Hey there, I'm Annie!
I’m here to help you cut through the noise and actually figure out chickens, gardening, and homesteading—without the overwhelm, guesswork, or Pinterest perfection pressure.
Midwest girlie
I didn’t grow up on some Pinterest-perfect homestead. I grew up in South Dakota, where real food came from someone you knew and "slow living" wasn’t a trend — it was just life. These days, I live tucked into the Idaho mountains, raising birds, building off-grid systems, and figuring it out as I go. I'm not fancy. I'm just resourceful, stubborn, and not here to be told by the FDA what's "safe."
Green Thumb Guru
If I’m not out wrangling chickens or hauling buckets, I’m probably elbow-deep in the garden. I grow what I eat because I don’t want produce that’s been sprayed, picked before it's ripe, shipped, and stored for weeks. Give me dirt under my nails and heirloom seeds over sterile grocery store shelves any day.
Community Builder
I’m not interested in chasing followers — I’m here to build something real. Whether it’s helping you automate your coop, decode your chicken’s weird behavior, or learn why your towels feel crunchy (hint: it’s your detergent), I create tools and content that actually help. I believe in local connections over internet likes, and if I can help you grow your first garden or raise your first flock, that’s a win in my book.
Why Trust ME
Because I’m not here to sell you a fantasy — I’m living the real thing.
I didn’t grow up doing this. I learned the hard way: one frozen waterer, failed garden, and rogue chicken at a time. I built my homestead from scratch in the Idaho mountains, off-grid and off-script — with a grow room inside and almost 100% chemtrail-proof greenhouse outside (yes, really).
I don’t gatekeep. I share exactly what’s worked for me — from mealworms to meat birds, soil hacks to coop automations — because you deserve more than half-baked advice from someone who’s never actually hatched a chicken.
I’m not a guru, I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking: the system’s broken, and growing your own food is the most radical act of rebellion we’ve got left.
So if you want someone who gets it — someone who’s walked through the overwhelm and figured out how to make this lifestyle doable (and actually fun) — you’re in the right place.
Let’s grow something real.
Why choose my course
Because Googling every chicken question at midnight isn’t a strategy.
My "Hatch to Harvest" course is the guide I wish I had when I started — no fluff, no filler, just straight-up answers and hard-earned experience. It's for people who actually want to raise their own meat birds without the overwhelm, confusion, or sugar-coated nonsense.
Inside, you'll get step-by-step instructions for everything from setting up your brooder to harvesting clean, healthy meat — ethically, confidently, and with your sanity intact. Whether you're brand new or just tired of piecing together info from a bunch of random YouTube videos, this course will walk you through it all — start to finish.
You don’t need to be a full-blown farmer to raise your own food. You just need someone who’s done it, messed it up a few times, and figured out what actually works.
I made this for the everyday homesteader who’s ready to do things differently — because raising your own food shouldn’t be complicated. It should be common sense.
What problems can I solve
You’re here because you want real answers from someone who’s lived it — the good, the bad, and the broody.
If you’ve ever felt…
Overwhelmed by chick care and unsure if you're doing it "right"
Confused about coop setup, predator protection, or how to keep things clean
Frustrated with all the conflicting info about raising meat birds ethically
Grossed out by store-bought chicken and ready to take control of your food
Tired of wasting time searching through YouTube videos and Facebook groups
I’ve got you.
I’ll walk you through every part of raising chickens from hatch to harvest with clear, practical steps — no jargon, no guilt-tripping, no fluff. Just real help from someone who’s done it off-grid, on a budget, and without a team of farmhands.
This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about learning, doing, and feeding your family real food with real confidence.
Read The Blog
5 Heat-Loving Herbs You Can Grow Almost Anywhere
When the summer sun is blazing and your garden feels more like a desert than a sanctuary, you might be wondering if anything can survive, let alone thrive in the extreme heat.
