Everyday Homesteading

What would it really take to feed your family if the grocery stores closed tomorrow? In this episode of Everyday Homesteading , Josh talks with survival expert and herbalist Sam Coffman , author of Survival Gardening: Grow Your Own Emergency Food Supply , about how to build a garden that truly sustains life. Learn how to choose calorie-dense crops, build living soil, and use every layer of your ga...

As the seasons change, our bodies need a little extra care to stay balanced and healthy. In this episode, I’m sharing how our family supports our immune systems with simple, time-tested rhythms instead of quick fixes.  From bone broth and fermented foods to elderberry syrup and herbal teas, these are the habits that keep us thriving through fall and winter. You’ll learn how to build a natural well...

If your garden struggled this year — plants wilting, pests taking over, and harvests falling short — don’t lose heart. The problem isn’t your green thumb… it’s your soil. 🌱 In this episode of Everyday Homesteading , we are going back to the basics and talking about the foundation of every healthy, productive garden: living soil. We’ll walk you through the six essential elements your soil needs to...

Why do so many homesteaders quit before they ever see their gardens thrive or their shelves fill with home-canned food?  In this episode of Everyday Homesteading , I sit down with my friend Melissa K. Norris to talk honestly about burnout, expectations that don’t match real life, and the simple habits that make homesteading sustainable.  We share personal stories, the mistakes we made, and the pra...

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we're taking the fear out of canning and putting confidence back in your kitchen. If you’ve ever thought, “I’ve tried so many tutorials and still don’t feel like I actually know what I’m doing,” or “I’m terrified I’ll waste good food or make my family sick,” this one is for you. I'm breaking canning safety down into simple, step-by-step principle...

Let’s talk about starting homesteading when money is tight and time is even tighter. In this Everyday Homesteading episode, we show you how to begin right where you are, in the kitchen, and build skills that naturally grow into gardens, livestock, and a well-stocked pantry. No acreage required, no 40 extra hours a week, no influencer-level gear. In this episode:  • Why every homestead should start...

Five “weeds,” tons of medicine. In today’s Everyday Homesteading episode, Carolyn sits down with herbalist Dr. Patrick Jones to unpack practical, safe uses for five common wild herbs: mallow/marshmallow/hollyhock (roots), plantain (leaf), burdock (root), stinging nettle (leaf/seed/root), and mullein (leaf/flower/root). What you’ll learn: Mallow family roots for soothing mucous membranes and calmin...

We’ve got some BIG news to share with you! 🎉 After nearly seven years and more than 250 episodes, we’re wrapping up The Pantry Chat Podcast… but don’t worry, this isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of something new! 👉 Welcome to the Everyday Homesteading Podcast. In this episode, we reflect on the heart behind the Pantry Chat, share what’s happening on the homestead right now, and reveal why we’r...

In this episode of the Pantry Chat, I sit down with my friend Rory Groves from  @thegrovestead to talk about his family’s journey from a tech career in the city to raising six kids on a homestead in Minnesota. Rory’s story will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt the tug to get out of the rat race and build something lasting with their family. What started with a single tomato plant on a city bal...

Do you ever wonder how to safely use herbal medicine at home? Whether it’s tinctures, teas, powders, or capsules, figuring out the right dose can feel a little overwhelming, especially if you’re just starting out.  In this week’s Pantry Chat, I’m joined by Dr. Patrick Jones from HomegrownHerbalist.net to break it all down in a simple, practical way. We’re covering: 🌿 The pros and cons of differen...

Honey is so much more than a sweetener... It’s medicine. In this episode of the Pantry Chat, I sit down with beekeeper and herbalist Kaylee Richardson from The Honeystead to explore how combining bee products like honey, propolis, and beeswax with herbs can take your natural remedies to the next level. We’ll cover: 🌿 Why bees are the “original herbalists” 🍯 How honey makes herbal medicine more e...

It’s midsummer here on the homestead, and that means the harvest is rolling in, the to-do list is growing, and the kitchen floor is… sticky. In this Pantry Chat, we're talking about: 🌱 What to plant now for a winter harvest (and why August is the perfect time) 🐛 How to deal with grasshopper invasions when you can’t keep chickens 🥬 The easiest way to grow lettuce without spending forever wa...

