Katybug Farms is back

And a lot of things I want to tell you

Am I a writer? An artist? A creative? After three children, homesteading, homeschooling, and homemaking, do I even qualify as a writer anymore?

Read: I’ve barely written for pleasure in 2024. So I should probably give up.

But instead, I will attempt to resurrect what the last 18+ months have been like, after our third son was born in a wild unassisted birth in our trailer.

I want to tell you about caring for my aging Nana in 2023—about how we bought a house we never would have otherwise, just so I could try to care for her while juggling three little ones under four. I want to share the story of her recurring seizures, the tears that were shed, and the dark mental pit I found myself in.

I want to tell you about all the Outlander episodes I watched when I felt like I couldn’t survive. I want to tell you about the massive mortgage we took on when I finally called it quits—better than the stress of caring for her, yet suffocating all the same. What was I thinking? I was thinking I could help her. I was thinking love would be enough. But it couldn’t be, and it wasn’t. I want to tell you how joy and pain can coexist and how I felt like I wasn’t enough on many days.

I want to tell you about re-homing Bella, our dear milk cow, and how traumatic it was to give up such a big part of my life, practically overnight. But, priorities, when you’re caring for Nana.

I want to tell you about the crisis of faith my husband and I went through, and how we felt more stuck than ever in that 1,600 sq ft house in a regular neighborhood in town than we ever have in life. People thought we were so lucky, yet we couldn’t shake this gut feeling that “something isn’t right for us here.”

I want to tell you about the dear friend who flew in from Chicago to help us transform Nana’s old room into a thriving Airbnb after she moved out, to help us with the mortgage. And oh, the strange guests we hosted.

I want to tell you about my first year homeschooling our oldest, about the meal prep business I launched, and about the hustle Adam took on doing odd jobs. I want to tell you how God provided beyond our wildest dreams when we decided to sell our house this spring, and we got three offers the first weekend it was on the market.

I want to tell you about the leap of faith we took to move an hour up into the mountains, where we’ve found so much more room to thrive. I want to tell you about leaving behind our co-op and community—how lonely it’s felt at times, yet deeply right at others. How we’re now becoming Eastern Orthodox Christians at a small, lovely parish. How I’m being changed and challenged every day, surrounded by the beautiful icons of saints on our walls.

I want to tell you about the raw land we found while living in a Furnished Finder rental. Oh, this land. It gives me chills to think of how God provided beauty from ashes. I want to tell you about the sheep we got for creamy spring milk and the guardian dog that practically fell into our laps. I want to tell you how we thought the man selling us the land was scamming us, but it turned out he was just flipping it. I want to describe what the stars look like at night, the spectacular sunsets, the golden grass, the seasonal creek, and how perfectly it’s located for Adam’s commute.

But for now, I’ll just tell you that I sit here listening to the rain on the roof of our aluminum Spartan trailer. Two babies sleep sweetly in our bed, and our nearly six-year-old is listening to The Silver Chair for the third time. I am at peace.

There’s much we don’t know about the future—when we’ll build our house, who will give us a loan, or what will happen along the way. But as a family, we’re the most integrated, the most at peace, the most expansive we’ve ever been. We pray to God this land will become the home we feel it is. Katybug Farms is back—and we plan to stay here awhile, as the Lord wills. Lord, have mercy.

As ever,
Kate

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If you’re in a place to purchase things this season and want to support our family, there are a few ways to do so!

First, I’m selling my favorite herbal products: softening lip balm, tinted lip balm, and infused oil, in partnership with my good friend Nicole from Nourish Farm. This Friday is the last day to buy them. There are still some left, and I’d be so honored if you used these daily, just as E and I do. Purchase them HERE and choose local pickup or shipping—I poured them myself!

Second, my favorite supplement brand’s biggest sale of the year starts TONIGHT! I’ll be stocking up on Collagen (for coffee and baking), Chocolate Collagen, Gelatin (for gummies and marshmallows), Liver capsules, and Organ capsules. These products are glyphosate-tested, grass-fed, and dissolve perfectly. The sale starts at 7pm PST and is 27% off, plus my 10% off on top. Use code: KATYBUGFARMS, and I’ll get a small commission. THANK YOU!

Lastly, I’ll have limited quantities of fire cider, elderberry syrup, and herbal tinctures, including Mullein for coughs, garlic honey, and Comfrey pain compresses, coming weeks. Reply if you’d like me to save something for you!