Enter the heat-loving herbs: tough, fragrant, and endlessly useful in the kitchen and medicine cabinet. If you've got sunshine and a little space, you've got what it takes to grow these impactful plants.
Whether you're working with a sprawling homestead, raised beds, pots on a patio, or vertical planters on a sunny balcony, this guide will help you grow five of the best herbs for hot weather: basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme, and mint.
🌿 1. Basil
Planting Location: Raised beds, in-ground gardens, large containers.
Sun Exposure: Full sun (6-8 hours daily)
Soil Needs: Well-drained, fertile soil enriched with compost.
Fertilization: Monthly with compost tea or an organic balanced fertilizer.
Tips: Basil loves warmth and doesn't like to be cold or wet. Pinch back flowers to keep it producing more leaves, and harvest often to encourage bushy growth.
Where to Grow: Perfect for in-ground beds, patio pots, or vertical grow walls with deep pockets.
Why Grow It: Pesto, caprese salad, herbal oils, and even natural mosquito repellent. Basil brings flavor and function.
🌿 2. Rosemary
Planting Location: Raised beds, deep containers, in-ground with excellent drainage.
Sun Exposure: Full sun (6+ hours daily)
Soil Needs: Sandy, well-drained soil. Doesn’t like soggy roots.
Fertilization: Light feeding once per season with compost or a low-nitrogen fertilizer.
Tips: Rosemary is a woody perennial in warm zones and can be overwintered indoors in pots. Let soil dry out between waterings.
Where to Grow: Containers, garden beds, or even as a small hedge or companion plant near walkways.
Why Grow It: Antibacterial, antioxidant, and culinary uses. Add it to roasted veggies, meat rubs, and memory-boosting tea.
🌿 3. Oregano
Planting Location: In-ground gardens, rock gardens, raised beds, large containers.
Sun Exposure: Full sun (at least 6 hours)
Soil Needs: Dry, well-drained soil. Can thrive in poor soil with minimal amendments.
Fertilization: Rarely needed. If anything, a light compost application once or twice per season.
Tips: Trim regularly to prevent legginess. Harvest before flowering for best flavor.
Where to Grow: Perfect for dry corners of the garden, raised beds, or container edges where it can cascade.
Why Grow It: Staple herb for pizza, pasta, and immune-support teas. It’s also a natural antifungal and antibacterial powerhouse.
🌿 4. Thyme
Planting Location: Raised beds, containers, rock gardens, border plantings.
Sun Exposure: Full sun (6+ hours)
Soil Needs: Light, sandy soil with good drainage. Doesn’t tolerate wet feet.
Fertilization: Minimal. Once a season with compost or kelp meal.
Tips: Thyme thrives on neglect. Trim lightly to shape, and divide every few years to keep it vigorous.
Where to Grow: In-ground near borders, in containers, or between stepping stones for a fragrant surprise.
Why Grow It: Aromatic and flavorful for meats and broths. Use in teas for coughs or infuse in honey for sore throats.
🌿 5. Mint
Planting Location: Containers ONLY, unless you want it to take over your entire garden.
Sun Exposure: Partial sun to full sun (4-6 hours)
Soil Needs: Moist, rich, well-drained soil.
Fertilization: Monthly with compost or diluted fish emulsion.
Tips: Harvest regularly to keep it from flowering and becoming bitter. Loves moisture but don’t let it sit in water.
Where to Grow: Deep containers on patios or tucked near walkways (in pots!) where you can brush it and enjoy the scent.
Why Grow It: Great for teas, desserts, digestive support, bug bites, and garden-fresh mojitos. Mint is your summer MVP.
These five herbs aren’t just sun-loving and low-maintenance — they’re also your first step toward a self-reliant garden that feeds your family and supports your wellness.
Even if you're new to growing herbs, these are forgiving, easy to love, and ready to thrive in your summer garden. Whether in ground or in pots, these plants are here to teach you: resilience, patience, and the joy of growing your own food, one fragrant leaf at a time.
Now go get your hands dirty!
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