Homestead Living: January/February 2026

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What’s Inside?

From Anna Sakawsky, Editor-in-Chief:

“This issue is all about embracing ancestral wisdom and nourishment in every sense of the word. From exploring the health benefits of traditional foods to rediscovering time-honored winter activities that ground us and connect us across generations, you’ll find practical knowledge and encouragement to care for yourself and your loved ones this season—so you’re ready for whatever 2026 has in store.”

From hand quilting and kombucha to farm dogs and food forests, the January/February 2026 issue of Homestead Living will inspire you to make the very most of the winter months ahead!

Here are the articles waiting for you inside this gorgeous double issue …

Traditional Foods for Modern Gut Health by Sally Fallon Morell

Sally Fallon Morell reveals how traditional preparation methods (like soaking grains, fermenting dairy, cooking meats gently with fats and broth, and marinating raw foods) unlock easier digestion and nutrient absorption, countering the indigestible pitfalls of modern processed food. By incorporating bone broth, unrefined salt, and lacto-fermented foods daily, she guides homesteaders toward vibrant health, mental clarity, and energy.

The Healing Power of Food by Dr. Patrick Jones

Dr. Patrick Jones explains how modern processed foods strip away vital nutrients, vitamins, and medicinal compounds, leading to declining health, and advocates for a return to whole, unprocessed, home-grown or foraged options to provide the raw materials our bodies need for repair, immunity, and vitality. He inspires homesteaders to prioritize real food as primary medicine, voting with their wallets to foster wellness and prevent disease naturally.

Healthy, Affordable Homemade Broth by Anna Sakawsky

Anna Sakawsky shares her simple, cost-saving method for making nutrient-rich bone broth from roasted poultry and marrow-rich beef bones, vegetable scraps, herbs, and more, highlighting its superior flavor, gelatin content, and health benefits, compared to pricey store-bought versions that are loaded with additives. She empowers homesteaders to batch-cook and preserve this versatile staple, turning kitchen waste into wholesome, affordable meals that nourish families through winter.

Nourishing the New Mother by Sophia Eng

Sophia Eng shares her transformative postpartum journey blending ancestral Asian traditions of warmth, rest, and protective practices like hot soups, herbal steams, and limited bathing with the challenges of modern motherhood, revealing how these time-tested rituals honor the body’s sacred recovery window. She inspires homesteaders to embrace food as medicine, foster community support, and create resilient family practices that bridge generations and sustain through winter’s demands.

Putting the “Home” Back in Homesteading by Joel Salatin

Joel Salatin redefines modern homesteading as a heart-centered shift toward intentional, home-focused living rather than relocating to rural land, urging readers to start small with activities like cooking from scratch, crafting, supporting local farms, or creating family theater to build self-reliance and disentangle from external distractions. By embracing faith over fear and celebrating progress on the continuum—from herbal apothecaries to homeschooling.

All About Farm Dogs by Kelsey Wulf

Kelsey Wulf guides homesteaders in selecting the ideal canine companion, from livestock guardians like Great Pyrenees and Anatolian Shepherds to herding breeds such as Blue Heelers and Border Collies, emphasizing the blend of natural instincts and proper training. With breed-specific insights, drawbacks, and honorable mentions, she urges thoughtful research and commitment to ensure a loyal, hardworking dog that protects livestock, herds effectively, and bonds gently with the family.

When Animals Escape by Jacob R. Lauser

Jacob R. Lauser guides homesteaders through the legal responsibilities of animal ownership, from preventing escapes with proper fencing and insurance to animal welfare responsibilities and handling investigations with calm questions, records, and attorney support while understanding rights like warrants and exemptions. By prioritizing sound husbandry, thorough research, and protective resources like legal defense funds, he equips readers to raise livestock confidently.

Selecting Seeds—Beyond the Packet by Don Tipping

Don Tipping emphasizes the importance of sourcing seeds from transparent, bioregional farm-based companies that share details on growing conditions, latitude, and adaptation, urging gardeners to prioritize local varieties over mainstream packets for better resistance to pests, diseases, and climate stresses. Through examples like kale trials and historical insights, he inspires homesteaders to connect with regional seed stewards, revive community networks, and cultivate thriving gardens.

Start A Food Forest The Easy Way by David The Good

David The Good demystifies food forest creation with simple, low-pressure methods like the “island” approach or diving in all at once with roughly spaced canopy trees filled in by perennials, annuals, and nitrogen-fixing chop-and-drop plants to build soil naturally. Embracing experimentation, overplanting for resilience, and a chainsaw for fixes, he encourages homesteaders to skip overwhelming designs and have fun sticking plants everywhere, without analysis paralysis.

