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In this episode of Homestead-ish, we’re joined again by Jess Robison of Acton Food Forest, who returns to share how her approach to gardening has evolved in a new season of life, now as a mom of three!

Instead of trying to “do it all,” Jess has leaned into a more time-efficient, realistic, and sustainable way to grow food, one that works with her life, not against it.

We talk about what it looks like to let go of perfection in the garden and embrace practices that are not only easier, but often more aligned with nature.

Time-efficient gardening isn’t just about convenience, it’s about accessibility.

When we remove the pressure to do gardening “perfectly,” we open the door for more people to participate in growing food, reconnecting with nature, and becoming part of the solution!

🌿 Connect & Resources

Follow Jess on Instagram @actonfoodforest or TikTok @actonfoodforest

Weeds and What They Tell Us by Ehrenfried E. Pfeiffer

Connect with Kristin @growingpaines_

Connect with Devon @devonballardhudson

Follow Homestead-ish @homesteadish_pod

Share this episode with a friend who “doesn’t have time” to garden!

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Spring is waking up on the homestead, and in this episode Devon and Kristin share what’s happening in their backyards, from goat breeding updates to welcoming new baby chicks.

Then they dig into one of the most exciting parts of the gardening season: starting seeds indoors.

The conversation focuses on soil blocking, a method of seed starting that eliminates plastic waste and encourages strong root development. Devon and Kristin share their different approaches to soil blocking, the equipment they use, and how beginners can get started without investing in expensive tools.

They also discuss lighting setups, heat mats, watering techniques, seed depth, and when to start seeds in their Zone 7A climate. Along the way, they share practical lessons learned from years of trial and error...including why starting seeds too early can sometimes cause more problems than it solves.

Whether you’re a first-time gardener or a seasoned grower looking to refine your system, this episode offers simple, practical tips to help your seedlings thrive!

🌿 Connect with Us

Devon on IG @devonballardhudson

Kristin on IG @growingpaines_

⭐If You Loved This Episode

Please follow, rate, and share with a like-minded friend. It helps this small but mighty podcast grow.

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Season 2 is here! 🌱

After a long winter, Kristin and Devon are back behind the mic reflecting on what the season has taught them and why small acts of homesteading can feel especially meaningful in uncertain times.

In this episode, they share honest updates from their homesteads, including:

• Kristin’s ongoing home build on her forested land (and the patience it’s requiring)
• Devon’s journey growing Basil & Blossom Co. and navigating winter health and energy
• The very relatable mystery of chickens who simply… stop laying eggs in winter
• Living seasonally and honoring winter as a slower, restorative time
• Why planting, tending, and creating can be quiet acts of hope
• How to stay grounded without disconnecting from what’s happening in the wider world

Together, they explore the tension many of us are feeling right now — wanting to stay informed and engaged while also protecting our peace and capacity.

This conversation is an invitation to:

✨ find rest without guilt

✨ tend something small and meaningful

✨ and remember that hope often looks like showing up anyway

As Madeleine L’Engle wrote, “Planting onions that spring was an act of faith in the future…”

We’re glad you’re here for Season 2. 💛

🌿 Connect with Us

Devon on IG

Kristin on IG

Basil & Blossom Co’s Kombucha Kitchen

Devon on Substack

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Please follow, rate, and share with a like-minded friend. It helps this small but mighty podcast grow.

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In this bonus episode, we sit down with Tim Frost of Hoosier Forager, a certified wild edible mushroom ID expert, to explore the surprisingly simple world of growing mushrooms at home. Tim breaks down the easiest kits for beginners (hello, oysters and lion’s mane!), explains how indoor cultivation actually works, and shares practical tips on harvesting, cooking, and even making tinctures.

We also talk about why mushroom grow kits make some of the best sustainable gifts—for kids, classrooms, and curious adults alike.

If you’ve ever been mushroom-curious, intimidated by foraging, or eager to get more nutrients growing in your kitchen, this episode is your starting point!

