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
Andrew Leon Speakerman , Jr.
You’re really good at what you do . I appreciate you ! The kiss of the sun for pardon
The song of the birds for mirth
You’re nearer God’s heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth . !
Peace be with you
McKenzie Buckley
You and Aaron are such an inspiration. I love starting my morning with a cup of coffee and DeannaCat’s insta story! I’m embarrassed it took me this long to check out your blog. My fiancee and I are in the process of purchasing a modest house on 7 acres in Spencer, MA, moving from Providence, Rhode Island! Our dream is to grow our homestead as I begin my studies in herbalism. We have so much to learn from the two of you and I cannot wait to start this journey. Thank you for the continuous positive, beautiful, insightful content that has become a part of my morning routine. I’m now going to spend the rest of my day off reading as much as I possibly can as I vibe to your incredible playlists!
Peace & Love,
McKenzie
Owie
Hi Deanna, your blog is my number 1 homesteading reference. I love everything you put into it! Whenever I lack the energy to do gardening, I simply go to your IG and drew the inspiration! I am very grateful to have found you. Continue your passion. You inspire many!
Teri
Hi Deanna – I just want to thank you for all the work you do on this blog and on Instagram. I was super passionate about gardening, healthy eating, crafting, homesteading and just basic simple creative living. And my best friend and husband was totally on board. We were a team, and we were well on our way to creating our own little homestead. We had even purchased 10 acres in the country to grow our garden. In 2006, he was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 2007 just nine months later. Since then, it’s been a true struggle to resurrect my passions for all of the above. At first I was simply too exhausted, then I had my own health crisis and then I just felt like it would take too much effort to dream again. Slowly over the last couple years, my passions have been poking their heads out of their cave. Slowly, I’ve been repairing my long neglected garden, rebuilding the precious soil I had cultivated. And then I found your page on Instagram which led me to your blog. Reading your articles, seeing your pictures and trying your recipes has truly drawn my passions out again. The work and effort it will take to revive my garden doesn’t seem near as daunting anymore. I’m beginning to remember the rewards and joy they used to bring to me. Do not ever think that you do not make a difference.
Samantha
Hey Deanna,
A friend recommended me to follow you on insta in 2016. I am so happy that I did and get to watch this blog blossom. You have taught me so much. I’m on my third year of making kombucha, have eaten tons of your delicious recipes, and learned how to be kinder to my houseplants.
My husband and I just bought our first home and we were able to secure a community plot for us to start our first garden in the spring!!
In addition to that I was able to secure a whole different community plot near my job that I will manage for my company, as part of our green initiatives.
Its a LOT to swallow as I am not really experienced at gardening outside of some potted tomatoes. This blog is providing a treasure trove of easy and enjoyable articles. I can’t thank you enough for providing all of this knowledge in a beautiful format. It’s priceless!
Lynn
Hi! I’m so glad I found your site today! I’ve been learning “one new thing” a day and I think I learned enough on your site today for a month! I had to laugh at one of the comments about Master Gardeners being full of grannies. I joined when I was in my 40’s and learned so much from making friends with the old guys; more than I ever could in their classes. I quit when the county wouldn’t consider giving organic pest solutions to consumers. I want to congratulate you, too, on your education and confide I’m a bit jealous. When I went to college (back in the Dark Ages), it was the beginning of any environmental studies degrees. There was one professor at my large state school, and he started me on my career path. I just can’t tell you how happy your hands-on experience and willingness to share your knowledge make me.
Dhirq
Hi Deanna…. To put cannabis in a par with other plants, purely genius movement. I think every garden (every country) should follow your “cannabis regulation model”.
🙂
Sheena Enslow
Hi Deanna!
I am so thankful for the day I stumbled upon your instagram account. Between that and your blog, I’ve been given information and freedom to try new things (hello, Kombucha) and new methods for a thriving garden (flowers, flowers, and more flowers) and better understanding for the care of my 23 house plants. I, too, have 4 chickens (all named after coffee origins) and I’m sure my husband thinks I’m strange for the amount of times I’ve referenced you like, ‘Deanna says…’
I’m telling you this because I am not surrounded by like-minded folks I can glean from. My peers want to glean from ME, which is totally weird if they only knew how little I truly know (ps, I point them to you).
