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

Ep 28. The Raw Truth: My Milk Journey and How Herdshare Realigned my Mindset

In this episode, I dive into a crucial turning point in my homesteading life – the moment I finally found a raw milk herdshare near me. This wasn't just about choosing healthier milk; it was about taking ownership of my choices and realigning with my core values.
🌿 Why Raw Milk? Raw milk isn't just milk. It's a symbol of balance and natural wellness, packed with more amino acids, antimicrobials, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids than its pasteurized counterpart. It’s especially beneficial for those dealing with lactose intolerance, asthma, and autoimmune conditions.
But this journey is more than just about milk. It's about making conscious choices that resonate with our lifestyle and beliefs.
Like always, I don't think that MY choice is necessarily the right choice for YOU! But there are SO many great options to uplevel your dairy game if you are still buying conventional milk.
🌱 Every step towards a more informed choice is a step towards better health and alignment. It’s all about embracing those steady, positive incremental changes.
 
Links Mentioned:
https://realmilk.com
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/workwithme
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Ep 27. Systems and Online Communities Have Kept My Homestead Afloat

Things have been a little out-of-whack around my homestead. But solid systems and an online community have truly been the things that have kept me going. I am eager to teach you these systems and create an online community so that no suburban homesteader ever feels like they don't have someone or something to fall back on.
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/workwithme
 

Ep 26. Can you be a homesteader and a minimalist? 5 Ways I Got Minimalism All Wrong

Spring cleaning is ALL the rage on the interwebs, and there are a few buzzwords that go around this time of year. Mainly, "minimalism." Don't run away yet! I know... most of us homesteady types are NOT here for minimalism.
But hear me out, I think minimalism has a few principles we can apply to better our homestead lives (and no, not that cold, gray aesthetic).
Check out 5 mistakes I made when I thought I had to be a minimalist and how we can all learn a few minimalist values to help reach our 2024 goals!
 
Homework:
Before bringing something new into your life, whether it is a physical item or an activity, make sure it aligns with your homestead goals.
 
Links Mentioned:
FREE Challenge: https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/time
Instagram
The Homestead Challenge Facebook Community
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Ep 25. 3 Step Spring Refresh to Revitalize Your Homestead Routine

Starting a solid routine before the busy homestead season is crucial, especially if your kiddos will be out of school over the summer! Everyone is spring cleaning right now, but there is so much more to it than that! Getting these things out of the way now will ensure your homestead's success for the year and get you into a rhythm that will make the rest of the year run so much smoother. 
Listen in for 3 ways to spring refresh your homestead so you can set yourself up for an abundant and stress-free season ahead!
 
Links Mentioned:
FREE Time Management Challenge: https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/time
Sustainable Declutter Challenge: https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/eco-friendly-printable-30-day-declutter-challenge/
Spring Simmer Pot Recipe: https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/simple-spring-floral-and-citrus-simmer-pot-recipe/
The Homestead Challenge Facebook Community
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Ep 24. Eat Your Frogs: How to Reset Your Homestead When You Feel Burnt Out

I am so excited to share Field Prep Foundations, a FREE 5-day challenge to help you reclaim and realign your time.
Over the course of five days, you will receive emails with a video challenge containing simple, actionable steps for you to move toward a homestead jam-packed with all of the things you want to do, and ditching the rest.
Here's what to expect:
• Identifying Time Wasters
• Homestead Goal Setting
• Time Blocking
• Automating + Delegating Tasks
All straight to your inbox! Each day is designed to help you cultivate a more organized and productive approach to your homesteading activities.
 
