My name is Brittany. My husband, David, our son, and our two Golden Retrievers—Koda and Lilah—live on five acres of desert land. My goal for my family is to live a healthy life while building lasting skills in growing, preserving, raising, and preparing our own food right here on our land.
If you have a small acreage in a dry desert, wet swampland, or even the arctic and think it’s impossible to start your homesteading dream, I’m here to tell you—it is possible. When my husband and I found our home, we knew it was where we wanted to build our future. At the time, I didn’t fully consider the challenges of growing food in the desert with minimal water or raising livestock without natural forage. But we were determined to make our land thrive and support everything we dreamed of.
We are raising our son with a mindset of living within our means, minimizing waste, and valuing hard work. We reuse what we can and are mindful of how we consume. While we believe in supporting local farmers, we also strive to grow and raise our own food so we know exactly what goes into it.
I was raised by my dad, who spent countless hours in his garden growing bananas, plantains, tomatoes, and vibrant flowers like roses and plumerias. Our backyard was always green, fragrant, and full of life. Watching him nurture his plants taught me early on that gardening requires time, patience, and love.
My mom always had a fresh meal on the table at sunset, often made with ingredients from my dad’s garden. That tradition stayed with me. Today, I work to carry that same value into our home—growing what we eat, praying before meals, and sitting together as a family.
Some of my favorite memories are of my dad taking me to fields of wildflowers to pick bouquets for my mom. Those moments remind me to slow down and appreciate the people I love. Homesteading can be incredibly time-consuming, and balancing it with work, family, and life is not easy—but it is worth it.
I spent years earning my nursing license and worked for a decade as a neuro trauma nurse. During that time, I also built a thriving garden with my dad’s guidance, including installing a drip irrigation system. As our garden continues to grow, so do the challenges—especially during the extreme heat—but my husband is always there to help ensure everything gets the water it needs.
Most days, I work as a nurse and then come home to being a mom—feeding animals, cleaning, planting, harvesting, and preserving. It often feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day. Still, my son and I felt something was missing. So, we took the leap and added more to our homestead: baby chicks, rabbits, goats, and even pigs.
Before bringing animals home, we spent over a year researching and learning how to properly care for them. Choosing breeds and finding the right sources was a challenge, but after years of planning and preparing our land, I was committed to embracing this traditional lifestyle in a modern world. I’m endlessly grateful to my husband, who has supported every step—especially when it came to building fences and structures.
At the end of each day, we find joy in growing and raising our own food, herbs, and supplements. My hope is that Aurora Ranch can provide guidance and encouragement to new homesteaders who feel overwhelmed starting out—just like I once did.
Even after years on this journey, I still have so much to learn. But if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that a simpler, more intentional life is possible. There is peace in this lifestyle, and no judgment here—because I understand just how busy and overwhelming life can be.
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