have a lot of this information scattered about my house in different books, cookbooks and pinterest pins, and I am so glad now to have it all in one place.
She includes a planting guide, harvesting guide, list of natural pest control, blanching time for freezing vegetables, seasonal guide to produce and so much more.
Enjoy her book, visit her blog, follow her on Facebook, listen to her podcasts and watch her periscopes – you won’t regret it.
July 11, 2019
I was intrigued by the title because I long for a simpler way of life - away from the crowds and the big city and reconnecting with nature and the life of my parents and grandparents. After reading this book, that hasn't changed; therefore, I gave it two stars. However, the book leaves a lot to be desired. It's a random mix of tips and tricks to incorporate into the "simple life" interspersed with personal anecdotes that have no connection to the overall theme. While I agree with the premise that a relationship with God is vital, and I can see the connection between a life of faith and a life of frugality and reliance on nature for meeting our needs, I don't believe that this author does a very good job of weaving those themes together into a cohesive narrative. The premise is excellent, but the execution is poor.
February 2, 2013
I just loved - Pioneering Today: Faith and Home the Old Fashioned Way by Melissa K. Norris!
The recipes are outstanding! I've already made the Blueberry Buckle and the sausage/broccoli/cheese/Quiche. My Hubby loved them both!
Like a homemaking storybook, Ms. Norris shares fine family recipes, along with excellent tips on gardening, cooking, preserving, cleaning, and then she gently folds in her own personal experiences and faith in God. She has a beautiful writing voice that draws you into her world and leaves you thinking deeply about many things around your own home.
After reading this book, I plan to spend more time in my garden this spring and summer.
Melissa Norris is the natural pioneer version of Martha Stewart!
Excellent!
The recipes are outstanding! I've already made the Blueberry Buckle and the sausage/broccoli/cheese/Quiche. My Hubby loved them both!
Like a homemaking storybook, Ms. Norris shares fine family recipes, along with excellent tips on gardening, cooking, preserving, cleaning, and then she gently folds in her own personal experiences and faith in God. She has a beautiful writing voice that draws you into her world and leaves you thinking deeply about many things around your own home.
After reading this book, I plan to spend more time in my garden this spring and summer.
Melissa Norris is the natural pioneer version of Martha Stewart!
Excellent!
January 11, 2013
Pioneering Today is a lovely book for anyone who enjoys the simple things in life. Whether it's gardening, canning or baking, Pioneering Today is filled with helpful advice and homespun wisdom for the modern woman. Melissa Norris's method of weaving devotions throughout the recipes and tips makes it a well-rounded read that's a wonderful addition to the bookshelf! As soon as I got this book, I quickly ordered two more for my mother and sister in law, knowing they would enjoy it as much as I did!
June 17, 2019
Quite honestly it wasn't what I was expecting. It was presented as simple ways to create a natural home and yet it was not written that way. I like some anecdotal stories in books but it felt more like it was more of a memoir with a lot of preaching and very little in the ways to create a natural home. When it comes to topics like this I want straight and to the point and this lacked it. I never even made it past the second chapter and I really don't want to have to skim each chapter looking for the tidbits of advice related to creating a natural home.
January 7, 2013
Really enjoyed this one! Lots of great recipes, household tips, and ways to use your faith in God in your everyday life.
August 9, 2019
This is a lovely book on sustainable home life - not praising the cheap life, but the frugal one, aiming for quality for less. And yes, it is doable. It sure needs some dedication, but the benefits of healthy home, food and cleaning stuff exceeds the work and it is also quite affordable (and the homemade food is so tasty!). I also use to think that many things are just a habit - so when you make a habit, lot of things just goes without (over)thinking all the work what goes into making them.
This is a Christian book, but even a non-Christian can benefit of all the knowledge (there are few of Christian-themed features, but the most of the book is about sustainable living).
The authoress does a good job of offering nice, doable tips, tricks and recipes for the homemade food, cleansing products, cosmetics and even the edible gifts. Her approach is no-nonsense, simple and very practical - and she CAN explain! She also covers a lot of details one gains only by practice.
On the other side - there are no pictures (even of the food). I am a visual type and could do with (much more) pictorials.
But I like the warm, humorous approach. Nice and useful book!
This is a Christian book, but even a non-Christian can benefit of all the knowledge (there are few of Christian-themed features, but the most of the book is about sustainable living).
The authoress does a good job of offering nice, doable tips, tricks and recipes for the homemade food, cleansing products, cosmetics and even the edible gifts. Her approach is no-nonsense, simple and very practical - and she CAN explain! She also covers a lot of details one gains only by practice.
On the other side - there are no pictures (even of the food). I am a visual type and could do with (much more) pictorials.
