The Prairie Homestead

Homesteading | Self Sufficient Living | Living off the Land

Jill Winger

18 Comments | |    Last Updated: March 17, 2018

How to Sprout Seeds

Seriously. Why have I not tried this sooner? For some unknown reason I have put off sprouting seeds for almost a year. I guess I thought it would be complicated or something? Well, I can now report that sprouting seeds might just be the simplest thing I've done since I started cooking real food! In my opinion, this is just an absolute must for any person interested in more healthful eating. Why? 1. These little seedlings are ...Continue Reading

31 Comments | |    Last Updated: April 10, 2019

Chocolate Peppermint Smoothie Recipe

Honestly, I'm not totally sure what to call this recipe... Our family calls it a milkshake, but it's slightly misleading since it doesn't contain any ice cream. So, I decided to call it a smoothie instead, but that makes me think of breakfast drinks that contain yogurt and strawberries and sometimes the random handful of kale... It's more of a "dessert smoothie," I guess. This is our favorite treat after a long, hot day working around ...Continue Reading

45 Comments | |    Last Updated: June 13, 2023

Soft Molasses Cookies Recipe

    Soft, chewy, and spicy. These soft molasses cookies are like taking a bite of Christmas. Elaborate Christmas cookies really aren't my thing (although I will spend a little extra time to make homemade peppermint patties on occasion...), so I lean heavily on these simple molasses cookies when I need to bring sweets to an event or party. Sucanat, an unrefined cane sugar, pairs beautifully with the rich blackstrap molasses ...Continue Reading

52 Comments | |    Last Updated: March 17, 2018

Goat 101: My Milking Routine

So you've bought some goats and gathered your equipment. Let's do some milking! First off, you'll need a milking stand. It is possible to milk without one. Trust me, I have done it. Five days post-partum. With a wild, first-freshener, kicky goat... It can be done, but I sure looove my stand. This post has more photos of my stand if you are interested in building one like it for yourself. And check out my video on how to use a goat ...Continue Reading

9 Comments | |    Last Updated: January 19, 2024

Honey Whipped Carrots

Sometimes, simplicity in the kitchen can make the best meals. This quick honey whipped carrots recipe turns the humble carrot into a serious showstopper. I’ve occasionally experimented with adding extras like cranberries, nutmeg, or cinnamon to this dish, but I have always returned to the simplicity of just these four ingredients. Use a blender, food processor, or stand mixer to whip the cooked carrots—manual potato mashers won’t ...Continue Reading

59 Comments | |    Last Updated: November 2, 2022

Home Dairy 101: Cow vs. Goat

So, you have decided to jump into home dairying and that raw milk is a priority for your family. The BIG Question is "How exactly do you acquire it?". If you are like us, purchasing raw milk for human consumption is illegal in our state. In fact, Wyoming has just barely started officially "allowing" cowshare or goatshare programs. So unless we want to drive out of state, we are out of luck. These reasons combined with the fact that ...Continue Reading

Nice to Meet You

I’m Jill. I’ve never been very good at following prescribed paths.

For the last 15 years, that instinct has led me through homesteading, entrepreneurship, and creating a life my younger self could have only dreamed of.

These days, I’m less interested in living the perfect "old-fashioned life" and more interested in knowing which ideas are worth carrying forward. The first half of this story was about building a homestead. The next part is about building a life that actually fits.
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