Author Archives: Steph VonAhnen, LRMT, CLC

If you’ve ever pictured backyard homesteading as a relaxing scene, think morning coffee on the porch, chickens signing their egg song in the background, and a serene breeze wafting through the garden, carrying the lovely aroma of your bountiful harvest, you’re not entirely wrong.  That’s only half of the story.  The truth is, there’s aContinue reading “Behind the Scenes of Backyard Homesteading: The Real (and Sometimes Hilarious) Scoop”

Plants have this way of teaching us things without ever saying a word.  If you’ve ever cared for one long enough, you’ll notice that at some point, it starts to struggle, not because it’s unhealthy; because it’s outgrown its living situation.  The roots bunch up, the soil isn’t as nutrient rich, and waiting for moreContinue reading “Upgrading Your Pot: The Growth We Resist and Need”

Mental health is one of those things that’s both deeply personal and incredibly complex.  We all experience ups and downs, struggles and triumphs, and sometimes, we just don’t quite understand why we (or those around us) think, act, or feel the way we do. Lately, I’ve found that one of the best ways to explainContinue reading “Mental Health & the Chicken Coop: Understanding the Complexities Through Our Flock”

Life has a way of making us believe that beauty is reserved for the obvious, the breathtaking mountain ranges, the beautiful ocean waves, the vibrant colors of a sunset.  The truth is, beauty exists everywhere.  It’s not just in the grand and the dramatic; it’s in the quiet, the ordinary, the overlooked. Lately, I’ve beenContinue reading “Finding Beauty in Every Atmosphere: Learning to See the Magic Around You”

There’s a certain rhythm to raising both children and puppies.  It’s a mix of joy, exhaustion, repetition, and the overwhelming realization that your life will never be the same.  As someone who’s done both, I’ve come to appreciate the weird similarities between parenting human children and bringing up a puppers. At first glance, you mightContinue reading “Raising Kids vs. Raising Puppies: The Lessons in Love, Patience, and the Chaos that Ensues!”

Not everyone has the space (or time) for an indoor greenhouse, but that doesn’t mean you can’t cut down on grocery costs in other ways.  Food prices keep climbing, and for many families, it feels impossible to keep a stocked kitchen without breaking the bank.  While I’d love to grow everything I eat (including theContinue reading “Stretching Your Grocery Budget: Small Gardens, Smart Shopping, and Scratch Cooking”

There’s something about dirt under my fingernails (even when I have them done up all pretty) and the sight of tiny green sprouts pushing through the soil that quiets my mind.  Gardening has always been a peaceful place for me, and lately, starting seeds and watching them grow into seedlings has become more than justContinue reading “How Sowing Seeds Helps Me Sow Peace in My Mind”

Orchids have a reputation for being delicate, and let me tell you, they’re tougher than they look.  I had one that seemed completely done for.  The leaves were wrinkled and limp, the roots looked more like brittle threads than anything alive, and I was this close to tossing it in the compost. Being the stubbornContinue reading “Saving an Orchid from the Brink of Death”