Our Story

Welcome to Homespun & Homegrown!

I’m Emma, a wife and mother of three young children, and I’m excited to share our family’s journey toward self-sufficiency and sustainable living.

Our adventure began in 2015 on the Central Coast of NSW. Living in a cozy townhouse with a tiny pebbled courtyard, my husband and I were expecting our first child. Inspired to cultivate our own food, we embarked on our gardening journey—creating a small (and mostly unsuccessful) potted garden that filled us with pride. I also explored preserving food and sought to raise our family sustainably, opting for cloth nappies and second-hand clothes whenever possible.

In 2018, we took a leap of faith and relocated to Cootamundra, NSW, just as I was pregnant with our middle child. We were thrilled to buy our first home—a spacious property with a large front and backyard, albeit in need of a lot of love. With hard clay soil and overgrown gardens, we dove into clearing and nurturing our new land.

As we settled in, we expanded our garden beds and welcomed chickens, worm farms, and compost systems into our lives. We began foraging, and my husband took up hunting to complement our homegrown produce. Along the way, we embraced new skills like lacto-fermenting, sourdough baking, soap making, and more, fostering a deep appreciation for traditional methods.

I decided to transition from my role as an Early Childhood Educator and pursued a Diploma of Health Science. This led me to explore herbal medicine and naturopathy, but the demands of family life prompted a shift toward permaculture, culminating in my Diploma of Permaculture Design.

In 2021, we made the bold decision to homeschool our children, a journey filled with its own set of challenges and rewards. This choice beautifully aligns with our family dynamics and lifestyle, allowing us to learn and grow together.

In 2024, we achieved a long-held dream of purchasing our own parcel of land—a blank slate bursting with potential. I can’t wait to share our self-sufficiency journey as we cultivate this new space!

I originally founded Homespun & Homegrown in 2018 to document our progress and adventures for friends and family. Today, I’m thrilled to extend that journey to you through face-to-face workshops, blog posts showcasing our projects, and a new store featuring homemade products crafted with love. We prioritize using local materials and sustainable practices, ensuring our packaging minimizes waste.

My goal is to inspire you to embrace timeless skills in your everyday life. I hope Homespun & Homegrown encourages you to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.

Thank you for joining us on this journey!

—Emma