If you live in a cold northern area, you may have assumed growing fruit and nuts was out of the question, but I'm happy to tell you that it's not! 

In this episode, I chat with St. Lawrence Nurseries about the best cold hardy fruit and nut tree varieties, common planting mistakes, and essential care tips for success. We cover watering, fertilizing, pruning, and more to help you cultivate a thriving orchard—even in harsh winters. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced grower, this episode is packed with practical advice!

Podcast Episode Highlights

• Background of St. Lawrence Nursery
• A closer look at cold-hardy fruit trees
• How to figure out what plants you can grow 
• Favorite cold-hardy plants 
• Growing peaches and pears in a cold region
• Growing cold-hardy nut trees
• When to order and plant trees
• How to plant your trees successfully
• Organic pest control tips
• Dealing with strong winds
• Best watering tips
• How long for fruit production
• Tips for pruning trees
• Final tips and thoughts on cold climate fruit and nut trees

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about Meal Craft here: https://mealcraftmethod.com/meal-craft-main177846-9453

Learn more about St. Lawrence Nursery here: https://www.slngrow.com/

Email St. Lawrence Nursery at: [email protected]

Follow St. Lawrence Nursery here: https://www.instagram.com/sln_grow/

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: http://theprairiehomestead.com/letter
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback!

What if the light around you is messing with your health more than you realize? In this episode, the amazing Johnna Sutton of Sutton Nutrition is back to talk about how artificial light, blue light exposure, and circadian rhythms impact our energy, sleep, and overall well-being. 

We dive into how to adjust your routine with the seasons, why cold winter temps are good, and practical steps to use light to have more energy and better sleep. If you've ever felt out of sync but couldn't figure out why, this conversation is for you!

Podcast Episode Highlights

• The history of circadian rhythm
• Modern culture's view on discomfort
• Science of circadian rhythm
• The three big things that affect your body
• How light affects your body
• How to adjust our routines to fix our circadian health
• How temperatures affect our bodies
• How food affects our bodies
• Final thoughts on living with nature and modernity
• Best steps for where to start fixing your circadian rhythm

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about Meal Craft here: https://mealcraftmethod.com/meal-craft-main177846-9453

Follow Johnna’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suttonoutdoorsmt/

Montana Functional Health: https://mfhcare.com/ and Johnna's article here: https://mfhcare.com/article/get-your-light-right/

Listen in to my other interview with Johnna Sutton here: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/tph_podcasts/season-17-episode-2-the-missing-piece-mastering-nutrition-for-the-homesteader

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: http://theprairiehomestead.com/letter
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback!

In this episode, I sit down with Noelle Johnson, aka the AZ Plant Lady and author of Water Smart Gardens, to uncover practical tips for making your garden more water-efficient without sacrificing beauty or productivity. We dive into time-saving watering strategies, the best veggies to grow in dry climates, creative rainwater collection ideas, and whether your lawn really deserves all that water. 

If you're ready to grow smarter, not harder, this conversation is packed with advice you won’t want to miss!

Podcast Episode Highlights

• Why water smart gardening is for everyone
• How to start the transition to a water smart garden
• Step One: identify your thirstiest plants
• Step Two: let your plants grow to their natural size
• How to help our vegetable gardens become more drought-tolerant
• How to water your vegetable garden
• What Noelle's garden looks like in Arizona
• How often to water the garden
• Thoughts on shade cloth
• Best time to plant trees and shrubs for saving water
• The problem with plants from big box stores
• Olla watering system
• Rain water harvesting
• Thoughts on annual flowers and lawns
• Final thoughts and tips from Noelle

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about Meal Craft here: https://mealcraftmethod.com/meal-craft-main177846-9453

Learn more about Noelle Johnson here: https://www.azplantlady.com/and here: https://www.instagram.com/az.plant.lady/

Find Noelle's book The Water Smart Garden here: https://amzn.to/3QebPSD

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: http://theprairiehomestead.com/letter
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback!

Curious about foraging but not sure where to begin? 

In this episode, I chat with Whitney of Appalachian Forager about the essentials of starting your foraging journey, including how to get started foraging, how to safely identify wild mushrooms, best practices for preparing them, and tips for preserving your harvest. Whether you're a beginner or looking to deepen your connection with the wild, Whitney is a wealth of wisdom!

Podcast Episode Highlights

• Beginner tips for people new to foraging
• Trusted resources for foraging
• Best tips for starting to forage for mushrooms
• Most lethal mushrooms in the U.S.
• The best mushroom to forage first
• Seasons, weather, and mushroom foraging
• Terrain and locations for mushroom foraging
• The window of time for mushroom foraging
• Foraging in suburban and urban areas
• Ethics, sustainability, and foraging
• Preserving and preparing mushrooms 
• Final thoughts and tips from Whitney

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about Air Doctor here: airdoctorpro.com

• Use code HOMESTEAD to save up to $300 on your air doctor system

Learn more about Whitney here: https://appalachianforager.com/home and check out her Instagram account here: https://www.instagram.com/appalachian_forager/

Check out Whitney's new book Go Forth and Forage here: https://amzn.to/4hmkmiq

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: http://theprairiehomestead.com/letter
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback!

In this episode, I chat with Dana K. White, author and creator of A Slob Comes Clean, about the surprising connections between decluttering and homesteading. We dive into Dana’s practical strategies, including the Container Concept and her no-mess decluttering method, to help you create a more functional and peaceful home. 

Whether you’re managing a homestead or just tackling everyday clutter, Dana’s tips will inspire you to simplify and reclaim your space.

Podcast Episode Highlights

• Dana's backstory on how she went from a messy life to a clean one
• The mindset of decluttering
• Why simplifying our homes can help our homesteads
• Practical steps to start decluttering
• Dealing with emotional detachments to stuff
• The correlation with sustainability
• Tips for making our home a hospitable place
• Chatting about decluttering and your family 
• Final thoughts and tips from Dana

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about Dana K. White here: www.aslobcomesclean.com

Learn more about Aquatru here: www.aquatru.com

• Use the code HOMESTEAD to save 20% on your order

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: http://theprairiehomestead.com/letter
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback!

Why bother? It's a question I've certainly asked myself, and perhaps you have too. In an age where cheap, convenient food is everywhere, why take the time to cook from-scratch? Is it worth it? Are we wasting our time and fooling ourselves?

In this episode, we're exploring this question as I share an excerpt from my book, Old-Fashioned on Purpose. It’s a heartfelt reminder of why home cooking still matters, even in today’s world of convenience and industrial ingredients.

Podcast Episode Highlights

• Food as my focus this year
• Why it's worth making from-scratch real food
• Recent activity at the Soda Fountain
• Reading a chapter about food from my Old-Fashioned on Purpose book

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

• Learn more about my Old-Fashioned on Purpose book here: http://oldfashionedbook.com/
• Order both hard cover and paperback version of the Old-Fashioned on Purpose book here: https://amzn.to/3DZdQzh 
• Learn more about Meal Craft here: https://mealcraftmethod.com/meal-craft-main177846-9453

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: http://theprairiehomestead.com/letter
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback!

As homesteaders, we often focus on sourcing high-quality, real food—but what about understanding how to truly fuel our bodies? In this episode, I sit down with Johnna Sutton, a functional nutritionist and seasoned homesteader, to discuss the finer points of macronutrients and how they fit into a seasonal, whole-food lifestyle. 

From balancing protein, fats, and carbs to adjusting your diet for the seasons and life stages, Johnna explains how this often-overlooked knowledge can help homesteaders fine-tune their health and thrive. If you’ve got the food quality piece down but feel like something’s still missing, this episode is for you!

Podcast Episode Highlights

• Johnna's background in nutrition 
• How we can understand what our bodies need
• Calculation for nutrition for your body
• Details on insulin resistance 
• A closer look about cravings
• How to figure out the nutrition in from-scratch meals
• How nature and seasons work with nutrition
• Final thoughts from Johnna

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about Air Doctor here: airdoctorpro.com

• Use code HOMESTEAD to save up to $300 on your air doctor system

Email Johnna at: [email protected]

Johnna's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suttonoutdoorsmt/

Montana Functional Health: https://mfhcare.com/

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: http://theprairiehomestead.com/letter
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback!

2025 is already shaping up to be full of surprises. In this episode, I’m sharing some unexpected goals I’ve set for the year ahead. 

From new adventures to shifting priorities, these plans might just inspire you to rethink what’s possible for your own journey. Tune in for a candid conversation about growth, taking risks, and embracing the unexpected.

Podcast Episode Highlights

• Looking back at my past goals...
• Goal #1: Food
• Goal #2: Community
• Goal #3: The Soda Fountain
• Goal #4: Homestead thoughts
• Goal #5: Horses
• Final thoughts and encouragement

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about Aquatru here: www.aquatru.com

• Use the code HOMESTEAD to save 20% on your order

Learn about Meal Craft here: https://mealcraftmethod.com/meal-craft-main177846-9453 

Learn more about my first cookbook here: http://homesteadcookbook.com/

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: http://theprairiehomestead.com/letter
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback!

2024 was nothing like I expected—but somehow, it turned out even better than I could have hoped. It was a rollercoaster of a year, filled with some of the hardest lessons I’ve faced so far. 

While it wasn’t always easy, looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. In this episode, I’m sharing the challenges, struggles, and valuable lessons I’ve learned along the way. Tune in to hear the journey!

Podcast Episode Highlights

• My predictions of 2024 failed...
• The book that influenced me this year
• Our business plans this year 
• The hard lesson on 'Surrender'
• The inspiring quote I leaned into this year
• The hard lesson on responsibility and risks
• The hard lesson on seasons...
• The hard lesson on pressure
• Learning that the people you need come at just the right time
• Final thoughts

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about the Old-Fashioned on Purpose Planner here: www.prairieplanner.com 

The podcast episode I did with Kate Kavanaugh on her podcast Mind, Body, and Soil: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-complexity-of-simplicity-with-jill-winger/id1615122217?i=1000670634958

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: http://theprairiehomestead.com/letter
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback!

In this episode, I sit down with Bob Quinn, a Montana farmer and the driving force behind Kamut wheat, to chat about his journey from conventional farming to becoming a pioneer in regenerative agriculture. 

We dive into the story of how he rediscovered this ancient grain, Kamut's healing properties, and the creative ways he's helped to boost the economy of his small rural community. Bob’s passion for farming and his vision for a better food system will leave you inspired and hungry for change—literally!

Podcast Episode Highlights

• Bob Quinn's background and thoughts on cheap food
• Looking at food costs in a different way
• How to bring value back into our communities that have been affected
• Bob's journey with Kamut wheat
• Nutrient content and health benefits of Kamut wheat
• Talking about other ancient grains
• A closer look at gluten sensitivities
• Tips for using Kamut in your cooking
• Industrial system vs. conventional system
• How Bob uses his greenhouse

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about Bob Quinn and the Quinn Institute here: https://quinninstitute.org 

Learn more about Air Doctor here: airdoctorpro.com

• Use code HOMESTEAD to save up to $300 on your air doctor system

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: http://theprairiehomestead.com/letter
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback!