Land is often known by the names of past owners. "Emma's Land", "Gina's quarter", and "the Ingeborg Land" are reminders of the many women who homesteaded across North Dakota in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Land in Her Own Name records these homesteaders' experiences as revealed in interviews with surviving homesteaders and their families and friends, land records, letters, and diaries. These women's fascinating accounts tell of locating a claim, erecting a shelter, and living on the prairie. Their ethnic backgrounds include Yankee, Scandinavian, German, and German-Russian, as well as African-American, Jewish, and Lebanese. Some were barely twenty-one, while others had reached their sixties. A few lived on their land for life and "never borrowed a cent against it"; others sold or rented the land to start a small business or to provide money for education.
## Homesteaders of the North Dakota Prairie Your Definitive Guide to Sustainable Living Embark on a life-transforming journey with "Homesteaders of the North Dakota Prairie," the ultimate eBook for those yearning to embrace a self-sufficient, sustainable lifestyle. Whether you're a novice or an experienced homesteader, this comprehensive guide is your passport to mastering the art of living off the land in one of America's most rugged and rewarding landscapes. ### Inside This Masterful Guide #### *Introduction to Sustainable Homesteading* Discover the magnetic allure of the North Dakota Prairie and delve into the principles of self-sufficiency and sustainability. Understand the rich history of homesteading in the Great Plains and how it can inspire your modern-day efforts. #### *Planning Your Homestead* From selecting the perfect plot of land to designing a sustainable layout and navigating zoning laws, this chapter provides all the tools you need to bring your homestead dream to life, including crucial budgeting advice. #### *Building Your Sustainable Home* Learn about eco-friendly building materials, passive solar design, energy-efficient systems, and water conservation methods that ensure your home is both environmentally sustainable and comfortable. #### *Creating a Self-Sustaining Garden* Unlock the secrets to maintaining soil health, choosing climate-resilient crops, and employing organic gardening techniques for year-round vegetable production. #### *Raising Livestock for Sustainability* Select the right livestock, manage pasture and resources efficiently, and implement sustainable fencing and shelter solutions to create a harmonious farmstead. #### *Renewable Energy Solutions* Harness the power of solar, wind, and alternative energy storage options to make your homestead energy-independent and resilient. #### *Water Management* Master the techniques of well maintenance, rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, and efficient irrigation practices essential for prairie living. #### *Food Preservation Techniques* Ensure your bounty lasts through root cellaring, canning, drying, fermentation, and more, turning your harvest into a year-round feast. #### *Sustainable Foraging and Hunting* Ethically gather and preserve wild game and edible plants, enriching your diet and deepening your connection to the land. #### *Home-Based Businesses for Homesteaders* Explore diverse opportunities to monetize your homestead, from crafting to agritourism and leveraging online marketplaces. #### *Building Community in Isolation* Network with fellow homesteaders, engage in bartering, skill-sharing, and community events to foster a supportive environment even in remote settings. #### *Preparing for Extreme Weather* Equip yourself with robust structures, winterizing techniques, and emergency preparedness strategies to withstand North Dakota’s harshest conditions. #### *Maintaining Mental and Physical Health* Balance solitude with social interaction, integrate physical activity, and adopt mindfulness practices to sustain health and well-being. #### *Homestead Education and Resources* Find an array of educational resources, from books and online courses to local extension offices and mentorship programs that support your homesteading journey. #### *Long-Term Sustainability and Legacy Planning* Pass down your hard-earned knowledge and plan for a sustainable future, ensuring that your homestead thrives for generations to come. "Homesteaders of the North Dakota Prairie" is more than a guide; it's a blueprint for living a fulfilling, self-reliant life. Embrace the prairie, and let your homesteading adventure begin!
