Welcome to The 104 Homestead

Welcome to The 104 Homestead, a website created by Jessica Knowles to guide and inspire you in the wonderful world of homesteading. With over 12 years of practical experience in small-scale farming and sustainable living, Jessica can help you transform your living space into a thriving homestead, no matter where you live. Whether you have access to a large plot of land or just a small balcony, The 104 Homestead is your go-to resource for learning how to grow your own food, raise animals, cultivate sustainable practices, and truly embrace a self-sufficient lifestyle.

Get ready to embark on an exciting journey towards greater self-reliance with Jessica’s expert guidance and wealth of knowledge.

Upcycle Pill Bottles with These 22 Fun & Creative Ideas

A homemade garden trellis using string and pipe supporting tomato plants.

8 Low-Cost & No-Cost Garden Trellis Ideas for Vining Foods and Flowers

The Big List of Chicken-Safe Plants for Your Flock

Chickens in a fenced-in run with sand bedding.

Why Sand Is the Best Bedding for Your Chicken Coop + Run

Seasonal Favorites

Seasonal changes on homesteads give farm life a lively beat, from the soft buds of spring that burst open with new growth to the golden colors of harvest time in the fall. Whether it is planting seeds, taking care of animals, or storing food for the winter, each season brings its own set of tasks. These are the tasks our homestead community is focused on this season.

Freshly harvested green and red cabbages.

Preserving the Harvest: Storing Cabbage for Winter

Chickens exploring the snow just outside their coop.

Chickens In Winter: What Do They Need to Stay Warm?

A large black rubber bucket filled with sticks and a rake sitting next to the wood pile.

How To Prepare Your Garden For Winter: An 8-Step Guide

There’s no doubt that winter is nearly here. These warming winter soup recipes will take the chill off even the coldest day.

Best Winter Soup Recipes to Warm You Up

The Latest

Explore your homesteading dreams with my latest blog posts! Whether starting from scratch or looking to take your current homestead to the next level, you’ll find actionable advice and tips to help you along the journey.

Goats, horses, and sheep standing in the snow next to a stock tank.

How Do I Keep My Livestock’s Water from Freezing?

Chicken seed blocks curing on parchment paper.

An Easy DIY Seed Block Your Chickens Will Love

A man standing in his garden holding a wooden crate of produce.

The Legalities of Making Money from Your Maine Homestead

A small bowl of homemade vanilla bean simple syrup with two vanilla beans and an orchid flower.

Sweetening Your Homestead: How to Make Vanilla Syrup

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Animal Husbandry

Animals are an integral part of the homestead. Regardless of the size of your homestead, there are probably animals you can keep that will help you live more self-sufficiently.

More Animal Care

11 Low & No Cost Chicken Nest Boxes (+ Nesting Box Tips)

Easily Fix Spraddle Leg/Splayed Legs with a Drinking Glass

A quirky quail chick looking at the camera.

What Is My Quail Doing? Quail Behavior That Might Freak You Out

Quail in a pen eating homemade quail feed.

How to Make Homemade Feed for Your Coturnix Quail

Real Food Recipes

Things are heating up in the kitchen. A big part of homesteading is mindfulness about what foods you put in your body. Discover simple tips and tricks for preparing real food. Learn easy recipes that will thrill your family. Food has never tasted so good.

A white bowl of homemade cinnamon sugar sourdough donuts with cinnamon sticks and a small dish of cinnamon sugar.

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Cinnamon Sugar Sourdough Donut Holes

A steel mixing bowl filled with peeled tomatoes beside a plate of tomato peels.

How to Peel Tomatoes Without Boiling or Ice Bath

A cooked spaghetti squash on a cutting board with a fork making noodles.

How to Freeze Spaghetti Squash and Keep It Fresh

A jar of crispy dill pickle spears on a wood table with sprigs of dill.

The Secret Trick for Delicious and Crispy Dill Pickles

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Get a free copy of my ebook, Welcome to the World of Homesteading

FREE WITH YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS

In this digital book, you’ll find a seasonal guide to setting homesteading goals. These are goals you easily achieved, regardless of the size or location of your homestead.

Ready to embark on a homesteading adventure?

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🌿 Simple Living Skills

🍲 Cooking + Preserving Food

🌱 Gardening + Outdoor Stuff

🐓 Raising Animals

Backyard Gardening

One of the greatest skills a homesteader can acquire is the ability to produce food for themselves. Not everyone is blessed with acres to grow their food, but even a pot of patio tomatoes can change how you and your family eat. Discover how to maintain your gardens and outdoor spaces.

Hyssop: Why You Need to Make Some Space for This Herb

Winter Sowing Tips: Seed Starting by Zone + Additional Info

Burning saplings and yard waste in a burn barrel on a sunny day.

Burn Barrel 101: Why You Need One on Your Homestead

A drawing of seeds planted in a milk jug.

A Guide to Winter Sowing {Starting Seeds in Winter}

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Simple Living Skills

Discover how to homestead in your home. Crafts, DIYs, simple solutions, and holiday fun. Everyone can homestead in their home, whether in a studio apartment or a luxury mansion. Welcome to sustainable living.

More simple Living

12+ Fun Ways to Upcycle Holiday Cards After the Season

A lavender scented goat milk shampoo with sprigs of fresh lavender tied with twine.

Goat Milk Shampoo Bars: A Recipe for Healthy Hair

How to Make Unpaper Towels: A Green Alternative to Paper Towels

Don’t Toss Them Out! Upcycle Your Old Bed Sheets

In the New Farm Life Shop

Check out my new shop to get to the heart of homestead living. Each item there celebrates the simple pleasures and rustic charm of farm life. Every item I made, from comfy t-shirts with funny quail slogans to helpful printables and books, was specially designed and made by me for you.