After traveling to a nicer, bigger off grid cabin, we still face the reality that we are not tough off gridders... Is this the right life choice for us? Find out in the latest episode of the Alaska Off Grid Challenge PIONEER'S Extended Interview with Matt CLICK HERE TO BECOME A PIONEER Grecell Power Station (we we're given our unit for free (transparency) to test out and try, and we were glad we had it! It was super useful) Checkout Matt's Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We believed something about off grid life that turned out to be a lie. What was it? And why did we leave the cabin? Find out in the latest episode of the Alaska Off Grid Challenge DISCOUNT LINK TO OUPES SOLAR CHARGER OUPES official website 5% OFF CODE: Homesteady PRACTICAL GUIDE TO LIVING OFF GRID IN ALASKA Jon Crocker's Book PIONEERS FULL LENGTH INTERVIEW with JON BECOME A PIONEER Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So… you want to stop shopping at the grocery store? You want to be more self-sufficient? Yep. us too. However, in today’s world, achieving this goal is far from easy. We don’t live in Pioneer times anymore, there’s no Homestead Act which gets us free land, we have insurance and taxes to pay, not to mention most of us drive cars… not cattle. This has led many people to wonder if true self-sufficiency is possible. Can you be 100% self sufficient as a homesteader? If no, what % should you shoot for? Learn what to expect in this episode of the Podcast! Youtube Videos to Check Out Grow a Years Worth of Chicken AND Stop Buying Chicken 10 Ways You are Killing Your Meat Chickens Without Realizing It Best and Worst Food to Grow for Self Sufficiency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Goats can earn you an income on your homestead! Find out how in Part 2 of our Goat episode of the Homesteady podcast, brought to you by www.thisishomesteady.com . In this episode we talk to Brittany Colebush, from BCB Shepherdess http://brittanycolebush.com/ Brittany shares with us how she has turned her love of being a shepherdess into a great business. Then we enjoy listening to Accountant Mike break down the numbers and see whether or not he gives goat farming a "thumbs up". Find out if he does in this episode of Homesteady. Brought to you by the Homesteady Pioneers. Homesteady Pioneers gain access to the pioneer library, full of exclusive pioneers only podcasts and videos. Become a Pioneer HERE: https://www.thisishomesteady.com/head-west-become-pioneer/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this quick episode we share some announcements with you!  We have a tag sale coming up soon on the farm, come by and say hi!  We also have a new project in the works, head on over to www.thisishomesteady.com to sign up to our email list and receive the news when our new project goes live!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine you are watching majestic lions hunting their prey on the edge of the Kalahari Desert in Zimbabwe. These beautiful animals roam in packs, looking for vulnerable prey. Traversing wide, open spaces, the predators and their prey keep each other in balance. On this episode of Homesteady, Aust introduces us to the work of Allan Savory, of The Savory Institute. Allan grew up in Zimbabwe, and regularly saw lions, elephants, and many other species while assisting his father in surveying the Hwange Game Reserve. "My father made it impossible not to love the bush. By the time I left high school I could not imagine spending my life anywhere else." Alan pursued a degree in ecology, and his life's work is preventing desertification. Alan takes us through history, highlighting the fact that preserving our natural resources is necessary not only for our survival, but for maintaining a peaceful coexistence between nations. Again and again, wars have ensued over resources; gold, spices, oil. Imagine if the world was in a race for water. Land that has succumbed to desertification can no longer hold water to support plant life. EVEN WHEN IT RAINS. Alan shares with us that as homesteaders, we can truly be part of the solution. People blamed livestock and overgrazing. The thought was the the livestock ate all the plants, and the bare land then resulted in desertification. However, Alan noticed that within wild herd, such as zebra, wildebeest, elk, or bison, the animals rotated through the land naturally. Wild herd animals graze in large, tightly compacted groups. This led "Slowly," says Alan, "The murky picture became clearer. The healthiest land I had seen was always associated with the largest herds." On the grasslands, large, tightly compacted groups of prey animals were naturally rotated by the predators who were consistently were a few steps behind, waiting for an animal to break from the herd for their next meal. As the predators closed in, the herd would move, staying a step or two ahead of danger. After the herd had moved on, the land, fed by urine and dung of the animals, and enriched by trampled vegetation, would spring back, fertilized by its encounter with the animals. Rotational grazing, which seeks to mimics the natural movement of wild herds, is a solution to the prevention of desertification. "In the United States," Allan reports, "millions of cattle are fed grain in a fossil fuel based factory production system while so much of the land in the western half of the country is desertifying due to too few livestock." The majority of livestock is raised in feedlots, where animal waste, instead of fertilizing the ground, becomes toxic waste in need of disposal. Allan encouraged farmers in Africa to adopt rotational grazing, even making a bet with the Rhodesian Minister of Agriculture that his methods could produce healthy land and support twice the amount of livestock in the current amount of space. Learn the whole story in this book, The Grazing Revolution. Rotational grazing is heavily managed. It requires a planning, investment in equipment, and consistent monitoring. There are many practical applications for rotational grazing for farmers. Farmers who plant crops on fields that are first heavily grazed by cattle have reported seeing 2-5 times previous yields. But does it get Accountant Mike's seal of approval? This debate actually originated on our episode To sheep or not to sheep, during which Aust pitches grazing sheep over buying a new lawnmower. Accountant Mike gives rotational grazing the thumbs up! For the first time, Aust took Accountant Mike's advice, bought sheep, and, after trying to take a few shortcuts, took the leap into electric moveable fencing with help from Stephanie from Premier1 Supplies. Stephanie from Premier1 Supplies uses moveable electric fencing to practice rotational grazing. She and her husband returned to his family farm to make a go at raising livestock after her father-in-law passed. With she and her husband both working off-farm jobs to continue to support their dream, Stephanie and her husband are able to move 100 head of cattle every weekend. She explains the many benefits of moveable electric fencing to meet the changing needs of her herd. This product is an important part of the history of Premier1. The company evolved from a sheep farm to a farm equipment company based upon the founder's use of moveable electric fencing from England spreading in popularity amongst farmers in his area. Intrigued by rotational grazing? Want to try it on your homestead? Plan carefully to accurately assess your needs! A solar powered energizer unit, electric netting, and a grounding rods complete a circuit that will give your livestock a little zing if they push their grazing boundaries. The amount and types of fencing, with different options available, runs between $230-$600 for a small homesteading herd. The time commitment per week for moving the fencing? Approximately 45-90 minutes. As homesteaders, this is one way we can positively affect the earth AND improve our bottom line. Thank you to our partners for making this episode of Homesteady possible! Is it time to start your fall seeds? Check out the GrowJourney Blog to find the right time for planting in your area. Want a non-sales newsletter? Sign up for the Premier1 newsletter here. Liked Stephanie from Premier1? Pioneers have access to this extended interview with Stephanie: How to install Electric Netting for Livestock. Wait, do YOU want to be a Pioneer? Join here to access all the Pioneer content, including this month's live webinar: how to start a farm. Make sure to wave hi to Dorinda, our Homesteady Pioneer of the Month! Dorinda, I am going to post a picture of my bolted (and now I think fully dried out) spinach on Instagram. See the pic and follow The Suburban Escapee here. Share pics of your gardening triumphs and fails with the hashtag #iamhomesteady. FREE Learning Opportunity! As mentioned on the top of the show, Aust is hosting a FREE online business webinar! The button to sign up is below. With the guidance of Aust and Accountant Mike from the first Homesteady Launchpad I have gone from working 40+ hours per week outside my home, for someone else, to opening my own business. I now work outside the home only 25 hours per week. I STRONGLY encourage the webinar. Lastly, to ensure your get all of Aust's Jurassic Park References: Little Timmy from Jurassic Park. