My kids and grandkids are all grown now, but when I had littles at home, I sewed, baked, cooked, canned and learned every possible thing I could to stretch hubbys meager paycheck. Felt quite smug when friends would say, we could never afford that. And I knew they had a larger income.

I was a stay at home mom for about 30 yrs. My husband and I both felt that having a mom at home and present for the kids at all times was the best thing for our family of 9 and society in general. My husband worked but was available for the kids also. I budgeted, cooked,😊 canned and dehydrated. I also sewed. Our children grew up to be good and productive human beings. You are doing a great job with your family! 😊 keep up the good work

I am 75 years old and live by myself, and I am going to try a pantry challenge. It may be on my own, but it will be fun to try. Thank you for the inspiration, Ruthann! It's all to easy to run to the store so I'll see how I can manage to cut that back. Unfortunately I am allergic to all dairy and can't eat beef, so I look for recipes that don't include those items. I try to be vegan because it's easier to find menus/recipes in that category, but I do eat eggs and honey. Thank you again for all you share so generously. Many blessings to you and your loved ones.

More families should learn how to live off the land and preserve food as you do. Love to watch how you preserve the food.

Thank you for another inspiring video…I have Pennsylvania Dutch roots on my mothers side of the family. Mom passed away last year at age 92..Your videos remind me of her. She taught me how to sew and bake and cook simple foods…It’s so refreshing to see your family living the simple lifestyle. You are an inspiration. ❤

I actually love you because you’re so absolutely human and honest about your lifestyle…. everybody forgets something every once in a while you actually may learn something from that❤..

I hid our goodies in 'Yucky' cereal boxes.😂😂

I found you from watching the ThreeRivers Homestead videos. Although I am not on a homestead, I am a Christian mother and wife and I love learning how other Christians live out their faith. Thank you for sharing your love of God on KZfaq. I'm off to watch your deep cleaning video to help me get up my courage to face my kitchen. Pray for me, I'm gonna need it!

Love your videos!! Had to laugh when you hid the chocolate. As a mom of 10 I have to get creative too!

Kendrick had me laughing so hard 😂 Such a beautiful family you have. My kids are always poking around in the kitchen being silly while I’m cooking too ❤

I just found your channel this week and am loving it. Although I am a senior citizen, learning new things is always inspiring. Your lifestyle is so much the way I lived when raising my children. God bless you and your family.

Thank you for your granola recipe. Im going to make it for my son and me. You are an amazing woman with all you do. I love the way you are so organized. God bless you sister in Christ!

My mom always hid the chocolate chips in the washing machine. She did all of the laundry because she loved to do it. So the washing machine was the best place to hide them. We never figured that out until she told us when we grew up!

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE your channel. I wish YT and your channel was around when my boys were little. I had no idea about self sufficiency, gardening, farming and all of the amazing things you do. You are so inspiring! Thank you for sharing all of this with us!

You are a blessing to all of those who are able to watch your channel, what a delight you are in sharing your life and family as well as your challenges, talents and recipes with us. Blessings to you always!

I recently found your channel and am thoroughly loving each beautiful video. I’m also doing the Three Rivers challenge. I’m watching your old videos and look forward to many more. Have a great week!

I just stumbled on your KZfaq channel by accident. You are one of the best teachers I have ever come across. I have been interested in canning for awhile now. However, I never found any other videos that I could really learn from. But yours were taught well, easy to understand, and so none judgmental. Thank you. You have a very good style. I teach in Los Angeles, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. I teach agriculture classes, animal science, horticulture, floriculture, and landscape. We are all about hands on, learn by doing. So, I find your videos to be the same. I am now making my way through all your videos. Please keep them coming. Paul

I love that you shared this! Thank you so much! I feel this so strong as a stay at home mom that doesn’t bring home money. The value I bring to my family the way God wants me to.

What a great pantry! I also can pineapple zucchini, and I have a video to show how! I actually wanted something sweet last night, and I opened a can, and had it as a "dessert". It was delicious! I have made Zapple and Peach pie filling from zucchini as well! So many ways to use up all of that Zucchini, since it is one of the things that grows in abundance in our Midwest! I am happy to have found another homesteader in the "area"!

It is good and very comforting to watch your videos. Showing your skills, experience, knowledge in raising a big family and running a homestead is very educational. Nowadays, we need to learn from the experts and the experienced homemakers to help us develop those skills passed on from our ancestors. It's never too late to learn how to make things from scratch. You're in the right path. New subscriber. Watching you from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Here showing my support and appreciation for your channel. Lots of wonderful content. I live on a 31 acre goat farm in a very rural one red light Town. Your channel has definitely helped tremendously in making trips to Wal-Mart less for our families needs. The nearest store is over an hour away so the less trips that have to be made the better. Wishing you a Wonderful June and Very Happy Summer.

You are such a amazing loving & caring person. I love your videos, your voice is so soothing. Thank you for sharing your life with us.

Thank you for the granola recipe. . . and the idea of chili over twice baked potatoes. Here’s a quick recipe I got from Lumnah Acres channel for easy mayo- if you have a stick blender. 1 c. Avocado oil, 1egg, 1TBS apple cider vinegar, 1/2 tsp each of salt & gr. Mustard seed, black pepper to taste. Put all in a container and blend with immersion blender for half a minute or so until thickened. Store in the fridge. Super easy especially when the store is 45 mins away and you just realized you’re out of mayo and supper is in 15 mins! Sending hugs and blessings to you and your beautiful family.

I had to laugh a little at the chocolate hiding 😂 even though I have older children I still do the same… but In the vegetable drawer in my refrigerator. Thank you for another great vid, and another yummy recipe, blessings to you and your family.

I just love these ideas for healthy options. Keep them coming.

Thank you for this wonderful video! I enjoyed it so very much! I’m new to watching & so glad I found you! I also think your children are very sweet & I’m impressed by how they do their chores without complaining. You give your children much more advanced chores than I expected! You are giving them such good habits which will allow them to become very capable adults! It’s great (& quite unusual!) to see such an outstanding group of children. I haven’t seen your husband yet because I’ve only watched a couple of your videos. But I love seeing the interaction between you & your children. You are an amazing mom!!!

It would be great to see a video on your chili base and your homemade baked beans. Thank you for sharing your journey!

I laughed at your video today... The little boys crack me up. We don't go to Walmart unless there is no other identifiable option!

Your son cracked me up admiring himself in the camera : ) Adorable ! I am trying the challenge along with you

Hi RuthAnn and sweet family! I love watching your videos, they are so inspiring. I will try your granola recipe, it looks delicious. Thank you for sharing and have a blessed day!

I made a batch of granola tonight $.31 a serving. Took 3 hours but it was worth it. Thank you for sharing. I did half butter half creamy peanut butter. I love watching you. You are teaching me so much.

I love how you manage the smores chocolate! I have a shelf in a cupboard that is off limits because the ingredients are designated for something special!

Enjoyed your channel so far! You showed you own canned cherry pie filling, and I thought I'd tell you about a quick dessert, using it. Just roll the pie filling up in flour tortillias, in a baking dish like an enchalada. After you have your dish as full as you want, melt a stick of butter in a cup of sugar and a cup of water, and pore over the tortillias, and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake at 350 till bubbly and starting to brown. It is very good and so quick. You can add more sugar if you like it sweeter if your cherries are not very sweet. Great cereal recipe, and love that walnut chopper!

Just started watching your Channel. You've got me hooked, 😊. Sure enjoyed watching your little one helping you cut up potatoes. Excellent how you handled your children with learning new skills!!!

Hi RuthAnn , I recently discovered your channel. Absolutely love your channel! I look forward to you posting more videos in the future. I grew up on a 100 acre dairy farm. By watching you and your wonderful family, it brings me back to my childhood of living in the country with all the farm animals.Thank you for sharing your made from scratch recipes. Great job making your videos.Have a blessed day! God is good.

