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Heritage Skills

Heritage Skills is a collection of traditional knowledge, seasonal practices, and practical skills rooted in a closer connection to the land. From foraging wild foods and tending gardens to homestead projects and self-sufficiency, these are the lessons, techniques, and traditions that continue to shape a more intentional way of living.

  • Brown snake curled on a stacked woodpile, highlighting common hiding places for snakes around the home and homestead.
    10 Natural Snake Repellents That Actually Work (And a Few That Don’t)
  • Autumn leaves on the ground
    How to Make & Use Leaf Mold
  • Fresh produce from a self sufficient garden
    10 Essential Crops for a Self Sufficient Garden
  • Determining How Much to Plant Per Person
  • Cover Crops & Their Benefits
  • Ultimate Guide to Planting Trees in The Fall
  • Fresh vegetables on a kitchen counter
    Essential Tools for a Self-Sufficient Kitchen: What You Really Need
  • How to Render Lard
  • Raising Geese on The Homestead
  • A stack of homesteading books on a table
    19 Homesteading Books Every Homesteader Needs
  • Rustic flatlay of homemade Christmas gifts on a wooden table, including a jar of jam with a “Merry Christmas” tag, wrapped presents tied with twine, a small beeswax candle, sugar scrub in a mason jar, and evergreen sprigs.
    32 Handmade Christmas Gifts for a Simple, Old-Fashioned Holiday
  • American cottontail rabbit in a vegetable garden
    Best Natural Rabbit Repellent Tips for Your Garden
  • Ripe plums on a plum tree
    Planning Your Small Homestead Orchard
  • Cinnamon orange cold process soap topped with oranges and cinnamon sticks
    A Beginner’s Guide to Cold Process Soap Making
  • Potatoes in a box
    Storing Potatoes Long Term Without a Root Cellar
  • Handmade tallow candles in amber glass jars with a rustic pillar candle and a spoonful of rendered tallow, styled with pinecones and warm fabric for a cozy, old-world aesthetic.
    How to Make Tallow Candles
  • Seed organizer on a table full of vegetable garden seeds
    The Best Seed Organizer & Seed Storage Solution
  • image featuring natural squirrel repellents arranged on a rustic wooden surface. Items include a small bowl of cayenne pepper, an amber spray bottle, fresh mint leaves, and a scattering of black peppercorns. Soft, dramatic lighting emphasizes the natural textures and earthy tones, creating a practical and inviting setup for home and garden pest control.
    Best Natural Squirrel Repellent Ideas for Home
  • Close-up of handmade wax fire starters in natural parchment liners, featuring pinecones, dried lavender, and cinnamon sticks. A warm, rustic setting with soft linen and green fabric in the background.
    How to Make Natural DIY Wax Fire Starters
  • A glazed earthenware bowl filled with light grey wood ash sits on a dark wooden table, surrounded by dried flowers, a soft linen cloth, and neatly stacked handmade black soap bars. A warm, flickering fireplace glows in the background, creating a cozy, rustic atmosphere. The scene evokes old-world traditions and the many practical uses of wood ash in home and craft.
    40 Practical & Unexpected Uses for Wood Ash in the Home and Garden
  • A rustic wooden table with eco-friendly items for a plastic-free lifestyle, including glass jars, a reusable water bottle, a cloth produce bag with fresh fruits and vegetables, and a bamboo toothbrush, illuminated by natural light.
    Embracing a Plastic-Free Lifestyle: Simple Steps for a More Sustainable Life
  • A cozy, rustic living room with a stone fireplace that is uncluttered and minimalistic while still maintaining its homey feel
    How to Become a Minimalist |32 Tips to Live With Less
  • 20 Slow Living Tips to Embrace Peace and Enjoy Life Fully
  • Flock of chickens outdoors
    Protecting Your Flock: Natural Remedies for Chicken Fleas, Lice, and Mites
  • A smoldering candle with rising smoke, set against a moody backdrop with antlers and pinecones—capturing the essence of non-electric lighting and off-grid survival.
    How to Light Your Home Without Electricity (Practical Off-Grid Lighting That Doesn’t Suck)
  • 25 Essential Survival Skills for Kids: Preparing Your Child for the Great Outdoors
  • highlighting the joy and simplicity of self-sufficient living, with a basket of fresh produce, jars of home-canned goods
    25 Simple Ways to Embrace Self-Sufficient Living and Reduce Reliance on Supermarkets
  • Free ranging chickens exploring the yard
    The Joys and Challenges of Free Ranging Chickens: Finding the Best Fit for Your Flock
  • Canned goods organized in a rustic pantry for frugal homestead living
    How to Save Money While Homesteading: 20 Practical Frugal Homesteading Tips
  • a quaint farmhouse, a garden, and a chicken coop.
    25 Practical Tips to Live Off the Land and Build a Meaningful Life
  • An overhead shot of a bunch of hands coming together to show the importance of community
    The Myth of Self-Sufficiency: Embracing Community for a Balanced Homesteading Journey
  • Chickens in a chicken coop in the winter
    Winter Chicken Coop Lighting Tips: Boost Egg Production During Short Days
  • A collection of freshly harvested vegetables, and canned goods laid out on a rustic wooden table, representing the fruits of self-sufficiency skills.
    Essential Self-Sufficiency Skills: Your Guide to Independent Living
  • A cozy, well-insulated nesting box filled with straw and a few fresh eggs nestled inside
    How to Keep Chicken Eggs from Freezing: Winter Care Tips for Your Flock
  • A black australorp chicken walking in the snow.
    10 Essential Tips for Keeping Chickens Warm in Winter: A Guide for Happy, Healthy Flocks
  • 15 Homesteading Skills to Master This Winter for Cozy, Productive Days
  • 6 Essential Tips to Prevent Frostbite in Chickens This Winter
  • Mouse on the ground with leaves in the background.
    Effective Natural Mouse Prevention: Simple Tips to Keep Mice Out of Your Home
  • Meat rabbits in hutch.
    Essential Tips for Adding Meat Rabbits to Your Homestead: What You Need to Know
  • Blue otter rex meat rabbit in a pen with hay.
    Why You Should Raise Backyard Meat Rabbits: 12 Essential Benefits for Homesteaders

