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

Ep 56. Homesteading Really Does Get Easier

I never thought it would happen. But I turned around, and I realized that I actually am doing the thing. And I am not stressed. Homesteading can be so daunting when it is brand new to you, but practice really does make progress. When we learn and fail, take it all on and start getting our hands dirty, we are eventually given the homestead of our dreams.
 
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Ep 55. The 3 Easiest Ways to Preserve Your Garden Harvest That Still Provide a Creative Outlet

The abundance of the garden can be overwhelming. As a newer homesteader, canning was simply too stressful to even think about. Now, I love to can, but sometimes I simply don't feel like it or don't have the time. There are so many easier ways to preserve some of your harvest (I've talked about them in other episodes), but simply freezing or dehydrating can be a little boring. As I am on a lifelong journey to consume less, I want to create MORE! Today I want to talk about 3 really easy ways to preserve that are also fun and creative (not to mention pretty!). 
 
Other Preserving Episodes to Listen to:
Ep 45. 9 Cheap and Easy Methods for Preserving Your Garden Harvest
Ep. 13. 5 Canning Mistakes I Made So You Don't Have To
 
Links
How to Start Fermenting Veggies
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/category/recipes-and-meal-plans/food-preservation/
 
 
 

Ep 54. The Magic of Mullein: An Easy Herbal Remedy Found Right in Your Neighborhood

Mullein is a super common herb found right in your neighborhood. As we are quickly approaching the fall, I thought it would be fun to get our homesteads prepared by building up our at-home herbal remedy stash. Twice a month I will explore an herb to add to your home herbal medicine chest so we can be prepared for the cold and flu season ahead, stress-free.
 
Links Mentioned:
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/garlic-mullein-herbal-oil/
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/herbal-allergy-tea-recipe/
View My Favorite Herbal Supplies on Amazon -> https://amzn.to/4c5or7s
www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity/
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/workwithme
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Ep 53. Gaining Peace By Giving Myself Permission to Be a Homemaker

Ah! I am nervous about putting this episode out into the world friends. Today I want to dive into all of the guilt and feelings I have had about quitting work to become a homemaker and later a stay-at-home mom. I always expected myself to be a career woman/boss babe, and I found myself very anxious and stressed all of the time. It turns out that leaning into my femininity (why does this still make me cringe?) has brought me a ton of peace. This won't be the same for every person, but if you are struggling with feelings about being a homemaker or longing to become one, but feel the societal pressure to work, I hope this episode brings you some solidarity.
 
Links Mentioned
www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity/
https://instagram.com/brittanylgibson
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Ep 52. How to Make an Herbal Salve with a Common Garden Flower

​I am here to chat about my current favorite little flower that I am using topically at home. It's CALENDULA. And no, mine is not yet blooming in the garden. But you can always order from a reputable source. Starwest Botanicals is one of my favorites. I know some of you are very curious to get into herbal medicine. I truly think that topical products and skincare are the best gateway to learn about plants in a safe (and fun!) manner.
MINI SALVE GUIDE-> bit.ly/herbalsalve
FAVE HERBAL PRODUCTS-> https://amzn.to/4c5or7s
Buy Calendula Online -> https://shrsl.com/4l9ry
 
Other Herbal Episodes
​Ep 3. 2 Herbal Things You Can Make this Week that are Not Scary​
​Ep 34. Six Herbs for Spring Allergies​
​Ep 46. Common Garden Culinary Herbs that Can Be Used as Medicinals

Ep 51. A New Freezer and A New Kitchen Gadget to Beat the Summer Heat

This heat wave has made me appreciate being inside again. I have many projects that were left neglected as I abandoned them for the lust of garden season. I am not one for the heat, so I have been staying cool while giving the inside of my home some much needed love. From the pantry area of the basement to experimenting with new herbal products, it feels good to spread the love to some of my other homesteading hobbies.
 
Links Mentioned:
View My Favorite Herbal Supplies on Amazon -> https://amzn.to/4c5or7s
www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity/
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/workwithme
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Ep 50. Committing to No Processed Foods for a Month

I can't believe this is Episode 50! I figured it was time to up my homesteading game, so I wanted to do a little challenge. I am committing to no processed foods for a month (well, mostly). Listen in to what this means for me and for how you can join in this challenge to put your health and environmental goals to the forefront of your summer. I am ready for fresh harvested food, local meats, and all that homemade goodness.
 
Join the Facebook Group to Join In -> https://www.facebook.com/share/XF2nZ42oFLEaCNAG/ or Search "The Homestead Challenge"

Ep 49. Rating My Best Sustainable Swaps 4 Years Later

Sustainable products aren't as "hot" as they used to be. I think people caught on that you should use what you have before buying new! That's definitely the homesteader mentality that I try to get myself into every day. But I have certainly purchased my fair share of sustainable products. Let's look at an old blog post to see if I still love these products as much as I used to to see if they have proven to be truly sustainable.
 
Links Mentioned:
www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity/
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/workwithme
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Ep 48. How to Have a Prepper Stash Without the Conspiracy

When people think of homesteaders, they may also relate thoughts of conspiracies and doomsday prepping to the mix. I am not all about that. But I AM about prepping for peace of mind for minor emergencies. In this episode, I am chatting about the minimal prepping that we do in my household to keep the peace and leave the conspiracy behind. 
 
View My Favorite Prepping Supplies on Amazon -> https://amzn.to/3XefiWh
www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity/
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/workwithme
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Ep 47. How I am Living Slow this Summer Even Though I am Bad at Slow Living

Many people desire to live a homestead life when they desire slow living. Slow living can bring us to what is most important. It can allow us to savor the short time we have with our children. It can calm our nervous systems in this busy world. I think many of us desire slow living, but many (including me) are not the best at it. We live in a modern world full of busyness, but there are still simple ways we can slow down our days, despite living fairly normal lives. In today's episode, I share a glimpse into how I am trying to slow down to savor the summer for health and for happiness. 
 
Links Mentioned:
View My Favorite Herbal Supplies on Amazon -> https://amzn.to/4c5or7s
www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity/
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/workwithme
Leave Feedback on the Show or Request a Topic