Simple Farmhouse Life

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 contemplating jumping into this lifestyle, there will always be more to learn, so these tips on self-education are for you! In this episode, we cover: One prerequisite for becoming a homesteader Deciding what to start with on your homestead How to start researching a new skill or endeavor What made Melissa decide to get a dairy cow Questions to consider when adding livestock to your homestead What Melissa’s 20-year homesteading journey has looked like The mindset shift that makes homesteading accessible to anyone Thank you to our sponsor!  Toups and Co Organics uses nourishing, organic ingredients to create simple and safe skincare products.  Toups and Co is offering my listeners 10% off any one purchase with the code FARMHOUSE.  Visit https://toupsandco.com/ to order today. Check out some of my current favorite products: frankincense face balm, seabuckthorn cleansing oil, reparative serum, activated charcoal face bar. CONNECT Melissa K. Norris | Website | YouTube | Podcast | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community! GET MORE FROM THIS EPISODE Watch this episode on YouTube. View full show notes, transcript, and links to resources on the blog.

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 decorate our homes.  We talked not only about seasonal decor but also about more permanent home design choices like paint, wallpaper, furniture, and more.  I hope this conversation leaves you inspired to embrace in your own home all the beauty that springtime has to offer. In this episode, we cover: - The secret to baking with einkorn flour - New ingredients we are using this spring - Favorite springtime recipes we are making - Getting started with a spring garden - How Kali is restoring her 1920s cottage on a modest budget - Honoring the style of a home in your decor choices - Choosing paint colors and wallpaper - The secret to decorating with natural elements all year round GUEST BIOGRAPHY Kali Ramey Martin is a farmer’s wife, mom of two sweet boys and amateur at just about everything. She is the author of Potager: From the Garden to the Kitchen and publishes a magazine called Notebook Quarterly. She happily dabbles in gardening, floristry, homesteading, photography, interior design and cookery, and is passionate about making the world a softer, simpler, more beautiful place. GET MORE FROM THIS EPISODE Visit the blog for the full show notes, links to resources mentioned, and a transcript. Watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you to our sponsor! Click here to save 5% on your purchase of a countertop grain mill by Mockmill CONNECT Kali Ramey Martin | Website | Instagram | Pinterest Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!

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 conveniences, we don’t have to eat seasonally, but Erin and I make a case for why you might want to consider eating this way.  There is so much beauty to be found in living in rhythm with the seasons. In this episode, we cover: Starting a spring garden Why it matters to eat seasonally What changes we make in our kitchens in the spring Farm animals’ production in spring How to approach meal planning when eating seasonally Incorporating bread baking into your daily routine Sourdough troubleshooting Living a homesteading lifestyle even if you don’t live on a homestead Where to start sourcing local, seasonal food Preserving and storing seasonal food GUEST BIOGRAPHY Erin is the head farmer and resident mom to all manner of living things at The Cedar Chest Farm! Together with her family, she tends their farmstead in Southwest Virginia, aiming to educate and empower homegrown-minded folks in their journey towards self-sustenance. Whether you’re living in town and supporting local growers, or seeking to raise your own food and resources more rurally, Erin is excited to partner with you in treasuring old ways, delighting in good food, and stewarding the good world around us. RESOURCES Dishing Up the Dirt by Andrea Bemis Local Dirt by Andrea Bemis Andrea Bemis’s Local Thirty Documentary Feeding a Family by Sarah Waldman Smoke, Roots, Mountain, Harvest by Lauren McDuffie Harvie.farm CONNECT Erin Worrall of The Cedar Chest Farm | Instagram | Facebook | Website Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community! GET MORE FROM THIS EPISODE Watch this episode on YouTube. View full show notes and transcript on the blog.

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 full of practical tips and lessons we have learned along the way. In this episode, we cover: Different types of chicken setups: coop and run, chicken tractor, free range Mitigating the threat of predators Dealing with environmental factors: heat, cold, moisture Features of different breeds Options for feed and supplements Supplemental light in the winter Raising chickens sustainably and ethically Best time to get chicks GUEST BIOGRAPHY Kathleen and her husband, Ian, are passionate about growing their own food and self-sustainability on any scale. CONNECT Kathleen of Oak Abode | YouTube | Instagram | Podcast | Website Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community! GET MORE FROM THIS EPISODE Watch this episode on YouTube. View full show notes and transcript on the blog. MORE RESOURCES Want to start your own blog? Get my FREE blogging success masterclass. Get your Berkey Filter with the Simple Farmhouse Life podcast discount.  Watch my Berkey review video. Download my updated ebook with ALL of my sourdough recipes.

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 dairy cow, but we managed to address the most frequently asked questions in the time we had together.  If you are considering whether a family milk cow might be right for you, this episode will give you a peek into both of our journeys of getting started with owning dairy cows. In this episode, we cover: What it’s like owning your first dairy cow The one thing you should always do before buying a cow Preventing and treating mastitis How much land you need to own a dairy cow Breeding considerations Calf sharing and weaning Making the most of the acreage you have Feeding your dairy cow: grass, hay, grain Learning as you go in homesteading The economics of owning a dairy cow What it looks like to travel when you own a dairy cow GUEST BIOGRAPHY Angel and her husband Gabe started homesteading on a very small scale. A few chickens, a small garden, a lamb or goat here and there. But as they grew their family in their 10 years of marriage, they began to see the importance and benefits of the homesteading lifestyle for so many reasons. Angel and Gabe are passionate about taking their family back to a more simple way of living that connects them with the land and animals. They are now pursuing farming full-time and very much in the beginning stages of that journey! They also want others to see their potential no matter where they are, so they have begun teaching homesteading skills on their blog. RESOURCES Keeping a Family Cow by Joann S. Grohman Rosehill Farm Rosehill Farm’s Insider’s Club CONNECT Angel Turner of Rosehill Farm | Website | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community! GET MORE FROM THIS EPISODE Watch this episode on YouTube. View full show notes and transcript on the blog.

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 children the gift of hard work.  If you want to instill the values of hard work and creativity into your children, may this episode give you inspiration along the way. In this episode, we cover: An old-fashioned philosophy of parenting How kids of different ages can help around a homestead Instilling a strong work ethic in your children How homeschooling can build character Making space for kids to explore their passions The advantage of letting our kids experience failure How we approach chores Click here to listen to part one of this conversation on Jill's podcast or click here to watch on YouTube. GUEST BIOGRAPHY Jill is the founder of The Prairie Homestead, an online space with over one million monthly visits dedicated to helping people learn how to grow their own food and opt out of the rat race, regardless of where they live. In 2019, she published her best-selling cookbook The Prairie Homestead Cookbook which was an Amazon Editor’s pick and won Best Cookbook in the 30th Annual Reading the West Book Awards given by the Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Association. Her practical and authentic style of teaching and storytelling has won the hearts of hundreds of thousands of homesteaders across social media and through the Old Fashioned on Purpose podcast, which has amassed over 3.3 million downloads since its inception. CONNECT Jill Winger of The Prairie Homestead | Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | Pinterest Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest MORE FROM THIS EPISODE Watch this episode on YouTube. View show notes and transcript on the blog.

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 give you some new strategies to try this year! In this episode, we cover: Ordering seeds Preparing garden beds What we are excited to grow this year When to start planting seeds Strategies for successful transplanting Gardening mistakes and what we wish we had known before starting Favorite methods of preserving Why you want to include flowers in your garden GUEST BIOGRAPHY Meg and her husband, Ben, are trading in "normal" for making their own path. After suburban homesteading in Southern California for a few years, they sold most of their stuff, packed up the rest into a trailer, and set out across the United States with their four sons to find their forever homestead. The Hollar family is now revitalizing an old homestead in North Carolina, and they’ve added a baby girl and a variety of farm animals to their family along the way. They live small, love hard, and have one major goal: to LIVE a life worth living. RESOURCES Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Territorial Seed Company CONNECT Meg Hollar of The Hollar Homestead | Blog | YouTube | Instagram Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community! GET MORE FROM THIS EPISODE Watch this episode on YouTube. View full show notes and transcript on the blog. MORE RESOURCES Want to start your own blog? Get my FREE blogging success masterclass. Get your Berkey Filter with the Simple Farmhouse Life podcast discount.  Watch my Berkey review video. Download my updated ebook with ALL of my sourdough recipes.

