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

Ep 156. Fall Energy: When Doing Less Homesteading Actually Gets You Further

In this episode, we talk about what fall really means for us as homesteaders and why it’s okay if we’re not caught up on every project or learning a new skill right now. We compare fall to the luteal phase of a cycle—a time for reflection, slowing down, and preparing for the restful winter ahead. We also explore how winter mirrors the menstrual phase, reminding us that rest doesn’t mean doing nothing—it’s actually the perfect time to learn, dream, and rebuild our energy.
 
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com

Ep 155. 2025 Homesteading Deals I Would Actually Buy

If you’re feeling tempted by all the Prime Day and early Black Friday sales but aren’t sure what’s actually worth it for your homestead — this one’s for you. I’m taking a quick break from my homestead organization series to share what I’ve been seeing lately in the world of deals and steals, what’s worth adding to your cart, and what can probably wait until next year.
In this episode, I’m talking about some of my favorite brands, the types of products that actually go on sale (and stay good quality), and how to make a wishlist that keeps you from getting sucked into the scroll.
What We Chat About:
Why GreenStalk’s current clearance sale is the best I’ve ever seen
How to tell if a “deal” is really a deal (hint: check regular prices first!)
When to stock up on grow bags, seeds, and raised beds
Power backup systems and what brands to trust
Kitchen tools and cast iron cookware that actually go on sale
How I use wishlist shopping to avoid impulse buys
The one item still on my wishlist — the Presto electric pressure canner
My Best Tips:
Don’t feel pressured to buy everything right now — there will always be another sale.
Sign up for your favorite seed companies’ newsletters to catch those early November discounts.
Create a wishlist before you browse so you don’t get distracted by random “lightning deals.”
Quality over quantity — especially when it comes to garden gear and tools that need to last.

Ep 154. How to Plan (and sometimes delay) Your Homesteading Projects

This week, I’m answering a listener question that so many of us can relate to: How do you plan your homesteading projects? Do you have a calendar?
If you’ve ever bought all the supplies for a new skill—like kombucha brewing or sourdough baking—and then never actually started, this episode is for you. I’m sharing why it’s completely normal to go through different seasons in our homesteading journey and how not everything has to happen at once.
I also talk about how I personally plan and prioritize projects, the simple tools that help me stay organized, and how I find little pockets of time in my busy week (even with kids at home). From embracing the ebb and flow of energy to letting go of perfection, this episode is your reminder that your homestead doesn’t have to look productive all the time to be meaningful.
In this episode, I chat about:
Why unfinished projects are completely normal
How to think seasonally when it comes to learning new skills
The difference between passion projects and habits
Finding small blocks of time to get things done
My favorite planners and simple brain-dump methods
Giving yourself grace to grow slowly and sustainably

Ep 153. Headaches, Tylenol, and My Herbal Protocol

🌿 Mentioned in this episode:
Common root causes of headaches and how to spot them
How to think through OTC pain relievers vs. anti-inflammatories
Our go-to herbal tea blend for headaches
Tincture ideas you can adapt to your own needs
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/the-best-herbal-tea-blend-for-headaches/
 

Ep 152. What to Do With Raised Bed Dirt After the Season Ends

Fall is officially here, and many of us are looking at our raised beds wondering what comes next. Do we clear them out completely, or let nature do some of the work for us? In this episode, we dive into what really happens to the soil in our raised beds over winter and how we can prevent losing precious inches of dirt like my friend did when her soil dropped five full inches in just a couple of years.
We talk through the natural processes of compaction, decomposition, and erosion, plus the simple steps we can take now to protect and enrich our soil. From leaving roots behind to feed the underground ecosystem, to covering with shredded leaves or mulch, to adding compost before the snow hits — we’ll explore the best ways to “tuck in” our beds for the season. And if you’re in a warmer climate, we share cover crop ideas to keep living roots in the soil all winter long.
By the end, you’ll have practical and low-pressure ways to care for your raised beds this fall, so they’re ready and waiting to grow strong, healthy plants next spring.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why soil levels drop in raised beds over time
The benefits of leaving roots and stems in place
How leaves, mulch, and compost act like a protective blanket
Tips for using cover crops if you live in a mild climate
Simple habits to prevent losing soil year after year
👉 Join the conversation in The Homestead Challenge Facebook Community and share what you’re doing with your raised beds this fall!

Ep 151. Fall Home Decor That's Good Enough to Eat

If you’re anything like us, you probably love cozying up your home for fall—but maybe this year the budget feels a little tighter. Instead of going all out on store-bought décor, we’ve been leaning into using what we already have on hand, what’s growing in our garden, and even what we can forage. It’s a way to keep things festive without overspending, and the best part? Much of our décor can later be enjoyed as food, tea, or long-lasting keepsakes.
In this episode, we chat about:
🌿 Herbs that double as décor while drying—like sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano, chamomile, and feverfew—and how they can be used later in the kitchen or for tea
🎃 How to choose, cure, and store pumpkins, squash, and gourds so they last well past the season
💡 Creative (and frugal) ways to make a little décor go a long way, including swapping out florals for dried arrangements and refreshing spaces with seasonal touches
🍂 Why asters might be a better choice than mums for long-lasting fall color year after year
We want to inspire you to create instead of consume this season—using what you already have, what you can grow, and what you can forage to make your home feel festive and abundant.
✨ Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Join our Facebook community to share your own natural fall décor ideas
Let’s make this fall beautiful, budget-friendly, and just a little bit “good enough to eat.”

