Flourish Farms – Our Journey

Two years ago, my wife Lyndsey and I stood on a rugged, overgrown piece of land—just over 6 acres of wild beauty—and dreamed about what it could become. We didn’t have all the answers, but we had a vision: to build our dream home, raise our family close to nature, and create a homestead where we could live more intentionally. I will never forget finding this deal through a connection and taking Lyndsey to see it the next day. She thought to herself, “what is my husband getting me into” but all of that changed when she walked our future homestead property. This land captured our hearts, and we had no idea what it was going to become. We have not started home construction at this time but are getting things in order for that every day! Lyndsey, Wells, Luke, and I enjoy spending as much time camping on the homestead as possible until we can reside here full time.

What began as a dream has now become our sanctuary. Our spot that we can get away too and be grounded.

We’ve poured countless hours into this land. Building a driveway and taking 15 feet off the top of our hill to open up a building site that gives us amazing views. Clearing brush, carving out trails, building garden beds, planting trees, and constructing spaces that bring life to our vision. We’ve raised chickens, built a greenhouse, planted raspberries and fruit trees, and most recently, finished our barn. Every project has demanded hard work. Real, back-breaking effort. But the reward has been in the progress, the transformation, and the satisfaction of knowing it’s all been done with our own hands.

Through it all, one of the most meaningful parts of this journey has been raising our two boys here. We’re building more than a homestead. We’re building a life that teaches them the value of hard work, resilience, and connection to the earth. Out here, they learn by doing. Whether they’re gathering eggs, hauling wood, helping plant a new tree, or just exploring barefoot in the grass. They’re growing up with dirt under their nails and fresh air in their lungs. My favorite thing is to see my boys covered in wild berry juice and dirt after a day on the homestead. Watching them grab snacks right out of the garden, and learning how to clean fish, wild game, and prepare it for meals. This has been a place that allows all of that to come to fruition.

We want them to see the beauty of nature not as a place to visit, but as a way of life. We want them to understand where food comes from. How to care for animals, and how to work together as a family toward something bigger than ourselves.

That’s why we started Flourish Farms—not just to document our journey, but to invite others to join in. Homesteading isn’t always easy. It’s sweaty, muddy, exhausting work. But it’s honest work, and it’s deeply rewarding. And the more we learn, the more we want to share. To help others take steps toward self-sufficiency, simplicity, and a deeper connection with the land.

We’re so glad you’re here. Whether you’re just starting out or simply curious about this way of life. We hope our story inspires you to dream big, dig deep, and grow something meaningful.

Spring/Summer Camping Meal Ideas

Lyndsey and I spend a lot of time camping on our acreage. When it comes to camping meals, we try and keep it simple and easy! it can get easy to rely on processed foods while camping, we have fallen victim to that. With some simple prep work though you can turn camping mealtime into a healthy fulfilling meal. I am going to list some of our favorite ‘s for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Breakfast Ideas

  1. Overnight Oats
    • Ingredients: Rolled oats, almond milk, chia seeds, honey, fresh berries.
    • Prep Work: Mix oats, almond milk, chia seeds, and honey in a jar. Refrigerate overnight. Add fresh berries in the morning. We like to utilize our Mulberry tree’s for fresh fruit!
    • Tip: Prepare individual jars for easy grab-and-go breakfasts.
  2. Veggie Omelette
    • Ingredients: Eggs, bell peppers, onions, spinach, cheese.
    • Prep Work: Chop veggies ahead of time and store them in a container. Beat eggs and store in a separate container.
    • Tip: Use a portable stove or campfire to cook the omelets.
    • One of our favorite things to do in the morning is go collect our own eggs from the coop and incorporate them into our breakfast!

