Simple Farmhouse Life

Clutter often adds to the mental load of motherhood in ways we don’t always notice. In this episode, we talk about why women tend to feel the weight of clutter more deeply, how “just in case” thinking fills our homes, and what true preparedness looks like. We walk through unfinished projects, kids’ toys, digital clutter, and paperwork, offering simple, realistic ways to let go without guilt. If you’ve been craving a calmer, more functional home without chasing perfection, join us for this practical and encouraging conversation! In this episode, we cover: - Why clutter affects women more than men and how a stressful home environment compounds the mental load of motherhood - The difference between true preparedness and keeping “just in case” items that never actually get used - A practical way to evaluate things you plan to fix someday and how to finally let them go without guilt - How community, shared resources, and skills can replace the pressure to own and store everything yourself - Rethinking modern convenience items, appliances, and technology that add more complexity than ease in daily life - Handling manuals, paperwork, and household information digitally to reduce piles, decision fatigue, and visual clutter - Creating simple systems for managing food storage, bulk buying, and pantry organization without overcomplicating it - Realistic strategies for managing kids’ toys, rotating items, and reducing daily cleanup without constant battles - How to shop more intentionally by slowing down purchases, making space before buying, and acknowledging your current season - Letting go of sentimental clutter while still preserving meaningful memories in ways that don’t overwhelm your home - The hidden weight of digital clutter, from endless photos and screenshots to the pressure modern moms feel to document every moment instead of simply living it View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out Robyn’s previous appearances on SFL: Episode 219 | Prioritize Peace in Your Home: Build Your Decluttering Skills in the New Year Episode 268: Do You Have Too Much Stuff? Simplify Your Life Through Decluttering and Minimalism Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook CONNECT Robyn of Minimalist Home | Website | Instagram | YouTube Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast?  A guest you’d like me to interview?  Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

The family table has always been about more than food, yet it’s common to let this rhythm of family connection fall to the wayside in the midst of busy family life.  In this conversation, we explore why shared meals have slowly faded from many homes, the real obstacles that make dinnertime feel difficult, and how simple, nourishing food can still anchor our families in busy seasons.  We talk about flexible from-scratch recipes, rethinking productivity as mothers, and why the table becomes even more important as children grow.  This episode offers practical encouragement for cultivating belonging around the family table without the pressure of perfect or elaborate meals. In this episode, we cover: - How family dinner slowly faded from American life and why reclaiming the table matters more now than ever - The biggest obstacles modern families face when it comes to eating together and which ones are worth pushing back against - Why gathering around the table becomes more important as children get older, not less - A realistic look at simple, nourishing dinners that can come together in 20 minutes without elaborate planning - What it really looks like to keep a “flow” going throughout the day without being tied to the kitchen - How meal prep, sourdough, broth, and slow cooking create flexibility instead of pressure in busy seasons - Setting boundaries around activities and schedules while still allowing teens to grow in their independence - Practical ways to cultivate connection at the table with young children, even when meals feel chaotic - Using stories, shared rituals, and simple questions to turn mealtime into a natural place for conversation and safety - Reframing productivity in motherhood by embracing choppy, interrupted work rhythms and learning how small pockets of effort still add up to progress - Rethinking kids’ snacking habits, how constant grazing impacts appetite and mealtime connection, and why “hunger” can actually work in your favor - Why hosting doesn’t require special menus or extra effort and how shared meals foster community View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! RESOURCES MENTIONED Spark conversation around the table with Cultivating the Restorative Table by Dr. Ashley Turner Listen in on my conversation with Dr. Ashley Turner on SFL Browse the Folk School classes over at Well Folk Revival Check out Sarah’s Greenhouse Group online membership Get your copy of Sarah’s DIY book, Homemade Gifts from the Heart and Home Join my FREE masterclass to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook CONNECT Sarah of Well Folk Revival | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast?  A guest you’d like me to interview?  Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

So much of motherhood and homemaking lies in learning to hold both the big-picture vision and the everyday realities with open hands.  In this episode, I’m sharing our current farmhouse building update, the excitement of turning my attention to interior design choices, and reflections on raising babies in two very different eras of motherhood.  I’m chatting through toxin anxiety, health decisions, and why I lean heavily on practicality and the 80/20 mindset.  I also dive into the tools and rhythms that make newborn life peaceful in our home— woven wraps, intuitive nursing, co-sleeping, and eventually transitioning little ones to independent sleep.  If you need reassurance, perspective, or just an honest chat about real-life motherhood from a mom of nine, join me for this Q&A! In this episode, we cover: - Starting with a current house update— a pause in building, window delays, linseed-oil–paint prep, and the excitement of finally moving into insulation and interior choices - It is time to re-orient my creative brain toward selecting paint colors, finishes, and a more collected, relaxed country decor style with the help of a designer friend - Reflections on becoming a mom across two very different eras—before smartphones, before constant internet advice—and how perspective shapes confidence - A listener question on toxin anxiety, lead concerns, EMFs, PUFAs, tick bites, and how I keep worry in check by leaning on experience and practicality - The balance between caring about health and letting go of what can’t be controlled—embracing the 80/20 mindset in food, lifestyle, and motherhood - Why woven wraps remain my most-used newborn tool, plus a simple overview my favorite carry, how wovens differ from stretch wraps, and the real-life practicality of babywearing in a busy home - An look at our experience with baby tongue ties— four kids with ties, five without, what releases have looked like, and why each experience was different - A deep dive into my newborn approach: no wake windows, no schedules, responsive nursing, intuitive rhythms, and embracing babywearing and co-sleeping to make the early months peaceful - What co-sleeping safely looks like for our family and how I transition babies to independent sleep around age one - Thoughts on organic vs. non-organic foods in real life, and why I don’t stress about every single grocery purchase - A peek into bedtime routines with multiple young kids— reading together, keeping the process simple, and why teaching little ones to fall asleep on their own is key for us - Handling night wakings, self-soothing, and why I don’t feel guilty about sleep training when the time comes View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! RESOURCES MENTIONED Follow my friend Anne at @Storied_Interiors for interior home design inspiration Check out the Farmhouse on Boone YouTube channel to catch up on our farmhouse building project A few of my recent home building updates: collecting architectural salvage pieces for our home, a recent walk-through of our build Join my FREE masterclass to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my YouTube Success Academy Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook CONNECT Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast?  A guest you’d like me to interview?  Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