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you thinking about making the leap into backyard chickens? Or maybe adding some new breeds to your current flock?  Maybe you want to start a small farm business, selling meat, and want to know the right breeds to start with?  In this episode of Homesteady we share with you a sneak peak of the Go Homestead! Course, letting you listen to the entire lesson on chickens.  Learn about the Pros and Cons, equipment needed, best breeds, and more! And visit www.thisishomesteady.com to sign up for the free video course.  We also make a big announcement in this episode about a change to the Pioneer Program. Become a Pioneer at https://www.thisishomesteady.com/head-west-become-pioneer/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How much land do I need to homestead? What is the best breed of pig to raise? When is a goat episode of Homesteady coming out?  Are these the questions that keep you up at night?  We hope not! But you can learn the answers to them. Check out the special Homesteady Live Episode!  This was our first time ever Live Streaming an episode. We answered your questions, submitted before the show, and asked live on air! Enjoy sitting with Accountant Mike, and Aust, and listening to the Q and A.  This episode was brought to you by www.premier1supplies.com and www.growjourney.com Join us for the next live recording by becoming a Homesteady Pioneer at www.thisishomesteady.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do I start Homesteading? Ever ask yourself that?  We have an answer for you.... On your mark...get set...GO! What do these words actually mean? It means to find your lane, get in your position, and then off to the finish line. What's your finish line? Are you on your mark? Can you see your own finish line? In this episode of Honesteady, we are focusing on the stories of people who made homesteading happen. What's stopping you? Whatever the roadblocks are, today's episode is going to help you bust through those barriers. We're also trying a new set-up with this write-up. In the past, links to our guests, our sponsors, additional information, and products we love have been interspersed throughout the write-up. This time, there will be a list of links at the end of the post. Let us know what you think! On your mark... Marianne Our first guest, Mary Anne, is from Norway. Despite a 24/7 on-call job, Mary Ann draws on her Norwegian heritage and the stubbornness she attributes to it to motivate her to follow her own path. She weaves the story of her journey by sharing with us her family's shepherding past, her father's hobby farm, and her own connection to the wind, the beach, and the rich farmland she grew up with. "It's in my blood," she tells us, "You bend your neck, and walk towards that wind." Mary Anne channeled her Viking stubbornness and sense of ethics and ingenuity to go, full-steam ahead, on her own path. When her job moved her across the Atlantic to America, she got to the point where she realized focusing exclusively on work wasn't really living. For Mary Anne, finding that work-life balance meant bringing animals into her life. "There were parts of me I loved using that I couldn't really use in my daily job. I was feeling lacking not being able to use those parts of me." Mary Anne encourages us to fit our passions into our existing routine. It is hard work, and it takes time. The key is, YOU HAVE TO START. Even if you wake up one hour earlier each day to feed chickens or water the garden, it's necessary to start somewhere. What is holding you back? Identify your homesteading challenge and walk against the wind. Need help getting started? We are in the production stage of a Ready...set...go! homesteading class. And did we mention it will be free? Become a test pilot and sign up on the big yellow button on our homepage now. Sign up for the email list to be notified about the release of this new course! Cody from Wranglerstar "There was only one four letter word in our family growing up. And that was 'can't'." Cody, or the Wranglerstar Youtube Channel, shares with us the "figure it out" mentality he was raised with that led him down his homesteading path. After starting small businesses throughout high school, he graduated from high school and bought himself an excavator. With a huge monthly payment, he was highly motivated to take on work, and made a name for himself for taking on the toughest jobs. Cody realized through his work in construction that he took good craftsmanship seriously. Cody encourages us to do our best work, even if no one will ever see it. We should be proud of the work we do. Cody introduces us to the concept of the "makers mark," where each craftsperson had a mark they put on their products to identify everything they make. Tradespeople throughout history used their own personal marks to identify their products from the others in the marketplace. Cody's own journey is full of risks. He became a firefighter, and started his own online business selling auto parts.  He had a successful business, and his dream home. His wife was making a six-figure income. They would work six days a week and drop their son off at his grandparent's house each day. One day, Cody came across a book written by a man who quit his high-income job and moved to an off-grid homestead in Montana. After visiting this homestead, Cody and his wife decided to walk away from their lifestyle and move into the wilderness. "We were rowing in the same direction,"Cody says, "And together we made it happen." The values Cody holds dear make him feel that even though his bank account is smaller, he has much more. He values that 100% of all his efforts directly benefit his family. Cody and his wife are now able to work entirely on their homestead, with their son, and live debt-free. Every day, they inspire others to take a look at their lives, and see where they can make changes. "If the deep end isn't the right spot for you-that's ok." Cody shares that he started with a 4"x8" garden bed. His wife learned to can. Everyone starts somewhere. You don't need to buy 60 acres to start homesteading. So where are you right now? Are you feeling the motivation to make a change? Don't let the feeling pass you buy. Get set.... Make the decision to walk against the wind. Sit down with a pen and paper. List exactly what you want. What is your personal definition of success? How can you adjust your life to steer it towards your vision? There are steps that you can take, today. And...Go! Are you on our email list? Sign up here. From the Suburban Escapee This episode hit on so many important points. As a former runner myself, I remember those hours of practice on the starting blocks, waking up the next day with muscles aching I didn't even know I had. Yet another metaphor for the homesteading journey. What muscles are inside of you, that YOU have never built up before? The stories of Mary Anne and Cody are so important to hear together, because Mary Anne has incorporated homesteading and her passion for animals into her existing life, while Cody completely opted out of his former existence and has made homesteading his entire life. These stories, juxtaposed against one another, highlight again that each path is unique- our view on homesteading is about creating a lifestyle that is right for YOU. I am a person who is passionate about her "day job," and have a tool from my professional repertoire as an expressive arts therapist that can help set you on your path. I am going to encourage you to take Aust's recommendation to sit down with a pen and a notebook one step further, and make a Vision Board. Here's how you do it: Gather some supplies: a piece of paper, magazines, markers, pens, pencils, photos of people and places that are important to you. Have a computer and a printer available, if possible, to allow you to print pictures or quotes Create a quiet space for yourself, and your partner, if applicable, and ask yourself/yourselves the following questions: What does my ideal lifestyle look like? What makes me feel good? What are my values? Where am I now? What am I good at? What do I want to learn? Where do I want to go from here? Take your supplies that you have collected and create a collage with pictures, words, and images that capture your answers to your questions. There are several ways you can do this: glue the pictures to paper, use magnets or thumbtacks to stick them on a bulletin board. In the spirit of vulnerability, and encouraging the sharing of dreams, here is a picture of my current vision board. I used little clothespins and some twine to hang my inspirations and motivations: I'm in the middle of my own transition right now. I just took the leap, with the support of the Homesteady Launchpad, into starting my own business, and transforming my life to match the vision of it I have in my head. Seeing images of my values- family, friends, education, fun, art-the forces that drive me-keep me focused when I feel scared. They keep me walking, one step in front of the other, against the wind. What is your vision? How can we help? Let us know- and we'd love to see your vision boards in the comments below. Thank you to our Partners for supporting