The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast 1KHO 674: There's a Big Difference Between Food and Nutrition | Ruthann Zimmerman, The Heart of the Homestead
Jan 9, 2026
Ruthann Zimmerman, an author and homesteading educator with Old Order Mennonite roots, discusses the clash of traditional skills and modern life. She shares insights on the vital difference between food and nutrition, emphasizing that practical skills bring real nourishment to the family table. Ruthann encourages cooking from scratch, managing chores to foster responsibility in children, and the importance of gardening for self-sufficiency. She highlights the need for families to reconnect and the dangers of artificial highs from screens.
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Discovery Of The Homesteading Community
- RuthAnn recounts discovering the online homesteading community after a friend labeled her "a homesteader."
- She realized people wanted to learn the skills she’d known since childhood and began sharing what she knew.
Practice Skills Until They Fit Daily Life
- Practice new food skills repeatedly until they become second nature and fit into daily life.
- Expect initial focus demands, then aim to cook or can while parenting or visiting once proficient.
Skills Deliver Nutrition, Not Money
- RuthAnn Zimmerman distinguishes between mere food access and true nutrition, arguing skills—not money—put nutrition on the table.
- She emphasizes whole or traditionally prepared foods over ultra-processed options for real nourishment.
