Simple Farmhouse Life

319. What I Don’t Stress About Anymore as a Mom of Nine + More Q&A

So much of motherhood and homemaking lies in learning to hold both the big-picture vision and the everyday realities with open hands.  In this episode, I’m sharing our current farmhouse building update, the excitement of turning my attention to interior design choices, and reflections on raising babies in two very different eras of motherhood.  I’m chatting through toxin anxiety, health decisions, and why I lean heavily on practicality and the 80/20 mindset.  I also dive into the tools and rhythms that make newborn life peaceful in our home— woven wraps, intuitive nursing, co-sleeping, and eventually transitioning little ones to independent sleep.  If you need reassurance, perspective, or just an honest chat about real-life motherhood from a mom of nine, join me for this Q&A! In this episode, we cover: - Starting with a current house update— a pause in building, window delays, linseed-oil–paint prep, and the excitement of finally moving into insulation and interior choices - It is time to re-orient my creative brain toward selecting paint colors, finishes, and a more collected, relaxed country decor style with the help of a designer friend - Reflections on becoming a mom across two very different eras—before smartphones, before constant internet advice—and how perspective shapes confidence - A listener question on toxin anxiety, lead concerns, EMFs, PUFAs, tick bites, and how I keep worry in check by leaning on experience and practicality - The balance between caring about health and letting go of what can’t be controlled—embracing the 80/20 mindset in food, lifestyle, and motherhood - Why woven wraps remain my most-used newborn tool, plus a simple overview my favorite carry, how wovens differ from stretch wraps, and the real-life practicality of babywearing in a busy home - An look at our experience with baby tongue ties— four kids with ties, five without, what releases have looked like, and why each experience was different - A deep dive into my newborn approach: no wake windows, no schedules, responsive nursing, intuitive rhythms, and embracing babywearing and co-sleeping to make the early months peaceful - What co-sleeping safely looks like for our family and how I transition babies to independent sleep around age one - Thoughts on organic vs. non-organic foods in real life, and why I don’t stress about every single grocery purchase - A peek into bedtime routines with multiple young kids— reading together, keeping the process simple, and why teaching little ones to fall asleep on their own is key for us - Handling night wakings, self-soothing, and why I don’t feel guilty about sleep training when the time comes View full show notes on the blog [https://simplefarmhouselifepodcast.com/2025/12/09/what-i-dont-stress-about-anymore-as-a-mom-of-nine-more-qa-episode-319/] + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible [https://simplefarmhouselifepodcast.com/sponsors/]! RESOURCES MENTIONED Follow my friend Anne at @Storied_Interiors [https://www.instagram.com/storied_interiors/] for interior home design inspiration Check out the Farmhouse on Boone YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@FarmhouseonBoone/featured] to catch up on our farmhouse building project A few of my recent home building updates [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH9Vbq2BY7s]: collecting architectural salvage pieces for our home, a recent walk-through of our build Join my FREE masterclass [https://bit.ly/farmhouseyoutubemasterclass] to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course [http://bit.ly/simplesourdoughcourse] Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series [https://bit.ly/simplesewingcourse] Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my YouTube Success Academy [https://bit.ly/farmhouseyoutubecourse] Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook [https://homesteadliving.com/daily-sourdough/?utm_source=farmhouseonboone&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=SRD] CONNECT Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog [https://www.farmhouseonboone.com/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/FarmhouseonBoone] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/farmhouseonboone/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@farmhouseonboone] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/farmhouseonboone/] | Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/farmhouseonboone/_created/] 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 [http://bit.ly/SFLquestions].

