Meal planning not only saved us money and helped us to eat much more healthy food, but it saved Jami's sanity. When you know what you're going to have for dinner in advance you don't get that sinking feeling at 5 PM each day wondering what you'll come up with. Plus, your shopping will be streamlined and your family will quit bugging you with questions about what's for dinner. Jami shares her best menu planning tips and lots of free resources to get you started. 

Then we both talk about the one supply every home remodeler needs: audiobooks.

Moving to the country is a dream for a lot of people. We've done it and we can say that there are a lot of positives. But there are some negatives too. It's not for everybody. Find out the 7 pros and 7 cons (in our opinion) of moving rurally.

We talk about the big problems you can run into when you start doing major remodeling work. At the time they can be very discouraging and seem like they're going to shut down your project. But we've found ways to solve all of them. Plus, Jami talks about getting new lighting fixtures that look like they're old.

Learn why soaker hoses in your garden not only save water but also promote healthier growth. It's because they drip or finely spray water at the base of your garden plants, allowing it to soak down to the roots. But what do you do if you have three 6 foot beds and a 50 foot soaker? You cut it up and put it back together again. Jami and Brian also share about their faux marble countertop and metal table top projects.

We share what we've learned about harvesting and reusing old wood from our 1920s farmhouse. Reclaimed wood has a few drawbacks, but these are more than made up for by how cool it looks, the reduction in waste, and how much money you can save. Jami talks about what she did for the beds outside the garden and Brian shares his inspiration for the Garden Gate Arbor he made for less than $100.

With the kitchen completely gutted, we talk about how we're planning for countertops, flooring, lights, and appliances. For example, we're doing an island and we want to make sure people can get past it. Brian also tells the story of installing the beam, which he can laugh about now.

Plus, updates on some other parts of the house. See the video version of this on An Oregon Cottage YouTube channel.

In this new series (available also as a video on YouTube) we focus on a single challenge or task that needs to be done and discuss its solution. For "Simple Homemade Life Episode 1" we're out in the garden, talking about what you need to do in the middle of spring to get your vegetable garden ready for a great growing season.

We're making a format change to An Oregon Cottage Podcast. Listen to this brief announcement for an explanation. Or just keep subscribing to hear what the new format will sound like.

What's it like to be almost 8,000 miles from home as the world goes on lockdown? We'll tell you. Hear about our truncated trip to Australia. Find out what we've been doing on the farmhouse during our self-quarantine. Plus pantry meal ideas and some cool things we've recently discovered.

Brian and Jami review recent evidence that we're doing too much laundry. Clothes don't need to be washed each time you wear them (at least outer ones you haven't spilled spaghetti sauce on). Frequent washing wears your clothes out sooner. And now they're finding microfibers in a lot of marine life. We have some farmhouse updates, a winter dinner menu, and share some cool new discoveries.