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  • Barefoot and Breathing

    Barefoot and Breathing
    2026/09/23

    What do Naked and Afraid, homesteading, gardening, wild foods, and curiosity have in common? A lot more than you might think!

    In this episode, Mary talks with Alexandra of Barefoot and Breathing in upstate New York about her unforgettable experience on Naked and Afraid, living off the land, teaching children where their food comes from, and discovering just how resourceful we can be when we have to be.

    Alexandra shares stories about surviving in the Colombian jungle, starting fires with flint and steel, making a heated bed from hot coals, raising animals, gardening, natural dyeing, and learning homesteading skills through travel and hands-on experience.

    They also talk about wild berries, chickens, kittens, ducklings, cooking, getting kids connected to food and nature, and why you don't need livestock or a huge garden to start homesteading.

    The biggest lesson? Homesteading can look different for everyone. It can be as simple as cooking from scratch, growing a few plants, learning about wild foods, or becoming more curious about the natural world around you.

    Alexandra reminds us that experience and curiosity are two of the greatest teachers, and sometimes the most interesting paths in life begin when we simply say yes.

    Find Alexandra at Barefoot and Breathing: Instagram: @barefootandbreathing Website: barefootandbreathing.net

    Learn more about A Tiny Homestead at atinyo­homestead.com.

    This episode is sponsored by Greenbush Twins & Company.

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    50 分
  • The Coastal Homestead

    The Coastal Homestead
    2026/09/21

    What does homesteading look like in Florida? Mary talks with Jess from The Coastal Homestead about raising three homeschooled kids, keeping chickens, gardening, raising golden doodles, and starting a flower farm on one acre in Central Florida.

    Jess shares what it's like to homestead without traditional seasons, how she prepares for Florida's growing season, and why she started breeding golden doodles. They also talk about puppy genetics, raising puppies with young children, the joys of watching a mama dog with her babies, and the importance of giving puppies a good start.

    Of course, Mary and Jess spend plenty of time talking about dogs, including Maggie, Mary's Australian shepherd, and the many ways our animals become part of our families.

    The conversation also touches on something bigger: learning to let go of other people's opinions and being confident in the choices that work for your own family.

    Jess also shares her new garden mail club, which sends seasonal seeds, growing guides, tips and fun extras right to your mailbox.

    Find Jess at The Coastal Homestead: Instagram: @the_coastal_homestead Website: thecoastalhomestead.net Facebook: The Coastal Homestead

    Thanks for listening to A Tiny Homestead!

    This episode is sponsored by Greenbush Twins & Company.

    Good Egg

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    www.patreon.com/atinyhomestead

    If you'd like to support me in growing this podcast, like, share, subscribe or leave a comment.

    Or just buy me a coffee

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    44 分
  • Montana Country Homesteading - Building Skills, Income, and Community with Diane Graber

    Montana Country Homesteading - Building Skills, Income, and Community with Diane Graber
    2026/09/18

    Mary welcomes Diane Graber of Montana Country Homesteading back to the podcast for a conversation about something Diane is passionate about: helping women build skills, create income, and become more financially prepared for whatever life may bring.

    Diane shares how women can turn their talents, passions, and homesteading resources into income. They also talk about cooking from scratch, preserving food, stretching a grocery budget, using what you already have, upcycling, and finding creative ways to make life work without spending more money.

    The conversation also turns to parenting, teaching children practical skills, the satisfaction of a job well done, and the importance of getting kids outside and involved in everyday life.

    At the heart of the conversation is community. Diane explains why connecting with other women, sharing knowledge, and helping one another can make a tremendous difference.

    Mary and Diane's conversation is full of practical ideas, personal stories, and encouragement to become more capable, resourceful, and connected.

    Learn more about Diane and Montana Country Homesteading at MontanaCountryHomesteading.com or find the community on Facebook.

    Find Mary at ATinyHomestead.com.

    This episode is sponsored by Greenbush Twins & Company.

    Good Egg

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    https://homesteadliving.com/the-old-fashioned-on-purpose-planner/ref/41/

    www.patreon.com/atinyhomestead

    If you'd like to support me in growing this podcast, like, share, subscribe or leave a comment.

    Or just buy me a coffee

    https://buymeacoffee.com/lewismaryes
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    43 分
  • Purely Chickens

    Purely Chickens
    2026/09/16

    In this episode, Mary chats with Nikki from Purely Chickens about backyard chickens, homesteading, raising kids around animals, and how a pandemic-era chicken coop video turned into a thriving business and more than a million social media followers.

    Nikki shares her journey from kindergarten teacher to chicken expert, her experience raising multiple flocks, and what she has learned about caring for chickens through the seasons. They also talk about winter chicken care, deep bedding, keeping chickens comfortable in cold weather, and the realities of caring for goats, geese, and other animals.

    Mary and Nikki also discuss the importance of helping children connect with gardens, farms, animals, and the food they eat. Nikki shares how her own children help with the chickens, garden, and family food projects.

    Plus, Nikki talks about her books, including Chicken Keeping Pure and Simple and her upcoming book, A Healthy Home Flock.

    And of course, there is plenty of chicken talk, a few stories about ducks and geese, and some good laughs along the way!

    Find Nikki and Purely Chickens on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

    Learn more about A Tiny Homestead at atinyhomestead.com.

    This episode is sponsored by Greenbush Twins & Company.

    Good Egg

    https://www.homesteadliving.com/subscribe/ref/41/

    https://homesteadliving.com/the-old-fashioned-on-purpose-planner/ref/41/

    www.patreon.com/atinyhomestead

    If you'd like to support me in growing this podcast, like, share, subscribe or leave a comment.

    Or just buy me a coffee

    https://buymeacoffee.com/lewismaryes
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    31 分
  • Our Humble Homestead

    Our Humble Homestead
    2026/09/11

    In this episode of A Tiny Homestead, Mary talks with Caitlin and Joe of Our Humble Homestead in Garland, Maine.

    What began with a garden and a desire to provide healthier food for their family has grown into a working homestead with Jersey cows, chickens, turkeys, a farm stand, and a growing connection to their local community. Caitlin and Joe share how their homestead evolved from focusing on self-sufficiency to embracing the idea of community sufficiency.

    They talk about raising and caring for animals, making their own milk, cheese and butter, the realities of processing livestock, and why respecting the animals that provide food is so important.

    The conversation also takes a fun turn into Jersey cows, barn cats, kittens, and the personalities of the animals that become such an important part of farm life.

    Most of all, this episode is about faith, food, community, stewardship, and the sometimes difficult realities of living a more connected life.

    Find Our Humble Homestead on Facebook at Our Humble Homestead, on Instagram at For Me and My House, and online at ourhumblehomestead.net.

    Find A Tiny Homestead at atinyhomestead.com.

    This episode is sponsored by Greenbush Twins & Company.

    https://www.homesteadliving.com/subscribe/ref/41/

    https://homesteadliving.com/the-old-fashioned-on-purpose-planner/ref/41/

    www.patreon.com/atinyhomestead

    If you'd like to support me in growing this podcast, like, share, subscribe or leave a comment.

    Or just buy me a coffee

    https://buymeacoffee.com/lewismaryes
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    42 分
  • What the Farmer’s Wife Reads

    What the Farmer’s Wife Reads
    2026/09/09

    In this episode of A Tiny Homestead, Mary talks with Andrea from What the Farmer’s Wife Reads in Owatonna, Minnesota.

    Andrea shares what life is like on her family’s fifth-generation dairy farm, where they milk around 250 registered Holstein cows. She also talks about raising calves, farm life, family, and how a love of books eventually led her to create a space where she can combine reading with her farming life.

    The conversation turns to favorite authors and childhood books, the importance of helping children discover a love of reading, and why parents should advocate for their children when it comes to education. Andrea also shares her plans for a farm-inspired mystery book subscription, complete with books, treats, stickers, and bookmarks.

    It’s a warm conversation about farming, books, family, animals, and finding the things that bring a little joy to everyday life.

    This episode is sponsored by Greenbush Twins & Company.

    https://www.homesteadliving.com/subscribe/ref/41/

    https://homesteadliving.com/the-old-fashioned-on-purpose-planner/ref/41/

    www.patreon.com/atinyhomestead

    If you'd like to support me in growing this podcast, like, share, subscribe or leave a comment.

    Or just buy me a coffee

    https://buymeacoffee.com/lewismaryes
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    42 分
  • Clear Creek Ranch Mom - Preserve What Matters

    Clear Creek Ranch Mom - Preserve What Matters
    2026/09/04

    Fall is here, and Mary is joined by Leah Peterson, also known as Clear Creek Ranch Mom, for a conversation about one of their favorite times of year: harvest season.

    Mary and Leah talk about preserving the abundance of fall, including canning, freezing, pickling, drying herbs, and making the most of whatever produce is available. They share practical tips for beginners, including why you don't have to preserve everything in one day, why you don't need a garden to get started, and how buying produce in season can make preserving more affordable.

    They also talk about food security, the satisfaction of eating food you've grown or preserved yourself, and why traditional food skills are worth passing on to the next generation.

    The conversation turns to affordable beef recipes and creative ways to stretch a pound of ground beef with rice, pasta, beans, vegetables, and good seasoning.

    And because it is harvest season, Mary and Leah have an important reminder for everyone driving in the country: slow down and give farm equipment plenty of room on the road.

    This episode is full of practical ideas, memories, laughter, and encouragement to slow down, get back into the kitchen, and enjoy the simple satisfaction of making and preserving food for your family.

    In this episode:

    • Preserving the fall harvest
    • Canning, freezing, pickling, and drying
    • What to do when your garden doesn't produce as expected
    • Beginner-friendly preserving ideas
    • Stretching beef and cooking on a budget
    • The importance of food security
    • Cooking and preserving as a family
    • Passing traditional skills to the next generation
    • Harvest season and gratitude
    • Farm equipment safety on rural roads
    • Finding joy in simple, homemade food

    Find Leah at Clear Creek Ranch Mom on Facebook.

    Find Mary at A Tiny Homestead.

    This episode is sponsored by Greenbush Twins & Company.

    https://www.homesteadliving.com/subscribe/ref/41/

    https://homesteadliving.com/the-old-fashioned-on-purpose-planner/ref/41/

    www.patreon.com/atinyhomestead

    If you'd like to support me in growing this podcast, like, share, subscribe or leave a comment.

    Or just buy me a coffee

    https://buymeacoffee.com/lewismaryes
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    37 分
  • Blackwood Farm

    Blackwood Farm
    2026/08/31
    Today I'm talking with Hayden at Blackwood Farm. This episode is sponsored by Greenbush Twins & Company. https://www.homesteadliving.com/subscribe/ref/41/ https://homesteadliving.com/the-old-fashioned-on-purpose-planner/ref/41/ www.patreon.com/atinyhomestead If you'd like to support me in growing this podcast, like, share, subscribe or leave a comment. Or just buy me a coffee https://buymeacoffee.com/lewismaryes 00:00 You're listening to A Tiny Homestead, the podcast comprised entirely of conversations with homesteaders, cottage food producers, and crafters. I'm your host, Mary Lewis. This episode is sponsored by Greenbush Twins & Company, where creativity and community grow hand in hand. Just like a thriving garden or a well-loved homestead, the best things are built with care, purpose, and heart. Through thoughtful design, storytelling, and handcrafted goods, they're helping people celebrate a simpler or meaningful way of living. Learn more at Greenbush Twins & Company. 00:28 Today I'm talking with Hayden Blackwood at Blackwood Farm in Washington State. Good morning Hayden. How are you? morning. How is the weather there? You know today we're in like the mid 60s and we're finally starting to get some actual clean air again. We've been witnessing a lot of wildfires kind of surrounding the Skagit Valley which where we call home and you know it's been kind of a sad 00:58 pattern here for a few years now where, you know, it gets dry in the summertime and all the vegetation from the winter gets struck by like lightning or whatever way of ignition will start. so our valley around here has been either blue skies or gray smoke filled skies. It's kind of a mix here for the last few weeks. Yeah, it's been crazy with wildfires all over the country. I just saw something, some 01:26 I don't know what the heck it's called. The thingy at the bottom of the news screen that mentioned the wildfires in Texas right now. Yes, yes, yeah. It's one of the things I learned, and this was just rather recently, but I always kind of, guess, inherently thought, oh, if you got a really wet, drenched out, rainy winter, that would kind of, you would think, make a wildfire season not as dangerous, but it's actually the opposite. 01:56 that all that hydration up in the high country causes more vegetation growth and can cause even more of a severe fire season like we've been experiencing up here in like, you know, kind of the north, you know, northwest part of the state and the country and our friends up in Canada as well. Yeah, it's bad. And I hope that you remain safe and that your property is okay for the rest of the season. 02:22 I'm in Minnesota. It is it's kind of nippy here this morning. It's a little chilly and it's partly sunny and there's no wind and We the town I live in Has something I still don't know what it is. I've lived here for six years I still don't know what causes this but every once in a while the air just smells gross It smells like fertilizer 02:50 And it's not necessarily anyone is fertilizing the fields around us. So we've got that going on. And man, at 10 o'clock last night, I thought we had a gas leak in our gas cook stove and I checked and everything was fine. I stepped outside and I was like, oh no, it's outside. So that's what I'm smelling. Yeah. And it's only once in a while, so you can put up with it, but I still don't know what causes it. Still have no idea. One of those unfortunate mysteries. 03:19 Yes, but where we live is really pretty so I will put up with it So, um, I usually say tell me a little bit about yourself and what you do and I want to hear about that But why is it Blackwood farm because Blackwood is your last name? Yes, exactly. Okay All right. Well, then tell me a little bit about yourself and what you do well What we do is my wife and I and our four kids we went and we purchased a five acre farm here 03:49 old number of years ago. And I guess just to put it real simply, what we have been doing here seasonally is we run a you pick pumpkin patch during the fall where, you know, in our town of Cedar Woolly where we live, there's not a lot of like, real like, you know, agritourism like stuff to do specifically in our town. So us and there's one other small little 04:19 patch. We both kind of opened up simultaneously close to the same time and we we open our venue, you know, we have pumpkins and you know, general public will come through. But our attraction that we kind of try to host within this is more of kind of like a traditional kind of like coming to grandma and grandpa's farm as a way I kind of try to portray it. And this comes from just my own childhood. 04:45 going to see my grandparents when I was young and when my folks lived in town before we moved out to the country. And I had so many fond memories as, you know, growing up, remembering just how excited I was to go see, you know, Grandpa Ron's barnyard, you know? And so I've kind of, in a ...
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    37 分