Simple Farmhouse Life

I love chatting with fellow work-at-home moms who share in the joys and struggles of managing motherhood, homemaking, homeschooling, business, homesteading, rest, community, and more. Today’s conversation with published author Melissa Ferguson takes us behind the scenes of a fiction writer’s life. We talk through carefully choosing your “yeses” in each season, embracing rest, prioritizing family, and learning things the hard way in business. Whether you have a dream of writing or some other endeavor, this practical look at how Melissa gets it all done will inspire you along the way! In this episode, we cover: Reaching the breaking point of overwhelm and finding the right solution for you A day in the life of a homesteading, homeschooling, work-at-home mom Weighing which opportunities to say yes to in your season of life A peek behind the curtain of the publishing world and what it takes to get a book deal Best advice for a new or aspiring author The importance of choosing the right representation as an author What it takes to find success as an author and joy in the process Practical strategies for raising children that love to read View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! ABOUT MELISSA Melissa Ferguson is the bestselling author of titles including Meet Me in the Margins, How to Plot a Payback, On the Way to Christmas, and upcoming release, The Perfect Rom-Com. She lives in Tennessee with her husband and children in their growing farmhouse lifestyle and writes heartwarming romantic comedies that have been featured in such places as The Hollywood Reporter, Travel + Leisure, Woman’s World, and BuzzFeed. Join along her journey with over 800,000 other followers at @ourfriendlyfarmhouse. RESOURCES Pre-order Melissa’s newest fiction title The Perfect Rom-Com Check out Melissa’s romantic comedy books here Sign up for Melissa’s newsletter at MelissaFerguson.com Looking to earn an income from your YouTube channel? Join my YouTube Success Masterclass today! Explore all of my course offerings including sourdough, sewing, blogging, and YouTube CONNECT Melissa Ferguson of The Friendly Farmhouse | Website | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | BookBub | Pinterest Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

This week's round of questions took us through a wide range of motherhood and homemaking topics: how I keep my home in order with a large family, getting my babies/toddlers to sleep through the night, and quite a few things in my motherhood journey that I just don't worry about anymore. I'd love for you to join me for this coffee chat! In this episode, we cover: You won't believe how few toys I keep in my home with eight kids A modern grocery convenience that I fully indulge in Thoughts for anyone who has ever felt like homemaking is not a valuable pursuit Sleep trainings tips for older babies and toddlers Our approach to health insurance as a large entrepreneurial family Why I don't worry about my kids spreading sickness to each other My thought process behind what baby items to store between each baby How minimalism makes the most of small home with a large family My survival strategies for pregnancy nausea in the first trimester View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! RESOURCES MENTIONED Grab my free list of staples to stock your from-scratch pantry Join my Simple Sewing course and my Simple Sourdough course today! Explore all of my course offerings including sourdough, sewing, blogging, and YouTube CONNECT Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

