Bright Bird Farm’s Homesteading Group
Join us at Bright Bird Farm for a year of hands-on homesteading experiences designed to help you become more capable, creative, and connected—one new skill at a time.
Our group gathers monthly to share a meal, learn practical skills, create something together, and enjoy the kind of conversation and friendship that grow naturally when people work side by side.
You do not need a farm, a garden, or any previous homesteading experience. You simply need to be curious and willing to begin.
Join the waitlist to be the first to find out when applications become available for the 2027 Homesteading Group here at Bright Bird Farm.
What to Expect
Each group meets from 5:30-8:30pm or 11:30am-2:30pm once per month. The schedule will be available before registration opens.
There are 12 people per group, and registration is open until spots are filled. After that, the groups are closed for the year.
Each gathering will include:
A shared meal
We’ll gather around the table for a homemade meal and time to get to know one another.A hands-on lesson
Each month will focus on a practical homesteading skill. You won’t simply watch—you’ll have opportunities to participate, practice, and ask questions.Recipes and learning materials
You’ll receive printed materials as well as access to video lessons to enable you to revisit the lesson whenever you need to and continue using the skill at home.Something to take home
Depending on the lesson, you may leave with something you made, useful supplies, recipes, or another resource connected to that month’s experience.Time for community
The group is about more than completing a project. We’ll leave room to talk, laugh, share experiences, and develop friendships month to month.
More than a class
Learning something new can be intimidating—especially when it seems as though everyone else already knows what they’re doing. At Bright Bird Farm, we believe you don’t have to know everything before you begin. In fact, when you take the first step and learn as you go, you often discover that you are capable of far more than you expected.
The Bright Bird Farm Homesteading Group brings a small group of people together throughout the year to learn practical, useful skills in a welcoming and encouraging environment. Each gathering offers a chance to slow down, work with your hands, ask questions, share a meal, and build genuine connections with others who enjoy growing, making, and learning.
This isn’t about achieving a perfect homesteading lifestyle. It’s about learning skills that interest you and finding ways to use them in your own life—whether you live on acreage, in a neighborhood, or in an apartment.
Is this group for you?
You do not need to consider yourself a “homesteader” to belong here.
You might already grow and preserve much of your own food—or you might never have planted a tomato. You may be comfortable in the kitchen, or you may be attempting these skills for the first time. You may have land and animals, or simply an interest in becoming more resourceful at home.
There is room for all of that here.
This group is for people who are curious, willing to participate, and excited to learn alongside others. People of every background, identity, belief, and level of experience are welcome at Bright Bird Farm.
Curriculum
The year's curriculum is taught in units, and each unit is 3 months long. We take a month off before starting the next unit so you have time to practice your new skills at home.
January
Rendering & Using Animal Fats
This month, members learn about lard and tallow — how to source them, how to render them down, how to make balms & lotions from them, and how to cook with them in a way that’s both nourishing and genuinely delicious.
February and March
Natural Soap Making
Learn how to make cold-process soap with tallow, organic oils, clay, and natural dyes. We share our favorite soap recipes that are loaded with benefits for your skin without any harsh chemicals. In March, members get to apply what they’ve learned and split into groups to have a soap making competition. This is typically one of the favorite classes of the year!
May, June, and July
Canning 101: Water Bath & Pressure Canning
In May, members learn how to preserve fruits by waterbath canning without sugar or artificial preservatives. In June, they then learn how to preserve meats, beans, vegetables and meals by pressure canning. Then in July, members get to apply what they’ve learned with a canning day. They divide into groups and can a variety of recipes. By the end of the unit, all members should be canning confidently!
September and October
Medicinal Remedies
Learn to craft all of our most popular immune-boosting remedies that have become member favorites. Over the years, our community has consistently reported dramatic reductions in winter illness duration and frequency after incorporating these traditional remedies into their daily routine.
November
Natural Cleaners
Learn how to make your own laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, and other cleaners. By the end of the meeting, you’ll have all that you need to eliminate a lot of toxins from your home.
