Beaver.River.Bushcraft

05/05/2026

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. 😂

04/03/2026

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.

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...

03/28/2026

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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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...

03/19/2026

While trawling through old phones, flash drives, and cameras, I found this footage. Interestingly, I had seen a post last week on someone looking for an instructor legit lighting a fire in wet conditions without using a fire-starter aid like duct tape or vaseline-cotton balls. This video is legit, water EVERYWHERE. How to find and process wood and get a fire going when there is a ton of water around you.
This video was recorded about 7 years ago and it is a rough first-attempt. So rough, it put me off recording stuff for several years.
We hope you at least get something out of the real-feel and the technique so you'll know just how little you actually need when you need it.

Making Fire in Wet Woods With a Scout Pocketknife.Too often, creators make it sound like you need a $300 knife and thousands of dollars in gear just to step ...

03/14/2026

Today we dropped our latest video where I reviewed "The Kelly Kettle". I am not a big fan of equipment reviews, but so many I have seen on this piece of gear really missed the mark or were so new that the reviewer had never used it. Check it out here:
https://youtu.be/J8KTPoQsQCE

In this video I review the Kelly Kettle Base Camp, a rugged outdoor water-boiling system designed to run on natural fuels like sticks, pinecones, and dry gra...

03/12/2026

No one said living frugally was easy.
No one said work is free.
Everybody gets to choose their hard.
We choose to buy bulk and spend our time portioning things out.
Today, we chose to spend 2 hours cutting up 5 chickens.
5 chickens cost us $62.50. From that we got:
10 breasts. 10 legs. 10 thighs. 20 wings. A large slow cooker full of scraps to render for broth. We also don't toss out vegetable peels, skins, scraps and if they are in the fridge getting soft, veggies go into a bag in the freezer for just such occasions! In the end, 5 qts of hearty broth canned in the instant pot.
We choose to work and use our time to make sure we KNOW what we're eating.
Gardening comes quick, so we gotta do stuff when we have the opportunity.
What are you doing to eat better and live frugally?

03/03/2026

Ted Dahr , check this out!

**Dry-Canning Potatoes in an Instant Pot | Rebel Canning Method (NOT FDA/HC Approved)**In this video, we demonstrate **dry-canning potatoes using an Instant ...

03/03/2026

Our latest video is up!! Saturday we dry-canned potatoes. Potatoes that won't be soggy or covered in starch like store-bought canned spuds!!

Check it out here:

**Dry-Canning Potatoes in an Instant Pot | Rebel Canning Method (NOT FDA/HC Approved)**In this video, we demonstrate **dry-canning potatoes using an Instant ...

02/28/2026

🥔✨ HOT POTATO ENERGY — but make it shelf-stable! ✨🥔

Let’s talk about the slightly rebellious, wildly satisfying art of DRY-PACK CANNING POTATOES. Yes, you heard me. No water. No brine. Just pure potato glory, living its best pantry life.

Why dry-pack? Because sometimes you want:

🥔 Ready-to-go potatoes for skillet breakfasts faster than you can say “hashbrown queen”
🥔 No soggy sadness — dry-pack keeps the texture firmer and more roast-worthy
🥔 Convenience level: Domestic Wizard — open, heat, crisp, devour

Plus, imagine the smug satisfaction during grocery price hikes when you casually whisper, “Oh these? I canned them myself.”

⚙️ Here’s how we process ours:

👉 Instant Pot (High Pressure) or Pressure Canner (10–12 PSI)
🥔 Pints (500 ml): 35 minutes
🥔 Quarts (1 litre): 40 minutes

Then let them cool, seal, and join the beautiful potato army on your pantry shelf.

⏳ Shelf life?
Expect 1–2 years of peak quality, though honestly they rarely last that long because… potatoes.

🔥 Why people love dry-pack canning vegetables:

• No dilution of flavor
• Better texture for frying and roasting
• Faster meal prep
• Less prep later when you’re tired, hungry, and questioning your life choices at 5pm

⚠️ Now for the official “rebel speech”:
Dry-pack canning is considered “rebel canning” and is not recommended by the FDA. That said… we’ve been doing it in our Instant Pot for years without incident. You do you, boo. Know the risks, use proper pressure and timing, and always inspect your jars before using.

Honestly, there is nothing quite like hearing that PING of a sealing jar and knowing Future You is going to be VERY well fed.

Because nothing says security like a shelf full of potatoes.

02/28/2026