I just absolutely adore you and your sweet family

We took on 5 children when I was 42 and my husband was 44 they were 2 3 5 7 and 11 I went from feeding just my husband and myself to feeding 7 people then my two daughters moved home that ended up being 9 well over the last 15 years it was from 7 to 12 people eating at my house everyday, I remember the things that you are doing in fact They are all grown and living on their on or in college and I still make my own bread I still have a garden I can and freeze my veggies from my garden even tho garden isn't so big anymore for 2 I have started to dehydrate I am really enjoying that Not sure how I stumbled on to your page a few weeks back but I am so enjoying watching, Be Blessed my new friend

I found you on your cream chicken soup video, shared it with my mom and since then I’ve had several of your videos come across my feed. I subscribed. I can not believe you only have 38k subscribers. But I suspect that will grow quickly as people find out about you. You have some amazing content. Thank you! I wish you and your family well!

You are a great teacher of simple ways. Appreciate the knowledge.

I LOVE to watch your channel! I have 4 grown children, but I am still learning from you on things I wish I knew when my children were growing up! I am from Maine

Look into using a Sun Oven for the baking you do in the warmer months. Its a win win for reducing utilities and doesn't heat your kitchen up.. plus you can leave it and not have to worry about things burning. Your channel is a joy to learn from. Thank you.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and precious family. ❤

This is fabulous!!! We love to do the same using food we have and grow and keeping purchased food costs as low as possible. I LOVE the food prep ideas and recipes. Thank you so much!! We ended the boxed cereal and went to a granola recipe I created that we love. You have me intrigued with the Azure rice krispies!! I'm looking forward to trying your granola recipe too!! Thank you so much for sharing your hope in the Lord and your life with us. We look forward to each video!!

Thanks for sharing your granola recipe. I've never used crispy rice; I use rolled oats. If we had that much milk, it would be ice cream all the way! We freeze milk and that works good too. 💯❣️

I have the dry ingredients mixed up ready to finish in the morning! .. I love the season grilled cheese idea!!

I have to let you know that when i watch your channel i always have a SMILE on my face 😊. Love your channel

We absolutely love the granola recipe! Thank you for sharing it with us. I am on my 2nd batch and know i will be making it 2x a month.

"My kids don't watch my channel so I know it's safe there" 😂 ❤ Off- video: She hides them somewhere else

Beautiful family! Thank you for showing us how you and your husband run your family.

I love homemade granola, and make it often for my homemade yogurt. I've never put rice cereal in mine but think I will now after watching you! You have such good ideas. I love how you parent your children! So many need to take notice! Thanks for your channel!

Ruth Ann, you are an inspiration and a blessing. I look forward to next weeks video. ❤

I love watching your viseos. I line in Northeast Ohio and am so blessed to have several Amish Salvage stores less than 45 minutes away. That is how we survive our food budget of 200 a month for 3 people. As a mom of a college student who does cook for himeself,he too loves to Salvage shop to stock up for his return to college. I cannot imagine what I would do without these wonderful stores and the produce slowly coming from our garden. Blessings to you all.

I love watching you and your family, you are one hard working lady. You remind me of my mama many, many many years ago when I was a little girl growing up. It's so relaxing listening to you talk and do your chores and cooking. GOD bless you all and your beautiful life on your farm.

I love the affection that Harrison shows his Mum x

That chilli over the baked potatoes looked great ❤

I would love a video on how you preserve your eggs in the glass jars!!!! Please and thank you! I am loving your channel!

You are such a blessing Ruthann. I've only just found your videos, but you are just a blessing.

Braggs was bought out and additives are now in their ACV. Making apple cider vinegar yourself is super easy! I have 2 gallons brewing right now.

Yes, I have to hide things too. Back of the freezer under something they don't particularly care for or in the laundry room cupboard seems to be safe places.

I enjoyed this very much - I strive for zero food waste as well, so I enjoy seeing how others do it. Thank you for sharing! ❤ xo

Your youngest is a little mini you!😊 Granola looks so yummy!

