Homesteading Made Simple I Joyfully Prepared Podcast Summary — Free Daily Recap

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5 days ago20 min
Why Does Everything Fall Apart When You Stop?
Why does everything seem to fall apart the minute we stop working on it?It started for me with a red towel.That towel reminded me of a brilliant organization system I created years ago for my seven kids. Everyone got their own color. No more missing towels. No more confusion.Except, of course, it didn't quite work that way.And that's what got me thinking about entropy.Things naturally move toward disorder. Dishes pile up. Laundry returns. Weeds grow. Houses need repairs. Our bodies need care. And somehow there is always another meal to make.It doesn't mean we're doing it wrong.In this episode, we're talking about what happens when you have too many plates spinning and why constantly trying harder may not be the answer.We'll talk about:• Why organization requires ongoing energy• The difference between falling behind and failing• How many invisible "plates" we're carrying around in our heads• Which responsibilities might need to be eliminated• What you can delegate to your children, spouse, or someone else• How simplifying routines can reduce the amount of maintenance your life requires• Why clutter creates another plate to manage• Giving yourself permission to rest when a plate fallsYou already know how to spin a lot of these plates.The question might not be, "How do I get better at keeping all of them spinning?"It might be, "Why am I spinning all of these plates in the first place?"Mentioned in this episode:Joyfully Prepared Library -https://www.joyfullypreparedlibrary.comMeal Planning Worksheet - https://joyfulprep.kartra.com/page/planningJoyfully Prepared Realtor - https://joyfullyprepared.com/realestate/Website - https://joyfullyprepared.comInstagram - https://instagram.com/joyfulprepperFacebook - https://www.joyfulprepgroup.comSafe Water Drop: SafeWaterDrop.com
1 weeks ago42 min
Iridology & Homesteading: An Old-School Approach to Health
Can someone really look into your eyes and learn something about what’s happening inside your body?I’ve been fascinated by iridology for years, so I invited naturopath and iridologist Dr. Angel Hill to finally help me understand it.Angel is a second-generation naturopath who has studied thousands of eyes during her career. She explains how iridology works, what she looks for in the iris, and why she considers it a non-invasive, non-diagnostic tool for helping her clients understand their bodies.We also get into a much bigger conversation about taking responsibility for our health and learning some of the signals our bodies may be giving us.In this episode, we talk about:• What iridology is and how Angel uses it• What an iridology chart looks like• What Angel calls “stress lines” in the eyes• The connection between iridology and homesteading• Gut health and why Angel considers it foundational• Cortisol, insulin, thyroid, and what Angel calls “Hormone Heaven”• Why protein matters, especially with your first meal• Getting outside in the morning and evening• Minerals and electrolytes• Simple ways to become more observant and proactive about your health• Why learning about our bodies can be another form of self-relianceAngel also shares three simple practices she recommends people start with:Get about 30 grams of protein with your first meal.Spend at least 10 minutes outside in the morning.Make sure you’re getting adequate minerals and electrolytes.This conversation reminded me of something I believe deeply about homesteading: self-reliance isn’t just about growing food, preserving the harvest, or preparing for emergencies. It’s also about learning how to care for the body God gave us.Connect with Dr. Angel HillWebsite — https://angelhillonline.com/Book a consult — https://drangelhill.practicebetter.io/YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@AngelEyes32570Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/angeleyes32570Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/angeleyes32570/Angel also has a video explaining iridology, including examples of eyes and some of the things she looks for. Iridology VideoConnect with WendiMeal Planning Worksheet - https://joyfulprep.kartra.com/page/planningJoyfully Prepared Realtor - https://joyfullyprepared.com/realestate/Website - https://joyfullyprepared.comInstagram - https://instagram.com/joyfulprepperFacebook - https://www.joyfulprepgroup.comJoyfully Prepared Library -https://www.joyfullypreparedlibrary.com A quick note: Iridology is considered a complementary or alternative health practice and should not be used to diagnose disease or replace appropriate medical care.
2 weeks ago25 min
Who's Actually Homesteading in 2026?
42% of American homesteaders came from zero farming background. No grandparent with a garden, no summer on somebody's farm. Nothing. And 28% of them are doing this on less than one acre. Homesteaders of America just released their 2026 survey — over 4,000 homesteaders, compared against the survey they ran in 2022. So for the first time, we can see what actually changed in four years. Retirement nearly doubled. Full-time employment dropped. Land got smaller, not bigger. And every single reason people gave for homesteading got strongerbetween the day they started and today. I read the whole thing twice, because apparently I'm that person now. But here's why I cared: I have people sitting across from me trying to decide whether to buy a piece of land, and almost all of them say some version of the same sentence — "I feel like I'm the only one." This report says: no, honey. You're the majority. I'm Wendi Bergin — homesteader, realtor, and the host of Homesteading Made Simple. Preparedness brings peace, not fear. This one's a foundation episode; I'll be pulling threads out of it for weeks. We talk about: Why 42% of homesteaders have no farming or homesteading background The surprising number homesteading on less than