#113: From Backyard Birds to a Full Homestead: Raising Kids, Animals, and Purpose
” Just having the confidence and the know-how that, like if something were to happen like 2020 did we'd be good for a while. And I want other people to feel that way too.”
Back in 2020, my guest Emmaline Newton had no idea that a couple of ducks and a handful of chickens would spark a whole new way of life. Fast forward a few years, and her family has turned three wooded acres into a thriving homestead, raising their own meat, growing a big garden, and teaching their kids the value of hard work.
A Full Plate on Three Acres
Emmaline and her family raise their own beef, pork, and poultry right on their small homestead. They do it all on just three acres, rotating animals and working with the land they have. Every year, they raise, butcher, and preserve their own meat. They’ve also built a large 30x60 garden where they grow everything from tomatoes to cucumbers to cabbage for sauerkraut.
They also added Sebastopol geese—beautiful, curly-feathered birds that are part pet, part pest control. The geese mow the grass, cut down on bugs, and contribute to compost.
Feeding a Family of Six
Their garden isn’t just practical—it’s also a labor of love. Emmaline designed it to be peaceful and beautiful, full of raised beds, rocks, and intentional paths. But with four growing kids and a husband who works long hours, most of what they grow gets used. Nothing goes to waste.
They grow and can tomatoes for sauce and salsa, cucumbers for pickles, and potatoes by the bucket. Emmaline also preserves herbs and flowers for teas and home use. The family even freeze-dries meals to make their own kind of "fast food."
Real Life Skills for Real Life Kids
This isn’t a showpiece farm. It’s a working homestead that runs with a lot of grit, a little chaos, and a whole lot of kid help. Her son Zeke has his own recycling business, and all four kids are hands-on with chores, seed starting, and taking care of the animals.
They’re learning more than just farming—they’re learning how to work hard, think for themselves, and solve problems. And they’re doing it while being homeschooled right on the farm.
Teaching and Reaching Others
Emmaline didn’t keep all of this to herself. She now teaches other families how to start seeds, raise animals, and build a homestead even with little land or a tight budget. Most of their setup is made from scrap wood, old pallets, and what they can find or trade for.
She’s been through hard seasons. From postpartum struggles to major life shifts, she knows what it feels like to need something to hold onto. Homesteading gave her purpose and healing. Now, she wants to help other families feel that same confidence.
What’s Next for the Newtons
This year, they’re adding dairy goats and expanding their flower garden. They’ve made space for a horse for the kids and are planning to open up the homestead more to their local community. Whether someone has a small backyard or a new piece of land, Emmaline wants them to know they can do this too.
A Life That Feeds More Than Bellies
It’s not always easy. The weeds grow faster than you can pull them. Not every project goes to plan. But what they’ve built is something real. Something that feeds their bodies and their souls.
If you want to follow along with Emmaline and her family, you can find her at Whispering Winds Homestead on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
And if you’re just getting started or feeling unsure, let this be your reminder—sometimes all it takes is one brave step (or a surprise trip to Tractor Supply) to start something really good.
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About the Host of Farming On Purpose, Lexi Wright:
I’m your host, Lexi Wright. I started the Farming on Purpose Podcast from a passion for sharing the future of production agriculture.
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