Hi, I’m Kate Downham – homeschooling mum of 7, off-grid homesteader, sourdough baker, cheesemaker, and crazy goat lady.

After years of dreaming about homesteading and learning how to grow and preserve food, keep goats, and raise chickens in rental house yards, I moved to fifty acres in the forest with my family in 2017 to be closer to nature and work towards our off-grid self sufficiency dream. Here we grow, ferment, bake, and preserve food using wood-fired cooking, fresh-milled flour, and simple old-fashioned techniques.

The Nourishing Hearthfire is my way of sharing what I’ve learned so you can create your own simple, nourishing life – whether you have a tiny balcony or a large homestead, you can create a more resilient, self reliant life.

On The Nourishing Hearthfire you’ll find tried-and-tested recipes for sourdough, cheese, ferments, hearty meals, and delicious desserts, plus practical skills for self-sufficiency.

Thank you for visiting.

-Kate