Thanks for sharing this. I grew up on cereal and refuse to buy the sugar stuff I love but to have "grown up" cereal that's healthier. I'll give it a try😉

Long time viewer, first time commenter. Fellow Iowan here that grew up in a small dairy farm and am seeking a homestead for my own family now. Just want to say I love seeing your videos getting so many views. Love your beautiful smile and all your helpful content (also one of Jessica’s biggest fan) 😊

Your smile is super cute, love your positive attitude. I'm gonna try your granola. I just recently found your channel and am enjoying getting to know you and your family. Nice job!!

I just love your channel. Im a mom of 1, work very part time, and live in a city. We couldn’t be more different on paper… but I squeeze every ounce of these homestead and incredible techniques into my life as i can. When my daughter was younger and I was home full time I spent hours every day prepping and learning and doing all that I could to make what we had go farther! And it let me stay home for almost 2 years! Now my daughter is just over 2 and everytime I tell her I’m making us lunch, or breakfast, she pulls her toddler stool next to me and says “I can help you” and I know I’m passing down a love of health, skill, and passion to live better. Life looks different now, and I used to spend an hour or more preparing dinner because I loved it. My new way is I plan out my entire week and then I pull from the freezer, I slow cook meat, parcook vegetables, marinate, pickle, and make sauces… everything I could possibly need on Sunday night. Tomorrow when we have dinner we’ll have pulled pork from a huge cut of pig I bought and broke down myself, slaw, pickled onions from a local farmer I did in summer, tortillas I made myself, guacamole and cheese. All I need to do tomorrow is warm tortillas and meat. I can’t say I do ALL of it how you do, and I one day hope to, but I think it’s miles ahead of where most people are now, and ingredient wise - it’s simple.😊

Oh beautiful grilled cheese sandwiches. What a treat on homemade bread with garden veggies. Your twice baked potatoes with chilli looks sooo good also! And yes, your skills are worth a lot, so are the children who benefit from mom being home. 5hank you!

Your channel just came up on my feed for canning potatoes. I am smitten with your channel as you are a gift to the Kingdom of God and as priceless as rubies. I have never been domestic as I’ve always been in the profession world , I am married with 3 grown children. My husband has done most of the cooking and grocery buying in the time we had children at home. The Lord blessed me in business so I could afford to retire at 54 . We now live on 19 acres in a tiny home and this is my time to learn these practical life skills and I must say I am enjoyed it all. I am also doing an online herbal program to learn medicinal medicine. I am learning to garden, learning botanical medicine and cooking and canning. I look forward to going through your videos to learn. Bless you for your incredible gift of mothering and most importantly the job of keeping your home. ♥️ from British Columbia 🇨🇦. ♥️✝️🙏🏼🌟.

Great video. I love everything you put out! So helpful. What a wonderful family. God continue to bless you all.

Great meal ideas! Love your videos! Such a wonderful mother and wife! You are tops in my book! I bet I can guess what you are going to be busy with next. Tackling all that many uses of milk!! That’s really a lot

I am on a fix income, this would really help me out for catching things on sale. Thank you.I like watching you guys on KZfaq.

I loved the kids running around and showing off for the camera while you were making the granola 😂

I am loving your videos. We do not have room for a dairy cow but have bought a share in a dairy cow. A young woman who I attend church with is so gracious to do that. You have inspired this 64 year old homemaker and grandma! Blessings to you my sweet sister in Jesus Christ.

Thanks for sharing your ideas, cooking & baking & bits of your family life! So creative! Blessings to all 🤗💜🇨🇦

Hendrick is so adorable ♡ I see you too buddy. Wonderful video as always RuthAnn ♡

you are such a wonderful mother !!! love your channel and videos.... you are an inspiration

Jessica at Roots and Refuge sent me over for your pineapple zucchini video. I will be trying that for sure! Now I have twice baked potatoes on my mind. 😂 Liked and subscribed.

I had to smile at Kendrick checking himself out in the camera😊

You’re amazing! Love watching and hearing how wonderfully you are as a mama and wife and caregiver! Blessings on and over you sweet girl!

Dear Mrs. Zimmermann I really don't know why but when I watch you I think I know her! Real true, authentic and right out of my heart that you are. Thank you for being you and sharing with us. Greetings from Cologne Germany . Lydia a mother of three and thank god a grandmom right now to too wonderful and magic boys! Love L.

