Let me introduce myself.

Jessica Johnson blogger and running a fledgling homestead

I’m Jessica Johnson. A public servant-turned-B&B-maven who was always a bohemian at heart.

Several years ago, my husband and I stumbled upon an old home and vineyard in need of some love in Keremeos, British Columbia.

We bought the property on a whim, promptly quit our day jobs, packed up our life in Alberta’s capital city and moved to orchard country.

Once settled, my husband learned to farm and I started up a traditional B&B .

My steady six figures are long gone. Now, my fingernails are filthy, I’ve got chicken manure on my feet and when things get rough, I sometimes miss my clean white linen and fancy French cologne.

But here I am, living life with all its twists and turns on our little farm. I get a thrill hustling here and there for a little extra money…running the B&B, writing, selling eggs and growing food and medicine to keep us healthy, all-the-while raising my son and other wild creatures.

Each year, I grow, raise and forage ever-more food and am teaching myself the old ways to preserve it.

From a turret perched on top of my home, I write seasonal recipes and stories that chronicle my connection to the rugged landscape of the Similkameen Valley.

Homestead family at Riverbank Vineyard

Homestead. Vineyard. B&B.

At Riverbank Vineyard we eat seasonally, live slowly and do our best to roll with the ups and downs of life on a farm. Running a Bed & Breakfast is a dream come true because I get to cook delicious food, meet people from all over the world and share the beautiful slice of paradise I call home.

layer chickens on the homestead

Queens of the homestead

Plump Pinot Gris

sourdough bagels

Scratch cooking