Master the Homestead Kitchen—No Acreage Required.
Join Homestead Foundations, the only membership built to turn your kitchen into the heart of your self-reliant, homegrown life—step by step.
Join today and get an entire year of Plated By Season magazines FREE—delivered to your door.
Supporting nearly 2,000 homesteaders since 2016
Picture this…
You walk into your kitchen and see a beautiful, brand-new issue of Plated by Season waiting for you—filled with recipes, canning guides, and real stories from homesteaders just like you.
Maybe the green beans for tonight’s dinner came from your backyard, a farmers market, or even the store—what matters is you know exactly how to turn them into something homemade, nourishing, and real.
Your family tastes the difference.
Your shelves start to fill with jars you canned yourself.
And with every new season, that magazine reminds you: you are building a homegrown life—one meal, one recipe, one small victory at a time.
But let’s be honest: getting here on your own isn’t always simple.
Maybe you’ve dreamed of canning, cooking from scratch, or living more self-sufficiently, but weren’t sure where to start—or doubted if you even could.
Maybe you don’t have a garden (yet), or you’re working with a tiny kitchen, but you still want that sense of pride and purpose that comes from doing things yourself, for your family.
That’s exactly why I created Homestead Foundations.
Inside, you’ll get step-by-step kitchen skills, canning confidence, and a community that actually supports you—plus your very own copy of Plated by Season delivered to your door every quarter. Because this isn’t just about learning new skills—it’s about feeling inspired, connected, and confident that you’re on the right path.
No matter where you’re starting from, you belong here.
And every time that new magazine arrives, you’ll have proof that you’re not just wishing for a simpler, homegrown life—you’re living it.
What do you get with Homestead Foundations?
When you join, you don’t just get “content”—you get a step-by-step system to turn your kitchen (and garden, if you have one) into the heart of your homegrown life, every season of the year.
Digital & Print Magazine
Harvest to Table: Seasonal Recipes
Plated by Season Digital Magazine—Delivered to Your Inbox Every Month
Every issue is designed to keep you moving forward, one season and one skill at a time
Monthly digital issues packed with recipes, step-by-step kitchen skills, and seasonal inspiration—so you always know what to cook, preserve, or try next
Guidance for any kitchen—gardeners, market shoppers, or total beginners
Plated by Season Print Edition—Delivered to Your Door Every Quarter
- Beautiful, collectible print magazine (with exclusive bonus articles you won’t find anywhere else)
- A tangible reminder that you’re building your homegrown life—page by page, season by season
- Delivered to you as long as you’re an active member—something real to look forward to, hold, and reference again and again
Step-by-step video trainings
130+ lessons
Step-By-Step Video Trainings (130+ and Growing!)
Hands-on lessons for every kitchen and every confidence level—grow, cook, can, bake, infuse, and more
Go at your own pace—pick the skills you need, when you need them
Includes everything from cold storage basics to advanced preservation, all broken down into bite-sized, doable lessons
Members Only BONUS!
Three Back Issues of Plated by Season Digital Magazine—FREE When You Join!
Triple your recipes, inspiration, and seasonal know-how right from the start
Build your own from-scratch cookbook with these exclusive archives
Join now and start building your homegrown life—with something new to discover every single month, and a magazine you’ll be proud to display every quarter.
Join now and start building your homegrown life—with something new to discover every single month, and a magazine you’ll be proud to display every quarter.
130+ lessons…On what exactly?
Get on-demand access to the The Vault – a curated library of 130+ videos designed to teach you essential homesteading skills so you can make your homesteading dreams a reality.
Topics include:
Take a peek inside the magazine
Your Monthly Kitchen Game-Changer: Harvest to Table Magazine
Every month, you’ll unlock a brand-new digital issue of Harvest to Table: Seasonal Recipes—the ultimate tool for any home cook who wants to eat better, save money, and make the most of what’s truly in season.
Why eat with the seasons?
- 🫛 Food just tastes better when it’s fresh-picked—your family will notice the difference
- 🥦 Maximum nutrition, naturally: harvest and eat produce at its peak, for real health benefits
- 📅 Save money, support the planet: seasonal food means less waste, lower grocery bills, and a smaller footprint (no more jet-setting strawberries)
But this magazine isn’t just about recipes.
It’s your month-by-month homestead guide:
- Never guess what to plant, tend, or harvest. Every issue tells you exactly which garden tasks to focus on—so you make the most of your time and effort.
- Spotlight on what’s ripe: Know what’s ready to pick (or buy) and exactly how to use it—so nothing goes to waste and every meal feels intentional.
The bottom line:
Harvest to Table isn’t just a magazine. It’s your kitchen and garden game plan—fresh, practical guidance to keep you on track, inspired, and proud of what you create, month after month.
Meet Melissa—Your Real-Life Homestead Guide
Hi there, I’m Melissa.
I’m a full-time working wife, mom of two, and committed homesteader since 2009—but I wasn’t born with chickens in my backyard or endless hours to cook from scratch.