Land of the Burnt Thigh tells the story of two sisters from a comfortable family in the Eastern United States, braving great perils to settle in the West. This book tells a simple yet inspiring tale of the hardships and adversity encountered by women in the pioneer culture of the 19th century. South Dakota was one of the States newly populated by adventurous peoples wishing to settle the great Western expanse. At the time, the federal government allowed settlers to keep a parcel of land for their own on the condition that they remained resident for eight consecutive months. The adverse weather, of snowstorms and blowing sands, tests the ability of the women who must endure these months in a spartan wooden shack. This edition of Land of the Burnt Thigh contains the original illustrations by Stephen J. Voorhies. "Interesting in its spirit and atmosphere, and it is told simply and well. . . This is an unusual record, well worth reading." - New York Times Book Review "Mrs. Kohl has told this story of South Dakota with a simplicity, a directness, and an understanding of its quietly heroic element which make her book an appealing as well as a significant contribution to the latter-day history of the pioneers." - Saturday Review
Wow!Great job of bringing this man [Tom] and his times to lifeDefinitely a winner! Megan Smolenyak, chief genealogist for Ancestry.com, author of Who Do You Think You Are?, and consultant to the TV series of the same name. Millions of settlers flocked westward for homesteads, taking advantage of the free land opened to settlement by the expanding railroads. Few remained there, but author Judy Cooks family never lost faith in the land. Cooks Dakota roots inspire this compelling story of her grandparents homesteading experiences in North Dakota. If This Land Could Talk provides a riveting look at three generations of life on the northern plains, where Cook spent her formative years. Her candid portrayal brings to life her four grandparents, who carved a living from the inhospitable prairie, and her parents, who continued to farm on the same land. She offers a poignant yet entertaining glimpse into her ancestors daily lives. The author recounts growing up on the same land in the 1950s, shaped by a way of life long since vanished. Based on meticulous research, personal experiences, and stories passed from family to family, If This Land Could Talk resonates with a powerful sense of place, an enduring love of the land, and reverence for the family.
U.S. History is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of most introductory courses. The text provides a balanced approach to U.S. history, considering the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the United States from both the top down (politics, economics, diplomacy) and bottom up (eyewitness accounts, lived experience). U.S. History covers key forces that form the American experience, with particular attention to issues of race, class, and gender.
In 1894, 18-year-old Rachel Kahn traveled from Russia to the U.S. for an arranged marriage to Abraham Calof. As North Dakota homesteaders, Rachel and Abraham carved out a life, enduring many hardships. Never sentimental, her memoir is a vital record of their struggle and triumph on the frontier. Features an Epilogue by Rachel's son, Jacob. Photos.
Jill Winger, creator of the award-winning blog The Prairie Homestead, introduces her debut The Prairie Homestead Cookbook, including 100+ delicious, wholesome recipes made with fresh ingredients to bring the flavors and spirit of homestead cooking to any kitchen table. With a foreword by bestselling author Joel Salatin The Pioneer Woman Cooks meets 100 Days of Real Food, on the Wyoming prairie. While Jill produces much of her own food on her Wyoming ranch, you don’t have to grow all—or even any—of your own food to cook and eat like a homesteader. Jill teaches people how to make delicious traditional American comfort food recipes with whole ingredients and shows that you don’t have to use obscure items to enjoy this lifestyle. And as a busy mother of three, Jill knows how to make recipes easy and delicious for all ages. "Jill takes you on an insightful and delicious journey of becoming a homesteader. This book is packed with so much easy to follow, practical, hands-on information about steps you can take towards integrating homesteading into your life. It is packed full of exciting and mouth-watering recipes and heartwarming stories of her unique adventure into homesteading. These recipes are ones I know I will be using regularly in my kitchen." - Eve Kilcher These 109 recipes include her family’s favorites, with maple-glazed pork chops, butternut Alfredo pasta, and browned butter skillet corn. Jill also shares 17 bonus recipes for homemade sauces, salt rubs, sour cream, and the like—staples that many people are surprised to learn you can make yourself. Beyond these recipes, The Prairie Homestead Cookbook shares the tools and tips Jill has learned from life on the homestead, like how to churn your own butter, feed a family on a budget, and experience all the fulfilling satisfaction of a DIY lifestyle.
"Homesteading the Plains offers a bold new look at the history of homesteading, overturning what for decades has been the orthodox scholarly view. The authors begin by noting the striking disparity between the public's perception of homesteading as a cherished part of our national narrative and most scholars' harshly negative and dismissive treatment. Homesteading the Plains reexamines old data and draws from newly available digitized records to reassess the current interpretation's four principal tenets: homesteading was a minor factor in farm formation, with most Western farmers purchasing their land; most homesteaders failed to prove up their claims; the homesteading process was rife with corruption and fraud; and homesteading caused Indian land dispossession. Using data instead of anecdotes and focusing mainly on the nineteenth century, Homesteading the Plainsdemonstrates that the first three tenets are wrong and the fourth only partially true. In short, the public's perception of homesteading is perhaps more accurate than the one scholars have constructed. Homesteading the Plainsprovides the basis for an understanding of homesteading that is startlingly different from current scholarly orthodoxy. "--