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About

Elle McCoy, author of The Rustic Elk, with long wavy hair reflected in an ornate vintage mirror, sitting at a candlelit vanity with makeup brushes, perfume, and dried flowers.

Hi, I'm Elle.

I'm a storyteller, photographer, and home cook who believes the best memories are often made around the table.

Here you'll find seasonal recipes, wild game, garden harvests, preserving traditions, and stories gathered along the way. Because good food is about more than what we eat. It's about the places we've been, the people we've gathered around our tables, and the moments that linger long after the plates are cleared.


→ Meet Elle

Currently...

📖 Reading: The Witch by Freida McFadden
🎵 Listening: Of Witches & Wretched Things
Savoring: Apple butter whiskey sours & the last little bit of October magic. 🍂
🌿 Growing: Herbs on the windowsill and chrysanthemums on the stoop
🗺️ Planning: Cozy autumn days, a little kitchen magic & surviving the semester
📺Watching: Working my way through the Friday the 13th films after binging Camp Crystal Lake.

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Recently...

  • Homemade canned peach pie filling in Ball mason jars made with fresh peaches, Clear Jel, cinnamon, and vanilla using a safe water bath canning recipe.
    Canning Peach Pie Filling
  • Wooden pantry shelves filled with homemade canned tomatoes, green beans, jams, and preserves in mason jars.
    The Ultimate Guide to Home Canning & Preserving

Recent Favorites

  • Slewfoot by Brom
  • Maeve Fly by CJ Leede
  • We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
  • The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

Listen with Me

☾
“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.”
— William Shakespeare, Macbeth

Found Along the Way

A good paring knife doesn't ask for much attention, but it earns its place every single day. From peeling peaches to hulling strawberries and slicing garlic, it's the one tool I reach for without thinking.

Find it Here ->

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Building a life smelling of wild herbs and quiet rebellion since 2016.

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