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 May 31, 2024
Ep 45. 9 Cheap and Easy Methods for Preserving Your Garden Harvest
Friday May 31, 2024
Friday May 31, 2024
It is almost harvest time this garden season, and I wanted to share some simple methods for preserving your harvest, no matter the size or budget (no fancy freeze dryer required). This episode mostly focuses on herbs, but these tips can be used for many types of veggies and even flowers, too!
Links Mentioned:
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/drying-peaches/
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/how-to-preserve-fresh-herbs/
www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity/
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/workwithme
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Tuesday May 28, 2024
Ep 44. 7 Productive Ways to Rest on the Homestead
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Rest AND productivity in the same sentence? I know that can sound confusing, but I truly find that I am most rested when I am doing something a little productive at the same time. Whether it's physical or mental, there are ways to rest your mind and body that can be productive for you in the long run. In this episode, I am going through 7 of my favorite ways to rest on the homestead.
Links Mentioned:
www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity/
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/workwithme
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Friday May 24, 2024
Ep 43. Is It Okay to Be A Half-Hearted Homesteader?
Friday May 24, 2024
Friday May 24, 2024
I think it is safe to say that we all go through different busy seasons. During those busy seasons, you may do more or less homesteading than you'd prefer- and that's totally okay! We need to release unrealistic expectations that we put on ourselves and know that every little bit of "homesteading" that we do in any given season is important, and enough.
Links Mentioned:
www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity/
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/workwithme
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Tuesday May 21, 2024
Ep 42. The Pressure to Plant a Native Garden
Tuesday May 21, 2024
Tuesday May 21, 2024
Instagram can be a great source of garden inspiration, but also pressure! While growing native is WILDLY important (see what I did there), I don't think we need to feel bad about not doing it perfectly. Some things simply make us happy. And no, we cannot singlehandedly wipe out all of the invasives in our area either. It's all a lot. Like many things in life, I think that finding the right balance for you will help you create the happy, pollinator-friendly garden of your dreams.
Links Mentioned:
www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity/
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/workwithme
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Tuesday May 14, 2024
Ep 41. Garden Folklore and Myths that Are Actually True
Tuesday May 14, 2024
Tuesday May 14, 2024
Whether you believe in folklore, wivetales, or garden myths or not, a lot of it is rooted in truth! I scoured the internet for some of te best gardening advice that has been passed down through the generations that are rooted in some science.
Do you know of any folklore that has proven to be true in your garden?
Links Mentioned:
www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity/
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/workwithme
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Friday May 10, 2024
Ep 40. Use these Herbs in Your Garden for Natural Bug Repellent
Friday May 10, 2024
Friday May 10, 2024
As we plant our gardens this spring, we need to think about how we will be spending our time outdoors. If you want to eat or even hang out outside, you'll soon be bombarded by some pesky little friends. Whether you plant these herbs in container gardens around your patio or use them in a natural DIY bug spray, you'll be happy you planned ahead for natural bug repellent this season!
Links Mentioned:
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/diy-herbal-bug-spray/
www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity/
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/workwithme
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Monday May 06, 2024
Monday May 06, 2024
In today's episode, I talk about changing routines for household tasks (psst... join the Facebook Community and we are all going to share our favorite QUICK and easy summer recipes), family fun and adventures, and even a little self-care (not the woo woo kind, but the kind where you do stuff for "future you" and can thank yourself later).
Tune in and really work on adapting your routines for the season so you can have your best summer yet (Seriously. I actually mean that.)
www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity/
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/workwithme
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Friday May 03, 2024
Ep 38. Things No One Mentions About Companion Planting
Friday May 03, 2024
Friday May 03, 2024
Companion planting is among the most popular homesteading and gardening goals from our community this year! Sure, we all know you should plant stuff with other stuff to make it grow better, but why? After researching companion planting, I was left with a few questions that I felt like no one was answering. Hopefully, this clears some of them up!
Links Mentioned:
www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity/
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/workwithme
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Get $10 off a GreenStalk Vertical Planter
Tuesday Apr 30, 2024
Ep 37. My 6 Favorite Amazon Garden Finds this Year
Tuesday Apr 30, 2024
Tuesday Apr 30, 2024
Happy Garden Season! Here are my top picks for relatively inexpensive (well, for the most part) Amazon finds for the garden that I have been LOVING this year as I build a garden in my forever city homestead.
Get the links: https://amzn.to/47YMD9c
Join the Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity/
Instagram: @brittanylgibson
Friday Apr 26, 2024
Friday Apr 26, 2024
Oof! Regret is hard and hearing, "I told you so" is a hard pill to swallow. But if there is one thing I know for certain: the best way to learn homesteading is to learn by doing it and making mistakes. We are all human and we can change our minds whenever we want as we grow and learn. What is one lesson or regret that you learned the hard way?
Episode Mentioned: Ep 5: Homestead Confessions: Expensive Kitchen Gadgets I Regret Buying
Links Mentioned:
www.facebook.com/groups/thehomesteadchallengecommunity/
https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/workwithme
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