🧼 Forget Toxic Dish Soaps! DIY Instead + How to Release Guilt

IN TODAY'S EDITION

1. Homestead Tip 🌱

2. Poll Results From Last Tuesday 📊

3. All Things Homestead: Homemade Lemon Dishwasher Detergent 🧼

4. Personal Development: Breaking Free from Guilt 💓

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

What If the Grocery Store Shelves Were Empty?

It was just a normal Tuesday. I had my list, my budget, and my plan to get in and out of the grocery store. But when I got there?

1. The produce section was half-empty.

2. The prices were higher than last week (again).

3. And the "fresh" vegetables looked like they had been sitting there way too long.

I felt my stomach drop.

I stood there, staring at a $6 head of lettuce, wondering how we got here. Wondering why feeding my family real food had to feel like such a battle.

And that’s when it hit me: I needed a way to grow my own food.

Not just for fun.
Not just for the “homesteading aesthetic.”
But because I never wanted to feel this helpless again.

That’s Why I’m Inviting You to the Gardening Basics Challenge.

If you’ve ever thought, I should probably learn to grow my own food, this is your chance.

This month, we’re covering:

• How to Start a Garden Anywhere (even if you only have a small patio or backyard!)

• The Best Plants for Beginners (no green thumb required!)

• How to Make Your Soil Work for You (so your plants actually thrive!)

• Low-Maintenance Gardening Hacks (for busy moms, working women, and anyone who doesn’t have hours to spend in the garden!)

• How to Grow More for Less (because gardening should save you money, not drain your wallet!)

I get it… you’ve thought about growing a garden before.

Maybe you’ve even tried.
Maybe it didn’t go so well.
Maybe life got in the way, and you just never got around to it.

But let me tell you something…

You just need to start.

So, are you in?

<< Join the Gardening Basics Challenge now, and let’s get growing together!

POLL RESULTS FROM LAST TUESDAY

Would you ever consider beekeeping?

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Yes! I already have bees.

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ I’m planning to start soon.

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I’d love to, but I’m nervous about stings.

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ I support bees but won’t keep them myself.

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ No, beekeeping isn’t for me.

via @beehiiv polls

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

Also, follow us on our FB page & Pinterest account for daily homesteading inspiration and updates.

ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD (DIY)

Homemade Lemon Dishwasher Detergent 🧼

These days, more people are turning to DIY solutions for a cleaner, healthier home. Today, we’re focusing on a simple but powerful homemade dishwasher detergent that’s easy to make and works just as well as store-bought brands.

Ingredients and Supplies

• 2 cups diced lemons (keep the rind; remove seeds)

• 3 ½ cups water (divided: 1 ½ cups + 2 cups)

• 4 oz white vinegar (a natural degreaser)

• 1 cup kosher salt (helps soften water and prevent buildup)

• Small saucepan

• Blender

• Small colander

• Glass container for storage

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the Lemons – Cut lemons into ¼-inch chunks, making sure to remove all seeds. Keeping the rind adds extra cleaning power.

2. Simmer the Mixture – In a saucepan, combine lemons and 1 ½ cups of water. Bring to a slow boil and let it simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The mixture should thicken and become syrupy.

3. Blend Until Smooth – Pour the cooked lemon mixture into a blender. Add 2 cups of water and blend until completely smooth. This helps release all the lemon’s natural cleaning properties.

4. Strain for a Clean Gel – Using a small colander, strain the blended mixture back into the saucepan. You should be left with about a tablespoon of pulp and rind.

5. Add Vinegar and Salt – Stir in vinegar and salt, making sure everything dissolves well.

6. Cook Until Thickened – Bring the mixture back to a slow boil and cook for another 10 to 15 minutes. It should thicken slightly, reaching the consistency of runny applesauce.

7. Cool and Store – Let the mixture cool in the saucepan, stirring occasionally. Once it reaches room temperature, transfer it to a glass container for storage.

How to Use It

• Fill the dishwasher detergent dispenser with 3 tablespoons of this lemon gel per load.

• For hard water, place a small cup of vinegar on the top rack to help boost cleaning power.

• If the gel thickens too much over time, stir in a small amount of water before using.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Breaking Free from Guilt 💓

Guilt has a way of sneaking in and settling deep. It keeps minds racing at night, makes hearts heavy, and steals the joy from daily life. Holding onto guilt doesn’t fix past mistakes, it only drains energy and keeps people stuck in a cycle of regret.

If guilt has been weighing too much on you, here’s how to start releasing it:

1. Identify the Root Cause

People often carry guilt without fully understanding why they feel it. Is it from a mistake, a broken promise, or something out of their control?

• Write it down. Journaling about guilty feelings helps uncover their source.

• Ask if it’s justified. Sometimes, people feel guilty for things they had no control over.

• Look for patterns. If guilt keeps showing up in similar situations, it may be a sign of deeper fears or self-doubt.

2. Separate Actions from Identity

Making a mistake doesn’t mean being a bad person. Too often, guilt turns into shame, making people believe they are defined by their past actions.

• Use kinder words. Instead of saying, “I’m terrible for what I did,” try, “I made a mistake, but I can grow from it.”

• Focus on learning. Mistakes are opportunities for growth, not proof of failure.

• Talk to a friend. Sometimes, hearing a different perspective helps break the cycle of self-blame.

3. Make Amends (If Possible)

Guilt often lingers because of unresolved issues. When possible, making things right can ease the burden.

• Apologize sincerely. A simple, honest apology can heal both sides.

• Take action. If a mistake caused harm, doing something positive to correct it can help bring closure.

• Forgive where needed. Sometimes, guilt comes from holding onto anger or resentment—toward others or even oneself.

4. Challenge Unrealistic Expectations

Many people carry guilt for not doing enough or not being perfect. This kind of guilt is exhausting and impossible to satisfy.

• Acknowledge limits. No one can do everything perfectly all the time.

• Celebrate efforts. Instead of focusing on where they fell short, people should recognize what they did right.

• Reframe failures. Every setback is a chance to adjust and grow, not a reason to feel guilty.

5. Practice Self-Forgiveness

Letting go of guilt means choosing compassion over punishment. If people wouldn’t talk to a loved one the way they talk to themselves, they need to change that inner dialogue.

• Say it out loud. “I forgive myself for the things I didn’t know then.”

• Release self-punishment. Holding onto guilt doesn’t fix the past, but self-kindness can shape a better future.

• Replace guilt with growth. Instead of reliving mistakes, focus on how to move forward wiser and stronger.

6. Let Time Do Its Work

Some guilt fades naturally, but only if people stop feeding it. Dwelling on the past keeps wounds open, while choosing to live in the present helps them heal.

• Stay busy with meaningful activities. Doing things that bring joy makes it harder for guilt to take center stage.

• Surround yourself with positive influences. People who encourage growth make it easier to let go of the past.

• Practice mindfulness. Staying in the present moment helps release the weight of past mistakes.

THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER

What do homesteaders call March windstorms?

Free-range leaf blowers!

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 totally forget you live on a farm… and suddenly, animals are popping up everywhere! 😂

@stoutridgeranch

No privacy around here 🙄 #farmlife #homestead #goats #farmanimals

2. Raise your hand if your group also has that one duck! 🙋‍♂️

@c_wondersoffarming

Every group has one 😂. #goose #farming #funny #agriculture #animals #trending #goodvibes

ENGAGE WITH US

Got some amazing homesteading products? Let's team up and spread joy in our community!

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