About Tara Dodrill
The Homestead Homeschool About Us Page And Origin Story
Hi! I'm Tara Dodrill, the founder of The Homestead Homeschool, homeschool curriculum creator, homesteader, educator, and lifelong believer that some of life's most valuable lessons happen far beyond the walls of a classroom.
For more than 25 years, I've dedicated my career to helping children and families learn through meaningful, hands-on experiences. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Ohio University with a minor in Journalism and spent over a decade teaching in Ohio public schools. Throughout my career, I've also served as a special education teacher, District Drug Prevention Coordinator, 4-H advisor, Girl Scout leader, youth sports coach, and founder of a regional homeschool co-op serving families across multiple counties.
Today, my greatest passion is creating engaging homeschool resources that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and help families connect learning with everyday life.
Where Education Meets Real Life
At The Homestead Homeschool, you'll find curriculum designed to get children exploring the outdoors, learning practical skills, studying history through immersive activities, discovering science in nature, and building lifelong confidence through hands-on learning.
Our growing library includes:
- Homeschool unit studies
- Nature studies
- American history curriculum
- Homesteading and self-sufficiency resources
- STEM and STEAM activities
- Escape rooms and educational games
- Boom Cards® and Easel Activities
- Printable worksheets and interactive lessons
- Online classes for children and adults
Whether we're learning about mushrooms in the forest, exploring Revolutionary War history, studying medicinal herbs, building survival skills, or raising backyard livestock, my goal is always the same—to make learning memorable, practical, and enjoyable.
More Than Homeschool
Alongside creating homeschool curriculum, I've spent over 15 years writing professionally about homesteading, gardening, self-sufficiency, preparedness, and rural living. My work has appeared in numerous national publications, and I've authored several books covering topics such as herbal remedies, survival gardening, livestock care, and traditional homestead skills.
These real-world experiences shape every resource I create, ensuring families receive information that's both educational and practical.
A Community for Families
The Homestead Homeschool is more than a curriculum publisher—it's a community.
Through our Homeschool Network, online classes, local field trips, family events, and educational resources, my mission is to encourage parents, inspire children, and help families create meaningful learning experiences together.
I believe education should cultivate curiosity, strengthen families, preserve valuable life skills, and prepare children not only for tests—but for life.
Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your homeschool journey. I hope the resources you find here encourage your family to learn, explore, and grow together for years to come.
Welcome to The Homestead Homeschool—where education meets real life.
Ecotourism Is At The Heart Of Our Core Values
Hands-On Homeschool Learning Is at the Heart of Everything We Do
At The Homestead Homeschool, we believe the best education happens when children actively experience what they're learning. That's why our homeschool co-op, field trips, workshops, and family events are designed to move learning beyond textbooks and into the real world.
Throughout the year, we host a variety of Ohio homeschool events that bring families together to explore history, nature, science, agriculture, traditional crafts, and practical life skills. Whether children are identifying wildflowers on a nature hike, participating in an immersive Revolutionary War living history experience, creating herbal remedies, conducting STEM experiments, or learning homesteading skills, every event is intentionally designed to make education engaging, memorable, and meaningful.
Our homeschool co-op welcomes families from across Ohio who value hands-on, multi-age learning in a supportive community. Through collaborative projects, educational games, outdoor adventures, field trips, and seasonal celebrations, children build friendships while developing critical thinking, creativity, leadership, and real-world problem-solving skills.
The Homestead Homeschool is more than a curriculum publisher—it's a growing community of families who believe education should inspire curiosity, encourage exploration, and strengthen family connections. We are passionate about creating enriching homeschooling experiences that help children discover their interests, develop practical life skills, and foster a lifelong love of learning.
Whether you're looking for engaging curriculum, Ohio homeschool events, homeschool field trips, or a welcoming homeschool community, we're honored to be part of your family's educational journey.
