Grow it. Make it. Preserve it. Gardening, homemade preserves and practical skills for a more handmade life
The Handmade Way follows my family’s journey into gardening, preserving, foraging and learning practical skills that help us make more and buy a little less.
Like many people, I became more interested in where our food comes from after COVID — what is actually on the label, how far it has travelled to reach our plates, and whether I could make something better myself. What started as curiosity soon became a desire to make our family a little more self-reliant and better connected to the food we eat.
On this site, you’ll find tried-and-tested recipes — even the kids liked them — practical how-to guides, and honest “well, this happened” stories from our attempts to learn new skills.
We certainly do not get everything right, but that is part of the journey as we keep crafting independence, one skill at a time.
New to Preserving?
What Is Pectin and Do You Really Need It for Jam?
If you’ve ever made jam at home, you’ve probably come across the word pectin. And maybe you’ve wondered (potentialy out…
How Do You Know When Jam Is Ready?
There is a moment in jam making where everything suddenly becomes a bit uncertain. The fruit has softened.The sugar has…
Preserve Making for Beginners: Books, Tools and Easy First Recipes
Preserve making can feel intimidating at first. What kind of preserve should I make? What jars do I need? How…
Latest from The Handmade Way
Do You Need Lemon Juice in Jam? What Acid Actually Does
Why do so many jam recipes include lemon juice? Learn what acidity actually does, how it helps pectin set and…
How I Made Homemade Pear Wine From Fresh Pears
Faced with a glut of pears, I decided to try something different and turn them into homemade pear wine. Here’s…
How Long Does Homemade Jam Last? Opened, Unopened and Low-Sugar Jam
How long can you keep homemade jam? Learn how storage changes once the jar is opened, why low-sugar jam keeps…
Latest from YouTube
One of my favourite sauces I’ve made; sweet chilli sauce! Goes on EVERYTHING!!!
Printable Labels
Make your homemade jars look the part with my free printable labels and receive future recipes and downloads by email.