Homesteady! Support your livestock with top-quality products from Premier 1. (I am about to go get one of those chicken nipple waterers STAT.) Get your garden going this spring with a seed subscription from GrowJourney. I got The Country Boy a subscription for Valentines Day and we've got some great broccoli rabe sprouting in our little greenhouse. Links and Topics from the Go Homestead! Podcast Episode: Cool Runnings. If they can bobsled where it doesn't snow, you can homestead. Mary Anne's farm business Cody at Wranglerstar channel on youtube 10 things you may not know about Vikings Infant Swimming and a video Nirvana Nevermind Album Cover (PS, that baby is 20 now!!!) Share your #fencingfails at (657) 223-3276   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever brought a duck INSIDE your house to live? Do you have ridiculously cutesy names for every one of your ducks? Do you refer to yourself as a duck person? Then you've been AB-DUCK-TED. Ducks. How could anyone resist adding adorable, fuzzy, ducklings to their poultry flock? Whether for meat or for eggs, ducklings are pretty adorable. But...ducks grow up. Into messy, smelly, adult ducks, who need water and an overall wet place to live. Aust's short experience at his homestead with ducks has prompted him to give ducks a firm thumbs down. Or has it? In this episode of Homesteady, we sit with Aust's friends Lauren and Joe or "Pac-man," and hear the story of Little Foot Farm, and their "Ab-duck-tion". Despite warnings to the contrary from Aust and Kendra...Lauren and Joe are Duck People. The are passionate about their ducks at Little Foot Farm, and have some sage advice to get the most enjoyment out of your ducks. If you're deciding to get ducks, prepare. Things turn out much, much better. Don't just jump in! Lauren and Joe tell us how if you set up the appropriate housing and environment for the ducks, there are very good reasons to enjoy ducks and the value they add to your homestead. Little Foot Farm is on Instagram. Are you a duck person? Share your picture with them, and hashtag it #schmuckswithducks A big shout out to Square Globe Studios for their help with the segment with Lauren and Joe! Check them out here. Sometimes this ab-duck-tion process begins with fair warning. Other times this ab-duck-tion can happen suddenly... out of nowhere. Roy Sharp is a ski bum, a professional chef, a Homesteady pioneer...and a duck person. The head "Ducklehead" of The Ducklehead Ranch, his duck farm, to be exact. He happened to live on a farm the day a duck was unexpectedly was left by the front door of his restaurant job. "Ruby" came home with Roy...and the ab-duck-tion was completed. Want to follow the current happenings on The Ducklehead Ranch? Visit them on Facebook! Are these duck enthusiasts changing your mind about ducks yet? Not convinced? Are you concerned with having access to very high quality food? Nutritionally, duck eggs are a more nutritious food than chicken eggs. Denise from Core Nutrition shared these compelling duck egg facts: Duck eggs improve your ph. They are full of Iron. 4 mL per serving! These eggs have anti-inflammatory properties, including nutrients like choline Allergies! Can't eat chicken eggs? Duck eggs may be an option for you. Learn more about Denise and hear approach to health eating at mycorenutrition.net, and receive bonus duck egg frittata recipe if you sign up for the email list! Ab-duck-tion stories are not all the spontaneous love stories we've presented so far. Some people really do plan out their duck acquisition! Aaron and Susan von Frank from Grow Journey, one of our Homesteady partners, love their ducks. (See a picture of them with one of their feathered friends right here!) At Tyrant Farms, they researched ducks for six months before adding them to their livestock. After their research, they have found that ducks are both excellent producers and wonderful pets. They share their top four reasons to add ducks to your homestead: At Tyrant Farms, they see a duck as "A Small dog that poops eggs." Who wouldn't want that? Tyrant Farms has a fantastic blog with an entire duck archive, where you are able to benefit from their research and experience. Find the duck archive here! Don't forget to check out the GrowJourney Tip of the Month! But do the profits of ducks cover the "bills?" What does Accountant Mike have to say? Accountant Mike is unswayed by cuteness or mess. It's all about the profit. Are the profits there? Step out of the way, chickens, because Accountant Mike's money is with the ducks! This Tyrant Farms infographic lays out the facts for the Ducks vs. Chicken debate. From the Suburban Escapee Despite the fact that this episode could be called "Ducks: A Love Story," I am still resisting ab-duck-tion. I am slightly swayed by the nutritional and flavor accolades of the duck egg, but overall, I am not convinced. I laughed out loud when Lauren admitted in her interview with Pac that she didn't like animals. I don't like animals, either, and having stinky, smelly ducks does not appeal to me. I have a current rule about animal acquisition and my family: nothing that needs its poop cleaned up can come live inside or our home or in our yard while I still have a child in diapers. I have chickens, and cleaning up after the chickens is easy. The Country Boy wants ALL the animals, and has tried to sell me on ducks numerous times. This episode left out what is, to me, the major deterrent of ducks: the water. If you have to build a pond, this comes with major financial, maintenance, and drainage implications. Creating a body of water also requires you to check in with your homeowners insurance policy as well, as you will likely need to add coverage. Do you have ducks? Did you love them or leave them? Share your experience in the comments. Are you a duck person, and want to tell the world? Check out our "abduckted" t-shirt! Win a T-shirt! Share this episode with the hashtag #abduckted to be entered to win. COMING SOON: The LIVE Recording of Homesteady with YOUR Questions! What burning homesteading questions do you have? Email them to aust@thisishomesteady.com. The live event is an INVITE-ONLY web broadcast for Pioneers, with Aust and Accountant Mike. If you want to be invited, click to become a Pioneer today!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't heard the prologue to this episode:Emergency on the Farm, Just One More, we highly suggest you stop and listen to this episode first. It's about an hour, and highly emotional, so don't forget those tissues! Thank you, listeners, for your support regarding the loss of Boone. We were, and continue to be, profoundly moved by your outpouring of empathy. Your stories of the beloved companion animals you have lost help heal the hole in our own heart. We are heartened by  how many of you told us that you have made changes on your own properties- reducing and eliminating your own use of poisons-in honor of Boone. This is why we shared Boone's story. You have shared these stories with the #forboone Hashtag. PLEASE, keep doing so. It makes his loss continue to have meaning for us and others. On the podcast, we share parts of several of your stories- of your much-loved pets, of the changes you've made on your properties. Our hearts are so grateful for this podcast community. As you may remember, I was able to get a spot put on the waiting list of Three Cedar's Retrievers list for JUST ONE MORE puppy sired by the same parents as Boone. How did this selection process go for us? Watch this video to find out. It will be the cutest thing you see all day. With the help of Jack's matchmaking skills, we selected "Socks" to come home with us to the farm.   Or maybe, "Socks" picked us. To be honest, it was hard to get a new puppy while still grieving Boone's loss. But we moved forward and started to build a spot in our family for our puppy. All purebred animals are registered, with a an official name. We re-named Socks "Bones" for his call name, a name that honored Boone. His official name? Three Cedars Boone's Little Brother. After earning the nickname Lazy Bones, for his marked lack of interest in any training activities, Bone matured into an eager retriever.   Which will it be? This one? Hmm... Seems to like us... Yep. That face. THAT face... Hansome pup Winston Churchill Bones. #forboone   More than that, he has filled the hole next to me, and has become my new best friend. This episode of Homesteady really highlighted how this podcast engenders community. Want to be a bigger part of this community? Become a Pioneer today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode of the Homesteady Campfire, we listen to a tale of dark woods, big bears, and a Woman who decided to try to feed her family by hunting a large black bear.  Robin Follette decided one morning that she wanted a change in life. She had been a Market Farmer for years. She knew the importance of raising and harvesting your own food. But she wanted to take farm to table lifestyle one step further. She wanted to learn to hunt.  Her Father was a hunter, and she remembered as a young girl all the boys leaving for hunt camp.  Girls were not allowed to hunt.  