If you know anything about homesteading, you know who Joel Salatin is. Joel has been farming and teaching about farming for decades, and he brings his wealth of experience to this conversation for the new homesteader. What is the bigger picture of homesteading? How can you make money on a homestead? What should you avoid when purchasing land? If you are hoping to start a homestead or have already started your homesteading journey, this episode is full of the encouragement and practical knowledge you need! In this episode, we cover: How starting a homestead in 2024 is different than previous generations You don’t need as much land as you think to start a homestead If you can only have one stream of income from your homestead, do this! Can you actually save money raising your own meat? The top small farm mistakes to avoid What to look for when shopping for homestead property How to expand your farm offerings if you want to make a living on your homestead An explanation for the rise in agrotourism and the opportunity it presents to homesteaders The importance of building a strong community among farmers and homesteaders What is the point of homesteading anyways? View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! ABOUT JOEL Joel Salatin calls himself a Christian libertarian environmentalist capitalist lunatic farmer. Others who like him call him the most famous farmer in the world, the high priest of the pasture, and the most eclectic thinker from Virginia since Thomas Jefferson. Those who don’t like him call him a bio-terrorist, Typhoid Mary, charlatan, and starvation advocate. With 12 published books and a thriving multi-generational family farm, he draws on a lifetime of food, farming, and fantasy to entertain and inspire audiences around the world. He’s as comfortable moving cows in a pasture as addressing CEOs at a Wall Street business conference. He co-owns, with his family, Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia. Featured in the New York Times bestseller Omnivore’s Dilemma and award-winning documentary Food Inc., the farm services more than 5,000 families, 50 restaurants, 10 retail outlets, and a farmers’ market with salad bar beef, pigaerator pork, pastured poultry, and forestry products. When he’s not on the road speaking, he’s at home on the farm, keeping the callouses on his hands and dirt under his fingernails, mentoring young people, inspiring visitors, and promoting local, regenerative food and farming systems. Salatin is the editor of The Stockman Grass Farmer, granddaddy catalyst for the grass farming movement. He writes the Pitchfork Pulpit column for Mother Earth News, as well as numerous guest articles for ACRES USA and other publications. A frequent guest on radio programs and podcasts targeting preppers, homesteaders, and foodies, Salatin’s practical, can-do solutions tied to passionate soliloquies for sustainability offer everyone food for thought and plans for action. RESOURCES The Lean Farm books by Ben Hartman Selling the Invisible by Harry Beckwith The Sheer Ecstasy of Being a Lunatic Farmer by Joel Salatin Polyface Micro by Joel Salatin Looking to earn an income from your YouTube channel? Join my YouTube Success Masterclass today! Explore all of my course offerings including sourdough, sewing, blogging, and YouTube CONNECT Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms | Website | Instagram | Facebook Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

When you put significant effort into sourcing and growing high quality food for your family, you quickly learn that you need a reliable way to preserve it for future use. Many homemakers are familiar with the tried and true methods of canning, fermenting, and dehydrating, but there is a newer method on the scene that is revolutionizing the way we preserve food. Carolyn started out very skeptical of freeze drying but has since become an expert. She’s joining me to share how freeze drying has transformed her homestead kitchen and how it can improve the way you preserve food! In this episode, we cover: How a freeze-drying skeptic became a believer What is the difference between dehydrating and freeze drying? A brief scientific explanation of why freeze dried food maintains its nutritional value and flavor What to be aware of when you first start freeze drying How to know if your freeze dried food is safe to eat Talking through various short-term and long-term storage options How freeze drying lends itself to from-scratch meals on-the-go A behind-the-scenes look at writing a book about freeze drying What you need to set up a freeze drying station in your own home View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! ABOUT CAROLYN Carolyn Thomas and her husband, Josh, live on a 40 acre homestead in Idaho surrounded by gardens, livestock and children. She spends her days rocking babies, homeschooling her children and preserving food for the coming winter. As part of her passion she also teaches homesteading skills to encourage other families to live simply and focus on the things that really matter... faith, family and really good food! RESOURCES Take my class on fermenting vegetables through School of Traditional Skills Check out Carolyn’s new book: Freeze-Drying the Harvest Listen to my recent conversation all about sourdough myths with Carolyn on her podcast  Join my Simple Sewing course and my Simple Sourdough course today! Explore all of my course offerings including sourdough, sewing, blogging, and YouTube CONNECT Carolyn Thomas of Homesteading Family | Website | Podcast | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

We are back with another Q&A episode! You all asked how I get my babies to sleep through the night, if I’m still following a pro-metabolic lifestyle, and how I avoid the chaos of a messy home. If you’d like to submit a question for a future episode, visit bit.ly/SFLquestions. I’m so glad you are joining me for this coffee chat! In this episode, we cover: My main strategy for avoiding overwhelming mess in my home An update on how I feel about pro-metabolic eating now My method for helping my babies sleep through the night Why I don’t use a water filter anymore How I approach naps on the go with my older babies Why I don’t drink red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy anymore An explanation of how bloggers make passive income Why I’m not worried about my kids being exposed to farm germs My strategy for getting probiotics into my family’s diet every day View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! MENTIONS Episode on minimalism with Dawn of the Minimal Mom Episode on decluttering with Robyn of Minimalist Home Episode about the pro-metabolic approach to health with Kori Meloy & Fallon Lee LEARN MORE FROM ME Simple Sewing Series Course Simple Sourdough Course YouTube Success Academy Create Your Blog Dream Course Daily Sourdough Cookbook CONNECT Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

