Heart of the Homestead Family

Peppers are in abundance—and we’re here for it! Whether it’s sweet bell peppers or fiery hot jalapeños, this episode is all about how to enjoy, preserve, and make the most of your pepper harvest. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep peppers on your table year-round, this episode is packed with practical tips and flavorful inspiration. 👩‍🌾 Whether you grow a garden or pick up fresh peppers at the...

🍑 Fresh peaches only come once a year—and when they do, you don’t want to waste a single one! In this episode, we’re talking all things peaches: freezing, canning, dehydrating, juicing, and even making peach salsa and fruit leather. Whether you grow your own or grab them from a local orchard, you’ll get plenty of ideas for preserving this sweet summer fruit so you can enjoy it all year long. 👉 P...

It’s harvest season on the homestead, and the tomatoes are rolling in faster than we can keep up! In this episode, we dive deep into everything tomatoes — from heirloom varieties to Romas, indeterminate vs. determinate plants, and how to deal with tomato hornworms. We also share our favorite ways to use up a bumper crop from freezing whole tomatoes (the easiest method!) to finding creative recipes...

Raspberries are one of the easiest (and tastiest!) fruits to harvest—and there are so many ways to enjoy them 🍓✨   In this episode, Sarah and Heidi share how they freeze, preserve, and use raspberries in everything from jams and dressings to quick snacks and even trail treats. You’ll also learn about everbearing varieties, wild black raspberries, and a few tricks for making the most of a seedy h...

Beets — you either love them or hate them, but there’s no denying how versatile they are! In this episode, we dig into all things beets: from colorful varieties beyond the classic red, to pickling, roasting, salads, smoothies, and even using the greens. We share tips for cooking, preserving, and creative ways to enjoy them (without staining all your clothes red 😉). Whether you’re beet-obsessed or...

Broccoli is finally in the kitchen—whether you grew it yourself or picked it up locally! 🥦 In this episode, we chat about: Dealing with pests and cleaning your broccoli (goodbye, hidden worms 👋). How we eat it fresh, roast it, or toss it into stir-fries and salads. Easy ways to preserve broccoli: blanching, freezing, and storing for later. Why you should never toss the stems (hello, soups and pu...

Cauliflower season has arrived! In this episode, Sarah and Heidi chat about the ups and downs of growing this sometimes-finicky veggie, why it rarely looks like the ones in the store, and how they process and preserve it for year-round use. From roasting fresh heads to sneaking puréed cauliflower into sauces, they share their favorite tricks, surprising experiments (hello, cauliflower pizza crust)...

Let's be honest - gardening is a lot of work and you have to be passionate about it! Even after 20+ years of gardening, we're still constantly facing new challenges. Today we're diving into one of the biggest ones: those bugs that want to eat your harvest before you do! We're sharing our tried-and-true natural methods for dealing with the most common garden pests here in Southwestern Ontario (and...

Zucchini season is here and it does not come quietly! One day there’s none, and the next — your kitchen is overflowing. In this episode, Sarah and Heidi chat all things zucchini: the creative ways they cook, can, freeze, dry, and sneak it into meals. From zucchini “pineapple” to quick pickles, crunchy dehydrated snacks, and even zucchini flour — we’ve got your bushel-loads covered!   Whether you'r...

Sarah and Heidi are deep in the thick of preservation season madness! July has been all about racing to keep up with the garden's bounty after what felt like endless weeding with nothing to show for it. Between hunting down impossible-to-find supplies like dill seed (seriously, why doesn't Bulk Barn carry it anymore?!) and Sarah's epic table collapse disaster that sent 100+ jars worth of pickles c...

Blueberry season is here, and we’re loving every sweet, simple minute of it! In this episode, Sarah and Heidi chat about why blueberries are the ultimate low-maintenance fruit—from picking to freezing to baking. Whether you're tossing them in smoothies, baking them into cobblers, or just snacking by the handful, there's no wrong way to enjoy them. Tune in for tips on storing, dehydrating, and maki...

Join us as we dive deep into all things garlic - from harvest to kitchen! We share our favorite ways to preserve, prepare, and enjoy both garlic bulbs and scapes throughout the year. Takeaway Tips Freeze chopped garlic scapes for year-round use as a milder garlic substitute Dehydrate scapes to create custom garlic seasoning blends Pickle garlic scapes for a unique cocktail garnish Save clean garli...

In this episode, Sarah and Heidi dive into all the unusual, forgotten, and culturally diverse crops you can grow in your garden—from okra and eggplant to goji berries, tomatillos, ground cherries, artichokes, and more. Learn why these lesser-known plants are gaining popularity, how they enrich your meals and your soil, and which ones are best for kids, pollinators, and homemade preserves. Plus, di...

In this episode of Heart of the Homestead Family, Sarah and Heidi dive into the wonderful world of beans! Whether you're picking them fresh, freezing them, drying them, or even pickling them, there are so many ways to enjoy your harvest all year long. Whether you're new to bean season or a seasoned grower, this episode is full of inspiration and down-to-earth advice to help you make the most of yo...

It’s mid-July and the gardens are bursting—but so are the weeds! 🌱 In this episode, Sarah and Heidi share a real and relatable look at homestead life during peak summer. From managing scorching heat to succession planting, balancing animal care, and just trying to keep the dishes done—it’s a season of prioritizing what matters most. Plus: We chat about letting go of homesteading guilt, making the...

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the world of healthy fats—specifically, the kind that come from well-raised, local animals. Sarah and Heidi chat about the benefits of animal fats like lard, tallow, suet, and even the fat you can extract from chicken feet and beef bones. Whether you're just curious about real fats or you're ready to ditch the seed oils, this episode gives you the basics to ge...

Fresh peas straight from the garden—what’s better? In this episode, Sarah and Heidi chat about the short but sweet pea season, how to enjoy peas beyond snacking in the garden, and a few simple ways to preserve them. From grilling snap peas to freezing snow peas for winter stir-fries, they’re sharing all the best tips (and laughs) for making the most of your harvest. 🌱✨

In this episode of Heart of the Homestead Family, Sarah and Heidi dive into the sweet (and sometimes steamy) world of homemade juice! From small-batch stovetop steam juicers to commercial setups that reduce food waste on the farm, they share practical tips, favorite tools, and clever ways to make the most of your fruit and veggie harvest. Whether you’ve got a garden full of berries or just a few s...

🥬 Lettuce might be the queen of salads, but there’s so much more it can do! This week on Heart of the Homestead, we’re talking about how to make the most of your lettuce harvest—whether it's from the garden, market, or grocery store. From grilled Caesar to smoothie boosts and lettuce wraps, Sarah shares creative (and practical!) ways to use up those leafy greens before they wilt. Plus, tips for s...

Strawberry season is here, and it might just be better than Christmas. 🍓 In this episode, Sarah and Heidi dive into one of their favorite things to grow, harvest, and preserve—strawberries! From growing tips and variety breakdowns to practical ways to enjoy and preserve your berry bounty all year long, this episode is packed with helpful info and homestead-tested ideas. Whether you're making jam,...

In this jam-packed June episode, Heidi and Sarah dive into all the chaos, joy, and challenges that come with spring on the homestead. May was one of the busiest and most unpredictable months—filled with wild weather, muddy fields, frost protection efforts, and floating strawberries (yes, really). They also share a peek into what’s coming to their new YouTube channel – think behind-the-scenes farm...

In this episode, we’re digging into our must-have tools for the garden—and why investing in quality gear can save you frustration (and your back). From the humble hoe to our favorite wheel hoe, we share what’s in our toolkits, how we organize them, and how we make garden work easier and more enjoyable. Plus: ✔️ Our go-to places to shop for garden tools ✔️ Why you might want two of everything ✔️ Ho...

This week, we’re gushing over our favorite multi-purpose kitchen hero: the canning jar. 💚 From preserving garden harvests to storing bulk goods, sipping drinks, portioning snacks, and even housing Lego collections — these glass wonders do it all. We share our favorite ways to use them, how they’ve replaced plastic in our kitchens, and why they’ve become our go-to for convenience, sustainability,...

Spring is here, and so is asparagus season! 🌱 In this fun, flavorful episode, we dive into everything you need to know about harvesting, cooking, and preserving asparagus—from roadside ditches in Norfolk to your kitchen table. We chat about: Why asparagus needs daily harvesting (and why it drives us a little crazy) Local asparagus pride in Norfolk’s sandy soil Creative ways to use asparagus: pick...

In this episode, we dig into the joys and realities of gardening with kids. From choosing easy seeds like peas and beans, to setting realistic expectations (yes, someone might cry), we share practical tips and personal stories about growing food as a family. You’ll Learn: Easy, kid-friendly crops to grow Why gardening is a great outdoor learning tool How to manage mess and meltdowns with humor Cre...