The Prairie Homestead

Homesteading | Self Sufficient Living | Living off the Land

Jill Winger

148 Comments | |    Last Updated: June 2, 2026

DIY Mint Extract Recipe

I get such a kick out of figuring out how to make commonly purchased items from scratch. Whether it be homemade tortillas, refried beans, or breadcrumbs, I feel like I've won every time I can put one more thing on my "never-buy-again" list. Homemade vanilla extract is super-duper easy to make, and there are tutorials all over the place. But did you know you can make other extracts too? This homemade stevia extract and today's mint ...Continue Reading

60 Comments | |    Last Updated: October 15, 2020

Honey Maple Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Some days you just gotta bake. And with our unusually blustery and chilly fall this year, I'm in the mood even earlier than normal. Unfortunately, most pumpkin bread recipes are more like cake. Not that there is anything wrong with cake, per say, but it's not the greatest thing to eat for breakfast. (And I like to eat my pumpkin bread--and my pumpkin pie--for breakfast, thankyouverymuch.) I pulled out all of the pumpkin ...Continue Reading

258 Comments | |    Last Updated: March 17, 2018

Dam Raised Goats: 4 Reasons to Skip the Bottle

(This post contains affiliate links)  Today I'm thrilled to have Deborah Niemann sharing her knowledge with us. She is an author, blogger, and homesteader extraordinaire. She also recently published Raising Goats Naturally: The Complete Guide to Milk, Meat, and More. She is a wealth of knowledge, and I think you'll enjoy her post as much as I did!  Having breastfed my own human kids and having been a lactation consultant in my ...Continue Reading

19 Comments | |    Last Updated: August 12, 2025

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe

Pumpkin season. It's here folks... Can I get an "Amen?" My pumpkin harvest was rather slim this year from my garden (only three little guys...), but thankfully I still have some pureed pumpkin tucked in the back of my freezer from last year. (Speaking of pumpkin puree-- have you seen my super-easy method for processing fresh pumpkins?) I'm personally quite thrilled to see Pinterest and Facebook exploding with pumpkin ...Continue Reading

42 Comments | |    Last Updated: June 13, 2023

How to Make Pumpkin Cream Puffs

  Cream puffs might not be the most "homesteader-ish" recipe, but I'm posting them anyway... Because quite honestly, they just might be the world's most perfect dessert.... ;)   I'm far from a pastry chef, but I've found these rustic puffs to be pretty simple to make- and they are especially lovely when filled with real, raw, whipped cream... You can also fill 'em up with pudding-- especially chocolate!   BUT. ...Continue Reading

123 Comments | |    Last Updated: December 27, 2023

What Dishwashers, Blenders, and Washing Machines Have to do with Homesteading

Laura Ingalls Wilder didn't have a Dishwasher! Earlier this week on my Facebook page, I casually shared a tip about how I use Lemon essential oil to keep my dishwasher from getting stinky, which I assumed would lead into a simple discussion about household cleaning and essential oils. Imagine my shock when I popped over to the page to find folks expressing their displeasure at the fact that I have a dishwasher. I sure didn't see ...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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