Hi, I’m Cathy
Welcome to Original Homesteading…
We began our homesteading journey back in the early 1980s with everything from gardening to raising chickens and livestock, along with healthy home cooking and food preservation.
As self-taught homesteaders, we lived our handcrafted lifestyle for decades and are so excited to share what we learned over the years.
Take a look around and discover simple ways to live a more hands-on, thoughtful, and sustainable lifestyle no matter where you are.
~Simple Living Ideas for Everyday Life~
Homesteading in our modern age is different in that the internet is available at our fingertips. It is so much easier to find answers to questions right away but regardless, experience must be gained by doing!
What we learned was what we gleaned by reading, talking to the old timers and by trial and error….raising our family to gardening, from-scratch cooking, creating recipes, keeping animals, running our log home company made for an adventurous life!
I gained skills in gardening and raising chickens by studying and getting involved. For many years, we grew most of our food. I learned to adjust to our tough growing conditions at 7,000 feet (2.13 km) above sea level in western Wyoming.
We learned about animal husbandry and care by researching, talking with hatcheries, and consulting our local veterinarian. This helped us successfully raise baby chicks, pullets, dairy goats, a family milk cow, sheep, horses, and many dogs and cats. I researched many different chicken breeds, learned how to produce eggs, and designed a safe and efficient chicken coop, along with managing our farm flock of the top egg-laying breeds of chickens.
During these years, we worked the land and planted well over 1000 seedlings for windbreaks from our local Soil Conservation Office. I have started countless seeds and plants indoors, harvested garden produce, and preserved foods for many, many years. I now enjoy sharing the valuable knowledge I have gained with others.
So, for starters, you can begin by determining your USDA growing zone, then plant a small kitchen garden and cook your meals from scratch, or buy fresh fruits and vegetables from local stands or farmers’ markets. These simple actions can greatly improve your quality of life.
Little by little this lifestyle may become more and more attractive, leading you to consider getting a few chickens for homegrown eggs. You might even think about having 20 hens in order to sell eggs and cover your feed costs. If this type of hands-on living resonates with you, you might be discovering a passion for homesteading! ♥
Fun Facts About Me
I’d rather be
in the mountains♥
Listening to
great horned owls♥
grateful for
my family♥
Favorite place
Wyoming♥
Favorite season
springtime♥
my favorite drink
hot black coffee♥
My Favorite Recipe
My Favorite Gardening Post
My Favorite Chicken Post
Where this all began…..WAY BACK WHEN…..
Starting our homesteading journey over 38 years ago feels surreal! Back then, there were no cell phones or social media, so we have few photos from that time. I have found some original pictures of our baby chicks and dairy goats, as well as our main garden. However, I still don’t have pictures of our milk cow or the baby chick brooder that was set in the horse trailer. But, as I continue to sift through countless boxes of memories, I look forward to sharing more photos from our wonderful homesteading adventure!
Sadly, we don’t have any pictures from our family’s lawn care venture, known as The Lawn Rangers! While Rick was busy building log homes, the kids and I took to mowing lawns. We loaded up the mowers, weed eaters, fuel, and lunch, traveling around town tackling one yard after another.
During this time, the kids had an amazing chance to learn about being self-employed as well as earning some extra cash. They gained important skills in lawn and garden care along with developing communication and social skills while working for our clients.
Our homesteading lifestyle is the reason I created this blog: to help our kids remember all our family adventures and favorite recipes as well as to inspire others to embrace a more hands-on approach to life ♥ It’s been a wonderful journey together!
Top 10 All-Time Favorites……
AND, then, LEARNING EVERYDAY:
We spent our years homeschooling our kids, gardening, and growing our own food. We also learned how to preserve our harvest and found creative ways to make extra money while living on our homestead!
You can use many of these ideas no matter where you live! Whether you’re in the city, suburbs, on a small piece of land in the country, in your backyard, or even in an apartment, there’s something for everyone!
We raised our seven children on my husband’s income from our log home business in our small Wyoming town. Living on one income taught us to save money and to do things for ourselves. I enjoy sharing the knowledge our family has gained over the years. I hope it helps you create your own simple, meaningful and satisfying lifestyle.
Back in the day, we didn’t actually label our lifestyle as homesteading; it was simply a hands-on approach to life. Over the years, though, it transformed into a way of living that we cherished. We’re thrilled to share tips and ideas that can help you craft your own homesteading dream. I’m excited to share what we’ve learned over the years. I hope you find something that sparks your interest! Maybe start by testing your homesteading skill set today!
And, sharing our life with others….
We have also been VRBO hosts for several years now, and it has been a rewarding experience.
When we listed our property, we were excited to welcome travelers from all over. Each guest brings their own story, making every stay unique.
We have met families on vacation, couples celebrating anniversaries, and friends reuniting for special occasions. We love hearing their feedback and learning how our space helped them create memories.
To enhance our guests’ experiences, we’ve worked hard to make a welcoming atmosphere. With rustic furniture and amenities, we want our property to feel like a home away from home.
Managing bookings and communications has been rewarding; it has taught us valuable skills in hospitality and organization. We take pride in keeping our space clean and comfortable so that each guest leaves happy.
Overall, being a VRBO host has enriched our lives and allowed us to connect with wonderful people from different backgrounds. We look forward to many more years of hosting!
Using Everything We Have Learned……
We often think back on our family experiences with homesteading. The skills we learned then are still just as useful today. I continue cooking from-scratch recipes with fresh organic eggs, milk, and produce. I value my time-testes recipes because they are simple and very satisfying.
These are important skills thatto have for our everyday lives, with eating organically as much as possible, using healthy ingredients when baking bread, making cookies and cakes from scratch, along with always having fresh homemade kefir everyday.
I still love knowing how to care for animals, and chickens as well as growing trees, gardens, and flowers.
We understand the important self-sufficiency and take pride in the life-skills our children have developed. In today’s world, basic homesteading skills are still very valuable. As you explore my website, I hope you find helpful skills and recipes for your own journey.♥
Where Simple Living Happens!
Being “original” is an ongoing process of always seeking resources that educate and encourage you on your quest for a healthier, more natural lifestyle. The term original then becomes your own, as in your unique way of applying what you learn to your individual life!
Always be on the lookout for helpful tips and resources that can enhance your journey in homesteading and even homeschooling! Finding fresh information can make a big difference! Whether you’re digging into gardening or planning lessons, every little bit helps..
We invite you to come along as we share what we have learned over the years (or should I say, decades!) that may help you and your family as you create your own original style of handcrafted living!
So long for now and….
Happy Trails to You!