one acre Why homesteaders are getting older, and why that's actually encouraging The biggest financial challenges facing today's homesteaders Why people's reasons for homesteading seem to get stronger over time The skills homesteaders most want to learn next, including herbalism, food preservation, gardening and water Why you don't need 20 acres, a barn or generations of farming experience to begin If you've ever wondered whether you're too late, don't have enough land, or don't know enough to call yourself a homesteader, this episode is for you. The land is the container. What matters is whether that container fits the life you actually want to live. Start where you are. Learn one skill. Then another. Preparedness brings peace, not fear.The report itself 2026 Homesteading Statistics & Demographics Survey Results — Homesteaders of America, published August 2026 Homesteaders of America 2026 Homesteaders of America Conference — Front Royal, Virginia. Wendi's going. Come say hi. Food preservation resources (for the 60% who said preservation is what they want to learn next) National Center for Home Food Preservation — the free, tested-recipe standard USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving Come find me If you've got questions about buying homestead property — including the "can I really do this on a postage stamp?"question — reach out. I'm a licensed realtor here in Florida, and if you're somewhere else, I can help you find an agent in your state who actually understands homesteading properties. We've got to band together and be a community. And there's a whole run of episodes coming out of this report — the retirement number, the under-one-acre number, the faith number, why herbalism is beating gardening. Tell me which one you want first. Leave a comment or send me a message, and I will genuinely reorder my schedule for you. Share this one with the friend who keeps saying she'll start homesteading "when we finally get some land." 🏡 Website: joyfullyprepared.com 📚 Joyfully Prepared Library: joyfullypreparedlibrary.com 🗓️ Meal Planning Worksheet: joyfulprep.kartra.com/page/planning 🏠 Joyfully Prepared Realtor: joyfullyprepared.com/realestate 📸 Instagram: @joyfulprepper<
3 weeks ago27 min
When Do You Get to Call Yourself a Homesteader?
When do you actually get to call yourself a homesteader? Is there some committee that sends you a certificate? 😂 I've realized that I have a funny habit of doing the thing and then still telling myself I'm not quite the real deal. So in this episode, I'm opening up my Transformation Journal and looking back over the last eight weeks of life. We're talking about: Harvesting and preserving elderberries, moringa, goldenrod, skullcap, and butterfly pea flowers Why walking through my food forests brings me so much joy Finishing my quilt top and finally saying, "I'm a quilter!" Cooking more from scratch and becoming more intentional about the food I eat My adventures as a substitute goat milkmaid Some pretty exciting milestones for my daughter Celebrating 29 years of marriage How motherhood prepared me for the emotional side of real estate The real estate experience that made me realize, "I AM a Realtor" Changes I've made to the Joyfully Prepared Library What teaching the Old Testament has taught me about God, Christ, and myself Why I believe Jesus Christ celebrates our growth with us And the realization that yes, I really am a homesteader We are very good at finishing something and immediately moving the goalpost. But sometimes we need to stop, look backward, and notice the evidence. You may already be becoming the person you've been trying so hard to become. Ask yourself: What evidence from the last eight weeks shows who you're becoming? A few things worth writing down The five categories, if you want to start tonight: three wins, at least one tender mercy, one way you were anti-fragile, one transformation, and your goals for tomorrow. That's it. It fits in a cheap notebook. Anti-fragile isn't "nothing can break me." It's that you've been broken before, and the next hard thing meets a person with more experience and more insight than the last one did. Write both first and last names of anyone you mention. A week later you will read "ran into my friend" and have absolutely no idea who that was. Freeze-dried herbs are the low-effort win. Harvest, wash, tray, freeze-dry, blitz in a blender. Moringa, goldenrod blossoms, skullcap, butterfly pea flower all went in the same summer. Single-ingredient preserving buys you options. Plain tomato sauce becomes anything later. Pre-seasoned spaghetti sauce only ever becomes spaghetti. Batch-cook, don't meal-plan. A cooked chicken pulled off the bone, a pot of dry beans, and cooked pasta in the fridge means dinner is assembly, not a project. You are not starting at zero in a new career. Patience, negotiation, listening, keeping people calm — those transfer. Wendi's motherhood is doing real work in her real estate business. Links Azure Standard (organic wheat and bulk food, delivered to local drops) — https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=2be6b9010a Carol Little, R.H. — Studio Botanica, on goldenrod — https://www.studiobotanica.com/gorgeous-goldenrod-health-benefits/ The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson — https://www.urbanfarm.org/blog/podcast/ The Mamapreneur Podcast with Robbin Kelton — live August 28, 2026 — https://mamapreneurpodcast.com/ · https://www.youtube.com/@mamapreneurpodcast Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb — where the term comes from The Joyfully Prepared Library (now buy-once, yours to keep) — https://learn.joyfullyprepared.com/library Earlier episode: Skill Stacking — Earlier episode: the original transformation journal episode — National Center for Home Food Preservation — tested recipes for anything you're canning — https://nchfp.uga.edu/ Work with Wendi (Florida real estate) — https://joyfullyprepared.com/realestate/ All episodes — <a href="https://joyfullyprepared.com/podca
Aug 18, 202627 min
Would You Date This Homestead? Red Flags Before You Buy
Nobody puts a picture of the barn in the listing and says, "We're not completely sure what's holding this thing up." Buying a homestead is a lot like dating — and today we're playing Would you date this homestead? We're past the basics. You know your price, your location, your acreage. This is what happens after the property catches your eye: what the listing photos aren't showing you, what to look for when you finally walk the land, the deed restriction that nearly cost us the property we loved, and the plumbing problem hiding under our slab that no inspection caught. I'm Wendi Bergin — Realtor, homesteader, and someone who has crossed a beautiful property off her own list more than once. Preparedness brings peace, not fear. That applies to buying land too. Chapters 00:00 — Falling in love with a listing before you've seen the barn 00:45 — Why buying a homestead is a lot like dating 01:05 — Welcome to Would you date this homestead? 01:20 — The dating profile: what the listing photos are not showing you 01:55 — Decoding listing language: "rustic," "peaceful country living" 02:20 — The Polk County drive-by, and the water we found 02:55 — Not in a flood zone yet: how new construction changes that 03:40 — The property that was 30 minutes from church, and why I crossed it off 04:25 — "Plenty of room for animals" doesn't mean you're allowed to have them 04:50 — The real question: the property, or the life you're imagining in it? 05:05 — First date: get out of the kitchen and walk the land 05:35 — Would that fence actually hold the animals you want? 06:00 — Why we tore out every fence on our property 06:15 — Outbuildings: is there water and power to the barn? 06:40 — The pig waterer I didn't know existed 07:20 — Pipes running there isn't the same as water that works 07:50 — Stand still and listen: traffic, dogs, shooting ranges, smells 08:30 — Distance matters: barn to house, feed, groceries 08:55 — Why our goats may never make it to the barn 09:25 — The one nobody asks: what will chores be like in the rain? 09:45 — The coughing goat, the nice sandals, and church 10:30 — What a good agent is actually there to do 11:05 — "Would I still want to live there on a tired Tuesday?" 11:40 — Meet the family: zoning, deed restrictions, and yes, HOAs 12:20 — Five acres each, horses allowed, goats not 13:05 — "It takes one person to pull up those deed restrictions" 13:50 — What I screened for: ag zoning, no HOA, flood zone 14:25 — Easements, insurance requirements, and animal rules 14:50 — Why we couldn't raise pigs in New Jersey 15:20 — Can you sell eggs? Park an RV? Run a business? Build a barn? 15:45 — Go deeper: episode 207 on buying land 16:05 — Well or city water, septic, who maintains the road, internet 16:40 — Calling the county until you get a real answer 17:25 — The baggage: every property has history 17:55 — Inspection questions worth asking out loud 18:50 — When the vines are doing most of the work holding up the fence 19:10 — None of this automatically means walk away 19:45 — Red flags don't turn green because the farmhouse sink is pretty 20:10 — Slab houses, buried plumbing, and what we didn't know 21:00 — Jackhammering up the half bath 21:40 — Relationship material: can you afford the house and the work? 22:35 — Land care in New Jersey vs. Florida, honestly 23:35 — What will you have to give up to own it? 24:20 — Maybe you need two acres, not five 24:50 — There is no perfect property 25:30 — Marry it, or thank it for a lovely afternoon 26:00 — What I actually want to know before I show you anything 26:40 — Buying outside Florida? I'll help you interview an agent
Aug 11, 202646 min
Too Many Tomatoes? Preserve the Harvest
Greg Peterson says the only place that lack lives is between our ears — and if you've ever stood in your kitchen staring at 50 pounds of tomatoes, you know he's right. We talk about what to do with all of it. Greg hosts The Urban Farm Podcast (he just passed episode 1,000), and this one runs on both our feeds. We get into the harvest mindset, the one mistake that turns abundance into panic, and a long list of ways to put tomatoes, zucchini, and basil up for winter — including a few I'd never tried until this year. If you're new here: I'm Wendi Bergin, and I believe preparedness brings peace. Not fear. Peace. Chapters 00:00 — Welcome, and why we recorded this for both our audiences 01:20 — "The only place lack lives is between our ears" 02:10 — 40 tomato plants, worm composting, and volunteer tomatoes everywhere 03:30 — Seed starting and seed saving: what a grex is and why you'd want one 04:45 — Wendi's confession: she won't eat a fresh tomato 06:15 — The biggest mistake people make when harvest season starts 07:20 — Freeze first, can later — handling the early trickle 08:15 — Jars, lids, and buying in bulk before you're desperate 10:10 — Pint or quart? Wide mouth or regular? 11:30 — Why Wendi stopped canning seasoned sauce and cans it plain 13:40 — Why tomatoes need added lemon juice now 14:10 — Water bath vs. pressure canning, explained simply 16:00 — Tested recipes, rebel canning, and "when in doubt, throw it out" 19:30 — Bone broth and canning elderberry juice 21:10 — Fixing watery salsa, and the steam juicer trick 22:30 — Freezing tomatoes to release the water 23:40 — Don't throw out tomato water: stews, chili, and cooking pasta in it 25:10 — Roasted tomato sauce, skins on 26:00 — The two separate steps of canning: the recipe and the preserving 26:50 — Azure Standard, and what a bulk buying club actually is 29:00 — Freshly milled grain, Sue Becker, and the sourdough question 31:45 — Grain mills: NutriMill, WonderMill, MockMill 34:00 — Tomato powder and everything you can do with it 36:00 — Too much zucchini: relish, pickles, fritters, mock pineapple 39:00 — Zucchini lasagna with no pasta at all 40:20 — Preparedness brings peace 43:20 — Basil: pesto, basil salt, basil sugar 44:30 — Greg's 1,000 episodes and where to