I'm Sue Merriam

I’m Sue Merriam, and I founded Joyful Homesteading when my youngest child, Sam, was a baby. Sam is now grown, and I’ve learned a lot during those years about self-reliance, living frugally, being prepared, and learning traditional skills such as gardening and dehydrating my own food.

But when I started, I had little to no knowledge about such things. My parents divorced when I was six, and Mom worked full time. She didn’t have the energy in the evenings to cook or clean, let alone garden, so I didn’t learn any of those skills growing up. I learned them much later in life, through trial and error.

Pursuing Joy With My Family

Because Mom worked full time, I grew up a latchkey child, living on TV dinners and junk food. I wanted something different for my own children, so my husband, Rick, and I had to learn how to live on one income.

By living simply, cooking from scratch, and paying off our debt, we found we could live on one income and provide a stable home for our children.

Pursuing Joyful Wellness

Mom was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus when I was a teenager. I saw her struggle with one doctor after another, trying to find an effective treatment for the aches and fatigue she experienced. It made me realize that I wanted a more natural form of wellness for myself. I learned about homeopathy, herbal treatments, and healing from eating whole, natural foods.

Pursuing Joyful Preparedness

The world these days seems a chaotic mess, and there have been many times when I just wanted to turn off the news and focus on my garden and other simple tasks. But I also realized being prepared can help ease that anxiety.

We may or may not have a disaster such as a wildfire, tornado, or an EMP, but unemployment happens to everyone at one time or another. It’s smart to store food and to know how to live frugally in case a disaster arises.

Pursuing Joyful Gardening

Back when the children were small, I dreamed of having a huge garden so I could grow all of my own food. But then reality sank in. I had two small children and an older child with autism. I simply did not have the time to care for a large garden. It was all I could do in those days to change diapers, chase after toddlers, and deal with my older son, let alone cook, clean, and then, yes, garden. 

What I didn’t know then, but realize now, is that gardening is a skill and a habit that you have to develop. A smaller garden, such as a couple of raised beds, would have been a much smarter move for me. Better still, it would have worked better if the garden was near where I walked to the car. That way, I could stop for a few minutes and weed or water my garden before going into the house. 

The poor plants in my first garden got stressed and wilted more than once because I forgot to water them. Weeds took over, and then insects devoured my plants. It was a frustrating experience. I eventually learned the importance of simplicity when learning something new. Starting small is always a wise choice.

Pursuing Joyful Cooking

I found, and you will too, that the easiest way to save money is by cooking from scratch. That’s not as hard as it sounds, although like gardening, it does take practice. But when you stop eating processed foods and start eating real food, your health improves. I include clean protein in every meal, as well as organic grains and vegetables as much as possible. Compared to the cost of fast food, you can make a pot of soup at a fraction of the cost that is far healthier.

I came to realize that beans provide valuable protein, carbohydrates, and fiber, which your body needs. Keeping a few chickens in a chicken tractor and enjoying their eggs is also an excellent source of protein and fat. 

You can also raise chickens for meat, as well as tilapia, a couple of hogs, and even your own homegrown beef or goats. All of these provide a cleaner, healthier source of protein.

Raising Joyful Animals

One of the joys I have experienced by living on an acreage is raising joyful animals. I've tried just about everything out there, including raising goats, hogs, and chickens. At the time I am writing this, I am only keeping chickens now, although I may go back to raising hogs again someday. 

Also, my son is a hunter, so we also regularly enjoy venison. I've learned over the years that with a little imagination, you can enjoy a wide range of proteins without breaking your budget.

The Joy of Learning Traditional Skills

I have also enjoyed learning traditional skills, such as making bread, fermented foods, dehydrating vegetables, and making soaps and lotions. Not only do you derive tremendous satisfaction from making things yourself, but you can also save a ton of money. 

Thanks for stopping by. It's my hope that Joyful Homesteading will bless you. 

Sue Merriam

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