How to Make Apple Cider Vinegar at Home — A Simple, Seasonal Tradition

I’m here to help you live a more self-sufficient, land-connected life. And I’ll be honest—there was a time when I thought making apple cider vinegar sounded way too complicated. So I didn’t try it. Not until a couple of years ago. But once I learned the method, I realized it’s actually one of the simplest, most satisfying things you can make in your own kitchen.

And what better time than late summer/fall, when the apples are abundant and the air smells like crisp leaves and warm cider?

Support Local + Preserve the Season

 

With apple season just around the corner, it’s the perfect opportunity to support your local farmers and orchards by choosing organic, non-sprayed apples. Whether you’re buying from the farmers market, picking off your own trees, or visiting a neighbouring farm, now’s the time to bring home those imperfect, windfall, or extra apples and put them to good use.

One of the best ways we do that here at Timber & Tallow (spend D’Oreille River Ranch) is by making our own wild-fermented apple cider vinegar.

This isn’t just a recipe—it’s a practice in using what we have, wasting nothing, and creating something truly nourishing.

Why Make Your Own Apple Cider Vinegar?

 

Homemade ACV is:

• 🧬 Probiotic-rich – Supports healthy digestion and gut flora
• 🌿 Detoxifying – A gentle liver and lymphatic cleanser
• 🔥 Anti-inflammatory – May help with blood sugar balance and skin health
• 🧴 Versatile – Use it in salad dressings, bone broths, marinades, hair rinses, natural cleaners, and even livestock care
• 💰 Frugal & sustainable – Use scraps you’d otherwise compost

What You’ll Need:

 

 

• Organic, non-sprayed apple scraps or whole apples
• A natural sweetener: organic cane sugar, raw honey, or maple syrup
• Filtered water
• A splash of raw ACV with the mother or a bit of homemade starter
• A warm, dark cupboard—and a little patience

That’s it. ✨

I’ve even made a short video showing how I do it—just using a basic apple corer, some homemade starter, and a mason jar. You can find it on our socials @penddoreilleriverranch.

Want the Step-by-Step Recipe?

We’ve put together a beginner-friendly, printable Apple Cider Vinegar Recipe that walks you through the whole process. It includes ingredient amounts, fermentation tips, and our favorite homesteader hacks for keeping the apples submerged.

👉 If you’d like the recipe sent to your inbox, just message us or sign up for our email list! We’ll send it right over.

From Our Homestead to Yours

This simple act of making vinegar from apple scraps feels like a small kind of magic. It connects us to the land, to the season, and to the ways of our ancestors. We hope it brings a little more self-sufficiency—and a little more joy—into your kitchen this fall.

Timber & Tallow

🌿Pure. Simple. Wild.🌿