It’s officially December, and we’re starting our year-end reflection a little early around here. In this episode of The Homestead Challenge Podcast, we talk honestly about what actually worked on our city homestead this year—and what completely flopped. From simplifying garden projects and freezing tomatoes to sourdough struggles, slow home projects, and a few disappointing garden losses, this is a real-life look at homesteading without the highlight reel.

If you’ve had a year with both wins and messy moments, you’re not alone—and this episode is for you.

In this episode, we cover:

Why choosing only one big garden project changed everything

How freezing tomatoes instead of canning immediately reduced burnout

A DIY herbal bug spray win that actually worked

Leaning into convenience appliances like the crockpot, bread machine & air fryer

How meal planning around milk & meat delivery simplified grocery shopping

The power of habit stacking (laundry + breakfast)

An incredible herb harvest that’s still producing in December

Why my sourdough starter died twice

Projects that took way longer than expected (hello, brick patio)

Garden disappointments: no pumpkins, no zucchini, small garlic

Why every garden has failures—and that’s normal

This episode is all about realistic homesteading, adjusting expectations, and giving yourself permission to grow slowly and imperfectly.

🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode here:

🌿 Find recipes, resources & more at:

🐝 DIY Bug Spray Recipe Mentioned: https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/diy-herbal-bug-spray/

💛 Let’s connect:

What worked for you this year—and what didn’t?