Smallhouse Homestead
why?
"We do it for resiliency and general independence. I don't like being totally dependent on stuff I do not have any control over. Like, if the trucks stop rolling to Kroger next week, that would be bad. Our unofficial motto is homestead first, like grow the stuff we want to eat, and then sell the surplus."
-Spencer Anderson
Spencer & Jennifer Anderson
Spencer and Jennifer Anderson operate Smallhouse Homestead from their home in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Originally from California, they moved to Bowling Green 18 years ago in search of a slower, more self-sustaining lifestyle. They developed their knowledge of homesteading and farming through extensive online research and by connecting with others at the Community Farmers Market, where they learned from fellow vendors and even apprenticed with one of the families. Today, their homestead includes chickens for eggs, microgreens, and a variety of produce, including tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, lettuce, squash, and kale.
Smallhouse Homestead farms and lives with a strong commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. The homestead cultivates the land in ways that protect and strengthen natural systems, choosing broadforking over tilling to minimize disruption to the soil ecosystem. Human-powered tools are used whenever possible to reduce the carbon footprint of daily work. Soil fertility is supported through composting and a chicken pasture rotation system, which naturally enriches the land while reducing reliance on manufactured fertilizers. In addition, they avoid synthetic herbicides and pesticides, helping to protect surrounding wildlife and maintain a healthier balance within the broader ecosystem.
