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Here you will find my most recent blog posts. Tough Kraut guides you from city apartments to homesteads. Explore our categories:

Homestead Chronicles: Follow our journey. Read “A Starter’s Guide” for basics or “Life on the Land” for real stories.

Cultivate & Thrive: Grow food anywhere. Try “Homegrown Harvests” for balcony tips or “Building Soil” for yards.

Self-Sufficient Living: Learn off-grid skills. Check “Water Conservation” or “Homesteading & DIY” for practical projects.

Farm Companions: Use animals and plants smartly. Explore “Natural Pest Control” or “Foraging” for free resources.

Permie Pantry: Cook and preserve. Start with “Garden-To-Table Recipes” or “Pickle & Preserve” for easy ideas.

All Posts

Close-up of a metal hammer head separated from its splintered wooden handle on a rough masonry surface.

Safe Demolition Techniques for Stone Walls and Clay Brick Interiors

The first swing of a sledgehammer teaches you two things fast: stone doesn’t forgive, and dust gets everywhere. When we began removing...

Oct 13

Blooming Acca sellowiana branch showing multiple star-like blossoms and felted, gray-green foliage in sunlight.

Feijoa sellowiana (Pineapple Guava)

Pineapple guava is a resilient evergreen shrub native to South America, loved for its aromatic blossoms and tangy-sweet fruits that taste like tropical sherbet. Growing Feijoa sellowiana in Zone 8a offers both ornamental beauty and edible rewards, provided patience and warmth—young trees often focus on root growth before fruiting. Its drought tolerance and dense foliage make it ideal for Mediterranean, off-grid, or wind-prone landscapes.

Oct 12

Cluster of drooping tubular blooms on a hairy-stemmed Comfrey, framed by lance-shaped leaves and bamboo-like foliage in the background.

Symphytum × uplandicum ‘Bocking 14’ (Comfrey)

Comfrey ‘Bocking 14’ is a cornerstone plant in regenerative systems — a deep-rooted dynamic accumulator that mines nutrients from subsoil and returns them to the surface through its lush foliage. Growing comfrey in Zone 8a offers an almost self-sustaining nutrient loop, while its pink-to-lilac blooms draw pollinators into the garden long before many other plants awaken.

Oct 11

October Mediterranean Perennials Guide: Shrubs & Trees to Plant Now

October can be deceiving. The garden looks spent, the wallet feels the pinch, and many assume planting season is over. But here in our...

Oct 10

Small leafy American cranberry bush staked in a meadow, plant label attached, with flowering weeds and soft backlight.

Vaccinium macrocarpon (American Cranberry)

The nursery tag read Vaccinium oxycoccos, but the upright, shrub-like form and glossy leaves show this plant is actually Vaccinium macrocarpon — the American cranberry species. Adapted to cooler temperate climates yet surprisingly tolerant of Mediterranean conditions when moisture is reliable, this evergreen shrub yields tangy red berries prized for sauces, preserves, and antioxidant-rich tonics. Growing Vaccinium macrocarpon in Zone 8a rewards patience: success comes from

Oct 9

Tall clump of pampas grass with cream plumes in the foreground of a rural garden at sunset, scattered clouds in a blue sky.

Cortaderia selloana (Pampas Grass)

Pampas Grass is a vigorous perennial ornamental native to South America, valued for its striking plumes, resilience, and biomass yield. In Mediterranean Zone 8a conditions, Cortaderia selloana thrives as a drought-tolerant, fast-growing plant ideal for greywater filtration, windbreaks, and mulch production. Its deep roots stabilize soil, while its towering tufts create living screens and ecological texture across homestead landscapes.

Oct 8

Low dry-stone wall in a grassy field, piles of pruned branches and mixed evergreens and oaks in the background.

Historical Context and Climate Challenges in Central Portugal

Every piece of land tells a story. Here in Central Portugal, ours begins with granite — stone terraces stacked by hand generations ago,...

Oct 7

Rounded mound of coarse Vetiver grass leaves in a mulched garden patch, with a cactus pad and dried stalks nearby under blue sky.

Chrysopogon zizanioides (Vetiver)

Vetiver is a clumping, deep-rooted perennial grass famed for its soil-stabilizing and water-filtering powers. In Mediterranean Zone 8a gardens, growing Chrysopogon zizanioides adds structure, prevents erosion, and supplies organic mulch material year-round. Its aromatic roots also have traditional medicinal and cosmetic uses, making this a true multifunctional permaculture plant.

Oct 6

Tall fountain-shaped lemongrass clump in a dry field, set against blue sky and farm structures.

Cymbopogon citratus (Lemongrass)

Lemongrass is a clumping tropical grass known for its citrus-scented leaves and stalks, making it both a culinary delight and a natural pest deterrent. Growing Cymbopogon citratus in Zone 8a takes some seasonal adaptation, as plants die back in winter but revive vigorously in spring. Beyond the kitchen, its tall, bright-green tufts also add striking structure to Mediterranean herb gardens.

Oct 5

Wheelbarrow loaded with nursery plants wrapped in green bags and bare-root saplings on a farm track.

October Vegetable Planting: Mediterranean Cool-Season Crops

October doesn’t have to be the end of your garden. In Mediterranean climates, it’s the start of a second wave of abundance. While summer...

Oct 4

Young clementine citrus tree with fresh green leaves surrounded by brown seed heads.

Citrus reticulata 'Fina' (Clementine)

The Citrus reticulata fina is one of the classic clementine mandarins, cherished for its thin peel, seedless fruit, and aromatic blossoms. Growing Clementine in Zone 8a means balancing Mediterranean heat with occasional frost snaps, but with patience, this citrus rewards growers with sweet winter fruit. Even before fruiting, the tree adds evergreen charm and pollinator-friendly blossoms to the orchard.

Oct 3

Single violet bloom emerging from a thin Goji berry branch, set before a soft, beige meadow background.

Lycium barbarum (Goji Berry)

Goji berries are nutrient-rich shrubs celebrated for their bright red berries, packed with antioxidants and often called “superfruits.” Growing Lycium barbarum in Zone 8a offers resilience and long-term reward, though patience is required—fruiting can take 2–3 years. Beyond their berries, they provide habitat for pollinators and structure for food forests.

Oct 2

Assorted bags of dried beans and peas with two seed packets laid out on wooden decking.

What to Plant in October: Complete Mediterranean Garden Guide (Zones 8-11)

October in the Mediterranean is not just another month on the calendar. It’s the sweet spot when summer’s heat finally loosens its grip...

Oct 1

Sunlit young Black Mulberry tree with fresh foliage standing in a rough garden plot, surrounded by weeds and scattered rocks.

Morus nigra (Black Mulberry)

The black mulberry is a long-lived fruit tree celebrated for its rich, tangy-sweet berries and broad shade canopy. Growing Morus nigra in Zone 8a is a rewarding choice for homesteaders: it thrives in Mediterranean soils, adapts to heat and drought once established, and provides a multi-functional harvest for people, pollinators, and wildlife. Though slow to bear, it becomes a centerpiece of the orchard with its round crown and deep green leaves.

Sep 30

Bright yellow bloom and multiple unopened buds of a Evening Primrose on a green stem, shot on a porch where chairs and plant pots are softly visible behind.

Oenothera biennis (Evening Primrose)

Evening primrose is a tall, self-seeding biennial that thrives in Mediterranean Zone 8a conditions. Its bright yellow, night-blooming flowers light up summer evenings, while its seeds yield the renowned evening primrose oil, prized for skin and women’s health. Once planted, it naturalizes easily, filling corners of the homestead with pollinator-friendly blooms.

Sep 29

Rural house with wooden upper walls and granite stone base, surrounded by two olive trees, a fig tree, greenery and scattered rocks.

Buying Land for Off Grid Living: Assessing Stone Structures, Wells, and Location

Buying land for off grid living feels like a dream — until you discover the “charming stone house” leaks like a sieve, the “abundant...

Sep 28

Close-up of bright red strawberry tree berries collected in an improvised mask pouch outdoors.

Arbutus unedo (Strawberry Tree)

The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), also called Medronho in Portugal, is a hardy evergreen shrub or small tree well adapted to Mediterranean climates and USDA Zone 8a. Known for its white urn-shaped flowers and red, bumpy fruits that resemble strawberries, it holds ecological and cultural significance—especially in southern Europe, where its fruit is distilled into the traditional spirit "Aguardente de Medronho." Growing Arbutus unedo in Zone 8a offers not just a drought-tol

Sep 27

Small evergreen Laurus nobilis bush in a dry, weedy patch; behind it are tall ornamental grass plumes and a pale cabin wall under a clear sky.

Laurus nobilis (Bay Laurel)

Bay laurel is a classic Mediterranean evergreen shrub or small tree, famous for its aromatic leaves used in soups, stews, and preserves. Growing Laurus nobilis in Zone 8a demonstrates its resilience: thriving in rocky soils, withstanding full sun, and serving as both a culinary herb and a structural evergreen element in permaculture systems. Its dense growth habit also makes it a useful windbreak, privacy screen, or understory companion in food forests.

Sep 26

Close-up of a ground-hugging stonecrop succulent with pale green leaves and a damaged base in a dry garden bed.

Seasonal Strategies: Establishing Drought-Tolerant Plants for Long-Term Success

When I first landed on our little patch of land in Portugal, I thought the fastest path to a thriving food forest was to plant more...

Sep 25

Citrus unshiu 'Okitsu' (Mandarine)

The Tangerina Okitsu is a prized satsuma mandarin variety, known for its seedless, sweet, and early-ripening fruit. Growing Citrus unshiu 'Okitsu' in Zone 8a offers homesteaders a reliable citrus that tolerates light frost better than many oranges, making it an excellent choice for Mediterranean-style food forests. While patience is required in the early years, Okitsu tangerines shine in flavor and ease of peeling.

Sep 24

Guides, tips, stories or recipes directly from our off-grid homestead. From newbie tips to pro hacks, our posts help you grow smarter, not harder.