Want to preserve the fresh flavors of summer herbs to use all year long? In this video, I’m showing you how to make herbal oils and herbal vinegars, a simple, beginner-friendly way to infuse all that goodness into your pantry staples. We’ll talk about how to safely make flavored oils (yes, there are safety concerns!), and how herbal vinegars are a perfect, safe project for kids and beginners. Thes...

Is your homestead truly secure? In this Pantry Chat episode, I'm joined by Tim Eng (veteran, real estate agent, and fellow homesteader) to unpack the essentials of homestead security. From predator prevention and property layout to firearms training, fencing, alarms, and community defense, this is a must-watch for anyone serious about protecting their homestead. 👉 Topics covered: - Practical...

Is your garden looking a little droopy in the August heat? 🌞 In this episode of The Pantry Chat , we’re sharing 7 water-saving gardening tips that will help you keep your garden alive and thriving, without running the sprinkler all day long. From mulching and deep watering to smart irrigation, dry farming techniques, and choosing heat-tolerant plants, we’re covering the tried-and-true methods we’...

In today’s episode, we dive into a summer gardening classic: how to manage insect pressure without chemicals, using simple, natural and organic pest control strategies you can start implementing today. For more information on organic pest control, check out our blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/garden-pest-control/ In this episode, we cover: 🌿 Seasonal chit-chat: What’s thriving in o...

In this episode, Carolyn sits down with Dana K. White of A Slob Comes Clean to talk all things kitchen and pantry organization—without the guilt, stress, or need to pull everything out first!  Dana shares her simple, realistic system for decluttering that actually works for busy homesteading families, including her “container concept,” how to let go of food no one’s going to eat, and why organizin...

In this episode, Josh sits down with Jade Koyle of Grand Teton Ancient Grains to dive deep into the world of ancient grains like einkorn, emmer, and spelt. They discuss how regenerative agriculture practices not only rebuild soil health but also produce more nutrient-dense crops, leading to better health for your family and the planet. Jade shares why ancient grains haven't been hybridized or...

Seed-saving is a homesteading skill that takes time and practice. Many feel intimidated and overwhelmed with what can feel like endless information on the topic, but with this seed saving for beginners guide, you can start with the basics. You certainly don't need a college degree to get started with some seed saving on your homestead! For more information, visit the blog post here: https://h...

With the preservation season upon us, you may already be feeling the pressure to "get it all done" while also maintaining the home, the garden and the livestock... but what if I told you there's a secret hack for saving time when preserving food at home? Join me for today's Pantry Chat podcast as I share my tips! For more information on what our preserving year looks like, visi...

Join me with my guest, Amy Cross from The CrossLegacy , as we discuss how to properly harvest, wash, dry and store your produce so it lasts weeks (or months) longer! Amy is filled with great tips, from how to know how to wash different types of produce to which items are "produce buddies" or "produce frienemies." For more details, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingf...

Good quality coffee is hard to come by, especially a blend that you can actually enjoy black. Join us in this podcast episode with Lore Coffee Roasters' Graysen and Nicholas as we dig deeper into what makes quality coffee, why sourcing is important, and how to know it's mold and mycotoxin free. Give Lore Coffee a try with our custom half-caff blend and be sure to use coupon code "Ho...

With summer comes scrapes, burns, stings and bites. Let's prepare our herbal medicine cabinets now so we're armed and ready for the season! In this episode, I'm sharing three of my go-to remedies for the summer, including a calendula sunburn salve, plantain bug bite balm and a peppermint lemon cooling spray. For the printable, step-by-step recipes, visit the blog post here: https://...

If you're on the fence about buying a freeze dryer, these 10 surprising foods you can freeze dry may convince you to make that purchase. What foods can you freeze dry? Let us share our favorites with you! For links to these tutorials, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/10-surprising-foods-you-can-freeze-dry/ Sign up for my freeze drying class, The Abundant Pantry: Freeze...

Justin Rhodes joined Josh in this episode of the Pantry Chat to discuss recovery on the homestead after Hurricane Helene and homestead builds, which happen to be the topic of his new book.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MORE ABOUT US! WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustaina...