Homesteading Made Simple I Joyfully Prepared

Wendi Bergin

Homesteading Made Simple is a podcast about practical homesteading skills for real life. Homesteading looks a lot different in real life than it does on the internet, and this podcast is about making it feel doable. I’m Wendi, and each episode focuses on homesteading skills that actually fit into everyday life. We talk about gardening, food storage, food preservation, kitchen skills, preparedness, and self-reliance. The calm, common-sense kind. Not extreme. Not fear-based. You’ll also hear about real estate, land, and choosing homes that support homesteading and self-reliant living. Whether you’re dreaming of land, managing a backyard homestead, or simply making better decisions where you live, real estate plays a big role in the life you’re building. This podcast is practical, honest, and rooted in real experience. Some lessons go smoothly. Others are learned the hard way. Either way, the goal is the same. Build skills. Build confidence. Keep it simple. New episodes release regularly. Subscribe and start building homesteading skills that support a more prepared, capable life. On Homesteading Made Simple, you’ll hear conversations around questions like: How do I start homesteading when I don’t have land or a perfect setup? What homesteading skills actually matter most for everyday life? How do I build real homesteading skills without getting overwhelmed? What does modern homesteading look like for families today? How do gardening, food storage, and kitchen skills work together on a homestead? How can homesteading make life feel calmer, not harder? What does preparedness look like for homesteaders who don’t want to live in fear? How do I become more self-reliant through simple homesteading skills? How does real estate and land choice affect homesteading success? How do I build confidence and capability at home, one skill at a time?

  1. 1D AGO

    Surviving Survivor w/ Liz Wilcox

    What we cover Why Wendi wanted the survival side of Survivor, not just gameplay The bathroom reality: no toilet paper, “Coconut Grove,” and leaf roulette The pre game survival briefing and what it does and does not teach you Fire making in Fiji, and why moisture makes everything harder Why digging a fire pit is basically impossible on volcanic rock The rule about losing flint, and how banking embers can save you Wildlife risks and what they warned contestants about The surprising reason bigger fish are discouraged What they actually ate: crabs, small fish, worms, and the hunt for fruit Food allergies on the island and how that changes everything The stingray moment: how it was caught, how it was killed, and how it got ruined Bug bites, scent differences, and why some people get wrecked and others do not Parasites, water concerns, and what contestants do after the show The deeper lesson Liz brought home: receiving grace, not just giving it Wendi’s closing message: skills are a bank account that never depletes Memorable moments and quotes “Survivor is real baby. They do not give you toilet paper.” “Do not boil a stingray.” “Skills are what brings freedom.” “You can never deplete the reservoir of skills.” Listener question Would you go on Survivor? Be honest. Indoor toilets matter. Guest Liz Wilcox Instagram: @thelizwilcox (as mentioned in the episode)   🏡 Website: joyfullyprepared.com 📚 Joyfully Prepared Library: joyfullypreparedlibrary.com 🗓️ Meal Planning Worksheet: joyfulprep.kartra.com/page/planning 🏠 Joyfully Prepared Realtor: joyfullyprepared.com/realestate 📸 Instagram: @joyfulprepper 👩‍🌾 Facebook Group: joyfulprepgroup.com

    50 min
  2. FEB 3

    Homesteading on a Budget

    When Wendi moved her family to Florida, she left behind something she now deeply misses. Not furniture. Farm tools. That realization became the heart of this episode. In this episode, we talk about:Why homesteading value lives in skills, not stuff How to homestead on a budget without waiting for “someday” Learning to see abundance in your home, yard, and even clutter Why buckets, tools, pallets, and scraps matter more than aesthetics The power of foraging and learning what already grows around you How weeds like dandelions are only weeds until you know their purpose Building functional chicken coops and pens without expensive materials Growing food from seeds and turning small starts into food or income Using grocery scraps like tomatoes, onions, and radishes to grow more food Why mistakes are part of building self-reliant confidence How resilience is formed through learning, trying, and adjusting A gentle invitation to learn skills inside the Joyfully Prepared Library: www.joyfullypreparedlibrary.com This episode is for anyone who feels drawn to homesteading but worries they cannot afford it. It is a reminder that confidence comes from learning, not buying. 🏡 Website: joyfullyprepared.com 📚 Joyfully Prepared Library: joyfullypreparedlibrary.com 🗓️ Meal Planning Worksheet: joyfulprep.kartra.com/page/planning 🏠 Joyfully Prepared Realtor: joyfullyprepared.com/realestate 📸 Instagram: @joyfulprepper 👩‍🌾 Facebook Group: joyfulprepgroup.com

    21 min
  3. JAN 13

    How Homesteading Builds Confidence Through Failure

    Celebrating episode 200 and four years of podcasting Why Wendi started the podcast and what Joyfully Prepared is really about Milling grain and baking whole wheat bread as a lesson in learning through failure A simple, everyday definition of anti-fragility How homesteading naturally builds anti-fragile skills Skill stacking and why learning one skill makes the next easier Building a fence solo and choosing hard things on purpose Recognizing and shifting out of victim thinking Asking the question that changes everything: “What can I do with what I have right now?” Creating anti-fragile moments intentionally in low-stakes spaces Applying anti-fragility to quilting, real estate, and everyday life Why preparedness creates calm and reduces panic Using a transformation journal to document growth and progress A gentle reminder that being clumsy and unfinished is part of becoming capable ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Container Gardening Course - https://joyfulprep.kartra.com/page/containergardeningcourse Podcast Episode: Mastering the Art of Skill Stacking for Ultimate Preparedness   🏡 Website: joyfullyprepared.com 📚 Joyfully Prepared Library: joyfullypreparedlibrary.com 🗓️ Meal Planning Worksheet: joyfulprep.kartra.com/page/planning 🏠 Joyfully Prepared Realtor: joyfullyprepared.com/realestate 📸 Instagram: @joyfulprepper 👩‍🌾 Facebook Group: joyfulprepgroup.com

    23 min

Trailer

5
out of 5
43 Ratings

About

Homesteading Made Simple is a podcast about practical homesteading skills for real life. Homesteading looks a lot different in real life than it does on the internet, and this podcast is about making it feel doable. I’m Wendi, and each episode focuses on homesteading skills that actually fit into everyday life. We talk about gardening, food storage, food preservation, kitchen skills, preparedness, and self-reliance. The calm, common-sense kind. Not extreme. Not fear-based. You’ll also hear about real estate, land, and choosing homes that support homesteading and self-reliant living. Whether you’re dreaming of land, managing a backyard homestead, or simply making better decisions where you live, real estate plays a big role in the life you’re building. This podcast is practical, honest, and rooted in real experience. Some lessons go smoothly. Others are learned the hard way. Either way, the goal is the same. Build skills. Build confidence. Keep it simple. New episodes release regularly. Subscribe and start building homesteading skills that support a more prepared, capable life. On Homesteading Made Simple, you’ll hear conversations around questions like: How do I start homesteading when I don’t have land or a perfect setup? What homesteading skills actually matter most for everyday life? How do I build real homesteading skills without getting overwhelmed? What does modern homesteading look like for families today? How do gardening, food storage, and kitchen skills work together on a homestead? How can homesteading make life feel calmer, not harder? What does preparedness look like for homesteaders who don’t want to live in fear? How do I become more self-reliant through simple homesteading skills? How does real estate and land choice affect homesteading success? How do I build confidence and capability at home, one skill at a time?

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