The Prairie Homestead

Homesteading | Self Sufficient Living | Living off the Land

Jill Winger

23 Comments | |    Last Updated: January 30, 2024

How to Make Milk Kefir

I never thought I'd have to set up "territories" on my kitchen counters. The crock of continuous brew kombucha occupies the east end of the kitchen island, the sourdough starter lives in between the sink and stove, and the occasional fermented veggies (like sauerkraut) reside near the overflowing egg bowl. And now, there's a new member joining the club:  KEFIR. I've been aware of kefir for a long time, but always figured ...Continue Reading

43 Comments | |    Last Updated: August 5, 2026

How to Can Food with No Special Equipment

The pantry shelf in my basement is noticeably more empty. Which only means one thing... It's time to fill it back up! I'm ready, y'all. Like so many of you, I'm feeling the pull to stock up and squirrel away food, even more than I usually do. There's so much I can't control about this crazy world right now, but I CAN control how I'm feeding my family. And oddly enough, that does indeed makes me feel better. I'm seeing a ...Continue Reading

6 Comments | |    Last Updated: July 1, 2020

How to Grow Your Best Onion Crop Ever

There are a handful of "pantry crops" I grow every year, without fail... And onions are one of the most important. Considering I use an onion in almost every meal I cook, they are non-negotiable in my homestead kitchen. While I haven't yet been able to grow enough onions to last me through the entire year, I grow as many as I can in our raised bed garden and squirrel them away in the darkest corners of the basement to become the ...Continue Reading

10 Comments | |    Last Updated: June 13, 2023

Cooking with Salt: Your Questions Answered

I have banned salt shakers from my dining table. It's not that I believe in bland food... On the contrary, I'm rather salt-obsessed. But I believe that properly salted food is the cook's responsibility, and so I work extra hard to ensure that all the food I serve is salted to perfection before it hits the table. Call me crazy, but if we have to salt our food a the table, I feel like I've failed in the kitchen. (And yes, when I ...Continue Reading

5 Comments | |    Last Updated: April 30, 2024

Making and Using Compost for Your Garden

"Well, my favorite manure is horse, followed by goat or rabbit...." I was on a call with the members of one of my mentorship programs and those were the exact words that came out of my mouth right as a friend walked through door. I wonder what on earth he thought? ? And this is why us homestead folk are our own breed of weird...  But yes, I do indeed have a favorite manure, because I believe manure is one of the very best ...Continue Reading

32 Comments | |    Last Updated: April 1, 2024

How to Use a Grain Mill to Make Your Own Flour from Wheat Berries

Someday I'm gonna tell my grandkids about the Great Flour Shortage of 2020. I don't think any of us expected a global pandemic to result in an extreme shortage of toilet paper, yeast, and flour... Strange times, man.  Even though our grocery stores are a little better stocked than they were several months ago, supply on many of the items are still a bit sketchy... Which is making me more determined that ever to have a ...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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