A woman who was tired of supermarket food poisoning her kids has revealed how they now hunt and grow their meals instead.
Samantha Polk and her husband turned to homesteading when they “lost faith in the modern food system”.
Since then, they have been living self-sufficiently by growing and preserving their own food.
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The 28-year-old lives on her homestead with her husband Josh and their two daughters, Joyce and Saylor, and regularly shares advice online for anyone wanting to switch up their lifestyle.
“Homesteading has brought our family closer together,” Samantha told What’s The Jam.
“It encourages teamwork, shared responsibility, and intentional time with one another.
“Our children are growing up understanding where their food comes from and watching their parents work with purpose.
“It has strengthened our bond and our values as a family.”
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The couple began homesteading in 2021, initially renting a home before buying their own land and expanding their operations in 2024.
Their decision to do so wasn’t made lightly, with food and health playing huge roles in the lifestyle change.
Samantha added: “So many foods today are filled with artificial ingredients and preservatives, and we saw firsthand how that affected our health.
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“The United States is one of the most unhealthy nations, and we wanted something better for our family.
“Once you taste truly fresh food, like a farm-fresh egg or homegrown produce, you start questioning where your food comes from.
“Store-bought food doesn’t taste like real food anymore.
“Our goal was simple: to provide our family with a healthier, more intentional way of living.”
Samantha spends her days caring for the family’s animals, planning and preparing food, cooking from scratch and raising their daughters.
She also creates social media content to educate others on how to get started with living more self-sufficiently.
There are some challenges that come with homesteading, however, the largest of which, Samantha says, is “balancing it all”.
She said: “Homesteading, social media, motherhood, and being a present wife.
“Some days there simply aren’t enough hours.
“But day-to-day life on our homestead is centred around family, food, faith, and working together.”
Despite its challenges, Samantha – who is based in Simpson County, Mississippi – says she “truly enjoys” every aspect of homesteading.
She added: “It’s incredible to witness how God designed the earth to work when we slow down and live closer to nature.
“Homesteading teaches patience, gratitude, and respect for the work that goes into providing food.
“What surprises me most is how rewarding and grounding it is. It reconnects you to the way life was intended to be lived.
“Homesteading isn’t an experience – it’s a lifestyle.
“It’s something we live out daily with intention, faith, and purpose.
“For us, it’s about reclaiming responsibility, health, and connection to our food and our family.”
Samantha says she won’t be changing how she lives anytime soon, and she’d definitely recommend her way of life to others.
She said: “Homesteading isn’t something I tried, it’s how I live.
“I’ve been doing this since 2021, and I will always grow food, preserve it, and raise animals for meat.
“It’s a healthier, more sustainable way of life, and I 100% recommend it.
“Teaching others how to do this is a big part of what I do every day.”
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