Simple Farmhouse Life

I hear from many of you who have a dream of living a homestead lifestyle on your own property out in the country. Natalie and her family had a similar dream, and they were determined to do it without taking on a mortgage. Rather than opting for an RV or tiny home, they turned a shed into the cottage of their dreams. Natalie joins me in this episode to share about the process, answer frequently asked questions, and talk through their long-term vision. I hope Natalie’s story inspires your creativity and resourcefulness as you work toward your own dreams!

In this episode, we cover:

What led Natalie and her family to sell their property in Texas and build a 750 sq. ft. shed home in South Carolina

Making a small house work for a large family is easier than you may think

Why a shed house is the perfect solution for families who dream of living on land

What costs should you factor into a shed home build?

These long-term options make a shed home worth the investment

What it’s really like living with four young boys in a tiny house

Answering the most common questions about Natalie’s shed home

Logistics of moving a large family with farm animals

⁠View full show notes on the blog⁠ + ⁠watch this episode on YouTube⁠.

⁠Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible⁠!

ABOUT NATALIE

Natalie Holland is a believer, wife, mama to four boys, and stylist turned homemaker. Together with her husband they built a little cottage out of a shed. They work as a team with Natalie taking care of design and Jordan executing her vision. Natalie is passionate about sharing ways to create beauty in everyday life through homemaking. 

RESOURCES

⁠See the tour of Natalie’s shed home here⁠!

⁠Get your copy of Natalie’s cottage build and design guide⁠

Join my ⁠FREE masterclass⁠ to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube

Sit in my ⁠FREE masterclass⁠ to learn the secrets to becoming a full-time blogger

Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my ⁠Simple Sourdough course⁠

Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my ⁠Simple Sewing series⁠

Learn how you can earn a full-time income from home with my ⁠Create Your Blog Dream course⁠

Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my ⁠YouTube Success Academy⁠

Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my ⁠Daily Sourdough cookbook⁠

CONNECT

Natalie Holland of Home of Hollands | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠YouTube⁠

Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | ⁠Blog⁠ | ⁠YouTube⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠TikTok⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠Pinterest⁠

Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: ⁠bit.ly/SFLquestions⁠.

After six years of podcasting, I’m sharing why this will be the final episode of the Simple Farmhouse Life podcast.  I’m also giving a personal life update, what’s next for my business, and answering a few of your questions on sourdough, from-scratch cooking, and motherhood!

In this episode, we cover:

- The decision to sunset the podcast after six years and the thought process behind finally letting it go

- A look at the natural course of business: years of building, a season of maintaining, and now intentionally pruning

- An exciting home building update: nearing the end of our long build and preparing to move within weeks

- Q&A on cooking from scratch and fermenting foods even in a very small space like an RV

- Practical ideas for making sourdough work in a colder home and how to adjust timing based on temperature

- Encouragement around speech development and the wide range of “normal” seen across my nine children

- A look back at cloth diapering in earlier years versus choosing convenience in a different season

- Thinking through room sharing in a large family and why personality and season matter more than exact age

- How to handle sick kids, competing needs of small children, and getting through hard moments when you don’t have extra help

- One final goodbye and what’s next for us

View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible!

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course

Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series

Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook

CONNECT

Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest

There’s something powerful about slowing down and helping our kids see God’s hand in the world around them.  In this conversation, Eryn shares how nature and Scripture work together, along with simple ways to bring that into your everyday family life.  We also explore God’s design for rest, looking at how rhythms in creation reflect His intention for work and rest to go hand in hand.  This episode will leave you with a fresh perspective on both your own daily rhythms and the world right outside your door.  Join us for this encouraging conversation!

In this episode, we cover:

- Erin’s journey into nature study and why she began teaching the Bible through creation

- The idea that God gave us both Scripture and nature to reveal who He is

- How small shifts in our everyday language can help kids naturally see God in the world around them

- Creative ways to connect things in nature (like animals and plants) back to the gospel message

- The difference between true nature study and modern science, and why slowing down to observe matters

- Why outdoor time doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing and how even a few minutes can be meaningful

- What actually happens when kids push past that initial “I’m bored” phase outside

- A completely different way to think about rest, and why God designed us to start from it

- How building in rhythms like Sabbath can lead to more peace, focus, and even productivity

- Real-life examples from creation that mirror God’s design for work and rest working together

- Letting go of rigid plans and embracing everyday opportunities for nature and learning

- Favorite books, apps, and resources for teaching kids faith and science side by side

View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible!

