Indoor quail keeping is simple, yes, but like everything homestead-y, there are the things people talk about… and then there are the things they don’t. Consider today the cozy back-porch chat where I pull you aside and say, “Alright, here’s what’s actually going to happen.”

Living in a tiny space does not mean you aren’t a homesteader. Let’s go ahead and banish that myth right now. If your heart leans toward tending life, eating from your own hands, and making something small and beautiful grow, then congratulations—you already are one of us. Land or no land.

Do you love homemade sourdough bread?

My family does, and always found making sourdough bread an effort that may—or may not!—turn out a lovely, light bread. Until I discovered the secret.

When people talk about “starting a homestead,” they usually imagine buying a plot, building a coop, planting a garden… all the big, visible things. But the real homestead life? It grows from the small, steady practices:

I use a lot of tools to make my life easier. Honestly, I enjoy them. That’s why I built my homestead GPTs in the first place—anything that saves time, cuts down friction, or keeps me from juggling 47 tabs at once gets my vote. If I can automate it, streamline it, or organize it, I probably already have. But as helpful as all of that is, I never want to lose sight of my foundations

Handmade gifts don’t have to look homemade, and kids can absolutely be part of the process without the final result turning into a glitter-coated disaster. These projects are simple, useful, and genuinely giftable—perfect for holidays, birthdays, teacher appreciation, or family celebrations. Every idea is practical, budget-friendly, and lets kids feel proud of what they’ve made.

Flat sheets are one of the most overlooked fabric sources in the homestead. They’re wide, inexpensive, already pre-washed, and come in more colors and prints than most fabric aisles. One king-sized flat sheet can become an entire coordinated kitchen linen set—placemats, napkins, tea towels, and even a table runner—at a fraction of the cost of buying yardage.

Here’s how to turn a single flat sheet into a polished, durable kitchen set you’ll actually use.

Most of us don’t get overwhelmed because the house is messy. We get overwhelmed because things pile up quietly, slowly, and steadily… until suddenly we’re staring at a mountain that didn’t exist yesterday.

But here’s the truth: almost none of that pile happened in “big” ways. It happened in tiny, forgettable moments.

I love giving handmade gifts. Not because it saves money (though sometimes it does), but because it feels real—like a small piece of time and thought wrapped up in something tangible. Lately, I’ve been diving into YouTube for fresh inspiration, and these makers have quickly become favorites. They teach with heart, work with simple materials, and remind me why I fell in love with making in the first place.

My first attempt at grinding sprouted spelt was... memorable. I’d read about the fresh flavor, but no one warned me it behaves like fairy dust. Within minutes, my kitchen sparkled like a snow globe — golden flecks everywhere, including the dog. Now I grind outdoors, feeling every bit the mountain homesteader as the wind carries away the extra flour.

Fabric scissors aren’t like garden shears or kitchen knives. They’re precision instruments meant to shear rather than slice, which means their edge needs a bit of “bite.” Too polished, and they’ll slide over fabric instead of cutting it.

Here’s what works—and what doesn’t.

This fall I finally faced the question every apartment or condominium gardener asks at least once: How do I make compost without a yard, without spending a fortune, and without making the neighbors hate me?

When someone crosses my threshold, I want them to know one thing right away: they are wanted here. Not tolerated, not managed—wanted. I want them to feel the calm in the room, smell something comforting in the air, and sense that I’ve made space not just for their belongings, but for them. My hope is that, for however long they’re here, they’ll exhale a little deeper and feel seen.

There was a time you could wander into your favorite fabric store, pull down a bolt, and tell everything you needed to know just by rubbing the cloth between your fingers. You could feel if it would drape like a dream or hold its shape through a dozen washings. But as more and more brick-and-mortar fabric stores close, most of us are now buying fabric online. And while that’s convenient, it means we’re often left guessing about one key thing we can’t feel through a screen: fabric weight.

I love using my Homestead Companion! I wanted to begin planning to use my small garden space efficiently, so I requested:

“I live in Zone 6B. I want to plan an apothecary herb garden in a raised garden bed with dimensions of 72 in. L x 25.28 in. W x 30 in. H (a total of 7.8 cubic feet). The design is shown. It is October 17. Plan the garden for me.” I uploaded a photo of my raised garden bed. Here are the results!

Every year, I’d tell myself I’d start winter prep early. And every year, I’d find myself knee-deep in old notes, chicken books, and too many tabs open on my laptop. Eight hens don’t sound like much—until you’re trying to remember whether you were supposed to add straw first or scrape the perches first, or what month to switch feed.

I opened The Modern Everyday Homestead Companion and made one simple request.

Hand embroidery doesn’t have to live only on heirloom linens or framed samplers. Some of the most delightful stitches can show up in the heart of the home—the kitchen. Everyday pieces like aprons, napkins, or even a jar wrap become more meaningful with just a bit of thread and imagination.

This post offers a baker’s dozen (thirteen!) small embroidery motifs designed especially for the kitchen, along with practical ways to use them and multiple methods for transferring your design to fabric.

Fall gatherings call for a table that feels abundant and welcoming. Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving, Sukkot, or simply sharing a meal with friends, the table becomes a place of story, memory, and gratitude. Here are five ways to bring warmth, tradition, and a handmade touch to your autumn table.

When Sukkot rolls around each fall, I always feel a deep sense of both homecoming and journey. This is the time when we remember how God sheltered His people in the wilderness, and also rejoice in the harvest He still provides today. Our homes and our hearts become little “booths” of thanksgiving.

One of my favorite ways to mark the season is with crafts that bring the story right into our hands. This year, I designed a Sukkot flag to hang in the sukkah, wave during celebration, or simply brighten up a window or wall.

Bring the beauty of the harvest and the Word of God to your table this fall. This project combines elegant scalloped edges, appliquéd pomegranates, and embroidered scripture to create a runner that’s as meaningful as it is beautiful.