In fact, I nearly lost touch with my homesteading roots.
A health scare forced me to rethink everything—and pushed me to reclaim my food, my time, and my family’s health.
Truth? I was working full-time, commuting 36 miles a day, and falling hard for convenience foods because I thought I had no other choice.
But I learned—one small habit, one new system at a time—that you can start right where you are, even if life is busy, messy, and overwhelming.
Now?
We raise 100% of our own meat, 75% of our fruit, and 60% of our veggies. And I haven’t bought bread at the store since 2009.
But more important than what I’ve grown is what I’ve learned:
You don’t have to do it all at once. You just have to start—and keep going, one simple skill at a time.
That’s why I created Homestead Foundations—to give you the real-world shortcuts, support, and confidence I wish I’d had when I started over. So you can build your own homegrown life, no matter where you’re starting.
Ready to join me?
Join Homestead Foundations Today
No More Guessing, Wasting, or Dreading What’s for Dinner
Every month, you’ll get:
Full access to The Vault—your exclusive video library, with every homestead kitchen skill broken down, on-demand
Seasonal recipes and meal plans—so you always know what to make with whatever’s in your garden, from the market, or even your local grocery store
Step-by-step kitchen and preservation guidance—never let a single zucchini or bunch of broccoli go to waste again
Monthly digital magazine (“Harvest to Table: Seasonal Recipes”)—your go-to kitchen playbook, right in your inbox
Quarterly print edition, delivered to your door—FREE as a member (US only)—a beautiful, collectible magazine you’ll reach for again and again
Monthly
Homestead Foundations
$9
Includes PRINT quarterly magazine for FREE
Most Popular!
Billed Annually
Homestead Foundations
$7.50 a month
Your card will be charged $90
Includes PRINT quarterly magazine for FREE
Free PRINT magazine available for US Shipping only
Bottom Line
No matter where you’re starting, Homestead Foundations gives you everything you need to build your homegrown kitchen confidence—all for less than a cup or two of coffee a month.
It’s easy to cancel
We want your decision to join Homestead Foundations to be an easy yes. That’s why:
Try Homestead Foundations risk-free for 15 days. If it’s not the right fit, simply email us at [email protected] for a full refund—minus the cost of the first print magazine if it has already shipped. Physical bonuses ship 15 days after purchase.
Note: If your first print magazine has already been mailed, the cost of that issue will be deducted from your refund.
Meet Your Teacher
Why Homestead Foundations?
Let’s be real—I’m frustrated by what passes for “food” in most grocery stores:
The processing. The chemicals. The hidden GMOs and endless pesticides.
No wonder so many people are struggling with chronic health problems—and no one’s talking about what’s actually in their food.
But here’s the truth: You don’t have to accept it.
When you join Homestead Foundations, you’ll learn to grow, preserve, and cook your own food from scratch—just like your great-grandparents did.
Only, life looks a little different now. We have careers, long commutes, and crazy schedules. The world is full of shortcuts and “convenience,” but more of us are choosing to take back control anyway.
We’re the bread bakers, the home canners, the seed savers, and (sometimes) the backyard chicken wranglers.
We’re modern homesteaders—a growing movement of people who want more than just what’s easy. We want real food, real skills, and real connection.
If that’s you, you belong here.
Frequently Asked Questions
I already have one of Melissa’s courses. Should I still join Homestead Foundations?
Yes! Homestead Foundations is not just a course—it’s your ongoing kitchen and homestead roadmap, with new recipes, seasonal guides, and live support every month. It’s the community, accountability, and fresh inspiration that keeps you moving forward, long after any single course ends.
How do I access it all?
As soon as you join, you’ll get instant access to the full digital library, monthly magazine, and all video trainings inside our private member portal. Plus, your print magazine will arrive in your mailbox each quarter—no extra steps, no hassle.
Do I need a big garden?
Nope! Whether you have an acre, a patio, or just a kitchen and a dream, Homestead Foundations meets you where you are. Every recipe, lesson, and magazine issue is designed for real life—use what you grow, buy, or even just pick up at the store.
How is this different from the Pioneering Today Academy?
Great question! Here’s the difference:
Homestead Foundations gives you fresh, practical, season-by-season kitchen skills, preservation know-how, and ongoing inspiration—all delivered through a new digital magazine every month and a beautiful print edition every quarter. It’s designed for anyone who wants easy wins, real support, and the confidence to cook, can, and thrive in the kitchen all year long.
Pioneering Today Academy is my comprehensive, premium program. Academy members get access to everything in Homestead Foundations plus:
- A private community forum for direct connection and troubleshooting
- Live, ongoing lessons with me
- Access to all of my master courses, classes, downloadable guides, and workbooks
So if you want the full curriculum and interactive community, Pioneering Today Academy is the place to be Check it out here.. But if you’re looking for focused, kitchen-first support, recipes, and real progress—Homestead Foundations is the perfect fit!
Ready to Build Your Homestead—Your Way?
This is your invitation to a healthier, more intentional lifestyle—on your own terms, at your own pace.