The Homestead Challenge Podcast | Suburban Homesteading, Gardening, Food From Scratch, Sustainable Living

Ep 138. Red, White & Bloom: Garden-Inspired Ideas for Your July 4th Party

Planning a backyard barbecue or garden party this summer? In this episode, I’m sharing easy, no-fuss ways to elevate your July 4th (or any summer) gathering using herbs, flowers, and simple ingredients from your garden—even if your harvest isn’t quite rolling in yet.
Whether you're hosting, heading to a potluck, or just want to add a little beauty to your table, these ideas will help you use what you have in fun, creative ways that spark conversation and joy.
🌿 In this episode:– Simple ways to infuse drinks with herbs or floral ice cubes– How to make a fruit salad or charcuterie board extra pretty– Herbs that help keep bugs away from your patio– Easy compound butter ideas (bonus points if you shape them!)– A gentle reminder that even small touches make a big impact
🎧 Listen in and then tag me @brittanylgibson to show off your table setup!
🔗 Links mentioned:– Red, White & Blue Herbal Iced Teas– The Homestead Challenge Facebook Group
✨ Take what works, leave the rest—and have a beautiful, garden-fresh summer celebration.

Ep 137. 5 Things I am Loving on the Homestead this Summer

In this laid-back summer episode, I’m sharing a few things that have been making life sweeter lately—from a nostalgic radio habit to a bread machine I never thought I’d love. I talk about letting go of homesteading perfectionism, the iced tea blend I’m drinking on repeat, and why I’m finally embracing my crockpot in the summer. If you're looking for low-pressure inspiration, practical swaps, and a little dose of seasonal joy, this one's for you.
👉 Mentioned in this episode:• Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver• My Compact Cuisinart bread machine• Summer crockpot meals• My favorite iced herbal tea blend• Greenstalk planter sale• …and why I’ve turned the radio back on
🎧 Tune in and get inspired to slow it down this summer—90s-style.

Ep 136. Summer Herbal Uses for Rosemary

Is rosemary just a fall and winter herb? Not anymore. In this episode, we’re exploring all the surprising ways to use rosemary right now—while it’s thriving in the heat and taking over the garden beds.
We talk about:
Why rosemary thrives in summer (and how to grow it better)
What makes rosemary so powerful as an herbal remedy (hello, memory + mood boost)
Everyday ways to use rosemary in the summer—from scalp rinses and herbal oils to bug spray and fire starters
How to preserve rosemary now so you’ll have it ready for fall cooking and winter remedies
Plus, I share some of the rosemary-based DIYs that are already on the blog and a couple new ones going up this week—including rosemary salt and infused oil.
If your rosemary plant is bursting at the seams or you’ve just never known what to do with it in the warmer months, this episode is full of inspiration.
🌿 Resources + Links:
DIY Herbal Bug Spray
Homemade Thieves-Style Herbal Cleaner
Decongestant Chest Salve (Vapor Rub Style)
🎧 Listen + Share:If you enjoy this episode, please leave a 5-star written review! It helps more folks find the podcast—and we’re on a mission to hit 100,000 downloads by fall. 💛

Ep 135. Calm the Heart: Herbs for Stress and Ditching the Pressure

This summer hasn’t felt quite as peaceful as I hoped—and maybe you’re feeling the same. In this episode, I’m opening up about the stress I’ve been feeling lately, even while trying to do all the things to slow down. If you’ve ever felt like natural living was starting to feel more stressful than supportive, this conversation is for you.
We’ll walk through what I call my “ladder of intervention”—a gentle framework I use to decide when to reach for lifestyle changes, herbal support, or something stronger. I’m also sharing my go-to stress tea recipe, the story of how I got off anxiety meds with herbs, and a brand-new tincture recipe that supports your nervous system and your heart.
Links + Resources:
🌿 Make the Calm Heart Tincture:https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/heart-tincture/
🍵 Get the Stress + Anxiety Herbal Tea Recipe:https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/best-herbal-tea-recipe-for-anxiety/
📱 DM me on Instagram: @brittanylgibson
 
If this episode gave you some peace or a fresh perspective, would you share it with a friend who might need it too? Or leave a quick review to help more homesteaders and natural living mamas find the show?
Thanks for being here, friend. We’re in this together. 💛

Ep 134. The Power of Patience in the Garden (and Beyond)

Whether you're staring at empty patches in your garden or waiting for your ferments to finish bubbling, this lifestyle is full of waiting. And in a culture that celebrates overnight success and 30-second videos, that can feel extra hard.
But what if the waiting is actually part of the growth?
In this episode, I'm sharing:
Why waiting is one of the hardest parts of homesteading
How impatience has shown up for me lately (spoiler: I’ve replanted seeds way too early)
Real-life encouragement for those of us in the messy middle of any project
Simple things you can do while you wait that actually move you forward
Why slow success is more satisfying—and sustainable—than quick wins
“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Whether you're waiting on seeds, sourdough, or just a quieter season in life—this one’s for you.
 
🧑‍🌾 Come connect!
Say hi on Instagram: @brittanylgibson
Join the community: The Homestead Collective Facebook Group
📣 Leave a review if you loved this episode—it truly helps others find the podcast and keeps this community growing.

Ep 133. This is the Year You Will Start Canning (or stick with it!)

