The Homestead Challenge Podcast | Suburban Homesteading, Gardening, Food From Scratch, Sustainable Living
Do you feel like you want to cook from scratch, grow more of your own food, or live intentionally—but never have the time or energy to do it all? Tried diving headfirst into homesteading only to end up overwhelmed, burnt out, or wondering where to even begin? You’re not alone. If you’re ready to build a homestead life that actually works with your modern, busy schedule—this podcast is for you. Inside The Homestead Challenge, you’ll find time-saving routines, realistic strategies, and practical tips to help you simplify home systems, grow what you can, and start living from scratch—without the pressure to do it all perfectly. Hey friend. I’m Brittany—crunchy mom, city homesteader, and your go-to for making slow living possible in real life. I tried the all-at-once approach to homesteading… and crashed hard into burnout. Turns out, trying to master everything at once just wastes time, money, and a whole lot of mental energy. But here’s the good news: homesteading doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You can do this in small steps that make a big impact. If you’re ready to create a from-scratch lifestyle with more rhythm and less chaos—grab that sourdough starter from the back of the fridge... it’s time to rise. https://thehomesteadchallenge.com
Episodes
Friday Apr 18, 2025
Friday Apr 18, 2025
Deciding where to plant things can feel like a total mystery—especially when Instagram says one thing and your neighbor’s doing another. So let’s talk it through, without the pressure to get it “perfect.”
In this episode, I’m breaking down the pros and practical uses for containers, raised beds, and in-ground gardening—plus how I decide where to put what in my own small-space garden.
We’ll chat:
What to plant in containers (and why peppers love my grow bags!)
The crops that thrive in raised beds (especially if you’ve got heavy soil)
When to give in-ground gardening a go—and how to make it work without fancy gear
Why you have to experiment in your space and not just copy what works for someone else
How I’m planning my garden this year (hint: it’s a mix of whimsy, practicality, and learning as I go)
Whether you’re just getting started or want to make better use of the space you’ve got, this episode will help you feel more confident in choosing what goes where—with plenty of encouragement to try, fail, and try again.
🎧 Listen in and then come share what you’re planting where this year inside our free Homestead Challenge Facebook Group!
✨ Want support, ideas, and encouragement each season? Join The Homestead Collective — our private membership to help you build homesteading rhythms that actually fit your life.
Tuesday Apr 15, 2025
Ep 117. Why Meal Planning is the Foundation of a Busy Homestead
Tuesday Apr 15, 2025
Tuesday Apr 15, 2025
When most people start homesteading, they jump straight to the fun stuff—sourdough, chickens, herbal remedies. But here's the truth:If your kitchen isn’t in rhythm, everything else feels harder.
In this episode, I’m sharing why meal planning is the foundation of a sustainable, low-stress homestead—especially if you’re busy, in a season of life with limited time, or balancing a million things at once.
🌱 Whether you’re just getting started or trying to finally feel like you’re doing the thing—this episode will help you reset, simplify, and build a foundation you can grow on.
Mentioned in this episode:
👩🌾 Join the Meal Plan Momentum challenge (free!) inside our Facebook group👉 The Homestead Challenge Facebook Group
✨ Want to go deeper and build systems that stick?Check out The Homestead Collective
Enjoyed this episode?Please hit subscribe/follow, leave a quick review, and share it with a friend who’s trying to juggle real life and homesteading dreams. You’re not alone—and you don’t have to do it all perfectly to make it work.
Friday Apr 11, 2025
Ep 116. Low-Maintenance, High-Reward Plants for the Garden
Friday Apr 11, 2025
Friday Apr 11, 2025
Tired of babysitting your garden all summer long? In this episode, we’re digging into the real MVPs of the garden—the plants that practically take care of themselves.
I’m sharing a list of weird, wonderful, and wildly easy plants that give you an amazing harvest without demanding much of your time or energy. Whether you're short on bandwidth, just starting out, or simply want to build a more sustainable setup, these low-maintenance picks are for you.
Resources & Links Mentioned:
Learn more about The Homestead Collective: https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/collective
Join our free community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity
Tuesday Apr 08, 2025
Ep 115. The 3 Biggest Mistakes I Made Trying to Do It All on the Homestead
Tuesday Apr 08, 2025
Tuesday Apr 08, 2025
In today’s episode, I’m sharing the three biggest mistakes I made when I first started homesteading in the city—and what finally helped me stop burning out and start building a lifestyle that actually felt good.
Whether you’re just getting started or you've been at this a while, I hope this episode feels like a big exhale. I’ll also walk you through a super simple five-minute mindset shift that can help you refocus this week and let go of what’s not serving you.
Links + Resources:
🌱 Join our free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity
🖨️ Free mindset printable: https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/homestead-mindset/
💛 Learn about The Homestead Collective: https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/collective/
Let’s Connect:Send in your episode requests at https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/podcast/
Or come say hi on Instagram: @brittanylgibson
Friday Apr 04, 2025
Friday Apr 04, 2025
Let’s be honest — remembering to water the garden can be really hard when life is full of kids, work, laundry piles, and approximately one zillion other things. In today’s episode, we’re talking about realistic, no-pressure strategies to help you keep your garden alive and thriving without needing a perfect routine.
