S2, E4: We Built This Life…But Can We Ever Leave It? Homestead updates, kombucha brewing, chickens & the reality of finding a farm sitter

Seed Saving, Joy, and the Stories Hidden in Every Seed with Noel of Homestead Culture

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471357/fan_mail/new] If you're looking for a quick list of seed-saving hacks, this probably isn't that episode. In a world that encourages us to consume information as quickly as possible, today's conversation invites you to slow down. Noel of Homestead Culture joins us for a thoughtful discussion about seed saving, homesteading, and what it means to develop a deeper relationship with the plants that feed us. While you'll definitely walk away with practical tips for saving seeds in your own garden, we hope you'll leave with something even more valuable: a glimpse into the joy, wonder, and reverence that Noel and his family bring to this timeless practice. Together we explore: 🌱 How Noel's family transitioned from suburban California to a homesteading life in Southern Oregon 🌱 The story behind Homestead Culture and how a simple fascination with seeds grew into a seed-saving business 🌱 Beginner-friendly crops for new seed savers 🌱 The differences between heirloom, hybrid, and open-pollinated seeds 🌱 Common seed-saving mistakes and how to avoid them 🌱 Finding joy, abundance, and connection through homesteading This episode is a reminder that some knowledge can't be rushed. Like a good meal, a thriving garden, or a season spent tending plants, some conversations are meant to be savored. Whether you're an experienced gardener or have never saved a seed in your life, we think you'll enjoy spending an hour in Noel's world. Homestead Culture Resources Connect with Homestead Culture on IG @homesteadculture [https://www.instagram.com/homesteadculture/] Free Crash Course into Seed Saving "Everything you need to know to start saving seeds"  https://homesteadculture.com/saveseeds/ [ https://homesteadculture.com/saveseeds/] Seed Resources Lots of articles & stories about seeds in one place. For definitions of Heirlooms, Hybrid, Open Pollinated, scroll to the section titled "Seeds and Diversity" https://homesteadculture.com/seed-resources/ [https://homesteadculture.com/seed-resources/] Our Seed Offerings Perennial vegetables, flowers, herbs, & diverse mixes.  https://homesteadculture.com/shop/ [https://homesteadculture.com/shop/]   Connect with Homestead-ish Follow Homestead-ish on IG @homesteadish_pod [https://www.instagram.com/homesteadish_pod/] Connect with Kristin @growingpaines_ [https://www.instagram.com/growingpaines_/] Connect with Devon @devonballardhudson [https://www.instagram.com/devonballardhudson/] 🌱 As always, stay curious and a little bit wild!

S2, E7: From Suburbia to Farm School: Raising Meat Rabbits with Shelly Tyler of Fiddlewood Farm & School

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471357/fan_mail/new] This week on Homestead-ish, we’re joined by our friend Shelly Tyler of Fiddlewood Farm & Forest School in Owensboro, Kentucky for a conversation that goes far beyond meat rabbits. Content Note: In this episode, we have a candid conversation about raising meat rabbits for food, including some detailed discussion of the harvesting and processing process. We know this topic may not be for everyone, so we wanted to give sensitive listeners a heads up.  Shelly shares her unexpected journey from physical therapist and functional medicine practitioner to homesteader, forest school founder, and rabbit raiser. Together, we explore how slowing down, reconnecting with nature, and learning forgotten skills can transform not only our health, but the way we live and raise our families. We also dive deep into the realities of raising meat rabbits — from setup and care to harvesting, processing, and the emotional complexity of raising your own food. This episode contains honest discussion about animal processing and homestead meat production. Follow Shelly and Fiddlewood Farm & Forest School for more from her homestead journey! Connect With Us Follow Shelly Tyler of Fiddlewood Farm & School @fiddlewood.farm [https://www.instagram.com/fiddlewood.farm/] Connect with Kristin @growingpaines_ [https://www.instagram.com/growingpaines_/] Connect with Devon @devonballardhudson [https://www.instagram.com/devonballardhudson/] Follow Homestead-ish @homesteadish_pod [https://www.instagram.com/homesteadish_pod/]