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Benefits of Ecotourism
Ecotourism has emerged as a powerful tool for revitalizing rural communities with limited industrial opportunities. In the United States, promoting ecotourism plays a crucial role in enhancing Americans' connection with nature and supporting local home and small businesses. Research has shown that ecotourism brings not only economic benefits but also social and environmental advantages to these communities.
One of the key economic benefits of ecotourism its ability to create jobs and stimulate local economies. By attracting visitors to explore natural landscapes, rural areas can diversify their sources of income beyond traditional industries. According to a study by the Center Responsible Travel, ecotourism in the US generates $77 billion in revenue annually and supports over 1 million jobs. This influx of tourism dollars boosts local businesses such as restaurants, accommodations, and tour operators, providing a much-needed economic boost to rural communities.
In addition to economic benefits, ecotourism also fosters a deeper connection with nature among Americans. By immersing themselves in the natural world, visitors gain a greater appreciation for the importance of conservation and environmental protection. This increased awareness can help preserve natural landscapes for future generations. Moreover, engaging in ecotourism activities such as hiking, foraging, and simply going fishing can improve visitors' physical and mental well-being, promoting a healthier lifestyle.
Furthermore, ecotourism has positive social impacts by fostering community resilience and cultural preservation. By promoting local traditions, crafts, and cuisine, ecotourism helps preserve the unique identity of rural communities. This not only provides a source of pride for residents but also attracts visitors who are eager to experience authentic cultural experiences. Ecotourism initiatives often involve collaboration with local communities, empowering residents to take ownership of their natural resources and share their knowledge with visitors.
In conclusion, ecotourism is a valuable tool for revitalizing rural communities, connecting Americans with nature, and supporting local economies. By promoting sustainable tourism practices, we can strike a balance between economic growth and environmental conservation. Let us all embrace the importance of ecotourism in fostering community resilience and conservation efforts for a brighter, more sustainable future.
The Homestead Homeschool Personal Touch
Far more than half of the Ohio homeschool events attendees travel back to Vinton County each year to attend the event and reconnect with not only nature but the many friends and favorite instructors they have come to know and love. Attendees stay in touch with each other and instructors via the social media platforms of the event and through The Homestead Homeschool Network.
Heritage Skills USA Network
Join The Homestead Homeschool Network
Imagine having an entire homeschool library at your fingertips—without expensive monthly subscriptions.
The Homestead Homeschool Network gives your family unlimited access to a growing collection of printable curriculum, unit studies, nature studies, homesteading guides, educational games, online classes, and hands-on learning resources for one affordable annual membership.
Whether you're homeschooling one child or several, you'll discover engaging materials that make learning meaningful, practical, and fun.
Your Membership Includes:
🌿 Unlimited Downloads of homeschool curriculum and printables
📚 Multi-Age Unit Studies covering history, science, nature, STEM, life skills, and more
🏡 Homesteading Books & Guides for children and adults
🍞 Cookbooks & Heritage Skills Resources filled with traditional recipes and practical knowledge
💻 Online Classes for homeschool students and lifelong learners
🎮 Boom Cards®, Easel Activities, Educational Games, and Interactive Learning Resources
🎉 Member Discounts on homeschool events, workshops, and special releases
Designed for Real Families
Every resource is created by veteran educator and homeschool leader Tara Dodrill with one goal in mind: helping families create meaningful learning experiences that inspire curiosity, strengthen family bonds, and prepare children with knowledge they'll use for a lifetime.
Whether you're teaching kindergarten, high school, or learning alongside your children, you'll find resources designed to make homeschooling simpler, richer, and more enjoyable.
One Membership. Endless Possibilities.
For just $25 per family each year, you'll enjoy unlimited access to hundreds of educational resources—with new curriculum, books, online classes, and activities added throughout the year.
✔ No monthly fees
✔ No auto-renewal
✔ Unlimited downloads
✔ One affordable membership for your entire family
Start Your Journey Today
Join thousands of pages of curriculum, practical life skills, homesteading resources, and hands-on learning opportunities—all in one place.
The Homestead Homeschool Network
Where Education Meets Real Life.
Become a member today and start exploring!
