DIY Dish Tabs That Actually Work 🧽 + 10 Reminders Every Strong Woman Needs 💪

NOTICE: Formerly known as The Steady Homestead, we’ve rebranded to The Homestead Movement! Same great content, just a fresh new name. 😊 

IN TODAY'S EDITION

1. Homestead Tip 🌱

2. Poll Results From Last Thursday 📊

3. All Things Homestead: Make Your Own Homemade Dishwasher Tablets 🧽

4. Personal Development: 10 Tough Truths Every Homestead Woman Needs to Hear 🔎

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

🤒 Ever Feel Helpless When Someone You Love Gets Sick?

That sinking feeling when your kid spikes a fever at night… and all you’ve got are expired cough drops and a half-used bottle of mystery syrup from last winter?

I’ve been there, standing in my kitchen, Googling “natural remedies for sore throat,” wishing I had something ready and reliable.

That’s why I started building our Medicinal Kit, and why I think every home should have one.

This isn’t just a box of herbs. It’s peace of mind.

• Learn to make your own tinctures, salves, and immune support

• Stock your shelves with trusted, natural remedies

• Feel confident (not panicked) when someone isn’t feeling well

You don’t need to be an herbalist. Just a mama who’s ready to feel prepared.

👉 Grab your Medicinal Kit and start building your natural home apothecary

POLL RESULTS FROM LAST THURSDAY

Which crop never cooperates in your garden, no matter what you do?

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Tomatoes

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Carrots

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Peppers

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Cucumbers

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Add your “nemesis” crop in the replies!

via @beehiiv polls

Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉

Also, follow us on our social media accounts for daily homesteading inspiration and updates.

ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD

Make Your Own Homemade Dishwasher Tablets 🧽

Honestly speaking, dishwasher tablets are one of those small things that add up fast. Between the mystery ingredients and the price tag, they’ve become one of those necessary evils that many of us are just plain tired of buying.

But there’s good news for homesteaders, homemakers, and anyone trying to keep a clean house without nasty chemicals. You can make your own dishwasher tablets with just a few basic pantry items, and they work.

This is the kind of simple, homemade solution that saves money, avoids waste, and fits right into the rhythm of homestead living.

Here's What You'll Need:

Each of these ingredients pulls its weight in cleaning power, so don’t skip them unless you’re making adjustments with intention.

• 1 cup washing soda – This breaks down grease and neutralizes odors.

• 1 cup baking soda – Gently scrubs and softens hard water buildup.

• 1/2 cup citric acid – Cuts through grime and acts like a rinse aid.

• 1/2 cup kosher salt – Helps with scrubbing and softening water.

• 3 tablespoons white vinegar – Helps hold everything together.

• 10–20 drops of essential oil (optional) – Lemon or tea tree works well for extra cleaning and scent.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Don't worry, this recipe doesn't need fancy tools. Just a mixing bowl, a spoon, and a silicone mold or ice cube tray will do.

1. Combine the dry ingredients
   In a large mixing bowl, stir together washing soda, baking soda, citric acid, and kosher salt. Make sure they’re evenly mixed.

2. Add vinegar slowly
   Pour in the vinegar one tablespoon at a time. It will fizz. This is normal. Stir constantly so it doesn’t foam over the edge.

3. Add essential oils (if using)
   Once the fizzing slows, stir in your essential oils. Lemon cuts grease. Tea tree or eucalyptus work as disinfectants.

4. Press into molds
   Scoop the mixture into your silicone mold or ice tray. Press it down firmly so it holds shape when dry.

5. Let it dry overnight
   Set the mold in a dry spot away from humidity. Let the tablets dry completely for 12–24 hours.

6. Pop them out and store
   Once hard, pop the tablets out and store them in an airtight container. A mason jar with a tight lid works perfectly.

Tips for Success:

• Work fast once vinegar is added! Don’t let the mixture dry before it’s molded.

• If the mixture crumbles after drying, add a little more vinegar next time.

• Store in a cool, dry spot. Humidity can make the tablets soften or clump.

• For hard water homes, try adding a splash of vinegar in the rinse compartment for extra shine.

• While you’ve got the ingredients out, double or triple the batch. These store well for weeks, and you’ll be glad to have them on hand when life gets busy.

What Makes This So Worthwhile?

• These tablets clean dishes just as well as name-brand ones without the strong chemical smell.

• They’re safe for septic systems, especially if you skip artificial fragrance.