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 definitely gave me some new things to consider about a few of the pieces in my own kitchen! In this episode, we cover: All things cast iron: why we love it, how we use it, how to clean and care for it Why it’s worth it to remove toxins from your kitchen How to choose quality stainless steel pieces Uses for copper + concerns about copper A trusted source for cookware, bakeware, and more The problem with Teflon and the confusion surrounding its safety Cookware coatings to avoid Toxicity concerns with small appliances: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Air Fryer Safe choices for dinnerware + cups for kids GUEST BIOGRAPHY Molly’s had a passion for natural living since she was a teen!  She’s been helping others on their journey to natural living for over seven years through her blog and podcast.  In her free time, Molly enjoys a good 80s movie and traveling with her family. RESOURCES Molly’s comprehensive blog post about nontoxic cookware Xtrema Pure Ceramic Cookware | Use code MPUR10 for 10% off your order CONNECT Molly Hill of Maison Pur | Website | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Podcast Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community! GET MORE FROM THIS EPISODE Watch this episode on YouTube. MORE RESOURCES Want to start your own blog? Get my FREE blogging success masterclass. Get your Berkey Filter with the Simple Farmhouse Life podcast discount.  Watch my Berkey review video. Download my updated ebook with ALL of my sourdough recipes.

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 episode, we cover: - What lead Vea to start a restaurant out of her home - What Vea is serving in her farm-to-table restaurant and in her home - A creative way to use kitchen scraps to flavor future dishes - Italians’ simple approach to food - A variety of traditional Italian dishes and techniques that you could easily incorporate into your own kitchen GUEST BIOGRAPHY Vea Carpi is an ex-city gal who fell in love with one man and then fell in love with his mountains: the Italian Alps.  Vea and her husband and three children live and work on their small mountain farm raising a variety of animals and growing their own food.  Together they run an intimate farm-to-table restaurant, Mas Del Saro, adjacent to their home.  Vea is the author of a cookbook in Italian and German entitled La Mia Pasta Madre. CONNECT Vea Carpi of Mas Del Saro | Website | Instagram Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram GET MORE FROM THIS EPISODE Watch this episode on YouTube. MORE RESOURCES Want to start your own blog? Get my FREE blogging success masterclass. Get your Berkey Filter with the Simple Farmhouse Life podcast discount.  Watch my Berkey review video. Download my updated ebook with ALL of my sourdough recipes.

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 the winter season both indoors and out. In this episode, we cover: - How homeschooling allows the freedom to teach our children specific life skills - What food Melody is hunting and cooking in winter - Why you should want to know where your food comes from - Secrets to enjoying frigid temperatures - How Melody instills basic outdoor survival skills in her young children - Preparing for winter on a homestead - Outdoor and indoor hobbies in the winter - What it looks like to experiment with sourdough GUEST BIOGRAPHY Melody lives in the Minnesota Big Woods. She is a mother of five, a wife, a baker, archer, homesteader, and more. Her goal is to help people learn the old ways of working, making, and doing. RESOURCES Melody’s sourdough packet and booklet (send her a DM on Instagram for more information about purchasing) Erin @TheCedarChestFarm for sourdough education CONNECT Melody Haege of Renaissance Woman MN | Website | Instagram Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram GET MORE FROM THIS EPISODE Watch this episode on YouTube. MORE RESOURCES Want to start your own blog? Get my FREE blogging success masterclass. Get your Berkey Filter with the Simple Farmhouse Life podcast discount.  Watch my Berkey review video. Download my updated ebook with ALL of my sourdough recipes.