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Our Country Life

From scratch, from the garden, from our Idaho homestead — one skill at a time.

  • Recipes
  • Canning
  • Gardening
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  • Country Life
  • Sourdough
  • First Batch — A Beginner’s Guide to Safe & Simple Water Bath Canning

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You don’t have to learn homestead skills the hard way. I’ll show you what actually works.

Simple Living ❤️ Country Style

Country living isn’t measured in acres. It starts with cooking from scratch, growing what you can, preserving something for later, and finding satisfaction in making home feel a little more like home.

Pull up a chair — I’ll share trusted recipes, seasonal garden wisdom, and practical country-living skills that help you create a more homemade life.

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Helping thousands cook from scratch and preserve the harvest.

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    Right Now on the Homestead…

    Eight years I’ve had this rooster weathervane, waiting for its place. This past weekend, Rick finally made it happen. Cupola built, weathervane up. A long-time dream, finished at last. 🐓.

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    👉 New to Our Country Life? Begin Here

    Whether you’re learning to cook from scratch, preserve the harvest, or solve everyday garden challenges, these foundational guides will help you build real homestead skills with confidence.

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    Canning & Preserving

    Safe, Tested, and Pantry-Ready

    From water bath basics to time-tested pickles and relishes, these guides walk you through preserving food safely — without fear, shortcuts, or guesswork.

    👉 Explore Canning & Preserving

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    Sourdough for Real Life

    Simple, Reliable Methods for Home Bakers

    Simple, reliable sourdough methods for real-life kitchens — from creating and maintaining a healthy starter to baking dependable everyday loaves with clarity and confidence.

    👉 Explore Sourdough for Real Life

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    Pantry Basics & From-Scratch Staples

    From Scratch Made Easy

    Homemade staples like coffee creamer, vanilla extract, mustard relish, and more — the kitchen skills that save money and make everyday cooking better.

    👉 Explore Pantry Basics

    Chicken and dumplings in a Dutch oven and bowl — classic homemade comfort food made from scratch

    Comfort Food From Scratch

    Cozy, Reliable Classics

    Recipes that simmer, bake, and warm the house — the kind you make on purpose and pass down. No packets. No rush jobs pretending to be slow food.

    👉 Explore Comfort Food

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    Garden Problems & Fixes

    Straight Answers for Real Gardens

    Powdery mildew, pests, and “why is this happening?” moments — explained simply, with fixes that actually work in home gardens.

    👉 Explore Garden Fixes

    Start with what you need today. Everything else will be here when you’re ready.

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      Most Loved on the Homestead

      These top-rated recipes and canning favorites are the posts readers return to again and again for reliable homestead inspiration.

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      Homemade Coffee Creamer

      Bowl of old-fashioned pickled beets with fork, cinnamon sticks, and spices – tangy and sweet homemade canning recipe

      Old Fashioned Pickled Beets

      Homemade pickled onions twirled on a fork above a bowl, with jars of canned pickled onions in the background — crisp, tangy, and made for country kitchen preserving.

      Canned Pickled Onions

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      Fluffy Mexican Rice

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      Simple living ❤️ Country Style—What Our Country Life Is All About.

      I’m Yvonne—proof that you don’t have to grow up in the country to build a life rooted in its values. From our Idaho homestead, I share trusted from-scratch recipes, safe food-preservation methods, seasonal garden wisdom, and the practical skills I’ve learned along the way.

      At Our Country Life, country living isn’t measured in acres. It’s found in cooking a meal from scratch, growing what you can, preserving something for later, and finding satisfaction in doing more for yourself.

      Whether you have a few garden beds, a kitchen windowsill, or a full homestead, you’ll find approachable ways to create a more homemade, capable, and meaningful life—right where you are.

      Let’s make life sweeter—together!

      Join my newsletter for trusted recipes, seasonal gardening advice, safe preserving tips, and country-living inspiration.

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      Yvonne from our country life

      Hi, I am Yvonne, the blogger of Our Country Life.

      I am dedicated to sharing my passions:

      • Home cooking
      • Gardening
      • Raising animals
      • Country Living

      Together, let’s embrace the charm of old-fashioned living. You’ll be amazed at how fulfilling it can be!

      Learn more about Our Country Life here!

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      • Garden Problems & Fixes: Straight Answers for Real Gardens
      • Sourdough for Real Life: Simple, Reliable Methods for Home Bakers
      • First Batch — A Beginner’s Guide to Safe & Simple Water Bath Canning

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