Simple Farmhouse Life Podcast

After a health scare in her twenties, Melissa K. Norris returned to her roots with traditional, from-scratch cookingand never looked back. In this episode, she shares the simple swaps that make a big difference, her favorite freezer and batch-cooking tips, and why its easier than you think to build nourishing kitchen rhythms. We also chat about her updated cookbook Home and Handmade, a practical and inspiring guide for anyone wanting to cook with real ingredients and a whole lot of heart. Tune in for encouragement and doable ideas to make old-fashioned cooking work in your modern life!

In this episode, we cover:

Melissas health journey and how it led to a total shift toward from-scratch, whole-food cooking



Why starting with the most frequently eaten foods makes the biggest impact on health and budget



Common harmful ingredients to avoid and easy one-for-one swaps for better oils, sugars, and salts



The myth that homemade food is hardmany convenience foods can be replaced in minutes



Encouragement that old-fashioned kitchen skills are doable and worthwhile, no matter your lifestyle



Batch cooking strategies for breakfast, dinner, and baked goods that reduce stress and food waste



Using freezers effectively: pre-shaped doughs, cookie dough logs, veggie scrap bags, and bulk meats



The power of simple routines, momentum, and planning just a day or two ahead it doesnt have to be all or nothing



Melissas updated book Home and Handmadea practical guide to whole food, herbal remedies, and homemade living



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

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Home and Hand Made by Melissa K. Norris

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

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

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

Melissa K. Norris | Website | Podcast | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | Pinterest

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

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

Building a house from scratch has been such an adventure—full of surprises, lessons, and all the little details that bring a space to life. I’m sharing where we are in the process, how we’re blending old and new to create a home with real character, and answering your questions about pregnancy, motherhood, and home birth. If you’re in the thick of family life or just love chatting all things home and babies, I think you’ll really enjoy this summer life update!

In this episode, we cover:

Framing progress on the build and why we’re showing up daily to avoid costly mistakes



Lessons from past renovations where small contractor assumptions caused big regrets



Mixing salvaged doors and painted porch floors to achieve an authentic “new old” house feel



Where we’re sourcing vintage windows and antique doors—and what’s worth buying new



Deciding to include a range hood for health reasons and adding a wood-fired cookstove for winter



My experience getting pregnant while nursing and what our typical age gaps have looked like



How I’ve learned to manage the baby stage more smoothly with a larger family and older helpers



Encouragement for moms feeling maxed out with littles—why it won’t always feel this hard



How we evaluate home birth safety, from ultrasound decisions to midwife experience



Why some pregnancies feel harder than others, even when everything seems the same



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

Brent Hull

100 Year Window by Brent Hull

Thornhill Range Cookers

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

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

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

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.

There’s something deeply sacred about pouring your life into your children—even when it’s messy, exhausting, and far from picture-perfect. In this heartfelt conversation with Abbie Halberstadt, we talk about the high calling of motherhood and why it’s worth investing in, even when the fruit takes years to see. From cultural messages that dismiss the value of family life to the myth that good parenting guarantees easy outcomes, Abbie offers gentle wisdom, honest stories, and so much encouragement for moms in every season. If you’ve ever questioned whether the hard work is worth it, this one will remind you just how meaningful it really is.

Family trip to Hawaii and what travel looks like with kids of all ages



Why Abbie’s new book You Bet Your Stretch Marks speaks to weary moms



The cultural narrative that says motherhood is misery—and Abbie’s response



Toddler chaos, twin struggles, and the hope that came years later



Letting go of formulas and trusting God with the outcome



When parenting teens and adults doesn’t look like you imagined



Speaking truth with grace—why personal experience isn’t a prerequisite for offering wisdom



Balancing littles and bigs—Abbie’s top tips for rhythms that work



Thoughts on “me time,” rest, and what really recharges a mom



Personality-driven homemaking—permission to do what fits you



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

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

RESOURCES

Listen to Abbie’s previous appearances on Simple Farmhouse Life:

- Episode 247: Breaking Down Popular Narratives in Motherhood

- Episode 197: Be a Countercultural Mom: Finding Joy, Peace, and Purpose in All Seasons of Motherhood

- Episode 112: Getting it all Done, Setting Priorities, Rebelling Against Mediocre Motherhood

- Episode 80: Chatting potty training, baby sleep, overwhelm and seasons of life with Abbie

Check out Abbie’s books:

- Preorder You Bet Your Stretch Marks

- Hard is Not the Same Thing as Bad

- M is for Mama

Grab Abbie’s free resources:

- A Seven-Time Mama’s Best Tips for Sleep-Training Babies

- The Penny Reward System eBook

- The Gentleness Challenge eBook

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

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

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

Abbie Halberstadt of M is for Mama | Website | Instagram | Podcast | 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.

