WELCOME
Hi, I’m Esther Donohue, the voice behind The Phat Hen, a homesteading blog.
I’m delighted to share my homesteading journey with you.
Quick Facts about me:
- Mother of three kids, 1-girl and 2-boys.
- Raising my own garden produce for 27 years.
- Living in a rural community for 36 years.
- Married to a small grain farmer (4th generation) and beef cattle producer for 17 years.
- Raised and cared for chickens for over 9 years.
- I love hunting, fishing, raising, and foraging for our food.
- I have been helping my mom can and preserve our garden produce for 20-plus years.
- I was homeschooled, but my kids are public schooled.
- I love horses! and all farm animals.
- Professionally trained chef.
- Own and operate my own food truck business.
- Teaching Culinary Arts/Life Skills to high school students for 10+ years.
My journey into homesteading started before I even knew it. My great-grandparents immigrated to North Dakota from Norway for a better way of life and rich soil for growing their crops and raising their livestock.
I have many fond memories of my Grandma and Grandpa sharing their many stories about how they lived in the Good old days. They never referred to them as that! But as I listened to them, I could imagine the simplicity of life back then.
I also understood the hardships they faced raising, preserving, and living in rural North Dakota.
Grandma Liv would tell us how they butchered an entire beef on the dining room table because they had no local butcher; they stored the meat in their root cellar. She would tell us stories of harvest time and the meals they prepared for the men. She always told me, “If the men work in the field all day, they better come home to a hot meal.”
Today, my grandparents’ stories and history live on in my children and me. They grew and raised what they needed to survive out of necessity. I continue the art of homesteading to preserve a way of life many have forgotten.
I hope my children learn and carry on this way of life.
My Roots in Homesteading
Growing up in the heart of a busy household of nine (six siblings), I was immersed in the art of homesteading from a young age.
My incredible mother homeschooled us all, instilling in us the values of self-sufficiency and the importance of raising our own food. I learned firsthand the beauty of living off the land.
Our family’s small farm was always bustling with activity; we were never bored. We cared for around 200 sheep and grew various vegetables in our garden throughout the summer.
Canning our produce to preserve it later became a beloved tradition we looked forward to each year. In addition to harvesting crops, we also hunted for white-tailed deer to provide us with enough meat to last through the colder months.
Our household didn’t often consume beef; instead, we opted for protein sources such as venison, mutton, northern pike, walleye, and lamb.
During those years, my parents struggled to make ends meet, but we always had a warm meal on the table, and my Dad made sure we had a good Christmas, even if it meant building our gifts.
Dad was an expert welder, contractor, small aircraft pilot, and mechanic. He passed down his skills to anyone who wanted to learn them. He has since built his business and is very successful, showing us that hard work and perseverance pay off.
My Culinary Exploration
- When I turned 18, I left home to follow my passion for culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. While there, I was dating a farm boy from back home.
- Before long, I moved back to rural North Dakota to be with him. Today, that farm boy is my husband; we have three children together.
- We live in a shouse (a combination of a shop and a house) that is close (12 miles and 3 miles) to both my parents and his.
- We love caring for our extensive vegetable gardens, raising beef cattle (150+ head), cultivating small grains on 2,000 acres of farmland, and looking after our flock of chickens, a herd of Nubian Goats, and one horse, William.
- Our many dogs include Dexter, a Red Heeler; Piper & Ginger, my Mini Daschunds; and Sallie Mae, our TMAR Rescue dog and Rose, another city rescue.
- We enjoy spending our weekends hunting deer in the fall, fishing, and camping whenever we’re not busy working on the farm.
Passion for Homesteading
Homesteading isn’t just a trend for me; it’s a way of life deeply ingrained in my being. I find solace and fulfillment in our rural living.
It’s not just a hobby; it’s a legacy passed down through generations, a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of those who choose to live close to the land.
From planting my gardens and preserving the harvest to foraging for wild greens, berries & mushrooms to raising, hunting, and butchering our own meat, I find homesteading very rewarding, and I hope you will also.
Beyond the Homestead
In addition to my homesteading endeavors, I’m a dedicated Culinary Arts educator. I share my love for cooking and baking with high school students as a full-time CTE (career tech educator) teacher.
During the summer months, I operate my food truck, AKA Clyde. (When I’m not in my garden or tending the animals) bringing delicious eats to local communities and sharing the flavors of homestead living with a broader audience.
Join Me on this Homesteading Journey
I’m excited to share my homesteading adventure with you. Whether you’re a seasoned homesteader, just beginning, or just here to read.
Remember, you don’t need to live on a farm to start a Homesteading way of life.
There’s always something new to discover and learn together.
Happy Homesteading,
Esther Donohue
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Read my recent posts
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Fun Facts About Me
I was born
in a kitchen
Listening to
whatever I’m in the mood for
grateful for
my family
Favorite place
being in nature
Favorite animal
Horses
best snuggle buddies
my mini dachshunds
Homesteading Defined
Homesteading is a lifestyle that revolves around achieving self-sufficiency, living sustainably, and establishing a connection with the land. It includes growing one’s own food, raising livestock, conserving resources, and frequently adopting age-old skills such as gardening, food preservation, and DIY projects.
Homesteaders live a life of simplicity, striving to create a balanced and fulfilling life grounded in the principles of independence and stewardship.
Our deep respect for the land and its harvest is the legacy of generations of farmers who put food on our tables, preserved our landscape, and inspired us with a powerful work ethic.
James H. Douglas