Now, as she realized her daughter was about to Graduate, and her life was going to be changing. She figured it was the perfect time to take on a new life challenge. She was going to learn to hunt. Years later, she still had no success in the field. Close calls, and some scary interactions with bears and moose, but no meat in the freezer.  One day a 400 Lb Boar began showing up on Robins Game Camera. This bear was frequenting her spot, often. Robin Decided that this was the bear she was going to take home. The average bear taken in Maine weighs under 200 lbs. This was a special bear, and it would feed Robin's family for a long time.  Sitting in her treestand one evening she hears the loud sound of a bear crashing through the woods. Its no doubt a big bear, Robin thought, because of how much noise it was making.  The Bear steps out into the clearing, and Robin realizes its not the bear she was hunting. Its a much smaller bear. And its wounded.  What is the right thing to do?  She knows the Big Bear is coming, he often visits this spot. But this bear is badly wounded and suffering.  She has one Bear tag, and if she uses it on the wounded bear, her hunt for the year is over.  But the little bear is suffering, and will most likely starve over the winter.  Listen to the story and learn what decision Robin made.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Most Important Thing in becoming a future beekeeper is to have a fascination with bees. In this episode of Honesteady, we meet Beekeeper or "beek" Dane Strickland of RJS Beefarm. Dane is truly fascinated with bees. Dane was introduced to the power of bees when severe asthma symptoms prompted his children's pediatrician to suggest a daily spoonful of dark honey as a remedy for the allergies triggering his son's asthma attacks. When his son showed improvement on his dark honey regimine, Dane dove into research to understand how honey could be responsible. Personal Fulfillment. Satisfying Curisoty. All good reasons to get into beekeeping. But of course, let's not forget...HONEY. Dane tells us that honey is a syrup generated 100% by the bees. It is primarily nectar from living plants. Dane is committed to chemical-free beekeeping. This means that his honey is all-natural, only composed of the nectar made by his bees from what they consume in their natural environent. The health benefits from natural honey come from the small amounts of natural pollen particles found in minimally filtered honey. This is why some people do experience desensitization from their allergies when ingesting local dark honey. While the benefits of local honey has been found to benefit some people in treatment of their allergies, this information is certainly not to be taken as or in lieu of advice from your medical professional. Dane himself shares that his son experienced relief from this remedy; his daughter did not experience great results. There is a big difference between processed honey and local honey.  Dane enlightens us to the fact that commercially processed honey uses pumps and filters in order to produce a product with "flow" for commercial container. This is why your favorite honey bear shaped bottle is able to pour a smooth stream through the spout. Consumers mistakenly believe that sugar crystals signal honey that has "gone bad." Local, raw honey retains the original enzymes from the nectar produced by the bees. The commercial process of heating the honey to 160 degrees kills the enzymes and dissipates the flavor. The main difference between local honey and commercial honey is that different colors, flavors, and textures between hives. These changes are made by the differences in the bees' diet. The district, intense flavors of local raw honey is what has made honey a preferred sweetener for centuries. Each jar of local honey tells a story about the bees who made it, and beekeepers who are supporting the bees. Dane alerts us to the fact that our bee population is in danger. Bees are credited with 22-25% of the pollination of plants that produce our food supply. Even if you don't see yourself as a beekeeper, you can choose to maintain your outdoor space in a bee-friendly way, by avoiding chemicals and pesticides that are harmful to bees. Now, do you want to become a beekeeper? Dane lets us in on the three essentials to becoming a beekeeper: a beehive, tools and protective gear, and of course, BEES! Dane also shares start-up cost estimates, and sets realistic expectations for a beginning beekeeper. In three years, Dane thinks you can break even on the initial investment by selling honey! Making your own honey and keeping bees is deeply satisfying, which is important to the Homesteady idealist...but do the dollars make sense to Accountant Mike? Accountant Mike takes everything into account and breaks down the numbers- stings, time spent tending the hive, and time spent making honey. Does it get a financial thumbs-up, or does fascination with bees have to be its own reward? Need a little more information on beekeeping before you take the plunge? Homesteady Pioneers have access to a Pioneer-Only Intro to Beekeeping podcast! Not a Pioneer? Join here! Want to start your own honey business? (Or any other business?) Get on the early warning list for the next Homesteady Launchpad Business Course, and get your own thumbs up or thumbs down, along with practical tips and know-how from Aust and Accountant Mike.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you ready to hear the saddest statistic we may have ever shared here at Homesteady? 90% of goat owners report having a goat die, for a reason other than old age. That means most of us who own goats are going to experience some really heartbreaking death at some point in our goat journey. The sad truth is, although they're super cute, they can be really hard to keep alive. That's why we talked to Deborah Neiman, the author of Raising Goats Naturally and Goats Giving Birth all about these major problems facing goat owners and how we can overcome them. So let's tackle these three major obstacles with Deborah... she shares some expert advice on how to keep our goats happy and healthy! Pioneer Version of this episode Click Here to Become a Pioneer Checkout Deborah Niemann Main Website Youtube Channel Podcast Instagram This episode brought to you by - LAUREL MOUNTAIN SOAP - All Natural Homemade Soaps and Skin Products made from Goat Milk! Tim and Jocelyn started making soap for their baby, and grew that hobby into a business! Try their lotion bars during the dry winter months! CLICK HERE TO BUY and Use coupon code "homesteady" for 10% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Close your eyes. I want you to imagine your dream farm...What do you see?" In this episode of Homesteady, Aust talks to two individuals in different stages of their journeys to the ultimate destination: The Dream Farm. You-yes, YOU! can go from owning nothing, to finding stepping stones towards the perfect spot for reaching your own homesteading goals. Stepping Stone 1: A Mission for what type of Property YOU want. The Proving Grounds is one example of stepping stones leading to a dream property come true. Grant Woods, a wildlife biologist who lives in 2000 acres in the Ozark Mountains in Missouri, documents and teachers others successful land management techniques through his web series and website, GrowingDeer.tv. Grant's "mission" was to manage his land for the optimal growth of both plants and animals, while enabling him to spend more time with his family. Grant's land is called "The Proving Grounds" because with it, he has proven that his land management techniques lead to successful, bountiful results. Stepping Stone 2: Don't wait! Start now. Practice. "If ever a person has looked at their life as a series of stepping stones laid out in front of them on the way to that big 'ol lake full of bass, that's Alexia." Not everyone owns 2000 acres of land. In his interview with Alexia Johnstone, The Suburban Escapee, Alexia talks about taking one small step at a time. A self-proclaimed "anxious achiever," Alexia urges the burgeoning homesteader to set a series of small goals, each with a result that is rewarding. Achievable goals allow us to build towards bigger goals by feeding our self-confidence with small successes. Wherever you live, whatever your life right now, PRACTICE the skills that will lead you towards your homesteading goals. Stepping Stone 3: The Property Search. Grant, Alexia and Aust all reflect on how jumping for the first piece of land they saw, or right to a giant farm, wasn't the right choice for their families, due to location, cost, or size. While Grant is already there, Aust and Alexia are both in different spots on their journeys to their Dream Property. After listening to this episode, are you motivated to learn more about land management, sustainability, and achievable goals on your way to owning your own Dream Property? Then join us this February for #iamhomesteady. We are so excited to bring you bees, bears and more in this four-episode month! In February's #iamhomesteady special, we will be encouraging you to become a Pioneer. If 50 new Pioneers sign up to the program this month, we will host a celebration episode, a live Q and A with Aust and Accountant Mike. All Pioneers will be invited, and we will share that episode with the entire Homesteady Audience. Sign Up Here to become a Pioneer!   Also, share the show with #iamhomesteady to win a subscription to Grow Journey! From the Suburban Escapee Hey everyone! It was lots of fun to be part of the podcast this month. I am so excited to have the opportunity to share the journey my family and I have embarked on to be more Homesteady. Want to amaze your friends with homemade tomato sauce? Here is the recipe, as promised. Nonna's Basic Tomato Sauce Ingredients: 2- 28 oz cans of crushed tomatoes 1-2 fresh tomatoes, if you can find good ones. Otherwise, leave them out. 2 cloves of garlic 1/2 small onion 1/4 cup olive oil (enough to cover the bottom of a soup pot) 1 tablespoon of Italian Seasoning Blend, OR 1/4 Tablespoon dried oregano 3/4 Tablespoon dried basil Garlic Salt or Garlic Powder, to taste Salt and Pepper to taste A soup pot or dutch oven To Make: If using, chop the 1-2 fresh tomatoes and blend them in the blender. Put aside. Coat the bottom of a soup pot or dutch oven with olive oil. Turn the heat to low to slowly warm up the oil. While the oil is warming up, chop the onion into thin strips and throw them in. Cook 2-5 minutes, until translucent, but not brown. Peel the two cloves of garlic and put them in whole. Let cook about a minute with the onions, and then pour in the two cans of tomatoes, and the blended fresh tomatoes, if using, and stir. Sprinkle in the herbs. Stir again. Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper to please your own palate. If the sauce seems overly acidic, garlic salt or garlic powder can take the edge off. If you use garlic salt, be aware that you probably won't need much regular salt. Add small amounts at a time- you can always add more, but you can't take it out! Partially cover and let simmer on low for 20 minutes. Stir every 3-5 minutes to prevent a burnt spot on the bottom. Then the sauce is done, it should nicely coat the back of a spoon. This makes enough sauce for 6-8 servings of pasta. Notes: If you are an experienced cook, feel free to vary the herbs. Rosemary, parsley, and thyme also are nice in this sauce. Fresh herbs work well too. If you use plain stewed frozen garden tomatoes or home-canned tomatoes, blend the tomatoes before pouring them into the sauce. I have found that you need to lengthen the cooking time due to the extra water compared to commercially processed tomatoes. This is particularly true for frozen stewed tomatoes. Mangia! Alexia - The Suburban Escapee   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Aust and Accountant Mike revisit the subject of Farm Fresh Eggs.... Raising chickens on your homestead can't save you money, but can it earn you some? Find out!  This Episode was brought to you by our Partner Grow Journey, Join their Gardening Tip of the Month Email List here! Want to sart a Homestead Business? Our Homestead Business Class is coming to help you do that! Join the Early Warning List In this episode Aust and Accountant Mike revisit the subject of Farm Fresh Eggs.... The Ritz Carlton of Coops! Do egg-laying chickens save a homesteader money? Accountant Mike said, "Not worth it!" in this previous episode. But what if you sell the eggs produced by your flock? Does that income equal the time, money, and energy from raising chickens? We interview John from The Growing Farms Podcast to find out on this episode of Homesteady. Want more chicken tips? Dr. Michael Darre from the University of Connecticut, chicken specialist, may home some answers for you. Want to learn more about farms and finance? The Farm Finance Project gives you an insider view on the workings of 12 small-scale farms. John's extended interview giving his own chicken tips is available in the Pioneer Library. Pioneers also have access to an audio chicken raising class in the Pioneer Library. Join now! Motivated and educated enough about chickens to build your own chicken tractor? Click here checkout John's Plans. (BTW... it's an affiliate link)  Check out Homesteady on YouTube for great videos about many homesteading topics, including this one on How to Get Your Chickens to Lay More Eggs in the Winter. The Suburban Escapee- Tales from Raising Roosters Farm Do you see that fancy, $400 coop posted up there? That is NOT what my backyard chicken coop looks like. This is the "Budget Coop:" And it cost us MAYBE $100. In fact, this is the Budget Coop 2.0. Version 1.0 consisted of the lifted roof part you see on the left being made of free pallets buried into the ground like a fence with chicken wire over the top. The part on the left is actually a chicken tractor a friend of ours gifted us when they moved. We call it "the extension." As you can see, I really do have backyard chickens- the coop abuts my shed, and that's my house in the background. Before I gloat about my Budget Coop, however, I have to admit: Accountant Mike has a point.  Over the last 18 months, we have brought home and fed, at one time or another, no fewer than 18 chickens. We currently have five. One of them lays eggs. I am not great with numbers, but even I know the math on that one does not work out. What happened to the other THIRTEEN CHICKENS? I could go on for days, but here is a short list: Raccoon (The Country Boy threw it like an Olympic hammer out of the coop.) Neighborhood husky attack Free-range gone amiss (did you know baby chicks can climb into the undercarriage of your car?) Hawk And finally...Roosters. We have had so many roosters I have re-named our home "Raising Roosters Farm." To continue to justify the expense of backyard chickens, we have stuck to a few budgeting tips: We get free chickens from the Spencer Fair. If you want free chickens, I suggest contacting your local 4-H chapter to see if chicks will be bred for the purpose of an agricultural fair or other educational venue. Free chicks could be yours! Source free building materials to build your coop. We had to buy the wood for the frame and the screws. Everything else was gifted from leftover projects of friends and family. Chicken poop and eggs shells are great fertilizer!  We save money on gardening expenses this way. In fact, I challenge Accountant Mike to calculate, pound for pound, how much I would have spent on compost and fertilizer for my garden if I didn't have chickens. Chickens can eat all household plant-based table scraps. In New England, when my compost pile is frozen, my chickens eat all my vegetable scraps and peelings, saving them from the trash. We dispatch the roosters. Or give them away. But most have gone to the "Soup Pot." However, it's not completely about the money. There are, however, as Accountant Mike's mom said, intangible benefits to owning chickens. Rather than getting chickens to replace our children, we got chickens for our children.  My oldest daughter is a chicken whisperer, and she is the one that is able to hold, pet, catch, and herd the chickens.     The chickens have brought us more than eggs. My children have learned about where food comes from. They have learned to take care of another creature. They have learned about predators and death from the chickens. They have learned to be "calm and confident" when they approach animals, and to gage the effect of their presence. For me personally, it's all about the taste. Farm fresh eggs are MUCH better than a "big ag" egg. I am an eggs over easy aficionado, and recently ate eggs at a popular chain restaurant. Spoiled by months of rich, delicious yolks, I nearly spit out my toast as my tongue met the insipid, watery yellow of the factory farmed egg I had ordered. An over easy egg cooked while still warm from the coop? Priceless. Like what you heard? Want to read more? Visit our archive of show episodes and blog posts. Not a Pioneer? Join here. The Homesteady Pioneer Shoutout of the Episode Paul and Katie YOU could be next! This episode was also brought to you by our partners RJS BEE Farm, and PowerPlucker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode of the Homesteady Campfire, we meet Aust's friend "Sweet Lou", and hear his story of survival in the wilderness. A true "city boy" Sweet Lou and his friend Jonathan pick Mount Washington, located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, as their first ever overnight backpacking trip. Use Coupon Code "homesteady" at checkout for 10% off your Leatherman Purchase Not only is Mount Washington the highest peak on the Eastern seaboard, it's also, according to Gear Junky, the eighth most dangerous mountain in the WORLD. How do Sweet Lou and Jonathan fare? Follow along Sweet Lou's trip on his Instagram Feed: @lfvision_ and join us around the Homesteady Campfire (I would suggest with a nice hot pouch of chicken a la king) for this comedy of errors on the mountain with the world's most dangerous weather! Special Guests Heather and Josh Weigh in As you know, normally we end the show with Accountant Mike giving the ceremonial "thumbs up" or down to the topic. Since this weeks topic was about hiking and wilderness survival, we decided to bring in some experts. Heather and Josh breakdown Luis' performance on the mountain. Does he pass their test? Hear more from our guests at The First 40 Miles Podcast. But Wait! There's More! A Leatherman is a true friend in the wilderness. We are pleased to announce that we are hosting a giveaway! Subscribe to our email list and be entered to win a Leatherman knife!   Click to Join the Email List to win a Leatherman Knife! From the Suburban Escapee I wish I was sitting with all of you, literally around a campfire, listening to this story. I don't want to post spoilers, but let me tell you: I was literally freaking out while listening to the tale of Sweet Lou's adventure. I laughed, I yelled at the podcast, and I nervously bit my nails while waiting to see how things were going to turn out for the intrepid adventurers. Also, I make EPIC s'mores. Wilderness backpacking is more than a simple walk through the woods. The amount of preparation, training, skills, and gear that is necessary varies depending upon you who speak to, and where you are going; but going to the eighth most dangerous mountain in the world for your first overnight is generally not recommended. That being said: I wanted to share my favorite fire-starting tip with all of you, from my very first camping trip. Which coincidentally, also happened in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, at Crawford Notch State Park. At nineteen, I had never been camping before. When I told my parents I was going camping with my then boyfriend and a group of friends, their response was, "Why?" My parents are not fans of "roughing it," and while we certainly spent long days outside as kids, those days ended with showers and beds. My then boyfriend and his best friend were accomplished Boy Scouts. They spent the drive up to the park bragging about past campfires; how big, how hot, how much wood they gathered. When the time came to make a fire for the evening, they went and bought wood at the ranger station, came back, and proceeded to build a fire. If only tall tales could fuel an actual fire. Boy Scouts or not, that thing would NOT light. After about thirty minutes of fruitless effort, they decided that the only solution was lighter fluid. The boys piled into the car and took off for the nearest gas station. My two friends and I (one of them my own longest-standing friend) stood around the un-lit fire and watched the car drive away. "You guys," I said, all my freshman anthropology classes on my mind, "Cavemen made fire. This cannot possibly be that hard. I mean, we have a lighter." "They didn't put enough tinder," said my oldest friend, a seasoned camper, who had watched the proceedings with quiet amusement, "We need something that will smolder and get really hot." We started going through our bags of food and supplies. I pulled out a tube of the greasiest item I found in my backpack. "What about these?" The boys returned an hour later, stunned to find us sitting and snacking around a roaring fire. "How did you do that? Did someone help you?" We looked at each other and started laughing. "Would you like a Pringle?" I offered, "Not only are they delicious, but they make a great fire starter." It's hardly a Man vs. Wild moment, but that small success from my first campout remains one of my favorite camping memories.   Now, go join the email list and win a knife to help you create your own campfire! Alexia - The Suburban Escapee   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this in depth short episode of Homesteady, we dive into the details of raising pastured pigs. We interview Tom Dexter, a man that has been raising pigs for decades. He shares his insights on how to buy the right pigs for your farm. He discusses breeds, feeding, and pig care.  We also share an announcement regarding the Homesteady Pioneer Library! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A broken lawn mover has led Aust to ponder...should he buy a new ride-on lawnmower? Or pass over a new machine and invest in some sheep to eat the lawn? Aust pulls out all the stops and brings in Accountant Mike to develop a comprehensive pro/con list to investigate this completely new venture for the homestead. Have you ever thought about the ways lawnmowers are dangerous? And we all know from the last episode the downside of growing useless grass. Sheep, however, cannot simply be parked in the shed once they're done dining. They require food in the winter, when the lawns of New England are covered in snow, medical attention, and shelter. As opposed to lawnmowers, when they are fully grown, they can be butchered and either sold or served for dinner. There is also the possibility of shearing sheep and selling wool. Do these ventures create a profit that make sheep a good business decision? Accountant Mike and Aust battle it out: To mow or not to mow? Do the numbers add up in favor of sheep?Find out on Part 1 of this FIRST serialized episode of Homesteady! Know a lot about lawn mowers, but nothing about sheep? Aust shares his entire conversation with Susan Napotnik about selecting the perfect breed of sheep here on the Pioneer sheep episode. Not a Pioneer? Join here. P.S.: Did you know Accountant Mike is a reality star? From the Suburban Escapee: I began to write an reflection of this episode where I waxed poetic about lawns, livestock, and this episode of Curious George. (Which, yes, is about goats, but it's relevant.) I mean, I'm from the suburbs. Is there anything more suburban than lawnmowers? The backbone of this episode, however, isn't so much about the topic itself, or the debate of Animal vs. Machine. This is the first time we have Aust step out from behind the curtain of his homestead in a particularly vulnerable position: as a newbie. Despite his success in other areas of his homestead, many of which have been shared on the podcast, Aust is revealing that decisions on the farm aren't made in a vacuum. They are made after hours of research, consulting with experienced mentors, and running numbers about the cost of any new venture vs. any possible revenue. Decision-making is an art and a science. In my own life, with a family, a job, and multiple interests, needs, and dreams, learning to make decisions has become a necessary skill. A biography of my early adulthood could be called "The Consequences of the Poorly Thought Out Choices." In trying to reverse that trend, the Country Boy and I have grown more cautious and methodical. After living in the city, we found a town where we could afford enough land (not a farm, just a big yard) to start experimenting with homesteading. After two seasons of growing plants based upon capricious wants (see here for how that turned out), we finally began to do research to inform ourselves on the best possible way to grow the vegetables and plants we want and enjoy. This year, we have purchased a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) farmshare with two goals in mind: increase the variety of vegetables in our freezer, and meet local farmers to begin the make the relationships that could possibly gain us a few mentors for our homestead journey. And yet, despite the careful mathematical calculations of profit margins, and scientific research on varieties and methods, and the technical ins and out of any pursuit, there is also that most incalculable of all variables: passion. Regardless of how much logical, financial, or any other type of sense any decision makes, without passion to fuel the effort, I truly believe success is limited. I believe that passion is what largely fuels this community. Passion for eating whole, fresh food. Passion for the outdoors. Passion for animals, hard work, and being a "maker" as opposed to strictly a consumer. Making smart, well-researched decisions is what allows us to pursue our particular passion in a sustainable, fiscally responsible way. Rather than listening to this episode and thinking "wow, I should look into livestock," I urge you all to take away the larger message and ask yourself: What is ONE decision I can make to further my passion? Add to our blog community by sharing that step in the comments!   A special thanks to our partner: RJS Bee Farm. Pioneers get 10% off beekeeping equipment. Raising chickens? Our sponsor The Power Plucker will make your life easier. Save 20 days of your life you would otherwise spend plucking chickens! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Homesteady, there are 2 special announcements, PLUS we interview The Rocketman, an archer who spends his time hunting whitetail deer with a bow and arrow. His first chance at a whitetail deer lead to a long and difficult tracking job. And a new nickname... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learning to Hunt Alone is Hard In this episode of Homesteady, we discussed learning to hunt, and how many mistakes one can make when learning without a mentor. Aust learned to hunt by trial and error for his first few years, spooking many a deer his first year. One November afternoon, after still hunting for the good part of the morning, Aust sat down for lunch, making a rookie move of sitting on his butt, when suddenly a big buck arrived, catching him unprepared and off guard. Lessons learned the hard way finally brought Aust to a point where now he harvests multiple deer each year, filling his freezers. Venison is awesome Deer hunting is challenging, but the rewards are great. Venison is a flavor filled meat, with a wide range of uses. One deer can provide a hunter with Steaks Chops Roasts Sausage Burger And when prepared right, venison can pass even the most anti hunters palate. Wild Harvest: Whitetail Deer 101 Course Homesteady is preparing to launch the Wild Harvest Whitetail Deer Course. This course will teach the beginning hunter all the essential knowledge needed for a new hunter to prepare for, and succeed in his first year of hunting. The course will cover: Introduction to Whitetails and Hunting Hunting and Treestand Safety  Equipment - What do you really need to kill a deer? Practice to Succeed Land Acquisition- Tricks for gaining access to private land for hunting Scouting and Strategy Tracking and Recovery Field Dressing, Butchering, and Preserving the Harvest Cooking Delicious Meals  This class will be a series of live webinars, with a Q and A at the end of each session. Our goal is to be able to answer all of the questions you might have, so to make this possible, there will be limited availability. The first day the course goes for sale there will be a early bird discount. Sign up for the warning email list so that you can get first shot at the class and early bird discount before it sells out!  Get The First Shot   Feed Your Family a Wild Harvest! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we hear the story of Korby Taylor and his nine-year-old son, Hudson, as they set out to hunt wild turkey. Hudson, at nine an already experienced wild turkey hunter, has set his sites on a "Tom", or fully grown male wild turkey. Kolby and Hudson's adventure unfolds as the best laid turkey hunt plans go awry. The bond between father and son is tested as they take a leap of faith to save the hunt. Like what you heard? Here's more: Korby Taylor has his own podcast! Check it out here.  If you are a member of the Homesteady Pioneers, he's also posted a "Turkey Hunting 101" podcast in our member's only library. Not a pioneer yet? Become a pioneer today! Interested in learning more about wild turkeys? My life as a wild turkey has the in-depth information you are looking for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On our 1 year aniversary of the Homesteady shows first episode, we take a look back at some of the stories and events that have made Homesteady.  We discus fishing stories, talk about chickens and canning, and reflect on the year in Homesteading that the Homesteady show has brought you.  We share a Gift with the listeners too...  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is something that could be on your farm that has the power to kill. You may not even remember that you own it. You may not realize how dangerous it is. We didnt realize when we purchased it 4 years ago, and then forgot about it.    Until our Labrador Retriever puppy found it. Listen to hear this warning tale.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The average new home today costs somewhere between $200,000 and $400,000 to build. What if there was a better way...? What if you could build your house out of materials that people were throwing away? Free materials, and a building method that was DIY friendly... This is exactly why Annie and Jay built themselves an Earthship. What is an Earthship? An Earthship is a type of sustainable, passive solar home that is made of natural and recycled materials. The design emphasizes self-sufficiency, energy efficiency, and the use of renewable resources... Like beer cans, or in Annie and Jay's case... Tires! Read the Blog Recap HERE Checkout Their Youtube channel Blue Rock Station Website Their Podcast Pioneer Version of this Podcast Become a Pioneer HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh Baked Bread.... It is so delicious! But it requires work and dedication! Is a homesteader looking to spend his time wisely going to decide that making a fresh loaf is a worthwile endeavor...? Or could time be better spent on the farm doing something other than baking? Find out in this episode of Homesteady, as we talk about the history of bread, how to bake, sourdoughs, celiacs, and everything else to do with our daily bread!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A father who comes from a long line of hunters takes his daughter on a elk hunt. The spend the day following a set of tracks, calling, and chasing a good size bull elk. When he finaly steps out into the clearing, its all in Abbey's hands to make history.  This story was shared with us by Rae Elliot. You can see all of her work at raeelliotbooks.com and listen to her science fiction podcast Fractured in iTunes.    To hear the behind the scenes episode, where we discuss hunting and the making of the score for this story, become a Homesteady Pioneer! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winter is the slowest time on the homestead. Not as many animals to take care of. Not as many plants to check on. Nows the time to plan for a better year come spring! In this episode we discuss planning ahead  On the Farm In the Home(stead) and Outside in the Forests and Streams Wether you want to grow more veggies, or havest a deer this season, NOW is the time to start preparing for a year of sustainability!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Homesteady Campfire, (a homesteading story show) we listen to the stories of individuals who homesteaded and farmed. Some who left the city to move to the country, and some who left their farm and headed to the city.  First we will hear the story of the Food Cyclist John Suscovich. John lived in the city, had a great job with the Howard Stern Show, and was well ahead in his life and career. Then, he decided to leave it all... Find out why in this episode of Homesteady.  Our next story is about a family of homesteaders from a Farm in Italy. When the sounds of promise in the new world become to much to ignore, they left the farm and moved to Brooklyn New York. But the farmer spirit stayed strong in their bones.  Enjoy these stories, and stay tuned for a very importiant announcement regarding the Homesteady Pioneers... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Farming is a great way to make some money doing what you love. This is your year to start. In this episode, we talk about 3 ways that backyard farming can help you have more money!  Save on your food expenses Save on taxes Earn you money through sales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every year the woods explode with activity... The deer enter the RUT. What is is? How can it help you hunting?  And... A special HOMESTEADY Announcemnt! Click HERE to find out what it is! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us at the Homesteady Campfire: a compilation of stories in the outdoors.  In this new kind of episode, Campfire, the crew of Homesteady, Austin, Mike, and the rest, take you on their annual trip to Rhode Island. On this annual trip, they wake each day long before sunrise, and head out into the salt ponds to try to catch keeper sized stripped bass or fluke.  Facing tough fishing conditions, the crew begins to wear on each other, and wear out! Listen as they tell this tale, and at the same time, teach you how to come up to the campfire and share your own story, whether it has a happy ending or not...     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chickens... They are the "gateway" animal. That's how our farm started. It seems every homesteader and wannabe farmer starts with a flock of hens.  But should they be? Do egg layers make financial sense in a world of $2 per dozen eggs? Listen to this months episode to find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3 years ago I stopped buying meat. Woa... Woa... Easy. I didn't become a vegetarian. Far from it. In fact, Meatless Monday would cost me more than it would save me. Here is how I get my family of 5 (... Ok, one is a baby...) enough meat for a year, without ever buying it from the supermarket. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to pasture pigs... the easy way. Don't have 100 acres? Don't want to bother with electric fencing? Can't spend all day supervising your pig herd? Ya, me either! In this episode we discuss how to raise grassfed pork, without all the hastle. All you need is 2 paddocks and a call. Listen to find out the secret to easy pig farming.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yurts are an amazing portable and cost effective home that you can build and be move into in just a few weeks! But nothing is perfect... In this interview with Paul from Nomad Shelter we cover the Pros and Cons of the yurt to try to figure out if a yurt is right for you and your family on your homestead! Checkout Nomad Shelter All the Yurt Footage from Nomad Shelter Youtube Channel  Pioneer Version of this Podcast Can be found in the Pioneer Library Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh Blueberries, Raspberries and Strawberries... Theres nothing quite as good, except maybe homemade berry jam!  This month on Homesteady, PYO- Pick Your Own... Who doesn't want to do that? When your in the supermarket buying apples, you know your squeezing em' to see which is best... so why not skip the middle man! Go right to the farm that grows them and pick your own fruit at that perfect moment! This Month were discussing PYO Berries. June is prime strawberry season, July brings in the blueberries and raspberries! (and thats just the tip of the iceberg). And the fun doesn't stop with picking, when you bring home that goodness, you can make Jams, Jellies, and Preserves to last all year! Make Jam! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month on Homesteady we talk fishing! How did I get hooked on fishing because of the one that got away? What is the best way to catch, clean and cook trout? Does Acountant Mike think fishing is a good way to put food on the table? Find out... Listen to this months episode of Homesteady! In this Episode... How to catch, clean and cook your dinner. Accountant Mike likes to fish! The story of a fish named O'Henry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Container Gardening. In this episode, we discuss the best way to start growing your own food. You will learn how to start a container garden, or raised bed, and what it will cost you up front, as well as what you will earn from it. Enjoy the freshest food around... From your own backyard!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today Kerry from  @Homesteadhow  shares HOW his family make a living full time from their homestead! Checkout Kerry's Channel MAKE MONEY HOMESTEADING COURSE - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/time-make-money-homesteading-2/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You got some property... NOW WHAT?  If you are planning on building a homestead from scratch, maybe even an off grid home, eventually you will need to choose a spot to put your house.  How do you choose the best spot to place your home? Don't make a costly mistake, in this episode Logan Parker from Heirloom Builders joins us to talk about how to choose the best location on your property for your home.  LISTEN TO THE PIONEER VERSION HERE BECOME A PIONEER HERE Checkout Logan's WEBSITE , his DESIGNS FOR SALE, and his YOUTUBE CHANNEL This episode brought to you by - LAUREL MOUNTAIN SOAP - All Natural Homemade Soaps and Skin Products made from Goat Milk! Tim and Jocelyn started making soap for their baby, and grew that hobby into a business! Try their lotion bars during the dry winter months! CLICK HERE TO BUY and Use coupon code "homesteady" for 10% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you want to start a homestead? Need a home you can afford? In this episode of the Homesteady #podcast we share 7 DIY CHEAP housing options homesteaders can use to get started sooner on their homestead!  #tinyhome #barndominium #homestead  This Episode of Homesteady is brought to you by KUJO YARDWEAR - Work shoes, pants and more! Checkout kujo.com for all your yard wear and use coupon code "homesteady" for a 10% discount! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SOOO MANY PEOPLE DON'T START HOMESTEADING because they don't have land!  Are you looking for cheap land to get started with?  Learn 3 ways to find cheap homestead land in this episode!  This Episode of Homesteady is brought to you by LAUREL MOUNTAIN SOAP - All Natural Homemade Soaps and Skin Products made from Goat Milk! Tim and Jocelyn started making soap for their baby, and grew that hobby into a business! Try their lotion bars during the dry winter months! Use coupon code "homesteady" for 10% off! Resources for this Podcast Gridlessness Interview Just Start Chickens Course Interview with Grant Woods AJM Earth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Episode of Homesteady is brought to you by KUJO YARDWEAR - Work shoes, pants and more! Checkout kujo.com for all your yard wear and use coupon code "homesteady" for a 10% discount! It is TRUE! We are leaving our farm... WHY? Find out in this episode of the Podcast. Checkout THESE YOUTUBE VIDEOS for MORE INFO We are LEAVING THE HOMESTEAD 7 Things we will DO DIFFERENT at our NEXT HOMESTEAD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Episode of Homesteady is brought to you by KUJO YARDWEAR - Work shoes, pants and more! Checkout kujo.com for all your yard wear and use coupon code "homesteady" for a 10% discount! LAUREL MOUNTAIN SOAP - All Natural Homemade Soaps and Skin Products made from Goat Milk! Tim and Jocelyn started making soap for their baby, and grew that hobby into a business! Try their Jewel Weed Soap and Salve for Poison Ivy Relief ! laurelmountainsoaps.com Use coupon code "JEWEL10" for 10% off! Public School is full of dangers... and not just the kind that make headlines! Why should you homeschool your kids? And how can you include this in your homestead life? We talk about that in todays episode! Homeschooling and Homesteading go hand in hand... And today we talk all about how and why you should Homeschool your kids on the Homestead with Drew and Lacy from the Schoolhouse Life Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are not even a full week into our Alaska Off Grid Challenge, and something happens that brings us to a breaking point! Do we quit? Leave Alaska and head back to the grid? Watch and find out! Helpful Links (some are affiliate links) Pioneer Version of the Interview with Jon Crocker Become a Pioneer Jons Book - A Practical Guide to Off-grid Living in Alaska Joolca Water System Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Pugliano from the Wealthsteading Podcast joins us to explain how to build wealth from our homesteads Wealthsteading TV Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnPuglianoWEALTHSTEADING Podcast - https://www.wealthsteading.com/ CHECKOUT SARAH ROWE'S PODCAST CLICK HERE TO listen to the Episode I WAS ON Robyn from CHEESE FROM SCRATCH'S MILKMAID SOCIETY PIONEER DISCOUNT HERE CLICK HERE FOR COOLBOT GIVEAWAY and VIDEO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Misty and Clay wanted to start a Blueberry farm in the worst way. So they bought a piece of land and planted some blueberry bushes. But things did not go as they planned.  CLICK HERE TO GET THE PIONEER VERSION CLICK HERE TO BECOME A PIONEER HERE MISTY'S INSTAGRAM MISTY on Wild and Whole CLAY'S INSTAGRAM CLAY'S PODAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight I have longtime friends of the Homesteady show, Jack and Jackie of the Mindful Homestead, coming on to talk about growing our homesteads to be a grounding, safe, secure place that helps us care for our families, not only physically, but also provide us mentally with a place of peace and happiness. Jackie Pollner is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with extensive experience in treating anxiety, eating disorders, and PTSD. Together with her husband Jack, and daughter Emma, they have woven these ideas into the fabric of their homestead in southern New Hampshire, being mindful daily of the food they produce, the animals they tend, and the life they live. Checkout The Mindful Homestead Website and Youtube Channel Use coupon code "homesteady10" for a discount on Dapper Pig Soap Sign up to our email list so you don't miss any of our Podcasts LOVE HOMESTEADY? Become a Pioneer - You get instant access to the new forum, discounts, and homesteading classes and podcasts! Are you shopping at Amazon? Shop through our Amsteady Link  Just click that link then do your regular shopping, it doesn’t cost you any extra but we earn a commission for sending you there. Get Homesteady Tee Shirts (and other clothing) Here -  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to start or grow a farm from scratch to be your full time income? Checkout Farm Builder... JORDANS YOUTUBE CHANNEL JORDANS FARM FARM BUILDER SCHOOLS CLICK HERE to watch the Homesteady Pioneer Version of this episode  WANT TO MAKE MONEY HOMESTEADING? The Pioneer Pro Program is a new program I am excited to announce here at Homesteady! You get access to the pioneer library, invited to all the interviews we have and all the bonus content pioneers get, AND it’s also bundled with the Make Money Homesteading course! This is a course that I designed to help you take the little baby steps it takes to go from wanting to make money from your homestead to actually having a product and the infrastructure in place to sell that product! It’s a one month long course but you can take it at your own pace and right now it’s bundled with the pioneer program to make this pioneer pro program! CLICK HERE to learn more about the Pioneer Pro Program!  MOST farmers don't make enough money from their efforts to live off their earnings.  It's a sad but true statement. An article written last year on the usda website stated that 96% of farm households get some income from off-farm sources and on average that off-farm income was 82 of their total income. Yep. Farming for a living is hard. And yet many of us want the life of a farmer... So, can it be done? Can we make a living... living the life we want, farming full time? YES. Jordan and his wife Laura figured out how to do this starting a regenerative multi-species pasture-based farm from scratch, both of them coming out of military jobs! How? He shares their story in the latest episode of our podcast! Jordan didn't exactly grow up farming. "I did not grow up on a farm per se. I grew up on what now would now be called a homestead. We had egg laying chickens, a few pigs, and a herd of dairy goats... CLICK HERE TO HEAD TO THE WEBSITE TO READ THE REST OF THE BLOG RECAP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices