I’m Michelle, and I’ve spent years learning that the most meaningful things in life are also the most practical — knowing where your food comes from, how to grow it yourself, and how to make it last. Deep Roots Homestead is where I share everything I’ve learned about living a simpler, more intentional life — from growing and preserving your own food, to raising animals, tending the land, and finding joy in doing things the old fashioned way.
The name Deep Roots Homestead isn’t just a brand — it’s a reflection of where I come from. Our family farm has been in the family since 1854, and those deep roots shape everything I do here. What was once over 250 acres of working farmland in central Indiana has changed with time — suburbs have grown up around us — but we have held on to 8 acres at the heart of it all, proudly preserving many of the original farm buildings that have stood for generations. There is something powerful about tending the same land your family has worked for over 170 years, even as the world outside the fence line looks nothing like it once did.
My father taught me to garden on this land, and my mother taught me to preserve the harvest — I grew up watching her can every fall, and somewhere in those hours beside her in the kitchen, she planted something in me that never left. She also passed down her love of sewing, which has stayed with me just as long. The skills I share here aren’t things I learned from the internet. They were handed down to me, and now I’m passing them on to you.
I’ve spent over 25 years growing food, preserving harvests, and feeding my family from our property in central Indiana. We keep chickens for eggs, raise and butcher meat chickens, tend a large garden, and try every day to live a slower, more sustainable life — one that’s connected to the land and the seasons rather than running from them. And I do all of this while working full time — because real homesteading isn’t about having unlimited time, it’s about making the most of the time you have. My background in adult education means I don’t just know how to do these things — I know how to break them down and teach them in a way that actually makes sense for busy, real-world households. I’ve spent my career helping adults learn complex skills in practical, accessible ways — and that’s exactly what I bring to everything I share here.
At Deep Roots Homestead you’ll find honest, practical guides on homesteading, simple living, and getting back to basics — with a strong focus on growing your own food, preserving your harvest, and stocking a pantry that works. I review the tools and equipment I actually use, share what works and what doesn’t, and help you build a life that’s rooted, intentional, and deeply satisfying — whether you have 250 acres, a suburban backyard, or an apartment balcony.
I also love to cook — really cook. To me a recipe is just a guideline and the real fun starts when you make it your own. I bake bread from scratch, experiment in the kitchen with whatever the season brings, and believe that cooking should feel like creative expression not a chore. You’ll find that spirit in everything I share here — practical, yes, but never rigid. There’s always room to make it yours.
I’m also in the early stages of launching a farmstand — bringing what we grow directly to our community. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time and I’ll be sharing that journey here too, including the honest realities of what it takes to make it work.
When I’m not in the garden or kitchen, you’ll find me tending to our animals, working on a crochet, quilting, or sewing project, or finding some other excuse to make something with my hands. Life on a homestead has a way of turning every season into a new project — and I wouldn’t have it any other way. That same hands-on, make-it-yourself spirit is woven into everything I share here.
I’m glad you’re here. Pull up a chair — there’s always something good cooking.