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Ember Hill

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Documenting the transformation of a 1940s farmhouse + acreage into our dream homestead, one project at a time. Endless beauty from soil & soul.

Sharing prairie restoration, permaculture, gardening, DIY projects, home design, and the everyday moments along the way. Ember Hill is a garden & art studio rooted in southern Minnesota, created by Stephanie and shaped by the land she grew up alongside. Through restoring a 1940s farmhouse and cultivating a regenerative garden, Ember Hill is becoming a place where creativity, stewardship, and renewal grow together.

09/27/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨.

A recent project at Ember Hill meant cutting through the original exterior wall to install a new vent, which gave me an intentional reason to get closer to the wood that has been behind the siding of this house since the 1940s.

I’ve seen these boards countless times, but I never really stopped to appreciate them. Then we had to cut through one, and the smell of the freshly cut wood immediately made me think 𝗰𝗲𝗱𝗮𝗿.

Seeing the grain up close, along with all of the knots, imperfections and beautiful variations in the wood, made me appreciate it in a completely different way.

Every stage of this renovation seems to reveal another piece of this house’s history and makes me think about all the life it has witnessed over the decades: the people, the seasons, the celebrations, the ordinary days, and everything in between. 🤎

09/03/2026

A few weeks ago, I harvested 107 pounds of zucchini from the garden.

There was far more than I could possibly use, so most of it found its way to a local food shelf. And because I was struggling to keep up with the garden, I decided to pull out three of the plants.

I tossed the plants over the fence, out of the garden, and figured that was the end of them.

Apparently, they had other plans. 🌱

Earlier this week, I noticed new zucchini growth coming from the plants I had pulled out.

It made me stop and think about how giving can lead to more rather than less. I had more than I could use, so I gave it away. Then I pulled out what I thought was finished — and somehow, it started growing again.

It felt like a little reminder that when we give freely, we aren’t necessarily left with less. Sometimes, what we give has a way of coming back to us in ways we never expected.

There is so much more abundance in giving than we realize.

08/31/2026

Always in awe of what the earth provides. God is so good. 🌱♥️

08/01/2026

Sunflowers will always have a place in my garden 🌻

Happy !

07/17/2026

A little garden update... 🌱

The zucchini keeps coming, sweet corn is just about ready, and the first sunflower bloomed this week!

There's something incredibly rewarding about watching a vision take root. What starts as a sketch on paper slowly becomes a place with a life of its own.

07/07/2026

A garden grows more than food and flowers.

It grows patience in the waiting, faith in the unseen, and gratitude in the harvest. 🤍

06/30/2026

🌱 Field Notes
A series about books, ideas, workshops, and lessons shaping the way I think about food, farming, gardening, and caring for land.

My recent read: Gaining Ground by Forrest Pritchard, Smith Meadows

This book somehow broke my heart and restored it at the same time.

I have always felt pulled toward agriculture, caring for land, eating locally when possible, and knowing where food comes from. But over the past few years, I have started digging deeper and realizing there is so much more beneath the surface. The science. The stewardship. The economics. The policies. The tradeoffs. And most importantly, the people living this work every day.

Reading this felt familiar in ways I did not expect.

So much of it echoed things I have witnessed through my own family's farming experience and values that continue to shape my goals for Ember Hill and the way I want to approach gardening, growing food, and caring for land.

One thing this book reminded me is that the food system belongs to all of us, whether you grew up on a farm or have never planted a seed.

Every purchase. Every meal. Every farmers market visit. Every conversation about food. Every opportunity to support local producers or learn where food comes from. It all connects.

This book also challenged me to look inward and recognize places where I want to do better.

Not because there is one perfect way to farm or eat, but because paying attention matters.

I hope more people pick up books like this and stay curious about the systems and people behind our food. There are stories, struggles, and possibilities here that affect all of us.

If you have read this one, I would love to hear your thoughts!

06/07/2026

My absolute favorite spot to watch the day fade away. The country just does something good for the soul. 🌾

Behind the lens:

05/23/2026

I’ve avoided sharing Ember Hill for a long time because it feels a little like inviting people into my private life. I’ve always been a private person, and this place has become deeply personal to me. But so many amazing things have been happening here that I want a space to document and share the journey, almost like a living photo album of everything this property is becoming.

What I’ve learned most at Ember Hill comes down to three of my favorite words: patience, passion, and perseverance.

Patience. Easier said than done. It is easy to get excited about big visible changes, but one of my favorite things is looking through my camera roll and realizing how much the house and land have changed in a relatively short time. Small efforts really do add up.

Passion. One of my favorite quotes is, “Why else are we here if not to live with unreasonable passion for things?” My love for natural beauty, restoring this old home, building my dream garden, and creating a permaculture landscape has pushed me to learn so many things. The more I learn, the more inspired I become.

Perseverance. I’ve always been described as proactive and conscientious, and those values guide me here. I didn’t fully understand what it meant to be a good steward of land a few years ago, but I now think it means showing up consistently with care and intention. The process is part of stewardship, not just the result.

I once spoke with a permaculture expert who told me, “It’s difficult work, but it’s the right thing to do.” That has stayed with me.

This place has seen my blood, sweat, and tears. Sometimes all three in the same day. It is slowly becoming what I always envisioned, while also evolving in ways I never expected. Maybe that is the beauty of life. The unplanned parts often become the most meaningful.

And I would be remiss not to thank my entire family for their support, labor, encouragement, and love. So many people have their fingerprints on Ember Hill in one way or another.

And so the story continues here, one season and one project at a time.

Thanks for being here & sharing in my slice of Earth 🌻
- Stephanie

Address

Le Sueur, MN
56058

Telephone

+15072106474

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