Ep 150. How to Find Wins When Progress Feels Slow

If you’ve ever started a project with big hopes of a quick finish—only to find yourself staring at it weeks later, still not done—you are not alone. In today’s episode, I’m sharing both encouragement and practical steps for what to do when projects drag on longer than you thought they would.
We’ll talk about why this happens (hello, unrealistic expectations 🙋‍♀️), how to reframe your progress so you don’t feel stuck, and the small steps you can take to keep moving forward without burning out. From half-finished patios to delayed canning sessions, this is real-life homesteading, not Instagram reels.
✨ Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:
Why almost every project takes longer than planned
How to pause and reassess instead of spiraling
The power of brain-dumping what’s really left to do
Knowing when to adjust the scope (and stop adding more)
Finding small wins to keep momentum going
Building margin into your timeline so you don’t feel like a failure
How to borrow energy and motivation when you’re running low
Learning the lesson for next time—and releasing the guilt
Even slow progress is still progress. Let’s celebrate the halfway points and the “work in progress” moments instead of waiting for the perfect before-and-after.
👉 Join me inside the Homestead Challenge Facebook Community and share your in progress photos—I’ll be sharing my half-finished patio too!

Ep 149. 7 Simple Homestead Comforts for When the World Feels Heavy

When the world feels heavy—whether it’s the news cycle, social media, or just the weight of everyday life—it’s okay to retreat to the comforts of home. In this short and gentle episode of The Homestead Challenge, I’m sharing 10 simple homesteading rhythms that bring peace without adding to your mental load.
From lighting a simmer pot to harvesting something small, these are easy, no-pressure ways to make your home a haven and help calm your heart when everything else feels overwhelming.
✨ What you’ll hear in this episode:
Why it’s okay to step back from the noise and create sanctuary at home
10 homestead-inspired comforts that bring coziness and calm (without adding stress)
Simple seasonal rituals for grounding yourself as we move into autumn
Permission to take a break, slow down, and choose gentleness
Because sometimes the best way we care for the world is by tending to our own little corner of it.
🌿 Resources + Links Mentioned:
Join The Homestead Challenge Community on Facebook to share your favorite homestead comforts
Explore tea recipes, simmer pot ideas, and more on the blog: thehomesteadchallenge.com
Let’s connect on Instagram: @brittanylgibson
If this episode brings you comfort, please consider leaving a 5-star review on your favorite podcast app. Reviews help other kindred spirits find the show—and that encouragement means so much.

Ep 148. Lessons from My Summer Homesteading Mistakes

Even after years of practice, every homesteading season comes with a fresh batch of mistakes—and this summer was no exception. From herbs that went to seed before I could harvest them, to pantry planning flops (hello, way too much Costco flour), I’m sharing the real-life lessons I learned in my garden, kitchen, and rhythms.
In this episode, we talk about:🌱 The garden mistakes I kept repeating (like skipping succession planting and ignoring pests a little too long)🍅 Why waiting to preserve food never works in my favor, and how “little by little” preserving keeps things manageable🏡 The mindset shifts I’m still working on—letting go of perfectionism, planning smarter for pantry staples, and accepting the busy rhythms of summer life with kids😂 My worst mistake of all: the most disgusting fire cider I’ve ever made (and what I plan to do about it!)
If you’ve ever felt behind in your garden, stared at a pile of produce you didn’t know what to do with, or made a recipe you wish you could forget—this episode is for you. Mistakes aren’t failures—they’re lessons that shape us into better, more realistic homesteaders.
👉 Listen in for encouragement, a few laughs, and practical ideas you can use to avoid the same missteps next season.
 
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com

Ep 147. All About Apples (Foraging, Picking, and Preserving)

September means apple season, and we’re diving into all the ways to enjoy it. In this episode, we explore foraging for crabapples (and how to tell them apart from hawthorn), heading to the orchard for a family apple-picking trip, and the many ways we can preserve the harvest for the months ahead. From applesauce and apple butter to homemade apple cider vinegar and jelly, we’re talking about how to make the most of this abundant fall fruit.
Whether you’re foraging on your neighborhood sidewalks or hauling home a bushel from a local farm, this episode is packed with ideas to inspire your apple season.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
How to identify and use crabapples (and why they’re so underrated).
Tips for safe and fun apple picking at orchards.
Ways to preserve apples: canning, freezing, dehydrating, and fermenting.
Creative ways to use peels and cores so nothing goes to waste.
Why September feels like its own special season.
Links & Resources
Join The Homestead Challenge Community on Facebook to share your apple recipes.