Life-Changing “Weeds” You’re Ignoring 😮 + Life Lessons Rooted in the Dirt 🌱

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: Backyard Weeds You Should Stop Pulling and Start Eating 🌾

4. Personal Development: 10 Simple Life Lessons That Work Just as Well in the Garden as They Do in the Home 🤩

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

🌿 Ever Wondered If That “Wild Weed” Could Feed Your Family or Hurt Them?

I used to walk past wild plants and think, “That looks useful... but what if I’m wrong?”
I wanted to forage, but fear held me back. I didn’t trust myself to get it right.

That’s why I love the Wild Plants Guide! It takes the guesswork out of foraging.
No more wondering what’s edible or medicinal. No more Googling 20 tabs trying to ID one leaf.

You’ll learn:

• How to confidently identify safe, edible wild plants

• What to use for food, medicine, and homemade remedies

• Tips to forage ethically & safely even if you're brand new

This guide is clear, beautiful, and built for beginners (and moms who don’t have time for guesswork).

👉 Grab the Wild Plants Guide here and start feeling confident in the wild.

POLL RESULTS FROM LAST SUNDAY

Halfway through the year… how’s your homestead goal going?

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Crushing it!

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Slow but steady

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Life got in the way

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Wait… we had goals?

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

Backyard Weeds You Should Stop Pulling and Start Eating 🌱

Most homesteaders fight weeds like it’s a full-time job. We pull them, mow them, and curse them under our breath. But what if those weeds weren’t a problem? What if they were actually a solution?

Many weeds growing wild in yards are packed with nutrients. Some treat common illnesses. Others are completely edible and can be added to daily meals. Knowing which ones to keep can save time, money, and trips to the store.

Here are 10 edible backyard weeds you’ll want to start harvesting instead of tossing.

1. Dandelions

Dandelions grow fast and seem impossible to get rid of. Good thing they’re useful from root to flower.

Use the young leaves in salads. They taste a little bitter, like arugula. Brew the roots into tea to support digestion. The yellow flowers make tasty fritters or wine.

2. Chickweed

Chickweed grows low to the ground and spreads quickly in spring. It’s soft, green, and usually ignored.

Eat it raw in a sandwich or add it to a smoothie. It has a mild flavor and a high vitamin C content. Some homesteaders also use it in homemade salves for skin irritation.

3. Plantain (Broadleaf or Narrowleaf)

Plantain isn’t the banana, it’s that leafy weed underfoot in most driveways and pastures.

Chew a leaf and place it on a bug bite. It’ll calm itching fast. Dry the leaves for tea, or chop them into soups. They’re full of calcium and work well cooked like spinach.

4. Wood Sorrel

This one looks like clover but has heart-shaped leaves. It tastes tart and lemony.

Eat it fresh as a trail snack or sprinkle it over fish dishes. It’s a good source of vitamin C, but eat it in small amounts due to its oxalic acid.

5. Lamb’s Quarters

Lamb’s quarters grow tall with dusty-looking leaves. Most folks call it a garden weed.

But this plant is a wild spinach. Use it just like you would any leafy green… steamed, sautéed, or raw in salads. It has more nutrients than many store-bought greens.

6. Red Clover

This sweet-looking plant is more than a pretty face. It grows freely in fields and yards.

Red clover blossoms can be dried for tea that supports hormones and eases coughs. You can also toss the flowers into salads for color and flavor.

7. Purslane

This weed grows in cracks, flower beds, and dusty corners. It has thick, juicy leaves.

Purslane is one of the best plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids. It tastes slightly sour and works great in fresh salsa or as a cucumber substitute in recipes.

8. Wild Violet

Wild violets bloom purple and spread low across the lawn. Don’t confuse them with decorative pansies.

Their leaves and flowers are both edible. Use the blossoms to decorate desserts or freeze them into ice cubes. The leaves can go into salads or be steeped into syrup.

9. Curly Dock

This one has long, curly-edged leaves and deep roots. You’ll often find it in compact soil.

The leaves are tart but rich in iron. Cook them like collard greens to tame the sour taste. Harvest young leaves, as older ones can be tough and bitter.

10. Shepherd’s Purse

This weed grows small white flowers and heart-shaped seed pods.

The greens taste like mustard and can be sautéed or added to soups. Some homesteaders also use it to help with heavy bleeding, but be cautious and research before using it medicinally.

Important Things to Keep in Mind

• Only harvest from safe areas. Avoid places sprayed with herbicides, pesticides, or areas near roads.

