Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

Journal

Categories:  Homesteader  //  Homemaker

Somewhere In Between

To be honest though, most of my days are spent parenting, cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry and homesteading happens somewhere in between. Our life is messy and exhausting, but it’s exactly how we want it to be.

Read More

20 Acre Dream

The actual desire to Homestead didn’t come until we bought a farm. A piece of land that hadn’t been farmed in or 45 years. We bought it thinking we could do anything we want here and maybe we will want to farm.

Read More

Gardens & Chickens

Chickens are where I tell everyone to start their homesteading journey if they can. I had my first flock of 12 when I lived in town, four times more than I was legally allowed to have (oops) and ever since it’s been an addiction. We currently have close to 100 chickens/ducks/Guineas combined and I never want to live without them… Well at least without the chickens and ducks.

Read More

Letting Kids Be Kids

It’s messy, it’s fun, and it’s a real childhood. On days when I’m a less than perfect mother, I try to remind myself that, at least in general, my little girl is living the way kids should live.

Read More

Dandelion Pesto

It is fresh and luscious, and easy to freeze so we’ll have a taste of spring and summer in the winter. We have an overabundance of dandelions on our few acres here, so it is no problem to use some of these miraculous plants for ourselves and save countless others for pollinators.

Read More
woman cutting bread loaf

Small But Mighty

I truly believe that homesteading isn’t about the size of your property or the amount of food you produce, it’s a lifestyle of intentionality. It’s learning new (old) skills, making do with what you have, and sometimes creating something out of almost nothing just like our great grandparents did.

Read More
children on blanket

Our Journey

Like a lot of people our homestead journey started with chickens! Six years ago we bought 6 layer chicks and started a small garden in our backyard. We had no idea it was going to lead us to where we are today!

Read More
woman holding small rabbit

Urban Homesteading

So you want to be an urban micro homesteader? Our advice, START SLOW!
It’s easy to get swept up in big homestead dreams, but there is a steep learning curve. We started homesteading 7 years ago, with 6 laying hens.

Read More
farmer with cancer miking cow

In Difficult Seasons

I’m usually the main farmer full time but during this season while I go through treatment for breast cancer, Dan and our daughters have taken over most of the farming duties for the time being so I’ll be sharing a bit about what it’s like to hand over the reins of what I love.

Read More
yellow spring butter

Butter

Anyone else obsessed and basically keeping a cow or three for just the butter? I make a lot of butter. In the spring when the cattle are eating lush, fast growing forage it’s the most rich- nutrient dense- gold there is. But winter butter is nothing to sneeze at either. In fact, it’s actually preferable for pastry.

Read More
woman with vegetables

Homesteading at 5500 ft

I was just out in the garden thinning out my little kale and spinach seedlings and thinking about what it’s like to grow a garden at 5500ft. It can be frustrating when it snows in June and the first frost cam come in September.

Read More
farm field Phoenix Arizona

Work In Progress

If I could describe our homestead in three words they would be “Work In Progress”. Can any of you feel me? When we bought our property two years ago it was fenced for horses, and the pasture was knee-high dead grass.

Read More
woman in hat holds baby

Baby Wearing

Baby wearing is a lifesaver as a Homestead Mama. If you read my intro post earlier this week, I mentioned that we tried for baby #2 for 9 years before actually getting pregnant. So baby wearing was definitely something I didn’t want to take for granted!

Read More
Kid jumping on Hay

Great American Farm Tour

We had been living on family property and we were at a point where we were wanting to put down deep roots but didn’t know if this was the farm we wanted to do it at. With so many other things in life we wanted to make sure this was what we wanted not just what was easy or comfortable.

Read More
cow in barn

Heritage Breeds

Currently my streamlined focus and passion is our small herd of registered Dutch Belted dairy cattle. Our herd use to be the only registered one in the state here. This critically endangered breed is a medium sized, hardy, thrifty, sassy, long-lived one.

Read More
lemon balm in basket

Kitchen & Garden Tips

If you’re curious about growing herbs on your homestead but you’re afraid you’re going to kill “all the things”….start with lemon balm! It truly is just plant and forget about it. It comes back every single year bigger and better. And the harvests make your basket look like you’re a pro.

Read More
smiling mom with children

This Refining Life

My kids are growing up differently than me… and I love it! As regenerative farmers we believe in focusing on soil health because the soil is what feeds us. Grass Grazed is soul food in the truest sense – it good for your soul in all the best ways.

Read More
honey bee swarm on arm

Community

We celebrated a first this year with our first honey harvest. We share our bees with our good friends and it was such a special moment in our homesteading journey. Aiming as we do to be as self-sufficient as possible, a lot of the year that actually means doing without. Fresh tomatoes flown in from Spain in January just don’t taste as good as the ones we grow in August. Our own jam is better than what we can buy, so we’d rather wait.

Read More

Togetherness

When I was growing up places and families like this only existed in my dreams. My husband and I are both from broken and dysfunctional homes and grew up craving the security of “family” and “togetherness”. I believe this is why homesteading is such a good fit for us. We desire NOTHING other than to have time together in nature.

Read More

Plant A Garden First

In the garden, I’ve found so much more than a way to feed my family. I’ve found a way to worship God, to settle my soul, to explore and learn, to teach my babies the value of sowing and reaping. I always tell people who want to grow food to plant the garden first because I wish I had.

Read More

A Patchwork of Homestead Mamas

An inspiring & encouraging community of Homestead Mamas. For growers, hunters, foragers, & explorers; with little hands & little hearts alongside.

Join Our Community