Mission Statement
At The Homestead Homeschool, our mission is to inspire families to embrace meaningful, hands-on education that prepares children for life—not just the next lesson. We are committed to providing high-quality homeschool curriculum, engaging resources, practical life skills, and enriching experiences that make learning relevant, memorable, and enjoyable.
We believe the most powerful homeschooling happens when children explore nature, ask questions, solve real-world problems, and learn by doing. Through our curriculum, online classes, educational resources, homeschool co-op, and Ohio homeschool events, we encourage families to step beyond the traditional classroom and discover the joy of lifelong learning together.
Our goal is to equip parents with affordable, flexible resources that nurture curiosity, strengthen family relationships, build confidence, and cultivate practical skills rooted in history, science, nature, and everyday life.
Above all, we strive to create a welcoming community where homeschooling families can connect, grow, and be encouraged as they raise the next generation with wisdom, purpose, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.
The Homestead Homeschool
Where Education Meets Real Life.
Tara Dodrill's Personal Story
Building a Homestead Life (and Teaching the Next Generation Along the Way)
If you’ve spent more than five minutes around me — whether at a co-op meeting, a homeschool history fair, or standing next to my goat barn while the rooster crows right in your ear — you know I’m a firm believer in two things:
- Kids are far more capable than folks give them credit for, and
- Homesteading skills are just plain good for the soul.
Whether it’s foraging for wild violets, starting a fire with nothing but a tinder bundle and a bit of determination, or putting up jars of jam like our Appalachian great-grandmothers, these skills connect us to something real. Something grounding. Something that makes us feel like, “Yep, no matter what comes our way — we've got this.”
Over the last few years, I’ve poured that belief into everything I create — homeschool units, printable board games, STEM projects, readers theater scripts, jam cookbooks, heritage-skills lessons, and hands-on workshops. And as this homestead-loving, coffee-powered mama builds this ever-growing ecosystem of practical learning, I’ve realized something important:
Homesteading and homeschooling were always meant to go together.
Let me explain.
Heritage Skills Are More Than “Extras” — They’re Life Skills
When we teach a child to identify dandelions, build a debris shelter, or bake bread from scratch, we’re doing far more than filling a quiet afternoon.
We’re teaching:
- Problem-solving
- Observation skills
- Patience
- Self-reliance
- Confidence
- Resourcefulness
These aren’t just “survival skills.” These are life skills — and kids love learning them because it feels real. Tangible. Useful. They walk away feeling strong and proud, not bored and disconnected.
If you give a kid a screen, you’ve got maybe 20 minutes of focus.
But hand that same kid a compass and a map?
Suddenly you’ve raised an explorer.
Survival Skills for Kids: Yes, Even Your 7-Year-Old Can Do This
A huge part of my mission has been creating age-appropriate survival and bushcraft content for kids — real skills broken down into safe, digestible steps.
Kids ages 7–14 can learn:
- How to start a fire safely
- How to build a simple shelter
- How to forage common edible plants
- How to treat scrapes and stings with gentle herbal remedies
- How to navigate using maps, compasses, and landmarks
- How to practice survival skills in the backyard or during family weekends
And they love it.
Give a kid permission to use real-world tools and suddenly they grow 3 inches taller from pride alone.
From Pantry Shelves to Forest Floors — It All Connects
One day I’m writing a kid-friendly guide to edible plants…
The next I’m testing Appalachian jam recipes from honeysuckle to crabapple…
And then I’m knee-deep in designing a printable board game where players “forage,” “explore,” and “craft remedies” as they race across a watercolor map.
Why? Because it all weaves together.
When kids understand where food, medicine, safety, and shelter really come from, their whole worldview shifts.
They become…
- Curious
- Capable
- Creative
- Confident
- And surprisingly prepared for the real world
And honestly? Most adults could use a refresher right along with them.
Bringing the Old Ways Back (Without the Overwhelm)
Homesteading isn’t about perfection.
It’s about practice.
