If you’ve never gardened before, that’s totally okay. Gardening doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The key is to take tiny steps—micro baby steps—that help you learn and grow without stress.

Here’s what I’d do if I were starting from scratch:

First, start right in your kitchen with something simple like growing sprouts. You can buy sprouting seeds or even little sprout kits at the store. They grow fast, require almost no space, and give you a little win to build your confidence.

Next, try getting a baby plant—a small potted herb or veggie—and care for it. This step helps you get familiar with watering and watching a plant grow without too much effort or risk.

Another great step is to offer to help someone who already has a garden. Watching and learning from a seasoned gardener can teach you a lot and make gardening feel more approachable.

The most important thing is not to bite off more than you can chew. Take your time, be gentle with yourself, and enjoy these micro baby steps. Gardening is a journey, and every little step counts.

Connect with Neva: https://www.thehappyhomesteadmaker.com

Neva has been thinking about something that doesn’t get talked about much—assets. Not the dreamy, polished version often seen online, but the real kind. The kind that requires getting hands in the dirt and figuring things out along the way.

She didn’t inherit assets. No land handed down, no safety net built in. Every piece of what’s been created has come through slow, steady work—one decision at a time.

Getting dirty is part of it.

Building anything—whether it’s a homestead, a short-term rental, or a business—means starting from the ground up. It’s not always clean. It’s not always pretty. Even after years of work, there are still hard decisions, unknown outcomes, and messy days.

That doesn’t mean something’s wrong. It just means it’s real.

Neva shares more than just the good parts of homesteading, because she believes the beauty is in the whole picture. The mud, the sweat, the growth, and the hard-won lessons.

For anyone in the middle of building—slowly, imperfectly—this is the encouragement: keep going. And getting dirty? That’s where the real work happens.

Connect with Neva: https://www.thehappyhomesteadmaker.com

Homeschooling can feel overwhelming—choosing curriculum, juggling schedules, keeping up with state rules.

In today’s episode, Neva (mom of seven!) shares her very first step: joining HSLDA. She walks you through the top benefits of membership—instant curriculum resources, expert legal support, and real-world case reviews—so you can start your homeschool journey with confidence and peace of mind.

Top 3 Reasons to Join HSLDA

1. It’s an ever-growing library of homeschool resources ready when you are.
2. You get expert legal representation any time questions arise.
3. You can read and review real families’ cases to learn from their successes and missteps.

You’re not alone in this journey.

Join HSLDA today: https://www.hslda.org/join

Connect with Neva: https://www.thehappyhomesteadmaker.com

“Classy not trashy” isn’t just something Neva says—it’s a standard in her home.

With five girls, the conversations run deep: what they wear, how they talk, who they spend time with. Neva doesn’t skirt around it. She calls it like it is.

She reminds her daughters that their clothes and words say something. And that character matters—especially when no one’s watching.

In this episode, Neva shares the honest, unfiltered way she’s helping her girls think differently about clothing, makeup, and the influence of the people around them.

It’s not about being better.

It’s about being anchored in who you are.

Connect with Neva: https://www.thehappyhomesteadmaker.com

Today, Neva is debunking one of the biggest myths in homesteading: self-sufficiency.

Homesteading is often sold as a "do it all yourself" lifestyle. But the idea that anyone can be 100% self-sufficient is simply not true. True homesteading isn’t about doing everything alone—it’s a frame of mind, a way of living that values hard work, learning, and connection.

Neva has seen how chasing total self-sufficiency leads to burnout and a narrow view of what homesteading is meant to be. No one was created to do it all. Homesteading was never meant to be an isolated life—it’s meant to be shared.

Community matters. Learning matters. Grace matters.

Neva reminds us: it’s good to be capable, but it’s better to know that you were never meant to do everything alone.

Connect with Neva: https://www.thehappyhomesteadmaker.com

Neva grew up with very little screen time—TV had specific hours, and you watched what was on. That was it. Fast forward to today, and screens are everywhere, all the time. It’s not just the kids. The demand for our attention has gotten louder, more persistent, and more exhausting.

So if you’ve found yourself thinking, “We need a break” or “This just doesn’t feel good anymore”—you’re not alone.

One thing that’s helped us? Creating a rhythm. Nothing fancy. Just a simple routine with two anchors: what we do, and when we do it.

Build in creative time—not as a filler, but as a focus. Paint, build, write, imagine. It doesn't need to be productive, just hands-on. Because when we don’t carve out time for that, we lose touch with it. And our kids miss it too.

We spend so much time consuming. What if, instead, we focused on reacting? On making? On using our skills instead of our screens?

Skill time instead of screen time. That small shift has made a big difference for Neva and her family.

Connect with Neva: https://www.thehappyhomesteadmaker.com

If you’ve been aching to leave your job and be home full time, this episode with Neva might be the nudge you need. She’s not holding back—because sometimes the truth needs to hit hard.

The most important work you’ll ever do doesn’t come with a paycheck. It happens within the four walls of your home.

Neva shares how she once tied her value to a job title and income. She thought working outside the home meant she was contributing. But over time, she realized that was a lie. Real value isn’t in initials after your name or a resume—it’s in raising your kids and being fully present for them.

You only get one shot at this. One season where your children are your responsibility in the most intimate way. Anyone can replace you at work, but no one can take your place at home.

So if you’re sitting at your desk wishing you were home, maybe it’s time to shift your mindset. Stop seeing your home role as “less than.” Start treating it like the profession it truly is.

Your work at home matters—far more than the world gives it credit for. Maybe it’s time to quit your job and get to the work that really counts.

Connect with Neva: https://www.thehappyhomesteadmaker.com

You don’t need to be living off the grid or raising chickens just yet to get something out of a good homesteading book. If you’ve been thinking about the lifestyle, these reads aren’t about giving you a strict to-do list—they’re more like a mindset shift.

Neva is sharing three books to consider if you’re curious about homesteading—or just craving a little more simplicity in your life.

1. The Backyard Homestead

This one is packed with inspiration. If you’ve got even a small patch of land (or just a dream), The Backyard Homestead is a great place to start. It’s less about perfection and more about possibility. Neva often flips back to this one when she needs a little boost or reminder of what’s doable.

2. The Good Life

This book tells the story of someone who actually did it. It’s not step-by-step instructions—it’s their journey, struggles, and successes. And honestly? That’s often way more motivating. It helps to read someone else’s story and realize there's no one “right” way to do this.

3. The Foxfire Series

If you haven’t picked up a Foxfire book, start with one. These cover all kinds of traditional skills, stories, and old-school know-how. It’s not a modern Pinterest-perfect version of homesteading—it’s the real stuff. Each volume covers different topics, so you can pick what interests you most.

These books aren’t about doing everything from scratch or living completely off-grid-think of them as guides, not manuals. There’s no all-or-nothing rule when it comes to learning this stuff. Just start where you are, stay curious, and keep collecting ideas that feel like you.

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

The Backyard Homestead

The Good Life

The Foxfire Series

Connect with Neva: https://www.thehappyhomesteadmaker.com