Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Watch this episode on YouTube: youtu.be/SRuwHXhjkx4?feature=shared
Or listen on your favorite podcast player: pod.link/1494284839/episode/0700bdab235c78b7ed7bb4c82847356d
If you’ve ever dreamed of leaving the suburbs for a slice of quiet country life, this episode will speak right to your heart. Author Melissa Ferguson joins me to share the real-life inspiration behind her new children’s book, Our Friendly Farmhouse—a sweet and whimsical reflection of her family’s journey from cul-de-sac to countryside. We talk about building a home from scratch, traveling with a big family, and slowly creating a homestead that feels peaceful, practical, and full of charm. Melissa offers encouragement and budget-friendly tips for anyone in the thick of building, dreaming, or simply trying to make thoughtful choices in the season they’re in. In this episode, we cover:
- Melissa Ferguson returns to share the inspiration behind her debut children’s book, Our Friendly Farmhouse, which tells a whimsical version of her family’s move from suburbia to the country
- How a spontaneous land auction and a last-minute bid from her brother-in-law launched their homesteading journey
- The process of building their home from scratch—leveraging her husband’s experience as a builder and funding parts of the project through social media brand deals
- Reflections on the early stages of their homestead—living in town during the build, missing the land, and making daily visits to the property
- A rich conversation about traveling with a big family—carry-on-only tips, spontaneous trips, dividing and conquering, and how animals (especially dairy cows) impact travel flexibility
- Melissa’s best budget-saving build strategies: buying materials on Black Friday, repurposing gym flooring, and skipping high-end finishes in favor of upgrades over time
- Thoughtful advice on design choices—prioritizing natural light, southern exposure, adaptable floor plans, and creating cozy, lived-in charm
- Honest reflections on what she might do differently: adding a tornado shelter, skipping carpet, and not letting a gifted vanity dictate an entire bathroom design
- Why they chose to build slowly, add animals over time, and prioritize flexibility over going “all in” from the beginning
- The value of outdoor gathering spaces—daily porch coffee with her husband, chalk art and pickleball in the driveway, and simple spots that invite rest and connection
#HomesteadKids #FarmLife #SlowLiving #IntentionalLiving #FamilyChores #HomesteadFamily #RaisingCapableKids #SimpleLiving #BackToBasics #LifeOnTheFarm #MoreThanCarrots #GoodWork #PurposefulParenting #LessonsFromTheLand #WorkWithYourHands #MomLife #FarmLi
Watch this episode on YouTube: youtu.be/SRuwHXhjkx4?feature=shared
Or listen on your favorite podcast player: pod.link/1494284839/episode/0700bdab235c78b7ed7bb4c82847356d
If you’ve ever dreamed of leaving the suburbs for a slice of quiet country life, this episode will speak right to your heart. Author Melissa Ferguson joins me to share the real-life inspiration behind her new children’s book, Our Friendly Farmhouse—a sweet and whimsical reflection of her family’s journey from cul-de-sac to countryside. We talk about building a home from scratch, traveling with a big family, and slowly creating a homestead that feels peaceful, practical, and full of charm. Melissa offers encouragement and budget-friendly tips for anyone in the thick of building, dreaming, or simply trying to make thoughtful choices in the season they’re in. In this episode, we cover:
- Melissa Ferguson returns to share the inspiration behind her debut children’s book, Our Friendly Farmhouse, which tells a whimsical version of her family’s move from suburbia to the country
- How a spontaneous land auction and a last-minute bid from her brother-in-law launched their homesteading journey
- The process of building their home from scratch—leveraging her husband’s experience as a builder and funding parts of the project through social media brand deals
- Reflections on the early stages of their homestead—living in town during the build, missing the land, and making daily visits to the property
- A rich conversation about traveling with a big family—carry-on-only tips, spontaneous trips, dividing and conquering, and how animals (especially dairy cows) impact travel flexibility
- Melissa’s best budget-saving build strategies: buying materials on Black Friday, repurposing gym flooring, and skipping high-end finishes in favor of upgrades over time
- Thoughtful advice on design choices—prioritizing natural light, southern exposure, adaptable floor plans, and creating cozy, lived-in charm
- Honest reflections on what she might do differently: adding a tornado shelter, skipping carpet, and not letting a gifted vanity dictate an entire bathroom design
- Why they chose to build slowly, add animals over time, and prioritize flexibility over going “all in” from the beginning
- The value of outdoor gathering spaces—daily porch coffee with her husband, chalk art and pickleball in the driveway, and simple spots that invite rest and connection
#HomesteadKids #FarmLife #SlowLiving #IntentionalLiving #FamilyChores #HomesteadFamily #RaisingCapableKids #SimpleLiving #BackToBasics #LifeOnTheFarm #MoreThanCarrots #GoodWork #PurposefulParenting #LessonsFromTheLand #WorkWithYourHands #MomLife #FarmLi