Ready to finally start canning—or actually stick with it this time? This is the year we let go of perfection and start preserving food in a way that’s doable, satisfying, and not totally overwhelming. In this episode, I’m sharing why I started canning, the real reasons you might want to give it a go, and the simplest ways to begin—whether you’re working with homegrown tomatoes or a bucket of u-pick strawberries.
I also talk through some of my biggest canning mistakes (like impulse produce purchases without a plan ), why it helps to prep now before the harvest hits, and the beginner-friendly recipes that I think everyone should try first.
What You’ll Learn:
The real-life reasons to start canning (and why it’s not just about saving money)
What you actually need to get started (hint: not a root cellar or 1,000 jars)
Why planning ahead is the #1 thing that makes canning feel manageable
Easy beginner recipes like jam and tomato sauce—and why small batches count
My favorite tools, tips, and honest lessons learned over the past few years
Mentioned in This Episode:
Ep. 13 – Canning Mistakes I’ve Made So You Don’t Have To
Ep. 91 – The First 10 Things I Ever Canned (and Why)
Canning Tips + Tools I Use
My Amazon Storefront: Canning Favorites
👉 Leave a 5-star written review if this episode was helpful—it means so much and helps others find the show!

Ep 132. Letting Go of Perfectionism in the Garden

If your garden feels a little behind, messy, or flat-out disappointing this year—you are not alone. In this episode of The Homestead Challenge, we’re talking all about releasing perfectionism in the garden so you can enjoy the process, learn as you grow, and stop comparing your reality to picture-perfect plots on Instagram.
Whether your tomato starts failed, your trellis dreams didn’t happen, or you’re still throwing seeds in the dirt a month later than you planned—this is your permission slip to keep going.
🌱 What We Cover in This Episode:
Why even seasoned gardeners have setbacks (spoiler: I might need new tomatoes)
Reframing the idea that there’s a “right way” to garden
Creative ways to use what you have—containers, trellises, and all
When it’s totally okay to buy a few plant starts (even if you wanted to grow from seed!)
The beauty of direct sowing and learning through trial and error
How your garden space—no matter the size—can still nourish your soul
 
👩‍🌾 Join the Conversation:Come post your “imperfect” garden wins with us in the Homestead Challenge Facebook Community. It’s a no-pressure space full of encouragement and real-life garden chat.

Ep 131. You Can't Homestead When it Hurts

In this episode, we’re getting real about something that doesn’t get talked about enough: how your physical health impacts your ability to homestead, parent, and keep a household running. We’re not machines—we do this work with our bodies, and when we’re in pain, low-energy, or just plain burnt out, everything feels harder.
That’s why I’m ditching the all-or-nothing intensity of 75 Hard and doing my own version: 10 Weeks Hard. It’s a realistic, flexible challenge focused on consistency and wellness—not aesthetics or perfection. I’m sharing my five personal rules, why they matter, and how you can modify them to fit your own life.
Whether you're thinking about starting something similar or just need a nudge to prioritize your health this season, this episode is for you.
🧡 What We Cover:
Why I’m not doing 75 Hard—but still wanted a challenge
The 10 Weeks Hard rules I’m following
What “real food” actually means to me (hint: it’s flexible!)
Why one workout has to be outdoors
The mindset shift that makes all of this feel empowering, not punishing
How I’m tracking progress and inviting you in
 
📝 Want to Try This Too?You don’t have to follow all five rules—just pick one or two that would make you feel better and start there. If you're doing your own version, tag me on Instagram @brittanylgibson or come tell us about it in The Homestead Collective!

Ep 130. FREE and Easy Prepper Tasks to Do in Summer

☀️ What if prepping didn’t feel overwhelming—or expensive?
In this episode, we’re diving into six completely free ways to boost your preparedness this summer. While fall and winter tend to feel like the “typical” prepping seasons, summer offers its own unique energy: longer days, lighter routines, and a little more breathing room.
I’m sharing practical things you can do right now—without needing to buy a single thing—that will give you more peace of mind at home.
These ideas are perfect for beginners or anyone who wants to be more prepared without falling down a rabbit hole of fear or conspiracy theories. (Not our vibe.)
🌿 What we cover in this episode:
Why summer is secretly a great time for prepping
The power of inventory + decluttering (aka finding the gear you forgot you had)
Fun ways to rotate water and test your emergency supplies
Skills > Stuff: easy activities to practice for self-reliance
Free downloads + printables to help organize your plans
How to loop in your kids and build family safety habits
Community preparedness ideas
Where to actually find free gear
Plus a few of my favorite low-cost summer habits—like garage sale treasure hunting and side-of-the-road scores 🙌
📌 Mentioned in this episode:
🆓 Free Printable: Emergency Prep Checklist
🧺 My Amazon Prepper Favorites Storefront
🧯 Past episodes on prepping:
Ep 75. Prepared for Unrest? How City Homesteading Gives Us an EdgeEp 71. 6 Ideas for Winter Homestead PreparednessEp 68. National Preparedness Month for Normal PeopleEp 67. Stop Consuming and Start Learning Preparedness SkillsEp 62. What a Tree Falling on My House Taught Me About Emergency PreparednessEp. 48 How to Have a Prepper Stash Without the Conspiracy
Join the conversation in our Facebook community
📲 Follow me on Instagram: @brittanylgibson

Ep 129. 3 Ways to Simplify Your Homestead Right Now

If you’re feeling a little stretched thin lately, this episode is for you.
We’re talking about three simple ways to take the pressure off your homestead routines—starting today. These are things we’re doing right now to reclaim a little breathing room while still making progress on the things that matter most.
Whether you’re deep in garden season, juggling family life, or just feeling a bit behind, this episode is your permission slip to make things easier.
In this episode, we cover:
Why “doing less” isn’t giving up—it’s getting smarter
A mindset shift that can simplify everything
The one small change that made a big difference in our weekly rhythm
What we’re letting go of this season (and what we’re focusing on instead)
Links & Resources:
Join The Homestead Collective → Click here
Join the FREE Facebook Community
Follow along on Instagram: @brittanylgibson