A Farmish Kind of Life

Sometimes the greatest gift a homestead can offer is not the projects completed, the skills learned, or the food grown... the greatest gift is sometimes simply being a place to come home to.

"But somewhere in the middle of all that chaos, I found myself thinking about something bigger: What if this is just life? And I don't mean that in a depressing way. I mean it in a kinda beautiful way."

That thing where a trip to Runnings for feed leaves you questioning your entire philosophy on accepting help.

When something goes wrong or doesn't work the way we want, it's way easier to blame the tool, the system, the circumstances, or other people. Right? And sometimes those things really are part of the problem. But more often than not, we need to ask a harder question: What part of this did I contribute to?

Many times in life we end up having to admit that the systems that once worked beautifully eventually stop fitting the season you’re in. And that doesn’t mean you screwed up, it means that life is happening and life is doing what it does.

The internet wants us emotionally activated all the time, but Real Life wants us present.

I'm not here today to dismiss anyone's struggles. I'm just here to point out the growing double standard surrounding who is allowed to openly feel overwhelmed.

In this episode, I talk about why life experience changes how you respond to hard times, why calm is something you have to earn, and why what feels like “OMG THIS IS THE END” might just be the beginning of learning that you’ll be okay.

What happens to the things you care about when life gets hard? Today I’m talking about what the last few months taught me about homesteading, priorities, pressure, and things we think matter… until they don’t.

After four (unexpected) months away, I’m back today to share a quick explanation on what’s been happening, why I disappeared (trust me, it was valid!) and where things go from here.

Today we're talking about how to be a light and how that doesn't mean turning yourself into kindling.

Since going back to work outside the home, I’ve noticed something: so many of folks live in constant emergency mode. They're rushing, panicking, and treating every single task like life or death. Like every single thing is something that has to be solved or done right now...

Did you know the word "priority" didn't have a plural form for over 500 years? We're not supposed to have more than one "most important" thing.

Sometimes gratitude doesn’t look like sunshine and sparkles. Sometimes it looks like realizing the things that used to wreck you... kind of don’t anymore.

Ever notice how some people fall apart when life gets messy, but others suddenly find this weird, laser-focused calm? Let's talk about that.

In this episode of The Farmish Front Porch, we’re talking about what happens when people become pixels and opinions, and how to bring the human part back to our conversations. This isn't about quitting the internet. It’s about remembering what it was supposed to be: a way to connect, to help, to remind each other we’re not alone.

We need to start showing up again in real rooms, with real people, at the speed of a pot of coffee.

In this episode, I’m talking about why we equate simplicity with old-fashioned living, why that doesn’t always make sense, and how the “simple life” in 2025 might look very different than it did in 1925.

In this episode, we’re talking about what we might have lost when comfort became our default. We’ll ask the hard questions about progress, ease, and if this whole "people are getting so soft" has always been the assumption, regardless of what generation we're in.

Comfort food means something different to everyone, but have you ever stopped to wonder why?

Know what I've been thinking about? I'm starting to wonder if I've got too many chickens. See, we say we want the “simple life,” but then we load ourselves up with too many animals, too many projects, and too much everything. We decide we have to have an extra extra large garden, make as much as possible from scratch, and even mill our own flour (because honestly, Brenda, who doesn't do that?) But I'm starting to think about the fact that our great-great-grandparents worked hard and possibly dreamt of a day they wouldn’t have to do all the things... and yet here we are, trying to take on what they were trying to get away from? Let’s talk about rethinking our why and what makes sense, instead of chasing what some could actually say is excess. And how weird is it to wrap our head around that? The idea that the simple life could be... excessive? There are some honest questions in here, friends. Pull up a chair and have a listen! Today's episode is also my first episode after my two month break where I spent time figuring out where exactly this podcast is headed at almost 8 years old. So welcome back to what I foresee as a lot of casual "Farmish Front Porch Conversations!" -- Amy Dingmann, 9-30-25 Grab a copy of my newest book, Peace, Love, and Bacon FIND MORE GOODIES FROM A FARMISH KIND OF LIFE: Where I’m at: Facebook page, Telegram chat group, Discord group, TikTok, YouTube Books I Wrote: Non-fiction books, Fiction books Join my Facebook group: The Get By Guys and Gals Group

Sometimes you reach a point in life where everything starts to shift, and the path that used to make sense suddenly… doesn’t. How do you move forward when you're not sure which path to take? You stop for a second and figure out where you are before you move forward.

After a couple weeks of unexpected health stuff, I found myself thinking a lot about the promises we often hear in the homesteading and simple living world. Namely, the insinuation that if you just live “right,” you’ll never get sick.

Modern life has done a pretty good job of making movement optional. We sit to work, sit to relax, sit to eat, sit to connect—and we wonder why we feel off. But the truth is, we were made to move.

The fast, easy option doesn’t always feed your soul. In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between getting it done and feeling filled up—whether that’s in your homesteading life, your work, your food, or your everyday routine.

When we start homesteading—or when we start anything, really—we usually build some kind of system to make things run smoothly. And sometimes that system works great… until it doesn’t. So today I’m sharing three mistakes I’ve made lately when it comes to my life/prepping/homestead systems and how I’m reassessing and trying to pull things back together.

Regardless of what you call this kind of life you’re living—homesteading, the farmish life, the simple life—I’m here to tell you there are a lot of things you don’t have to do in order to be part of the club.

In this episode, we’re talking about the realities of midlife on the homestead. The rhythm of your life changes, but I rarely hear people talk about how to wrap your head around those changes...

Let’s talk about how our fears evolve, how we adapt, and why it’s okay if your biggest homesteading worry today is very different than what it used to be.

Today I'm talking about the strange pressure that can build on either end of the homesteading spectrum—from doing it all to doing almost nothing—and how to find the honest, grounded middle.

Today I’m talking about over-information. The constant barrage of updates, alerts, and hot takes that don’t make us safer—they just make us more anxious. It’s not that we shouldn’t be informed. It’s that we’ve forgotten how to live without the noise. So… let’s talk about finding peace in a world that thrives on panic.

So you want to grow your own food, but every time you search “how to start a garden,” you end up buried under 47 tabs of advice that makes it sound like you need a degree, a greenhouse, and three years of soil samples before you can put a tomato plant in the ground. Can't we just find out about easy gardening... for actual beginners? Let’s take a breath. This is Stupid Simple Gardening—for real people who want to grow real food without losing their minds. Yes, there’s a lot you could learn about gardening. (And you will, as you go.) But if you're the kind of person where too much information leaves you stuck in planning paralysis, you really aren't helped by another 100-item checklist. You need the bare minimum to get started—without shame, stress, or Pinterest-worthy perfection. That is how beginners start gardening! Whether you’ve got five acres or one cracked tote on a porch, this series will help you grow something. We’ll cover: How to start a garden without overthinking it What to plant in your garden (hint: not kale, unless you like kale) How much space you actually need What to do if (okay, when) you mess it up Basic garden care tips so you don’t panic halfway through the season Or get it all as a podcast episode by pressing the play bar at the top of this post! (Main topic starts at 6:26) And if you mess your garden up? Guess what. You’re officially a gardener now. Welcome to the club. Gardening isn’t about doing it perfectly. It’s about showing up, getting your hands dirty, and learning what works (and what doesn’t) one season at a time. You don’t need to know everything today—you just need to plant something. So take a breath, grab a shovel, and let this be the year you grow something real. Whether you're planting one tomato plant in a five gallon pail by your garage or filling a backyard with rows, this gardening series for beginners is here to help you start where you are—with what you have—and remind you that good food doesn't require a perfect plan. FIND MORE GOODIES FROM A FARMISH KIND OF LIFE: Preorder by newest book "Peace Love and Bacon: Tales of a Farmish Kind of Life" for Kindle! Where I’m at: Facebook page, Telegram chat group, Discord group, TikTok, YouTube Monthly Snail Mail Newsletter: Subscribe here Books I Wrote: Non-fiction books, Fiction books Join my Facebook group: The Get By Guys and Gals Group Buy my shirts!: The Farmish Kind of Life Bonfire Store

I posted a photo of the inside of my barn recently. A random busy day. Mid-project. Chaotic mess. It wasn’t staged. It wasn’t curated. It wasn’t meant to impress anyone. But ohhh buddy, the internet had thoughts. So let's talk about it...

This episode is a heartfelt reminder that life is unpredictable, and we must prepare ourselves and our loved ones for the unexpected. By sharing the weight of responsibilities, we create a more resilient family and community.

Can we really go back to the good old days? This episode dives into nostalgia and how to adapt old-fashioned awesome for modern life.

Whether it’s making your own vanilla extract, cleaning out the garage, or finally remembering to call that family member or friend, today I'm encouraging you to take that first step, however small, to build momentum on the things you want to do.

Has your passion for homesteading shifted? In episode 307, I’m digging into why some homesteaders are feeling less all-in, how the pandemic shaped our enthusiasm, and what it means to embrace homesteading as part of a broader lifestyle. Let’s talk about identity, community, and why it’s okay if your spark feels different. :)

These short and sweet phrases, written on my office whiteboard, have given me clarity, perspective, and sanity as I wander through what this year has already set on my plate.

Have you ever felt the need to constantly explain or defend your life choices? It’s exhausting. In this week’s episode, we’re diving into the liberating realization that it’s absolutely okay to be misunderstood.

Ever try building a chicken coop or rabbitry with someone who thinks completely differently than you? In this week’s episode, I’m talking about how my husband’s mechanical, spatial brain clashes with my word-loving, communicative one—and how we’ve learned to embrace our differences (mostly without losing our minds). Tune in for honest stories, lessons learned, and tips for working with someone who just doesn’t understand things the way you do.

Today we’re talking about clutter, the search for simplicity, the "hell yes or no" principle, and making space for what matters most.

A simple exercise recently revealed a BIG difference between the 2024 I thought I had and the 2024 I *actually* had. It was a slap in the face wake-up call to the realities of my life, my priorities, and the changes I need to make moving forward.

Today we're diving into something I like to call the “life cycle of information platforms”. Because here’s the thing: platforms like ebooks, podcasting, blogging, YouTube, social media platforms (and more) undergo a predictable cycle of rise, saturation, and decline. But this episode isn’t just about technology—it's a reflection of life itself.

Today’s episode is all about choices—specifically, 10 that you can make this holiday season to navigate get togethers with grace, humor, and humility.

The truth is, our current circumstances often cloud our memories of past struggles. Different stages of life (or other situations) can make us forget where we once were and so we fail to keep grace and empathy in our interactions with others.

Ever considered that your simple lifestyle choices might actually be... acts of rebellion? Things like staying home to raise a family, choosing what you eat, or being content with what you have can be seen as going against mainstream expectations. What if these choices are not about following the rules but rather about challenging the status quo?

The truth is, most people just aren't thinking about us as much as we think they are. They're wrapped up in their own lives, just as we are in ours.

Today we are stepping away from the ballot box and empowering you to take control of your own life and well-being.

In our modern world, the concept of aging often gets a bad rap. Which, when I think about it, is pretty odd—since not everyone is lucky enough to be able to do it.

Today I ponder how those of us still in the modern world can integrate technology (specifically our phones, the internet, and social media) into our lives without letting it take over.