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Identify birds by sight or sound with the free Merlin Bird ID app

Make plant and insect identification easy with the free iNaturalist app

Check out these biblically grounded nature books for kids by Kayla White:

- Lucy the Ladybug

- Melody, a Monarch Miracle

- Hazel, a Hardworking Bee

Explore the Marvels of Creation series from Master Books:

- Sensational Sea Creatures

- Magnificent Mammals

- Breathtaking Birds

For a full, biblically grounded science curriculum, check out Apologia Science, including their popular zoology series

Listen to Nat Theo: Nature Lessons Rooted in the Bible, a podcast that brings science and theology together for kids and families

Dive deeper with the Nat Theo Club, featuring full curriculum and unit studies

Shop Eryn’s current books and preview her upcoming releases

Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course

Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series

Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook

CONNECT

Eryn Lynum | Website | Instagram | YouTube | Podcast

Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest

There’s been a subtle shift in how our culture views boys, and in this conversation, we’re diving into where we’ve gone wrong and how to reclaim the narrative.  From understanding their natural wiring to navigating the tension between safety and risk-taking, we talk through practical ways to raise boys who are both capable and caring.  If you’re raising boys of any age and want encouragement and practical ideas, join us for this conversation!

In this episode, we cover:

- What sparked the message behind Boyhood Resurrected and the modern cultural shift that has changed how boys are viewed and treated

- The difference between “daring and heroic” boyhood and the passive, muted version many boys are being shaped into today

- Why a boy’s energy, risk-taking, and drive for adventure are not problems to fix but qualities to steward well

- The tension many moms feel between protecting their sons and allowing the kind of risk that actually builds strength and confidence

- Practical ways to introduce healthy danger in age-appropriate ways, from climbing trees to using real tools with guidance

- Simple daily rhythms that build spiritual and emotional strength without over-structuring family life

- How work, responsibility, and even boredom play a key role in shaping boys into capable young men

- The connection between modern schooling struggles and the natural way boys are wired to move, learn, and engage

- Addressing whining, laziness, and resistance in a way that is clear, consistent, and doesn’t escalate the emotional tone of the home

- Finding the balance between raising strong boys and nurturing tender hearts without tipping into fragility

- Why limiting screens is essential for boys and how to replace digital stimulation with real-life adventure and creativity

- Practical ideas for occupying boys of every age when outdoor options are limited 

- Encouraging brotherhood instead of rivalry through shared space, mutual respect, and avoiding comparison

View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible!

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Grab your copy of Boyhood Resurrected: Igniting a Revival of Daring and Heroic Boys and learn more at boyhoodresurrected.com

Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course

Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series

Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook

CONNECT

Rebekah Lovell | Website | Instagram | X 

Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest

Smartphones, social media, and interactive screens are something many parents today are thinking carefully about, especially when it comes to their kids. In this episode, I’m joined by Clare Morrell to talk about what the research shows regarding how these technologies affect developing brains and family life. We discuss practical ways families can approach technology differently, from trying a 30-day tech detox to delaying smartphones and modeling healthier phone habits as parents. If you’re looking for thoughtful perspective and practical ideas for navigating screens in your home, this conversation will be the encouragement you need!

In this episode, we cover:

- Why smartphones and social media apps are intentionally designed to capture kids’ time, attention, and data

- The brain science behind dopamine hits and why interactive screens are uniquely addictive for children

- Why even short amounts of screen time can affect kids’ mood, focus, and behavior throughout the day

- The surprising limitations of parental controls and why they rarely give parents real oversight

- Distinguishing between passive technology (like watching a movie) and highly stimulating interactive media

- How excessive screen stimulation can dysregulate a child’s nervous system and mimic ADHD-like symptoms

- What families experience during a 30-day digital detox and the behavioral changes many notice within weeks

- Ground rules for a family tech reset, including which devices and activities are removed during detox

- Why addressing our own phone habits as parents—and modeling healthier technology boundaries—plays a critical role in helping kids succeed

- Alternative phone options that allow teens to communicate without introducing smartphone distractions

- How some families delay smartphones until late high school or adulthood and what they observe long term

- Navigating cultural pressures—from youth groups to employers—that assume every teen has a smartphone

- The bigger vision behind a “tech exit”: raising kids who prioritize real-world skills, creativity, and relationships over digital consumption

View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible!

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Get your copy of Clare’s book The Tech Exit at TheTechExit.com

Explore free resources to accompany the book, including screen-free activity ideas, a group discussion guide, and a tech-exit checklist

Follow along with more resources and updates at ClareMorell.substack.com

Interested in the Wisephone mentioned in this episode? Use code CLARE for $20 off

Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course

Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series

Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook

CONNECT

Clare Morell | Website | Instagram | Substack | X

Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest