A Gentle Visit: When Gardens and Minimalism Meet
This week I had the pleasure of welcoming a lovely grandmother, her daughter and her two grandchildren to our homestead. They had reached out ahead of time asking if, along with seeing our gardens, they could have a look inside our home. They said they needed some inspiration to declutter with goals of easier, stress free living and were curious about how we’ve woven simplicity into our daily life.
I’ve spoken a handful of times on social media about our journey into minimalism, and it’s something many followers have picked up on - often commenting on the calm, simple feel they notice in the background of our videos.
This grandmother has visited us before to pickup seeds and wander through our gardens, so she had a sense of what to expect. But for her daughter, this was her first time seeing more than just the seed library in our front yard.
The moment they stepped inside, the grandma turned to her daughter and laughed while saying:
“See! Sarah doesn’t even have a couch!”
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| Our Livingroom |
One question that came up, and often does, was about the kids. With no toys in sight, they wondered: Do the kids actually use this space? It sparked such great conversation about how we’ve intentionally designed our home to reflect how we live, not just how we think a home should look.
The living room may not be filled with stuff, but it is filled with life - games, books, Kapla & Lego building, spontaneous dance parties, and quiet snuggles on the floor.
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| Snakes and ladders is always a hit! |
For us, minimalism hasn't been about having less for the sake of less - it’s been about having just enough of what really serves our family and letting go of what doesn't. That’s meant embracing spaces that are open, flexible, and calming - especially in a house full of growing, energetic boys!
Since we don’t have an overwhelming amount of toys, clean-up is simple and manageable - even for the kids! We're not faced with mountains of stuff, so things actually get put away. The space stays open and peaceful because it’s not packed with items - just a few well-loved things that are easy to tidy when playtime’s over.
And that's one of the biggest shifts I’ve noticed since embracing a more minimalist lifestyle:
Less stuff equals less stress.
After strolling into the kitchen, I shared one of the bigger (and maybe more surprising) changes we’ve made - giving away our large convection oven/range. It all started when we were replacing our flooring. As we were moving item's back in, my husband looked at the bulky appliance and said:
“Why are we even putting this massive thing back?”
The truth is, 99% of the time I cook using my Instant Pots. The oven had become more of a storage area than an actual necessity! We only ever really used it to brew our Moka pot in the morning or to bake the occasional sourdough. So, we gave it away - and we haven’t missed it yet!
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| Our kitchen. Our large oven used to be where the fridge is currently, and the fridge was where the steel table and appliances now sit. The switch made our small kitchen feel so much more spacious! |
Instead, we now use a small toaster-oven-style appliance that fits my Dutch oven perfectly, so I can still bake bread, and a $20 hot plate to brew our espresso. It’s simple, efficient, and works beautifully for the way we cook.
If I'm being honest, it was one of those choices that felt a little extreme at first, but made complete sense for our lifestyle. That’s really what minimalism has taught us - to design our home around how we actually live, not how the media makes us think we’re supposed to.
We then headed onto the deck, where we stood together chatting and looking out over the gardens - lush, lively, and stretching into summer. It always amazes me how much you can take in just from that view. We talked about what’s growing, what’s blooming, and just enjoyed the sounds of nature all around us.
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| View from our deck |
They shared that they’re growing some veggies and herbs this year, and it was so heartwarming to hear that some of their plants - which are now thriving - were started from seeds they picked up at our free seed library! Moments like that always make it feel like the effort we put in is really making its way out into the world.
I showed them our Camp Chef unit, which lives out on the deck. It is natural gas-powered and gives us the flexibility to cook and preserve even without a traditional oven or range. So yes - even with a very simplified kitchen setup, I can still process & can all our homegrown goodies, just a few steps from where they were grown. You can learn more about our unit and the ability to can outdoors in this video on our instagram.
Once back inside, our little tour continued as we took a peek at our three bedrooms, which are mostly just used for sleeping and reading. We talked about how we choose to keep just enough linens on hand for each bed, opting out of extra sets. This simple choice frees up our “linen closet” for other essentials — like extra kung fu uniforms, a small basket of toys, and board games.
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| Our oldest's and youngest's bedroom. |
This change also cut down on the overwhelm of laundry day. In the past, piles of linens would get tossed on the bed and shuffled around for days before I found the energy to fold and put everything away. Now, with less to manage, everything flows more smoothly.
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| Our "linen" closet - which holds everything but linen. |
Before simplifying our home, I used to be very hesitant to open our doors to company, especially those unexpected visits that didn't provide notice. I felt the need to panic clean before someone arrived - because that giant pile of linens was probably still sitting on our unmade bed!
And even though that ingrained urge to “clean absolutely everything before guests arrive!!” still lingers (I’m working on it), I’ve learned to let go of a lot of that pressure. Our doors are now always open to visitors - even with our wild & messy, wonderful kids running around. If someone happens to notice fingerprints on the walls or a sink full of dishes and chooses to judge, well… that might be a sign they’ve got a bit of their own inner work to do too.
Our home is humble and ever-evolving, and is certainly not picture-perfect, but lived-in and loved. For us, simple living isn’t about having a spotless space; it’s about creating room for what really matters and letting go of the rest. That said, one of the best perks of minimizing has been how much easier and more efficient cleaning has become. With less stuff, our home stays tidier than it ever did in years past, and that in itself brings a whole different kind of peace.
As we finished the tour, we talked about how minimalism looks different for everyone, and I reflected on how it naturally fits alongside homesteading - where practicality and purpose lead the way.
Their visit was kind and thoughtful, and it reminded me how powerful it is to connect with others - whether they’re already walking a similar path or just beginning to take those first curious steps. There’s something really special about sharing ideas, stories, and simple inspiration with people who get it, or just simply, want to.
They thanked me as they left, but I felt just as grateful. These small, meaningful visits - these quiet moments of connection are what make Sunnyhill Homestead feel like a part of something bigger: a connected, growing community.
With love,
Sarah & The Sunnyhill Homestead Family
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