Simple Farmhouse Life

So many of us worry we’re not doing enough when it comes to homeschooling—but what if simply choosing this path is already a powerful step in the right direction? In this encouraging conversation, I talk with Ginny Yurich of 1000 Hours Outside about her newest book and the deep confidence that can come from stepping outside the system. We explore how real learning often looks like play, boredom, creativity, and curiosity—how our kids naturally fill in the gaps over time, and how the freedom to pursue their own interests can lead to unexpected and incredible outcomes. If you’ve ever doubted your ability to homeschool well, this episode will remind you that you're doing more right than you think.
In this episode, we cover:
How Ginny accidentally started a global movement—and why it resonates so deeply with families
The heart behind her new book Homeschooling: You’re Doing It Right Just by Doing It
What we miss when we follow the standard school model—and the surprising freedom of unlearning it
The one message every anxious or burnt-out homeschool parent needs to hear
What if the thing you’re worried is a “deficit” is actually your child’s biggest advantage?
Why qualities like creativity and empathy will matter more than grades in the world our kids are growing up in
What boredom, unstructured time, and “doing nothing” are actually teaching your child
What’s lost when childhood is spent only with same-age peers—and what kids gain from growing up alongside babies and toddlers
Why your kids need to see you building, learning, trying—and even failing
Everyone has educational gaps... so what really matters in the long run?
When you trust the process, learning shows up in the most beautiful and unexpected ways
The amazing story of how Ginny’s daughter became a certified personal trainer at just 15
Why homeschooling doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s—and that’s the point
View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Until the Streetlights Come On by Ginny Yurich
Homeschooling: You’re Doing It Right By Just Doing It by Ginny Yurich
Learning All the Time by John Holt
UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me-World by Michelle Borba
Generative Artificial Intelligence: What Everyone Needs to Know by Jerry Kaplan
Listen to my two episodes with Julie Kreke about delight directed learning:
- Give Your Children the Gift of Lifelong Learning (Episode 270)
- Transform Your Homeschool Days with Delight Directed Learning (Episode 184)
Join my FREE masterclass to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube
Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course
Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series
Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my YouTube Success Academy
Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook
CONNECT
Ginny Yurich of 1000 Hours Outside | Website | Instagram | Facebook | X | Youtube | Podcast
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a health scare in her twenties, Melissa K. Norris returned to her roots with traditional, from-scratch cooking—and never looked back. In this episode, she shares the simple swaps that make a big difference, her favorite freezer and batch-cooking tips, and why it’s easier than you think to build nourishing kitchen rhythms. We also chat about her updated cookbook Home and Handmade, a practical and inspiring guide for anyone wanting to cook with real ingredients and a whole lot of heart. Tune in for encouragement and doable ideas to make old-fashioned cooking work in your modern life!
In this episode, we cover:
Melissa’s health journey and how it led to a total shift toward from-scratch, whole-food cooking
Why starting with the most frequently eaten foods makes the biggest impact on health and budget
Common harmful ingredients to avoid and easy one-for-one swaps for better oils, sugars, and salts
The myth that homemade food is hard—many convenience foods can be replaced in minutes
Encouragement that old-fashioned kitchen skills are doable and worthwhile, no matter your lifestyle
Batch cooking strategies for breakfast, dinner, and baked goods that reduce stress and food waste
Using freezers effectively: pre-shaped doughs, cookie dough logs, veggie scrap bags, and bulk meats
The power of simple routines, momentum, and planning just a day or two ahead– it doesn’t have to be all or nothing
Melissa’s updated book Home and Handmade—a practical guide to whole food, herbal remedies, and homemade living
View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Home and Hand Made by Melissa K. Norris
Join my FREE masterclass to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube
Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course
Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series
Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my YouTube Success Academy
Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook
CONNECT
Melissa K. Norris | Website | Podcast | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | Pinterest
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pregnancy, Motherhood & Homebuilding: A Summer Life Update
Description
Building a house from scratch has been such an adventure—full of surprises, lessons, and all the little details that bring a space to life. I’m sharing where we are in the process, how we’re blending old and new to create a home with real character, and answering your questions about pregnancy, motherhood, and home birth. If you’re in the thick of family life or just love chatting all things home and babies, I think you’ll really enjoy this summer life update!
In this episode, we cover:
Framing progress on the build and why we’re showing up daily to avoid costly mistakes
Lessons from past renovations where small contractor assumptions caused big regrets
Mixing salvaged doors and painted porch floors to achieve an authentic “new old” house feel
Where we’re sourcing vintage windows and antique doors—and what’s worth buying new
Deciding to include a range hood for health reasons and adding a wood-fired cookstove for winter
My experience getting pregnant while nursing and what our typical age gaps have looked like
How I’ve learned to manage the baby stage more smoothly with a larger family and older helpers
Encouragement for moms feeling maxed out with littles—why it won’t always feel this hard
How we evaluate home birth safety, from ultrasound decisions to midwife experience
Why some pregnancies feel harder than others, even when everything seems the same
View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible!
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Brent Hull
100 Year Window by Brent Hull
Thornhill Range Cookers
Join my FREE masterclass to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube
Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course
Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series
Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my YouTube Success Academy
Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook
CONNECT
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I’m chatting with Christine from Frugal Fit Mom all about feeding your family well on a budget—without stressing over perfection. Christine shares her tried-and-true strategies for keeping grocery costs low in today’s economy, including how she stocks her pantry, finds the best meat deals, and plans meals based on what’s already on hand. We also dive into the hidden costs of organic and local food, why she skips most grocery delivery services, and how you can still enjoy fun foods without blowing the budget. Whether you’re shopping for two or ten, this episode is full of real-life tips you can start using today.

