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

After a busy summer away from the podcast, I’m back for an honest late-summer homestead check-in! We’re talking about what worked this summer, what definitely didn’t, garden wins and failures, what I’ve actually been preserving, and the lessons I’m taking into next year. Plus, I’m sharing my realistic August reset as we head toward back-to-school season and figuring out how to get back into routines without wishing summer away.

When it comes to preserving your harvest, there isn't one "right" method. In this episode, I'm walking you through the decision-making process I use for every crop in my garden and explaining why some vegetables go straight into the freezer, others get dried or fermented, and some are best enjoyed fresh.
Rather than preserving food because we feel like we should, I'm sharing how I think about convenience, storage space, family preferences, and how Future Brittany will actually use each ingredient months from now.
In this episode, we cover:
Why canning isn't always the best preservation method
The question I ask before preserving any harvest
Why I dry nearly all of my herbs
My favorite ways to preserve tomatoes
Why I ferment cucumbers instead of canning them
Freezing versus canning green beans
The easiest way to preserve peppers
Storing potatoes and winter squash
What I do with zucchini and yellow squash
Preserving broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage
How storage space affects preservation decisions
Taking inventory before preserving another season's harvest
The biggest takeaway
Instead of asking, "How should I preserve this?" ask yourself, "How will I actually use this six months from now?" That one simple question can help you save time, reduce waste, and build a pantry you'll truly enjoy using.

Don't let your summer herb harvest go to waste! In this episode of The Homestead Challenge Podcast, Brittany shares how she's preserving herbs now to create thoughtful homemade Christmas gifts later. From herbal salts and tea blends to drying herbs, cut flower bouquets, and experimenting with herbal chapsticks, you'll learn practical ways to make the most of your garden while preparing for the holidays months in advance. Whether you're growing herbs in a backyard garden or a few containers on the porch, this episode will inspire you to harvest with purpose and help future you enjoy a less stressful holiday season.
 
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/drying-and-storing-fresh-herbs/
 

One of the biggest gardening mistakes I made for years?
Thinking that once everything was planted in the spring... I was done.
This year, every time a spot opens up in my garden, I'm putting more seeds in the ground. More lettuce. More beans. More carrots. It's such a simple habit, but I think it's going to make a huge difference in how much fresh food we get to enjoy this season.
In this week's podcast episode, I'm sharing my very relaxed approach to succession sowing. No complicated spreadsheets or perfect timing required—just a few extra seed packets and a willingness to keep planting.
Are you still planting things in your garden? What are you sowing this week? 🌱
 
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com 

Have you ever dreamed of opening a farm stand, even if you live in the city? In this episode, I'm sharing the real behind-the-scenes process of starting my front yard farm stand, Falls City Farmstead, in suburban Ohio. From choosing products and navigating Ohio cottage food laws to pricing handmade herbal products, managing liability concerns, and overcoming the fear of theft, I'm walking you through every decision I made along the way.
Whether you want to sell flowers, extra garden produce, homemade goods, eggs, or herbal products, this episode will encourage you to start where you are and build something that fits your life. If you've ever wondered how to start a farm stand, create a small homestead business, or turn your hobby into a source of income, this episode is for you.
In this episode:
How to start a farm stand in the city
Choosing what to sell from your homestead
Ohio cottage food laws and labeling considerations
Pricing homemade products
Farm stand theft concerns and liability
Marketing a small local business
Why community matters more than competition
Follow @falls.city.farmstead on instagram :)
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In this episode of The Homestead Challenge Podcast, we're talking all about bugs in the organic garden. Learn which insects are beneficial, how trap crops work, when to leave pests alone, and when it's time to intervene with simple organic solutions. If your garden has holes in the leaves, aphids, cabbage worms, or chipmunks causing trouble, you're definitely not alone.
#organicgardening #vegetablegarden #homesteading #gardenpests #backyardgarden

In this June garden update, we're sharing what's growing in our Zone 6 garden, the challenges we're facing this season, and a few personal life updates along the way. From harvesting herbs and strawberries to dealing with pests, watering struggles, and the unexpected loss of a beloved family dog, this episode is an honest look at real-life homesteading and finding peace in the garden during difficult seasons.
 
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/ 

Sage is one of the easiest herbs to grow, but it's also one of the most overlooked. In this episode, we explore practical ways to use garden sage, including culinary projects, herbal remedies, preserving methods, and why this hardy perennial deserves a place in every homestead garden.
Whether your sage plant is thriving or you've never known what to do with it, you'll leave with simple ideas to start harvesting and using this versatile herb.
 
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com 

Summer canning doesn't have to mean marathon weekends, Pinterest-perfect pantries, or preserving every tomato you grow. In this episode, we're talking about what summer canning actually looks like in a busy suburban home—from deciding what's worth canning and using a two-day workflow to freezing harvests, preserving in small batches, and fitting it all into real life with kids. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by food preservation, this episode will help you create a canning rhythm that works for you.
 
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/canning-tips/
 

In this episode, we’re talking about the hidden consumerism that can sneak into the homesteading lifestyle and why it’s so easy to buy the fantasy version of homesteading instead of actually living it. We chat about homestead perfectionism, comparison culture, overbuying supplies, hobby collecting vs. hobby doing, and why buying food for your family is not failure if you’re actually using it. If you’ve ever felt pressure to have the perfect pantry, garden, or homesteading setup, this episode is a gentle reminder that simple, imperfect homesteading still counts.
 
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com