S2, E6: Backyard Climate Activist, 7 Ways to Heal the Planet from Home (a mini-episode)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471357/fan_mail/new] This week’s episode is a little different. After missing our first Thursday release in two full seasons (life happens!), Devon hops on solo for a brief in-between episode to share a personal update and an exciting glimpse into her forthcoming book, Backyard Climate Activist: Healing the Planet from Home. Drawing from a recent Substack essay, Devon explores the heart behind the Backyard Climate Activist framework and shares the seven “R’s” that shape the book’s philosophy: *  Rewild  *  Reconnect  *  Refuse  *  Reduce  *  Reuse  *  Recycle  *  Rot  In a world where the climate crisis can feel overwhelming and impossible to solve alone, this episode is a reminder that meaningful change often begins much closer to home than we think.  We’ll be back next week with a full episode and guest interview, but in the meantime, we hope this conversation leaves you feeling inspired, grounded, and hopeful. Mentioned in this episode: * Backyard Climate Activist: Healing the Planet from Home (forthcoming)! Stay-tuned to be the first to get your hands on a copy!  *  Devon’s Substack essay: “How to Be a Backyard Climate Activist: 7 Ways to Heal the Planet from Home [https://open.substack.com/pub/lettersfrommybackyard/p/how-to-be-a-backyard-climate-activist?r=22egd2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true]”  *  Clarissa Pinkola Estés' Letter to a Young Activist [https://www.mavenproductions.com/letter-to-a-young-activist] * Kiss the Ground  [https://www.kissthegroundbook.com/]by Josh Tickell Connect with us: Follow along for more conversations about homesteading, sustainability, reconnecting with nature, and creating a more hopeful future from right where we are. * Follow the Homestead-ish IG [https://www.instagram.com/homesteadish_pod/] page * Connect with Devon on IG [https://www.instagram.com/devonballardhudson/] * Connect with Kristin on IG [https://www.instagram.com/growingpaines_/]

When Western Medicine Isn’t Enough: Blending Cannabis, Aromatherapy, and Western Medicine with Michele Finn of Jubilee of Wellness

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471357/fan_mail/new] What happens when modern medicine isn’t enough, and you’re willing to explore everything to help someone you love? In this episode of Homestead-ish, we sit down with Jubilee of Wellness founder Michele Finn—aromatherapist, CBD wellness guide, caregiver, and now Devon’s neighbor at The District—to talk about what it really looks like to blend holistic healing with Western healthcare. Michele shares the deeply personal story of caring for her mother through an 11-year battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and how that journey led her into the world of aromatherapy and cannabis-based wellness. Together, we explore how essential oils, CBD, THC, and CBG can support the body, the importance of proper education and safety, and why healing doesn’t have to be an either/or conversation. One of the most powerful moments in this episode is Michele’s story of a critical turning point in her mother’s illness when traditional treatments had reached their limits, and cannabis helped restore comfort, function, and dignity in a moment that felt nearly hopeless. This conversation is a reminder that healing isn’t always linear and sometimes the most meaningful care comes from combining tools, not choosing sides. Connect With Us Visit Michele locally at Jubilee of Wellness at The District Artisan Market & Patio and at the New Albany Farmers Market Shop online: JubileeofWellness.com [https://jubileeofwellness.com/] About Dr. Ethan Russo  [https://ethanrusso.org/about-ethan-russo-md/] Connect with Kristin @growingpaines_ [https://www.instagram.com/growingpaines_/] Connect with Devon @devonballardhudson [https://www.instagram.com/devonballardhudson/] Follow Homestead-ish @homesteadish_pod [https://www.instagram.com/homesteadish_pod/] This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your health or wellness routine.

S2, E4: We Built This Life…But Can We Ever Leave It? Homestead updates, kombucha brewing, chickens & the reality of finding a farm sitter

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471357/fan_mail/new] There’s a version of homesteading we all dream about...slow mornings, fresh food, a life rooted in intention. And then there’s the part no one really talks about: What happens when you need to leave? In this catch-up episode, we’re sharing what life looks like on our homesteads right now, from scaling up kombucha production and experimenting with no-dig potatoes, to navigating loss in the flock and the very real challenge of finding someone to care for your animals when you’re away. It’s part life update, part honest conversation, and part figuring-it-out-as-we-go. 🐓 In This Episode: *  Scaling small-batch kombucha into larger production  *  No-dig / no-till potato planting with straw  *  Losing a beloved chicken and caring for a sick flock  *  The realities of farm sitting and leaving your homestead  *  Upcoming guests + events  🌿 Connect & Resources Connect with Kristin @growingpaines_ [https://www.instagram.com/growingpaines_/] Connect with Devon @devonballardhudson [https://www.instagram.com/devonballardhudson/] Follow Homestead-ish @homesteadish_pod [https://www.instagram.com/homesteadish_pod/] Purchase the Homesteading as Resistance [https://www.etsy.com/listing/4384951265/homestead-ish-unisex-t-shirt-empowering?ls=s&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=homesteading+as+resistance&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&sr_prefetch=1&pf_from=search&content_source=29d6b421-f5f8-4306-ab81-34bf2edf89c1%253ALTbb4c35f4e0e06ca9cb0d5a657d3b006dd37b91f0&organic_search_click=1&logging_key=29d6b421-f5f8-4306-ab81-34bf2edf89c1%3ALTbb4c35f4e0e06ca9cb0d5a657d3b006dd37b91f0] Tee on Etsy Attend the Land, Love, & Self-Reliance Festival [https://www.facebook.com/events/1293713078862135/]