318. How Hands-On, Real-Life Learning Transformed Their Health and Home | Kody Hanner of Homestead Education

A medical crisis eight years ago pushed Kody’s family into a complete lifestyle overhaul that ultimately transformed her husband’s health, reshaped their home life, and sparked the creation of Homestead Science.  In this conversation, we chat about moving from overwhelm and trial-and-error to raising capable kids, building a hands-on homeschool, and developing a curriculum that serves families whether on acreage or in a subdivision.  Kody shares what she learned about practical skills, real-food living, large family dynamics, and the surprising joy of watching teens step into responsibility while still getting to be teenagers.  Her story is a reminder that you don’t have to do everything at once, and that meaningful learning can happen right alongside real life! In this episode, we cover: - Kody reflects on her husband's sudden end-stage liver disease diagnosis and how it reshaped their entire family direction - The early overwhelm of shifting from a typical American lifestyle to true whole-food, toxin-free living - Rethinking low-fat diets, salts, and dairy, and discovering how traditional foods supported healing - Finding a holistic doctor who affirmed the very changes they felt drawn to make - Watching her husband's labs steadily improve until he finally received a clean bill of health - Navigating blended family dynamics, homeschooling, homesteading, and medical crises all at once - Realizing there was no curriculum that taught kids homesteading, agriculture, or practical home skills in a real-life way - Beginning to write Homestead Science by creating hands-on lessons for her own kids, from milking routines to budgeting and food safety - How the curriculum grows with children— early ages learning concepts playfully, older students tackling tools, measurements, planning, and economics - Why the program works even for families without land, using store-bought ingredients and small-scale projects - The role of strewing, entrepreneurship, and true responsibility in helping kids discover skills and confidence - Kody’s encouragement to new homeschoolers: drop the pressure, honor what feels realistic in your season, and prioritize relationship over rigid expectations - The surprising dynamic of teens in large families—how they can be incredibly helpful and still fully enjoy being teenagers, despite common misconceptions View full show notes on the blog [https://simplefarmhouselifepodcast.com/2025/12/02/how-hands-on-real-life-learning-transformed-their-health-and-home-kody-hanner-of-homestead-education-episode-318/]+ watch this episode on YouTube [https://youtu.be/wOKp6eOHOXE?si=eiwtnxVNSUfh1i3R]. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible [https://simplefarmhouselifepodcast.com/sponsors/]! RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out Kody’s parenting book, Raising Self-Sufficient Kids: An Honest Mom's Guide to Intentional Parenting  [https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/product/raising-self-sufficient-children/?srsltid=AfmBOorO1AgCsg93wiMobnTJWgCJx2l7WWNHKKBU1fOqsFVmOvEgNnPM] Explore her homeschool curriculum and resources: Homestead Science [https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/homesteadscience/?srsltid=AfmBOoqmr0ny3LkOlmgEzuU2RR99lPyiPDSzrYbWzfWNrTf2YwM3Atsy] Join my FREE masterclass [https://bit.ly/farmhouseyoutubemasterclass] to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course [http://bit.ly/simplesourdoughcourse] Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series [https://bit.ly/simplesewingcourse] Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my YouTube Success Academy [https://bit.ly/farmhouseyoutubecourse] Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook [https://homesteadliving.com/daily-sourdough/?utm_source=farmhouseonboone&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=SRD] CONNECT Kody Hanner of Homestead Education | Website [https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/thehomesteadeducation] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/homestead_education/] | Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/homesteadeducation/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@homesteadeducation] Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog [https://www.farmhouseonboone.com/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/FarmhouseonBoone] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/farmhouseonboone/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@farmhouseonboone] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/farmhouseonboone/] | Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/farmhouseonboone/_created/] 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 [http://bit.ly/SFLquestions].