JOIN THE FREE CHALLENGE
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com
The Homestead Challenge Facebook Community
 

Ep 23. The Importance of Local Community in Homesteading with Caitlin of Homegrown Hopes

In today's conversation, Caitlin of Homegrown Hopes shares some common misconceptions about homesteading, tackling the myths of homesteading and the importance of local community (something I am not always the best at!). It's all about finding balance, leaning on each other's strengths, and creating a supportive network.
For those aspiring or current homesteaders, Caitlin leaves you with a message of patience, continuous learning, and the courage to put knowledge into action. Whether it's starting small with herbs on an apartment balcony or joining a local community garden, the key is to dive in and try.
Don't forget to check out Caitlin's podcast, Homegrown Hopes, after this episode!
LINKS MENTIONED
https://homegrownhopes.com/
https://holistichomesteadconference.com/
The Homestead Challenge Facebook Community
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Ep 22. Non-Toxic Cleaning Routine without Essential Oils

I am feeling the clean and declutter bug. Big time. I think that is totally normal for this time of year. More and more people move toward non-toxic cleaners every year, and I wanted to give you my favorite recipes (without essential oils... well... sometimes) in case you are looking to do the same in your own homestead.
I have a complicated relationship with essential oils that are so beloved by the crunchy community. Dive on into this episode to learn why I am not in love with them, and what I use instead! 
HOMEWORK: Start infusing some white vinegar! 
 
Links Mentioned:
DIY Thieves Cleaner
DIY Wood Cleaner
Get Your Free Homesteading Roadmap (join the email list!)
Links for all of my favorite products
Instagram
The Homestead Challenge Facebook Community
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Ep 21. How I Did All of My Homestead Tasks in 45 Minutes

Discover how to efficiently tackle your homestead tasks! Today, I'm chatting about how I managed all my homestead tasks in just 45 minutes by using the critical path method. 
Streamlining tasks to overcome the chaos of jumping from one task to another can help boost our productivity while actually making us feel LESS busy. Transitioning from the strict structure of academia to the flexibility of homesteading led me to feel a little bit lost without structure in my days. I found methods that actually work to increase my productivity, make me less busy, but still remain flexible.
Implementation for Larger Projects:
List project activities.
Identify dependencies.
Create a critical path diagram.
Calculate the duration of each activity.
Determine the overall timeline following the critical path.
Links Mentioned:
Get Your Free Homesteading Roadmap
Links for all of my favorite products
Instagram
The Homestead Challenge Facebook Community
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Ep 20. Seed Sorting Simplified: Organizing Strategies for Every Gardener

Seed organizing sounds like a daunting task, but it is actually kind of fun! Hear me out... you get to see what else you still need to buy and then go seed shopping! What could be better than that?
I've learned that if I get organized in a way that works for my brain before the peak of garden season, I will set myself up for a lot more success (and a lot less stress). When it's go-time, I will get to play in the garden and get my hands in the dirt, not trying to remember what I am supposed to plant and when.
Recall the organization styles we explored in Episode 12 about kitchen organization. It's time to apply those principles to your garden seed organizing.
 
Homework: Get yourself organized. Really. Do it. Today.
Links Mentioned:
The Best Seed Organizing Ideas
Get Your Free Homesteading Roadmap
Links for all of my favorite products
Instagram
The Homestead Challenge Facebook Community
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Ep 19. Grit & Growth: Overcoming Homestead Fears and Failures

Whether you're daunted by the prospect of failure or success, homesteading fears can be REAL. I received a thought-provoking question from a Facebook follower and I couldn't resist talking about this topic right away (because I think it hits home for all of us).
In this episode, I explore the complex emotions that come with change – from the unsettling fear of failure to the surprising apprehension of success, and even the daunting impostor syndrome. Why does success sometimes scare us as much as failure? 
Let's confront these fears head-on. What happens when our worst fears come to life?
This episode isn't just about homesteading – it's about growth, resilience, and the courage to face our fears.
Homework:
Make the lists of fears you either had starting out or still have, then make a list of your fears once you get started? Take time to let them sink in and truly think about whats worse. I don’t think you will struggle to make your dreams come true if you look at the alternatives.
 
Links Mentioned:
Get Your Free Homesteading Roadmap
Links for all of my favorite products
Instagram
The Homestead Challenge Facebook Community
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