I’m sharing my favorite habit stacking tricks, visual cues, and time-saving hacks that have helped me stay consistent — even on the busiest days. Whether you’re a tired parent, a working homesteader, or just someone who forgets to water (same), this episode will give you a breath of fresh air and practical ideas you can try this week.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Join The Homestead Collective: https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/collective/
Follow along on Instagram: @brittanylgibson
Leave a Review & Share!
If this episode helped you feel less overwhelmed and more empowered in the garden, it would mean so much if you left a review or shared it with a friend who could use a little garden encouragement.
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
Ep 113. The Secret to Actually Following Through on Your Homestead Plans
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
Do you ever start a season full of homestead goals—sourdough, gardening, preserving—and then lose steam halfway through?
You’re not alone.
In this episode, I’m sharing the real reason so many of us struggle to follow through on our homesteading plans, and a simple mindset shift that will help you stay consistent (even when life gets busy). We’ll break down what I call the Accountability Triangle—clarity, support, and consistency—and how those three things can transform your homesteading journey.
💻 Links & Resources:
🔗 Join The Homestead Collective: https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/collective/
💬 Come say hi on Instagram → @brittanylgibson
📍Join our free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity
Friday Mar 28, 2025
Friday Mar 28, 2025
Welcome to The Homestead Collective! In this episode, I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes tour of everything waiting for you inside this supportive, no-pressure homesteading community.
Whether you’re brand new or just want to get oriented, this episode will help you:
🌿 Understand the heart behind The Homestead Collective📦 Learn what’s included (monthly themes, private podcast episodes, printable tools + more)✨ Know exactly where to start so you don’t get overwhelmed💬 Feel connected, encouraged, and ready to take your next step
This isn’t about doing it all. It’s about doing what matters—with the support of a like-minded community beside you.
Links Mentioned:👉 Watch the private video workshop (available for 3 days only): Get on the Email List at https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/podcast
👉 Join the waitlist for The Homestead Collective: https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/collective
👉 Follow me on Instagram: @brittanylgibson
Tuesday Mar 25, 2025
Tuesday Mar 25, 2025
Spring is here, and if you’re feeling pulled in too many directions on your homestead — you’re not alone! In this episode, I’m sharing the two areas I’m focusing on right now and how I’m narrowing in on what actually matters most (even when I really want to do it all).
I’ll also tell you about an exclusive 30-minute workshop I’m hosting this week to help you do the same! This private workshop will help you:✅ Cut the overwhelm✅ Get super clear on your next 30-day priorities✅ Build a simple plan that moves the needle toward your goals
Whether your focus is seed starting, baby chicks, preserving food, or something completely different — this method works for homesteaders of any size and stage.
🎉 The workshop will be available Friday through Sunday ONLY, exclusively for my email list and private Facebook community!
👉 Make sure you’re on the list so you don’t miss out: https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/podcast
In this episode, I chat about:🌱 Why I’m focusing on seed starting (even though I’m still figuring it out!)🥫 How I’m tackling last year’s preserves and what I’ve learned for future canning📓 A sneak peek at my new preservation calendar (coming soon to Homestead Collective members!)📝 How to start building your own focus plan for the season
✨ Join our growing Facebook community here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity
Let’s connect:Instagram: @brittanylgibsonVisit the blog: thehomesteadchallenge.com
If this episode helps you feel more focused, share it with a friend who could use a little homestead clarity, too!
Friday Mar 21, 2025
Friday Mar 21, 2025
These days, more and more people are quietly stepping back from homesteading — selling off animals, downsizing, or giving up entirely. After reading an article on the Guardian called “Why I Quit My Homestead Dream Just as Farmer Tradwives Became Mainstream,” I knew I had to sit down and talk about this growing trend… and why I’m determined to do things differently.
In this episode, I’m sharing my honest thoughts on homesteading burnout, the pressure to do it all, and how I believe we can build a homestead life that feels balanced, nourishing, and sustainable — without losing our modern freedoms or joy.
If you’ve ever felt like homesteading was becoming just another heavy checklist — this episode is for you.
In This Episode, You’ll Hear:🌱 Why so many homesteaders are burning out or stepping back🌱 How social media has changed the way we view homesteading🌱 Why community and consistency matter more than perfection🌱 What I’m doing differently — and how you can too🌱 A sneak peek inside The Homestead Collective — coming April 1st!
✨ Links & Resources:👉 Join The Homestead Collective Waitlist https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/waitlist
👉 Join our free Facebook community: The Homestead Challenge Facebook Group👉 Leave me a voice message for the podcast: thehomesteadchallenge.com/podcast👉 Connect with me on Instagram: @brittanylgibson
Tuesday Mar 18, 2025
Tuesday Mar 18, 2025
Feeling overwhelmed by the thought of garden season? In this episode, I’m sharing 10 things you can do right now—even if it’s still cold and gloomy—to set your garden up for success and avoid that last-minute spring scramble. I’ve learned from experience that waiting until the weather is nice is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Don’t worry—I’ve got you covered with simple, practical steps that will make your gardening life so much easier this year.
Thanks for being here, friend. 💕Brittany
Leave me a Voice Message or Question >>> https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/podcast/
Join the FREE 5 Day Pantry Challenge >>> https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/pantry/
Join the waitlist for The Homestead Collective >>> https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/waitlist/