Resources Mentioned

• North Spore Holiday Gifts page including this adorable Polar Bear Lion's Mane Kit
• Tim's Linktree
• Foraged.com (for Tim’s dried mushrooms & upcoming spice line)
• Check out our new Homestead-ish tee design on Etsy

 Follow along on Instagram: @homesteadish_pod @devonballardhudson @growingpaines_

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This week, we’re popping into your feed with something a little different — a bonus episode all about Devon’s Community Kombucha Kitchen Kickstarter and the big leap she’s taking with Basil & Blossom Co.

 In this mini-episode, Devon and Kristin chat about:
🌿 Why Devon decided to move her kombucha production into a commercial kitchen space at The District in downtown New Albany — and how sometimes the universe gives you that extra push to finally make the leap.
🏡 The limitations of cottage food laws and how they can make it tough for small farmers and homesteaders to grow their businesses.
🥕 The importance of community-based food systems — connecting with where our food comes from, supporting local makers, and creating spaces that nourish both people and planet.
💛 How you can become part of this story by supporting the Kickstarter campaign and helping bring this community kombucha hub to life!

Whether you’re a fellow homesteader, a lover of local food, or someone dreaming of taking your own next big step — this conversation is full of heart, honesty, and hope.

🎧 Listen now to hear the behind-the-scenes story and learn how you can help build something truly special for our local food community.

👉 Support the campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/basilblossom/building-basil-and-blossom-cos-sustainable-kombucha-kitchen

👉 Follow along on Instagram: @homesteadish_pod @devonballardhudson @growingpaines_

👉 Love Kombucha? Follow the Basil & Blossom Co Business Page on Facebook
 

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In our Season 1 finale of Homestead-ish, we welcome special guest Amy Bauer (@frontyardveggies) for a wide-ranging conversation on sustainable living, homemaking, and the shifting cultural landscape of homesteading.

We kick things off with a lighthearted chat about Goodwill bins thrifting strategies and our mutual admiration for THE QUEEN, Martha Stewart.

We especially dive headfirst into the shift in the political landscape we’ve seen in the sustainable living/homesteading space, including everything from scratch cooking and gardening as forms of empowerment and resistance, to how the wellness and "crunchy" lifestyles sometimes get co-opted into fear-based or alt-right narratives, Amy's personal philosophy on sustainable living, and so much more! 

This episode closes with reflections on Season 1 — what we’ve learned, where the movement is headed, and how we can stay rooted in purpose, curiosity, and connection even in polarizing times.

What’s Next

We’re taking a short hiatus before Season 2, but you can catch up on past episodes and follow us on Instagram for updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and plenty of sustainable living inspiration. What topics do you want to see for Season 2? Drop us a text at the link at the top of the show notes! 

Links & Mentions

• Find Amy on IG at Amy Bauer, @frontyardveggies
• Merlin Bird ID App
• Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
• Check out homesteadish_pod on IG, and as always you can find Kristin at growingpaines_ and Devon at devonballardhudson

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In this special episode, Kristin sits down with her 81-year-old great Uncle Denny to reminisce about farm life through the ages. Uncle Denny is a natural storyteller, and his tales will have you laughing, learning, and feeling inspired by the simplicity (and ingenuity!) of old-time homesteading.

From the story of transporting a cow in the back of his VW Beetle, to how he first got into chicken keeping more than 70 years ago when he brought some chicks home from his 4th grade classroom, Uncle Denny reminds us that homesteading wisdom never goes out of style.

Along the way, he shares his tried-and-true chicken keeping advice and practical gardening tips that have stood the test of time. This episode is full of humor, heart, and timeless lessons for anyone who loves the homestead-ish life.

Pull up a chair, grab your coffee, and get ready for a good laugh and some homestead inspiration from Uncle Denny’s farm!

 Let’s Connect!

• Check out homesteadish_pod on IG, and as always you can find Kristin at growingpaines_ and Devon at devonballardhudson on IG
• Drop us a text at the link at the top of the show notes! 