I always love having Jamerrill Stewart on the podcast because she brings so much encouragement and practicality to the table—especially for those of us feeding a lot of people every day. In this episode, we’re talking all about freezer cooking, bulk shopping, and how to make mealtime a little less overwhelming. Jamerrill shares what meal prep looks like in her current season of life, how she keeps food on the table for her big crew, and simple ways anyone can start building more margin into their kitchen routine.

In this episode, we cover:

Life updates from Jamerrill and how homemaking looks in her current season of single motherhood



The story behind how her freezer cooking system began and why it works for families of all sizes



Tips for shopping in bulk, planning monthly grocery trips, and staying on budget with a large family



How she preps ingredients—like meats and rice—in advance to simplify daily meal routines



Her strategy for always doubling recipes and freezing extras for easy meals later



Why having a stocked freezer made all the difference during a family medical crisis



Creative ways she handles leftovers with a “choose-your-own-adventure” approach to meals



The logistics of storing bulk food with multiple fridges and freezers throughout the house



Kitchen tools and systems that help her manage daily meals for ten—like her oversized island and dual dishwashers



Encouragement to start small with meal prep—even one extra freezer meal can lighten the load



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

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

ABOUT JAMERRILL

Jamerrill Stewart is a seasoned homeschool mom of 9 (7 boys/2girls) with children ages 2 through 22. She shares about big batch cooking, mega canning, freezer meals and more from her slow and steady developing homestead in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Jamerrill has been making a full-time income online while raising her family for over a decade and she’d like to show you how you can, too. Join the Successful Business Momma Course waitlist largefamilytable.com/business which will help you build your dream online business while raising your family, just like Jamerrill has done!

RESOURCES

Listen to my first two podcast episodes with Jamerrill here and here

Shop Jamerrill’s big batch recipe guides here

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

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

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

Jamerrill Stewart of Large Family Table | Website | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

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.

In this solo episode, I’m sharing a big family update—we’re expecting baby number nine! I’m also chatting about where we’re at with our custom farmhouse build (hint: it’s going slower than I hoped), how we’re navigating delays, and what I’ve learned through the process. I’m answering your questions on everything from large family rhythms to sourdough baking with freshly milled grains, co-sleeping routines, dairy goats vs. cows, and more. Whether you’re in the thick of little years, planning a future homestead, or just love chatting all things motherhood and homemaking, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

In this episode, we cover:

Big announcement: we’re expecting baby #9 later this summer!



Why we won’t be in the new farmhouse before the baby arrives



Unexpected delays and decisions in building from raw land



Why I’m learning to appreciate the slower pace of this build



The vision behind our forever home (inspired by my parents’ setup)



Our Sunday family rhythm: large family gathering, casual food, outdoor country life



Switching a sourdough starter to freshly milled flour without a complicated transition



Our experience with dairy goats (and why we ultimately stuck with cows for milk)



My must-have babywearing favorites for every stage—from newborn snuggles to toddler back carries



How I navigate my evening routine with a co-sleeping baby (and what changes around 6 months)



Late-night snacks I love—nourishing ideas that feel indulgent but skip the junk



Thoughts on prenatals vs. whole food nutrition during pregnancy—and how I approach supplements



Tips for getting soft, well-risen sourdough bread with freshly milled flour



Troubleshooting sandwich bread made with whole grains: rising issues, sour flavor, and more



Sourdough baking without an oven? My go-to stovetop recipes for bread-like alternatives



How we’re managing indoor pets with a big family and young children



Reflections on motherhood through different seasons—how the hardest years eventually feel softer



Designing a new farmhouse: blending modern function with vintage character (and why I’m saying yes to closets!)



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

Check out my friend Ashley’s slow and intentional home build

I share more details about my current pregnancy in this recent announcement video

Take a look at the recent design refresh to my parents’ home

Check out the Q&A episode I recorded with my sisters Laura & Andrea

Listen to this podcast episode with Anja all about sourdough and freshly-milled grains

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

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

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

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.