Homegrown Hopes

About Homegrown Hopes

If you’ve felt the pull to slow down. To create and cultivate a more homegrown life that’s simple, and fulfilling, and to truly enjoy the magic of ordinary days, then friend, you found your place. We’ll chat about everything from gardening and scratch cooking, to homeschooling and motherhood. With some sarcasm sprinkled in of course because, I am my Daddy‘s daughter and Lord knows I’m fluent in that. Whatever it is we’re discussing, I’m by no means an expert. I’m just sharing my experiences and making the most of the little moments in between. Join me, and cultivate your own homegrown hopes.

Publisher

Caitlin Ethridge

Category

leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Feb 2024

Latest episode

7 Mar 2025

Latest episodes

24 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Mar 2025

   3.4 Growing and Using Medicinal Herbs at Home: A Beginner's Guide

   In today’s episode of Homegrown Hopes, we dive into the wonderful world of medicinal herbs! Whether you have a sprawling homestead or a cozy apartment balcony, growing your own herbs is an affordable and rewarding way to take control of your health and well-being. Join me as I share my top beginner-friendly herbs, tips on how to grow them, and simple ways to start using them for common health concerns like stress, digestion, and skin care. In this episode, we cover: The best medicinal herbs for beginners and their uses How to grow medicinal herbs in any space—whether you have a backyard or just a balcony Simple, easy-to-make herbal remedies like teas, tinctures, and salves The benefits of growing your own healing garden and why it's empowering If you're ready to start growing your own medicinal herb garden and unlock the healing potential of plants, this episode is for you! 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨:Beginner's Guide to Medicinal Herbs & Plants https://homegrownhopes.com/a-beginners-guide-to-medicinal-plants-herbs/How To Grow & Harvest Garlic https://homegrownhopes.com/grow-and-harvest-garlic/ How To Make Fire Cider https://homegrownhopes.com/fire-cider-time/ How To Make Elderflower Cordial https://homegrownhopes.com/elderflower-cordial/ DIY Herb Drying Rack https://homegrownhopes.com/herb-rack/ My Herb Garden https://youtube.com/shorts/OwGZ-ccGRSI?feature=shareMy Spring Garden https://youtu.be/_5BXCGPLgZ0 🎟️ 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞! If you enjoyed this conversation and want to dive even deeper into gardening and herbalism, we’d love to see you at the Holistic Homestead Conference! The conference is happening May 17, 2025 — it’s a full day of learning, community, and connection with fellow homesteaders. Tickets are on sale now, so grab yours and come spend the day with us!👉 ⁠ 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞⁠ www.holistichomesteadconference.com 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧 Blog: ⁠https://homegrownhopes.com⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@homegrownhopes Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HomegrownHopes/ ⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homegrownhopes/⁠ Pinterest: ⁠https://www.pinterest.com/homegrownhopes/ ⁠Email: caitlin@homegrownhopes.com 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫https://www.mandynixnutrition.com/ Background Fiddling by my son Creek ❤️ Thanks for supporting my show! 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳: 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘴, 𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵, 𝘯𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. Disclaimer:I’m not a medical professional, and this post is for informational and educational purposes only. This is not medical advice, and you should always consult with a qualified healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns, especially if you’re pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or managing chronic conditions.

2. 

   28 Feb 2025

   3.3 Custom Nutrition for Whole-Body Health with Mandy Nix RD, LDN, MS

   What if the key to feeling better wasn’t found in a prescription bottle, but right on your plate? In this episode, I’m joined by Mandy Nix, RD, LDN, MS, a functional dietitian who helps people uncover the root causes behind their health struggles and heal through personalized nutrition. Mandy explains what functional nutrition really means, how it goes beyond meal plans, and why there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all health. From gut health to inflammation to hormone balance, we dig into how your unique body, story, and environment all play a role—and how the right foods can help your body restore and thrive. In This Episode, We Cover: ✅ What functional nutrition actually is ✅ Why personalized nutrition is essential for healing ✅ How food can address root causes, not just symptoms ✅ The connection between gut health, inflammation, and overall wellness ✅ Simple, practical tips for nourishing your body well About Mandy Nix: Mandy Nix, RD, LDN, MS, is a functional dietitian who focuses on whole-person healing through food and lifestyle. Her approach is personalized, root cause-focused, and designed to help clients create sustainable wellness, not just short-term fixes. Resources & Links: Connect with Mandy https://www.mandynixnutrition.com/ Related episodes: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0RzJZWDFKmoOzYINn7hIvc?si=bje97nJ6RxqXPTT2ua24EQ 🎟️ Join Us at the Holistic Homestead Conference! If you enjoyed this conversation and want to dive even deeper into homestead nutrition, we’d love to see you at the Holistic Homestead Conference! Mandy and I will be teaching a hands-on class called Nutrition on the Homestead, where we’ll share practical ways to nourish your family with homegrown and locally sourced foods. The conference is happening May 17, 2025 — it’s a full day of learning, community, and connection with fellow homesteaders. Tickets are on sale now, so grab yours and come spend the day with us! 👉 Get Your Tickets Here (#) 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧 Blog: ⁠https://homegrownhopes.com⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@homegrownhopes⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HomegrownHopes/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homegrownhopes/⁠ Pinterest: ⁠https://www.pinterest.com/homegrownhopes/ ⁠Email: caitlin@homegrownhopes.com

3. 

   14 Feb 2025

   3.2 Winter Reading List: Books that are Keeping Me Cozy in the Cooler Months

   Winter is the perfect time to slow down, grab a warm drink, and cozy up with a good book. There’s just something about the shorter days and chilly evenings that make reading feel even more special. In this episode, I’m sharing my winter reading list—a mix of stories that feel like old friends, ones that transport you to another time, and a few that just beg to be read by the fire. If you love books that draw you in and linger with you long after you turn the last page, this episode is for you. In This Episode, We’ll Cover: 📖 Why winter is my favorite time to read physical books over audiobooks 📖 My love for Free Little Libraries and swapping books within the community 📖 A breakdown of my favorite winter reads, from historical fiction to lyrical, magical storytelling 📖 Reflections on books that feel like old friends and the stories that left a lasting impact Read The Full Blog Post Here Winter Reading List (https://homegrownhopes.com/winter-reading-list-books-that-are-keeping-me-cozy-in-the-cooler-months/) Books Mentioned in This Episode: 📚 Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin (https://amzn.to/41eYcZW) 📚 The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (https://amzn.to/4gKJj65)📚 Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier (https://amzn.to/4jXw9FI) 📚 The Caretaker by Ron Rash (https://amzn.to/4aZZA5Y) 📚 Once Upon A River by Diane Setterfield (https://amzn.to/4gGBX3x) 📚 The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan (https://amzn.to/41hCjck) 📚 The Sweet Blue Distance by Sara Donati (https://amzn.to/3ECcR8N) 📚 The Girl on the Mountain by Carol Ervin (https://amzn.to/3X4VLXs) 📚 Atonement by Ian McEwan (https://amzn.to/4hD6DUC) I also share thoughts on movie adaptations vs. books (hello, Atonement and A Winter’s Tale!) and why some books resonate deeply—especially those set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, my home. 📚Shop My Winter Reading List (https://www.amazon.com/shop/appalachianreclamations/list/36FYRU6JGQYGH?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_030V7G80QYJ511W7B5XG_1)– Find all of my favorite winter reads on my Amazon Storefront. 📚 Follow Along on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/homegrownhopes?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==) – Let’s chat books! 📚 Join My Newsletter (https://homegrownhopes.myflodesk.com/uzoerzeyfb) – Never miss an update! What’s on your winter reading list? I’d love to hear your recommendations! 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧 Blog: ⁠https://homegrownhopes.com⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@homegrownhopes⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HomegrownHopes/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homegrownhopes/⁠ Pinterest: ⁠https://www.pinterest.com/homegrownhopes/ ⁠Email: caitlin@homegrownhopes.com Shop My Amazon Storefront https://shorturl.at/7iHgI 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫 https://www.mandynixnutrition.com/ Background Fiddling by my son Creek ❤️ Thanks for supporting my show!

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

104,496

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

16 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

10 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 68 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

72

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

71

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.