Introducing the Candlelit Morning Challenge
As I write this, I’m staring out my office window at a gloomy, dark, rainy sky.
Summer is officially dead and fall is alive and well. In just a few more weeks it will be winter.
As the seasons shift and we head into the darker months of the year, it’s only natural that we should shift too. After all, we’ve adapted to live and work with each season as it comes for all of evolutionary history.
We learned to wake and sleep with the rising and falling of the sun, which meant that in the spring and summer we evolved to wake earlier, stay up later and work and play harder during the long, sunny days. On the flip side, in the fall and winter we naturally evolved to slow down and sleep more.
But nowadays, our modern society praises and prioritizes going hard all of the time. The less you rest and the more you work, the more society rewards you (or so it would seem).
The curse of modernization
So much about the way our modern life and workday is designed dates back to the Industrial Revolution. Prior to this point in history, most people lived agrarian lifestyles (ie. farmers, homesteaders, etc.) But when industrialization took hold and people began moving to the city in droves to work in factories, the push for productivity skyrocketed.
Keep in mind, the lightbulb was also invented during the latter part of industrialization, which allowed people to work longer hours under artificial lighting. Farmers may have still depended on natural light to get their work done, but factory workers could suddenly work through the night if required, and they’d never even know what time it was.
This trend has continued into the present day. Between our lights and TVs and phones and computers, we hardly ever shut off.
According to the CDC, 1 in 3 adult Americans don’t get enough sleep, and according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, over 40 million Americans suffer from an anxiety disorder. It’s not too hard to connect the dots between each of these issues and our lifestyle of living and working on an unnatural cycle and the confusion we put our bodies through every time we bombard ourselves with artificial lighting (which is pretty much daily).
Of course, in this day and age it’s made even worse by the fact that we’re constantly looking at screens, whether TV, phone or computer. And we’re always connected through email and social media, but we’re more isolated than ever before and our connections to social media and our inbox aren’t always healthy ones. Not to mention the constant (bad) news cycle and “doom scrolling!”
In some cases it even crosses the line into addiction. If you’ve seen the documentary The Social Dilemma, you know that’s no mistake; It’s exactly how these platforms have been designed.
What we consume matters
I talk a lot about the food that we eat and the products that we use and why it’s so important to choose well and be mindful of what we consume, but this doesn’t end at food and cosmetics. We also have to be mindful of what are brains are consuming, including the light we’re letting in and the content we’re consuming through social and traditional media.
Because I, like so many other people on this planet, have succumbed to the bad habit of reaching for my phone first thing in the morning and starting my day off by looking at a bright, artificial blue light screen, checking my email and scrolling my social media feeds. It immediately raises my blood pressure and my anxiety first thing in the morning, but I still feel compelled to do it.
I know I’m not alone. Not even close! And so, last week, I decided to do something about it.
I woke up around 6:00. The house was still dark, and it was the first morning that had really felt like fall. It was earlier than I usually wake up on the weekdays, so I decided I had at least an hour before I “had” to check email and social media. For whatever reason, I decided to light a candle instead as I made my morning coffee and went through the motions of my morning routine.
I immediately felt different than I did most mornings. I felt calmer and more peaceful. I felt happier and more grateful!
It was a small action, but I felt a huge shift. Everything flowed easier. The morning felt less rushed and chaotic. I felt less anxious than I was used to feeling at the start of the day.
I knew right away I had stumbled upon a morning routine I could stick with; One that was so incredibly simple and seemed so obvious in the moment that I wondered why it had taken me so long to figure it out.
I eventually had to blow out my candle and start my day, but the magic didn’t stop there. I noticed that my whole day ran more smoothly after starting the day off in candlelight.
And so, the next morning I decided to start my day off the same way, and again I noticed the same phenomenon.
A small but impactful morning challenge
I posted about my new morning routine over on my Instagram page, and I started getting messages almost immediately from others who were intrigued and who wanted to try starting their day by candlelight too. That’s when I got the idea for the candlelit morning challenge…
I put it out there to my community and encouraged anyone who was interested to commit to starting their day by candlelight too.
I’ve already had messages from people who have taken up the challenge and who’ve expressed what a game-changer this simple act has made in their life. And so today I’m putting the challenge out there to you too!
If you’re reading this at the time of posting, during the month of October, 2021, I’m running an official challenge over on Instagram and asking that when you do decide to pick up your phone, that you take a quick photo of your candlelit morning and post it, either to Instagram stories or to your feed.
Use the hashtag #candlelitmorningchallenge and tag me @thehouseandhomestead and I’ll re-share your post, plus you’ll be entered to win a naturally scented candle from one my favourite essential oils company (and affiliate partner) Plant Therapy.
The challenge officially runs until the end of October. I’ll be drawing a winner on November 1st, 2021. But don’t let that stop you from continuing with this morning routine if you fid that it serves you. Because the greatest reward isn’t winning the giveaway or getting the “social crew” that comes from sharing your photos to Instagram. The greatest reward is the real positive impacts that starting your day off in candlelight can have on your life and your overall well-being.
Wait, I thought this was about avoiding social media in the morning??
It’s not lost on me that I’m asking you to post your candlelit morning photos to Instagram after ranting about the negative impacts of social media, but let’s be honest: You’re probably going to pick up your phone and check social media eventually. Why not do it with intention and spread a positive message to others who might benefit from changing up their own morning routine??
Whether or not you decide to participate in the official Instagram challenge, I do hope you’ll try lighting a candle to start your day instead of reaching for your phone or flipping on your bright overhead lights. Even if all you have is a minute to spare in the morning, make it an intentional minute that allows your mind, body and spirit to wake in a more natural way that supports your health and mental wellbeing.
Our mornings are the foundation that we build our days on, and our days are the foundation we build our lives on. If one small act and one tiny flicker in the darkness has the power to change everything for the better, why not try it for at least one morning?
You have the power to choose your own actions
The world is hurting right now. Our collective anxiety is up and the unnatural way that so many of us are living is only making things worse. But we have the power to change how we operate in the world we live in. Often the biggest impacts come from the smallest changes. For me, this has been one of the most positive impacts I’ve experienced in my own life lately, and if I can share it with others and help even one other person create positive change in their own life, I’m all for it.
After all, that’s why I started this blog to begin with: To share information that can help you live a healthier, happier, more self-sufficient life where YOU are in control and empowered to change how you operate in a world where we are constantly presented with (and even encouraged to make) unhealthy decisions that impact us and the people around us.
Try it. Just for one day. If it makes you feel good, consider trying it again. And if you feel so inclined, let me know how it’s impacted your own life.
If you want to participate in the official challenge, remember to post your photos to Instagram using the hashtag #candlelitmorningchallenge and tag me @thehouseandhomestead so I can re-share your post and enter your name into the giveaway.
Or simply keep it to yourself, but be sure to celebrate the fact that you’ve made an intentional decision to start your day by doing something good for yourself.
There’s a lot of things about this world that we can’t change, but no matter how much seems like it’s out of our control, remember that you always have the power to choose your own actions.
As the Chinese proverb goes, “it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.”
Stay well, friend.
Until next time,
Wishing you homemade, homegrown, homestead happiness 🙂
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It’s easy to romanticize homesteading, but the truth is that those homegrown vegetables, those freshly laid eggs, that loaf of bread rising on the counter, and that pantry full of home-canned food takes time, effort and dedication. It doesn’t “just happen” overnight!
But if you work on learning one new skill at a time and gain confidence in it before moving onto the next, one day you’ll be looking back and marvelling at how far you’ve come.
That’s where I’m at now. Life today looks a lot different than it did 10 years ago, when our homesteading and self-reliance journey was just beginning.
Back then we still lived in our city condo and were just beginning to dabble in all of this stuff. But my husband Ryan and I felt a sense urgency to start pursuing a more self-reliant lifestyle, and we committed to taking small steps, one day at a time to make that vision a reality.
Over the years we’ve continued to put one foot in front of the other, adding new skills and tackling new projects along the way that have helped us get to where we are today.
While there’s always more we want to learn and do, as I look around me right now, I’m so grateful that we took those first steps, especially considering what’s happened in the world over the past few years!
If you’re also feeling the urgency to take the first (or next) steps toward a more self-reliant life, this is your final reminder that today is the last day to join The Society of Self-Reliance and start levelling up your homesteading and self-sufficiency skills so that you’ve got what it takes to:
• Grow your own groceries
• Stock your pantry
• Create a natural home
• Get prepared
• Learn other important life skills like time management for homesteaders, goal setting and how to become your own handyman
And more!
If you’ve been feeling called to level up your self-reliance skills (because let’s be honest, we’re in for a wild ride these next few years with everything going on in the world), now is the time to heed that call.
Link in profile to enroll before midnight tonight, or go to thehouseandhomestead.com/society
#homesteading #selfreliance #selfsufficiency #homesteadingskills #preparedness
There are so many reasons to grow your own food at home:
💰 Saves you money at the grocery store
🍴 Healthier than conventionally grown food
🔑 increases your overall food security
🫙 Gives you an abundance to preserve and share
But perhaps the number one reason is because it just tastes better!
Not only does food taste better when it’s freshly picked or allowed to ripen on the vine, there’s something about putting in the work to grow something from a tiny seed and then getting to see it on your dinner plate that just makes it so much more satisfying than anything you’ll ever buy from the store.
Plus, having to wait all year for fresh tomatoes or strawberries or zucchinis to be in season makes that short period when they’re available just that much more exciting!
With the world spinning out of control and food prices continuing to rise, it’s no wonder more people are taking an interest in learning to grow their own food at home. But that also means changing our relationship with food and learning to appreciate the work that goes into producing it and the natural seasonality of organically grown fruits and vegetables.
(It also means learning to preserve it so you can make the most of it and enjoy homegrown food all year long).
In my online membership program, The Society of Self-Reliance, you’ll learn how to grow your own food, from seed to harvest, as well as how to preserve it so you can enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor all year long!
You’ll also learn how to grow and craft your own herbal medicine, detox your home, become your own handyman, and so much more (because self-reliance is about more than just the food that we eat… But that’s a pretty good place to start!)
The doors to the Society are now open for a limited time only. Click the link in my profile or go to thehouseandhomestead.com/society to learn more.
#foodsecurity #homegrownfood #homesteading #selfreliance #selfsufficiency #homegrownfoodjusttastesbetter
If you’ve been watching events unfold over the past few years and you’re feeling called to start “cutting ties” with the system and begin reclaiming your independence, The Society of Self-Reliance was made for you!
When I first launched this online membership program last year, my goal was to create a one-stop resource where members could go to learn and practice every aspect of self-reliance, as well as a space to connect with other like-minded people pursuing the same goal. And that’s exactly what you’ll get when you join!
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn inside the Society:
🌱 Food Security and Self-Sufficiency: Learn the art of growing and preserving your own food, ensuring you and your loved ones have access to nutritious meals year-round.
🌿 Natural Living and Herbal Medicine Mastery: Discover the secrets to creating a low-tox home and and to growing, making and using herbal remedies to support your family’s health, naturally.
🔨 Essential Life Skills: Learn essential life skills like time management, effective goal setting and practical DIY skills to become more self-sufficient.
As a member, you’ll enjoy:
📚 Monthly Video Lessons: Gain access to our ever-growing library of video lessons, with fresh content added each month.
📞 Live Group Coaching Calls: Participate in our monthly live group coaching calls, where we deep dive into a different self-reliance topic every month, and do live demonstrations and Q&A’s.
🏡 Private Community: Join our private community forum where you can ask questions, share your progress, and connect with like-minded individuals.
