My husband Elvin and I purchased our little corner of the world (NE Iowa) as newlyweds in 2000. We have 7 children, 2 sons-in-law and a grandson. The 5 youngest children still live at home, while the oldest 2 are married and have homes of their own. 

 Although the word ‘homesteading’ is fairly new to us, we aren’t new to the lifestyle of homesteading. My husband and I both were born and raised in the Old Order Mennonite culture and remained part of that community until early 2007. In this family oriented, self sufficient culture of our childhood we were immersed in what the modern world now calls ‘Homesteading’, to us it was simply life. In 2007, after meeting Jesus in a personal way we left the Mennonite church in pursuit of more relationship with Jesus and less rules and religion.  

When we brought home our first animals it was not with the intention of raising our own food, becoming self sufficient, or even purity of diet. It was simply to build character through chores in our two preschool age daughters. As our family grew so did our collection of animals and that’s how the Zimmerman homestead evolved into what you see now. That is how we ended up with 2 milk cows, freezers full of homegrown beef, pork and chicken and enough chores to keep developing the character of our family. Me included. 

 More than I love my family milk cows and all the raw dairy nutrition they provide for us, more than I love gardening and filling the larder with baskets of root crops  and the shelves with jars of produce, more than I love raising my chickens on pasture and gathering their eggs, More than I love watching the beef steers grazing in seas of grass, more than all of that, I love the opportunity this lifestyle gives our family to develop the character qualities that bring honor and glory to our Heavenly Father. 

 So while you are here you may find recipes, patterns, stories and practical homesteading advice my biggest prayer is that what you find while scrolling here would always remind you of the one who loves you and died for your sins, Jesus Christ.