317. Picky Eaters, Kitchen Helpers: Simple Strategies for Family Mealtime | Madison Wetherill of Cook at Home Mom

Getting your kids involved in preparing dinner doesn’t have to feel chaotic or complicated.  Madison shares how simple, flexible meals transformed her family’s evenings and helped her kids become more adventurous eaters.  We talk about handling toddler pickiness, the family rule that ends short-order cooking, and what kitchen help looks like at every age.  Madison also walks us through her weekly meal-planning rhythm, her must-have tools, and the everyday ways children can join you in the kitchen.  If you’ve been wanting to bring more connection and joy to family mealtime, Madison has strategies for you! In this episode, we cover: * Madison’s shift from diet-specific recipes to flexible family-friendly meals and why simplicity matters for busy home cooks * How she builds variety into her meal rotation without overwhelming herself or her kids * A peek into raising adventurous eaters—plus how she handles the one child with strong preferences * The family rule that has eliminated short-order cooking and empowered her kids around food choices * Why “safe foods” and low-pressure exposure can be game changers for picky toddlers * A fresh perspective on toddler pickiness and the biology behind why ages 18 months–3 years are notoriously tricky * Practical ways to keep toddlers busy in the kitchen while giving older kids meaningful cooking responsibilities * What real kitchen help looks like at different ages— from stirring and slicing to reading recipes and starting the rice * Madison’s weekly meal-planning rhythm and the favorite meals she relies on during busy seasons * Her must-have kitchen tools (and why she uses the Instant Pot as a crock pot) to keep dinner fast, flavorful, and low-stress * Everyday ways kids can join in beyond cooking: setting the table, putting away groceries, learning about food sourcing, and more View full show notes on the blog [https://simplefarmhouselifepodcast.com/2025/11/25/picky-eaters-kitchen-helpers-simple-strategies-for-family-mealtime-madison-wetherill-of-cook-at-home-mom-episode-317/] + watch this episode on YouTube [https://youtu.be/S9w2AuV9Bnc?si=ecHeWvMNQ5F0JXoc]. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible [https://simplefarmhouselifepodcast.com/sponsors/]! RESOURCES MENTIONED Join my FREE masterclass [https://bit.ly/farmhouseyoutubemasterclass] to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course [http://bit.ly/simplesourdoughcourse] Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series [https://bit.ly/simplesewingcourse] Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my YouTube Success Academy [https://bit.ly/farmhouseyoutubecourse] Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook [https://homesteadliving.com/daily-sourdough/?utm_source=farmhouseonboone&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=SRD] CONNECT Madison Wetherill of Cook at Home Mom | Website [https://cookathomemom.com] | Instagram [https://instagram.com/cookathomemom] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/cookathomemom] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@cookathomemom] Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog [https://www.farmhouseonboone.com/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/FarmhouseonBoone] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/farmhouseonboone/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@farmhouseonboone] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/farmhouseonboone/] | Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/farmhouseonboone/_created/] 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 [http://bit.ly/SFLquestions].

316. My 40th Birthday Q&A: Sourdough, Motherhood & Homemaking Rhythms

How do you know if you’re ready to have kids? Is buying a grain mill really worth it? Do you need a mixer to experiment with sourdough? These are just a few of the questions we’re tackling in this week’s 40th birthday Q&A. I’m sharing a quick update on our farmhouse build, what newborn life looks like right now, and how my older kids have naturally discovered their interests. We also chat about practical rhythms like afternoon time, laundry stains, raw milk basics, freshly-milled flour, and making sourdough without a mixer. Join me for this conversation about the everyday homemaking routines shaping our home in this season! In this episode, we cover: - A quick birthday trip to NYC for my 40th, traveling light with a newborn, and why short city visits work best for us - Where we’re at with the house build, waiting on casement windows, and what happens once they arrive - Whether my older daughters were at Miriam’s birth and how natural birth has become part of our home culture - How my older kids found their hobbies and when I step in to help brainstorm interests - My thoughts on letting kids choose reading or projects in their free time - How I make all my sourdough recipes with stretch-and-folds, even low-hydration dough like bagels - Raw milk basics: how long it lasts, why making butter can be challenging, and easy yogurt ideas - My take on grain mills, budget-friendly options, and why freshly-milled flour is worth learning - Keeping laundry simple with mostly dark clothing and what I do about stains - Encouragement for first-time moms overwhelmed by baby advice and why on-the-job learning is best - How I’d think through cutting dairy or gluten based on symptom severity - Why I stick to blending whole grain and all-purpose flour instead of using vital wheat gluten View full show notes on the blog [https://simplefarmhouselifepodcast.com/2025/11/18/my-40th-birthday-qa-sourdough-motherhood-homemaking-rhythms-episode-316/%20] + watch this episode on YouTube [https://youtu.be/xxqvo0049Z4?si=SPm7lOaapVzuOhvf]. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible [https://simplefarmhouselifepodcast.com/sponsors/]! RESOURCES MENTIONED Join my FREE masterclass [https://bit.ly/farmhouseyoutubemasterclass] to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course [http://bit.ly/simplesourdoughcourse] Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series [https://bit.ly/simplesewingcourse] Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my YouTube Success Academy [https://bit.ly/farmhouseyoutubecourse] Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook [https://homesteadliving.com/daily-sourdough/?utm_source=farmhouseonboone&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=SRD] CONNECT Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog [https://www.farmhouseonboone.com/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/FarmhouseonBoone] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/farmhouseonboone/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@farmhouseonboone] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/farmhouseonboone/] | Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/farmhouseonboone/_created/] 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 [http://bit.ly/SFLquestions].