I only open the doors to The Society once or twice each year, but right now, for one week only, you can become a member for just $20/month (or $200/year).
In today’s world, self-reliance is no longer a luxury, a “cute hobby,” it’s a necessity. Join us inside The Society of Self-Reliance and empower yourself with the skills you need to thrive in the new world!
Link in profile or visit thehouseandhomestead.com/society to learn more.
#selfreliance #selfreliant #selfsufficiency #selfsufficientliving #sustainableliving #modernhomesteading #homesteadingskills #preparedness
Got out for an early morning harvest today. Been up since 3am, contemplating life, the future and the past, the order of things…
There is a rumbling right now, not just in North America, but around the world. Many of us can feel it, and know we are on the precipice of something big.
I’d been hearing about this new song that’s become an overnight viral sensation, written by an (until now) unknown singer named Oliver Anthony. His new song Rich Men North of Richmond has had 14 million views on YouTube in the past week alone, so I decided to check it out.
I also saw a clip of him playing a Farmers Market last week, and anything that has to do with Farmers Markets always has my attention;)
I can’t tell you how many tears I’ve already cried listening to that song. If you’ve heard it already, you probably know what I’m talking about, and if you haven’t, I highly recommend giving it a listen. All I can say is it’s been a while since a song resonated so deeply with me, and in this strange new world, I know I’m not the only one.
One of the lines in Anthony’s song is “Livin’ in the new world, with an old soul,” and that’s something I think so many of us in the homesteading community can relate to.
Trying to cling to better days; To a simpler time; To the old ways, all while doing our best to get by in the new world.
The world has changed drastically in the last few years especially, and it’s set to change in immense ways over the next few years. Today I’m feeling thankful for people like @oliver_anthony_music_ who give a voice to what so many are feeling right now.
Know that if you’re feeling it too, you’re far from alone. And while the future may feel uncertain and even a little scary, remember that if we stand united, we the people are a force to be reckoned with.
(Continued in comments…)
Another garlic harvest in the books!
Garlic is easily one of my favourite crops to grow. It’s pretty much a “set if and forget it” crop. We plant in the fall and leave it to overwinter, fertilize a couple times in the spring, start watering only once the ground starts to dry out, and then harvest in the summer. We can even plant a fall succession crop after our garlic if we want so it really makes great use of garden space all year round.
Over the years we’ve managed to become completely self-sufficient with garlic. We now grow enough to eat all year (and then some!), plus we save our own seed garlic and usually have extra to sell or give away. And around here fresh, organic garlic ain’t cheap, so it’s a good cash crop for anyone who’s serious about selling it.
It took me a few years to really get the hang of garlic, but it’s one crop I’m now very confident with (knock on wood, because it’s always when we make statements like this that next year’s crop fails! Lol.)
A while back I compiled a comprehensive guide to growing, harvesting and using garlic both as an edible and medicinal crop. This is usually only available as part of a paid bundle (or in the fall 2022 issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine if you’re a subscriber;), but for a limited time I’m offering it for free, no strings attached!
Plus you’ll also get access to my step-by-step video lesson on planting garlic so you can set yourself up for success with your garlic crop this year.
Comment “Garlic” below or head to thehouseandhomestead.com/garlic-guide to get your free copy!
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#garlic #garlicharvest #homesteading #selfsufficient #selfsufficiency #selfsufficientliving #selfreliance #homegrown #groworganic #growfoodnotlawns #gardenersofinstagram #homesteadersofinstagram
Going through photos and videos from our trip to the @modernhomesteadingconference and the vast majority are of our daughter having the time of her life!
Even if I personally got nothing else out of this gathering (which I most certainly did), watching her discover her own love of this lifestyle outside of what we do at home made my heart grow three sizes!
Homesteading is about so much more than homegrown food and self-reliance. It’s about passing on invaluable skills and an understanding of and respect for our connection to the land that provides for us to the next generation.
Being around so many other kids and families who are also pursuing a homesteading lifestyle helped show our little one that this is a movement that is so much bigger and greater than what our own family does on our little plot of land. This is a lifestyle worth pursuing, with a community unlike any other.
Glad to be back home and more excited than ever to involve my kids in everything we’re doing. But also, I think I speak for my whole family when I say we can’t wait to go back someday!
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#homesteading #modernhomesteading #raisinglittles
If you’re simply looking for ways to save a little extra cash this summer and live well for less, here are 12 tried and tested frugal living tips for summer that you can use to save money this season without sacrificing a thing.
Head over using the link in my bio!
https://thehouseandhomestead.com/12-frugal-living-tips-summer/
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A brand new issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine just dropped!
In this issue:
🌱 How to forage and use five common edible and medicinal weeds
🏠 A sustainable, affordable alternative to traditional homes, greenhouses and more
👨👩👧👦 Tips for managing a homestead while raising a family (big or small!)
🫙 What to focus on when preserving food for true food security
🌹 How to grow and arrange your own cut flowers at home
🍓 The many ways to preserve summer berries (including 5 delicious recipes!)
💇How to make your own all-natural herbal hair care products at home
🧑🌾 Why “community sufficiency” is the new self-sufficiency
And more!
Visit modernhomesteadingmagazine.com (or click the link in my bio) to subscribe or login to the library and read the latest issue.
Plus, be sure to check out all of our past issues as well! There’s a wealth of information in our library on everything from farming and gardening to cooking and canning to herbal medicine, natural living and so much more!
*** This will be the last quarterly issue! ***
This little magazine has grown so much over the past 4 years and 32 issues, and now it’s time for another exciting evolution.
I’m excited to announce that we will be moving to an even more robust annual publication with the intention of offering the first ever print edition this fall if there is enough demand.
I’m also excited to announce the brand new Modern Homesteading Magazine blog, which is currently under construction and will be launching soon. While we will still be maintaining digital subscriptions, the blog will be accessible to all, free of charge, so that more people might benefit from the empowering and increasingly important information that we cover in each issue.
Thanks to everyone who helped make this issue happen! @homesteadingfamily @oatsandhoneyhomestead @omnivore.culture @thetaylor.leigh @doeraydesign (and more who don’t have IG pages;)
And a HUGE thank you to everyone who has subscribed over the years. Modern Homesteading Magazine would never have become what it is today without each and every one of you.
#homesteading #modernhomesteading #selfsufficiency
If you’ve ever grown your own garlic, you might have noticed the spiral-shaped shoots that suddenly pop up in the centre of the stem, usually about a month or so before the garlic bulbs themselves are ready to be harvested.
These are garlic scapes, and believe it or not- they make delicious pesto! Get the recipe through the link in my bio- https://thehouseandhomestead.com/garlic-scape-pesto/
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This honey and chive blossom vinaigrette is a frugal, easy and healthy homemade salad dressing that pairs beautifully with fresh garden salads all season long.
Get the recipe through the link in my bio.
https://thehouseandhomestead.com/chive-blossom-vinaigrette/
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#seasonalrecipes
#eatinseason
#liveseasonally
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#seasonaleats
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#eatseasonal
Whether you live in the city and grow a few herbs on your balcony, have a few backyard chickens in the suburbs or live in the country and have a larder full of enough home-canned food to survive the apocalypse, if living a more homemade, homegrown, self-sufficient lifestyle is important to you, Modern Homesteading Magazine was made for you!
Read it today through the link in my bio!
https://modernhomesteadingmagazine.com/
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#houseandhomestead
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This radish top pesto recipe makes good use of the edible radish greens that often get discarded once they’re separated from the root. The end result is a peppery, slightly spicy twist on a classic pesto recipe.
A perfect condiment for all your summer snacking!
https://thehouseandhomestead.com/radish-top-pesto-recipe/
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#radishes
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#suburbanhomesteading
#lovemyfarm
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#countrygal
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#urbanhomesteading
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#homesteaderslife
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