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

Seeing people seed starting in December can make it feel like you’re already behind — especially if you live in a colder growing zone. In this episode, we’re talking about what’s actually worth planning for the garden this time of year, what can wait, and how to figure out your real planting timeline based on where you live (not what the internet is doing).

If you’re a new or intermediate gardener — or just need a gentle reminder t...

In this episode, we’re walking through a simple Friday Reset designed specifically for busy December weekends. With holiday activities filling up our schedules, we’re focusing on quick, doable steps that help us lower stress, clear a little space in our homes, and set ourselves up to actually enjoy the magic instead of rushing through it.

We talk about choosing our non-negotiables, doing a fast holiday tidy, prepping food for the w...

Homemade gifts can be thoughtful and practical — if people actually know how to use them. In this episode, we’re sharing our favorite high-compliance DIY gifts for non-crunchy friends and family, so your handmade presents don’t end up forgotten in the back of a cabinet.

We talk about why most homemade gifts fail (lack of familiarity, unclear instructions, or feeling too “crunchy”) and how to fix that by making your gifts familiar, ...

Five years into my homesteading journey, I’m looking back at what actually worked, what caused burnout, and what I truly wish I had known as a beginner. In this episode, I’m walking you through the exact roadmap I would follow if I were starting completely over today — with less pressure, fewer gadgets, and a whole lot more joy.

This is a gentle, realistic look at modern homesteading for real life — especially if you’re in the city...

It’s officially December, and we’re starting our year-end reflection a little early around here. In this episode of The Homestead Challenge Podcast, we talk honestly about what actually worked on our city homestead this year—and what completely flopped. From simplifying garden projects and freezing tomatoes to sourdough struggles, slow home projects, and a few disappointing garden losses, this is a real-life look at homesteading wi...

Winter is supposed to be the season where everything finally slows down… but for many of us, it quickly becomes another round of pressure to plan next year’s garden, stock the pantry, bake everything from scratch, and add even more to our already full plates. In this episode, I’m sharing the three homesteading tasks I’m not doing this winter so I can actually rest—and the two cozy, meaningful projects I am embracing to stay connect...

If you’ve ever felt like herbalism requires a huge apothecary or a ton of expensive ingredients, this episode is going to feel like a breath of fresh air. Today, we’re talking about the everyday pantry staples you probably already have on hand that double as powerful herbal wellness tools — perfect for cold and flu season and practical homesteading on a budget.

In this episode, I’m walking through eight simple pantry ingredients th...

In today’s episode, we’re talking about rethinking rest during the holiday season and why traditional “relaxation” doesn’t always make us feel restored. If you’re overwhelmed by holiday expectations, juggling motherhood, managing a busy home, or trying to keep up with homesteading tasks while feeling exhausted, this conversation is for you.

After weeks of dealing with a lingering sinus infection, I realized that true rest isn’t alw...

In this episode, we’re talking about what you can still forage in November—even if there’s snow on the ground. I share six easy-to-identify wild foods and herbs like pine needles, rose hips, late-season mushrooms, acorns, crab apples, and black walnuts that can stretch your grocery or medicine budget. Plus, I chat about my failed attempt at extreme couponing and why foraging feels like a much more peaceful (and practical) wa...

In this episode, we’re talking about herbal compliance — the simple truth that herbs only work if you actually take them. After being sick all week and realizing she barely used her herbs, Brittany shares five super practical ways to make herbal remedies easier and more convenient to use when you’re not feeling your best. From pre-filling tincture shots to creating a “sick day” herbal basket, this episode is all about setting yours...

In this episode, we’re talking about how to restock your pantry intentionally after the Pantry Challenge so you can avoid waste, overspending, and overwhelm. Brittany shares practical tips for creating a core pantry list that actually fits your family’s needs, restocking slowly on a budget, and organizing for function over perfection. It’s all about building a pantry that supports real life—not one that looks Pinterest-perfe...

In this episode, we’re challenging ourselves to free up $500 before Christmas by shopping our pantries instead of the grocery store. We talk about how to take inventory, build meal plans using what we already have, and make it fun with a visual savings tracker. It’s all about using our resources wisely, wasting less, and creating a little extra breathing room before the holidays.

Ever wonder how other homesteaders fit it all in? This week, I’m taking you behind the scenes with an honest, hour-by-hour walkthrough of my real daily schedule — chaos, coffee, and all.

In this episode, I’m sharing: 🌿 What my realistic “homestead day” looks like as a stay-at-home mom and city homesteader 🌿 How I use time-blocking (not rigid minute-by-minute planning) to stay grounded 🌿 My honest struggle with comparison and con...

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 perfec...

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, t...

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 happ...

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 pr...

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-l...