• Learn before you pick. Misidentifying wild plants can be dangerous. Use field guides or apps to double-check your finds.

• Test in small amounts. Everyone reacts differently. Start slow and watch how your body responds to each new weed.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

10 Simple Life Lessons That Work Just as Well in the Garden as They Do in the Home 🤩

Living the homestead life means learning by doing, and often learning the hard way. But wouldn’t it be easier if someone just handed us the shortcuts? The honest truths? The little reminders that help us stop spinning our wheels?

Here are 10 real-life lessons that aren’t just for personal growth! They apply just as much in the kitchen, garden, or pasture.

1. Struggles Aren’t Bad, They Build You

Hard seasons come with the land: droughts, animal losses, long winters. But every one of those struggles teaches something.

Instead of saying, “I can’t take this,” say, “What can I learn from this?” Most growth comes from discomfort.

2. Complaining Doesn’t Help the Work Get Done

Chores still pile up whether we complain or not. Milking needs done. Fences need mending.

Talking about the problem without acting on it burns time and energy. Fix what can be fixed. Accept what can’t.

3. Your People Matter More Than Your Projects

It’s easy to get caught up in to-do lists… preserving food, finishing projects, staying on top of chores.

But none of it feels worth it if we don’t make time for family. Call the friend. Sit with the kids. Eat dinner together.

4. Don’t Stay in the Wrong Relationship

Settling never works in love or in land. If a partnership, like romantic or otherwise, doesn’t feel right, listen to that.

You wouldn’t build a house on soft ground. Don’t build a life with someone who doesn’t feel solid.

5. Move Your Body! It’s the Foundation of It All

We can’t build strong homes or raise strong kids in weak bodies. Whether it’s walking the pasture or stretching after chores, it all matters.

Taking care of your health isn’t selfish. It keeps you able to serve others.

6. Write Things Down… You’ll Thank Yourself Later

Journaling isn’t just for teens. It clears your head, tracks your growth, and reminds you where you’ve been.

Use it to plan your garden, write what worked, or just vent after a hard day. Think of it like your homestead logbook.

7. Gratitude Changes the Tone of the Day

A rough morning can turn around with one “thank you.” Say it to your kids. Say it to the sky.

Gratitude doesn’t make the mess go away, but it reminds you why you started. Even muddy boots are a gift.

8. Worrying About Others’ Opinions Slows You Down

So what if your garden’s messy or your kid’s wearing mismatched socks? You’re raising them, not your neighbor.

Make decisions for your values, not for Instagram likes. What others think doesn’t build your home, your actions do.

9. Take More Chances Even the Risky Ones

Plant that new crop. Start the sourdough. Sell at the market even if you feel unready.

Every homesteader starts somewhere. Waiting until it’s “perfect” keeps you stuck. Take the leap. You’ll learn on the way down.

10. Choose a Path, Not Just a Job

Whether you want to can full-time, teach kids at home, or build a side business from your homestead, don’t just grab any task to fill the day.

Choose something that lights you up and fits your season. One day, it can grow into your thing, the work that feels right.

For Homemakers and Homesteaders Alike…

Most of these lessons sound simple. But simple doesn’t mean easy. We all get tired. We all second-guess.

The key is to start small. Try just one change. Be honest about what’s not working. Give yourself grace for the slow progress.

Homestead life is not just about living off the land. It’s about growing into who you want to become while you do it.

So if you needed a sign today that you’re on the right track, this is it. You’re doing better than you think. Keep going.

And maybe write a few of these down for your future self to read one day. She’ll be glad you did.

THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER

Why did the carrots file a complaint in June? Too much overhead sun, not enough underground chill.

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. Most of the time, just pulling a few weeds in your garden is all it takes to avoid total chaos 😂🌱

@momlife_in_a_camper

Balance 🤣 #humor #parenting #homestead #garden #joking #maybe

2. This is literally me trying to convince my friends to drop everything and start homesteading 😂

@soilandsnacks

we urban homestead on less than a 1/4 acre and I want to help you learn how #garden #gardening #gardentok #plants #seeds #homesteading #ur... See more

3. If you've never seen a lawnmower channeling its inner Pac-Man, you need to watch this! 😂👇

@the_scrunchy_mama

Just a homesteader playing real-life Pac-Man with the lawn mower in our backyard jungle. #HomesteadLife #BackyardJungle #HomesteadHumor... See more

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