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

Ep 194. The Truth About Organic Pest Control for Your Garden

We’re talking about organic pest control for your garden—what it really means, when to step in, and when to let things go. After dealing with an unexpected aphid issue on my seedlings, I’m sharing the products I actually use, how I think about health and exposure, and how to make these decisions without overthinking every little thing.
 
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/companion-planting/
 

Ep 193. Don't Get Fooled at the Plant Nursery (and What to Watch For)

We’re talking about how to avoid common plant nursery mistakes—from “healthy” looking plants that struggle after transplanting to soil deals that aren’t actually deals. We’ll walk through what to look for so we can shop smarter, save money, and grow a more successful garden this season.
 
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Ep 192. I Tried to Make Spring Easier... Here's What Actually Happened

We thought prepping in March would make spring feel calm and manageable—but real life had other plans. In this episode, we’re talking about what’s actually helping right now, what we’re letting go of, and how we’re redefining “enough” during a busy, chaotic season.
 
15 Minute Routine: https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/routine/ 

Ep 191. The Summer Cooking System that Keeps Us Eating Real Food

In this episode, we’re sharing the simple summer cooking system that helps us keep feeding our families real food without spending all evening in the kitchen. We’re talking about using the crockpot, making a few basics ahead of time, and creating an easy rhythm that works with our busy summer days.
 
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com
 

Ep 190. Dry Goods to Prep Now for an Easier Garden Season

In this episode, we’re talking about simple dry goods and convenience mixes we can prep now to make busy garden season so much easier. We walk through easy ideas like brownie mix, cornbread mix, and seasoning blends that help us cook from scratch without the extra time and mess. This is all about reducing mental load and setting ourselves up for a more peaceful, doable summer.
 
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Ep 189. How to Decide What Foods are Worth Growing vs. Buying

We’re heading into spring and taking a realistic look at what foods are actually worth growing versus just buying, using our own pantry habits as the guide. In this episode, we walk through simple filters to help us decide what makes sense for our space, budget, and goals—so we can grow with intention and skip the overwhelm.
 
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/pantry/
 

Ep 188. Let Your Pantry Tell You What to Grow this Year

In this episode of The Homestead Challenge, we kick off the Make It March series by looking at our pantries to help decide what we should grow in our gardens this year. Instead of planting randomly, we talk about how noticing what we actually eat, run out of, and keep buying can guide smarter garden planning and help us waste less food. This simple pantry inventory helps us connect our grocery habits, pantry staples, and garden goals before the busy growing season begins.
 
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity
 

Ep 187. The Only Cleaning Ingredients You Really Need at Home

In this episode, we’re talking about the simple natural cleaning ingredients to keep on hand so you can clean almost anything without buying a cabinet full of products. I’ll walk you through what vinegar, baking soda, washing soda, castile soap, peroxide, and alcohol actually do — plus which ones truly disinfect and when it’s really necessary. If you want a practical, low-pressure approach to non-toxic cleaning, this episode will help you stock your home with confidence.
 
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/all-natural-cleaning-supplies/
 

Ep 186. Hidden Toxic Items in Your Home (That You Can Remove Today for FREE!)

In this episode, we’re talking about free ways to reduce toxins in our homes without buying new cleaning products or supplies. We’ll walk through simple changes like removing plug-in air fresheners, skipping dryer sheets, cleaning our cleaning tools, and tackling hidden dust zones that hold onto pollutants. If you want a healthier home this spring without spending money, these small changes can make a surprisingly big impact.
 
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com
 

Ep 185. Where to Start with Non-Toxic Cleaning (Without Throwing Everything Away)

In this episode, we’re diving into non-toxic spring cleaning and how to switch to natural cleaning products without throwing everything away. We’ll walk through a simple, low-pressure plan for replacing conventional cleaners — starting with laundry detergent, dish soap, and everyday household products — plus what I actually use in my own home. If you’ve been wanting a healthier home without the overwhelm, this episode will help you start non-toxic cleaning one realistic swap at a time. 
 
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/category/sustainable-living/home/