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🎉 Episode 10! 🎉
Join Kristin and Devon for our tenth episode of Homestead-ish as we share life updates, garden stories, and a candid look at the ups and downs of homestead-ish living.

This week, we dive into:

•  Buying land and building a homestead responsibly as a steward of the land  
• Back-to-school germs and go-to herbal remedies 
• Facing homesteader burnout (and what keeps us going) 
• Living seasonally—finding contentment in each season and why it matters for the planet 

Tune in, laugh along our “bunny trails,” and celebrate the beauty (and honesty) of messy, seasonal rhythms on the homestead.

 Let’s Connect!

• Check out homesteadish_pod on IG, and as always you can find Kristin at growingpaines_ and Devon at devonballardhudson on IG
• Drop us a text at the link at the top of the show notes! 

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In this episode, we sit down with the brilliant and inspiring duo behind Bundle Sticks Farm, a small but mighty craft farm and education center in Southern Indiana. Elizabeth Tobey and Brian Geier bring a wealth of knowledge, intention, and soul to everything they do—from growing craft materials and raising sheep to hosting crafting/educational gatherings that reconnect people to the land.

Together, we explore:

• The origin story of Bundle Sticks Farm 
• What regenerative agriculture means to them, how they practice it on their farm, and simple ways you can integrate regenerative principles at home
• The lost art of broom making, basket weaving, dried floral wreaths and more
• Why education and community engagement are essential pillars of their work—and how they’re teaching reciprocity and reconnection with the land

About Our Guests:
Elizabeth Tobey (she/her) is a crafter-of-many-trades, a skilled facilitator and communicator, and an unwavering social justice advocate. She grew up unschooled on a small family farm in Oregon and her family's history includes California cattle ranching and Bay-area artists and craftspeople, both legacies that live on in her today.

 Brian Geier (he/him) is a history nerd, former professional sauerkraut maker, and passionate farmer who will always say yes to getting in water. He grew up in the woods of Wayne County, Indiana, and is largely of German descent with a family tree that traces back to New Albany & Lanesville in the late 1800's and to the Rhine River area in what is now Germany before that. His last name, Geier, means vulture in an old Germanic language, a fact that he is most proud of.

 Let’s Connect!

• You can connect with Bundle Sticks on their website, IG, or join their newsletter! 
• Check out homesteadish_pod on IG, and as always you can find Kristin at growingpaines_ and Devon at devonballardhudson on IG
• Drop us a text at the link at the top of the show notes! 

If you loved this episode, share it with your friends and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Tag us @homesteadish_pod on Instagram—we love seeing your homestead-ish adventure!

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In this flavor-packed episode of Homestead-ish, Kristin turns the mic around and interviews our very own fermented foodie and co-host of this podcast, Devon! 

Devon shares how she first fell down the rabbit hole of fermentation, what fermentation actually is, and why it’s about so much more than tangy veggies and fizzy drinks. In advance we ask that you please pardon our pickle innuendos! 

We talk:

• Beginner-friendly ferments you can try at home today
• How the benefits of fermentation extend far beyond gut health
• The deeper connection between preserving food and preserving the planet
• Devon’s upcoming virtual workshop: Kombucha, Kefir, and Kraut, Oh My! An Intro to the Art of Fermentation

Whether you’re new to homesteading or already have a countertop full of bubbling jars, this conversation will leave you inspired, empowered, and maybe just a little hungry.

 Let’s Connect!

• Sign-up for Devon’s fermentation workshop: Kombucha, Kefir, and Kraut, Oh My!
• Check out homesteadish_pod on IG, and as always you can find Kristin at growingpaines_ and Devon at devonballardhudson on IG
• Drop us a text at the link at the top of the show notes! 

If you loved this episode, share it with your ferment-curious friends and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Tag us @homesteadish_pod on Instagram—we love seeing your bubbling jars and backyard adventures!