Heart of the Homestead Family

It’s mid-July and the gardens are bursting—but so are the weeds! 🌱 In this episode, Sarah and Heidi share a real and relatable look at homestead life during peak summer. From managing scorching heat to succession planting, balancing animal care, and just trying to keep the dishes done—it’s a season of prioritizing what matters most.

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In today’s episode, we’re diving into the world of healthy fats—specifically, the kind that come from well-raised, local animals. Sarah and Heidi chat about the benefits of animal fats like lard, tallow, suet, and even the fat you can extract from chicken feet and beef bones.

Whether you're just curious about real fats or you're ready to ditch the seed oils, this episode gives you the basics to get started confidently (and deliciously).

Want a step-by-step guide on how to render animal fat at home? Check out our website for details! Read about it HERE

Don't have animal fats on hand? You can grab some from Heidi's farm - Generations Marketplace!

Don't forget to check us out on social media @heart_of_the_homestead_family

Fresh peas straight from the garden—what’s better? In this episode, Sarah and Heidi chat about the short but sweet pea season, how to enjoy peas beyond snacking in the garden, and a few simple ways to preserve them.

From grilling snap peas to freezing snow peas for winter stir-fries, they’re sharing all the best tips (and laughs) for making the most of your harvest. 🌱✨

In this episode of Heart of the Homestead Family, Sarah and Heidi dive into the sweet (and sometimes steamy) world of homemade juice!

From small-batch stovetop steam juicers to commercial setups that reduce food waste on the farm, they share practical tips, favorite tools, and clever ways to make the most of your fruit and veggie harvest. Whether you’ve got a garden full of berries or just a few soft peaches on the counter, you’ll walk away inspired to turn that produce into something delicious—and shelf-stable!

🥬 Lettuce might be the queen of salads, but there’s so much more it can do!

This week on Heart of the Homestead, we’re talking about how to make the most of your lettuce harvest—whether it's from the garden, market, or grocery store. From grilled Caesar to smoothie boosts and lettuce wraps, Sarah shares creative (and practical!) ways to use up those leafy greens before they wilt. Plus, tips for storing lettuce to last two weeks or more—and how to share the extra with your animals or local farmers.

Whether you're swimming in greens or just looking to cut down on waste, this episode is for you.

Strawberry season is here, and it might just be better than Christmas. 🍓 In this episode, Sarah and Heidi dive into one of their favorite things to grow, harvest, and preserve—strawberries!

From growing tips and variety breakdowns to practical ways to enjoy and preserve your berry bounty all year long, this episode is packed with helpful info and homestead-tested ideas. Whether you're making jam, freezing for smoothies, or whipping up strawberry juice, we've got you covered.

Plus, a pro tip for freezing strawberries without ending up with one giant clump. 😄

Check our website for tips, tricks and recipes! 

In this jam-packed June episode, Heidi and Sarah dive into all the chaos, joy, and challenges that come with spring on the homestead. May was one of the busiest and most unpredictable months—filled with wild weather, muddy fields, frost protection efforts, and floating strawberries (yes, really).

They also share a peek into what’s coming to their new YouTube channel – think behind-the-scenes farm footage, how-tos, and eventually, video podcasts!

Don’t miss this real, raw, and relatable update straight from the heart of the homestead.

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In this episode, we’re digging into our must-have tools for the garden—and why investing in quality gear can save you frustration (and your back). From the humble hoe to our favorite wheel hoe, we share what’s in our toolkits, how we organize them, and how we make garden work easier and more enjoyable.

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Whether you’re just starting out or running a full-blown homestead, this episode is full of practical tips to get you prepped for a smooth growing season.

🎧 Tune in now and let’s grow together!

This week, we’re gushing over our favorite multi-purpose kitchen hero: the canning jar. 💚

From preserving garden harvests to storing bulk goods, sipping drinks, portioning snacks, and even housing Lego collections — these glass wonders do it all. We share our favorite ways to use them, how they’ve replaced plastic in our kitchens, and why they’ve become our go-to for convenience, sustainability, and sanity.

🎧 Tune in to learn how canning jars are quietly transforming everyday life, one lid at a time.

💻 Check us out on social media @heart_of_the_homestead_family

📝 Send us an email with questions to [email protected]

Spring is here, and so is asparagus season! 🌱 In this fun, flavorful episode, we dive into everything you need to know about harvesting, cooking, and preserving asparagus—from roadside ditches in Norfolk to your kitchen table.

We chat about:

Why asparagus needs daily harvesting (and why it drives us a little crazy)

Local asparagus pride in Norfolk’s sandy soil

Creative ways to use asparagus: pickled, grilled, in soup, and even on toast with cream sauce!

Tips for preserving it in the freezer—and what not to do with a freeze dryer

Whether you're a seasoned asparagus lover or just figuring out how to cook it, this episode has you covered. Check out our recipe for Creamed Asparagus Toast right HERE.

👉 Tune in now and get inspired to make the most of your asparagus haul.