Homesteading for Beginners with Michelle Bruhn and Stephanie Thurow

Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a homesteader? A growing number of people are turning to self-sufficiency and sustainability in their way of living. However, homesteading can seem intimidating, especially when social media portrays it as an exclusive lifestyle requiring acres of land and living off the grid. The good news is that it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing lifestyle! In this episode, learn how Stephanie Thurow and Michelle Bruhn, co-authors of the book Small Scale Homesteading and absolute BFFs, are making homesteading accessible to everyone—no matter how much land you have. They share their experiences with gardening, chicken keeping, maple sugaring, and more, all while living on less than an acre in the suburbs of Minneapolis.

In this episode, we learn:

• [06:43] Stephanie & Michelle’s homesteading journey
• [13:08] The challenges of gardening in different regions (know your last frost date)
• [16:24] How Stephanie & Michelle’s friendship and shared interests led to their book “Small-Scale Homesteading”
• [17:55] Where can you find a range of cold-tolerant crops for your fall and winter gardens?
• [19:58] Where can you find the perfect wind chimes to add a touch of beauty and mindfulness to your surroundings?
• [17:51] What is the role of community in their homesteading journeys?
• [24:32] What is the difference between gardening and homesteading?
• [26:40] What inspired Michelle and Stephanie’s move from gardening to homesteading
• [30:50] Tips for transitioning from gardening to homesteading
• [40:21] Michelle on seed starting
• [43:36] What are the easiest seeds to save?
• [44:59] How can you preserve your homegrown food?
• [46:45] Fermentation vs pickling
• [48:36] What is water bath canning?
• [51:21] Things you should know about raising chickens!
• [01:01:13] Further homesteading stories and experiences from Michelle & Stephanie

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Book by Stephanie Thurow & Michelle Bruhn Small-Scale Homesteading: A Sustainable Guide to Gardening, Keeping Chickens, Maple Sugaring, Preserving the Harvest, and More
• Can It & Ferment It: More Than 75 Satisfying Small-Batch Canning and Fermentation Recipes for the Whole Year
• WECK Home Preserving: Made-from-Scratch Recipes for Water-Bath Canning, Fermenting, Pickling, and More
• WECK Small-Batch Preserving: Year-Round Recipes for Canning, Fermenting, Pickling, and MoreFood Preservation Cookbooks by Stephanie Thurow:
• Chicken Pens at Tractor Supply Co.

For honest tips and recommendations on raising your own chickens,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Territorial Seed Company

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Wind River Chimes

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Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all Corinthian Bells wind chimes.

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