The Homestead Challenge Podcast | Suburban Homesteading, Gardening, Food From Scratch, Sustainable Living

When it comes to preserving your harvest, there isn't one "right" method. In this episode, I'm walking you through the decision-making process I use for every crop in my garden and explaining why some vegetables go straight into the freezer, others get dried or fermented, and some are best enjoyed fresh.

Rather than preserving food because we feel like we should, I'm sharing how I think about convenience, storage space, family preferences, and how Future Brittany will actually use each ingredient months from now.

In this episode, we cover:

Why canning isn't always the best preservation method

The question I ask before preserving any harvest

Why I dry nearly all of my herbs

My favorite ways to preserve tomatoes

Why I ferment cucumbers instead of canning them

Freezing versus canning green beans

The easiest way to preserve peppers

Storing potatoes and winter squash

What I do with zucchini and yellow squash

Preserving broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage

How storage space affects preservation decisions

Taking inventory before preserving another season's harvest

The biggest takeaway
Instead of asking, "How should I preserve this?" ask yourself, "How will I actually use this six months from now?" That one simple question can help you save time, reduce waste, and build a pantry you'll truly enjoy using.

Don't let your summer herb harvest go to waste! In this episode of The Homestead Challenge Podcast, Brittany shares how she's preserving herbs now to create thoughtful homemade Christmas gifts later. From herbal salts and tea blends to drying herbs, cut flower bouquets, and experimenting with herbal chapsticks, you'll learn practical ways to make the most of your garden while preparing for the holidays months in advance. Whether you're growing herbs in a backyard garden or a few containers on the porch, this episode will inspire you to harvest with purpose and help future you enjoy a less stressful holiday season.

 

https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/drying-and-storing-fresh-herbs/

One of the biggest gardening mistakes I made for years?

Thinking that once everything was planted in the spring... I was done.

This year, every time a spot opens up in my garden, I'm putting more seeds in the ground. More lettuce. More beans. More carrots. It's such a simple habit, but I think it's going to make a huge difference in how much fresh food we get to enjoy this season.

In this week's podcast episode, I'm sharing my very relaxed approach to succession sowing. No complicated spreadsheets or perfect timing required—just a few extra seed packets and a willingness to keep planting.

Are you still planting things in your garden? What are you sowing this week? 🌱

 

https://thehomesteadchallenge.com

Have you ever dreamed of opening a farm stand, even if you live in the city? In this episode, I'm sharing the real behind-the-scenes process of starting my front yard farm stand, Falls City Farmstead, in suburban Ohio. From choosing products and navigating Ohio cottage food laws to pricing handmade herbal products, managing liability concerns, and overcoming the fear of theft, I'm walking you through every decision I made along the way.

Whether you want to sell flowers, extra garden produce, homemade goods, eggs, or herbal products, this episode will encourage you to start where you are and build something that fits your life. If you've ever wondered how to start a farm stand, create a small homestead business, or turn your hobby into a source of income, this episode is for you.

In this episode:

How to start a farm stand in the city

Choosing what to sell from your homestead

Ohio cottage food laws and labeling considerations

Pricing homemade products

Farm stand theft concerns and liability

Marketing a small local business

Why community matters more than competition

Follow @falls.city.farmstead on instagram :)

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In this episode of The Homestead Challenge Podcast, we're talking all about bugs in the organic garden. Learn which insects are beneficial, how trap crops work, when to leave pests alone, and when it's time to intervene with simple organic solutions. If your garden has holes in the leaves, aphids, cabbage worms, or chipmunks causing trouble, you're definitely not alone.

#organicgardening #vegetablegarden #homesteading #gardenpests #backyardgarden