But I like the warm, humorous approach. Nice and useful book!
December 5, 2020
I went back and forth on rating this a 2 or 3. Finally settled on 3, because there are sections of the book that are quite useful - recipes and canning instructions.
I've attended several webinar trainings with Melissa, and recently bought her home baking course. She's an excellent presenter - clear, concise, entertaining.
I was expecting this book to be similar. I was unpleasantly surprised to find that she digresses and wanders in this book quite a lot. Its dual themes are faith in her life (some crossing into preachy) and practical homesteading advice. The two themes don't connect particularly well - I skipped ahead paragraphs or whole pages waiting to get back to the homesteading portion of the chapter.
If you're looking for a homesteading intro with a heavy dose of God, faith, and Jesus, you'll love this book. If you're looking for one of those topics without the other, I would recommend that you look elsewhere.
I've attended several webinar trainings with Melissa, and recently bought her home baking course. She's an excellent presenter - clear, concise, entertaining.
I was expecting this book to be similar. I was unpleasantly surprised to find that she digresses and wanders in this book quite a lot. Its dual themes are faith in her life (some crossing into preachy) and practical homesteading advice. The two themes don't connect particularly well - I skipped ahead paragraphs or whole pages waiting to get back to the homesteading portion of the chapter.
If you're looking for a homesteading intro with a heavy dose of God, faith, and Jesus, you'll love this book. If you're looking for one of those topics without the other, I would recommend that you look elsewhere.
January 27, 2025
I thought I was getting a book about how to homestead and found myself in a world where God is in every little thing!
And that's fine - I'm something of a Christian myself - but it was laid on just a little too thick. There is a difference between sharing a testimony and full-on preaching .
But I don't want to sit and harp on that because I don't like bashing on people's beliefs.
My other biggest complaint was I felt like I was only given partial information. "Here is how to harvest your garden!" (Gives information on three plants)
This book did have some good advice and recipes 👌 so all in all, I wasn't bad. Just middle of the road. I think ultimately it suffered from me having already reading better -more informal- homesteading books (please check out Attainable Sustainable The Lost Art Of Self-Reliant Living, and Forgotten Skills Of The Mormon Pioneers)
I'm not mad I read it but won't be adding to my library.
And that's fine - I'm something of a Christian myself - but it was laid on just a little too thick. There is a difference between sharing a testimony and full-on preaching .
But I don't want to sit and harp on that because I don't like bashing on people's beliefs.
My other biggest complaint was I felt like I was only given partial information. "Here is how to harvest your garden!" (Gives information on three plants)
This book did have some good advice and recipes 👌 so all in all, I wasn't bad. Just middle of the road. I think ultimately it suffered from me having already reading better -more informal- homesteading books (please check out Attainable Sustainable The Lost Art Of Self-Reliant Living, and Forgotten Skills Of The Mormon Pioneers)
I'm not mad I read it but won't be adding to my library.
December 25, 2018
There is, inside these pages, a book-ton of helpful information for learning how to live more naturally and do things from scratch easily. I already make a lot of things myself; but even for me, there is useful information here to help me expand my knowledge on this journey into a more and more natural lifestyle. There are charts for when fruits and veggies are in season, when you should sow seeds, and when you can harvest your produce; there are recipes for cleaners, preserving, cooking, and skincare; there is a chapter on how to raise livestock. This book is a great guide for learning to do things in the pioneering fashion for all aspects of your life. Looking forward to getting into Melissas' Hand Made book next.
February 1, 2017
Because of the small size of this book, it is really more of an introduction or motivational book than a real "how-to" book. The best part for me was the author's stories of her own "made-from-scratch" life and her experiences with homesteading. She did include some recipes, guidelines, etc, but there is no way she could give complete information on gardening, canning, raising livestock, etc in this one book. It can serve as a great introduction and lead readers to explore more deeply those subjects they are most interested in. Definitely an enjoyable and encouraging read, with some good recipes and tips.
February 21, 2018
A lot of really good information in this book and I’ve marked and high-lighted a lot of it for referencing later. I can’t wait to try some of the recipes and tips in here.
Only downside (for me) is all the bible verses and heavy handed God/Jesus/Christian stories and pushing. I don’t mind the stories of her life/experiences and her faith but all the extra do this and that with god to get that was rather annoying. None of that took away from my joy and learning from the author and her wealth of knowledge of how to start homesteading.
Only downside (for me) is all the bible verses and heavy handed God/Jesus/Christian stories and pushing. I don’t mind the stories of her life/experiences and her faith but all the extra do this and that with god to get that was rather annoying. None of that took away from my joy and learning from the author and her wealth of knowledge of how to start homesteading.
March 16, 2021
If you are not religious in any way you may get annoyed with how the author frequently mentions passages of Scripture. But if you are a Christian, as I am, you may enjoy this! Often it feels like a writer will twist Scripture to fit their message but I think Melissa did a good job of finding appropriate passages.
She gives a lot of practical info for people who have little or no experience with various aspects of homesteading. I live in Ontario Canada so some of her advice is not very practical or useful for me, but the book was still interesting.
She gives a lot of practical info for people who have little or no experience with various aspects of homesteading. I live in Ontario Canada so some of her advice is not very practical or useful for me, but the book was still interesting.
October 6, 2021
While it’s probably not for someone who wants a comprehensive reference on gardening, canning, etc. I did enjoy the blend of narrative and practical information. It made it much more readable than several of the other books on this topic that I’ve attempted this year. And for someone who grew up making things in other areas, like sewing, much of this sounded quite attainable for an average small town suburban person. (Except the chickens.)
January 11, 2023
This book was good but I wasn’t super duper impressed. I don’t know, I can’t explain it. I guess I expected more? Not sure. But trust me, it wasn’t bad at all. It’s definitely a beginner-friendly book and it has a few simple and basic recipes included.
If you are not a religious person, do know it is quite heavy on religious comments. Not a big deal at all for me, but I wasn’t expecting that.
Overall, it’s a good resource book to have handy.
If you are not a religious person, do know it is quite heavy on religious comments. Not a big deal at all for me, but I wasn’t expecting that.
Overall, it’s a good resource book to have handy.
April 24, 2023
“I can share changes we’ve made that have had a positive outcome, but I shouldn’t condemn someone who doesn’t eat or cook the way I do.”
A humble collection of one homesteader’s recipes, advice, and connection to faith. With supportive scriptures, family stories, and her personal expertise on from scratch cooking, Melissa gently encourages a more natural and independent lifestyle for any level of homestead.
A humble collection of one homesteader’s recipes, advice, and connection to faith. With supportive scriptures, family stories, and her personal expertise on from scratch cooking, Melissa gently encourages a more natural and independent lifestyle for any level of homestead.
July 21, 2023
Such a sweet little book!
It was a lot more devotional/spiritual than I thought it would be. But it was super practical too. I loved that balance, and nothing in it was inaccurate spiritually (even though she kept it pretty light).
Great recipes, great chapter breakdowns.. cute personal stories. Excited to read more of her books. This was the first I’ve read of her, and it was a paper copy from my local library.
It was a lot more devotional/spiritual than I thought it would be. But it was super practical too. I loved that balance, and nothing in it was inaccurate spiritually (even though she kept it pretty light).
Great recipes, great chapter breakdowns.. cute personal stories. Excited to read more of her books. This was the first I’ve read of her, and it was a paper copy from my local library.
September 1, 2020
This is a fantastic read. Although it appears on the surface to be an informational text, it is also beautifully written and the information is shared through real life stories. I have to keep it downstairs near the kitchen as a reference, but not in the kitchen because it is too good of a book to get it dirty!
January 17, 2021
I’m actually not sure how to review this book.
Some parts were good. It wasn’t terrible.
But. I’m not a religious person, and I truly believe to each their own, I would never judge someone on their beliefs etc. however, for me personally, there was a lot of God speak which put me off.
Again, to each their own, but this book was not for me I’m afraid.
Some parts were good. It wasn’t terrible.
But. I’m not a religious person, and I truly believe to each their own, I would never judge someone on their beliefs etc. however, for me personally, there was a lot of God speak which put me off.
Again, to each their own, but this book was not for me I’m afraid.
January 24, 2023
I love the concepts of making from scratch and the overview of many areas. Although the format did not work for me as a reference book so i am not sure that I will come back to this
I found the religious view point turned me off although I did appreciate how she incorrporated her spiritual faith into her daily life views.
I found the religious view point turned me off although I did appreciate how she incorrporated her spiritual faith into her daily life views.
January 3, 2025
Great book! The comparison of simple living to being parallel to following Christ was beautiful! Helped me remember that even in my small steps of tending a garden and cooking a home meal I’m honoring Christ.
It’s well written and gave great recipes and tips throughout each subject matter to be able to strengthen basic skills I already possessed. Easy read, read in one day!
It’s well written and gave great recipes and tips throughout each subject matter to be able to strengthen basic skills I already possessed. Easy read, read in one day!
September 10, 2017
This book is written for absolute newbies in the area of raising livestock, gardening and canning. There are a few recipes for "from scratch" food and cleaning products. And Christian platitudes are sprinkled throughout.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews