When it comes to raising dairy cows, pasture management requires more intentionality than you may expect.  From understanding the nutritional needs of cows to recognizing signs of poor pasture health, Suzanne of Reverence Farms is a wealth of wisdom on this topic.  Whether you have future plans of owning a grazing animal or you are looking to take your current pastures to the next level, this conversation with Suzanne is rich with practical information and plenty of education for every homesteader. In this episode, we cover: Pour THIS on your pasture to increase pasture health What ..read more

Bees do a great job of caring for themselves, but as beekeepers, it is still important to check your beehives periodically for issues that may arise within the colony. When you are ready to go into your hive, be sure that you know what you look for in your beehive inspection.  What Do You Need for a Hive Inspection Before we jump into what you should look for during a hive inspection, let’s make sure you have the beekeeping tools that you need. Protective Clothing It is a good idea to wear a bee suit when inspecting a hive. The bees will view you as a threat and act accordingly. If you d ..read more

As homesteaders, we recognize that many of the cultural systems around us are broken.  Many of us opt out of mainstream food systems, educational systems, corporate systems, etc.  As a long-time religious freedom attorney and founder of a healthcare sharing organization, Mike Sharman is here to talk to us about what it looks like to opt out of the mainstream health insurance system.  We’ll chat about how healthcare sharing can support our medical freedom, financial freedom, and religious freedom all at the same time.  Join us! In this episode, we cover: How Share HealthCa ..read more

We get a lot of questions about what it looks like to involve your kids in your homestead.  As a mother of seven and multigenerational homesteader, RuthAnn does this really well.  Join us as we discuss age-appropriate responsibilities for children, having realistic expectations for your season of parenting, the gift of boredom for our children, and more! In this episode, we cover: – Prioritizing tasks in a busy household – How to implement chores in your family for the first time – Involving children in chores according to their age and ability – How motherhood changes over time as ..read more

We fondly refer to Joel as the grandfather of the homesteading community.  With decades of experience in the farming and homesteading world, he brings incredible insight to this discussion of the current state of homesteading.  Joel’s upcoming book, Homestead Tsunami, serves as a source of inspiration and aspiration for those who desire to articulate a solid “why” behind their decision to live a homesteading lifestyle.  No matter where you are on the homesteading spectrum, may you find encouragement that this way of life is worth it. In this episode, we cover: Why are so many p ..read more

Ann has been homesteading for nearly a decade now, and she places a particular emphasis on growing as much of her family’s food as possible.  In fact, she estimates that they produce around 80% of their own food on their Tennessee homestead. In our conversation, we discuss what it looks like to plan and grow a year’s worth of food for your family.  We talk about adapting to your climate, evaluating your family’s unique needs, optimizing the harvest, and more.  Grab your garden planner and pen, and join us for this episode! In this episode, we cover: Considerations for gardening ..read more

Have you decided what chicken breeds to bring onto your homestead this year? Do you want meat, eggs, or both out of your flock? Cornish Cross and Rangers are good meat options and productive breeds like Leghorns are great for eggs, but did you know that you can raise dual-purpose chicken breeds that will give your family meat AND eggs in one? Raising Dual-Purpose Chicken Breeds for Meat Dual-purpose chickens may not be as fast-growing or as heavy as hybrid meat birds and may not reach the full egg production potential of a Leghorn, but they offer their own benefits.  Choosing a dual-purp ..read more

With springtime fast approaching, homesteaders and backyard chicken keepers are planning ahead for their next round of chicks.  In this conversation with Tom of Murray McMurray Hatchery, we discuss everything a brand new chicken owner needs to know to get started.  Tom also shares about some of the rare breeds being raised at McMurray; you don’t want to miss it! In this episode, we cover: Three chicken breeds that are great for getting started Speciality breeds raised by McMurray Hatchery What you need to know about ordering meat chickens this year Ordering trends of backyard chicke ..read more

It is the time of year when gardeners get the itch to start seeds.  Depending on your zone, you may have already begun the process of sprouting seeds for your future garden.  Whether you are already watching tiny sprouts emerge or you have many weeks left to wait, you will love this conversation with Paul Hutcheson, owner of Windmill Heights Garden Center.  He breaks down how to achieve the perfect timing in starting seeds and transplanting, how to pursue ideal conditions, plus some incredible advice for new gardeners.  Join us for this rich conversation as we look forward ..read more

Farm Fresh Eggs are in high demand right now with store prices skyrocketing. People are turning to their chicken-keeping neighbors for food instead of choosing the convenience of the grocery store. This is a great thing! However, many people struggle to eat fresh eggs because they have been led to believe that these eggs are not safe for consumption. So today, we will dig into the question- “Are Farm Fresh Eggs Safe to Eat?” Are Farm Fresh Eggs Safe to Eat? Short answer- yes!  Longer answer- It can depend on a few different variables that hinge on the specific chicken keeper. Let’s talk ..read more