The Timeless Benefits of Knitting by RuthAnn Zimmerman

RuthAnn Zimmerman shares her journey from childhood crochet lessons with her grandmother to rediscovering knitting, using natural fibers to connect with nature while creating functional items like blankets and socks that enhance productivity and offer stress relief at the same time. With insights on how the rhythmic motions lower cortisol, calm restlessness, and foster family tranquility, she inspires homesteaders to embrace this heirloom skill for weaving prayer into projects that build lasting legacies.

Reviving the Lost Art of Hand Quilting by Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris revives the timeless tradition of hand quilting, sharing her childhood journey piecing a flower garden quilt with techniques like modified English Paper Piecing, classic patterns, and beginner tips for fabric selection and small stitches that turn scraps into heirlooms. Through heartfelt stories of generational connections and the meditative joy of slow hand sewing, she inspires homesteaders to embrace this practical craft, creating warmth, beauty, and lasting family legacies.

The Homeschool Advantage by Malia Steffen

Homeschool graduate Malia Steffen reflects on how the flexibility of home-based education freed her to pursue passions like skiing, coaching, entrepreneurship, and creating her own natural skincare line. Through stories of cold-calling shops, backcountry adventures, and earning certifications, she shows how owning her time transformed potential obstacles into opportunities, equipping her with skills that make her a grounded, capable young adult ready to thrive beyond the classroom.

From-Scratch Kitchen Staples by Mel Matthews

Mel Matthews shares her transformative journey from health struggles to reclaiming the kitchen through simple, from-scratch skills like baking foolproof French bread and churning DIY butter, proving that anyone can cook like a homesteader without acres of land or fancy tools. Emphasizing small steps, family involvement, and progress over perfection, she inspires readers to start where they are, building confidence, nourishment, and lasting memories.

Grab-and-Go Freeze-Dried Meals by Carolyn Thomas

Carolyn Thomas reveals her passion for creating shelf-stable, ready-to-rehydrate dinners like chicken fajita filling and spaghetti with meat sauce, sharing low-fat swaps and pre-freezing tips. With simple recipes and rehydration instructions, her approach turns homemade favorites into convenient, nourishing meals that provide peace of mind for busy nights, camping trips, or emergencies, keeping families fed with real food even when life gets unpredictable.

Continuous Brew Kombucha by Alex Maher

Alex Maher shares his transition from tedious single-batch kombucha brewing to a simple continuous method using a gallon dispenser, where sweet tea is topped off as needed to maintain a steady supply of probiotic-rich tea that’s easy to flavor and enjoy year-round. With tips on starters, fermentation basics, second ferments for carbonation, and creative uses like shrubs or vinegars (plus a master recipe) he demystifies the process.

Homestead Dental Care by Lindsey Quibeuf

Lindsey Quibeuf shares practical, nature-inspired strategies for maintaining strong teeth and gums on the homestead, from daily flossing and brushing techniques to DIY blueberry toothpaste, nutrient-rich foods like fresh dairy and greens, and emergency remedies using clove oil or paracress for pain relief. With a focus on prevention, self-reliance, and knowing when to seek professional help, she empowers homesteaders to treat practicing good dental hygiene as an essential self-sufficiency skill.

Herbal Congestion Relief by Sarah Smith

Sarah Smith shares her trusted herbal remedies for easing winter colds and congestion, from steam inhalations with mullein and thyme to soothing baths infused with elderflowers, mullein, and calendula. With step-by-step recipes and a nod to nature’s wisdom, she encourages homesteaders to embrace seasonal slowdowns, support their bodies naturally, and find comfort in simple, faith-rooted traditions that restore health and harmony for the whole family.

Natural Remedies for Seasonal Sadness by Kaylee Richardson

Kaylee Richardson opens up about her journey transforming winter blues into a season of rest, drawing on herbal staples like St. John’s-wort for mood balance, lemon balm to gladden the heart, and ashwagandha for strength amid darker days. Blending time-tested remedies with simple protocols for light, nutrition, movement, connection, and gratitude, she inspires homesteaders to embrace the quiet, nurture their well-being, and emerge renewed for spring.

*NOTE: Purchase of this single issue will NOT start a monthly subscription to Homestead Living. You can do that right here 😉