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

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.

Ep 146. From Harvest to Holidays: What to Can Now for Stress-Free Hositng

The holidays might feel far away, but this is actually the perfect moment to think ahead. Right now, in the thick of harvest season, you might be tired of tomatoes or over the endless jars of jelly. But what if you could turn that abundance into a few fun preserves that will make holiday hosting (and party season) so much easier later?
In this episode, I’m sharing simple, creative ideas you can make now that future-you will thank you for when it’s time to pull together a cheese board, potluck dish, or festive drink.
We’ll chat about:
✨ Shrubs & herbal syrups for easy cocktails and mocktails
🥒 Pickled veggies & chutneys that dress up any charcuterie board
🍏 Apple butter, pumpkin butter, and pie fillings for instant desserts
🍅 Salsas, sauces, BBQ, and hot sauce for effortless party food
🍗 Pantry staples like broth that keep fall and winter meals stress-free
The best part? You don’t have to do everything. Just one or two jars tucked away will bring that “homemade touch” to gatherings without all the last-minute stress.
👉 Come share your favorite holiday-time preserves in our Homestead Challenge Facebook group — I’ll be posting my favorites there, and I’d love to swap recipes with you.

Ep 145. Simple Back to School Shifts for Homesteading

Back-to-school brings a natural rhythm shift, and on the homestead, that means it’s time to simplify. In this episode, we share the practical ways we’re keeping things easy during this transition—like freezing instead of canning, packing simple lunches, and leaning on streamlined morning routines. We’re also talking about cozying our home for the season, preparing for the inevitable back-to-school germs, and making space for what truly matters right now.
And because mamas need support too, we highlight our brand-new Back-to-School Herbal Tea recipe—a calming blend of tulsi, lemon balm, chamomile, and ginger that helps bring balance during this busy season.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why we’re freezing produce instead of canning right now
Our approach to packing school lunches without the overwhelm
Simple morning routines that actually work
How we’re cozying our home and preparing for seasonal transitions
A sneak peek at our Back-to-School Tea recipe for stressed-out moms
👉 Check out the full recipe here: Back-to-School Tea