The Prairie Homestead

Homesteading | Self Sufficient Living | Living off the Land

Jill Winger

2 Comments | |    Last Updated: November 15, 2022

10 Tips for Butchering at Home

Raising your own meat to provide food for your family is a truly rewarding experience... More and more people are questioning where their food is coming from (which is awesome) and trying to be more self-sufficient by providing what they can themselves. This has included growing gardens, cooking from scratch, raising animals, and butchering at home. We made the choice years ago to butcher our own meat animals whenever possible (we ...Continue Reading

4 Comments | |    Last Updated: November 9, 2022

How to Store Animal Feed

It is no secret that the one part of homesteading that I get really excited about is having all the animals roaming around. Adding livestock big or small is usually a huge stepping stone on a homesteading journey and to self-sufficiency. When you are deciding what livestock is right for your homestead, you obviously have to consider how much space you have for your chosen animals, but another important thing that often gets overlooked ...Continue Reading

5 Comments | |    Last Updated: June 6, 2025

How to Make Homemade Herbal Bath Salts

Homesteading is trying to live independently and being self-sufficient where you can... It is about growing, failing, and learning while enjoying the results of the hard work you have contributed. It is a rewarding way of life, that sometimes can be a hard one. That is why I have learned it is just as important to take care of yourself as well as the garden, cows, or chickens. There are many different natural DIY self-care remedies ...Continue Reading

5 Comments | |    Last Updated: April 20, 2023

Slow Cooker Beef Roast with Sweet & Salty Sauce

Don't get me wrong, a freezer full of beef is a great problem to have... BUT sometimes it is a problem none-the-less. Roasts are great, but sometimes the same old thing for dinner can get monotonous even if it's good, amiright? When my kids start complaining about eating the same beef roast recipes over and over again, I know it's time to get creative. That's where this recipe for Slow Cooker Beef Roast with Sweet and Salty Sauce ...Continue Reading

2 Comments | |    Last Updated: March 8, 2023

Tips for Training Your Dog to Be Chicken Friendly

There is one homesteading animal that tends to be forgotten among the cows, chickens, and goats.  For centuries, dogs, aka “man’s best friend” has been a part of the homesteading lifestyle by protecting, herding, and providing company. Some dog breeds are specifically bred and raised to protect and/or herd other homesteading animals. However, it's super important to realize that all dogs need some form of training to show them the ...Continue Reading

2 Comments | |    Last Updated: September 27, 2022

How to Pick the Best Livestock for Your Homestead

Homesteading…. whenever this word is used, many people picture a beautiful thriving garden, chickens scratching at the yard, and gentle mooing from across a green pasture. Growing your own food, preserving your harvest, starting a home dairy, or raising your own meat animals are great homesteading options. However, one super important thing to remember about modern homesteading is that you get to pick and choose what aspects work best ...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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