Hi, I’m Jules — and this is my little corner of the internet for real homestead living.
I’m a farmer, gardener, and self-sufficiency enthusiast living on 111 acres of beautiful South Australian land, where I’m currently renovating a farmhouse, establishing a plant nursery, and growing agaves alongside a productive organic vegetable garden.
Homestead Squirrel is where I share everything I learn along the way — the wins, the failures, the experiments, and the deep satisfaction that comes from growing your own food and building a genuinely self-sufficient life.
🌱 Free gift for new readers
Get my Complete Homestead Composting Guide — a practical, Australian-specific guide to turning your kitchen and garden waste into black gold. Completely free when you join the Homestead Squirrel community.
My story
I grew up watching my grandfather tend his garden — he saved seeds, composted everything, and grew more food than our whole street could eat. That early love of growing things never left me, even through decades of suburban life.
I’ve been growing organic vegetables for over 30 years, and I hold a Certificate III in Horticulture from TAFE. I’ve worked in plant nurseries, studied companion planting, and spent more hours than I can count with my hands in the soil.
A few years ago I made the decision to stop dreaming about a homestead and actually build one. That decision led me to 111 acres in South Australia, a farmhouse that needed serious love, and more projects than any sensible person would take on at once.
Right now I’m renovating the farmhouse room by room, establishing a plant nursery with a focus on agaves and drought-tolerant species, building productive vegetable garden beds, and documenting every step of it here.
It’s not always pretty. But it’s always real.
What you’ll find on Homestead Squirrel
This site is for anyone who wants to grow more of their own food, live more self-sufficiently, or just get a little closer to the land — whether you have 111 acres or a small suburban backyard.
- Organic vegetable gardening — soil, seeds, companion planting, pest management, and everything in between
- Seed saving — how to save, store, and sow your own open-pollinated seed
- Composting — making the best possible compost from your homestead’s waste
- Plant nursery life — propagation, agaves, drought-tolerant plants, and what I’m learning building a nursery from scratch
- Farmhouse renovation — the honest reality of bringing an old farmhouse back to life
- Self-sufficiency skills — food preservation, foraging, and the practical skills of homestead life
A little bit of background
- 30+ years of organic vegetable gardening experience
- Certificate III in Horticulture (TAFE)
- Plant nursery experience and propagation skills
- 111-acre South Australian property — working farm and nursery in progress
- Lifelong seed saver and composting enthusiast
I’m not a scientist or an academic — I’m a gardener and a homesteader who learns by doing, observing, and occasionally making a complete mess of things. What I share here comes from real experience on real soil.
Learn with me
I’ve written a series of practical guides for organic gardeners and homesteaders. Each one is built from years of hands-on experience:
- Beginner’s Manual to Organic Gardening — my comprehensive guide to starting a productive organic garden from scratch
- The Complete Companion Planting Guide — which plants grow best together, and which to keep apart
- Seed Saving Tips & Techniques — save money, preserve varieties, and grow stronger plants every season
- The Complete Homestead Composting Guide — turn your waste into the best soil amendment money can’t buy
Browse all guides in the Homestead Squirrel shop.
A note from me to you
Homesteading and self-sufficient living isn’t about perfection. It isn’t about having the most Instagram-worthy vegetable patch or the most Pinterest-perfect farmhouse. It’s about the genuine satisfaction of feeding yourself and your family from your own soil, knowing where your food comes from, and building something real with your own hands.
If that resonates with you — you’re in the right place.
I’d love to have you along for the journey. The best way to stay connected is through my newsletter, where I share what’s happening on the property, what I’m learning, and the occasional honest admission of what didn’t work.
Join the Homestead Squirrel community
Subscribe to get your free Composting Guide plus regular updates from the homestead — no spam, ever. Just real content from a real farm.
Until next time — keep your hands in the soil and your seeds in a tin.
