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: @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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
À propos de 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
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