Sustainable Cooking on the Homestead

Here at Freedom Forest Farm, we believe that sustainable cooking is at the heart of homesteading. It’s all about working with nature, reducing waste, and making the most out of everything we grow, forage, and raise. As the seasons change and we head into fall, there’s no better time to focus on how we can prepare hearty, healthy meals while utilizing our environment.

So, let’s dive into the art of sustainable cooking and how you can apply it to your homestead kitchen!

Seasonal Ingredients for Maximum Flavor

One of the best parts of homesteading is cooking with what’s fresh and in season. If you’ve ever picked a ripe tomato straight from the vine or harvested your own herbs, you know how much better it tastes than anything from the store. Seasonal ingredients are not only packed with flavor but are also better for the environment, as they don’t have to be transported long distances.

Right now, fall veggies like squash, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens are hitting their peak. These versatile ingredients make for some delicious stews, casseroles, and even baked goods. At Freedom Forest Farm, we love a good sweet potato pie—homemade from scratch, of course! Make it a point to search for some recipes to use up what’s in season right now – whether you’re growing it yourself or buying from your local farmer’s market.

Preserve Like a Pro

Harvest season is in full swing, and it’s time to stock up for the winter months. One of the oldest homesteading traditions is preserving your bounty to last through the cold season. Whether it’s canning tomatoes, drying herbs, or fermenting cabbage into sauerkraut, preserving ensures nothing goes to waste.

We recently spent a few weekends canning batches of salsa and pickles. It’s a time-consuming process, but knowing we have shelves lined with homegrown goodness makes it all worthwhile. Plus, there’s nothing like popping open a jar of your own canned peaches in the middle of winter! Canning and preserving is a skill you can learn to master during this Fall season… it’s cooler outside, so stay cozy in your kitchen while you build up your pantry.

Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose

On a homestead, we know that nothing should go to waste, especially in the kitchen. Leftover veggies can become a rich broth, potato peels can be fried into crunchy snacks, and eggshells can be ground up and added to the garden as fertilizer.

Here’s a fun challenge for you: the next time you’re about to toss those carrot tops, save them! Carrot tops make a delicious pesto when blended with garlic, olive oil, and nuts. Waste not, want not!

Off-Grid Cooking: Make the Most of Every Heat Source

Many homesteaders are looking to reduce their reliance on electricity and gas by embracing alternative cooking methods. If you’re not already using a wood stove or solar oven, it might be time to consider it! We love firing up the wood stove on cool fall nights, letting our stews simmer low and slow.

If you’ve got a wood stove, try baking bread in a cast iron pot right in the fire—nothing beats the taste of homemade bread with a touch of wood-fired flavor!

Wild Foraging for Extra Flavor

Did you know that some of the tastiest ingredients might be growing wild right outside your door? Foraging is a fun and sustainable way to add variety to your meals. Right now, mushrooms are popping up all over the forest floor, and with a little knowledge (and safety first!), you can find some incredible flavors to incorporate into your cooking.

At Freedom Forest Farm, we’ve been enjoying a few foraged treats like chanterelles, which add an earthy depth to risottos and pasta dishes. It’s a wonderful way to supplement what we grow with what nature provides. Here in South Carolina, we also have beauty berries to harvest for jam! Research what grows in your area! An app that I love to use to aid me in safely identifying things I can forage is called “PlantIn.” I simply snap a photo of what I’m trying to identify and it brings up possible matches so I can make sure I harvest only what will be useful and safe to bring back home to my kitchen.

From Scratch—The Homestead Way

There’s something deeply satisfying about cooking everything from scratch. Whether it’s baking your own bread, making yogurt, or whipping up jams and jellies, homestead cooking is all about ditching the processed foods and getting back to the basics.

If you’ve never made your own bread, fall is the perfect time to start! It’s easier than you think, and your house will smell amazing. Check out my Sourdough Guide here if you want help getting started,

Small Changes, Big Impact

Sustainable cooking doesn’t have to be complicated. By focusing on seasonal ingredients, reducing waste, preserving your harvest, and using every part of the plant or animal, you can make a big impact on your kitchen’s environmental footprint. Plus, you’ll be eating healthier, tastier meals made with love.

Here at Freedom Forest Farm, we’re always learning and growing, just like our crops. Let’s embrace these sustainable cooking practices and continue to nourish our families and our land. Ready to give it a try?

Stay tuned for more tips, recipes, and homesteading wisdom from our family to yours!