ABOUT ME

Hey there, I’m Jessica Knowles!

Welcome to The 104 Homestead, I’m so glad you stopped by. I’m a single mom of three, a lifelong nature nerd with a degree in zoology, and the messy-haired, mud-booted writer behind this little corner of the internet. What started out of sheer necessity has turned into something I can’t imagine living without: a life that brings me purpose, pride, and peace of mind.

Homesteading, to me, isn’t about doing it all perfectly or chasing some dreamy off-grid ideal. It’s about figuring out how to do what you can, where you are, with what you have. And I’m here to walk alongside you as you find your own version of that balance.

Where It All Began

My homesteading story started in the middle of chaos. I was pregnant with my third child, jobless, and doing everything I could to stretch one income to feed a growing family. Out of necessity, I began making the things I used to buy, from meals to cleaning supplies to personal care products.

Then came a garden. Then chickens. Then homemade laundry detergent. I was hooked.

Before long, I was planting seeds with a baby strapped to my back and learning everything I could about self-sufficiency. Amid all the noise and exhaustion, I found something unexpected: confidence. Real, hard-earned, I-can-do-this confidence. And it changed everything.

The 104 Homestead Was Born

In 2013, I launched The 104 Homestead to share what I was learning as I stumbled (and sometimes triumphed) through this lifestyle. I was tired of the “you shoulds” and “must-haves” that made homesteading feel out of reach. I needed a simpler, more flexible approach, so I built one.

I learned to break big goals into seasonal chunks that I could realistically handle during Maine’s nearly winter, very winter, still winter, and not-too-bad months. I started writing it all down. One post led to another, and before long, that little list of seasonal goals turned into a blueprint for a simpler, more manageable homestead life.

A New Beginning

In 2018, life shifted again. After a divorce, I bought a small homestead tucked into the valleys of western Maine. Five and a half acres of fresh air, hope, and possibility. The kids and I jumped in with both feet, raising animals, growing more of our own food, and rebuilding a life that felt grounded in something real.

We’ve grown a lot since then, both as a family and as homesteaders. The boys have learned right alongside me, and we’ve even added my special guy, Michael, to our little crew, a man who shares our love for this life and doesn’t mind the muddy floors one bit.

What I Believe

Homesteading isn’t a destination. It’s a mindset. It’s choosing to grow, create, and live more intentionally, no matter where you call home or how much land you have.

You don’t need a barn, a woodlot, or a pressure canner to get started. You just need the willingness to try and a place to begin. That’s what this blog is here for: to help you take the next doable step, whether that’s starting a container garden, making your own cleaners, or raising your first batch of quail.

So pull up a chair, dig into the posts, and make yourself at home. I’m truly glad you’re here.

Happy homesteading,
Jessica