Screens vs. the Village: Why Moms Don’t Really Lack Time | RuthAnn of Homesteading with the Zimmermans (Episode 306)

Homesteading isn’t just about raising your own food— it’s about building a life where relationships, rhythms, and real community come first.  In this conversation with RuthAnn, we dig into everything from screen-free parenting to the myth of “not enough time,” the health wake-up call that reshaped her family’s lifestyle, and the true meaning of the village for moms today.  If you’ve ever wondered how to slow down and find joy in the ordinary while strengthening your home, join us for this conversation!

In this episode, we cover:

• Why homesteading is about more than food on the table— prioritizing relationships make it matter
• Lessons carried from an Old Order Mennonite childhood into today’s homemaking rhythms
• The childhood health scare that flipped everything and sent RuthAnn’s family back to homemade, nourishing food
• How food choices connect to kids’ behavior, focus, and overall peace in the home
• The real thief of time in modern motherhood and how to reclaim creativity from screen addiction
• Why RuthAnn keeps her kids off screens and trusts they’ll thrive in the skills they need when the time comes
• Retraining our brains to find joy in “ordinary” tasks like bread baking, gardening, and family meals
• The myths of “the village” and what young moms are missing when social media becomes their community
• Why younger moms often don’t trust older moms these days and how smaller families have broken the natural overlap of generations in parenting
• A better way for older moms to support the next generation and be “the village”: listening first, then guiding with wisdom and understanding
• The true heart of homesteading: slower rhythms, stronger families, and intentional time together

About RuthAnn

RuthAnn and her husband, Elvin, live in Northeast Iowa. They have 7 children, 2 sons-in-law and a grandson. The 5 youngest children still live at home, while the oldest 2 are married and have homes of their own. 

RuthAnn and her husband have been homesteading on their 21-acre homestead since 2001. They seek to preserve the self-sufficient lifestyle of their Mennonite heritage for the next generation by involving their children in every aspect of the homestead. From raising and harvesting the meat they consume, gardening and preserving to fill the family’s larder, processing the dairy from the family milk cow plus the many other skills that develop the character and integrity of a family that desires to bring glory and honor to their Heavenly Father. 

Resources Mentioned

Pre-order RuthAnn’s book, The Heart of the Homestead

Join my FREE masterclass to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube

Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course

Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series

Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my YouTube Success Academy

Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook

Connect

RuthAnn of Homesteading with the Zimmermans | Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook

Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest

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