Courtney Lynn

Anne Miller wrote:I spent summer with my grandparents.

Creamed corn by cutting off corn off the cob, then scrape the cob to get out the milk.  I can only assume then adding cream and salt and pepper.

Fried cornbread.  Add hot water to cornmeal to the right consistency, make patties then fry in bacon grease.

Chitterlings:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitterlings

I remember sitting out in the yard shelling purple hull peas.  Then having them for dinner.

I also remember peanut butter/banana sandwiches and carrot sandwiches.

My uncle sitting at the kitchen table eating and commenting on how good the onions were.  All I remember is a plate of sliced onions.

Watermelons on big tables in the backyard and spitting out the seeds ...

Out on the back porch was an old ice box.

Your memories hit me right in the soul. That creamed corn method—cut, scrape, season; is exactly how my people did it too. No measuring, just instinct and taste. And fried cornbread in bacon grease? That’s not just food, that’s heritage.
This is the kind of memory that makes me feel like I’m right there with you.
shelling peas in the yard, watermelon on the table, and that old ice box humming on the porch. Fried cornbread in bacon grease, That’s a whole mood. And carrot sandwiches? I didn’t grow up with those, but now I’m curious.
Grew up on collard sandwiches and wraps. Definitely southern soul food. It wasn’t fancy, but it was full of rhythm and  love.

Christopher Weeks wrote:I think all eight of my great grandparents moved from the land to the city. Neither of my grandmothers really knew much about cooking, and my grandfathers were helpless. The only thing I can think of like this is that my mom's mom's mom was sort of infamous for harvesting weeds in vacant lots in Los Angeles and making my mom eat them. My mom thought that was barbaric but her stories of it seemed like romantic adventure to me. So, even before I really started getting serious about wanting to change my life and move to a homestead, I started eating the weird plants that Euell Gibbons and Foxfire said were OK -- mostly as a 'mess of greens' in some fat. That's about it for multi-generational stuff for me. I guess there are lots of things Cathy and I make that our folks did, but we're better cooks than our forebears so a lot of it is pretty different.

Wow, I love how your great-grandmother’s “weed harvesting” turned into a kind of mythic adventure in your mind. That image of her gathering greens in vacant lots feels wild and resourceful in the best way—like a quiet kind of rebellion against forgetting.
I relate to that shift you described—from inherited disconnect to intentional reconnection. Sounds like you and Cathy are building your own kind of legacy—better cooks, maybe 🤔😂 , but still rooted in something real. That’s the kind of generational shift I admire: not just repeating, but reimagining.

Hey Permies,

I’ve been reflecting on the meals that carry more than flavor—those dishes rooted in memory, tradition, or necessity. Whether it’s something your grandmother canned every fall, a hearty stew that fed a crew after a long workday, or a recipe you’ve adapted to fit your climate and values, I’d love to hear about it even if considered a “struggle meal”.

What meals have stood the test of time on your homestead—or in your family’s story?

• Is there a dish you always make when the harvest comes in?
• Something you preserve every year because it just feels right?
• A recipe that’s changed with the land, the zone, or the people you’re feeding?
• Or maybe something you’ve reclaimed or reinvented to fit your current rhythm?

I’m especially curious how these meals shift across zones and generations. What crops do you grow to keep those traditions alive—or to build new ones?

Whether it’s cornbread cooked in cast iron, pickled okra from a Southern garden, or a wild-foraged soup that’s become your signature, I’d love to hear what’s on your table and in your memory.

Photos, stories, flops, flavor bombs—all welcome.

> homestead cooking
> seasonal recipes
> community meals
> solo cooking
> food preservation
> Florida-friendly crops
> story-based recipes
> favorite meals

Richard Stromberg wrote:I would be interested in having a conversation.....or 2

my moosagesss are open 🤣😇🫣

Hi Permies,
I’m a younger woman with an old soul—think wisdom wrapped in sass, grit, and a whole lot of heart. I’ve lived a full life solo, and now I’m ready to build something real: a homestead rooted in love, legacy, and a little bit of dirt under the nails. A life rooted in land, legacy, and love.

I’m 27 — 4’11”, curvy, busty full of grit and heart, and I carry a rich cultural background. I don’t come from a typical Native American tribe—my people have a different history than most, lesser-known and often misunderstood. Some of us are considered to have Melungeon ancestry, and that mix of resilience and mystery runs deep in me. My other roots are Salvadoran, and both sides have shaped how I love, cook, and connect.

I grew up in the country and currently live in the city, I’ve lived all over from the east coast to the Midwest, so I’ve adapted to both worlds. But my heart’s pulling me back to the countrysides. I’m passionate to learning more about homesteading, DIY projects, and self-sustaining living. I have an artsy, creative background and have sewing, crocheting, beading and hand tying fleece blankets background as well. Maybe a lil rusty but the experience is there I learn fast—especially hands-on—and I thrive around people I can grow with. If I’m not learning, I’m bored.
I’m becoming overwhelmed by the big cities, AI, Social media, and direction the world is in. I have removed myself from social media 3 years ago  as part of protecting my peace and staying grounded. It was a conscious choice but very easy to step away from the noise, ignorance, distractions, and performative culture, especially as I’ve been navigating deep family advocacy and personal transformation. I’ve leaned into wanting to chase after what I TRULY want for my future and wanting to have genuine connections, purposeful living, and emotional safety—choosing solitude and authenticity over scrolling and spectacle.
I love to cook—especially for others. Family, friends, gatherings… that’s where my heart is. Cooking for myself? Meh. But give me a reason, and I’ll whip up some soul-ful country cooking from scratch; Fry bread, Collard sandwiches , chicken and pastry, pupusas, birria, or a soulful pot of soup that tastes like home and hugs. My food carries country soul and rich Hispanic flavor, and I put love into every dish.

My Vision: To co-create a homestead that’s more than just functional—it’s soulful. Where we can together build a chicken coop while simmering a pot of pollo pozole. A place where love, loyalty, and legacy are woven into the land. I want to grow food, build with my hands, cook with heart, and protect what matters most. I’m not afraid of hard work or deep roots—I’m ready to create a family, find chosen family and all the above.

Right now I’m back in Georgia, but I’ve been bouncing between here and North Carolina lately—family things.
As for where I want to be or build my homesteading adventure for me it works only if we both share similar interest and vision.  I’m not looking to plant myself solo—I want to co-create with someone who’s just as invested in the land, the lifestyle, and the love. Whether the homestead or community is already in motion or still a dream waiting to be built, I’m open. What matters most is that we both feel at home.

I’m big on teamwork in all aspects of this path—decisions, dreams, and even the messy, grit and grind.
 


And yessssss!!! I know what you’re thinking 😂🤭🫣 I know I sound like I’m trying to join an Amish community. I mean, the lifestyle’s pretty close to what I’m after. But let’s be real: I wouldn’t be accepted, and I don’t come from that background. Still, if you’re into building, growing, and living intentionally with a splash of soul and spice… we might just be on the same page.

Clearly I am pretty fun and funny 😆 So IF and ONLY IF you’re the kind of man who smiles at a dog before a stranger, open minded, laughs at your own jokes, who’d rather procreate and fix a gate than scroll a feed, and who believes in second chances, chosen family and shared dreams—I’d love to hear from you.

With warmth, sugar and spice 🫶🏼
Courtney