We all know that it is important to declutter our homes to maximize our decorating efforts, but decluttering is work we often avoid. After all, decorating is the fun part. In this episode, Shannon shares her process of transforming your home into a place you love to be by taking the right steps in the right order. We chat about where to start when you are overwhelmed by clutter, how to maintain order in a home full of people, finding your decorating style, and more. If the change of seasons has you itching to bring some order and beauty to your home, don’t miss this conversation! In this episode, we cover: The importance of taking the foundational steps before decorating your home How to figure out what you should declutter first The mindset shift to begin turning your current home into your dream home A simple, cozy approach to Christmas decor that doesn’t break the bank Strategies for maintaining a tidy home when you have lots of people home all day Establishing routines that work for the whole family in your current season Ideas for arranging your living room without having the TV as the focal point How to prioritize statement pieces in your decorating while on a budget Identify what your decorating style is View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! ABOUT SHANNON Shannon Acheson is an author, entrepreneur, content creator, home organizing and interior decorating expert, and the creative force behind HomeMadeLovely.com - a celebrated blog helping moms declutter, organize and add style to their homes since 2010. RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out Shannon’s previous interview on my podcast! More Style, Less Mess Course by Shannon Check out both of Shannon’s books on decluttering and decorating Shannon’s list of 50 things you should throw away today DIY frame TV tutorial by Sarah from She Holds Dearly CONNECT Shannon Acheson of Home Made Lovely | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

If you are overwhelmed by your home, your schedule, your many responsibilities as a mother, wife, homemaker, business owner, and more, this episode is for you! No matter the source of your stress, Chelsi Jo has a system for you. Don’t miss this conversation full of practical steps you can take to get back to peaceful and purposeful days. In this episode, we cover: How prioritizing your family’s fundamental needs can transform your overwhelm into peace Discerning what you need to erase from your schedule so you can prioritize what matters most Why routine stacking helps you flow seamlessly through your day and handle curveballs Where to start if you want to implement systems into your home as an overwhelmed mom Staying productive no matter your season of life The addictive power of social media in derailing our systems and stealing our focus Breaking down the “I don’t have time” myth Strategies for maintaining tidiness in your home Is it possible to uphold systems in your life and home when you are in a season of crisis? View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! ABOUT CHELSI JO Chelsi Jo is a wife, mom, CEO, top ranked podcaster, and system obsessed professional here to help every mom create the consistent income she wants and needs, without sacrificing her home or herself in the process.  After 17 years in corporate and 5 years of running an event based business she realized it was time to share the systems she had created to stay organized and keep up with the demands of being a busy mom so other women could have the same success without the overwhelm.  She specializes in teaching other work from home moms the strategic systems they need to manage their home in as little time as possible, plus create major impact and income in the hours they set aside to work.  From time blocking and fundamental needs, to workflows and team management she is confident that her strategic systems are the key to every modern working mom's success. RESOURCES MENTIONED Take The Quiz To Find Out Which System You Need To Go From Overwhelmed To Organized Listen to Chelsi Jo’s podcast CONNECT Chelsi Jo Moore of Systemize Your Life | Website | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

Do you want to know my real thoughts on sourdough discard recipes! In this episode, I’m answering more of your questions about all things sourdough! How do you know when your dough is done rising? What is the best time of day to start sourdough? How can I turn any recipe into a sourdough recipe? Join me for this conversation about one of my favorite topics! In this episode, we cover: An easy formula for turning any recipe into a sourdough recipe What ingredients to include in your long ferment My unfiltered thoughts on discard recipes Encouragement for anyone intimidated to start sourdough What to look for in timing your bulk ferment Sample baking schedules for each season What to expect when baking with freshly-milled whole wheat flour Tips for making the switch from baking yeast bread to baking sourdough  Why I’m moving from a stand mixer to mixing by hand My best tip for cutting a crusty sourdough loaf The top sourdough recipe worth mastering View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! RESOURCES MENTIONED Listen to part one of this Sourdough Q&A series or watch on YouTube How to Convert Any Recipe to Sourdough Check out my Christmas sourdough episode with Ash of Turner Farm or watch on YouTube Listen to my episode with Kristin all about baking with freshly-milled flour or watch on YouTube How To Cut Sourdough Bread For The Perfect Slice Join my Simple Sourdough course Pre-order my new cookbook Daily Sourdough Check out all my sourdough recipes on the blog Explore all of my course offerings including sourdough, sewing, blogging, YouTube CONNECT Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