Meet Katie and Sarah
Katie and Sarah’s friendship began with a carton of eggs. Katie first met Sarah as an egg customer; before long, they discovered that their children attend the same school. When they signed up for Sunset Highway Farm’s Women’s Homesteading Group together, they quickly realized just how many interests they shared.
Since then, their friendship has grown through learning, experimenting, and helping one another along the way. Katie gave Sarah her first sourdough starter and taught her to make English muffins and tortillas. When Sarah went on vacation, Katie watered her seed starts daily and was “paid” in freshly milled flour. They regularly exchange garden produce, canned goods, and recipes, along with a steady stream of photos, project updates, and ideas about what they might try next.
Sarah and Katie don’t approach homesteading as people who have mastered everything. They approach it with curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to keep learning. They have experienced firsthand how much more enjoyable it is to try new things alongside someone who will share what she knows, troubleshoot what goes wrong, celebrate what works, and probably send a funny reel afterward. Together, they look forward to creating that same spirit of learning, generosity, and friendship at the Bright Bird Farm Homesteading Group.
Choose Your Homesteading Experience
Our program is divided into three seasonal units, with three monthly gatherings in each unit. You may apply for one unit, any two units, or the complete three-unit experience. Enrollment is for the full unit, not individual meetings. You will receive printed materials and access to online videos pertaining to the unit(s) you attend.
When you apply for the group, you will indicate on our application which unit or combination of units you would like to attend. After reviewing your application and confirming availability, we’ll contact you with the information needed to complete registration and secure your place in the group. Priority will be given to applicants who want to join the year-long “Preserved Life” experience. For those looking to join one or two units, we will do our best to accommodate those interests as well.
The Starter Jar
1 unit (3 meetings total)
Choose one three-month unit and join us for all three connected lessons. This is a great way to explore the group while focusing on the skills that interest you most.
$175 per meeting
The Full Pantry
2 units (6 meetings total)
Choose any two seasonal units for six hands-on gatherings and more time to create, learn new skills, and build connections within the group.
$165 per meeting
The Preserved Life
3 units (9 meetings total)
Join us for the complete nine-meeting experience and enjoy a full year of practical skills, seasonal projects, and growing community.
$150 per meeting
Cost includes:
➤ A unique homemade lunch or dinner, dessert, and drinks such as kombucha and chai tea every month.
➤ A different hands-on lesson each month.
➤ Full color lesson notes, quick reference tutorials, and recipes for everything.
➤ Take home goodies like natural tallow soap & balm, jam, natural household cleaners, etc.
➤ Online access to video lessons (valued at over $550 for all three units) so that you can keep referencing & rewatching the lessons for life!
Tuition is divided into automatic monthly credit or debit card payments. Your first payment is due in December to reserve your place, even if your selected unit(s) begin later in the year. We will provide your payment amounts and schedule when you register. Prices listed above do not include sales tax, which is added to each payment.
If you need to miss a meeting, you will be able to pick up any materials/take home goods you missed at the following meeting. You will also have access to the online video lessons to watch at home.
Please note: If you miss more than two payments and are unwilling to work with us on catching up, we will ask that you stop attending the meetings and you will no longer have access to the online course & video lessons. With all that being said, we understand that life happens! If you’re in a tough spot, just communicate that with us and we’ll figure something out together.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Not at all. Lessons are designed to be approachable for beginners while still offering useful knowledge and experience to those who have tried some of these skills before.
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No. Many homesteading skills can be practiced in an ordinary kitchen or home. The goal is not to recreate someone else’s lifestyle—it is to discover what is useful and meaningful in your own.
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Please tell us about any dietary restrictions during registration. We will explain what accommodations can reasonably be provided and work with participants whenever possible.
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Bright Bird Farm is located in Valleyford, WA, about 30 minutes south of downtown Spokane.
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Please tell us in advance, if possible. You’ll still receive printed materials and access to video lessons, so your automatic recurring payment will still be processed if you miss a month in person.
Gain access to printed materials and online videos from our founder at Sunset Highway Farm when you join our Homesteading Group here at Bright Bird Farm.