find us both A few things worth writing down The number one harvest-season mistake is walking in unprepared. Count your jars and your lids before the tomatoes come in. Today's tomatoes are less acidic than the ones our mothers canned. Added lemon juice is what makes water bath canning safe for them. Water bath handles high-acid foods — fruits, pickles, relishes, jams, acidified tomatoes. Pressure canning is required for meats and vegetables. Canning plain and seasoning later is simpler, safer, and more versatile. The canning process can throw off the flavor of herbs and spices. Follow tested recipes. USDA guidelines, the Ball Blue Book, your canner's manual. When in doubt, throw it out — the jar is worth more than the beans. Links Greg Peterson, The Urban Farm Podcast — https://www.urbanfarm.org Azure Standard — https://www.azurestandard.com Bread Beckers (Sue Becker) — https://amzn.to/4wXJ7cM Ball Blue Book of Preserving - https://amzn.to/4whgqpW USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning — https://nchfp.uga.edu Bill McDorman — seed saving, monthly seed chat on The Urban Farm Podcast Come find me Homesteading Made Simple / Joyfully Prepared — wherever you listen, and now on YouTube. If this one helped, share it with the friend whose counter is currently buried in zucchini. Joyfully Prepared Library -<a href="https://www.joyfullyprep
Aug 4, 202621 min
Everybody Needs a Carol
Some days the news is too much. The food industry is working against us, the wars won't stop, the education system is a mess, and there's a phone in your pocket demanding you pay attention to all of it. You can't fix any of that today. But you can create peace, calm, and rest inside your own home — and that starts with you. Wendi's friend Carol was her cheerleader through years of raising seven kids and homeschooling them. On the days Wendi called crying that she was a horrible mother, Carol told her the truth: you're doing a great job. Even on the day she sat on the couch and did nothing, Carol said, "I think that was your best today." This episode is Wendi being your Carol. In this episode: Why you're doing a better job than the voice in your head is telling you What it means that women are mothers whether or not they've borne a child Isaiah 55:8–9 and what "higher thoughts" actually asks of us Why the comfort zone is comfortable — and how to think your way out of it anyway Wendi's quilting breakthrough, and the moment a skill becomes an identity Heading into a new school year without losing yourself in it Where the ten minutes of peace are hiding (hint: check your scroll time) A short, honest rant about processed food, white flour, and the Industrial Revolution Thinking and behaving like your future self — starting today Why keeping a journal is how you notice your prayers being answered "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." — Isaiah 55:8–9 Mentioned in this episode: Be Your Future Self Now by Dr. Benjamin Hardy — The April episode with Judith Horvath, on how the food industry hired scientists away from the tobacco industry — The Truth About Your Food The March episode on rising food prices and getting prepared — Stop Assuming Someone Else Will Be Prepared 🏡 Website: joyfullyprepared.com 📚 Joyfully Prepared Library: joyfullypreparedlibrary.com 🗓️ Meal Planning Worksheet: joyfulprep.kartra.com/page/planning 🏠 Joyfully Prepared Realtor: joyfullyprepared.com/realestate 📸 Instagram: @joyfulprepper 👩‍🌾 Facebook Group: joyfulprepgroup.com 🏡Real Estate: https://joyfullyprepared.com/realestate/
Jul 28, 202625 min
BeanTok: Why Everyone Is Suddenly Eating Beans
Welcome to BeanTok! Apparently, the internet has finally discovered what homesteaders and prepared families have known for years—beans are pretty amazing. In this episode, we're separating the hype from the helpful, exploring why beans are suddenly trending on TikTok, and talking about how one inexpensive pantry staple can improve your health, simplify meal planning, and save money on groceries. Today's Joyfully Prepared Takeaways Discover why #BeanTok has millions of people talking about beans. Learn Wendi's simple method for cooking a week's worth of dried beans in the Instant Pot. Understand what really causes bean gas—and why it's often a combination of bean preparation and allowing your gut time to adjust. Learn how soaking and pressure cooking improve digestion and help your body absorb more nutrients. Find out why Wendi started adding cannellini beans to her morning protein shake—and why she isn't stopping anytime soon. Compare the true cost of dried beans versus canned beans and see how small changes can save your family money over time. Discover easy ways to use cooked beans in tacos, soups, salads, dips, breakfasts, smoothies, and freezer meals. Learn how replacing part of the meat in your favorite recipes can stretch your grocery budget without sacrificing flavor. Be inspired to rediscover one of the most affordable, nutritious, and versatile foods already sitting in your pantry. This Week's Joyfully Prepared Challenge Cook one pound of dried beans. Use them in at least two different meals this week. If you're feeling adventurous, blend a few cannellini beans into your morning protein shake—you just might surprise yourself! Resources Mentioned Beans & Beyond: Cooking for Preparedness & Everyday Meals (Digital Bean Guide) Search #BeanTok on TikTok for recipe ideas and inspiration. Try recipes like bean salads, soups, tacos, dips, and the viral Marry Me Beans. Remember, preparedness doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes it begins with something as simple as learning to use what's already in your pantry. 🏡 Website: joyfullyprepared.com 📚 Joyfully Prepared Library: joyfullypreparedlibrary.com 🗓️ Meal Planning Worksheet: joyfulprep.kartra.com/page/planning 🏠 Joyfully Prepared Realtor: joyfullyprepared.com/realestate 📸 Instagram: @joyfulprepper 👩‍🌾 Facebook Group: joyfulprepgroup.com 🏡Real Estate: https://joyfullyprepared.com/realestate/

About Homesteading Made Simple I Joyfully Prepared

Homesteading Made Simple is a podcast about practical homesteading skills for real life.Homesteading looks a lot different in real life than it does on the internet, and this podcast is about making it feel doable.I’m Wendi, and each episode focuses on homesteading skills that actually fit into everyday life. We talk about gardening, food storage, food preservation, kitchen skills, preparedness, and self-reliance. The calm, common-sense kind. Not extreme. Not fear-based.You’ll also hear about real estate, land, and choosing homes that support homesteading and self-reliant living. Whether you’re dreaming of land, managing a backyard homestead, or simply making better decisions where you live, real estate plays a big role in the life you’re building.This podcast is practical, honest, and rooted in real experience. Some lessons go smoothly. Others are learned the hard way. Either way, the goal is the same. Build skills. Build confidence. Keep it simple.New episodes release regularly.

By Wendi Bergin

Leisure Education Garden Self-Improvement Home & Garden

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Homesteading Made Simple I Joyfully Prepared: Daily Summaries Delivered

Latest Episodes

Why Does Everything Fall Apart When You Stop?

Iridology & Homesteading: An Old-School Approach to Health

Who's Actually Homesteading in 2026?

When Do You Get to Call Yourself a Homesteader?

Would You Date This Homestead? Red Flags Before You Buy

Too Many Tomatoes? Preserve the Harvest

Everybody Needs a Carol

BeanTok: Why Everyone Is Suddenly Eating Beans