The Unexpected Gardener

Sabrina Key
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Home & Garden
  • Updated Weekly

You don’t need 40 acres or a picture-perfect homestead to live a little differently. I’m a former city girl learning to grow food, cook from scratch, support local farmers, and question a whole lot of what we’ve been told about food, health and the way we’re supposed to live. We’ll talk gardening, sourdough, local food, faith, family, regenerative farming and our broken food system. We’ll ask hard questions, probably get a little salty, and start right where we are. Grow food. Make good food. Follow Jesus. Ask hard questions. Get your hands dirty.

  1. 13h ago

    S3E2 - You Don’t Need a Homestead | Start Right Where You Are

    You don’t need 40 acres, a milk cow, or a picture-perfect homestead to live a little differently. In this episode, I’m digging into what I really mean when I say “come home.” It’s not about becoming completely self-sufficient. It’s about becoming less dependent on systems and more connected to the things that sustain us—our food, the people who grow it, useful skills, our homes and families, our communities, the seasons, and God. We’ll talk about why homesteading isn’t an aesthetic, what convenience may have cost us, why community matters more than doing everything yourself, and simple ways you can begin reconnecting right where you are. You don’t have to grow everything you eat or move to a farm. Pick one thing. Learn one skill. Know one farmer. Start somewhere. Grow food. Make good food. Follow Jesus. Ask hard questions. Get your hands dirty.

  2. Sep 28

    S3E1 - A Health Scare, a Hard Season & Coming Back!

    Unexpected Gardener is back—and honestly, I wasn’t sure it would be, even though I love podcasting. This summer brought a health scare, a hard season, and a lot of time to think about what actually matters to me and what I want this space to become. In this first episode back, I’m sharing a little of what happened, why I’m returning to the podcast, and why the idea of coming home keeps showing up in everything I’m doing. We’re going to talk about growing food, cooking from scratch, supporting local farmers, faith, family, health, our food system—and we’re going to ask some hard questions along the way. If you want to grow your own food, cook from scratch, question the status quo, follow Jesus, and aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty—you’ve come to the right place. Welcome to Unexpected Gardener. Hosted by Sabrina Key, a former city girl turned modern-day homesteader, this is a place for honest conversations about food, gardening, faith, family, health, local agriculture and the systems that shape the way we live and eat. You don’t need acres of land or a picture-perfect homestead. Sometimes coming home starts right where you are. www.unexpectedgardener.com

  3. 03/26/2025

    S2E15 - Chicken Keeping 101 With The Girly Homesteader

    If you have wanted to start keeping chickens but have no idea where to start my friend Laura from The Girly Homesteader does not disappoint! She breaks it all down. I took two pages of notes and feel so much more prepared. Here are a few notes and links of the products that Laura mentioned. Colored Egg Breeds Americanas/Easter Eggers/AmeraucanasOlive EggersCream LegbarDark Egg Breed Black Copper MaranBroody Chickens AustralorpsOrpingtonsZeolite containing coop additives to neutralize Ammonia Sweet PDZ: https://a.co/d/cusnmqLCoop Recuperate: https://a.co/d/c3VETHKPoultry Nipples https://carolinacoopsflockshop.com/products/horizontal-side-mount-chicken-waterer-nipples?variant=43402825007354Auto Chicken Door https://run-chicken.com/doors/?srsltid=AfmBOopmlKx9Xg59SJM4sc2kcIu6O9lRY0BvSE7H_BVAFaGmpm9m8AMZGrubbly Farms Food https://grubblyfarms.com?ref=thegirlyhomesteader&utm_source=thegirlyhomesteader&utm_medium=affiliate

  4. 03/12/2025

    S2E14 - Calm The Heck Down!

    I am going off topic today to tell you to please calm the heck down! For your own sake, take a breath and step away from the computer. A few things have been bothering me these last few weeks on social media from MAHA and others so I am getting it off my chest.

  5. 03/05/2025

    S2E13 - Prep Like a Boss! Guest Laura Breaks it Down

    If you are at all interested in common sense prepping this is the episode for you! My friend Laura shares so many amazing tips that you will be prepping in no time. Preparing for natural disasters can feel overwhelming but Laura makes it feel totally doable. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!She created an incredible resource for you all. You can grab it HERE

  6. 02/12/2025

    S2E12 - Restoration Farm (dreams can come true!)

    In this episode I share how the dream of starting my non profit Restoration Farm came about and what the status is now!

  7. 02/04/2025

    S2E11 - Greyson's Story Part 2

    Part 2 of my son's story and how he is completely off all pharmaceuticals and only taking supplements! His is a HARD journey and it was difficult at times to share it with you but I think it is important. Here is the list of the supplements he is taking. Some of these were introduced in phases. NOTE: just because he is taking these doesn't mean your kid should so PLEASE see a holistic caregiver in your area for their guidance. If you are local to Winston Salem call Robinhood Integrative Health https://robinhoodintegrativehealth.com/ Zen from Allergy Research Group Rise Up from Winged Women's Wellness DL-Phenylalanine from Pure Encapsulations FiberMend from Thorne Berberine from Integrative Therapeutics Magnesium from Pure Encapsulations Biocidin from Biocidin Biotanicals Vitamin D from Pure Encapsulations ZERO artificial colors and no enriched flour If this helps you PLEASE let me know! It will make me so happy.

  8. 01/28/2025

    S2 E10 - Greyson's Story Part 1

    This is raw and honest. I apologize for the audio issues and the fact that I had trouble getting through it! I will address the microphone issues, I promise but I hope you will bare with me through these episodes. https://robinhoodintegrativehealth.com/ https://pandasnetwork.org/what-is-pandas/

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Trailer

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

You don’t need 40 acres or a picture-perfect homestead to live a little differently. I’m a former city girl learning to grow food, cook from scratch, support local farmers, and question a whole lot of what we’ve been told about food, health and the way we’re supposed to live. We’ll talk gardening, sourdough, local food, faith, family, regenerative farming and our broken food system. We’ll ask hard questions, probably get a little salty, and start right where we are. Grow food. Make good food. Follow Jesus. Ask hard questions. Get your hands dirty.

Information

  • Creator
    Sabrina Key
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sabrina Key
  • Show Website
    The Unexpected Gardener

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