Welcome to The 104 Homestead

Hi there, and welcome to The 104 Homestead! I’m Jessica Knowles, and I’m so glad you’re here. For the past 14 years, I’ve turned my passion for small-scale farming and sustainable living into a way of life—now, I’m here to help you do the same.

Whether you have acres of land or just a tiny balcony, The 104 Homestead is packed with resources to help you grow food, care for animals, and embrace a self-sufficient lifestyle—right where you are. Homesteading is for everyone, and I’d love to make your journey easier, more rewarding, and even a little fun. Let’s get started!

Upcycle Pill Bottles with These 22 Fun & Creative Ideas

12+ Fun Ways to Upcycle Holiday Cards After the Season

Winter Sowing Tips: Seed Starting by Zone + Additional Info

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

Seasonal Favorites

Seasonal rhythms bring a unique energy to homestead life, from the fresh blooms of spring to the rich, golden hues of autumn’s harvest. Each season comes with its own joys and challenges—planting seeds, caring for animals, preserving food for the colder months, and so much more. Here’s what our homestead community is diving into this season.

Easily Fix Spraddle Leg/Splayed Legs with a Drinking Glass

Two coturnix quail on the ground with a clutch of eggs.

Raising Quail on the Ground In a Coop + Pen or In an Aviary

A coturnix quail in a community quail pen.

Why You Should Consider Quail Farming on Your Homestead

A quirky quail chick looking at the camera.

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

Looking for something?

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.

A guinea fowl standing alert on a grassy field, showcasing its speckled feathers and helmeted head.

Why Guineas Act the Way They Do: Guinea Fowl Behavior

A group of helmeted guinea fowl foraging in a grassy pasture, with fencing and a shelter in the background.

Creating the Perfect Guinea Fowl Coop and Run Setup

A row of heavily mud-caked boots standing against a wooden backdrop, a common sight during Maine's mud season.

Surviving Mud Season in Maine: A Homesteader’s Guide

A glass of freshly brewed Irish stout with a creamy tan head, sitting on a dark rustic surface next to a brown bottle.

Brew Your Own Creamy Irish Stout at Home

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.

Quail in a pen eating homemade quail feed.

How to Make Homemade Feed for Your Coturnix Quail

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

A gray angora basking in the sun outdoors.

Raising Angoras: Caring For the Perfect Dual-Purpose Rabbit

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.

4 Cheese Baked Macaroni & Cheese: Homestyle Goodness from Scratch

Three jars of jam in vibrant colors—blackberry, strawberry, and apricot—surrounded by fresh fruit on a bright table.

How to Make Jam Without Sugar or Sweeteners (Like Honey)

A bottle of hard apple cider on a wooden table with apples around it.

A Beginner’s Guide to Brewing Hard Apple Cider at Home

Fresh garlic from the garden ready to be preserved.

How to Preserve Garlic for Long-Term Storage

Kickstart your homesteading journey with workbook!

FREE WITH YOUR SUBSCRIPTION

This workbook includes seasonal tips and achievable homesteading goals. It’s the perfect guide for any homesteader—whether you’re on a farm or in the city.

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.

A watercolor illustration of a milk jug greenhouse sitting in the snow with green seedlings growing inside. Snowy trees are in the background.

Winter Sowing: The Easiest Way to Start Seeds in Cold Weather

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

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

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

Burn Barrel 101: Why You Need One on Your Homestead

Me modeling my handmade harvest apron from scrap fabric I had on hand.

How Easily to Make a Harvest Apron or Gathering Apron

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.

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

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

Goat Milk Shampoo Bars: A Recipe for Healthy Hair

A striped sweater hung on a clothesline with snow in the background.

The Secret of Line Drying Clothes in Winter (even in Maine!)

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

In the Farm Life Shop

Discover products that bring the heart of homesteading to life! Whether you’re looking for comfy t-shirts with witty quail slogans, practical printables, or inspiring books, each item is thoughtfully designed to celebrate the simple joys and rustic charm of farm life. Everything in the shop is created by me, with love, to help you embrace your homestead journey.