Creating a Home at Browning’s Homestead
Why Lauren Simmons became a first-generation farmer and put down roots at Browning’s Farm.
As a first-generation farmer, what drew you to the homesteading/farming lifestyle?
I remember being as young as 7 years old, reading horse books in my upstairs bedroom and knowing I was meant for something different. That pull became stronger as I got older. My parents divorced when I was six, and I split my time between an apartment and the typical suburban house. I was born and raised in Roseville, California. The Central Valley is known for producing more than 70% of the nation’s produce, but that was big Ag, so even though we were surrounded by farmland, it was so large I felt like I didn’t really take notice.
In high school, I started having severe stomach problems. I mean really severe, like doubled over in my desk in the classroom, missing school, and collapsing on the floor in a ball in the hallway of my home with no warning. I spent countless nights on the floor in the fetal position due to the extreme pain my stomach issues caused. That led me to investigate my health more, and around the age of 18, I started examining for the first time what types of food were on my plate and, more importantly, where it was sourced and how it was raised or grown. Over the next decade, I went down the rabbit hole of learning all about agriculture; I took classes, I read novels written about food systems, I watched documentaries, and experimented with my diet with just about every eating style you can think of.
During this time, I was serving out a six-year term in the Coast Guard. When getting out, the military is willing to PCS move you back to your home of record or anywhere that is closer of your choosing. I was determined to learn to farm, and I chose to move to a state I had never been to, Kentucky. I chose the bluegrass state because the University of Kentucky was one of the only colleges I found that had an on-farm apprenticeship working for their Horticulture Research Farm CSA and I knew I needed hands-on experience.
I realize that may be a long-winded answer, but it is so important to share because I know there are others out there experiencing that same draw, that longing for something more, a slower-paced way of life, especially now. And I also empathize with anyone who has health issues that affect their daily lives. Mine was so traumatic it led me into an entirely new career path.
How did Browning’s Homestead come to be?
Brownings actually started as a capstone project! In my senior year of my Sustainable Ag program, I decided to ‘start a business’ and went through all the motions of what wasn’t taught in school. Filing for an LLC, researching business tax law, creating a website, setting up a point of sales system, creating a brand and a logo, social media and marketing, newsletters, community collaboration, etc. I essentially had the T-shirt before the product, and we just decided to roll with it.
Making a Home
Putting down roots was really unfamiliar to me for so long. I lived in an apartment growing up, I moved every two years in the military, and when I moved to Kentucky, my husband and I, and three dogs, and at one point, two geese all lived in a 37ft fifth wheel camper! Kentucky was supposed to be temporary, so we didn’t want to purchase a home when the intent was to move. When we decided to stay (after the third winter in the camper, I was done…), we found a beautiful log cabin, and the first thing I did was establish a raised bed garden. I went to school for agriculture, but I have never had a garden before. We never grew anything when I was growing up, not even a tomato plant, so this to me felt like it had such permanence. It was something I could pour into year after year and reap the benefits from. Shortly after that, we (and by we, I really mean me) added more animals. Establishing pastures and installing fencing, and bringing on farm animals felt secure, permanent, and substantial. It was for the future, which I could never plan for before. On the horizon, I knew I could cook with the food I harvested from the gardens, serve milk and cheese from our dairy cow and goats, and make bread from scratch. It was moving backwards in a way, but it was exactly what we needed.
What things in your home that bring you comfort and peace?
Oh, so many things. I take a lot of pride in my home, and it’s an eclectic mix of colonialism meets maximalist meets country living. Almost everything we own has come from an antique store, the Peddlers Mall, or Facebook Marketplace. Nothing matches, and because of that, everything matches. Even my kitchen has antique furniture rather than the traditional cabinetry and countertops you’d expect. I want it to serve us well but also be beautiful and signify ‘days of old.’ In every room in the house, there is a place to read and write. Stacks of books are scattered everywhere, along with reading lamps and throw blankets. There’s lots of dog hair because they are allowed on the couch and the beds. It’s truly a place where you can be comfortable, where you can linger. It’s quiet and warm, the living room centers around the wood-burning stove, and there is always a dog close by to pet. It is my paradise.
Building a peaceful/calming home is such an individual experience; what do you do daily that creates those feelings for you within your house?
Every morning, no matter the weather, I sit on the front porch in my rocking chair and robe, drink my coffee, and read the bible. Everyday. It is my ritual, and it sets the tone for the day. I think we need one place of solitude where we can reflect, even if only for a few minutes. It strongly dictates how we evaluate the stressors in our lives and how we will manage them in our homes.
What does “living simply” mean to you?
I mentioned ‘days of old’ earlier, and that is what I have been chasing. This world is full of distractions. It is so easy to scroll, to get caught up in political tensions, to be filled with anxiety over a myriad of things, and my constant quest is to drown out the noise. Living simply means living off the land, close to nature, and within the seasons. This doesn’t mean I want to live off-grid, so please know I appreciate air conditioning and indoor plumbing. I just think when we take the time to do things that are considered old-fashioned, it centers us. Even though you have a dryer, taking the time to pin clothes on the line and watching them blow in the breeze brings simplicity and solace. Kneading bread dough by hand makes you appreciate every bite you take at dinner time. Praying before a meal and really thanking God for the gifts provided builds a grateful heart. Listening to a horse breathe while you nuzzle into its neck can cure any problem. Hearing the milk hitting the pail every morning and every evening is the best way to start and end my day. These are such simple tasks, but they make me a better person.
A Day on the Homestead
Every day and every week is different, but there are some things that you have to do each day regardless of the chaos life throws at you. As I mentioned, I start my day every morning on my front porch. Bible and coffee – that’s all a girl needs to start her day. Four days a week, I work out before starting my chores; I run and follow this with a strength and stretching routine. Afterward, I check on the pigs and feed them kitchen scraps from the day before, and I let the chickens out. I make my way to the barn with my milk pail in hand, where I check the horses and cows’ water, throw hay, and milk our goat, Frida. I come in and strain the milk and get it into the fridge quickly. Then I can start my day. I prefer to water the gardens in the evening; it’s my way of winding down for the day. I chose to hand water despite having drip irrigation and knowing how to install it. This is my time to slow down, relax, check in, see how the plants are growing, what needs harvesting, and what kind of weed pressure I have. This is my time to linger and enjoy my gardens, and sometimes I’ll have a glass of wine or beer in hand. After watering, I close up the chickens and head to the barn again for evening milking. I check everyone’s waters and throw more hay and come back to the house to fix dinner.
Goals for the Future
We have changed so much in the last two years, and I wanted to reflect on this. We continue to grow towards self-sufficiency. And I want to clarify that this doesn’t mean I think the grid is going to shut down, but I also strive toward autonomy over my food choices. I disagree wholeheartedly with factory farming. My family eats meat, and I want to serve them the very best, and that, for me, looks like knowing exactly how it was raised as well as processed. I want to drink raw milk because I believe in the health benefits; unfortunately, in Kentucky, it’s illegal to sell, which makes me want to consume it all the more. I have a long history of going against the grain. I will grow year after year to eventually provide all of my family’s needs right here at home. What that looks like for us is dairy and meat, hunting and fishing, freshly milled grains, vegetables, fruits, preserves, and medicinal herbs. I am constantly studying what daily uses can be replaced with natural remedies. Again, this goes without saying but I’ll say it anyway, I am grateful for penicillin! I just don’t think it should be our first line of defense. So our future looks a lot like getting back to the basics.
My advice for someone who wants to begin homesteading would be to start by watching my “Confessions of a First Generation Farmer” highlights on Instagram. Seriously, it will save you a lot of time and money. Don’t let the fact that you have no experience in this area determine what you decide to do. I have also found that if you are transparent, people are so kind and willing to share their knowledge. Be forthcoming when you are starting out, and people will help you. There is a movement happening, there are a lot of people that never learned how to can, or grow a vegetable garden or make bread, and they like me, are teaching themselves. You just have to be willing to read, research, and practice. You have to put in the time and make the mistakes and decide that failure will not define you. I simply will not give up. I have a goal, and I will persevere until I achieve it. I will also make sure that my children learn these skills that I have worked so hard to teach myself.
You can learn more about Lauren here. This article was originally in our Fall 2023 magazine.
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