Confident Homesteading for Busy Women—Delivered Right to Your Door
Get seasonal skills, step-by-step tutorials, and old-fashioned inspiration inside Plated by Season—our beautifully printed quarterly magazine for real-life homesteaders. It’s your go-to guide for living simply, cooking from scratch, building your home apothecary, and creating a legacy that lasts.
From-Scratch Recipes for Real Life
Cook the way your grandma did—without the guesswork. Our from-scratch recipes are made for busy women who want to serve wholesome meals without spending all day in the kitchen.
Whether you're new to scratch cooking or just want a no-fail bread recipe, you'll find trusted methods, simple ingredients, and family-approved favorites here.
Want the best seasonal recipes delivered in print?
Our Plated by Season magazine includes exclusive from-scratch meals, pantry builders, and make-ahead guides that never make it to the blog.
Natural Remedies Made Simple
Start your home apothecary with confidence—even if you’re brand new. Learn how to choose the right herbs for your body using the simple principles of herbal energetics.
Discover how warming, cooling, drying, and moistening herbs affect your body—so you can stop guessing and start making remedies that actually work.
Instant download. No fluff. Just real-life herbal wisdom.
Prefer to learn by watching? 👉 [Watch the Free Herbal Class]
Howdy, I’m Melissa.
Meet Your Guide to Real-Life Homesteading
Hi, I’m Melissa—5th-generation homesteader, podcast host, recipe tester, and real-life mom who’s been living this lifestyle for more than 25 years.
I believe you don’t have to live off-grid or grow everything from scratch to live a meaningful, self-sufficient life. You just need the right tools, a little confidence, and a clear path forward.
On our homestead in the foothills of the North Cascade Mountains, we raise our own meat, grow our own food, preserve our harvests, and make herbal medicine by hand. And yes—I still make time to teach women like you how to do the same, one simple step at a time.
Whether you’re brand new to homesteading or just ready to go deeper, you’re in the right place. I’m here to help you build skills, live more intentionally, and create a life you don’t want to escape from.
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Real Talk for Real-Life Homesteaders
Tune in to the top-ranked Pioneering Today Podcast for practical advice, old-fashioned skills, and honest conversations about homesteading with purpose.
Whether you're cooking from scratch, learning herbal remedies, or looking for encouragement in your daily routines—this is where real homesteaders come to learn, grow, and be reminded they’re not alone.
Join the conversation and start building a life that lasts.
The Latest Podcast Episodes
Home Canning Without the Guesswork
Learn safe, tested, and time-saving methods for canning, fermenting, freezing, and dehydrating your food—without relying on sketchy internet advice or outdated books.
From applesauce to bone broth, we’ve got you covered with clear recipes, follow updated safety guidelines, and family-approved.
Free Jam & Jelly eBook
Discover how to make delicious homemade preserves with low sugar and no store-bought pectin—perfect for beginners and seasoned canners alike.
Gardening Tips & Tutorials
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Whether you’re brand new to homesteading or ready to deepen your skills, you belong here. From simple recipes and herbal remedies to food preservation and seasonal rhythms, we’ll walk with you every step of the way.
Because living intentionally isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters, on purpose.
Our quarterly magazine delivers seasonal inspiration, from-scratch recipes, and old-fashioned skills—right to your door.
YouTube Videos
We covered 1/2 the garden in wood chips | One Year Later | Did it IMPROVE the Soil?
Self-Sufficiency Tips from the Great Depression | What My Grandparents Raised
She DOUBLED the Vegetable Harvest by doing this ONE Thing | Summer Garden Tour
How Much to Plant Per Person for a Year's Worth of Food
Garden Tour (This FEEDS a Family of 4 for a Year)
14 Vegetables to Plant NOW for Fall Harvest [Fall Gardening]