🟡 Homestead Survival: The Best Healing Spices + Organize Your Chaos with These 15 Lists

IN TODAY'S EDITION

1. Homestead Tip 🌱

2. Poll Results From Last Sunday 📊

3. All Things Homestead: Healing Spices Every Homesteader Should Keep On Hand 🟡

4. Personal Development: 15 Lists That Keep Homesteaders (and Life) on Track 🌟

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Are Your Cleaning Products Making You Sick?

If your “deep clean” leaves you with headaches, itchy skin, or coughing kids… you’re not alone.

A few springs ago, I scrubbed my house top to bottom. It looked spotless. But by bedtime? My little one was wheezing, and I had a pounding headache.
That’s when I realized: the chemicals were doing more harm than good.

So I started making my own all-natural cleaners, with ingredients I already had in my kitchen. They worked better, smelled amazing, and I stopped worrying about what my kids were breathing in.

This April, I’m showing you how to do it too.

April Challenge: Spring Cleaning with All-Natural Cleaners

• Tons of DIY cleaner recipes

• Simple swaps for toxic products

• Budget-friendly ingredient list

• Pre-recorded workshop + support community

Oh, and if you missed the first few months?
January, February, and March challenges are still available anytime.

Ready to detox your home the right way? Let’s clean without compromise.

POLL RESULTS FROM LAST SUNDAY

Have you tried fermenting vegetables?

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Yes, and I love it!

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I’ve tried but need more practice

🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ I plan to start this year

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ I prefer pickling with vinegar

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ No, I don’t eat fermented foods

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

Healing Spices Every Homesteader Should Keep On Hand 🟡

When you live on a homestead, you become your own first line of defense against colds, cuts, and even a bad night’s sleep.

Pharmacies aren’t always around the corner, so knowing which spices can help your family heal naturally is a game-changer. These are affordable, shelf-stable, and already in most kitchen cabinets. Let’s put them to work.

Ginger – For Headaches and Nausea

Ginger isn’t just for cookies and stir-fry. It helps ease tension headaches and calms queasy stomachs.

• Steep fresh ginger slices in hot water and sip slowly.

• Works well for motion sickness or early morning nausea.

Keep dried or fresh ginger around, especially during cold and flu season or garden planting when migraines strike.

Turmeric – For Cuts and Burns

Turmeric speeds up healing and lowers inflammation.

• Mix it with a little water to form a paste and apply to minor cuts and burns.

• It works as an antibacterial, too.

Just a heads-up: turmeric stains everything. Use an old towel or wear gloves if needed.

Nutmeg – For Restless Nights

Nutmeg might be your new best friend if you’re struggling to sleep.

• A pinch of nutmeg powder stirred into warm milk can help your body relax.

• Best taken about 30 minutes before bedtime.

Too much can cause unwanted side effects, so stick with a small dose, like less than 1/4 tsp.

Clove – For Toothaches

When dental pain strikes and the nearest dentist is miles away, clove can help.

• Crush a few cloves and press them against the sore spot.

• You can also use clove oil if you have it.

Clove contains a natural anesthetic called eugenol that temporarily numbs the area.

Fenugreek – For Hair Fall and Thinning

Fenugreek is great for hair strength, which many women struggle with postpartum or during seasonal changes.

• Soak seeds overnight, grind into a paste, and apply to the scalp.

• Leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse.

Use this mask once a week to nourish roots and reduce hair fall.

Cinnamon – For Bad Breath

Cinnamon kills odor-causing bacteria in the mouth.

• Add a stick to boiling water, let it steep, and use it as a natural mouth rinse.

• Sprinkle some on toast with honey for a double immune boost.

It’s a simple fix when you’re out of mouthwash and still want to feel fresh.

Cumin – For Digestion and Weight Support

Cumin boosts metabolism and helps the digestive system work better.

• Add a teaspoon of ground cumin to soups, beans, or roasted veggies.

• Can also be brewed as a tea if bloating is a problem.

This spice is helpful after heavy meals or when trying to stay healthy through busy planting seasons.

Black Pepper – For Coughs and Colds

Black pepper warms the body and clears up stuffy sinuses.

• Crush a few peppercorns and mix with a spoon of honey.

• Take it slowly—especially if you’re fighting a lingering cough.

It’s a gentle and effective home remedy you can mix up in a minute.

