Because of the pervasiveness of harmful ingredients in food and household products, living a toxin-free lifestyle requires swimming upstream! We have to be intentional about sourcing our food well, reading labels carefully, and monitoring what we allow into our homes. However, there may be certain compromises we must make along the way, and those compromises will look different for everyone. Amy Fewell has been living this homesteading lifestyle for years, and she started on this path in search ...
Aug 11, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 145
I asked who you all wanted to hear on the podcast, and you answered! My sister Laura of Our Oily House is joining me today to talk all about where to start when you are swapping out toxic products in your home. We cover cleaning your home, caring for your hair and skin, and how to fit these projects into a full schedule. Then we answer some of the questions that you all submitted through Instagram. We dive into motherhood, pregnancy, online business, our childhoods, living a natural lifestyle, o...
Aug 04, 2022•51 min•Ep. 144
Fear is one of the main things that holds people back from going after a goal or dream. Anyone who has taken the leap to start something new has felt this intimidation at first and has found a way to push through it. I loved having this chat with Megan all about what it was like to start her successful YouTube channel, Megan Fox Unlocked. She shares all about why she started her channel, how she moves past the fear of what people think of her, her perspective on the negative comments, and the un...
Jul 28, 2022•55 min•Ep. 143
It’s easy to look at someone like Kate and wonder how she does it all. Between homemaking, homeschooling her five children, maintaining her Canada homestead, and running her successful online business, Kate’s plate is certainly full. In our conversation, we discuss the realities of what it looks like to manage all of these responsibilities well without burning yourself out. A little spoiler alert: Kate doesn’t do it all alone and neither do I! If you have a goal of pursuing a new opportunity—a b...
Jul 21, 2022•54 min•Ep. 142
It is simple to embrace traditional ways of eating when there are no food groups that are off-limits to you. But when you or someone in your family lives with a food allergy or sensitivity, even meals made with the simplest of ingredients can become a challenge. As a mother and functional medicine practitioner who has walked the path of food sensitivities with her own child and many patients, I knew Dr. Ashley Turner would be the perfect person to join me in this conversation! We also delve into...
Jul 14, 2022•56 min•Ep. 141
If you desire to live a natural lifestyle—whole foods, less toxins, holistic health—it can be intimidating to know where to start. Many people are also concerned about the cost of living this way. In this episode with Roxanne of Happy Holistic Homestead, we tackle the question of where to start if you simply can’t afford to jump all in. What changes make the biggest impact on your family’s health? We also bust the myth that it takes a lot of money or a lot of land to begin prioritizing your heal...
Jul 07, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 140
If you dream of starting your own homestead but worry that you don’t have the skills or time or money, you’ve got to hear Katie’s story. Six weeks after giving birth to her ninth daughter, Katie and her husband moved their family from their established homestead in Texas to a piece of raw land in Missouri to start over. They are building everything themselves and doing it debt-free! Katie shares how she and her family of 11 found joy in the simple pace of living in a small shanty without electri...
Jun 30, 2022•49 min•Ep. 139
In pursuing a more natural lifestyle, many of us want to move away from conventional forms of medicine and healthcare. After her first daughter’s birth, Arielle de Martinez dove deep into the world of natural medicine which ultimately led her to herbalism. You will be fascinated by our conversation about using herbs for everything from washing your hair to relieving bee stings to supporting fevers. If you have never explored the world of herbalism, Arielle shares her best advice for those just s...
Jun 23, 2022•53 min•Ep. 138
After facing skin issues with her young daughter, Emilie Toups set out to find a cleaner and safer alternative to over-the-counter and even prescription creams. And thus, Toups and Co Organics was born. Emilie discovered many alarming ingredients that were having negative effects, both seen and unseen, on her family’s health. She is bringing her wealth of knowledge and research to the podcast today to share with us why conventional products can be harmful and how using animal fats and other natu...
Jun 16, 2022•42 min•Ep. 137
Gut health is a big topic in the health world right now, and for good reason! Having a healthy gut impacts so many areas of our physical and mental health. Meg of A Whole Health Life joins me to talk about why gut health matters and how to begin healing your gut through diet and lifestyle changes. We also camp out on the benefits of fermented foods and how to begin incorporating them into your everyday life. Gut health can seem like an intimidating topic, but you might be surprised by the simpli...
Jun 09, 2022•43 min•Ep. 136
Over the last decade, the modern farmhouse style has become extremely popular in home decor. The all white paint and minimal aesthetic is easy to achieve, which is part of why it has become so popular. However, many homemakers are beginning to trade in the all white look for warmth, coziness, color, pattern. We want our spaces to feel elevated and timeless and unique. Liz Quick of The Quick Journey joins me to discuss the good elements that came out of the modern farmhouse trend and how to achie...
Jun 02, 2022•43 min•Ep. 135
With the many conveniences of our modern food system, it’s easy to become detached from the knowledge of how our food is actually produced. Brianna is on a mission to reconnect the community to its farmers. At her family’s ranch in Washington, Brianna welcomes her neighbors—especially children—to come experience what farm life is truly like. Children learn invaluable, lifelong skills as a result of participating in animal care and food production. Brianna shares age-appropriate ideas for teachin...
May 26, 2022•49 min•Ep. 134
If you have ever thought of making cheese at home but have been overwhelmed at the idea, this episode is for you! Robyn of Cheese From Scratch joins me to talk all things cheesemaking. Robyn’s desire is to make this skill accessible to everyone. We talk about how cheesemaking can become a normal part of your everyday routine, just like any other skill on the homestead. A common misconception is that cheesemaking is just for those who own a dairy animal, but this isn’t true! Anyone can learn to m...
May 19, 2022•40 min•Ep. 133
Looking for an older home can be scary and exciting all at the same time. What are the most important characteristics to look for? How do you know which flaws are deal breakers? Cathy and Garrett have been renovating and restoring homes for over a decade, so they have seen the good, bad, and ugly of old houses. In our conversation, they answer some of the most common questions I get about shopping for an old farmhouse. This topic can be intimidating to someone unfamiliar with this realm, but Cat...
May 12, 2022•49 min•Ep. 132
A change in season is the perfect time to make a change in your family’s habits. If you have been feeling the pull to get outside more with your kids, you don’t want to miss this conversation with Ginny Yurich of 1000 Hours Outside. Not only does Ginny share a whole host of reasons why outdoor time is beneficial to our children, she also shares practical strategies for making outdoor time an achievable and celebrated part of your family’s life. I make it a priority in my own family to get plenty...
May 05, 2022•50 min•Ep. 131
I have been wanting to talk to today’s podcast guest for over a year! Natalie Kovarik is a Nebraska ranch wife and mom who uses her voice to educate about the realities of agriculture. Unfortunately, the public dialogue is full of misconceptions about the role and impact of agriculture on our environment and health. Natalie is a wealth of knowledge about this complex topic, and she does a beautiful job of sharing all of the ways in which agriculture adds tremendous value to our lives. I hope you...
Apr 28, 2022•32 min•Ep. 130
When diving into the world of homesteading, it can quickly become overwhelming when you realize just how many skills there are to learn. Where should you start? I’m so glad Carolyn of Homesteading Family joined me for this conversation. As a long-time homesteader and mother of 10, Carolyn shares how she got started building her skillset to support the homesteading lifestyle she desired for herself and her family. Carolyn is a wealth of information, and she is passionate about teaching others how...
Apr 21, 2022•47 min•Ep. 129
Curating a home decor style that feels collected takes time and intention. Amanda of Sincerely Marie Designs has done a beautiful job achieving this look and feel in her home, and she is joining me to talk about one of my favorite topics: decorating your home with vintage and antique pieces. Many of our current home inspiration sources — HGTV, Pinterest, Instagram — can give us the unrealistic expectation that our home decor should be perfectly put together all at once. Amanda and I discuss how ...
Apr 14, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 128
Many people think that beginning a farm or homestead requires you to have previous farming experience, but this isn’t necessarily true. Even if you have never set foot on a farm yourself, it is possible to begin living the homesteading lifestyle. In this episode, Jess shares how her lifelong dream of owning a farm became a reality, one step at a time. We also delve into the topic of making money on a homestead. Whether you have a goal of replacing your full-time income or of simply allowing your...
Apr 07, 2022•53 min•Ep. 127
If you don’t believe it’s possible to have a stunning home on a shoestring budget, this episode is for you! My friend, Andrea, of Pine and Prospect Home is joining me for this conversation on giving your home a refresh for spring without spending a ton of money. Andrea is the queen of thrifty decor, and everything she creates looks high-dollar. We’re sharing some of our best tips for curating a beautiful home that reflects your taste and style all while staying within your budget. Whether you ar...
Mar 31, 2022•47 min•Ep. 126
When you look around the homesteading world and see other people doing all the things, it can be overwhelming to know how to get started. In this episode, Melissa K. Norris, a homesteader for over 20 years, joins me to talk about where to start when you want to learn new homesteading skills. She reminds us not to be afraid of starting small and learning as you go. She also provides many tangible tips for getting started. Whether you have been homesteading your whole life or are still contemplati...
Mar 24, 2022•54 min•Ep. 125
Especially when it comes to home design, I find so much inspiration in holding beautiful printed books in my hands. That’s why I am so glad there are people like Kali Ramey Martin putting lovely resources out into the world. Her book, Potager, and her seasonal magazine, Notebook Quarterly, curate recipes and gardening tips and home inspiration in such a masterful way. Our conversation spanned a variety of topics related to welcoming spring into our homes through what we are cooking to how we dec...
Mar 17, 2022•49 min•Ep. 124
With the first official day of spring right around the corner, I am getting so excited to welcome spring into my kitchen. There is nothing like cutting fresh herbs from my garden, gathering eggs from my hens, collecting milk from my cow. In today’s episode, Erin and I discuss the many ways that seasonal eating can be accessible to all of us. Whether or not you have a garden or farm animals of your own, you can find ways to eat seasonally and source your food locally. With all of our modern conve...
Mar 10, 2022•48 min•Ep. 123
It’s that time of year! The time when backyard chicken keepers and full-blown homesteaders alike start thinking about expanding their flocks. My conversation with Kathleen of Oak Abode covers everything a new or prospective chicken owner might want to know. We address the four main aspects of chicken keeping: food, water, shelter, protection, as well as many other questions we are frequently asked. Whether you are considering getting chickens or have been keeping them for years, this episode is ...
Mar 03, 2022•48 min•Ep. 122
I have been so excited to bring this episode to you all because I get so many questions about our dairy cow! Angel Turner was the perfect person to join me in this conversation. She has gained a great deal of experience with dairy cows in just a short time. It has been less than a year since Angel brought home her first family milk cow, and since then, she has taken on the task of halter breaking over 15 milk cows and matching them with families. We could have talked forever about all things dai...
Feb 24, 2022•51 min•Ep. 121
I don’t often discuss parenting on this podcast, but when I read Jill Winger’s blog post on how she gets her kids involved on her homestead, I knew I had to bring her on to talk about this topic. Jill began homesteading before she became a mother, so her three children have always known this way of life. Jill and I discuss how we accomplish homesteading tasks with babies and toddlers underfoot, how we begin getting our children involved around the homestead, and why it’s important to give our ch...
Feb 14, 2022•44 min•Ep. 120
Although winter is still in full swing, it’s already time to start thinking about planting seeds for your summer garden. In today’s conversation, Meg Hollar of The Hollar Homestead joins me to talk all things gardening: selecting seeds, preparing the soil, what we are growing, and even how to use and preserve the harvest. We have both been gardening for many years now, but we are continually learning more each year. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this conversation may ...
Feb 10, 2022•40 min•Ep. 119
If you are working towards removing toxins from your home, you have likely concentrated a lot of your efforts in the kitchen. After all, you spend time and resources sourcing and preparing high quality food in your home, so you want to make sure you are not reversing all of that progress by cooking in pots and pans that pose a risk to your health. In this episode, Molly Hill of Maison Pur joins me as we walk through cookware, bakeware, dinnerware, food storage, small appliances, etc. Molly defin...
Feb 03, 2022•52 min•Ep. 118
It was so fun to talk to a fellow homesteader and mama who shares my love for cozy winter cooking. My new friend, Vea Carpi, is a farmer, cook, wife, mother, and restaurant owner in the Italian Alps. In this conversation, she shares all about her unlikely story of becoming a homesteader and what she is currently cooking and serving in her restaurant and home. I came away from this conversation with so many new ideas to try in my own kitchen, and I hope you will find some inspiration too. In this...
Jan 27, 2022•50 min•Ep. 117
Winter on the homestead is a time of natural slowing down. The days are shorter; the list of projects is smaller. After my conversation with Melody, I’m not sure I know of anyone who embraces all of the beauty that winter brings better than she does. As a homesteader, homeschooler, homemaker, and hunter in Minnesota, Melody doesn’t let temperatures below zero keep her from enjoying the outdoors with her five children. No matter what climate you live in, Melody shares tons of ideas for embracing ...
Jan 20, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 116