In this episode, we cover:


Why Christine avoids Instacart and prefers Walmart Pickup for cost savings


The key pantry staples she stocks up on—and how that helps reduce impulse grocery runs


Her method for spotting true stock-up prices on meat and stretching it to feed a large family


How she feeds a family of five (including three teen boys) on as little as $200/month


A realistic starting point for grocery budgeting: $150 per person per month


Why she generally skips organic (aside from milk) and how local sourcing can dramatically increase grocery costs


How reverse meal planning works and why it saves more than traditional recipe-first planning


Tips for making frugal meals taste amazing with salt, fat, and acid


Christine’s go-to bread recipe (not sourdough!) and how she keeps it soft for days


Her rule for buying fun foods like chips and ice cream—only when they’re 50% off


How shopping less frequently helps avoid overspending (even for perishables)

⁠View full show notes on the blog⁠ + ⁠watch this episode on YouTube⁠.

RESOURCES

⁠Check out Christine’s banana bread recipe⁠

Join my ⁠FREE masterclass⁠ to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube

Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my ⁠Simple Sourdough course⁠

Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my ⁠Simple Sewing series⁠

Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my ⁠YouTube Success Academy⁠

Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my ⁠Daily Sourdough cookbook⁠

CONNECT

Christine Ashby of Frugal Fit Mom | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠YouTube⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠

Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | ⁠Blog⁠ | ⁠YouTube⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠TikTok⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠Pinterest⁠

Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast?  A guest you’d like me to interview?  Submit your questions and ideas here: ⁠bit.ly/SFLquestions⁠.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I’m chatting with Christine from Frugal Fit Mom all about feeding your family well on a budget—without stressing over perfection. Christine shares her tried-and-true strategies for keeping grocery costs low in today’s economy, including how she stocks her pantry, finds the best meat deals, and plans meals based on what’s already on hand. We also dive into the hidden costs of organic and local food, why she skips most grocery delivery services, and how you can still enjoy fun foods without blowing the budget. Whether you’re shopping for two or ten, this episode is full of real-life tips you can start using today.

In this episode, we cover:


Why Christine avoids Instacart and prefers Walmart Pickup for cost savings


The key pantry staples she stocks up on—and how that helps reduce impulse grocery runs


Her method for spotting true stock-up prices on meat and stretching it to feed a large family


How she feeds a family of five (including three teen boys) on as little as $200/month


A realistic starting point for grocery budgeting: $150 per person per month


Why she generally skips organic (aside from milk) and how local sourcing can dramatically increase grocery costs


How reverse meal planning works and why it saves more than traditional recipe-first planning


Tips for making frugal meals taste amazing with salt, fat, and acid


Christine’s go-to bread recipe (not sourdough!) and how she keeps it soft for days


Her rule for buying fun foods like chips and ice cream—only when they’re 50% off


How shopping less frequently helps avoid overspending (even for perishables)

⁠View full show notes on the blog⁠ + ⁠watch this episode on YouTube⁠.

RESOURCES

⁠Check out Christine’s banana bread recipe⁠

Join my ⁠FREE masterclass⁠ to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube

Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my ⁠Simple Sourdough course⁠

Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my ⁠Simple Sewing series⁠

Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my ⁠YouTube Success Academy⁠

Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my ⁠Daily Sourdough cookbook⁠

CONNECT

Christine Ashby of Frugal Fit Mom | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠YouTube⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠

Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | ⁠Blog⁠ | ⁠YouTube⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠TikTok⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠Pinterest⁠

Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast?  A guest you’d like me to interview?  Submit your questions and ideas here: ⁠bit.ly/SFLquestions⁠.