How to Be a Modern Day Ma Ingalls -

How to be a modern day Ma Ingalls? We all have goals, right? To be a modern day Ma Ingalls we may have to shift our thinking a little. Learn some new skills in order to live more simple/slow and to take care of our family. And if needed, make changes to be more frugal.

Ma’s Work Ethic

Ma worked hard and instilled that same drive in her girls. She knew the importance of raising women that knew how to keep house and do outside chores. Have the courage and work ethic to tackle whatever needs to be done.
In the book, On the Banks of Plum Creek, When Pa didn’t know where they’d get meat because game was scarce, Ma had the solution:

‘”We will have to plan ahead and raise meat,” said Ma.’

Everyday involved everyone getting dressed and behaving ladylike. She taught her kids scripture, had them memorize it and when they couldn’t go to Sunday School, they had it at home.

Ma Ingalls Was Prepared

Ma Ingalls cooked from scratch with the ingredients that were in her pantry, or game that Pa brought home.

Old fashioned cooking from scratch requires some fore thought. Putting up food for winter type of thinking.

Make Ma Ingalls proud!

The goal of being a prepared homemaker is vital for our mission…to take care of our family.

Here’s a look at the Ingalls preparedness when they lived in the big woods in, Little House in the Big Woods.

“The potatoes and carrots, the beets and turnips and cabbages were gathered and stored in the cellar, for freezing nights had come.”

Laura Ingalls Wilder

“The pumpkins and the squashes were piled in orange and yellow and green heaps in the attic’s corners.” Laura Ingalls Wilder

“The barrels of salted fish were in the pantry, and yellow cheeses were stacked on the pantry shelves.” Laura Ingalls Wilder

After Pa butchered the pig, “The meat was laid on a board…and every piece was sprinkled with salt. The hams and the shoulders were put to pickle in brine, for they would be smoked….” Laura Ingalls Wilder

Being a prepared, old fashioned homemaker is rewarding to the whole family.

The children were taught, as they were old enough, and helped Ma. She led by example.

How to Be Prepared Like Ma Ingalls

Ma kept the foods she made meals from in the pantry! These foods included flour and sugar.

She baked bread on a regular basis, so a bulk amount of flour was a necessity. Sugar was for company and

since friends couldn’t ring before coming, she had to be prepared.

I am by no means a Ma Ingalls, but that doesn’t keep me from trying.

I like to cook from scratch but not from a schedule.

Foods I keep on hand to cook any meal from scratch:

Chicken
I always have a few whole chickens in the freezer, along with legs or thighs/breasts.
-Beef
We order at least a half of a cow every year to ensure we always have a good protein source.
-Salmon
Fresh & frozen salmon is pricey. That being said, I go with canned wild caught salmon and cook salmon patties, seafood stir fry or salmon salad.
-Grains
We store our grains in 5 gallon buckets. The grains we keep:. Grits, corn flour, oats, rice and I have various flours for baking.
– Vegetables
Green beans, peas, corn, broccoli, carrots, and mixed vegetables.
-Sauces and condiments, ferments
Spaghetti sauce, salsa, olives, sauerkraut, mayo etc.

Find more old fashioned living at Cottage Time-Youtube