It’s that time of year!  The time when backyard chicken keepers and full-blown homesteaders alike start thinking about expanding their flocks.  My conversation with Kathleen of Oak Abode covers everything a new or prospective chicken owner might want to know.  We address the four main aspects of chicken keeping: food, water, shelter, protection, as well as many other questions we are frequently asked.  Whether you are considering getting chickens or have been keeping them for years, this episode is full of practical tips and lessons we have learned along the way.

In this episode, we cover:


 Different types of chicken setups: coop and run, chicken tractor, free range

 Mitigating the threat of predators

  Dealing with environmental factors: heat, cold, moisture

  Features of different breeds

  Options for feed and supplements

  Supplemental light in the winter

  Raising chickens sustainably and ethically

  Best time to get chicks


GUEST BIOGRAPHY

Kathleen and her husband, Ian, are passionate about growing their own food and self-sustainability on any scale.

CONNECT

Kathleen of Oak Abode | YouTube | Instagram | Podcast | Website

Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest

Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!

GET MORE FROM THIS EPISODE

Watch this episode on YouTube.

View full show notes and transcript on the blog.

MORE RESOURCES

Want to start your own blog? Get my FREE blogging success masterclass.

Get your Berkey Filter with the Simple Farmhouse Life podcast discount.  Watch my Berkey review video.

Download my updated ebook with ALL of my sourdough recipes.

122. Selecting and Caring for Chickens | Kathleen of Oak Abode

With over ten years experience making a home, author and mom of eight, Lisa Bass, shares her love for from scratch cooking, natural living and all things handmade. As a full-time blogger and homeschooler, Lisa also mixes in a little mom life and business tips.

Home & Garden

Leisure

With so much noise around us in our digital world, we often find ourselves swimming in seas of negative voices and anxious thoughts. In today’s conversation, Natalie is sharing how she helps women overcome these negative thought patterns by memorizing scripture. Anyone who has committed God’s words to memory knows how impactful those words are in your heart and mind. If you are new to memorizing scripture, our encouragement to you is to give it a shot and see what fruit it produces in your life!
In this episode, we cover:

Ideas for getting started with memorizing scripture

Why memorizing God’s word is so powerful

Do you really need to memorize scripture when you have 24/7 access to the bible?

Prioritizing scripture memorization even in chaotic seasons of life

How to combat negative thinking with the truth of scripture

The power of creating new pathways in your brain

Establishing habits around reading God’s word


View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible!
Azure Standard | Use code SIMPLEFARMHOUSE10 at AzureStandard.com
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Dwell Differently: Overcome Negative Thinking with the Simple Practice of Memorizing God's Truth
Dwell Differently Podcast
CONNECT 
Natalie Abbott of Dwell Differently | Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

236. The Most Powerful Tool to Fight Negative Thoughts | Natalie of Dwell Differently

You all submitted more great questions about parenting, work/life balance, our homestead, and more!  Join me as I share my perspective on these topics.  If you’d like to submit a question for a future episode, visit bit.ly/SFLquestions.
In this episode, I discuss:

Thoughts on how to handle babies and toddlers sitting through church

How I currently schedule my day to balance all the family and work responsibilities

My tips for planning out and accomplishing work tasks for the week

Thoughts on adding a new baby to your family in the midst 

How we approach baby sleep throughout the baby’s first year

An update on some of our ups and downs with having a dairy cow

View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
﻿Visit the website for more information on our podcast sponsors!
RESOURCES
Bread machine sourdough bread recipe
SFL podcast episode with Jess of Roots and Refuge
SFL podcast episode with Amy Fewell of Homesteaders of America
Use code FOB10 to save on your tickets to the Modern Homesteading Conference
CONNECT
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!

235. My daily work rhythm, sleep training babies, dairy cow update, and more Q&A!

The topic of home decor can be intimidating for many who don’t feel that they are naturally talented at decorating. But decorating is a skill that anyone can learn and continually improve. Myquillyn has been mastering the skill of home decor for many years, and she helps others do the same in their own homes. Today, she is encouraging us to stop taking our homes too seriously, to take risks in our home decor, to be willing to make mistakes and learn from them. May this episode leave you feeling inspired and full of attainable ideas to experiment with in your home!
In this episode, we cover:

How to quickly create a homey feel in a new house

What it means to not take your house too seriously

Strengthening your decorating muscles by taking risks

Practical suggestions for experimenting with your home decor without spending too much

One major pitfall to avoid when curating your home decor

Some unique thoughts on the process of finding your style

Prioritizing the feeling of your home over the specific style

The three decor elements that will transform any room

How you can enjoy indoor plants through the concept of “plant math”


View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you to our sponsors!
Toups and Co Organics uses nourishing, organic ingredients to create simple and safe skincare products. Toups and Co is offering my listeners 10% off any one purchase with the code FOB15. Visit ToupsandCo.com to order today. And check out my interview with the founder of Toups and Co, Emilie, to find out more about this amazing company and their products.
Visit the website for more information on our podcast sponsors!

ABOUT MYQUILLYN
Myquillyn Smith, also known as “The Nester,” is the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Welcome Home and Cozy Minimalist Home . For the past 17 years, she’s been encouraging women to embrace their space—imperfections and all—and make it their own. Her previous homes have been featured in Better Homes & Gardens , Ladies’ Home Journal , and Cottages & Bungalows . She recently purchased and redecorated a 1905 Queen Anne Victorian home in Morganton, North Carolina, the inspiration for her new book House Rules . She’s never met a home she didn’t love. Find her online at TheNester.com and on Instagram @TheNester.

RESOURCES MENTIONED
House Rules: How to Decorate for Every Home, Style, and Budget by Myquillyn Smith

CONNECT
Myquillyn Smith | Website | Podcast | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!

234. Don’t Overcomplicate Your Home Decor | Myquillyn Smith, The Nester

As homemakers and mothers, our role extends beyond completing the daily tasks of housekeeping and child rearing. We are the ones who nurture the atmosphere of our homes and infuse life into our families. I am so happy to have Jennifer back on the podcast to talk about her latest book, Habits for a Sacred Home. This conversation is rich with ideas and real life examples of the everyday practices that make our homes come alive and impact our children for decades to come. May this episode inspire you as you create live-giving rhythms in your own family.
In this episode, we cover:

How the everyday tasks of motherhood might actually be the most impactful things we can do

The long-term power of gathering together for morning time

What to do about regret in your parenting journey

Starting small when establishing new habits and rhythms in your home

Recognizing the uniqueness of your family and avoiding comparison

Balancing community rhythms and protecting family time

Embracing relationships with those who are different from us

Simplifying education by living real life and engaging living stories


View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you to our sponsor!
Toups and Co Organics | Use code FOB15 at ToupsandCo.com
ABOUT JENNIFER
Jenifer Pepito is the host of Restoration Home podcast, author of Mothering by the Book, and founder of The Peaceful Press. Jennifer is on a mission to help moms overcome fear and live with wonder and purpose. Her homeschool curriculum empowers this mission through heroic stories, heartwarming poetry, and engaging life skill development. Her resources create joyful memories among families, which lead to deeper connections and lasting relationships. She has made guest appearances on popular podcasts such as 1000 Hours Outside, At Home with Sally, and Read Aloud Revival. Jennifer lives in the mountains with her beloved family, where she enjoys reading aloud, working in her garden, and watching the sunset. Learn more at ThePeacefulPress.com.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Habits for a Sacred Home: 9 Practices from History to Anchor and Restore Modern Families by Jennifer Pepito
Restoration Home Podcast
CONNECT
Jennifer Pepito | Website | Podcast | Instagram | Facebook
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!

233. Bringing Our Homes to Life through Sacred Rhythms | Jennifer Pepito

In her early days as a homemaker, Mystie found the role to be more difficult than she had expected. It was in acknowledging how truly valuable the role of a homemaker is that Mystie found joy and peace and purpose in the tasks of homemaking. If you struggle to embrace the role of homemaker or you are drowning in the mundanity, this episode will be a great encouragement to you!
In this episode, we cover:

The mindset that makes homemaking harder than it has to be

What happens when you decide to value the work of homemaking

Breaking down the overwhelming tasks of homemaking into baby steps

Prioritizing your many roles in the home

How to decide what to do first when you are overwhelmed

The power of acknowledging small progress along the way

Ideas for troubleshooting what isn’t working in your homemaking systems

Adjusting your expectations for your season and your specific family

The importance of your mindset in forming new homemaking habits

View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Azure Standard is a family-owned company dedicated to providing you with high quality, affordable organic, natural, and non-GMO groceries, health, and household products. Place your order at AzureStandard.com and use the code SIMPLEFARMHOUSE10 to receive 10% off your purchase. This promotion expires May 31, 2024, and is only available for the first-time Azure customer order, with a minimum of $50 order (orders to drop locations only). One time use per customer.
ABOUT MYSTIE
Mystie Winckler and her husband Matt live in Moscow, Idaho, and have five children, including two adult sons and three kids they still homeschool. Mystie is the author of The Convivial Homeschool and Simplified Organization. She writes and podcasts at Simply Convivial to encourage moms to tackle their responsibilities with joy.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Simplified Organization: Learn to Love What Must Be Done by Mystie Winckler
Listen to Mystie’s podcast: Simplified Organization
CONNECT
Mystie Winckler of Simply Convivial | Website | YouTube | Podcast
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!

122. Selecting and Caring for Chickens | Kathleen of Oak Abode

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