Hi, I’m Ann Marie—mama of three and the heart behind The Virginian Homesteader. I’m here to help preserve the old ways for my family—and yours—so the skills our grandparents lived by don’t get lost.
My love for homesteading began when I was very young, under the gentle shade of my Nannie and Papa’s wisdom. From the moment I could walk, Papa had me in the garden at his side, teaching me—often without me realizing it—how to plant, tend, and harvest. As I grew, so did my responsibilities and my knowledge.
When I became a young wife and mother, my grandparents were just a call or short drive away. Nannie shared the remedies and kitchen rhythms that carried her through raising children. One of my favorite memories is from Papa in his eighties. He said he wasn’t as strong as he used to be and needed help in the garden. I told him, “I’ll be your muscles if you’ll teach me everything you know—and why.” He agreed. I had the gift of being his apprentice for years, right up until his passing.
Papa always said, “Knowledge is the one thing no one can take from you—so learn all you can.”
This space is my promise to keep that knowledge alive—growing food, cooking from scratch, making do, and sharing simple, time-tested skills anyone can learn.
Welcome home to the homeplace.
What You’ll Find Here
- Practical how-tos: garden, kitchen, pantry, and simple remedies
- Seasonal plans and checklists you can actually use
- Stories from Nannie & Papa that keep old wisdom alive
The Virginian Homesteader 