Country Living Archives - Rainy River Homesteaders

March Means Mud… And Ant Scouts

2 Mar, 26

March in northwestern Ontario means melting snow, muddy boots, and…

How to Scout Foraging Spots Before the Snow Is Gone

25 Feb, 26

Late winter might look empty, but it’s the best time…

I Know It’s Going to Snow Again — But I’m Planning Anyway

16 Feb, 26

It’s 6°C and raining in mid-February, and even though I…

Why I’m Printing My Own Wall Art Instead of Buying It

14 Feb, 26

Store-bought wall art never quite feels like home, so I…

The Day I Realized Self-Sufficiency Is Mostly Just Problem Solving

11 Feb, 26

I used to think self-sufficiency meant having everything figured out.…

HP Instant Ink Makes Way More Sense Now That I’m Printing on Canvas

9 Feb, 26

I’ve been making my own picture frames and printing canvas…

What I Learned Coming Home Empty-Handed (Chaga Edition)

5 Feb, 26

A February walk looking for chaga turned into three hours…

Why I Don’t Panic When Things Go Wrong Anymore

2 Feb, 26

Things don’t fall apart constantly out here, but when something…

Little Things That Instantly Improve a Winter Day

22 Jan, 26

Winter doesn’t have to be enjoyable to be manageable. These…

Why January Feels Longer Than Any Other Month

6 Jan, 26

January always feels like it’s been here longer than it…

2025: A Year of Homestead Wins, Chaos & Gratitude

31 Dec, 25

2025 on the homestead was full of muddy boots, surprise…

Life Through a Trail Cam: What Wildlife Taught Me About Patience

11 Nov, 25

From curious foxes to midnight bears, my trail cam captures…

How to Tell If You’re Addicted to the Smell of Wood Smoke

7 Nov, 25

There’s something about that first curl of wood smoke that…

Into the Back Forty: Setting a Deer Cam Where No One’s Been Before

28 Oct, 25

Join me and my son as we head deep into…

The First Freeze Panic: When You Realize You Forgot the Garden Hose (Again)

16 Oct, 25

The first freeze always sneaks up on me. One day…

Chipmunks in Overdrive: Hoarding Like It’s the End of the World

30 Sep, 25

Fall on the homestead wouldn’t be the same without chipmunks…

Taking Kids Hunting: My 7-Year-Old’s First Grouse and Why It Matters

23 Sep, 25

Taking my 7-year-old hunting in WMU 10 was more than…

Venison Prep 101: What to Do Before Deer Season

13 Sep, 25

Deer season doesn’t start in the stand—it starts with prep.…

The Quiet Life: Finding Peace on a Busy Homestead

25 Aug, 25

Quiet on a homestead isn’t silence—it’s balance. From rooster crows…

Coloring Outside The Lines: How Adult Coloring Can Help You Relax

23 Jul, 25

Adulting is stressful. Meetings, appliances that scream, and don’t get…

The Forager’s First Aid Kit: What to Pack When You Inevitably Get Stung, Bitten, or Scratched

10 Jul, 25

Every forager ends up scratched, bitten, or stung eventually. In…

The Emergency Binder I Haven’t Made (Because Life Keeps Laughing at My Plans)

8 Jun, 25

I kept meaning to make an emergency binder… until the…

Summer Foraging in Northwestern Ontario: What to Look For in June and July

6 Jun, 25

June and July are prime foraging months in Northwestern Ontario.…

Trapping Raccoons and Skunks: Old-Time Wisdom for the Modern Homesteader

15 May, 25

Got raccoons raiding your corn or skunks setting up under…

How to Predator-Proof a Chicken Coop (Without Building a Fortress)

22 Apr, 25

If you’ve ever yelled at a raccoon in your pajamas,…

Thinking About Leaving the City? Try This 30-Day Homesteading Challenge First

14 Apr, 25

Thinking about ditching city life for something quieter, simpler, and…

What Is Cottagecore and How It Connects to Real-Life Homesteading

6 Apr, 25

Cottagecore may romanticize rural life, but actual homesteading is where…

Sustainable Snacking: Things I Forage, Dry, and Stash for Later (Instead of Buying Crinkly Plastic Packs)

5 Apr, 25

Why buy shrink-wrapped snacks when nature’s pantry is overflowing? I…

How Foraging Ruined Grocery Shopping for Me Forever

4 Apr, 25

Foraging changed how I eat, shop, and see food. After…

Foraging with Kids: Chaos, Curiosity & Cattails

31 Mar, 25

Foraging with kids is equal parts wild adventure and total…

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