• They cost a fraction of store-bought versions. You’re using ingredients you already have around.

From One Homemaker to Another…

Making these tabs might seem small, but it’s one more step toward a cleaner, healthier home. Note that every time you choose to make something from scratch, you’re building self-reliance. And that’s what homesteading is really about! Doing what you can with what you’ve got.

Try this recipe out and let me know how it works in your kitchen. And if you’re like most of us, you’ll be shocked you didn’t do it sooner.

You’ve got this! 💚

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

10 Tough Truths Every Homestead Woman Needs to Hear 🔎

We all hustle for milk pails, meal plans, and maybe five minutes of quiet. Yet some hard-won lessons lurk in the weeds like hidden thistles… ignore them and sooner or later you’ll get pricked.

Below are ten reminders pulled from the image above and seasoned for homesteaders and homemakers. Read them once, post them on the fridge, and save yourself a decade of regret.

1. Kind hearts still need fences.
   When we act “too friendly,” neighbors assume our time, tools, and eggs are free. We set clear lending rules so goodwill never turns into silent resentment.

2. Self-respect isn’t ego.
   Saying no to another volunteer shift or potluck doesn’t make us selfish. It guards bandwidth for sourdough starters, soil health, and sanity.

3. In the end, we stand with ourselves.
   Partners, kids, and livestock rotate through seasons; our own choices follow us to the barn and back. We journal at dusk to keep promises made to ourselves front and center.

4. Life moves on… ready or not.
   Crops fail, hens molt, and friends relocate. We prune dead plants early so new growth gets sunlight. Same goes for habits and relationships.

5. Every harvest starts with a dream.
   Whether it’s debt-free land or a kitchen cottage business, nothing sprouts without vision. We write clear goals, then break them into daily chores just like watering seedlings.

6. Some goodbyes boost growth.
   Dumping a draining friendship or toxic online group frees headspace. Picture it as weeding: remove energy suckers so the main crop, or our peace, thrives.

7. Heart wisdom trumps crowd noise.
   Blog opinions are loud; intuition whispers. We pause during morning chores, breathe in alfalfa air, and ask, “What truly feels right for our family?”

8. Clean cuts heal faster than string-along promises.
   Whether it’s a flaky customer or a half-hearted business idea, a firm “not now” beats months of maybes. Think sharp pruning shears over dull scissors.

9. Win or learn, never lose.
   When ferment jars explode or garden plans flop, we log what went wrong and adjust the recipe. Failure becomes free tuition for next season.

10. Respect tastes better than attention.
    We value being known as reliable over being liked by everyone. Neighbors trust our produce because we deliver, not because we chase compliments.

How to Put These Truths to Work

• Create a “fence-line” list tonight.
  Note three boundaries you need, like loaning equipment, tech-free evenings, or budget caps. Then, post it where all can see.

• Schedule a solo porch sit.
  Ten minutes at sunrise, no phone, just coffee and thoughts. Ask: “What promise to myself needs honoring today?”

• Monthly Weeding Ritual.
  On the first, review tasks, subscriptions, and contacts. Remove one that drains more than it feeds.

• Harvest Journal.
  Keep a notebook in the mudroom. Record wins (first ripe tomato) and lessons (forgot to close the coop). Build a library of experience.

• Respect Check.
  Before saying yes, ask, “Does this align with our farm vision?” If not, politely decline and move on.

We cannot stretch daylight, but we can stretch wisdom. These ten truths protect energy, sharpen focus, and keep our homesteads thriving. Read them, live them, and watch how much sweeter the daily grind becomes.

THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER

Why did the homesteader carry a bucket in both hands? Because in June, one chore turns into five.

TODAY'S TOP PICKS

LET’S KEEP IT REEL!

I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!

1. This is so me whenever my friends ask me to hang out 😂

@ktwhomestead

You just don’t understand until you live on a farm🤷🏼‍♀️ - - - - #chickens #chicks #funnychicken #chickentok #animal #chickenfarm #chickens... See more

2. Farm life summed up:

@ranchito_je

The farm life chose us! #farmlife #homesteadhumor #goatdrama #chickentok #farmfails #backyardfarm

3. Just a heads-up for future bunny parents:

@mrs_tink

#rabbit #rabbitsoftiktok #homestead #meatrabbit #chickens #FFA #countrylife #farm #farming #humor #tampons #chickenmath #marriage #husband... See more

ENGAGE WITH US

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