About Deanna Talerico
Deanna Talerico, also known as “DeannaCat” or @deannacat3, is the CEO and creator of Homestead and Chill. She is a garden educator with an MA in Environmental Studies, over 15 years of experience in organic gardening and food preservation, and 10 years experience raising backyard chickens.
Hi, I'm Deanna!
I’m the main person behind Homestead and Chill (it’s just my husband Aaron and I running things here). My goal is to help teach and inspire others to live more healthy, sustainable lives by sharing easy-to-follow, well-researched and experience-based gardening tips, recipes, and homesteading resources.
I am a passionate gardener, writer, crafter, and love to cook and fuel my body with organic homegrown food. I care deeply about the environment, clean toxin-free living, animals, and wildlife. I’m also a bit of a research nerd, have enjoyed photography since I was a little girl, and seem to have a natural knack for teaching. So, I started this website in 2019 to share those passions with the world!
You can learn more about my background, education, personal gardening journey, and other fun facts below, or learn more about Homestead and Chill here.
Thank you so much for stopping by!
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Fun Facts
- Aaron and I are happily child-free by choice.
- We currently have 5 cats, 4 mini donkeys, and a dozen chickens. I’ve been a crazy cat lady my whole life, hence the “DeannaCat” moniker.
- We live on the Central Coast of California in San Luis Obispo County. I’m originally from Santa Cruz CA (yes, I say “stoked” and “gnarly”) but also spent several years of my childhood in the greater Seattle area. Aaron is originally from Chico, where we met working at a natural food store together in college.
- I’ve had Type 1 Diabetes for over 22 years, and have been vegetarian for 17.
- We just started weighing and keeping track of how much food we grow, and we harvested 1,297 pounds of homegrown produce in 2023! And that’s only counting what made it inside.
- Beyond gardening, I love to read, do yoga, puzzles, play cribbage and board games (we love Wingspan), birdwatch, hike, and walk on the beach. I also love a good Netflix binge.
- Music is a HUGE part of our lives. It’s something Aaron and I bonded over right when we met, and going to concerts is still our main excuse for a “date night” now. See our playlists here.
My Gardening Journey
My mom had a garden while I was growing up, and while I don’t remember being particularly involved, I DO remember being enamored with the juicy homegrown melons, peaches, cherries and grapes! Fast forward to young adulthood: I started my very first garden in 2007. I was 21, had just lost my Dad to kidney cancer, and was struggling to find my path in college (more on that below). I grew just a couple tomato plants, zucchini, and honeydew melon, but the garden gave me a sense of purpose and hope! Aaron and I were dating at the time.
After college, we moved into a rental house and immediately asked the landlord if we could add a couple raised beds to the small backyard. Thankfully, they said yes… “as long as we returned it to same condition we found it”. So when we moved into our very first home the next year, we packed up the soil and bed frames and brought them with us! Lol.
In 2013, we bought our first home. During the house hunt, having a decent little yard and space for chickens was our top priority, even if that meant getting a smaller outdated home for our budget! We ended up with a 9000 square foot lot, and spent the next 8 years slowly DIY-ing and transforming every inch of it. We removed both the front and back lawns to put in raised garden beds, pollinator flowers, and fruit trees. We tucked a chicken coop, rainwater system and greenhouse in one side yard, and compost systems and tool sheds on the other. (You can see the before-and-after photos here.) There, we did and learned pretty much everything we’re doing at our larger property now, just on a smaller scale!
My Background & Education
You don’t need a degree related to gardening or agriculture to dig in, have fun, and be successful! However, my background certainly played a pivotal role in my journey to get here – both in gardening, and to start this business.
I graduated with my B.S. in Sustainability and Natural Resources from California State University, Chico in 2010. I spent 6 years in undergrad, bouncing around between nursing, physical therapy, and nutrition at first. I started to realize (and become increasingly frustrated with) the disconnect between traditional health sciences, natural health, and the environment. Then in 2007, I also lost my dad to kidney cancer. As a “daddy’s girl”, I was shattered. But it also changed the course of my life forever for the better. Sparked with a new healthy fear of toxins and passion for clean, natural living, I totally switched gears that year: I changed my major, started a job as a Sustainability Coordinator with the university, opened a farmer’s market booth to sell recycled crafts and art, and started my very first garden.
Next, I went on to pursue a MA in Environmental Studies at Brown University. Living on the East Coast for a couple years was a really neat life experience! We were living in an apartment in Providence, Rhode Island when I first read Barbara Kingsolver’s “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” and I was like THIS is what I want. To eat with the seasons, to raise backyard chickens, to trade in the excess for the cherished essentials, to keep it local… Even though we didn’t have a garden at the time, we started stocking up on fresh produce from the farmer’s market and practicing different preserving methods. And, we formulated a goal for the future.
Reader Favorites
Starting Homestead and Chill
After grad school, we moved back to California and I got a job as an Environmental Health Specialist with the county. I started out as a restaurant “health inspector” (oof, the stories I could share!) and quickly worked my way up to Senior specialist in the water systems and land use programs. Parts of that gig were fun and rewarding, but as the years went by and older folks retired, they piled more work on my desk rather than filling replacement positions. I was out in the field less and less, and could feel the burnout creeping in fast. I needed an exit strategy.