Lunch Ideas

  1. Chef’s Salad
    • Ingredients: Ice burg lettuce, Cheese, some cut up lunch meats, and dressing of your choice.
    • Prep Work: Chop lettuce ahead of time, and get your portions correct so you can just mix together when it is time.
    • Tip: Keep the salad in a cooler to maintain freshness.
  2. Turkey Wraps
    • Ingredients: Whole wheat tortillas, turkey slices, avocado, lettuce, hummus.
    • Prep Work: Slice avocado and prepare lettuce ahead of time. Assemble wraps at the campsite.
    • Tip: Wraps are easy to customize with your favorite ingredients.

Dinner Ideas

  1. Grilled Veggie and Meat Skewers
    • Ingredients: Bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, herbs. Venison Steaks, or Beef of choice.
    • Prep Work: Chop veggies and marinate meat and veggies in olive oil and herbs. Skewer veggies and meat and store in a container.
    • Tip: Grill over a campfire or portable grill for a smoky flavor.
  2. Foil Packet Chicken
    • Ingredients: Chicken breasts, potatoes, carrots, olive oil, garlic, rosemary.
    • Prep Work: Chop potatoes and carrots. Season chicken with olive oil, garlic, and rosemary. Assemble foil packets with chicken and veggies.
    • Tip: Cook packets over a campfire or portable grill for a hassle-free meal.
    • These are a Family Favorite!!!

Snack Ideas

  1. Trail Mix
    • Ingredients: Nuts, dried fruit, dark chocolate chips.
    • Prep Work: Mix all ingredients in a container.
    • Tip: Portion into individual bags for easy snacking.
  2. Fruit and Nut Bars
    • Ingredients: Dates, almonds, oats, honey.
    • Prep Work: Blend dates, almonds, oats, and honey. Press into a baking dish and refrigerate. Cut into bars.
    • Tip: Store bars in a cooler, or camper fridge to keep fresh.

Prep Work Tips

  • Plan Ahead: Create a meal plan for your camping trip and make a shopping list.
  • Pre-Cook: Cook grains, chop veggies, and marinate proteins ahead of time to save time at the campsite. We don’t love this step but have learned it is crucial to save time!
  • Pack Smart: Use airtight containers and resealable bags to keep food fresh and organized.
  • Stay Cool: Use a cooler with ice packs to keep perishable items fresh.

With these easy and healthy camping meal ideas, you’ll be ready to enjoy delicious food while exploring the great outdoors. Happy camping!

Planting Cool Season Crops

whether you are a first-time gardener, or experienced gardener it is important to know when the best times are to get your crops into the ground. Here at Flourish Farms, we follow the April 15th for cool season crops, and May 15th for warm season crops rule. This is what my parents have always done, and it has worked well for us over the last couple of years. Lyndsey and I recently had our garden beds tilled up, and are getting our onion bulbs, potatoes, and seeds ready to plant on the 15th. This is a fun time of year for many gardeners, and outdoor enthusiasts. The weather is starting to turn, and the days are growing longer.

Cold-Hardy

At Flourish Farms we choose to look for seed packets that are listed as “Cold and Hardy” when considering what to plant for cool season crops. It is important to remember that if you are planting on April 15th you need to monitor the frost potential. A lot of cool season crops can handle light frost, but if a hard frost is on the forecast, then you may need to use frost covers on your garden. Some of our favorite Cold-Hardy vegetables to plant include.

  • Carrots
  • Potatoes
  • Onions
  • Pea’s
  • Lettuce
  • Cabbage
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Garlic
  • Red Onions
  • Asparagus

Conclusion

Spring is an exciting time after being cooped up all winter long. If you are thinking about trying out a garden for the first time, just take the leap! Lyndsey and I are still learning everyday about gardening. It is part of the fun, there is so much to learn, and many people to learn from. We want to teach as many people as we can, while always continuing to learn ourselves. Gardening can be hard work, but it is also very rewarding. When you can sit down at night and prepare a meal that you know you started from seed, and raised to harvest is when it makes it worth it! We hope that we can inspire people to take the first step, that is what we did and have not looked back.