A medical crisis eight years ago pushed Kody’s family into a complete lifestyle overhaul that ultimately transformed her husband’s health, reshaped their home life, and sparked the creation of Homestead Science.  In this conversation, we chat about moving from overwhelm and trial-and-error to raising capable kids, building a hands-on homeschool, and developing a curriculum that serves families whether on acreage or in a subdivision.  Kody shares what she learned about practical skills, real-food living, large family dynamics, and the surprising joy of watching teens step into responsibility while still getting to be teenagers.  Her story is a reminder that you don’t have to do everything at once, and that meaningful learning can happen right alongside real life! In this episode, we cover: - Kody reflects on her husband's sudden end-stage liver disease diagnosis and how it reshaped their entire family direction - The early overwhelm of shifting from a typical American lifestyle to true whole-food, toxin-free living - Rethinking low-fat diets, salts, and dairy, and discovering how traditional foods supported healing - Finding a holistic doctor who affirmed the very changes they felt drawn to make - Watching her husband's labs steadily improve until he finally received a clean bill of health - Navigating blended family dynamics, homeschooling, homesteading, and medical crises all at once - Realizing there was no curriculum that taught kids homesteading, agriculture, or practical home skills in a real-life way - Beginning to write Homestead Science by creating hands-on lessons for her own kids, from milking routines to budgeting and food safety - How the curriculum grows with children— early ages learning concepts playfully, older students tackling tools, measurements, planning, and economics - Why the program works even for families without land, using store-bought ingredients and small-scale projects - The role of strewing, entrepreneurship, and true responsibility in helping kids discover skills and confidence - Kody’s encouragement to new homeschoolers: drop the pressure, honor what feels realistic in your season, and prioritize relationship over rigid expectations - The surprising dynamic of teens in large families—how they can be incredibly helpful and still fully enjoy being teenagers, despite common misconceptions View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out Kody’s parenting book, Raising Self-Sufficient Kids: An Honest Mom's Guide to Intentional Parenting  Explore her homeschool curriculum and resources: Homestead Science Join my FREE masterclass to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my YouTube Success Academy Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook CONNECT Kody Hanner of Homestead Education | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast?  A guest you’d like me to interview?  Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

Getting your kids involved in preparing dinner doesn’t have to feel chaotic or complicated.  Madison shares how simple, flexible meals transformed her family’s evenings and helped her kids become more adventurous eaters.  We talk about handling toddler pickiness, the family rule that ends short-order cooking, and what kitchen help looks like at every age.  Madison also walks us through her weekly meal-planning rhythm, her must-have tools, and the everyday ways children can join you in the kitchen.  If you’ve been wanting to bring more connection and joy to family mealtime, Madison has strategies for you! In this episode, we cover: Madison’s shift from diet-specific recipes to flexible family-friendly meals and why simplicity matters for busy home cooks How she builds variety into her meal rotation without overwhelming herself or her kids A peek into raising adventurous eaters—plus how she handles the one child with strong preferences The family rule that has eliminated short-order cooking and empowered her kids around food choices Why “safe foods” and low-pressure exposure can be game changers for picky toddlers A fresh perspective on toddler pickiness and the biology behind why ages 18 months–3 years are notoriously tricky Practical ways to keep toddlers busy in the kitchen while giving older kids meaningful cooking responsibilities What real kitchen help looks like at different ages— from stirring and slicing to reading recipes and starting the rice Madison’s weekly meal-planning rhythm and the favorite meals she relies on during busy seasons Her must-have kitchen tools (and why she uses the Instant Pot as a crock pot) to keep dinner fast, flavorful, and low-stress Everyday ways kids can join in beyond cooking: setting the table, putting away groceries, learning about food sourcing, and more View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! RESOURCES MENTIONED Join my FREE masterclass to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my YouTube Success Academy Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook CONNECT Madison Wetherill of Cook at Home Mom | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast?  A guest you’d like me to interview?  Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.