Anyway, I could go on forever but what I really want to say is, keep doing what you’re doing. You provide information for people like me, 1,000 miles North in lil’ Spokane, WA. where we do have a Master Gardeners Association (filled mostly with grannies) to rub elbows with. But, I need someone like you, who listens to chill music, drinks beer, shows passion and is inspiring in an area that to some, feels like an old lady’s hobby (its not… its totally rad).
Thank you, and Cheers!
DeannaCat
Oh my goodness, you sweet thing! Thank you for popping in to say hello and for all the kind feedback! This made my morning. Truly. These kinds of moments help me stay motivated when I am feeling overwhelmed or tired 🙂 I agree about the Master’s Gardeners Programs. It is unfortunate they’re geared towards retired folks. I would LOVE to join our local class, but it is held in the middle of the afternoon on Thursday… Lol, some of us have to work! If it were at a more accessible time, I would totally be there, rubbin’ elbows with the grannies (hahaha!) Anyways, thanks for being here and for your support, my friend.
Tojo
After many years micro propagating plants in the lab I found myself a little burned out, disillusioned and at a crossroads. I have recently returned to gardening as a form of therapy. Some of it is new to me as a producer (vermicomposting) vs purchasing as a consumer, some of it is familiar (seedling initiation, greenhouse management), but I watch, listen, and sometimes read all of it because it is rekindling my love of plants. There are only a few content providers I currently gravitate to, but yours is one of my favourites. It’s like coming home. So thank you!
DeannaCat
“It’s like coming home”…. making me tear up over here! Thank you so much for such a heartfelt comment!
Rieke Rosati
Hi, Deanna I’m following you on Instagram since I make my Instagram. It’s about 4 years.. and I loved your plants, cats and hen so much. Your Instagram is very inspiring me. Thank you so much for being motivated me.
Karen
I have been following you on Instagram and am so stoked about this blog! I find what you are doing in your garden and in your life to be such an inspiration. It’s because of your influence that I released 62 Monarchs last year and that I am on my way to becoming an organic gardener. Thank you so much for doing such an amazing job with this blog. It is so informative and easy to understand. I look forward to spending lots of time here soaking up your knowledge and experience!
Matt Boudreaux
Hi Deanna,
The information you provide on your website is amazing. Not only do you go into such great detail, but you even provide links (Amazon) of what you are referencing. Your efforts are greatly appreciated (more than you know). As a reference,I have been gardening for 5 years on and off, but have fallen more in love with the concept of gardening organically. My question is how do manage a full-time job and all of your other interests without getting worn out or overwhelmed?
Matt
DeannaCat
Hey Matt- Thanks for the very kind words and support! I really appreciate it. In regards to balance and work, I will admit it does get tough sometimes. Moreso lately since I am trying to blog on top of everything, haha! But for us, gardening is our treat, passion, and fun – so it isn’t thought of as a chore. We just do what we can, when we can, try to make it fun… like, putting on music and enjoying a beer while weeding together – an otherwise not-so-fun task. There are times I do say “damn, I don’t feel like preserving all these xxxx right now”. but then again, I try to remember and appreciate the fact that I have homegrown food to preserve, and that is a privilege – and better than sitting on my ass watching TV. It’s all about perspective. 🙂
Elizabeth
Hello, Just read you post about fava beans, which I planted for the first time late summer 2019 and harvested a month ago. Yesterday while cleaning up the spot, saw lots of earthworms, never had so many in that area. I left the leaves in the same place for mulch (was not aware they’re edible), and planted marigolds there. Will put the stems in the compost. I grow lots of basil and freeze the pesto in an ice cube tray then transfer to a other container for longer storage. Better than freezing in glass.