

Simple Farmhouse Life
Lisa Bass
With over ten years experience making a home, author and mom of eight, Lisa Bass, shares her love for from scratch cooking, natural living and all things handmade. As a full-time blogger and homeschooler, Lisa also mixes in a little mom life and business tips.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 6, 2024 • 49min
223. Decoding Food Labels and Making Informed Decisions | Tara Vander Dussen, the New Mexico Milkmaid
There are so many buzzwords and labels and opinions floating around when it comes to sourcing healthy food. If you want to have confidence in the food you are feeding your family, it is important to understand what terms like “grass-fed” and “free range” and “all natural” really mean. Join me for this fascinating conversation with Tara as she shares what she has learned from her years of experience in the dairy farming industry and how she navigates the complexities of our current food system.
In this episode, we cover:
Diving into the information overload available to us on the internet
An examination of the “organic” label and what it does and does not mean
Why the rBST labels on dairy products are misleading
How to know what terms are actually beneficial on food labels
A discussion on GMOs and hybrid crops
Why it is important to understand the truth behind the buzzwords
The simplicity of building your plate around animal protein
Decoding the dairy aisle
Finding the middle ground in the raw milk debate
The importance of making your own informed decision
View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Azure Standard | Use code SIMPLEFARMHOUSEWINTER10 at AzureStandard.com
Toups and Co Organics | Use code FARMHOUSE at ToupsandCo.com
ABOUT TARA
As a fifth-generation dairy farmer hailing from the beautiful state of New Mexico, Tara has built a successful career out of a love for the land and her roots in agriculture. As an environmental scientist, Tara has worked on agricultural projects throughout the southwest, and as a professional speaker, her influence extends far beyond the borders of her home state. She has been invited to speak at prestigious national and global conferences, showcasing her knowledge and insights on agriculture sustainability.
Tara is also the co-host of the popular podcast and tv series Discover Ag where she melds food and pop culture to create captivating conversations that dive into the intricacies of our food system in a fun, light-hearted way. A fast talker with a quick wit, Tara engages audiences with her vibrant energy and captivating storytelling.
RESOURCES
Discover Ag Podcast
CONNECT
Tara Vander Dussen | Website | Instagram | Facebook
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!

Jan 30, 2024 • 1h 1min
222. Failure, Success, and Lessons I’ve Learned on My Entrepreneurial Journey
The podcast discusses the speaker's entrepreneurial journey, including their experience with selling handmade and wholesale products, creating Farmhouse on Boone, and replacing their husband's income with their blogging business. They also reflect on the skills they learned in early motherhood, their entrepreneurial family background, and the business lessons that have helped them succeed.

Jan 23, 2024 • 58min
221. Answering Top Chicken Keeping Questions | Dalia of Welcome to Chickenlandia
In this episode, we are diving into the logistics of chicken keeping! We start by exploring the benefits of chicken keeping for kids– what it teaches them and the skills they will gain. Then we are diving into some of the most common chicken keeping questions: feed, egg production, flock management, and more. If you are just getting started in chicken keeping or need a refresher, join us for this discussion!
In this episode, we cover:
Dalia’s unexpected journey to becoming a chicken keeper
How your kids can benefit from learning to care for chickens
Thoughts on supplementing with artificial light in the winter
You can feed your chickens well without spending a lot of money
How fermentation can make your chicken feed stretch further
The best breeds to build your laying flock and where to source them
Keeping track of your growing flock year to year
How the deep litter method can benefit your flock and your garden
View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Submit your questions or guest/topic ideas for the podcast here: bit.ly/SFLquestions
Thank you to our sponsors!
Toups and Co Organics | Use code FARMHOUSE at ToupsandCo.com
Blogging Success Masterclass | Visit bit.ly/farmhousebloggingschool
ABOUT DALIA
You know her as The President of Chickenlandia, but her non-feathered friends call her Dalia. Some years ago, Dalia decided to bring home ten little chicks and start a hobby. That hobby quickly grew into a full-feathered passion that she couldn’t stop talking about. Before long, she was part-owner of a farm store, teaching beginner chicken-keeping classes, and delivering seminars across Northwest Washington. While the store has since closed, Dalia continues to help others start their chicken-keeping adventure while sharing peace, laughter, and inspiration.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
My Pet Chicken
Murray McMurray Hatchery
Flockstar App
Let’s All Keep Chickens! by Dalia Monterroso
Chickenlandia’s Backyard Chickens 101 Course
CONNECT
Dalia Monterroso of Chickenlandia | Website | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Podcast
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!