By 2018, I’d already been really active on Instagram for over 5 years. Sharing gardening tips, DIY projects, and backyard chicken shenanigans online had become my outlet from the grind of my job – especially since I didn’t have many “real life” friends with similar shared interests. Then a good friend gave me a hard shake and was like: “Helllloooo Deanna, you should start a blog!” At that time, I honestly had no idea how a blog could generate income – let alone become both our full-time jobs!
So with zero website experience, I started building this site in late 2018 and launched with just handful of articles in January 2019. The next few years were arguably the most intense and difficult of my life, but also some of the most rewarding! Between my “real job” and the blog, I worked like a crazy person, pulling 12-15 hour days 7 days a week for over 2.5 years. As the site grew, Aaron came on to help with more and more tasks too. Finally by the summer of 2021, we were able to both go full-time with Homestead and Chill! We were also able to move to our new larger homestead at that time. Now, we’re busy as ever and still work 7 days a week (ha!) but at least it’s for something we both love and take great pride in.
All in all, we are totally honored (and a bit mind-blown) that this little “side gig” of a website has evolved into what it is today – and that wouldn’t be possible without YOU, our valued readers and subscriber community. So from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being here and tuning in! Keep on growing. ✌️
Made with homegrown and certified organic ingredients, we offer a variety of natural skincare products including nourishing face oil, calendula and lavender salve, natural insect repellent, herbal bath salts and more! Browse our shop here.
173 Comments
Katrina Oak Aschenbrenner
I am so curious to see how your vermicomposting area and compost zone is set up. I find mine is constantly changing. Recently I thought maybe I should keep my bins at waist height so I don’t have to move them when collecting. I like the permaculture idea of keeping them close to the house, as it will be more likely to have them accessible to feed the worms. But it is most likely that the work will be done on them more regularly if they are positioned IN the garden. Any thoughts? Any pictures?
DeannaCat
Hey there! Our worm bin is just outside our back sliding glass door, so yes, it’s super accessible. It isn’t in the garden per se, but in a side yard with other storage/garden stuff like our potting bench. Our large compost pile is between the greenhouse and front yard, and right around the corner from the front door – so also accessible. I guess it depends on what you’re composting. For kitchen scraps, we keep a small compost crock under the kitchen sink and take it out weekly, so quick easy access isn’t a huge deal, but it is nice. For larger garden trimmings and yard waste types, it does help to have it close to the garden area – though our entire property is a “garden” so…. 😉 I hope that helps!
Lili
Helllooooo!!
I stumbled upon your IG account and love it!
I too am a Monarch & Cat (Feline) Mamma! Lol They are the best!!
Just wondering, in general not specifically, where you are located, so I can understand your gardening zone….I’m way up in Northern Ontario, Canada….and be able to learn/adapt/tweak what I see in your posts.
Have a sunshiny day!
DeannaCat
Hey Lili – Welcome, and thanks for saying hi! Always good to meet another crazy cat lady, of both types! 🙂 We live on the Central Coast of California. It is zone 9b/10a, and… yes we’re pretty spoiled with our climate. Even though your season is shorter, I hope you can find our tips useful! If you haven’t signed up for the weekly newsletters yet, you may like the free Garden Planning Toolkit that will get emailed to you once you do. It has planting calendars for every hardiness zone. Again, thanks for saying hi!
Jason Barton
Hi, Thanks for all the info and inspiration! I’ve been following you on IG for a bit and finally just came over to read your pest article and now your bio.
Where did you go to college and grad school?
DeannaCat
Hey Jason! Thanks for stopping in to say hi. I went to California State University Chico for undergrad (where I met Aaron, his hometown) and grad school at Brown. Being in Rhode Island for a couple years was an awesome experience, but certainly confirmed how much we love California and its weather! Lol.
Laura O'Connor
Hi Deanna, on behalf of Botanical Interests, thank you for the shout out! We really love your site, your vision, and your dedication. We would like to invite you on a 3-day garden tour that we are hosting in June, in Denver, CO. It will be the 11th annual, Garden Bloggers Fling; About 75-100 garden writers and bloggers from across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and beyond, get together once a year in a designated city for a long weekend of inspirational garden touring, socializing, networking and of course, a lot of garden oohing and ahhing. Gardening connections and new friendships are born, and a great time is had by all. Visit the blogsite to learn more: https://gardenbloggersfling.blogspot.com/.
Please let us know if you are interested or not. We have a cap of 100, and there are still a few spots left right now; we’d love to have you!
Best regards, Laura
DeannaCat
Hi Laura! Thank you so very much for the thoughtful message, and the invitation! Unfortunately the date of the blogger fling is crammed right between a vacation and another obligation for us, so it won’t be possible this year… Shoot! That really does sound amazing though. Thanks again for reaching out. Maybe next year!?
Thomas Albertson
Heard about you at Grilla Bites! Any advice for future environmental law students?
DeannaCat
Hey there! Thanks for coming to say hi. What a great career/education choice! I’m not sure what kind of advice to offer – it has been a long time since I was in school. Did you already scope out various programs and schools you’re interested in?
Chelsea
I started following you years ago when I stumbled upon your Instagram following “backyard chickens” and “urban homesteads”.
You’re such an inspiration! Thanks for sharing this bio with everyone. Love reading your posts and love them even more now knowing your background and story! 💚🌻🌿🌸
Curtis Jones
Love your blog! I am the co-founder of Botanical Interests and I appreciate the nice things you said about our product! Keep up the good work!
Jules
THANK YOU!!!! For starting this blog!!
I’ve been following you for a few years on instagram and I have to say your blog looks so professional and organized! Its so easy to reference what I’m looking for now, I love it!
Thank you for sharing your passion for learning and wealth of knowledge!
Cheers!
Lauren
Hey Deanna! It has been so fun watching your instagram following explode these past few years, kudos on the fantastic looking blog! You are sharing important things with the world and doing it beautifully 🙂 – <3 @vashonturtle
Dezidoll
Thank you for sharing. Your garden is so inspiring. I’m a guillain barré syndrome and ovarian cancer survivor and I’m always looking for ways to get healthy 💪🏼 I’m looking forward to your cannabis section. It’s always such a touchy topic, but having experienced a lot of emotional and physical pain, I can attest that it helps. May I ask you a question….. what types of flowers prefer to be started in ground opposed to started indoors? Thank you!!!
DeannaCat
I am so sorry about your health struggles, but glad to hear you have found some relief with cannabis. I hope to start writing that section of the blog in the coming month. I know a lot of folks are eager! In regards to the flowers, it’s sort of a complicated answer…. So, there are some that do not like to be transplanted and are best if direct sown, like nasturtium and poppies, but many are really versatile and you could do either. Like sunflowers, marigolds, calendula, or zinnias. They can be sowed directly outside, but we often like to get them germinated more quickly in the greenhouse and then transplant them outside. We have issues with wild birds eating baby sprouts outside, so when we can start things indoors and get them to a decent size, that is what we opt to do. But other gardeners find it easiest to just throw a bunch outside. Some of ones that do prefer to be started inside are snapdragons, salvia, lavender (takes a long time to germinate!) and coleus. I hope that helps!
BreezeGardener
Wow! 😍 What a great story! Thank you for sharing it with us.
You are a brilliant human being, sweet, polite, well-educated, beautiful inside and out. I love that you pour out your soul into this work, being it here on this blog, on Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube (I just recently found that one out 😅) and wherever else you have been enlightening us.
You are my roll model of sustainability and homestead, as well as positivity and good vibes. 😊✨
Your posts are very informative and they have been helping me so much with my own garden. Thank you, thank you, thank you! 🤗 I also really enjoy the fact that each post comes a ton of details and that rarely leaves me with any questions (because you usually cover them all). Even so, you are open for questions and answer as many as you can. Again, another big thank you! 😊
Would it be weird if I say that I’m your fan? 😅😁 You rock my Instagram feed with your posts and stories. 🌱
P.S. When will more Homestead and Chill shirts be available for purchase? That is a must-have item on my list for this year! 😊
DeannaCat
Hey hey! First of all, thank you for the amazing compliments and kindness! And no, you’re not being a weirdo at all! 🙂 The merch shop with shirts just went live yesterday, if you didn’t see that already! Thanks again for all the love and support. It’s people like you that keep me motivated to keep up with all of this!
Wendy
Hi Deanna, I too have been following you on IG and just love what you have done with your garden. I envy your “stickability” as its something I dont have. I start with a hiss and a roar and then peter out. Damn it. But after reading your bio here, I can see that this all just seems to come naturally to you, and you are doing something you actually love doing. That always produces good results!
PS….What company hosts this website, I like your layout, is it a template or are you a website designer too?
DeannaCat
Hey Wendy! Oh yes, I wouldn’t be doing all this unless I absolutely loved it. But trust me, there are days I don’t feel like keeping up with all the garden chores and drop the ball too… I am using Wordpress.org with an Ashe pro theme here. Thanks for the sweet words!
Maria Del Valle
I’ve been following you on Instagram for a while and am so happy you’ve started your website. I’ve already used your planning guide and mapper. It has helped me immensely and I feel very clear about when I will be planting. Everything is so clearly explained. I have a question about seed starting. I assume you’re deluged with questions, but here it is. Why do you sprinkle seeds altogether in the pot instead of spreading them out and still thin out any smaller seedlings once they sprout?
Thank you for all your information and time and effort you’ve put into helping us beginners!
DeannaCat
Hey there! I’m so happy to hear the garden planning toolkit is useful for you! In regards to the seeds- we like to try to keep them fairly centered in the container so they have more even spacing of soil around them for root space, if that makes sense? They’re not right on top on one another, but yes, are close in proximity since we are trying to keep them in the middle. Hope that helps!