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The Self-Sufficient Backyard is a homesteading book by Ron and Johanna Melchiore, a couple who have lived off the grid for roughly four decades. It promises to show you how to turn an ordinary home and a small plot of land into a productive, largely self-sufficient homestead. We reviewed the official product page, the book’s published details and what real readers say about it to help you decide if it belongs on your shelf.

Who are Ron and Johanna Melchiore?

Ron (originally from Philadelphia) and Johanna Melchiore went “back to the land” in the late 1970s. Over about 40 years they built three off-grid homesteads, including a remote fly-in property in northern Saskatchewan, and they are now based in Nova Scotia. They have never had a grid power connection to their home and generate electricity with solar and wind. Ron has also written about homesteading for Mother Earth News, where the book is sold in the official store — a good sign of credibility in this niche.

What’s inside the book

The book is built around a sketch of a quarter-acre homestead designed to support a family of four, which you can scale down to your own space. According to the official page, it covers:

• Planning a small homestead and choosing land
• Growing most of your food on roughly 1,000 sq ft per person using their methods
• Water: rainwater collection, wells and hand pumps
• Off-grid and hybrid solar/wind power basics (batteries, controllers, inverters)
• Simple off-grid hot water ideas
• Root cellars and preserving food without electricity
• Raising chickens and keeping bees
• Building a year-round greenhouse, cold frames and an earth-tube heating option
• Natural pest control using birds and bats instead of pesticides
• “Easy on the back” gardening for older homesteaders
• A medicinal herb garden with seven key plants
• Composting, seed saving and orchard planning
• Small crops for extra income, like microgreens
• 75+ DIY projects and 100+ money-saving tips

The three digital bonuses

• The Aquaponic Gardener — raising fish and vegetables together in one system
• DIY Projects from the 1900s — old-time skills such as smokehouses, charcoal water filters and root cellars
• Where Free Land Can Still Be Found in the US — an overview of land programs (always verify current rules locally)

What readers say

Reader feedback is largely positive. Reviewers frequently praise the garden planning, food preservation and diagrams, and appreciate that the advice comes from people who actually lived it — including what didn’t work. The most common criticisms are:

• Breadth over depth: it introduces many topics, but whole books exist on each one (solar power, beekeeping, aquaponics).
• Cold-climate perspective: much of the authors’ experience comes from Maine and Saskatchewan, so warm-climate readers may need to adapt some advice.
• Marketing: some buyers disliked follow-up promotional emails from the seller.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Written by authors with ~40 years of real off-grid experience
• Covers almost every area of homesteading in one book
• Practical illustrations, diagrams and step-by-step projects
• Designed for small properties and older or back-sensitive gardeners
• Three useful digital bonuses
• 60-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• Overview level — you’ll need specialist books for advanced projects
• Sales page overpromises compared with the measured tone of the book
• Cold-climate bias in some sections
• Print edition adds shipping costs

Price and guarantee

Who should buy it?

Buy it if you are new to homesteading, have a small to medium property (or just a suburban backyard), and want a single, practical reference that shows how the pieces — food, water, energy and storage — fit together.

Skip it if you already homestead and want deep technical detail on one subject, such as designing a full solar system or advanced animal husbandry. In that case, a specialist book will serve you better.

Frequently asked questions

Is The Self-Sufficient Backyard legit?

Yes. It’s a real, published book by experienced homesteaders, sold through an established retailer and also stocked by Mother Earth News.

Can I really be self-sufficient on a quarter acre?

The authors’ plan shows how a well-designed quarter acre can produce a large share of a family’s food. Full self-sufficiency depends on your climate, effort, skills and diet, so treat it as a goal to work toward step by step.

Is it useful if I live in the suburbs?

Yes. Many projects — raised beds, container gardening, composting, food preservation and money-saving tips — work on a small lot. Always check local rules for chickens, bees and rainwater collection.

Final verdict

The Self-Sufficient Backyard is a well-rounded, experience-based introduction to homesteading that delivers solid value for beginners and small-property owners. Ignore the hype on the sales page: the real strength of the book is its practical, tested advice. If you want one book to map out your path to a more self-reliant home, it’s an easy recommendation.

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The Medicinal Garden Kit is a bundle of seeds for 10 herbs traditionally used in home remedies, plus a guide that shows you how to grow them and turn them into teas, tinctures and salves. It’s promoted as a “backyard pharmacy” — a phrase that deserves a closer look. We reviewed the official product page, the creator’s background and what research actually says about each herb, so you can decide whether it’s worth it.

Who created the Medicinal Garden Kit?

The kit is presented by Nicole Apelian, Ph.D., a biologist and herbalist best known for surviving 57 days on season 2 of History Channel’s survival show Alone. She is also co-author of the popular book The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies. On the sales page she shares that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and credits natural remedies with helping her manage it — a personal story, not a clinical result, and one that shouldn’t be read as a promise for anyone else.

What’s inside the kit

According to the official product page, you receive:

• 10 individual seed packets — 4,818 non-GMO seeds in total, packaged in the US
• Herbal Medicinal Guide: From Seeds to Remedies — planting, growing and harvesting instructions plus recipes for tinctures, salves, infusions, poultices and oils
• Bonus 1: Healing Yourself at Home With Household Items
• Bonus 2: Wild Edible and Medicinal Herbs You Can Forage or Find Around the House
• Customer support from the vendor

The 10 herbs — and what the evidence says

Here’s each plant, how it’s traditionally used, and an honest note on the science and safety. This is general information, not medical advice.

Bottom line on health claims: these are useful, time-tested herbs for teas and simple home preparations. But claims such as “better than sleeping pills” or “natural antibiotic” on the sales page are marketing, not proven medical facts. Talk to your doctor before using herbs if you are pregnant, nursing, take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.

Is it easy to grow?

Yes, for the most part. Most of these herbs are hardy, low-maintenance plants. Several are perennials (they come back every year) and others readily reseed themselves, so a well-established bed can keep producing for years. A few tips:

• Start in spring after the last frost, or start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks earlier
• Lavender and echinacea can be slow to germinate — be patient
• Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil; most of these herbs dislike soggy roots
• Check your USDA hardiness zone before planting perennials
• Unused seeds can be stored in a cool, dry, dark place for a future season

Pros and cons

Pros

• 10 popular herbs in one package — convenient for beginners
• Large seed count (4,818 seeds) and non-GMO
• Practical recipe guide included, plus two bonuses
• Many of the plants are perennial or self-seeding
• Bonus value for the garden: attracts bees, butterflies and beneficial insects
• 365-day money-back guarantee, which is far longer than most products

Cons

• Sales page overstates health benefits
• Some herbs have real safety precautions and drug interactions
• You could buy individual seed packets cheaper if you only want a few herbs
• Results depend on your climate, soil and gardening effort
• Physical product — check shipping availability for your location

Price, shipping and guarantee

The Medicinal Garden Kit is a one-time purchase of a physical product. At our last check, independent coverage listed it at around $59 plus a small shipping fee, but prices change frequently, so confirm the current price on the official order page. The vendor offers a 365-day full money-back guarantee, and orders are processed by Digistore24 as the retailer.

Who should buy it?

Buy it if you want an easy, all-in-one way to start an herb garden, enjoy making teas and natural skin-care products, or want to add a garden-based skill to your self-reliance plan.

Skip it if you only want one or two specific herbs (individual packets will be cheaper), you have no outdoor or container space, or you are hoping to replace prescribed medication.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Medicinal Garden Kit legit?

Yes. It’s a real physical seed kit sold through an established retailer with a long refund window. The issue is not the product — it’s the exaggerated health language in the marketing.

Can I grow it in containers?

Most of these herbs grow well in large pots on a sunny balcony or patio. Chicory and marshmallow have deep roots, so give them deeper containers.

How long do the seeds last?

Stored cool, dry and dark, most herb seeds stay viable for a few years, though germination rates gradually decline over time.

Can these herbs replace my medication?

No. Never stop or change a prescribed medication without talking to your doctor.

Final verdict

The Medicinal Garden Kit is a solid, beginner-friendly herb seed collection with a helpful remedy guide and a generous one-year guarantee. Buy it as a gardening and self-reliance project — and treat the herbal remedies as gentle home support, not medicine.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any herbal remedy.

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Joseph’s Well is a DIY guide that promises to show you how to build a small machine that pulls drinking water out of the air. The sales video leans hard on a “40 gallons a day” headline and a faith-based preparedness story. So what do you actually get, does the idea work, and who should (and shouldn’t) buy it? We went through the official sales material, the vendor’s own FAQ and terms, and the science behind atmospheric water generators to give you a straight answer.

What is Joseph’s Well?

Joseph’s Well is an information product, not a finished appliance. You get instructions for building your own atmospheric water generator (AWG) — a device that cools air below its dew point so that the moisture in it condenses into liquid water, the same principle a household dehumidifier uses.

The program is presented by “John Gilmore.” According to the product’s own terms and disclaimer, that name is a pseudonym used for storytelling and privacy. The guide is sold through Digistore24 (and other retail platforms), and the name is a reference to the biblical story of Joseph storing provisions ahead of a drought — the whole presentation has a Christian preparedness tone.

What’s included

Based on the vendor’s sales material and third-party summaries, the package includes:

• A step-by-step video build guide, from sourcing parts to final assembly
• Printable blueprints and diagrams
• A materials list with notes on where to buy parts
• Two power options: standard grid power and a solar setup for off-grid use
• Email support from the vendor
• Bonus guides on storing a household water reserve, purifying and mineralizing water, and understanding what’s in tap water

The vendor says the core parts cost under $150 at a hardware store (solar components not included). That figure may assume you can reuse some parts, so budget a bit more to be safe.

Does it really make 40 gallons a day?

This is the most important question, and the honest answer is: probably not, and the vendor’s own materials don’t agree with each other.

• The sales page headline says 40 gallons a day.
• The product FAQ, as quoted in independent coverage, says the DIY build produces up to 10 gallons a day under favorable humidity and temperature.
• Higher figures mentioned in the video refer to large commercial-style systems, not the home build.

Treat 10 gallons a day as a best-case ceiling, not a typical result. Real output depends on relative humidity, air temperature, airflow, the quality of your build and how much electricity you are willing to use. In dry air — roughly below 40% relative humidity — output drops sharply, and in desert climates a small condensation unit may produce very little.

How atmospheric water generators work (and their limits)

Air always contains some water vapor. An AWG blows air over a cold surface; when that surface is colder than the dew point, vapor condenses into droplets that are collected in a tank. The physics is well established — but it comes with trade-offs:

• Humidity is everything. Warm, humid air holds much more water than cool, dry air.
• It uses energy. Cooling air takes power. The guide’s parts estimate does not include your electricity cost, and a solar setup adds expense.
• The water needs treatment. Condensed water can pick up dust, microbes and residue from the equipment. Always filter and disinfect it before drinking. A homemade unit is not certified by the EPA, NSF or any similar body.
• Maintenance matters. Coils, collection tanks and filters must be cleaned regularly to prevent mold and bacteria.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Low entry cost compared with commercial AWG units, which typically cost hundreds to thousands of dollars
• Based on a real, proven principle (condensation)
• Grid and solar options for off-grid or emergency use
• Useful bonus material on water storage and purification
• Refund window offered through the retailer (see below)

Cons

• Inconsistent output claims (40 vs. 10 gallons per day)
• Results depend heavily on your climate
• Requires hands-on assembly and basic tool skills
• Ongoing electricity and filter costs
• Author uses a pseudonym and testimonials are not independently verified
• Strong religious framing that won’t appeal to every reader

Price and refund policy

Joseph’s Well is a one-time purchase. Pricing is promotional and changes over time, so always confirm the current price on the official order page before you buy. The vendor advertises a 60-day money-back guarantee; because the terms say each product specifies its own refund policy, check the refund terms shown at checkout. Orders through Digistore24 are processed by Digistore24 as the retailer.

Who should buy Joseph’s Well?

It’s a good fit if you live somewhere humid (coastal areas, the Southeast US, tropical regions), enjoy DIY projects, and want a backup water source as part of a broader emergency plan.

Skip it if you live in a dry climate, need a reliable primary water supply, or want something that works out of the box. In those cases, a certified commercial water filter, stored water, or rainwater harvesting (where legal) will serve you better.

Alternatives to consider

• Stored water: Ready.gov (FEMA) recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days. It’s the simplest and most reliable emergency step.
• Rainwater harvesting: high yield in rainy regions; check your state’s rules first.
• Commercial AWG units: more expensive, but tested and ready to use.
• Portable filters: essential if you have access to any natural water source.

Frequently asked questions

Is Joseph’s Well a scam?

It is a real product that you receive after purchase, and it is sold through established retail platforms with a refund policy. The main problem is marketing: the 40-gallon headline overstates what the vendor’s own FAQ says the build can do.

Is the water safe to drink?

Not straight from the machine. Condensed water should be filtered and disinfected, and the unit must be kept clean. A homemade device is not certified for drinking water safety.

Does it work in dry climates?

Poorly. Below roughly 40% relative humidity, output drops dramatically.

Do I get a physical machine?

No. You get instructions and plans; you build the unit yourself.

Final verdict

Joseph’s Well is best understood as an affordable DIY plan for a supplemental water source — not a solution to every water problem. If you live in a humid area, like hands-on projects and keep realistic expectations, it’s an inexpensive way to add another layer to your preparedness plan, backed by a refund window. If you need guaranteed, high-volume drinking water, look elsewhere.

This article is for informational purposes only. Always follow local building and electrical codes, and consult a qualified professional before relying on any homemade system for drinking water.