Angela Ferraro-Fanning is an author and the founder of Axe & Root Homestead, a six-acre farm in central New Jersey. A self-described "plant-based permaculture homesteader" (she breaks that down in the episode!), she began homesteading in 2012 after suffering postpartum depression with her first child. Unhappy in the graphic design business she’d worked in for over a decade, she longed to be outdoors, aligning her lifestyle with the seasons and with nature.

She started growing and preserving as much of her own homegrown produce as possible, and the homestead quickly grew from a home garden to a farm bustling with Clydesdales, geese and ducks for eggs, an apiary with ten beehives, sheep and a small orchard. She taps her own trees for maple syrup, creates her own soap and has even recently added a hobby vineyard for homemade wine.

She is the co-author of “The Harvest Table: A Collection of Seasonal Plant-Based Recipes Inspired by the Home Garden,” as well as author of The Little Homesteader Series. She is co-host of “The Definitely Not Simple Life Podcast."

[Photo Courtesy of Angela Ferraro-Fanning]

Things discussed in this episode:

Following your dreams

Changing career paths

Raising ducks, horses

Preserving food

Homegrown food

Learning as you go

Home gardens

Being a mother

Resources:

Dry Farm Wines: Use link dryfarmwines.com/bellafigura to receive a bottle for just a penny in your first order!

Shop: Bella Figura Shoppe 

Guest:

Axe and Root Homestead

Angela's Cookbook

The Little Homesteader Series

Angela on Instagram

Dolores:

Bella Figura Shoppe on Etsy

Bella Figura website

Dolores on Instagram

Bella Figura YouTube

Bella Figura Pinterest