Meet the Homesteaders: The Heart Behind Sage Hearth

Two people, a piece of land, and a shared belief that a life built with your own hands is a life worth living.

Casey and Ben
Casey and Ben

Casey and Ben.

Casey: Rooted in the Land

For Casey, the land isn’t a new adventure—it’s a familiar rhythm. Growing up drystock farming taught her early lessons in responsibility, resilience, and the quiet language of animals. Those lessons stayed with her, shaping how she cares for the land and the life it supports.

Alongside the homestead, Casey runs Care by KC, a nature-focused approach to wellness that blends simple practices and the steady calm of the outdoors. Being back on the farm is, for her, stepping into a long-paused chapter—one filled with mud, muscle, mistakes, and meaning.

Ben: Crafting a Life by Hand

Ben’s route to homesteading looks a little different. He didn’t grow up on a farm, but he’s always been drawn to working with his hands. A broken fence is a welcome puzzle; a dull piece of metal is an invitation to shape something useful and lasting.

From fencing and home renovation to the sparks of the Forge, Ben’s curiosity and determination are the engines of their DIY revitalization. What he didn’t inherit in childhood farm experience he’s built through will and practice—board by board, ember by ember.

A Shared Journey Toward Self-Sufficiency

Together, Casey and Ben are learning what it means to live closer to the earth and to the work of their own hands. Their days are filled with equal parts grit and gratitude, as they grow into a life shaped not by convenience, but by intention.

Location: Taupō, New Zealand

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