Jan 16, 2024 • 54min
220. Inspiration for the Homemaker: Creativity, Contentment, and Growth | Andrea of Pine and Prospect Home
I love sharing about what I am doing in my home as a homemaker – the meals I’m cooking, the decor I’m bringing in, the systems I’m maintaining – but this episode goes even deeper into homemaking. I am chatting with my friend and fellow blogger Andrea about the heart behind our homemaking pursuits. As wives and mothers who have been learning and loving homemaking for well over a decade, we want to encourage you to see the beauty and creativity and opportunities that are available to you as a homemaker. May this episode empower you to reject negative depictions of homemaking and to fully embrace the powerful calling of caring for your home and family.
In this episode, we cover:
Andrea’s journey into creating a home decor blog and where she is headed now
All about the incredible resource Andrea has created to mentor homemakers
Exploring the creativity available to us as homemakers
Keeping inspiration and beauty in your home during bleak winter months
The challenge of comparison and discontentment in our connected world
Acknowledging the uncomfortable truth about time management
Breaking out of overwhelm and growing your homemaking skills little by little
View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Simple Sourdough | Visit bit.ly/farmhousesourdoughcourse to enroll today!
Toups and Co Organics | Use code FARMHOUSE at ToupsandCo.com
ABOUT ANDREA
Andrea Francavilla married her high school sweetheart and moved back to her hometown where she purchased the home that she used to clean as a high school senior. Ten years and four boys later, Andrea and her husband Mike have worked hard to restore their 1930’s cottage on a very small budget. Andrea started her blog in 2017 to inspire and encourage others with the idea that any house can be a beautiful home, no matter the size or budget.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Andrea’s The Heart of Homemaking course
CONNECT
Andrea Francavilla of Pine and Prospect Home | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!

Jan 9, 2024 • 1h 2min
219. Prioritize Peace in Your Home: Build Your Decluttering Skills in the New Year | Robyn of Minimalist Home
We have talked quite a bit on this podcast about minimalism and living clutter-free. Even as someone who has been practicing the principles of minimalism for many years, I find that I have to constantly be aware of what is coming into our home so that it does not become overwhelming. Robyn and I chat in this episode about developing a decluttering habit in the new year. Rather than viewing decluttering as a giant one-time task we have to tackle, we should aim to make it part of our everyday mindset. We live in a time and place when it is easier than ever to acquire items, so we have to be intentional about minimizing in order to experience peace in our homes.
In this episode, we cover:
The surprising role your age may play in your relationship to clutter
Addressing the emotional component of decluttering sentimental items
What minimalism can look like in a kids’ room
Moving past the feeling of overwhelm to get started decluttering
Tips for making decluttering a part of your everyday habits
How storage spaces contribute to the problem of overwhelm
Dealing with guilt when decluttering
Addressing some of the common psychological obstacles around decluttering
Choosing to make our homes reflect our current season of life
Finding the right balance of minimalism for your personality and your needs
The one thing you can do today to start a decluttering habit
View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Toups and Co Organics | Use code FARMHOUSE at ToupsandCo.com
Free 5 Day Blog Challenge | Visit bit.ly/5dayblogchallenge
ABOUT ROBYN
Robyn Buchanan is a mom, wife, nurse and youtube creator. She started her minimalism journey because she was overwhelmed coming home to a cluttered house after working in a chaotic emergency department.
Since decluttering, she not only uncovered her floors and surfaces, but also the deeper meanings behind our clutter, how clutter impacts our focus, why it’s so hard to declutter, and how life is freer without our stuff weighing us down.
Robyn lives on Vancouver Island in BC with her 3 teen boys and husband, 4 out of 5 of them have ADHD, including Robyn & her husband. She loves hiking, gardening and cooking along with Jane Austen, Monty Python and Harry Potter movies.
CONNECT
Robyn Buchanan of Minimalist Home | Website | Instagram | YouTube | Podcast
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!

Jan 2, 2024 • 59min
218. Quick & Simple Meals From Scratch Without Meal Planning | Cami of TIDBITS & Company
Cooking every meal from scratch can seem like a complicated and time-consuming endeavor if it is not part of your normal routine. In this episode, Cami and I aim to change your mindset around cooking from scratch and show you how truly simple and fast it can be. We start out by giving you ideas of meals you can throw together in a pinch without sacrificing quality. Then we dive into meals that take a little planning ahead, but don’t require you to spend all day in the kitchen. If you have a goal of cooking from scratch more this year, we hope this episode encourages you with how simple it can be and how valuable it is to your family.
In this episode, we cover:
What ingredients to keep stocked in your kitchen so you can always throw together a quick meal
Meals you can pull together at the last minute if you haven’t planned ahead
The few staple appliances that make it easy to whip up last minute meals
Some simple meal ideas that require a little planning ahead but are not complicated
How cooking meals from scratch is actually simpler than you may think
Shifting our mindset around cooking from scratch and why it is valuable
Leaning into the creativity of cooking from scratch
Practical strategies for cooking meals from scratch when you have little ones underfoot
How to approach meal times with picky eaters
Cooking healthy meals from scratch on a very tight budget
View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Azure Standard | Use code SIMPLEFARMHOUSEWINTER10 at AzureStandard.com
Toups and Co Organics | Use code FARMHOUSE at ToupsandCo.com
Please see full show notes for more details on these offers.
ABOUT CAMI
Cami is the creator of the blog and YouTube channel TIDBITS & Company. She loves sharing inspiration for the keeper of the home. You can also tune into her Keeper of the Home Podcast, hosted on any of your favorite podcast platforms and as a video podcast on her TIDBITS & Company YouTube channel. Shop all her products, keeper of the home classes and more at tidbitsandco.com.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Watch Cami’s video on healthy and fast dinner ideas + read the blog post
Keeper of the Home Podcast
Shop Cami’s products and classes
Check out Lisa’s sourdough course Simple Sourdough
CONNECT
Cami Graham of TIDBITS & Company | Website | Instagram | YouTube | Podcast | Pinterest | Facebook | TikTok
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!

Dec 26, 2023 • 59min
217. Cultivate a Frugal Mindset and Take Control of Your Spending | Jen & Jill of Frugal Friends Podcast
Jen and Jill of Frugal Friends Podcast share their insights on frugality and financial freedom. They discuss how frugality extends beyond money and the importance of examining your mindset around money. They explore the distinction between being cheap and being frugal and offer tips on reforming spending habits. They also highlight the benefits of seeking creative solutions that don’t require spending.