It’s about learning one new thing this month — and another next month — and eventually realizing you’ve built a whole skillset that your great-grandparents would nod at in approval.
Maybe it's:
- Making old-fashioned jam like an Appalachian grandma
- Learning about apothecaries and their remedies
- Building a pioneer wagon model for a STEM project
- Exploring the 15 inventions that changed early America
- Hosting a backyard survival challenge for your kids
- Or just teaching your child how to milk a goat without getting kicked (don’t worry — we’ve all been there)
Little by little, it adds up.
Why I Build Curriculum, Printables, Cookbooks, and More
Because families keep telling me:
“We want our kids to know this stuff — but we don’t know where to start.”
So I build the starting points.
- Homestead Homeschool curriculum
- Heritage Skills USA Magazine
- Printable games
- Science units with real-world applications
- Readers theater scripts that make history fun
- Colonial America STEM bundles
- Foraging lessons
- Herbalism basics
- And a whole library of heritage-skills resources for families who want education to feel alive again
Homesteading is more than a lifestyle.
It’s a legacy.
And it’s one worth passing on.
The Heart of It All
Every jam recipe, scavenger hunt, STEM challenge, history unit, and bushcraft lesson I create comes down to this:
✨ Kids thrive when they get to learn by doing.
✨ Families thrive when they learn together.
✨ Heritage skills make everyday life richer, calmer, and more confident.
Whether you’re in the deep woods, the suburbs, or a two-bedroom apartment — these skills can fit your life.
And I’m here to keep creating resources to help you live them out, one adventure at a time.
Because at the end of the day?
We’re all capable of far more than the modern world gives us credit for. Sometimes it just takes a little homestead wisdom to bring it back out.
Tara is a homesteading expert with over 15 years of journalism experience, author of 10 homesteading, herbalism, and survival skills books. She is also the creator of The Homestead Homeschool curriculum and Heritage Explorers Homeschool co-op, a comprehensive learning resource for young survivalists and homesteaders. Along with her husband Bobby, she also host the Heritage Explorers Fest for kids and the Lady 'Steaders hands-on learning events. Tara also organizes the Ohio Homeschool Science Fair.
Tara Dodrill's journey in the survival and homesteading world is rooted in her passion for self-reliance. She has been a survival and homesteading journalist for nearly 15 years, providing valuable insights through platforms like the Survival Blog, Homesteading.com, and New Life On A Homestead. Her family's 56-acre homestead in Appalachia stands testament to her dedication to the self-reliant lifestyle. Tara is the website builder and web design creator for Heritage Skills USA.
Beyond her writings, she's an avid herbalist, empowering many through her workshops to harness the healing power of nature. She's a regular guest on renowned survival podcasts, sharing her expertise and experiences, and has been notably inspired by interactions with industry legends like her preparedness mentor Rick Austin - the Survivalist Gardener, and One Second After author, Dr. William Forstchen.
Tara earned her background in journalism from Ohio University. This formal education, combined with her hands-on experience in the world of survival and homesteading, makes her a trusted voice in the self-reliance community. Her educator role further underlines her commitment to hands-on learning, equipping many to lead a life connected with nature and self-sufficiency.
Bobby Dodrill's Personal Story
Bobby Dodrill is the ultra supportive husband behind The Homestead Homeschool. Prior to becoming a semi-retired small business owner who enjoys spending his free time on a tractor in a field on his survival homestead, he had a long history of community service and survival training.
Dodrill is a retired McArthur Volunteer Fire Department Captain, a former village councilman, and previous mayor. He has been a member of a civilian volunteer militia, Free Mason, Shepherds's House Domestic Violence board member, founding member of the Vinton County Kiwanis club and past president.
Bobby is "go to" behind the scenes guru our Ohio homeschool events and does a great job of making sure everything always runs as smoothly as possible. He maps out all of the event tent and learning spaces, makes sure electricity, water access, overhead projectors, and fire pits are ready to go when needed to teach classes, creates the event schedule and maps the event. Without Bobby, the trains surely would not be running on time!