The world of online business is exploding with opportunities.  There seems to be something for everyone.  In this conversation, Katie and I chat about our favorite stream of revenue in online business: blogging.  The blogging landscape has changed drastically over the years, and it is ripe with opportunity for those willing to learn the strategy and devote the time.  If you love chatting business strategy as much as I do, join us for this peek behind the curtain in the lives of two career bloggers! In this episode, we cover: Advice from two seasoned bloggers to those who are just getting started Are successful blogs built by luck or hard work? Putting in the work early in your business before hiring help Viewing blogging through a business lens rather than a personal lens Finding what motivates you to push through hard seasons of business Why it is important to keep producing even if you don’t do it perfectly Discerning which online platform is best for you: blogging, YouTube, social media, etc. View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! ABOUT KATIE Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year. RESOURCES MENTIONED Create Your Blog Dream Create Your Blog Dream Free Trial YouTube Success Academy CONNECT Katie of Heart’s Content Farmhouse | Website | YouTube | Pinterest | Instagram Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast?  A guest you’d like me to interview?  Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

Herbal teas and fermented beverages are a great way to improve your health while enjoying a tasty drink. In this episode, we dive into a few of the more enjoyable ways to include impactful nutrients in your diet with CeAnne of Farmhouse Teas. On a quest to heal her own chronic illness, CeAnne discovered the power of herbal medicine and began creating salves, teas, and ferments for her own family. Whether you are on your own journey of healing from illness or are simply looking to level up your health, join in for this educational conversation! In this episode, we cover: How CeAnne started her family business 10 years ago and what it looks like today Impacting chronic disease through herbal remedies and ferments CeAnne’s story of replacing coffee with tea in her pursuit of healing Why herbal tea lends itself well to making kombucha Is it safe for pregnant women and children to drink kombucha? What happens to the sugar content in the process of making kombucha Troubleshooting carbonation issues in fermented drinks The heart behind building a successful family business based on your passions View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! ABOUT CEANNE CeAnne is wife to The Farmer and Mama to four adopted kiddos. She helps farm lov'n families turn common herbs into powerful medicines in order to create health and wellness for their families, without the fuss. In 2014 they left their small city lot for a two acre farm outside of town. With dreams of growing the bulk of their own food they also started hand crafting their own herbal medicines and teas. It all started with a single packet of seeds and the lovely calendula flower. RESOURCES MENTIONED Use code FARMHOUSE20 at FarmhouseTeas.com Coffee Drinker’s Guide to Loose Leaf Tea CONNECT CeAnne Kosel of Farmhouse Teas | Website | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

I have been baking sourdough for over 13 years, so I have learned a thing or two along the way. You will find lots of sourdough educators out there who will equip you with technical and scientific knowledge about the process of sourdough, and while that certainly serves a purpose, I prefer to make sourdough simple and accessible for the everyday home cook. My goal is to remove the overwhelm and show you how homemade sourdough bread can easily fit into your life, even if you don’t think you have time. Join me for the first part in this sourdough Q&A series! In this episode, we cover: How to make your bread taste more or less sour Can flour type change the taste of your final product? Storage options for homemade bread Why does my sourdough bread have a gooey texture? My thoughts on when to store baked goods in the fridge When and how to prepare a sourdough recipe ahead of time Does it matter if I stir my starter down before measuring for a recipe? Why variations in your starter are normal Tips for storing your starter for long periods of time How much time do I need to devote to making sourdough? How the seasons impact sourdough baking Does it make sense to bake sourdough for a small family? View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out my sourdough course: http://bit.ly/farmhousesourdoughcourse Pre-order my sourdough cookbook: https://click.convertkit-mail.com/e5u4wp2xdru7hp3xz0rc8h74eww22hl/z2hghnh364gm3nbp/aHR0cHM6Ly9ob21lc3RlYWRsaXZpbmcuY29tL2Zhcm1ob3VzZS1vbi1ib29uZQ== Make a week’s worth of sourdough bread in one day Same-day sourdough bread Gluten-free sourdough bread & gluten-free sourdough starter Two weeks in the life of my sourdough starter Don’t meal plan Small batch sourdough CONNECT Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

