I was born and raised in Virginia, and I couldn’t imagine a better place to live than among the great Blue Ridge Mountains. I can remember a time when living anywhere but the small farm town I grew up in was unacceptable. But now, I often wonder why I waited so long to move to such a quiet place as this. Seeing hills and mountainsides blanketed with fields and cattle has never been so beautiful. Farm life and mountain life truly do suit each other well here.
In 2005 I met the love of my life and married him five short months later. Three years after that, we welcomed our son into the world.
I am an author and photographer with over a decade worth of experience in the media industry. From newspapers and magazines, to websites and blogs—you could say I was built to be “social”.
But in 2009, when my son was born, I realized that life needed to change. We weren’t eating that healthy, or living that healthy. And suddenly, a few health changes here and there, and now we have chickens, rabbits, quail, and more! Our health journey turned into a homesteading journey, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The cold hard reality is that we live in a society that highlights the commercial food industry, and frowns upon families taking care of themselves. But we refuse to be part of the system.
While my son and husband enjoy the fruits of this homestead’s labor, I am basically a one woman show at times. I do what I can mostly by myself, not because I have to, but because I enjoy doing everything myself. Whoever said women can’t farm is out of their mind. It is my happy place. It is my serenity.
On our homestead we currently raise heritage breed livestock. I have a kitchen garden, and we hope to buy a larger property so that we can expand our horizons of homesteading in the near future. I see a dairy cow, some goats, and a donkey in our future…please? Until then, we’ll do what we can with what we have, and we will enjoy every minute of it!
I love food, reading, loving my family, Jesus, living an herbal lifestyle, and being crazy.
Books and Upcoming Projects
The Homesteader’s Herbal Companion
By Amy K. Fewell, Foreword by Joel Salatin
Lyons Press, April 1, 2018
ISBN-10: 1493034154
ISBN-13: 978-1493034154
The Homesteader’s Herbal Companion is a beautiful guide for the modern day homesteader. From learning how to incorporate herbs and essential oils around your home, to learning how to enhance your family’s health and well-being, this book is the go-to guide for those wishing to live a more natural homesteading lifestyle. This book takes readers through the basics of herbalism, including the different types of herbs and the uses for them around the homestead. It also breaks down how herbs are used in tinctures, salves, essential oils, and infused oils. Better yet, if you’re a homesteader with livestock, you’ll learn how to maintain their health holistically as well. With an array of beautiful photos and easy to read terminology, just about any homesteader, new or seasoned, can learn from The Homesteader’s Herbal Companion, and finally feel comfortable incorporating the many wonderful qualities of herbs around their homes.
Title: to be announced
By Amy K. Fewell
Lyons Press, Spring 2019
Homesteaders of America—organization and conference
October 11 (limited), 12, & 13 in Front Royal, VA
www.homesteadersofamerica.com
© Amy K. Fewell | Do not use photos or content on this website without written permission
