The Prairie Homestead

Homesteading | Self Sufficient Living | Living off the Land

Jill Winger

Leave a Comment | |    Last Updated: June 25, 2023

How to Fix Tainted Soil

I'm not stranger to dealing with poisoned and tainted soil in my garden. I wish that I could say that tainted and damaged garden soil has only happened to me once, but it's actually happened multiple times... --> The first time was when we accidentally bought contaminated non-organic hay for our Deep Mulch garden method (read more about that story here). --> The next time was when we accidentally tainted our compost pile ...Continue Reading

2 Comments | |    Last Updated: December 27, 2023

What I’ve Been Reading Lately…

Last week the ground was covered in a blanket of white. This week, it’s 70+ degrees and my kids are “swimming” in the buffalo wallow. A tinge of green is appearing across the prairie that’s been brown for an eternity. It’s coming. I'm looking forward to sun, soil, and long evenings spent outside. Although... a part of me will miss the peaceful nights curled next to the fire with a good book. But I know that time will come ...Continue Reading

8 Comments | |    Last Updated: January 17, 2024

When Modernity Leaves Us Wanting

Last month I spent time taking photos at a few old homesteads. There’s something about these abandoned places that feels sacred to me. A sort of magic lingers in the air. The veil feels thinner. There's an energy of lives lived, time past, and love shared. I can't explain it, but I can feel it. Yet my rushes of excitement often swirl with twinges of sadness. Especially as I witness the growing decay from year to year. At ...Continue Reading

8 Comments | |    Last Updated: December 27, 2023

Being Old-Fashioned on Purpose

Writing a book is weird. It's a multi-year project that takes everything you have. It transforms you, changes you, sometimes breaks you... but the people around you often don't even know it's happening. As some of you know, I spent the bulk of last year buried in book-writing. It's been beautiful... and often brutal. But we're in the home stretch. And I FINALLY have the green light to share more with you today about my new ...Continue Reading

2 Comments | |    Last Updated: October 21, 2025

Why Good Potting Soil is Important (and the Story of My Dead Tomato Seedlings)

Last spring, I couldn't get my tomato seedlings to grow. I tried everything. After using multiple different seeds and seed companies, trying different pots, changing the lighting, watering differently, and even replanting everything, I threw up my hands in despair.  Maybe I just wouldn't be growing tomatoes for the year... But then I thought of the one variable that I hadn't considered before: the potting soil. Later into ...Continue Reading

9 Comments | |    Last Updated: December 27, 2023

Breaking all the Homestead Rules

By definition, homesteading is a culture of rule breakers. That’s part of the reason I love it. Yet even the most contrarian clubs tend to develop rules of sorts.  It’s funny how that works.  As I’ve watch the online homestead culture explode over the years (the topic of my podcast this week), I’ve realized that I’m not great at coloring within the lines— even in the world of homesteading.  Here are a few of ...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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