🛑 Fertilizer Fails? Fix It Fast + Boundaries You Should Never Apologize For

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 Sunday 📊

3. All Things Homestead: Homemade Liquid Fertilizers That Actually Work 🌿

4. Personal Development: Things You Don’t Owe Anyone an Apology For 🌼

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Tired of decoding ingredient lists? Let’s make it simple and homemade

I used to think I was doing it right… buying the “clean” stuff, spending too much, and still feeling uneasy.
Then I made my first tallow balm… and I never looked back.
No chemicals. No greenwashing. Only real ingredients that actually work.

This month, we’re diving into DIY projects using tallow & beeswax:

• Whipped tallow balms & sunscreens

• Clean-burning candles

• Vapor rubs & air fresheners (all from scratch!)

Simple. Affordable. And actually safe for your skin, home, and family.

And don’t worry, if you’re just joining us, you still get full access to January to April’s challenges on pantry staples, natural skincare, gardening, and spring cleaning.

POLL RESULTS FROM LAST SUNDAY

What fruit do you wish you could grow more of?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries)

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Apples and pears

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Figs or stone fruits (peach, plum)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Grapes or kiwis

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Tropical fruits (if I could!)

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

Homemade Liquid Fertilizers That Actually Work 🌿

Store-bought fertilizers add up fast. They’re often full of things you can’t pronounce and don’t need. Good news: your kitchen is already full of powerful plant food.

Below are seven simple, natural liquid fertilizers. These come from everyday leftovers and pantry staples!

Compost Tea

Steep compost in water just like tea. Stir every now and then, let it sit overnight, then strain and pour.

• Feeds: Red leaf lettuce, sweet corn, soybeans

• Why it works: It's rich in nutrients that help plants grow strong and leafy.

• Tip: Use a cheesecloth to strain out chunks so it doesn't clog your watering can.

Banana Peel Water

Soak banana peels in a jar of water for a day or two. Use the banana water directly on your soil.

• Feeds: Tomatoes, potatoes, fruit trees, rose bushes, monsteras, and tillandsias

• Why it works: Bananas are full of potassium, and this helps plants flower and fruit.

• Tip: Don’t leave peels in the garden. They attract pests if left whole.

Epsom Salt Solution

Dissolve 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt in a gallon of water. Stir well and water around the base of your plants.

• Feeds: Roses, pansies, tomatoes, peppers

• Why it works: It boosts magnesium and sulfur. Great for green leaves and blooms.

• Tip: Use every 2–4 weeks, not daily. Too much salt can dry out roots.

Coffee Water

Mix used coffee grounds with water and let it steep overnight. Pour around the base not on the leaves.

• Feeds: Azaleas, rhododendrons, roses, cucumbers, potatoes, blueberries

• Why it works: Coffee helps acid-loving plants and adds nitrogen.

• Tip: Only use used coffee grounds. Fresh grounds are too acidic.

Fish Tank Water

When cleaning a freshwater aquarium, save that water. Dilute it 1:1 with clean water before using.

• Feeds: Roses, pansies, tomatoes, peppers

• Why it works: Fish waste is full of nitrogen and trace minerals plants love.

• Tip: Never use saltwater or medicated tank water, only plain freshwater.

Rice Water

After cooking or rinsing rice, save the water. Let it cool completely, then use it to water your plants.

• Feeds: Tomatoes, ferns, succulents, spider plants, African violets

• Why it works: It’s loaded with starch, which helps beneficial bacteria grow in the soil.

• Tip: Use unsalted rice water only. Salt will harm the roots.

Eggshell & Onion Peel Soaks

Soak crushed eggshells and onion skins in water for a few days. Strain, then water your plants.

• Feeds: Leafy greens, tomatoes, and herbs

• Why it works: Eggshells add calcium, and onion skins bring potassium and phosphorus.

• Tip: Don’t let it soak more than 5 days or it’ll smell like compost soup.

Quick Checklist: How To Use These Safely

☐ Always dilute before use. Strong doses can harm roots.

☐ Strain out solids to avoid clogging watering cans.

☐ Use once every 2–3 weeks for best results.

☐ Store extras in a sealed container, out of the sun.

☐ Toss unused liquid if it starts to smell bad.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Things You Don’t Owe Anyone an Apology For 🌼

If you're constantly second-guessing your choices, you're not alone. Many women are raised to feel guilty for doing the most basic things to care for themselves. That ends here.

This list is a real-life reminder that self-care isn’t selfish. It's survival. Let’s go over common things many of us feel bad about, but shouldn’t.

1. Setting healthy boundaries.
   Boundaries don’t hurt people. They protect relationships. If someone gets upset when you say “no,” it’s a sign the boundary is needed.

2. Prioritizing your mental health.
   Your brain is just as important as your body. Going to therapy, taking meds, or just needing quiet time is not selfish.

3. Doing what makes you happy.
   You don’t owe anyone an explanation for your joy. Hobbies, passions, or rest… if it lights you up, it matters.

4. Loving someone deeply.
   Love is not a weakness. Caring deeply, even when it’s not returned, shows strength, not foolishness.

5. Standing up for yourself.
   You don’t need to keep the peace if it costs your dignity. Speaking up shows self-respect.

6. Asking for help.
   Needing support doesn’t make you less capable. It makes you human and brave.

7. Being a dreamer.
   Big ideas often look unrealistic to small minds. You’re allowed to chase what others don’t understand.

8. Sleeping in when your body needs rest.
   Burnout is not a badge of honor. Your body keeps score, and rest is how you stay in the game.

9. Choosing a different path for yourself.
   Whether it’s career, marriage, or motherhood, your choices don’t need to look like anyone else's.

10. Speaking your truth.
    If it’s honest and kind, say it. Silence may feel safe, but it often becomes regret.

11. Making mistakes.
    Everyone messes up. The goal is to grow, not to be perfect. Learn, adjust, and keep going.

12. Telling people “no.”
    Saying no is not rude. It’s clarity. People who respect you won’t need a yes to love you.

13. Having a different opinion.
    Disagreeing doesn’t make you difficult. It makes you honest. You don’t need to shrink to fit in.

14. Experiencing strong emotions.
    Sadness, anger, joy… none of these need to be hidden. You’re not “too much.” You’re just real.

15. Taking time to be alone.
    Solitude isn’t selfish. It’s how you reset, think clearly, and return with more to give.

16. Needing a break.
    Breaks prevent breakdowns. Don’t wait until you're running on empty. Fill your cup now.

17. Putting yourself first.
    Self-care isn’t about ignoring others. It’s about being well enough to show up for them.

✨ Try This Today

Take five minutes. Read this list again. Select three things you’ve been feeling guilty for lately.

Then write down one small step you can take to let that guilt go. Maybe it’s a conversation. Maybe it’s rest. Maybe it’s just giving yourself permission.

Remember: More strength grows when you stop apologizing for who you already are.

THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER

Why are tools always missing in May?

Because the garden gnomes are redecorating.

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. When you're busy planning your homestead life and your partner’s just like, “Wait… how exactly is this all happening?” not knowing they’re already part of the master plan 😅

@loveizzynlili

Duh. #diyhomeprojects #chickencoopgoals #honeydolist #homesteading #chickensoftiktok #Meme #MemeCut

2. Here’s a funny trick to win over a plant lover:

@houseplantparadise_

The easiest trick in the book! Of course plant girls will follow the trail of plants 😆🪴 Be careful out there y'all! Don't fall for the tra... See more

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