Living responsibly with our finances does not mean total deprivation. While there are many voices telling us how to achieve our financial goals, Jill of Frugal Friends Podcast teaches that choices about money are not black and white, but will vary from person to person based on our values. The notion of values-based spending gives you freedom to use your money on the things that matter most to you. Join us to hear Jill’s refreshing perspective on all things spending and saving! In this episode, we cover: Looking beyond budgeting and embracing values-based spending Practical tips for evaluating your own personal values The top five reasons for impulse spending and how to interrupt the pattern How you can challenge yourself to put an end to impulse purchases Why having unlimited resources is not actually ideal How the content you consume impacts your spending habits Landing in the “radical middle” between extreme finance messaging Mindset shifts and practical strategies for saving money on groceries amidst ever-increasing costs Ideas for navigating Christmas gifts while trying to save money View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! ABOUT JILL Jill Sirianni is a licensed clinical social worker and co-host of the Frugal Friends podcast. She’s experienced in doing a lot with a little—from starting small businesses to full-time RVing—all of it was leveraged to pay off $60,000 of debt and cash flow her masters degree. Helping others is her highest value and integrating her mental health perspective with personal finance is how she supports others to identify, and live out of, what they value most. When she’s not meeting with clients or podcasting, you can find her in the garden or hosting friends in her home. She lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with her husband Eric. RESOURCES MENTIONED Listen to Jill & Jen’s previous appearance on Simple Farmhouse Life Pre-order the book Buy What You Love Without Going Broke by Jill Sirianni & Jen Smith CONNECT Jill Sirianni of Frugal Friends Podcast | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

As mothers, we are often sold lies about what our lives will look like while raising children. Unfortunately, many of these voices paint motherhood in a negative light. At the beginning of her motherhood journey, Meg was quick to recognize these lies and embrace a different outlook instead. This conversation is incredibly encouraging for any mother who is ready to embrace her current season of motherhood with all its blessings and challenges. Meg urges us to lean into our personalities and strengths as mothers and stop comparing ourselves to what others are doing. What will it take for your unique family to flourish? Listen in to take your next step! In this episode, we cover: Overturning the narrative that your life is over when you become a mother How to find your own unique inspiration in motherhood without falling prey to comparison Being honest with yourself about your season of life and embracing flexibility Assessing what mental blocks are hindering you from getting things done How Meg and her family have traveled the world together even while raising young kids The beauty of allowing your personality as a mother to influence your family’s daily rhythm Embracing your strengths and delegating your weaknesses in building community Talking through the logistics of finding and growing friendships as a mom The problem with perfectionism in health, homeschooling, diet, etc. Weighing your values when it comes to deciding where to make compromises The importance of sifting through the mass of conflicting information and finding what works for you View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! ABOUT MEG Meg is a past nutrition counselor with a passion for taking the “complicated” out of healthy living and adventure. She currently is a momma to four littles and loves to share with other mom’s how to flourish in motherhood!  CONNECT Meg Thompson of Flourishing Motherhood | Website | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Pinterest | Facebook Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

Join me for another casual chat where I answer some of the questions you guys sent in! Everything from a behind the scenes peek at my content business to diapering and feeding babies… these questions run the gamut. If you’d like me to answer your question on a future episode of the podcast, visit http://bit.ly/SFLquestions. In this episode, we cover: What I love about our vintage stove and some regrets Our non-traditional approach to health insurance for our large self-employed family Do I consider myself a working mom or a stay-at-home mom? Would I use antibiotics for strep throat? How to move past feelings of overwhelm in your business and move the needle forward Do I ever wake up in the morning with no motivation to get started on the day? A peek behind the scenes of how I create my homemaking YouTube videos Where I splurge on home decor for the biggest impact and where I save money Why I don’t use cloth diapers anymore and what I do instead My approach to transitioning my babies onto solid foods Do I save and store baby items in between babies? Keeping our kids safe while using a wood stove to heat our home How often do my children help with chores? View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! RESOURCES MENTIONED Listen to my chat with Leslie Burris about our vintage stoves Samaritan Ministries  My Q&A episode on how we handle illness and medicine in our family My latest video on our summer menu (frying sage leaves in butter) TWOPAGES Custom Curtains Toups and Co Organics Purely Parsons radiant facial serum CONNECT Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

As a busy mom and business owner, I am a big advocate for decluttering and simplifying your home. Keeping a minimal home has given me so much time and peace back. But once you have decluttered, what does it look like to maintain a sense of order in your home every day? Is it even possible with young children? Lisa of The Habits & Home Show helps women create long-term systems and habits to keep their homes running smoothly after decluttering. In our conversation, we dive into the idea of following the natural flow of your home, why you might want to do away with checklists, and the problem with chasing perfection. If you are a homemaker or mother who feels overwhelmed by a full plate, join us for this impactful discussion! In this episode, we cover: The tragedy that led Lisa to begin her minimalism journey  Why you don’t need charts and checklists to get things done Recognizing the natural flow in your home and creating habits to support it The steps you need to take in your home so that it can be reset quickly everyday What are the signs that your home has become too much to manage? Discerning when you need to let things go to create more margin in your life A step-by-step process for pursuing a new project in the midst of a full life How perfectionism can derail your forward momentum and what to do instead The importance of tailoring others’ advice to your own unique circumstances View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! ABOUT LISA LIZOTTE Lisa is a Professional Organizer and Habits Coach helping busy women bring order to their homes by downsizing and decluttering and ditching old habits in exchange for systems that bring peace and more enjoyment to their homes. RESOURCES MENTIONED The Habits & Home Show Podcast Freebie: Daily Reset Checklist habitsandhome.com Shop: habitsandhome.shop CONNECT Lisa Lizotte of Habits & Home | Website | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

Family entrepreneurship is such a unique and enriching way of life, but it is not without its challenges. Brad and Starla Walker of Abby’s Elderberry joined me on the podcast last year to share about the amazing benefits of elderberries, and today we are taking a look behind the scenes at what it is like to run a family farm business from home as a family of ten. How do they involve their children in the family business without burning the kids out? How do they divide responsibilities between home and the business? How does Starla manage a full plate as a mother of eight? Why is family business so impactful in the community? Join us for this inspiring conversation about what is possible when you link arms and take a risk. In this episode, we cover: How Abby’s Elderberry got started and where the family business stands now Creative ways Brad and Starla’s children participate in the family business What boundaries the family has established to separate work and family time Challenges of running a business from home with a growing family How do you involve kids in the family business without making them resent it? Biggest lessons learned from beginning a family business as busy parents You don’t have to be an expert in something to get started Managing a full home and busy business as a mother of eight The difference it makes to take your role seriously as a homemaker The impact of a meaningful family business for future generations View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! ABOUT BRAD & STARLA Brad & Starla Walker have 8 kids and live on their 15 acre homestead in Southern Indiana, just outside of Louisville, KY. There they garden, raise livestock, homeschool their children, and operate their family business, Abby’s Elderberry. They have personally experienced the benefits of elderberry for years and jumped at the opportunity to take ownership of Abby’s in late 2022. Since that time, they have shipped their products to all 50 states, 4 Canadian provinces and are launching with a national distributor in September ‘24.  RESOURCES Sitewide discount of 15% (elderberry syrups, teas, tinctures, organic berries, DIY syrup kits) with promo code FARMHOUSE at AbbysElderberry.com CONNECT Brad & Starla Walker of Abby’s Elderberry | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

If you are in the early years of motherhood, everything can feel so overwhelming. Your kids are all young and you are still trying to find confident footing as a mom. I hear from young mothers quite often who want to learn new homemaking skills, but they feel like they are already drowning in motherhood. In this episode, I am sharing my advice for mothers in those little years, and I’m also talking about my approach to parenting in the teen years, and my hopes and dreams for my children’s adult years. Join me for this chat as I answer a variety of questions from my listeners! In this episode, I cover: An update on my strategy for baby sleep as a mom of eight My hopes for the future of my family as my kids get older A sample week in the life of my blogging business Our strategy for raising capable and delightful teenagers The one downside to having a home birth Do I regret becoming an online influencer? My opinion on which season of parenting is the most difficult View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! CONNECT Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

If you have ever wanted to sit down with a seasoned mom and ask your biggest motherhood questions, I hope this conversation with Abbie will bless you! As a mother of ten, her perspective on raising kids has grown throughout the years as she has encountered challenges and rejoiced in victories. We chat about how to build an in-person community around you, dangerous modern parenting narratives, comparison, convenience, and more. We hope this episode fills you with encouragement as you walk out this noble calling of motherhood! In this episode, we cover: Our unique perspective on the “motherhood is hard” narrative What real in-person community gives you that internet relationships can’t The benefits of having a mentor in motherhood and how to find one How to recognize the gifts and challenges of your unique circumstance Is the easy way always the better way? The countercultural way we prioritize quality time together in our large families Laying the groundwork for raising delightful teenagers The point of biblical parenting is not what you think Why it’s dangerous to exclude dads from the parenting narrative View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! Toups and Co Organics | Use code FOB15 at ToupsandCo.com ABOUT ABBIE Abbie is a happy wife, homeschooling mama to ten rad kids, bestselling author, blogger, fitness instructor, and recent pickleball enthusiast. Abbie is the author of the bestselling M Is for Mama and has a passion for sharing scriptural wisdom combined with her own lessons learned through the challenges as a mama of ten. She is here to help shift perspectives on the hardships of motherhood and of life, in general, all while reminding women of their God-given beauty and purpose.  But most importantly, she’s a Bible-believing Christian who desires to know God and make Him known. Her new book is Hard is Not the Same Thing as Bad, and she loves encouraging women to dig deep in the everyday trials of motherhood for the treasures of joy and growth that are there in abundance if we’re only willing to look. She, her husband Shaun, and their double handful of children live in the Piney Woods of East Texas. RESOURCES M is for Mama by Abbie Halberstadt Hard is Not the Same Thing as Bad by Abbie Halberstadt M is for Mama Podcast Abbie on the Ellen Fisher Podcast CONNECT Abbie Halberstadt of M is for Mama | Website | Instagram | Facebook Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

The impact of social media consumption cannot be overstated. After struggling with her own technology boundaries for years, Sandy finally decided to leave all social media platforms completely, but she thought she was alone in this battle. It didn’t take long for her to realize that there were countless other women experiencing the same negative effects of living overconnected. If you have been feeling a stirring to radically change your relationship with the internet, this conversation will give you the courage you need to take the next step.  In this episode, we cover: How Sandy got started creating content on the internet and why she ultimately left social media completely A look at how the internet has changed over the years Addressing the biggest fears and inconveniences of leaving social media Examining the addictive power of social media A theory of why life feels like it is passing us by faster and faster What constant consumption does to our brains Coming out on the other side of social media addiction Changing your relationship with social media as an online business owner How technology is changing adolescence View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! ABOUT SANDY Sandy Cooper is an award-winning author of three books, a podcaster, and a professionally certified home chef. She has been a wife to Jon for over 30 years and is mom to three kids ages 17 to 25 and a 9-month-old son in Heaven. She has been helping frazzled moms find peace since 2008 at thescooponbalance.com and is the co-founder of Writing Off Social, where she helps female Christian writers grow their audience without social media. She podcasts weekly at The Balanced MomCast and Writing Off Social: The Podcast from her home office in Florida, where she lives with her family.  RESOURCES The Balanced MomCast Podcast Writing Off Social Free Quiz: Is it Time for You to Break Up with Social Media? CONNECT Sandy Cooper of The Scoop on Balance | Website | Substack | Email: thescooponbalance@gmail.com Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

I am sitting down to answer more of your questions in today’s episode! Do we ever use antibiotics? How do I get my babies to sleep through the night? How do we manage toys with eight kids? Join me for this look behind the curtain of our life right now! If you’d like to submit a question for a future Q&A episode, visit bit.ly/SFLquestions. In this episode, we cover: Examples of when we use natural remedies and when we use pharmaceuticals My laid back approach to sleep training for night time and nap times How I handle not having a vent hood in our busy kitchen The strategies that allow us to have minimal toys in our large family How I keep our home tidy even though I am not naturally organized My babywearing recommendations from newborn through toddler years Why I don’t bathe my kids every day and what we do about chlorine pools Do we avoid GMOs for health reasons or political reasons? View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! Toups and Co Organics | Use code FOB15 at ToupsandCo.com CONNECT Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.