Tiny Steps Toward a Slower, Simpler Life
A few years ago, I was just trying to keep up.
Dishes, diapers, dinner—repeat.
I’d scroll past sourdough reels or dreamy chicken coop tours and think:
“Must be nice. I’m just trying to remember if I changed the laundry.”
I didn’t grow up with a garden. I didn’t own a grain mill.
But something inside me—tired, restless, and hungry for more—kept whispering:
What if home didn’t just feel like survival?
That question wouldn’t leave me. So I started getting curious.
This post is all about how to start homesteading as a busy mom.
It Started With a Slow Shift
At first, it was just noticing…
– How good it felt to hang laundry outside
– The way soup made from scratch filled more than just our bellies
– How baking bread slowed me down just enough to hear myself think
I wasn’t trying to “homestead.” I didn’t even call it that.
I just wanted less noise.
Less plastic packaging.
Less rushing.
And I wanted to feel more at home in my home.
I Didn’t Buy Land—Here’s What I Did Instead
You don’t need acreage or a pantry full of mason jars to begin.
Here’s how I dipped my toe into a more self-sufficient life—one tiny win at a time.
1. I learned one from-scratch skill at a time
For me, it was sourdough.
Not the crusty artisan kind that takes 87 steps—but a simple rhythm that fit into real mom life.
Try my Simple Sourdough Start if you’re ready to give it a go (even if your starter lives next to the baby bottles).
2. I froze what we had an abundance of
One year, we accidentally overachieved in the pepper-growing department.
Instead of letting them wilt in the fridge, I sliced and froze them in bags.
All winter, I tossed them into sausage pepper pasta—no chopping, no waste.
Now I do it with onions, tomatoes, even zucchini muffins.
3. I stocked up like a modern pioneer (aka deep freezer magic)
We started buying meat in bulk—pork, beef, and chicken.
It lowered our grocery bill, saved my sanity on busy nights, and gave me a small sense of control when the shelves felt empty.
4. I stopped thinking homesteading had to look a certain way
Yes, I use store-bought pasta.
Yes, we still order Domino’s.
Yes, I sometimes microwave quesadillas for dinner.
But I’m more intentional now—and that’s what shifted everything.
What Changed (That I Didn’t Expect)
This wasn’t just about food.
It was about how I felt in my home.
– More capable
– Less frantic
– More connected to the seasons
– Less dependent on late-night Amazon orders
– More in tune with my kids, and the rhythm of our days
And most importantly…
I started feeling proud of how I was showing up—not just surviving.
For the Mom Who’s Curious (But Overwhelmed)
You don’t need to raise chickens or grow all your own food.
Just try one tiny thing:
✅ One dinner a week made with real ingredients
✅ A mini herb garden in a thrifted pot
✅ Freezing one veggie your kids will actually eat
✅ Making broth in the Instant Pot with scraps
You’re not “falling behind” if you take it slow.
You’re learning. You’re tending. You’re becoming.
No pressure. Just possibility.
Want Help Getting Started?
Here are a few cozy, beginner-friendly tools and guides:
✨ Simple Sourdough Start for Busy Moms
✨ How to Freeze Fresh Peppers: A Simple Guide to Saving Your Peppers Year-Round
✨ Real-Food Dinner Ideas for Tired Evenings
✨ The Overwhelmed Mom’s Survival Kit is the first thing that helped me breathe a little easier.
These are the same baby steps I took. They changed everything.
This post is all about how to start homesteading as a busy mom.
💛 A Final Word From My Heart to Yours
You don’t need a farmhouse.
You don’t need a homesteading hashtag.
You just need a little curiosity—and a whole lot of grace.
The path to a peaceful, intentional home starts small.
But once you begin, you’ll see it:
The goodness is in the growing.
With you in this,
Dana 🧡
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