Handmade Happiness: Finding Meaning in the Art of Making

Just because summer is over doesn't mean gardening season has to end! Fall is actually the perfect time to plant certain crops, and this year we're planting garlic, shallots, and saffron crocus on our Missouri homestead. In this episode of Handmade Happiness, we're talking about fall planting and why some of the most rewarding harvests begin long before spring arrives. We'll sh...

What if next year’s garden has already begun and some of it won’t cost you anything? In this episode of Handmade Happiness, we’re talking about one of our favorite parts of growing a garden, discovering just how much abundance a single growing season can produce. We’re saving seeds, propagating plants, storing tubers, and finding ways to carry this year’s garden into the next. We share what we’re...

Winter mornings on the homestead are a whole lot easier when you prepare before the temperatures drop. In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas are walking through how they’re getting their animals ready for winter, from chickens, ducks, and turkeys to rabbits and pigs. We’re talking about the practical cold-weather jobs we want finished before the first hard freeze: checking she...

We spent the weekend at the Ozarks Homesteading Expo, and we came home with a lot more than we expected including some new animals for the homestead! In this episode of the Handmade Happiness Podcast, Jessica and Thomas recap their weekend at the expo, the people we met, the conversations that encouraged us, the things we learned, and some of the ideas we’re excited to bring back to our own homest...

We cleaned out our freezers expecting to make a little more room. Instead, we discovered just how much food we had actually grown, raised, harvested, and preserved over the past year. In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas talk about what happened when we pulled everything out of our very full homestead freezers and realized we had bags of homegrown squash, berries, greens, egg...

What if chores weren’t something to rush through so we could get back to “real life”,  but were actually part of the life we’re trying to build? In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas talk about chores, family responsibility, raising capable kids, and learning to find satisfaction in everyday work. As our family prepares to settle back into homeschool routines, we share how cho...

Sometimes the best resources aren’t the ones you buy; they’re the opportunities you learn to notice. In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas talk about recognizing and making the most of opportunities that show up in everyday life. From gathering free firewood after a storm to receiving an abundance of free apples from a friend, we’re sharing how resourcefulness, relationships,...

What are the best tools to invest in for a homestead? If we were starting over today, which purchases would we make again without hesitation? In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas share the homestead tools, equipment, and practical investments that have made the biggest difference in our daily lives. From gardening and food preservation to sewing, cooking, and raising animals,...

Think it's too late to plant a garden? Think again! In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas share why midsummer is actually one of the best times to start planning and planting a productive fall garden. With nearly 100 days left in the growing season here in southwest Missouri, there's still plenty of time to harvest another round of fresh vegetables before the first f...

What do you do if your power goes out for a few days? In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas share stories from a weekend at the lake after a severe storm left them without electricity or running water. What could have been a frustrating experience became an opportunity to slow down, adapt, and appreciate the value of being prepared for life's unexpected interruptions. Rat...

Is home canning really safe? Why are so many families rediscovering this traditional skill? In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas share why home canning has become an important part of life on their Missouri homestead, how they safely preserve food for their family, and why you don't have to be intimidated to get started. If you've ever wanted to preserve your garden...

Do you really need 20 acres to build a productive homestead? In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas explore one of the most common questions aspiring homesteaders ask: How much land do you actually need to grow food for your family? After a year on our own 5 acre Missouri homestead, we're sharing what we've learned about matching your property to your goals, why bigge...

The garden is finally beginning to provide an abundance of fresh food, and we're sharing everything that's happening on our homestead this June. In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas share a June garden update, including what they're harvesting, preserving, and planting for future seasons. From fresh vegetables and herbs to berry picking, seed saving, and buildi...

This past weekend, Jessica was a vendor at the Ozark Piecemakers Quilt Guild Show in Springfield, Missouri, and came away encouraged by the conversations, connections, and shared love of handmade skills. In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Thomas and Jessica reflect on what makes quilt shows so special, from meeting longtime customers and hearing stories about finished quilts to introducing ne...

Why does making friends seem so much harder as an adult? In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas have an honest conversation about friendship, loneliness, community, and the challenges of building meaningful relationships in adulthood. After moving to Missouri and starting over in a new place, we've experienced firsthand how difficult and rewarding it can be to find your pe...

One year ago, our family packed up our lives, left Texas, and moved to a small property in Missouri with a dream of building a slower, more intentional life. In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas reflect on their first year in Missouri—the challenges, surprises, lessons learned, and the many blessings that came from starting over in a new place. From expanding our garden and r...

What’s actually helping us save money right now — in real everyday life? In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas share the simple changes and practical habits that are genuinely helping their family spend less while building a slower, more intentional lifestyle at home. From cooking from scratch and growing more of their own food to canceling subscriptions, hanging laundry outsi...

What’s happening in our garden right now? In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas share an early spring garden update from the homestead, including what they planted in early April, what’s going into the ground now, and the projects they’re working on as they expand their biggest garden yet. From cool weather crops and perennials to warm season vegetables and weed suppression st...

What happens when you stop worrying and start pursuing the things that genuinely make you happy? In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas share a relaxed and encouraging conversation about handmade skills, hobbies, creativity, community, and why it’s worth trying new things, even when they feel intimidating or unconventional. From quilting and sourdough to fountain pens, woodwork...

What does homeschooling actually look like in real life? In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas Clark from The Lark Life share an honest, behind-the-scenes look at their homeschool rhythms, what’s working, what they’ve changed, and what matters most to them as they teach and learn alongside their kids. This conversation goes beyond curriculum and schedules to focus on the bigge...

What does it really mean to use what you’ve been given well? In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas reflect on the idea of stewardship, working hard with what you already have instead of constantly feeling like you need more. From driving past acres of unused land to planting their largest garden yet, they share honest stories about the effort, satisfaction, and long-term minds...

Is it really possible to raise your own meat in a backyard—without a lot of land or a big investment? In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Jessica and Thomas Clark from The Lark Life share what it looks like to raise meat rabbits and ducks on a small homestead. Through real stories and everyday experiences, they talk about how raising your own meat can be simple, affordable, and deeply rewardin...

If you could sit down with your younger self, what would you say? In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Thomas and Jessica Clark from The Lark Life reflect on some lessons learned along the way through family life, homesteading, homemaking, and building a more intentional life. These aren’t lessons learned all at once, but slowly, over time, through experience, mistakes, growth, and choosing to...

Have you ever felt like you need to know more before you begin? In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Thomas and Jessica Clark from The Lark Life talk about why you don’t need to be an expert to start learning new skills. Whether it’s gardening, homesteading, cooking from scratch, quilting, or teaching your family, most of what we learn comes through doing, not waiting until we feel ready. This e...

In a culture that pushes us to move quickly and expect instant results, preparing with patience can feel countercultural. But many of the most meaningful parts of life take time to build. In this episode of Handmade Happiness , Thomas and Jessica Clark from The Lark Life reflect on the importance preparation and patience. We share updates on our outdoor projects and share the steps we are taking t...