Old Fashioned On Purpose

Thanks to social media, I might appear to be some type of super woman.  The truth of the matter is, Instagram and Facebook posts never tell the full story no matter how transparent I try to be.  I’m able to “Do It All” because I’ve become extremely efficient with time management and have realized that I simply can’t do it all.  On today’s episode, I explain how things like finding help, saying no,...

Innovation and technology serve us in so many different ways.  Whether it’s making things more convenient, easier, or faster, new tools and techniques allow us to live our lives in different ways.  Needless to say, new isn’t always better.  When it comes to the kitchen, wooden kitchen tools still reign supreme on the Winger homestead.  On today’s episode, I expand on why these phenomenal tools des...

Winter on the homestead has become one of my favorite times of the year.  It’s that special time of year when I can come inside, cozy up next to the fire with a warm drink, and lose myself in good book.  On today’s episode I’m sharing what I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the winter.  I’m also sharing my favorite sources of reading material, including new and used books, audio books, mag...

Personal development has been an essential tool over the years.  Looking back, I realize that some of the assesments I’ve taken have provided the biggest opportunities for growth.  They help point out common personality characteristics and their underlying tendencies.  On today’s episode, I’m proud to present a creation of very own.  See if you identiy with any of these 4 types of Homesteaders.  H...

Do you ever reach the end of the day and wonder where all your time went?  Do you look at your “to-do’s” and wonder how you’ll ever get it all done?  Fitting the homestead lifestyle into the speed of the modern day world can create some serious problems.  When it comes down to it, there’s little we can do to speed up the pace of mother nature.  This means as homesteaders that we need to focus on t...

One of my favorite days of the year has arrived.  The seeds for my garden showed up!  If you’re anything like me, you’re in full-on garden prep mode.  On a recent episode, I discussed my long-term love for heirloom seeds.  On today’s episode, I dive deep into what I have planned for my garden this year.  From broccoli to peppers to spinach and everything in between, I explain why I’m planting each...

Natural health remedies seem to share a certain distinction when it comes to health care.  While that may be the case, we’ve found many different herbs and essential oils to be a key component of maintaining good health.  On today’s episode, I explore the different tactics that I’m utilizing with my family.  This involves everything, including simple habits like getting more sleep and eating less...

Few things that strike greater fear into the heart of a homesteader than the word botulism. If you’re anything like me, you’ve come to have a healthy respect for canning safety due to the potential serious consequences of improper canning.  On today’s episode I detail why recipes that contain dairy, flour, and high levels of fat shouldn’t be canned.  You’ll also learn why canning is the one place...

I don’t know about you, but we are in the dead of winter out here in Wyoming.  Inevitably during this time of year, our chickens just don’t produce the same amount of eggs as they normally do.  While the weather is certainly a factor, the are a number of possible reasons why your chicken isn’t producing.  If you’re ready to figure out how light, age, molting, and so much more have the potential to...

Frugality is something that I’ve always seen as an admirable quality.  As most of you know, this is how I grew up and how Christian and I generally live our lives.  Believe it or not, there are times where frugality can hurt you.  Today I’m going to address two specific warning signs that frugality is getting the best of you.  While I’m not here to preach a right-or-wrong way of doing things, I am...

Have you ever dreamed of starting your own garden but have no idea on where to start?  You are in luck my friends.  Starting a garden can be extremely intimidating for any first timer.  This episode provides a ground-up plan that is so simple anyone can get into the game.  I cover key aspects like checking your gardening zone, what equipment you’ll need, types of seeds, and the benefits of soil te...

For quite some time I was terrified of nitrates.  In all honesty, it was a big source of anxiety for a long time.  This didn’t relent until sometime last year when I started digging deep into the truth behind nitrates.  Come to find out, nitrates aren’t all that bad.  Many are even naturally occurring in our favorite meats.  Today’s episode is dedicated to busting nitrate related myths and reassur...

Perhaps the biggest road block anyone faces on the homesteading journey is trying to figure out how to buy land.  It’s such a big issue that it prevents most people from considering the homestead life in the first place.  On today’s episode, I explain several strategies that we utilized in order to make our homesteading life work.  Beyond simple strategies like cleaning up debt and working extra j...

 As a gardening fanatic, one of my favorite times of the year has arrived.  I don’t know about you, but when my seed catalogs arrive at the beginning of the year I find it hard to contain myself.  About seven years ago I started using heirloom seeds exclusively.  Why did I make the switch?  On today’s episodes I dive into many different reasons why I prefer heirloom seeds and the characteristics t...

I’ve failed in nearly every way imaginable attempting to make sourdough.  So why would you listen to me?  I’ve taken the lumps so you don’t have to.  On today’s episode, I’m walking you step-by-step through my favorite way to make a sourdough starter.  Not only have I found this method to be extremely effective, but you’ll be amazed at how simple this process really is.  I’m here to show you that...

While I thought that some people might question how we pull off homesteading with kids, it turns out this is one of the most-asked questions among listeners.   The truth is, it has everything to do with our parenting style.  While I’m sure there are people who will disagree with some of our ideals, this is just me explaining what works for our family on the homestead.  It’s not perfect by any mean...

With the rapid evolution of technology and modern conveniences in our society, it’s easy to ask if the old ways are falling to the wayside.  While it’s true that some things are bound to disappear, it’s also true that from the hustle of New York City to the calm of the Wyoming countryside, more-and-more people are discovering homesteading each and every day.  It might not be a full-on homestead as...

Cast iron can be intimidating.  With all of the misinformation floating around, it’s easy to understand why some avoid it all together.  Cast iron is by far my favorite way to cook, but it can present some real challenges for any new user.  Today we cover the difference between standard cast iron, enamel coated cast-iron, when you should and shouldn’t season your pan, what to do with a pre-seasone...

While I absolutely LOVE living in the country, there are certainly some challenges you have to deal with.  One of the biggest challenges is grocery shopping.  While we do grow and produce many different food items on our homestead, due to our growing seasons and climate restrictions it simply isn’t possible to produce everything we need on our own.  So how do we cope?  I’m glad you asked!  On toda...

Yes.  I said it.  I don’t like ‘homesteading' anymore.  When I first got involved with ‘homesteading’, the word carried a certain endearing quality.  It somehow encompassed the animals, the open fields, the freedom, and the community.  Most of all, ‘homesteading’ represented being a bit of a maverick.  In the very beginning there weren’t that many homesteaders.  Today, it seems everyone is ta...

On previous episodes, I’ve discussed how homeschooling has reaped massive benefits in my life.  I’ve even discussed how my children are benefitting from the exact same practice.  On today’s episode I’m here to pull back the curtain on how Christian and I homeschool our children.  I discuss everything including schedules, books we use, the main differences between homeschooling and public schooling...

When it comes to homesteading, one of the most overlooked essentials is a well-stocked pantry.  Whether it’s an unexpected road closure, a blizzard, or a few additional guests, planning for the unexpected is sure to save you time and stress.  On today’s episode, I walk you through the absolute must-haves from my very own pantry.  Learn why to buy meat in bulk, what fats I always keep on hand, and...

It seems that today that many kids lack one of the most important skills that leads to long term success in every area of life.  This of course is creativity.  It seems that creativity could be getting stifled by the evolution of technology.  As things become easier and easier to access at the push of a button, we’re filling our free time with mindless activities that don’t allow for precious bore...

Intentionally or unintentionally, sometimes we can hide parts of ourselves that others would really like to see.  If you follow me on social media or any of the other places my brand shows up to the world, it might be easy to assume that I always live some perfect curated life.  The truth is, we all have things about ourselves that might surprise other people.  On today’s episode, I’m here to shar...

Once again we’ve arrived at that magical time of the year.  The special time where hope springs eternal and a new year is upon us.  I’ve always loved this last week of the year because it gives me the opportunity to reflect on the past year and plan what’s to come.  On today’s episode, I layout the steps I always take to ensure I’m ready for success going into the new year.   • To begin this homes...