Ever notice how some people fall apart when life gets messy, but others suddenly find this weird, laser-focused calm? Let's talk about that.

In this episode of The Farmish Front Porch, we’re talking about what happens when people become pixels and opinions, and how to bring the human part back to our conversations. This isn't about quitting the internet. It’s about remembering what it was supposed to be: a way to connect, to help, to remind each other we’re not alone.

We need to start showing up again in real rooms, with real people, at the speed of a pot of coffee.

In this episode, I’m talking about why we equate simplicity with old-fashioned living, why that doesn’t always make sense, and how the “simple life” in 2025 might look very different than it did in 1925.

In this episode, we’re talking about what we might have lost when comfort became our default. We’ll ask the hard questions about progress, ease, and if this whole "people are getting so soft" has always been the assumption, regardless of what generation we're in.

Comfort food means something different to everyone, but have you ever stopped to wonder why?

Know what I've been thinking about? I'm starting to wonder if I've got too many chickens.



See, we say we want the “simple life,” but then we load ourselves up with too many animals, too many projects, and too much everything. We decide we have to have an extra extra large garden, make as much as possible from scratch, and even mill our own flour (because honestly, Brenda, who doesn't do that?)



But I'm starting to think about the fact that our great-great-grandparents worked hard and possibly dreamt of a day they wouldn’t have to do all the things... and yet here we are, trying to take on what they were trying to get away from?



Let’s talk about rethinking our why and what makes sense, instead of chasing what some could actually say is excess. And how weird is it to wrap our head around that? The idea that the simple life could be... excessive?



There are some honest questions in here, friends. Pull up a chair and have a listen!



Today's episode is also my first episode after my two month break where I spent time figuring out where exactly this podcast is headed at almost 8 years old. So welcome back to what I foresee as a lot of casual "Farmish Front Porch Conversations!"



-- Amy Dingmann, 9-30-25



Grab a copy of my newest book, Peace, Love, and Bacon



FIND MORE GOODIES FROM A FARMISH KIND OF LIFE:



Where I’m at: Facebook page, Telegram chat group, Discord group, TikTok, YouTube



Books I Wrote: Non-fiction books, Fiction books



Join my Facebook group: The Get By Guys and Gals Group

Sometimes you reach a point in life where everything starts to shift, and the path that used to make sense suddenly… doesn’t. How do you move forward when you're not sure which path to take? You stop for a second and figure out where you are before you move forward.

After a couple weeks of unexpected health stuff, I found myself thinking a lot about the promises we often hear in the homesteading and simple living world. Namely, the insinuation that if you just live “right,” you’ll never get sick.

Modern life has done a pretty good job of making movement optional. We sit to work, sit to relax, sit to eat, sit to connect—and we wonder why we feel off. But the truth is, we were made to move.

The fast, easy option doesn’t always feed your soul. In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between getting it done and feeling filled up—whether that’s in your homesteading life, your work, your food, or your everyday routine.

When we start homesteading—or when we start anything, really—we usually build some kind of system to make things run smoothly. And sometimes that system works great… until it doesn’t. So today I’m sharing three mistakes I’ve made lately when it comes to my life/prepping/homestead systems and how I’m reassessing and trying to pull things back together.

Regardless of what you call this kind of life you’re living—homesteading, the farmish life, the simple life—I’m here to tell you there are a lot of things you don’t have to do in order to be part of the club.

In this episode, we’re talking about the realities of midlife on the homestead. The rhythm of your life changes, but I rarely hear people talk about how to wrap your head around those changes...

Let’s talk about how our fears evolve, how we adapt, and why it’s okay if your biggest homesteading worry today is very different than what it used to be.

Today I'm talking about the strange pressure that can build on either end of the homesteading spectrum—from doing it all to doing almost nothing—and how to find the honest, grounded middle.

Today I’m talking about over-information. The constant barrage of updates, alerts, and hot takes that don’t make us safer—they just make us more anxious. It’s not that we shouldn’t be informed. It’s that we’ve forgotten how to live without the noise. So… let’s talk about finding peace in a world that thrives on panic.

So you want to grow your own food, but every time you search “how to start a garden,” you end up buried under 47 tabs of advice that makes it sound like you need a degree, a greenhouse, and three years of soil samples before you can put a tomato plant in the ground. Can't we just find out about easy gardening... for actual beginners?



Let’s take a breath.



This is Stupid Simple Gardening—for real people who want to grow real food without losing their minds.



Yes, there’s a lot you could learn about gardening. (And you will, as you go.) But if you're the kind of person where too much information leaves you stuck in planning paralysis, you really aren't helped by another 100-item checklist. You need the bare minimum to get started—without shame, stress, or Pinterest-worthy perfection. That is how beginners start gardening!



Whether you’ve got five acres or one cracked tote on a porch, this series will help you grow something. We’ll cover:




How to start a garden without overthinking it



What to plant in your garden (hint: not kale, unless you like kale)



How much space you actually need



What to do if (okay, when) you mess it up



Basic garden care tips so you don’t panic halfway through the season



Or get it all as a podcast episode by pressing the play bar at the top of this post! (Main topic starts at 6:26)




And if you mess your garden up? Guess what. You’re officially a gardener now. Welcome to the club.



Gardening isn’t about doing it perfectly. It’s about showing up, getting your hands dirty, and learning what works (and what doesn’t) one season at a time. You don’t need to know everything today—you just need to plant something. So take a breath, grab a shovel, and let this be the year you grow something real.



Whether you're planting one tomato plant in a five gallon pail by your garage or filling a backyard with rows, this gardening series for beginners is here to help you start where you are—with what you have—and remind you that good food doesn't require a perfect plan.



FIND MORE GOODIES FROM A FARMISH KIND OF LIFE:



Preorder by newest book "Peace Love and Bacon: Tales of a Farmish Kind of Life" for Kindle!



Where I’m at: Facebook page, Telegram chat group, Discord group, TikTok, YouTube



Monthly Snail Mail Newsletter: Subscribe here



Books I Wrote: Non-fiction books, Fiction books



Join my Facebook group: The Get By Guys and Gals Group







Buy my shirts!: The Farmish Kind of Life Bonfire Store

I posted a photo of the inside of my barn recently. A random busy day. Mid-project. Chaotic mess. It wasn’t staged. It wasn’t curated. It wasn’t meant to impress anyone. But ohhh buddy, the internet had thoughts. So let's talk about it...

This episode is a heartfelt reminder that life is unpredictable, and we must prepare ourselves and our loved ones for the unexpected. By sharing the weight of responsibilities, we create a more resilient family and community.