Real Life Homeschooling & Homesteading
I’m Jennifer—a homeschooling mom of ten and a life‑long learner—sharing our family’s journey of homeschooling, homesteading and following our faith.
Our days are a mix of lesson plans, laundry piles, muddy boots and gratitude for the simple joys. We also try to show up for our community — whether that's volunteering at the food pantry, serving at our church, or simply meeting needs as we see them.
After more than two decades teaching my children at home, I know that every season brings different challenges and victories — and that both are worth talking about.
On this site I share the tools, systems and grace that have helped us educate our children, run a busy household and build a sustainable homestead.
Welcome to Restoring Roots Ranch
Homeschooling will never be one‑size‑fits‑all, no matter the size of your family or how long you've been at it.
We’ve tried everything from classical curricula to unschooling and have used resources like Abeka, Bob Jones, Sonlight, Ambleside and more.
I’ve made schedules that worked and others that didn’t, adapted lessons for kids with ADHD, dyslexia and anxiety, guided gifted learners to reach further than we imagined, and watched children graduate, go to college, and forge their own paths.
Here you’ll find practical tips on planning your year, creating flexible routines, balancing multiple grade levels and making the most of your time.
We’ll talk about curriculum choices, record keeping, high school transcripts, dual enrollment and ways to nurture each child’s strengths.
Whether you're just exploring homeschooling for the first time, finding your rhythm, or years in and ready to go deeper—you'll find something here.
Most of all, I want you to know it's worth it — the chaos, the hard seasons, the days you wonder if you're doing it right. I've had all of those, and I'd choose this path again without hesitation.
Real-Life Homeschooling
Faith is woven into how I see the world. When I look at the diversity of rare livestock breeds — the unique traits, the history, the sheer fact that they exist at all — I'm struck by how intentional and intricate it all is. It fills me with a kind of awe that makes me want to do something about it. That same gratitude is behind our efforts to keep waste out of the landfill, to return scraps to the soil, and to preserve what we've been given — including livestock breeds that most people have never even heard of. It all feels less like a hobby and more like a response to something I'm genuinely grateful for.
Many days I'm so busy I don't slow down and really think things through — but sitting here writing this, I realize how much I want to live a purposeful life. Not just on the homestead, but in every direction: toward the land, toward our community, toward the people around us who have needs we might be able to meet. I'm convinced that how we care for our world — and each other — can itself be an act of worship, and that protecting what we have actually matters.
A Faith-Driven Mission
Homesteading is another part of our story. I wanted a homestead from early in our marriage. In 2007, we moved to 5 acres and started building that dream. Chickens, goats, and rabbits were our mainstays. We got a brief taste of pigs and cattle, too, though barely long enough to learn anything. I loved the goats most — their quirky, loyal personalities were completely endearing.
Somewhere in all that research, I stumbled across the Livestock Conservancy, an organization dedicated to protecting nearly 150 breeds of livestock and poultry from extinction. Wait — livestock can be endangered? I had no idea. I fell down the rabbit hole hard. (Any other ADHD people know what hyperfocusing is like? My husband started saying research is a four-letter word in our house.) I started dreaming of a large homestead where I could preserve breeds across multiple species.
Unfortunately, life had other plans, and leaving our animals and that life behind was one of the hardest things we've done. That dream never faded. When I knew we were moving to Tennessee in 2021, the research bug hit immediately. I figured I'd find a few acres, get some chickens, maybe a few goats — but the more I researched which breeds were still critically endangered, the bigger the vision grew.
We're purchasing our first endangered breeds now, rebuilding from scratch, and I couldn't be more excited. If you want to follow along — including some of the wild stories from the years in between — you're in the right place.
Homesteading & Sustainable Living
Take a look around.
If homeschooling is your thing, you'll find real-life advice for teaching kids from preschool through high school graduation — with curriculum guides, planning templates, and more on the way.
If homesteading is calling you, we'll be writing about our soil-building methods, worm bins, microgreens, chicken-raising tips, and our ongoing adventure preserving the critically endangered livestock breeds — some of which you may have never heard of.
No matter where you begin, you're welcome here. Whether you're brand new, hitting your stride, or seasoned and looking for fresh ideas, this is a space for honest conversation — the wins, the mistakes, and everything in between.
We'd love to have you along for the ride. If you have questions, want to share your own experience, or simply want to say hello — we'd love to hear from you. We're still learning too!
Join Our Journey
