The Prairie Homestead

Homesteading | Self Sufficient Living | Living off the Land

Jill Winger

25 Comments | |    Last Updated: November 10, 2015

4 Fast Natural Cough Remedies

Welcome Gwen from Gwen's Nest today as she shares four of her favorite fast and natural cough remedies! I don't know about your house, but around here, if someone is going to come down with a random wracking cough, it's going to be after 10 PM, and likely after the last bit of cough syrup was used up. But that's OK, because one of my favorite things about natural remedies is that many of them use basic things that I already have in ...Continue Reading

19 Comments | |    Last Updated: January 30, 2024

Perfect Roasted Squash Recipe

Right now my days are being filled with newborn cuddles and changing diapers (and I'm also spending a lot of time smelling Prairie Baby's head... Why is it that they smell so good?!), so I have a number of visiting contributors prepared to share their genius with you. Today's it's Renee from Raising Generation Nourished sharing her tips for the perfect roasted squash---> Squash is hands down my favorite fall food. Sure those apple ...Continue Reading

35 Comments | |    Last Updated: October 16, 2020

Honey Caramel Corn Recipe

I've made this honey caramel corn more times than I can count. Need a potluck dish? Make this. Need a dessert you can quickly throw together? Make this. Need something to take to a fall party? Make this. Just DON'T make this if you're home alone... Because it's reaaaaaaly hard not to mow down the whole bowl. Oh, you'll think you have enough willpower... But the sticky brown kernels will beckon you, "Just one more handful, no ...Continue Reading

76 Comments | |    Last Updated: March 17, 2018

Our First Year of Homeschooling

I got a lot of blank stares when I told people we were going to start homeschooling this year... I know they were all thinking, "How on earth is she going to do that when she has a homestead, a blog, an essential oil business, and baby #3 on the way?" Trust me, I kinda thought the same thing... Because I'm a homeschool graduate myself, many folks thought homeschooling would be an obvious choice for our family. It wasn't. I ...Continue Reading

26 Comments | |    Last Updated: January 30, 2024

How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds

  Today Nicole from Little Blog on the Homestead is sharing her tips for roasting pumpkin seeds. If you're planning to cut up pumpkins for pies or jack o'lanterns, be sure to save the seeds back so you can roast 'em!   Fall is here! Few things make me happier than a Michigan fall. We’ve got gorgeous cool weather, all the beautiful colors, and so many opportunities to pick pumpkins and apples! This year was my first growing ...Continue Reading

67 Comments | |    Last Updated: March 11, 2019

Homemade Pumpkin Soap Recipe

Dear Pumpkin Haters, I realize this time of year has got to be difficult for you. No matter where you turn, "pumpkin spice" tends to whack you in the face. From coffee to beer to cereal to body products to candles, and everything in between, there's no escaping the pumpkin craze that hits August 31st at midnight... And I'm going to add to your misery with today's pumpkin soap recipe... Sorry. I'm not into chasing the latest ...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.
Read My Story