315. Homemaking in Transition: Staying Grounded When Life Shifts | K of Homesteady

Homemaking doesn’t pause when major life changes take place; it simply looks different.  In this conversation, K shares how her family is learning to build stability and peace in the midst of transition, moving off-grid to a 1,300-square-foot cabin in Alaska.  We dive into the practical side of daily life without modern conveniences: hauling water, using solar power, and finding new rhythms for cooking, laundry, and homeschooling, while reflecting on the mindset shifts that make it possible to find joy in the challenges.  This episode is for you if you need a reminder that even in stressful seasons, simplicity, gratitude, and steady forward motion can create a sense of home anywhere! In this episode, we cover: - How K and her family went from homesteading on the east coast to making a permanent move to Alaska after an off-grid summer experiment in 2023 - The surprising challenges of finding affordable, livable land in Alaska and how a podcast connection led them to the small cabin they now call home - What life looks like for their family of nine in a 1,300-square-foot off-grid cabin— setting up solar power, ordering water, and using a composting toilet system - How they manage the daily needs of a large family like refrigeration, cooking, laundry, and dishes without modern conveniences - Why K actually feels less busy now than she did on their 100-acre Pennsylvania farm, and how this slower season is giving her space to refocus on homeschooling and homemaking - Their long-term homestead goals, from installing a wood cookstove to possibly adding pigs, chickens, or even a small dairy animal down the road - The mindset shift that helped her adapt when the move first felt overwhelming— acknowledging the chaos, starting small, and putting one foot in front of the other - How living simply has transformed her relationship with possessions and space, from ruthless decluttering to letting go of “someday” storage bins - Adapting to Alaska’s unique realities: high costs, long drives, and dramatic shifts between endless summer light and dark winter days - K’s practical advice for beginner homesteaders: start with chickens, understand the true workload of dairy animals, and grow slowly - Honest reflections on staying grounded through uncertainty, choosing gratitude, and trusting that every hard transition builds resilience View full show notes on the blog [https://simplefarmhouselifepodcast.com/2025/11/11/homemaking-in-transition-staying-grounded-when-life-shifts-k-of-homesteady-episode-315/] + watch this episode on YouTube [https://youtu.be/0xw7L1aC2A8]. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible [https://simplefarmhouselifepodcast.com/sponsors/]! RESOURCES MENTIONED Join my FREE masterclass [https://bit.ly/farmhouseyoutubemasterclass] to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course [http://bit.ly/simplesourdoughcourse] Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series [https://bit.ly/simplesewingcourse] Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my YouTube Success Academy [https://bit.ly/farmhouseyoutubecourse] Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook [https://homesteadliving.com/daily-sourdough/?utm_source=farmhouseonboone&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=SRD] CONNECT K of Homesteady | Website [https://thisishomesteady.com/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv2Li-PxOya3XCL-St_4DkA] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/homesteadyshow/?hl=en] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/thisishomesteady/] | Podcast [https://pod.link/879310835] Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog [https://www.farmhouseonboone.com/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/FarmhouseonBoone] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/farmhouseonboone/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@farmhouseonboone] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/farmhouseonboone/] | Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/farmhouseonboone/_created/] 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 [http://bit.ly/SFLquestions].