Hello Homestead Mentors Community,

As we venture into our seventh year on the homestead, our family is consciously choosing to embrace a season of adjustment and rest. While we continue to nurture our homestead, it’s vital to discuss a crucial but often overlooked aspect of this lifestyle: the importance of rest and sustainable practices.

The Philosophy of Rest in Homesteading

Homesteading is a fulfilling yet demanding journey. Watching fellow homesteaders experience burnout has reinforced the need to prioritize well-being alongside productivity. With my upcoming ACL surgery, our homestead will naturally enter a slower pace. We see this as a critical opportunity to reflect on our practices and reduce our workload, ensuring that we continue to enjoy this lifestyle rather than endure it.

In my upcoming book, A Modern Guide to Homesteading, I delve deeper into how sustainable practices can prevent burnout and promote long-term enjoyment and productivity on the homestead.

Practical Wa...

Hey there, green thumbs and budding gardeners! 

This week, we dove into the great gardening debate: Raised Beds vs. In-Ground Gardening. It’s like choosing between chocolate and vanilla ice cream—both are delightful, but each has its unique flavor! We've explored every nook and cranny of these gardening styles on our social media, and here's the scoop on what makes each method special.

Raised Beds: These are the modern marvels of gardening! Imagine less bending over, fewer weeds, and an early start to the planting season. Raised beds are like luxury condos for your plants, offering excellent drainage, custom soil blends, and a chic aesthetic to any backyard. They're particularly great for those with limited space, seeking to maximize their gardening game. 

In-Ground Gardening: Then, we have the classic in-ground gardens, the traditionalists' dream. This method connects you directly with the earth, letting your plants sprawl and root deeply in their natural habitat. It's perfect fo...

As we bid farewell to the lingering winter chill and welcome the gentle warmth of spring, let's take a moment to reflect on the parallels between the changing seasons and the sacred observance of Good Friday. Just as winter surrenders to the promise of new life in spring, so too does Good Friday mark the solemn transition from darkness to the hope of resurrection.

This week we talked about the importance of prepping our garden beds. Whether you’re breaking ground for a new plot or rejuvenating an old one, giving your soil the TLC it needs with compost and a good turning can make all the difference. We shared some fantastic tips for testing your soil to see exactly what it needs to be its most productive self. Remember, happy soil equals happy plants!

Then, we ventured into the exciting world of seed selection. Deciding what to grow is like planning a menu for the months ahead – do you go for the classics, experiment with something exotic, or a little bit of both? We talked about cons...

Hey there, wonderful Homesteaders!

With the birds chirping and the flowers beginning to bloom, it's clear that spring has finally sprung on our homesteads. And you know what that means—it's time for a bit of spring cleaning! But let's not forget about our furry and feathered friends during this seasonal refresh. This week, we've been all about giving our animal shelters a thorough clean-up, and I wanted to share some highlights and tips that we've covered on our social media platforms.

First off, let's talk about the importance of starting fresh. Just like us, our animals appreciate a clean environment. It keeps them healthy, happy, and in the case of our chickens, maybe even laying more eggs. We discussed the essentials of clearing out old bedding, removing any cobwebs or dust, and ensuring that our shelters are not just visually clean but sanitized and safe from any lurking pathogens. Remember, a little elbow grease now can save us a lot of trouble down the line.

We also dove in...

Hey there, fellow and aspiring homesteaders!

What a week it's been on our little slice of the homestead! We've delved deep into the heart of homesteading and sustainable living, exploring not just the how-tos but the incredible whys behind this fulfilling lifestyle. If you've been with us from the start, you've seen the seeds of inspiration we've planted together. If you're just joining, welcome to the family! Let's take a stroll through our week's journey, shall we?

Homesteading isn't just a trend; it's a return to roots that many of us didn't even know we had. It's about building connections—not just between us and the earth but within our community of like-minded souls eager to reclaim a bit of control in our fast-paced, digital world. We talked about the empowerment that comes from growing your own food, the peace found in the rhythms of nature, and the satisfaction of DIY projects that turn a house into a sustainable home.

We also uncovered the layers of benefits that come with...

As winter blankets the landscape with snow and frost, our homestead comes alive with the beauty of the season. Despite the chilly temperatures, there's still work to be done, especially when it comes to caring for our cherished flock of chickens. In this blog post, we invite you to join us on a heartwarming winter adventure as we navigate the challenges of tending to our feathered friends in the cold.

On a frosty morning, my youngest son and I bundle up in our warmest coats and boots, ready to brave the elements and tend to our chickens. Armed with a bucket of kitchen scraps collected from our daily meals, we head out into the snow-covered backyard. As we approach the chicken coop, our feathered companions eagerly greet us with excited clucks and flaps of their wings.

With laughter in the air and snowflakes falling gently around us, we pour the kitchen scraps into the chicken feeder, watching as the chickens eagerly peck away at the delicious treats. Despite the cold, their enthusias...