This episode of The English Homemaker is about joy! How we can cultivate it, build it, nurture it, experience it. All the different ways we are doing that in our family at the moment. This episode could be a whole book in itself, so excuse the short episode, but I hope it helps in some way on these dark winter days.

From seashells to sunsets, from hygge lights to belly laughs, from long pushchair walks to the postbox to weekends away in the countryside, we talk about so many things...

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." E.E.Cummings

I am your host Alissa Evelyn, you can find me over at:

https://www.instagram.com/theenglishhomemaker/

https://www.youtube.com/alissaevelyn

Mentioned:

Gabrielle Feather 100 Things to do Now You are Collapse Aware https://gabriellefeather.substack.com/p/100-things-to-do-now-you-are-collapse

Hannah McNeely : Falling in Love with Motherhood https://youtu.be/oImJrFZOgmY

Elisa Rathje : Having Awoken (The Journal of Small Work) - https://appleturnover.substack.com/p/having-awoken

Also see episode 13 of this podcast for our gorgeous conversation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jwpAnAO_2E

Michael McIntyre Silent Letter Day https://youtu.be/sOUqHr9tcVY

Ikea Akterspring Table Lamp

Borrowbox Library App

anourishedmother on Instagram

Books:

All Year Round by Ann Druitt, Christine Fynes-Clinton, Marije Rowling

Aggressively Happy by Joy Clarkson

Slow Family Living by Bernadette Noll

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Music: Dove Love by Quincas Moreira

This episode of The English Homemaker is about conscious/principled spending, rising food prices and our two week pantry challenge. I've been excusing our spending on food for months now, and it is time to take action!

I talk through the meal plan, what budget dinners we have made and will be making, and the things I will be buying during the challenge.

Mentioned:

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn

Immy Lucas / Sustainably Vegan

Three Rivers Homestead #threeriverschallenge

I am your host Alissa Evelyn, you can find me over at:

https://www.instagram.com/theenglishhomemaker/

https://www.youtube.com/alissaevelyn

Music: Dove Love by Quincas Moreira

This episode of The English Homemaker is about pottering through the house intuitively, listening to the still small voice and getting rid of the to-do lists. I also tell you a couple of personal things I've been keeping to myself, and how that's challenging me.

I am your host Alissa Evelyn, you can find me over at:

https://www.instagram.com/theenglishhomemaker/

https://www.youtube.com/alissaevelyn

Music: Dove Love by Quincas Moreira

This episode of The English Homemaker is about the joy, abundance and overwhelm of Christmas for the homemaker. I talk about how I set about creating a really intentional advent season, how I learnt to say 'no', take the pressure off and choose what our family needs.

I discuss the slow living Christmas ideas I have already set in motion, how I space and plan everything out and what warm, cosy activities we've got going for December.

"May the blessing of light be on you, light without and light within. May the blessed sunshine shine on you and warm your heart till it glows like a great peat fire, so that the stranger may come and warm himself at it, and also a friend." Traditional Irish Blessing

Mentioned:

Episode 14 Choosing Joy and Restorying Christmas with Martin Carter https://youtu.be/mF5Lo5Llx-0

Updated Home Tour on my Alissa Evelyn YouTube channel https://youtu.be/VIEVnpud1NY

Crowdfarming - Direct from the grower Organic Fruit https://www.crowdfarming.com/en/search?q=persimmons&tab=boxes&sort=date

Copper String Lights for the stairs https://www.noma.co.uk/products/200-fit-forget-b-o-warm-white-bare-wire-led-string-lights

Grapat Advent Calendar https://www.grapat.eu/products/advent-calendar/

Slow Scenes of Home Advent resource https://www.instagram.com/slowscenesofhome/

Earth Prayers from Around the World by Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon

I am your host Alissa Evelyn, you can find me over at:

https://www.instagram.com/theenglishhomemaker/

https://www.youtube.com/alissaevelyn

Music: Dove Love by Quincas Moreira

This episode of The English Homemaker is about home renovations, the ups and downs of having our bathroom redone and our rooms painted. And ultimately about always choosing joy in the process, practicing gratitude and why we consistently choose good quality over the cheaper, easier option.

Mentioned:

Episode with Lizzie "Colourful Country Living" https://youtu.be/0MUUUbDVdBI?si=pb1J9ReDb8aPpkbj

Rajiv Surendra's Autumn Wardrobe https://youtu.be/8UtkOreF_Lo?si=oBPo_ABuUgJd8oRg

My craft room tour https://youtu.be/LqnHzgx7ALc?si=AmKyRgc0kMid-z0x

My house tour from 5 years ago https://youtu.be/OPueJq7R4lE?si=mypX87ZO3y289kCN

All Creatures Great and Small on Channel 5

I am your host Alissa Evelyn, you can find me over at:

https://www.instagram.com/theenglishhomemaker/

https://www.youtube.com/alissaevelyn

Music: Dove Love by Quincas Moreira

This episode of The English Homemaker is the continuation of our last episode, we came back to talk through Permaculture principles 7-12, delve in to how they can apply to much more than the garden, and explain this deep way of living in culture. It's an intense episode, delving into the psychological ways we can apply these ideas as well as the practical. But goodness gracious, these are life-changing, mind-blowing ideas!

Find Martin at:

http://www.instagram.com/therootsandbones

Mentioned:

The Milkwood Permaculture Handbook by Kirsten Bradley

Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift

Elisa Rathje Stacking Functions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDSyYiJ2jQY

Apple Turnover TV Grapevine for Natural Cooling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfeuMyQYu2o

John Jeavons How to Grow More Vegetables https://johnjeavons.org/books-and-videos/

Kezia of The Whole Home https://www.thewholehome.co.uk/

Retrosuburbia by David Holmgren

The Way Home by Mark Boyle (and The Moneyless Man)

I am your host Alissa Evelyn, you can find me over at:

https://www.instagram.com/theenglishhomemaker/

https://www.youtube.com/alissaevelyn

Music: Dove Love by Quincas Moreira

This episode of The English Homemaker is a conversation with my brother, Martin, about how we can start to use the principles of permaculture as homemakers. We talk through our beginner level understanding of the fascinating ethics and principles behind this design science. It's super applicable to all of us, it's not about agriculture, it's not about homesteading, it's a way of living in alignment with our values and the planet and the communities we are in.

This is a really impassioned conversation between my older brother Martin and I - he has been in two previous episodes and those set some of the groundwork for today, so do go and listen to Episodes 7 and 14 as well to hear more about who he is and how his gorgeous family moved to Sweden.

Find Martin at:

http://www.instagram.com/therootsandbones

Mentioned:

Dan Lawrence - Hazel Basketry @dan.lawrence.uk

Dave Budd Forging Workshop @dave_budd_handmade_tools

Ben Falk @ben_falk_wsd

Geoff Lawton @geofflawtononline

James Clavell Shogun

A Family Guide to Waste Free Living by Lauren and Oberon Carter @spiralgarden

Diamant D525 Hand Grain Mill

I am your host Alissa Evelyn, you can find me over at:

https://www.instagram.com/theenglishhomemaker/

https://www.youtube.com/alissaevelyn

Music: Dove Love by Quincas Moreira

This episode of The English Homemaker is all about home education, our story, why we started and what we're doing right now.

I hope this is a helpful overview of the pros and cons of different education choices, and if it's something you're considering, I hope this gives you something to chew on.

Please remember, every family, every child is different, and quite frankly, every country and community too - so what I share really is only relevant to the small little world we live in, but stories are helpful so I thought I'd share! It's a big topic and I've only just scraped the surface with this episode, but I hope you take it for what it is, our story.

Mentioned:

CGP study books

National Curriculum https://www.gov.uk/national-curriculum

Twinkl Resources and worksheets https://www.twinkl.co.uk/

Educating the Whole Hearted Child by Clay Clarkson

Sally Clarkson https://sallyclarkson.com/podcast

Shayla Singing a New Song Homeschool https://youtu.be/-eqWpXcKpDA

A Little Glam A Lot of Mom https://www.youtube.com/c/alittleglamalotofmom

Five Little Birds

Nicole Schiffler

Treehouse Schoolhouse

Tiger Lilly Quinn

Keri Botch

The Peaceful Press

Lucy Aitkenread / Lucy Disco

I am your host Alissa Evelyn, you can find me over at:

https://www.instagram.com/theenglishhomemaker/

https://www.youtube.com/alissaevelyn

Music: Dove Love by Quincas Moreira

This episode of The English Homemaker is all about what I keep in my first aid kits, in my tea cabinet and around my home for first aid and wellness. I talk my favourite herbal teas, salt baths, homeopathic and flower remedies, as well as what I use for cuts and scrapes and colds.

Disclaimer – Please note, the information provided here is not intended to replace professional medical advice and care. It is simply my perspective. Seek the support and care of a physician and/or complementary care practitioner you trust. Look after yourselves.

Mentioned:

Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Thomas Bartram

Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs A Beginner's Guide

The Herb Society's Complete Medicinal Herbal by Penelope Ody

Collins Nature Guides Herbs and Healing Plants of Britain and Europe

Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis Balch

Reader's Digest 1001 Home Remedies

Compeed Blister Plasters

PurEssentiel https://uk.puressentiel.com/

Weleda Calendula Cuts and Grazes Skin Salve

Bach Rescue Remedies https://www.bachrescue.com/

Most of my essential oils come from Tisserand

Beth Barbeau https://www.indigoforest.com/blog/the-holistic-moms-guide-to-college-first-aid-kit-essentials

I am your host Alissa Evelyn, you can find me over at:

https://www.instagram.com/theenglishhomemaker/

https://www.youtube.com/alissaevelyn

Music: Dove Love by Quincas Moreira

This episode of The English Homemaker is an interview with Agnes Becker, she's an artist, a nature lover and a science communicator - I love her perspective on the world and I wanted to share her passion for life and the living world around us with you. We talk nature journaling, biophilic home design, creating a relationship with the natural world around us, and matrescence.

To find Agnes:

https://www.wearestardust.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/wearestardustuk/

Rewild Your Soul - https://wearestardust.uk/pages/rewild-your-soul

“If I were asked to name the chief benefit of the house, I should say: the house shelters day-dreaming, the house protects the dreamer, the house allows one to dream in peace. ”

― Gaston Bachelard

Mentioned:

The Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachelard

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling by John Muir Laws

Enchantment by Katherine May

The Wild Places by Robert Macfarlane

Starling Murmuration Info & Guide where to see - https://www.countryfile.com/wildlife/birds/what-is-a-murmuration-and-where-are-the-best-places-in-britain-to-see-one

Kitty Macfarlane Starling Song - https://open.spotify.com/track/7AcRbY3fI25Mq6emWIUvZ4

Drawing Correspondence - https://drawingcorrespondence.org/

Nature Journaling resources - https://www.naturejournalingweek.com/

Green Sketching by Ali Foxon

Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

Awe by Dacher Keltner

I am your host Alissa Evelyn, you can find me over at:

https://www.instagram.com/theenglishhomemaker/

https://www.youtube.com/alissaevelyn

Music: Dove Love by Quincas Moreira