Episode 298: Debt-Free Living, Summer Sourdough, and What We’re Skipping in the New House (+ More Q&A!)

Release Date: July 15, 2025

In this comprehensive episode of the Simple Farmhouse Life podcast, host Lisa Bass delves into a rich tapestry of topics that resonate deeply with her listeners. From navigating debt-free living amidst economic challenges to perfecting summer sourdough recipes and managing the intricacies of building a new home for a large family, Lisa offers invaluable insights. Additionally, she engages in an interactive Q&A session, addressing listener questions with authenticity and practicality.

1. Navigating Debt-Free Living

Lisa begins by discussing her commitment to a debt-free lifestyle, a cornerstone of her family’s financial philosophy. She reflects on the journey of paying off their mortgage in 2016 and managing finances without incurring additional debt.

“We do Dave Ramsey’s teachings by not taking on debt, paying off the mortgage back in 2016, and managing with cash along the way. It's something intuitive for me that doesn't require me to spell out every line and letter.”
— Lisa Bass [20:30]

Key Points:

• Financial Strategy: Emphasis on living within means and avoiding debt to ensure financial stability.
• Real Estate Decisions: Insights into strategic property purchases, highlighting the importance of timing and market awareness.

“Everything always seems high, no matter what, and then over time it goes up.”
— Lisa Bass [28:00]

• Challenges for Young Buyers: Acknowledges the heightened difficulty for younger individuals to enter the housing market due to escalating prices.

Advice for Listeners:

• Stay Informed: Keep abreast of market trends to make informed real estate decisions.
• Long-Term Investment: Advocate for holding onto properties to capitalize on appreciation over time.

2. Mastering Summer Sourdough

Transitioning to a lighter yet equally important topic, Lisa shares her passion for sourdough baking, focusing on recipes suited for the summer season. She emphasizes the practicality of preparing bread in bulk, ensuring that her family always has fresh, homemade options available.

Notable Tips:

• Bulk Baking: Making sourdough bagels and hamburger buns in large quantities allows for convenient freezing and quick access.
• Flour Measurement: Recommends weighing flour using grams for accuracy, especially when dealing with whole grains.

“For each cup of flour, do 140 grams of milled flour, you shouldn't have that issue as much.”
— Lisa Bass [10:00]

• Resting Dough: Advises letting the dough sit longer before kneading to develop gluten, crucial for non-sticky, well-structured bread.

3. Building a New Home: Challenges and Solutions

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to updates on Lisa’s new house build. As a mother of eight, managing household responsibilities alongside construction brings its own set of challenges and adaptations.

Key Discussions:

• Flexible Chore Management: Instead of rigid chore charts, Lisa advocates for a fluid approach where responsibilities are shared organically among family members.

“We are all hands on deck. We share responsibilities without it being something very rigid, and it still works out.”
— Lisa Bass [03:10]

• Design Considerations: Balancing the need for functional spaces with the aesthetic desire for a historic look, leading to compartmentalized areas like the sunroom for homeschooling.

“It needs to be integrated with life. It’s very close to the main action yet. Also, you could keep some books sprawled out and it'd be okay with that.”
— Lisa Bass [25:00]

• Space Optimization: Strategies for maximizing storage in small areas, such as the mudroom and laundry room, to accommodate the needs of a large family.

“Most of the clothes stay in the laundry room and are organized with specific baskets for each family member.”
— Lisa Bass [30:00]

Challenges Faced:

• Ongoing Adjustments: The dynamic nature of construction requires continuous adaptation and problem-solving.
• Balancing Education and Home Life: Ensuring that the homeschooling environment is both conducive to learning and seamlessly integrated into the household.

4. Interactive Q&A Session

Lisa opens the floor to listener questions, providing thoughtful and practical responses based on her extensive experience.

a. Managing Sticky Sourdough Dough

Listener's Dilemma: Struggling with sticky sourdough dough using different types of flour.

Lisa’s Solution:

• Accurate Measurements: Switching from volume to weight measurements to ensure consistency.
• Extended Resting Period: Allowing the dough to sit longer before kneading to improve gluten development.

“Walk away for an hour, you'll find that it's not sticky anymore.”
— Lisa Bass [10:00]

b. Postpartum Depression and Hormonal Balance

Listener's Concern: Experiencing severe postpartum depression and seeking natural ways to manage hormones.

Lisa’s Response:

• Empathy and Understanding: Acknowledges the severity of postpartum depression and the importance of seeking professional help.
• Personal Experience: Shares her own experiences with anxiety, emphasizing the adjustment period post-birth.

“After birth, there's always that adjustment period where you're trying to get back into the swing of things in life.”
— Lisa Bass [15:00]

c. Household Organization in a New Build

Listener's Observation: Concerns about limited storage space in the new house's mudroom and the need for homeschool supplies.

Lisa’s Strategy:

• Vertical Storage: Utilizing floor-to-ceiling cabinetry to maximize space.
• Seasonal Rotation: Storing off-season items in designated areas to reduce clutter.
• Dedicated Homeschool Area: Creating an integrated, light-filled space that allows for seamless transitions between household tasks and education.

“It is a small mudroom, but there are two places on either side where you can have floor to ceiling cabinetry.”
— Lisa Bass [35:00]

d. Sourdough Favorites for Summer

Quick Share: Lisa lists her top three sourdough items she’s currently making on repeat:

1. Sourdough Bagels
2. Half Whole Grain, Half All-Purpose Bread
3. Hamburger Buns

“Our staple bread right now is half whole grain, half all-purpose.”
— Lisa Bass [50:00]

5. Final Reflections and Encouragement

As the episode draws to a close, Lisa shares heartfelt reflections on life’s unpredictability and the importance of adaptability. She encourages listeners to embrace change, manage their resources wisely, and find joy in the journey of building a life that aligns with their values.

“Life situations just change. We often say things like 'I would never this would never be me,' and then they change.”
— Lisa Bass [55:00]

Lisa wraps up by inviting listeners to continue engaging with her content through her blog and courses, offering further resources for those seeking to deepen their understanding of homesteading, baking, and financial management.

Notable Quotes:

• On Financial Intuition:

  “We do Dave Ramsey’s teachings by not taking on debt, paying off the mortgage back in 2016, and managing with cash along the way.”
  — Lisa Bass [20:30]

• On Dough Management:

  “For each cup of flour, do 140 grams of milled flour, you shouldn't have that issue as much.”
  — Lisa Bass [10:00]

• On Homeschooling Integration:

  “It needs to be integrated with life. It’s very close to the main action yet.”
  — Lisa Bass [25:00]

• On Life’s Changes:

  “Life situations just change. We often say things like 'I would never this would never be me,' and then they change.”
  — Lisa Bass [55:00]

Conclusion

Episode 298 of the Simple Farmhouse Life podcast offers a blend of financial wisdom, practical homesteading tips, and heartfelt discussions on motherhood and home-building. Lisa Bass’s authentic and thoughtful approach provides listeners with actionable advice and relatable stories, making this episode a valuable resource for anyone striving to simplify their life and align it with their core values.

For more insights and detailed guides, visit farmhouseboone.com and explore Lisa's courses on sourdough baking and business success.