In today’s episode of Homegrown Hopes, we dive into the wonderful world of medicinal herbs! Whether you have a sprawling homestead or a cozy apartment balcony, growing your own herbs is an affordable and rewarding way to take control of your health and well-being. Join me as I share my top beginner-friendly herbs, tips on how to grow them, and simple ways to start using them for common health concerns like stress, digestion, and skin care.

In this episode, we cover:

• The best medicinal herbs for beginners and their uses
• How to grow medicinal herbs in any space—whether you have a backyard or just a balcony
• Simple, easy-to-make herbal remedies like teas, tinctures, and salves
• The benefits of growing your own healing garden and why it's empowering

If you're ready to start growing your own medicinal herb garden and unlock the healing potential of plants, this episode is for you!

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨:

Beginner's Guide to Medicinal Herbs & Plants

How To Grow & Harvest Garlic

How To Make Fire Cider

How To Make Elderflower Cordial

DIY Herb Drying Rack

My Herb Garden

My Spring Garden

🎟️ 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞!

If you enjoyed this conversation and want to dive even deeper into gardening and herbalism, we’d love to see you at the Holistic Homestead Conference!

The conference is happening May 17, 2025 — it’s a full day of learning, community, and connection with fellow homesteaders.

Tickets are on sale now, so grab yours and come spend the day with us!👉 ⁠

𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞⁠

www.holistichomesteadconference.com

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧

Blog: ⁠https://homegrownhopes.com⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@homegrownhopes

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HomegrownHopes/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homegrownhopes/⁠

Pinterest: ⁠https://www.pinterest.com/homegrownhopes/

⁠Email: [email protected]

𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫https://www.mandynixnutrition.com/

Background Fiddling by my son Creek ❤️

Thanks for supporting my show!

𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳: 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘴, 𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵, 𝘯𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

What if the key to feeling better wasn’t found in a prescription bottle, but right on your plate? In this episode, I’m joined by Mandy Nix, RD, LDN, MS, a functional dietitian who helps people uncover the root causes behind their health struggles and heal through personalized nutrition.

Mandy explains what functional nutrition really means, how it goes beyond meal plans, and why there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all health. From gut health to inflammation to hormone balance, we dig into how your unique body, story, and environment all play a role—and how the right foods can help your body restore and thrive.

In This Episode, We Cover:
✅ What functional nutrition actually is
✅ Why personalized nutrition is essential for healing
✅ How food can address root causes, not just symptoms
✅ The connection between gut health, inflammation, and overall wellness
✅ Simple, practical tips for nourishing your body well

About Mandy Nix:
Mandy Nix, RD, LDN, MS, is a functional dietitian who focuses on whole-person healing through food and lifestyle. Her approach is personalized, root cause-focused, and designed to help clients create sustainable wellness, not just short-term fixes.

Resources & Links:

• Connect with Mandy https://www.mandynixnutrition.com/
• Related episodes: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0RzJZWDFKmoOzYINn7hIvc?si=bje97nJ6RxqXPTT2ua24EQ

🎟️ Join Us at the Holistic Homestead Conference!

If you enjoyed this conversation and want to dive even deeper into homestead nutrition, we’d love to see you at the Holistic Homestead Conference! Mandy and I will be teaching a hands-on class called Nutrition on the Homestead, where we’ll share practical ways to nourish your family with homegrown and locally sourced foods.

The conference is happening May 17, 2025 — it’s a full day of learning, community, and connection with fellow homesteaders. Tickets are on sale now, so grab yours and come spend the day with us!

👉 Get Your Tickets Here

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧

Blog: ⁠https://homegrownhopes.com⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@homegrownhopes⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HomegrownHopes/⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homegrownhopes/⁠

Pinterest: ⁠https://www.pinterest.com/homegrownhopes/

⁠Email: [email protected]

Winter is the perfect time to slow down, grab a warm drink, and cozy up with a good book. There’s just something about the shorter days and chilly evenings that make reading feel even more special. In this episode, I’m sharing my winter reading list—a mix of stories that feel like old friends, ones that transport you to another time, and a few that just beg to be read by the fire. If you love books that draw you in and linger with you long after you turn the last page, this episode is for you.

In This Episode, We’ll Cover:

📖 Why winter is my favorite time to read physical books over audiobooks
📖 My love for Free Little Libraries and swapping books within the community
📖 A breakdown of my favorite winter reads, from historical fiction to lyrical, magical storytelling
📖 Reflections on books that feel like old friends and the stories that left a lasting impact

Read The Full Blog Post Here

Winter Reading List

Books Mentioned in This Episode:

📚 Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin
📚 The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
📚 Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
📚 The Caretaker by Ron Rash
📚 Once Upon A River by Diane Setterfield
📚 The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
📚 The Sweet Blue Distance by Sara Donati
📚 The Girl on the Mountain by Carol Ervin
📚 Atonement by Ian McEwan

I also share thoughts on movie adaptations vs. books (hello, Atonement and A Winter’s Tale!) and why some books resonate deeply—especially those set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, my home.

📚Shop My Winter Reading List– Find all of my favorite winter reads on my Amazon Storefront.
📚 Follow Along on Instagram – Let’s chat books!
📚 Join My Newsletter – Never miss an update!

What’s on your winter reading list? I’d love to hear your recommendations!

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧

Blog: ⁠https://homegrownhopes.com⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@homegrownhopes⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HomegrownHopes/⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homegrownhopes/⁠

Pinterest: ⁠https://www.pinterest.com/homegrownhopes/

⁠Email: [email protected]

Shop My Amazon Storefront

https://shorturl.at/7iHgI

𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫

https://www.mandynixnutrition.com/

Background Fiddling by my son Creek ❤️

Thanks for supporting my show!

We’re kicking off year two of the podcast in a brand-new space—our forever home!

In this episode, I’m curled up in my cozy new living room, surrounded by my favorite Facebook Marketplace finds (yes, including the green velvet couch) and reflecting on this long-awaited transition. I’m sharing the story behind our move, a few thrifting adventures, and my thoughts on embracing a slower, more intentional winter season. Grab a cup of tea, settle in, and let’s chat about fresh starts, home, and embracing the beauty of a slow season—choosing rest over hustle.

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧

Blog: ⁠https://homegrownhopes.com⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@homegrownhopes⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HomegrownHopes/⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homegrownhopes/⁠

Pinterest: ⁠https://www.pinterest.com/homegrownhopes/

⁠Email: [email protected]

Shop My Amazon Storefront

https://shorturl.at/7iHgI

𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫

https://www.mandynixnutrition.com/

Background Fiddling by my son Creek ❤️

Thanks for supporting my show!

In this episode of Homegrown Hopes, we sit down with Meagan Joy—a third-generation beekeeper and rancher, whose life is deeply rooted in family, farming, and faith.

Meagan shares her story of growing up on a ranch learning timeless lessons she learned from both her father and her grandfather’s humble approach to beekeeping, and how her family is keeping tradition alive through their farm.

From harvesting raw, unfiltered honey to raising premium Texas Wagyu beef, Meagan talks about balancing heritage with modern challenges and fostering community through intentional living.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE SEASONS OF BEEKEEPING GUIDE

https://www.leecohoney.com/shop/p/seasons-of-beekeeping-guide

Blog: ⁠https://homegrownhopes.com⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@homegrownhopes⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HomegrownHopes/⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homegrownhopes/⁠

Pinterest: ⁠https://www.pinterest.com/homegrownhopes/

⁠Email: [email protected]

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 Meagan

Website: ⁠https://www.leecohoney.com/

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/leecohoney

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/leecohoney/

Thanks for listening!

Do you have boxes of old photographs or random image files on your computer that you'll get to "someday"? If so, you definitely want to listen to my chat with Shanna of GingerSnaps Photo Management! She is a busy mom herself, so she understands just how daunting this task can be. In this episode, she discusses ways to get organized, her favorite products and software, and tips for preventing yourself from getting in over your head again. If it still feels like too much for you to tackle, she can do it for you!

As the heart behind GingerSnaps, Shanna is passionate about helping people organize, preserve, and enjoy their memories. She lives in Ontario, Canada on a farm with her husband and two sons and has a love for capturing everyday moments.

WHERE TO FIND CAITLIN

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧

Blog: ⁠https://homegrownhopes.com⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@homegrownhopes⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HomegrownHopes/⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homegrownhopes/⁠

Pinterest: ⁠https://www.pinterest.com/homegrownhopes/⁠

Email: [email protected]

WHERE TO FIND SHANA

FACEBOOK: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/gingersnaps.ca⁠

INSTAGRAM: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/gingersnaps.ca/⁠

WEBSITE: ⁠https://www.gingersnaps.ca⁠

YOUTUBE: ⁠https://youtube.com/@photobookmaster?si=xcZ4Wj0cHn1Mgd_L⁠

PINTEREST: ⁠https://www.pinterest.ca/gingersnaps_ca/⁠

FOREVER CLOUD STORAGE: ⁠https://www.forever.com/ambassador/shanna-koetsier⁠

SUBSCRIBE TO HER EMAIL LIST ⁠https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/344529/81387257267750525/share⁠

Thanks for supporting my podcast!

Join me as I chat with Rachel Hester, author of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘋𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘺 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘱, about the incredible benefits of sheep milk and why these versatile creatures are the original dairy animal. Learn how this nutrient-dense milk is perfect for small farms and homesteads, offering a healthier, more sustainable option for dairy lovers.

Pour a cup of something warm, and cozy up as we chat about practical ways to transition your homestead from summer to fall. We are covering coat closets to coops, and daydreaming about pumpkin covered porches.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Fall Diffuser Blends

https://homegrownhopes.com/essential-oil-diffuser-blends-for-fall-and-winter/

Whole Roast Chicken Recipe

https://homegrownhopes.com/whole-roast-chicken/

My Favorite Venison Recipes

https://homegrownhopes.com/how-to-cook-venison-neck-roast/

https://homegrownhopes.com/venison-lettuce-wraps/

https://homegrownhopes.com/homemade-venison-sausage/

https://homegrownhopes.com/wild-game-wednesday-deer-chili/

Blog: https://homegrownhopes.com

JOIN THE RANNSAK COMMUNITY

https://www.rannsak.com/

Thanks for supporting the show!

Dive into the world of functional medicine with my dear friend Christy Richman. She has been my personal sounding board and guide to natural wellness for years, and is a wealth of knowledge. If you're interested in getting to the root of issues, rather than just putting a bandaid on the symptoms, this episode is for you!

Blog: https://homegrownhopes.com

Where to Find Christy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracelife_wellness/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GraceLifeWellness

Email: [email protected]

This season sponsored by Rannsak.com

JOIN THE RANNSAK COMMUNITY

https://www.rannsak.com/

Thank you for supporting this podcast!

Join me as I chat with Jessi and Pat Sherman about how their family's bucket list vacation sparked a dream that has grown into a revolutionary business.

JOIN THE RANNSAK COMMUNITY

https://www.rannsak.com/

Blog: https://homegrownhopes.com

Where to Find Jessi & Pat

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_rannsak.com_/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rannsak/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rannsak/

X: https://www.twitter.com/_rannsak/