It’s good to know that another canner has family members that don’t prefer their creations - sometimes it’s the butter or the cheese or the pickle relish! It is discouraging to get to spring and have a whole batch of pickles to feed the chickens!

I just to found you & your wonderful family. Love your videos. Learn a lot , just wish I had found you years ago. God bless your entire family.

That grilled cheese looks so amazing, i took a picture of the screen and sent it to my husband. ha ha. he said how about that with your tomato basil soup, so that will be dinner. i did make the sourdough bread you did a video on and it was a life saver. thank you again!!

Im a fairly new subscriber, and wondered if you would mind telling us the ages of the kids? They are all so cute and well behaved. You and your husband are doing such a great job preparing them to meet the world. I know they will be productive, hard working, loving adults. God bless

Oh wow, beautiful family! You do a wonderful job running your house and caring for the kids. Got to try the granola mix my husband loves granola. Midwest Iowa girl! ❤😊

I love your show so much, and your personality is just the best. You're a wonderful mom and just charming and real. Well, you just made my day and my sides hurt from mentioning your least favorite store. 😅😂😅😂TJ Maxx is a great place to find "specialty" items. The other store is my very least favorite store, too. 😂😂😂😂😂 That tickled my funny bone. Here's another marvel you possess. Eighth grade education??? You are very intelligent. I have learned so much from you. One thing of note..... the wood chips in store bought cheeses are added for some reason. It's the cellulose. 😢😢😢Keep up the great work.

Out of everything I enjoyed watching and learned from you, I keep thinking about your pickles and how absolutely delicious they look!

Love seeing the kids running around in the back ground. Meals looked delicious too!

Found your channel recently and so enjoy it. It brings back memories of growing up on a Minnesota dairy farm. I have also lived in Wisconsin and Iowa so I can relate to your life. Nothing went to waste. I raised my family the same way. Thank you for sharing. I noticed your rhubarb plant. Oh, how I miss those rhubarb pies😋

I just found your channel this week and love it! I grew up with a large garden and helped my parents can and freeze almost everything. I now have a garden in the city and grow what I can but watching this channel has brought back many memories!

👋 Hello from Long Island New York. your channel just came across as a recommendation. I’ve been really enjoying and learning from some of the videos I watched this morning. New subscriber. I have a garden and work full time in an office. I’m a homesteader wanna be. Gardening to grow your own food and preserve it is hard work alone. keeping a home running and property care…. I appreciate your hard work, my goodness you are amazing. So many great tips and tricks. Thank you for sharing so much.

So interesting to see the bulk food store!! I am amazed at your pantry- and not even at full capacity!!

My Thanks to you and your wonderful videos! I feel so blessed to have found you. I am 63 and learning from you. 😊

I just discovered your channel and love your work thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge, love your family. God bless. Amen god is good in ALL its forms ❤🙏

Very encouraging video filled with plenty of useful information. Thank you for sharing your life with us. God bless.

I love your sharing you and your family. A blessing to me.

Hi Ruthann; would you show us how you make your baked beans to can ; with your navy beans please 💕

Im in my 70’s too and notice Im not alone! We lived this way with young children 50 years ago… trying to live and teach our children much like you! I admire you and want to encourage you! You are an inspiration and have a Beautiful Spirit & Family! You are now in many of our Prayers, Im sure… God Bless you! This is a Wonderful Channel and you are helping so many, including the Grandmas & Great-Grandmas out here who are cheering you on! Thanks for the Memories too… and the whisper that “it was not all in vain..” 🙏✝️💖

Since I have been bing watching your videos for the past couple weeks my husband is reaping and enjoying more of the homesteading life stylen cooking even though I have always canned and preserved our garden. This year we have expanded our garden and added some fruit trees. I plan to add muscovy ducks and maybe some geese within a month. Thank you for being so honest and clear in your step by step recipes and explanations of everything. God bless.

I learn so much from your videos, but what I enjoy most is your sunny joyful enthusiasm for raising everything farm related to the family kiddos and nurturing everyone.

Her challenges are good! I think I’m at the point I can start doing them. Thank you for sharing