Real food. Real hobby farm. Real travel. No perfection required.

I’m Michelle Marine — Iowa hobby farmer, from-scratch cook, and SATW travel writer. I’ve been growing, cooking, and exploring my way toward a simpler life since 2010.

From my Iowa kitchen to a press trip in Cartagena — simple living doesn’t mean staying home..

Pull up a chair and join me!

Welcome to Simplify, Live, Love!

I grew up as an Army brat in Germany, moved to Missouri in high school, lived in Okinawa, Japan as a military spouse, and eventually planted roots on five acres in Wilton, Iowa. For 22 years, I’ve been raising kids, chickens, and sourdough starter, while traveling as much as I can. We have a big garden, a small orchard, and enough livestock to keep things interesting.

This is where I write about food, hobby farming, and travel the way I’d tell a friend: with all the useful parts and none of the pretense. I’m a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the author of How to Raise Chickens for Meat. Sixteen years writing this website, and always learning.