Homesteaders of Iowa

06/19/2026

Linda has been battling the summer swarms for long enough to have built an arsenal of efficient remedies. Her go-to's are Plaintain + Yarrow Salve (she makes this herself, you can too!), a basic Vanilla spray (natural repellent, & it smells good too!), and last but not least, for the plants Captain Jack's Deadbug Brew!
How are you battling the bugs? Let's swap recipes!

06/18/2026

In Havana, urban farms supply 90% of the city's fresh vegetables.
In South Korea, rooftop gardens feed entire apartment buildings.
In Kenya, community seed banks are rebuilding local food sovereignty.
In Italy, neighbors share harvests like it's the most normal thing in the world.

What could this look like in Iowa? 🌱
Comment below if you know of local communities doing this!

06/16/2026

Eating the "weeds" from the yard can be more nutritious than what's in my grocery cart!
If you see these, give them a try - you might find a new addition to your salad.

06/16/2026

The grocery store tomato you bought this week was picked green, sprayed with ethylene gas to turn red, and bred for shelf life — not flavor. Not nutrition.

This is what happened to our food. 🍅

Swipe to see what changed — and 3 easy places to start getting it back.

05/29/2026

Nobody talks about May burnout. But we all know it.
It hits somewhere between the baseball tournament, the calving pen, the seed trays that needed to go in last week, and the baby chicks that somehow need a heat lamp AND a fence fix at the same time.
You wanted this life. You chose it. And right now you're running on cold coffee and a to-do list that doesn't get shorter.
That's not a failure. That's just May.
This is the season that asks everything from you at once — the land, the animals, the kids, the calendar. The windows are short. The stakes feel high. And there's no one to call in sick to.
If you're feeling stretched thin right now, you're not alone out here. Most of us are right there with you.
Give yourself permission to let one thing go this week.
And if you've implemented a burnout lifesaver - share it below. We would all like to benefit! 🌱

05/27/2026

⏰ 5 days to June. Here's what's still fair game to get in the ground:
Direct sow now:
🌿 Green beans
🥒 Cucumbers
🎃 Summer & winter squash
🌽 Sweet corn (last call)
🌻 Sunflowers
Transplant out (if you haven't yet):
🍅 Tomatoes
🌶️ Peppers
🍆 Eggplant
Still worth it:
🥕 Carrots & beets (catch the tail end)
🌿 Basil, dill, cilantro
🥬 One more round of lettuce if you've got shade
Skip it for now:
Peas, spinach, broccoli — they'll bolt in the heat. Those are your September seeds.
June 1 in Iowa means the soil's warm and the frost risk is mostly behind us. If it's in the ground this week, you're still in good shape.

05/22/2026

We are so happy to be a part of this!
Homesteaders now have a National day!
It's August 15th.
Thanks to Danni and Tatum at Preppin Mama for making this happen.

05/22/2026

05/21/2026

Freeze drying was the #1 ask at this year's Expo.
Worth it? Sometimes. But here's what nobody mentions before you drop $2K+ on one. 👇
What we wish someone had told us:
💰 $2,000–$3,000. Size of a small washing machine. You'll need real space.
⏳ A batch runs 20–40 hours. It's loud. It uses power.
🔧 Most models need vacuum pump oil changes. Plus Mylar bags and oxygen absorbers for the 25-year shelf life. It's a hobby in itself.
🍯 Honey, peanut butter, oily sauces — won't freeze-dry well. Fruit, veggies, herbs, meat, full meals — these shine.
✨ The payoff: August tomatoes that taste like August. In January. For 25 years.

05/21/2026

I thought this was a good list.

Cinnamon oil fights fungal and bacterial infections.
Oregano oil combats colds and flu. Turmeric's curcumin reduces inflammation. Tea tree oil treats skin issues.
Switch to natural today! Disclaimer: always research and Consult a healthcare professional before making decisions on your health

Link to my favorite oregano oil:
https://amzn.to/3RdlAod