Simple Farmhouse Life

After a health scare in her twenties, Melissa K. Norris returned to her roots with traditional, from-scratch cooking—and never looked back. In this episode, she shares the simple swaps that make a big difference, her favorite freezer and batch-cooking tips, and why it’s easier than you think to build nourishing kitchen rhythms. We also chat about her updated cookbook Home and Handmade , a practica...

Pregnancy, Motherhood & Homebuilding: A Summer Life Update Description Building a house from scratch has been such an adventure—full of surprises, lessons, and all the little details that bring a space to life. I’m sharing where we are in the process, how we’re blending old and new to create a home with real character, and answering your questions about pregnancy, motherhood, and home birth. I...

I’m chatting with Christine from Frugal Fit Mom all about feeding your family well on a budget—without stressing over perfection. Christine shares her tried-and-true strategies for keeping grocery costs low in today’s economy, including how she stocks her pantry, finds the best meat deals, and plans meals based on what’s already on hand. We also dive into the hidden costs of organic and local food...

In today’s episode, I’m welcoming back Amy Cross from The Cross Legacy to dive into a topic that’s more important than ever: saving money on groceries and keeping produce fresh for longer. Amy shares her tried-and-true methods for making fresh food last weeks (even months!), simple strategies for reducing food waste, and how she’s kept her grocery budget the same despite rising prices. We’re talki...

In this solo Q&A episode, I’m diving into your most-asked questions about motherhood, homemaking, and our new farmhouse build. From figuring out how to prioritize marriage when you have little ones, to managing clutter and paper piles, to designing a kitchen that actually works for a real family—I’m sharing what’s working (and what’s not) in our home right now. I also cover topics like breastf...

In this episode, I’m chatting with with America’s #1 Mom Coach, Hannah Keeley, to unpack the truth behind mom brain . We explore why motherhood rewires the brain, how overstimulation and anxiety show up, and what moms can do to reclaim clarity, peace, and joy in their daily lives. Whether you’re a mom of littles, teens, or somewhere in between, this conversation is full of practical encouragement...

In this episode, I’m joined by Meg of Hollar Homestead to talk about what it really looks like to raise a large family on a homestead. From cooking from scratch and homeschooling rhythms to livestock management and letting go of perfection, Meg offers a refreshingly honest take on simple, intentional living. We are diving into: Starting a homestead with pigs and raised beds Stepping away from dair...

In today’s Q&A episode, I’m sharing exciting updates on our farmhouse build, including the unique pantry design I’ve been working on and how we’re planning for long-term living in our new home. I also dive into how I manage those pesky ticks and mosquito bites while prioritizing plenty of free-range outdoor time for my kids. Plus, I answer your questions about managing daily chores with little...

I hear from many of you who have a dream of living a homestead lifestyle on your own property out in the country. Natalie and her family had a similar dream, and they were determined to do it without taking on a mortgage. Rather than opting for an RV or tiny home, they turned a shed into the cottage of their dreams. Natalie joins me in this episode to share about the process, answer frequently ask...

After six years of podcasting, I’m sharing why this will be the final episode of the Simple Farmhouse Life podcast.  I’m also giving a personal life update, what’s next for my business, and answering a few of your questions on sourdough, from-scratch cooking, and motherhood! In this episode, we cover: - The decision to sunset the podcast after six years and the thought process behind finally letti...

There’s something powerful about slowing down and helping our kids see God’s hand in the world around them.  In this conversation, Eryn shares how nature and Scripture work together, along with simple ways to bring that into your everyday family life.  We also explore God’s design for rest, looking at how rhythms in creation reflect His intention for work and rest to go hand in hand.  This episode...

There’s been a subtle shift in how our culture views boys, and in this conversation, we’re diving into where we’ve gone wrong and how to reclaim the narrative.  From understanding their natural wiring to navigating the tension between safety and risk-taking, we talk through practical ways to raise boys who are both capable and caring.  If you’re raising boys of any age and want encouragement and p...

