Welcome to Root & Ridge Homestead, where a grounded, intentional life grows from even the smallest patch of earth. Our hearts are rooted in the rhythms of the land, shaped by seasons, sustained by simplicity and inspired by nature’s abundance. From our urban(ish) home and with the Lancashire Moors almost in our back garden, we’re building a life that’s deeply connected to the natural world and guided by the belief that homesteading is as much a mindset and a way of life, as it is a location or a house.
Here, we grow what we can, forage when we can, and preserve as much as possible. We make our own food, skin care, medicines and household products, all with the aim of living more sustainably and self-sufficiently. Every small act, be it a jar of foraged jelly, a handmade soap, or a freshly planted seed, is part of a wider journey to live in harmony with the land and be prepared for whatever comes our way.
The “Root” in our name speaks to the deep connection we strive to maintain with the earth, growing slowly, with strength and care. The “Ridge” represents the fact that we live on a hill, live with resilience and perspective, a place to pause, to look back and ahead, and to hold space for reflection. Together, they ground us in both action and thought, reminding us that a meaningful life is both cultivated and contemplated.
At Root & Ridge Homestead, we are more than one household, with multiple families working together and a wider ‘Rooters’ family, as well as a large Facebook Group, we believe in the beauty of doing things the old way, not for nostalgia’s sake, but because they nourish us more deeply. Whether we’re in the kitchen fermenting, in the garden tending, or on the moor gathering wild herbs, we carry a deep reverence for what the land gives and how much we can create with our own hands.
We share this space to document our journey, connect with like-minded souls, and celebrate a slower, more rooted way of living. We hope our ways inspire your heart to live closer to the land, more creatively, and more intentionally, no matter where you’re planted.
Scroll down the page to meet the family!
Sally
I am a barefoot in the grass, foraging, natural living, homesteading, nature-loving, family girl. I am an urban micro-homesteader, forager, and qualified complementary therapist. I am a qualified life coach, business coach, nutritionist, flower remedy practitioner, and many other natural therapies, and nature is the key to everything I do. I love to forage, scratch cook, bake, preserve, make herbal medicine and skincare and run as much as possible without preservatives and other chemicals in my family’s life. Colin and I have been married for 30 years and we have 3 beautiful children and an amazingly awesome grandson, who truly loves nature. He loves to collect sticks and paddle in brooks and rivers wherever possible!
We are a family with various illnesses and we have found that it is best for our bodies that we live as naturally as possible. When I was 19 years old, I had meningitis which left me with encephalitis, acute fibromyalgia, Guillane Barre syndrome and having a series of mini strokes. This left me in a wheelchair and being told I would never walk, talk, work or have children. Since then I have also gained diabetes, adipsia, vertigo, retinopathy, neuropathy, an umbilical hernia and various other stuff! But… whilst I cannot walk very far at all (about 10m), I can talk, I have children and I work. And a lot of this is down to me being really stubborn, it is mostly down, I truly believe, to our homesteading lifestyle, as well as a whole heap of magic. For those who don’t know, I also own Mama’s Magic & Mojo 😉
I have had the honour and pleasure of writing for, being interviewed for, or working with some amazing companies, brands, and media over the years such as The BBC, The Daily Mail, Fox News, USA Today, Reuters, Sainsbury’s, ASDA, Marks & Spencer, The Natural & Organic Products Show, Ideal Home Show, The Walt Disney Corporation, Spirit & Destiny Magazine, Fate & Fortune Magazine and many, many more. I love collaborating with brands and businesses and love working with the media.
Colin
I’ve always loved nature, being out among trees and animals. It is incredibly grounding. In modern society we have largely lost our connection to the earth (big E and little e) with life needing everything now, if not faster.
Growing, making, foraging, it all helps restore that connection and slow things down. Life at nature’s pace.
I have been married to Sal for 30 years this year and we have always strived to live as naturally as possible. We love nothing more than spending time out in nature and we raised our children with this ethos. To walk each step with thought and care.
My favourite thing to do is foraging but I also really love helping Sal in the kitchen whilst we batch cook pasta sauce from scratch. The smell of the sauce radiates the house and always makes me smile!
Amy
I have been very lucky to grow up in a household that has always taken the time to connect back to the Earth. Whether it has been cooking, foraging, making walking sticks in the woods or just simply walking around the countryside, nothing fills me with happiness and peace quite like it.
When it comes to making, I often refer to fond memories of making my own natural and skin safe perfume, dry shampoo and washing powder! Now being a mother of my own, it is important to instill that same love for the world around us in my son as he follows in my footsteps of hugging trees, taking care of animals and rock climbing at any given moment.
It is important for myself as my own individual and also as a mum to be self sufficient and independent, to know that no matter what I need, I can use the world and resources around me to make something for myself. Fortunately, I am a big believer that the world always provides. It also helps as I come from a family with sensitivities. Whether it be food allergens or sensitive skin, stepping away from mass produced and chemical infused products and into the world of nature is a huge benefit.
P.S it is an incredibly fulfilling and intentional lifestyle!
Leanne
Being a mum of 2 School age children, I have found life can be very expensive. Sometimes money is tight and only stretches so far but since starting my homesteading journey, I have found it has been a great help with my finances.
I love nothing better than to be able to provide tasty wholesome food for my family. Food that nourishes the body and the soul. To have grown or foraged the food makes it even more special. I feel it is so important to know exactly what you are eating and where it has come from, so I try as much as I possibly can to stay away from mass manufactured process foods. That’s not to say it’s always possible, but it’s something I strive to do. By growing and foraging I feel connected to the land and to the ancestors of old.
Being able to eat through the seasons is so important. When there is a bountiful crop or abundance of something then being able to dry, preserve or pickle is a must to preserve and store of winter months.
Homemade household cleaning products are fab, I love making washing powder, fabric softener. machine drying sheets and household cleaning sprays. Knowing that there is no nasty chemicals that could harm the environment is a huge plus. It’s fun to learn about what you can use naturally and how to make soap nuts (my daughter loved giving them as teachers gifts!).
Working alongside Sal by day and living in the Roots & Ridge community by night, I have learned so much and I can’t wait to share this journey with others.