A tall woman with long brown hair is wearing a white dress and holding a duck. Her son, a toddler stands next to her, facing away from the camera. It is summer.

Why is mummy holding a duck?

Jana Dziak aka The Peasant's Daughter holds a black Orppington rooster in her arms next to her toddler son. Behind her is a metal raised bed garden growing various crops.

Yes, that’s a giant rooster — an English Orpington to be exact.

Welcome to The Peasant’s Daughter!

My journey into regenerative homesteading has been one of profound change. Moving from the fast-paced city life to the peaceful rhythms of the countryside has allowed me to embrace simplicity, sustainability, and self-sufficiency. It all began in a city condo with a small balcony garden and a nearby community garden plot, proving that the seeds of transformation can be started anywhere.

Family photo: me, my husband and our two young sons sitting on a stone wall.

This homesteading adventure has been a journey of learning and growth. From nurturing a no-till vegetable garden and raising sheep and chickens to cooking traditional, nutrient-dense meals, preserving food, and baking sourdough bread with freshly milled flour, each step reveals a new story and skill. This blog is not just about my experiences; it’s a shared space for us to discover, inspire, and support one another. It’s where a community of individuals passionate about simplicity and sustainability comes together.

Whether you’re a seasoned homesteader, a budding gardener, or just intrigued by this lifestyle, I welcome you to join me. Let’s explore, learn, and flourish together as we seek a more meaningful and sustainable way of living.

follow along

My Fellow Overwhelmed Homesteaders, Homemakers, Working Mothers, & SAHMs: Join My FREE 7-Day Homemaking Essentials Email Course!

Hello! I’m Jana Dziak.

I’m a homesteader, horticulturist, permaculturist, writer, and digital content creator. I see myself as a steward of the land we are fortunate to live on, and I strive for practices that give back as much as we take. We practice regenerative and holistic homesteading and strive to protect and preserve dwindling heritage livestock breeds.

I’m the founder, recipe developer, and voice behind The Peasant’s Daughter. I’m also a wife and mother — my most important role.

My husband and I took a leap of faith and traded the chaos of city life for the tranquility of the countryside to follow our dreams of homesteading. I firmly believe that homesteading starts with you and that you can do nearly everything I do here from your condo, suburban backyard, or wherever you may live.

Pink flower.

What You’ll Find Here:

  • Old-fashioned recipes from the Slavic, Eastern, and Central European countries alongside classic American recipes.
  • Budget-friendly cuisine, peasant dishes, & family-friendly recipes for busy people.
  • Traditional desserts from America and Europe.
  • Gardening & growing guides that focus on regenerative, no-till, permaculture, and organic principles. The easiest and best ways to grow an abundant food garden in a way that gives back to the land.
  • Small flock and backyard chicken-keeping advice: take the mystery and hesitation from owning your own egg-laying and/or meat chicken.
  • Small livestock advice on sheep, geese, ducks, goats and more!
  • Small homestead advice — we have 3 acres, which is PLENTY for most of our needs. You may be shocked at what is possible on a small amount of land. Even your backyard can be designed to produce so much abundance for you and your family.

With my mother back in Croatia.

My Story

My mother was the youngest daughter of eight children; her parents were the typical subsistence farmers eking out an existence in the rugged mountains of our troubled but beautiful homeland.

My family had fled the seemingly never-ending political turmoil of the Balkans and escaped the communism and war of our Croatian homeland to make a better life in Canada.

I grew up between two places.

The first place was my new modern city life in Toronto; the second was in the dusty forgotten villages of my homeland, where I would go back in time each summer.

And as much as I tried to escape my roots and traditions, they would ultimately claim me. There is a movement of people like us, a remembering of the old ways, a return to the simpler and quieter lives of our ancestors.

Where to Start?

Featured In