Dec 19, 2023 • 47min
216. Grow a Year’s Worth of Food on a Small Homestead | Michelle Knox of More Than Farmers
You can accomplish a lot more on a small homestead than you think! I have had many guests on the podcast testify to this fact with the incredible ways they use their homesteads to produce surprising amounts of food. In this episode, Michelle is sharing how she and her family produce approximately 75% of their food from their five and a half acre homestead. She walks us through how to choose what crops you will produce and how to preserve them all while avoiding feelings of overwhelm and burnout. Join us for this practical conversation!
In this episode, we cover:
Swaps you can make when you are trying to minimize shopping at the grocery store
Changing your strategy from year to year as you grow your family’s food
Deciding what your staple crops will be in your climate
Finding the best method of preservation for your produce
Creating a meal plan that fits with what you grow and preserve
A simple approach to garden planning for a year’s worth of food
What to grow in a raised bed and what to grow in the ground
Practical strategies for avoiding or recovering from burnout
Minimizing your stressors by simplifying your home
The power of involving your kids in the garden and homestead projects
View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Simple Sourdough | Visit bit.ly/farmhousesourdoughcourse to enroll today!
Toups and Co Organics | Use code FARMHOUSE at ToupsandCo.com
ABOUT MICHELLE
Michelle is a homesteader, avid gardener, content creator, and homeschooling mom of 4. She and her husband, Codi, grow and raise a large percentage of the food they eat on their 5 ½ acre homestead in Ohio. Michelle and Codi have a passion for educating people on how to be efficient and avoid stress and burnout on the homestead.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Strategies to Grow an Entire Year’s Worth of Food on a Small Homestead
CONNECT
Michelle Knox of More Than Farmers | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!

Dec 12, 2023 • 51min
215. Suburban Homesteading + Backyard Beekeeping | Katie Brandt of Sweetgum Spot
I hear from many of you who are dreaming of life on a homestead, but you are currently living in the suburbs. While it can be discouraging to search and wait for that dream property, there is so much you can do in the backyard of your neighborhood lot. Join me in listening to Katie’s story about making the most of where you are. Katie now helps other homestead dreamers begin their homesteading endeavors no matter how small their property.
In this episode, we cover:
How Katie began homesteading using only her balcony
Why beekeeping should be the gateway venture for homesteaders
Getting started raising meat rabbits in your backyard
A cost breakdown for raising meat rabbits
An argument for being involved in the raising and processing of the meat you consume
What benefit is there to keeping bees on your homestead?
Issues to watch out for in your bee hives
Navigating hive swarming and splitting
How much honey do beehives produce?
Is beekeeping safe? How often do you get stung?
How to get plugged in to your local beekeeping community and find a mentor
All about the helpful resource Katie has created to help you get started with beekeeping
View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Toups and Co Organics | Use code FARMHOUSE at ToupsandCo.com
Free 5 Day Blog Challenge | Visit bit.ly/5dayblogchallenge
RESOURCES MENTIONED
The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Beekeeping
CONNECT
Katie Brandt of Sweetgum Spot | Website | Instagram | TikTok
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!

Dec 5, 2023 • 1h 3min
214. Christmas in the Kitchen: Sourdough Inspiration for the Holidays! | Ash of Turner Farm
One of my favorite topics to dive into is sourdough, and Ash is the perfect person to join me for today’s conversation! Ash creates the most beautiful sourdough baked goods, and she teaches others to do the same. We are chatting about the recipes we love baking around the holidays, our best tips for gifting baked goods, the ins and outs of working with different types of dough, recovering sourdough fails, and more. Join us for this conversation as you get ready to jump into holiday baking this season!
In this episode, we cover:
All about Ash’s farm and sourdough journey
A few favorite sourdough recipes for the holidays
How the fermentation process keeps food from spoiling
Reviving a sourdough starter that has been neglected
Ideas for gifting baked goods
Tips for mastering brioche dough and how to use it
The versatility and technique of making pastry dough
Navigating the challenges of fermented cookies
Strategies for long-fermenting without overproofing
Bringing back dough that has been overproofed
View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Azure Standard | Use code SIMPLEFARMHOUSEWINTER10 at AzureStandard.com
Toups and Co Organics | Use code FARMHOUSE at ToupsandCo.com
Please see full show notes for more details on these offers.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Listen to episode 146 with Ash Turner
Ash’s chocolate sourdough recipe
Ash’s cinnamon wreath recipe
CONNECT
Ash Turner of Turner Farm | Website | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest | Facebook
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!