Smartphones, social media, and interactive screens are something many parents today are thinking carefully about, especially when it comes to their kids. In this episode, I’m joined by Clare Morrell to talk about what the research shows regarding how these technologies affect developing brains and family life. We discuss practical ways families can approach technology differently, from trying a 30...

When you are in the thick of raising children, it can feel overwhelming to sort through expectations, opinions, and the daily logistics of family life. In this conversation, Jennifer shares what nearly three decades of motherhood have taught her about choosing peace in each season, homeschooling at your own pace, navigating special needs with a focus on progress, and letting go of unnecessary pres...

Rest doesn’t mean doing nothing, but simply pausing the constant pushing forward. In this conversation with Carolyn of Homesteading Family, we talk about what happened when her family intentionally committed to a “year of rest” on their busy homestead. With older kids, a growing business, animals to tend, and even a wedding thrown into the mix, this wasn’t a year of sitting still. It was a year of...

Building a home is an opportunity to slow down and make thoughtful choices that will shape your family’s everyday life for years to come.  In this conversation, I’m joined by Ash of Turner Farm to talk through what it really looks like to build an unconventional home in a world of cookie cutter houses.  We discuss choosing a smaller footprint, sourcing reclaimed materials, navigating healthy home...

Hospitality can feel overwhelming when life is already full, but it doesn’t have to be complicated or perfect to be meaningful. In this conversation, we talk about how different seasons of motherhood shape our capacity for hosting, why community grows through small, intentional invitations, and how letting go of perfection makes space for genuine connection. We share practical, low-pressure ideas...

Modern nutrition advice often makes gut health feel complicated and discouraging. In this conversation, Heather shares a simple, ancestral approach to digestion that brings the focus back to whole foods, sustainable kitchen rhythms, and listening to the body’s cues. We talk through why the environment we cook in matters, how modern food processing has disrupted digestion, and why adding nourishing...

If you’ve been trying to eat well but feel stuck sorting through conflicting nutrition advice, this episode is for you.  In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Cate Shanahan for a practical conversation about why modern nutrition feels so confusing and how traditional diets offer a simpler framework for long-term health.  We talk through how seed oils quietly replaced more nourishing fats in the moder...

Roadside farm stands are popping up everywhere, and for good reason!  In this conversation, I’m joined by Rayla to explore why this simple way of selling homemade food has gained so much traction and how it’s becoming a valuable income stream and community touchpoint for so many families.  We talk through what it really looks like to start a farm stand from scratch, the time and profitability behi...

As teens near the end of high school, many families feel the sudden pressure of answering the question, what’s next?  In this episode, Hannah and I dive into how the modern college system developed, why it often no longer fits the realities of work and opportunity, and what can be lost when college becomes the default without a clear end goal. Hannah lays out her practical framework for helping te...

So many of the questions we carry as mothers aren’t about doing more, but about knowing what actually matters. In this Q&A-style episode, I’m answering a wide range of listener questions on motherhood, homemaking, sourdough, sleep, budgeting, and family culture. We talk through pursuing big dreams later in life, simplifying from-scratch cooking without burnout, navigating intense toddler phase...

Clutter often adds to the mental load of motherhood in ways we don’t always notice. In this episode, we talk about why women tend to feel the weight of clutter more deeply, how “just in case” thinking fills our homes, and what true preparedness looks like. We walk through unfinished projects, kids’ toys, digital clutter, and paperwork, offering simple, realistic ways to let go without guilt. If yo...

The family table has always been about more than food, yet it’s common to let this rhythm of family connection fall to the wayside in the midst of busy family life.  In this conversation, we explore why shared meals have slowly faded from many homes, the real obstacles that make dinnertime feel difficult, and how simple, nourishing food can still anchor our families in busy seasons.  We talk about...

So much of motherhood and homemaking lies in learning to hold both the big-picture vision and the everyday realities with open hands.  In this episode, I’m sharing our current farmhouse building update, the excitement of turning my attention to interior design choices, and reflections on raising babies in two very different eras of motherhood.  I’m chatting through toxin anxiety, health decisions,...