How to Store Your Healing Spices

• Keep jars in a cool, dark place away from moisture.

• Label them clearly with purchase dates.

• Buy whole spices when you can—they last longer than pre-ground ones.

Glass jars with tight lids will keep spices fresh for up to 2 years.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

15 Lists That Keep Homesteaders (and Life) on Track 🌟

Life on the homestead is anything but slow. Homesteaders and homemakers carry a heavy load, not just physically but mentally as well.

That's where the power of simple, effective lists comes in. It may sound basic, but organizing your day and week with a few clear, no-fuss lists can do wonders for your peace of mind.

Here are 15 practical lists that can help you stay grounded and in control, even during the busiest seasons of your homestead life:

1. Daily To-Do List

Each day starts with a fresh batch of tasks. Writing down 3-5 key tasks every morning helps you prioritize what truly needs to be done. This simple step keeps your day focused and keeps you from getting overwhelmed with everything else that pops up.

2. Weekly Planning List

A good week begins with a solid plan. Before Monday arrives, take time to map out your week: appointments, errands, major projects, and family needs.

3. Seasonal Chore List

With the changing seasons come new responsibilities. Spring brings planting, summer requires upkeep, fall is all about harvesting and preserving, and winter focuses on maintenance and repairs. Keep a master list of seasonal chores to guide your work throughout the year.

4. Pantry Inventory List

Knowing what’s already in your pantry helps you avoid buying more of the same and wasting money. Keep a running inventory of dry goods, canned items, and what’s in the fridge or freezer. You’ll save time, money, and food.

5. Freezer Inventory List

Anyone who’s ever dug through a packed freezer knows how frustrating it can be. A freezer inventory list solves this by allowing you to see exactly what you have at a glance, preventing wasted time (and frozen bricks of meat).

6. Meal Planning List

Homemade meals take time and planning. But with a clear weekly meal plan, you can streamline the process. This list saves you time and ensures you have everything you need for the week.

7. Garden Planning List

The garden is one area where a little planning goes a long way. Track what you’re growing, when you planted it, and how it’s doing. This helps you avoid common gardening mistakes, like planting too much zucchini or forgetting to start seeds in time.

8. Cleaning Checklist

A clean home is important, but doing everything in one day isn’t realistic. Break your cleaning tasks into manageable chunks and assign different tasks to different days of the week.

9. Projects List

Whether it's fixing the barn door, building a compost bin, or learning how to make soap, every homestead has its ongoing projects. A list helps you prioritize them and make steady progress.

10. Budget and Bills List

Managing money on a homestead can be tricky. From feed and seeds to utilities and repairs, things add up fast. A budget and bills list helps you track income, expenses, and upcoming bills, so you’re never caught off guard.

11. Gift Ideas List

Homemade gifts are a hallmark of homestead life, but they take time and planning. Having a gift list year-round will prevent you from scrambling for ideas last-minute.

12. Homeschool Tracker List

For those homeschooling, a tracker is essential. It helps you stay on top of lessons, books, and educational goals without feeling like you're missing something important.

Example: Track your child’s reading progress, completed projects, or upcoming field trips. Keep it simple so you can check in quickly without overthinking.

13. Prayer or Gratitude List

Life on the homestead can be tough, but focusing on the positive helps. A list of things you’re thankful for or prayers you’re working through helps bring calm to the chaos.

14. Self-Care List

Homesteaders often forget to care for themselves because they’re so busy caring for everything else. A self-care list reminds you to take a moment for rest.

15. “Someday” List

Not every idea needs to be tackled right away. Write down dreams or long-term projects that can wait until things calm down.

PRO TIP: You don’t have to tackle all 15 lists right away. Pick three that feel doable, and start there. Write them out on paper or on a dry-erase board, whatever works for you. The goal is not perfection, but peace.

THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER

What’s a gardener’s favorite April song?

"Don’t Stop Be-leaf-ing!"

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. Just a tiny goat living his best life in his little “house” 🐐

@chick.kenz

Stewie is in there EVERY DAY. Just chilling and looking out the window 😂 #goatsoftiktok #goats #farmanimals #homestead #homesteading #dwar... See more

2. Sometimes I forget that gardening is basically a patience challenge 😂

@gardeningwithmarl

Am I the only one with no patience? #backyardgarden #veggiegarden #funny #gardencomedy #harvesttime

ENGAGE WITH US

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