Homesteaders of America

I’m so glad to have Stacy Lyn Harris joining me again on the podcast for an honest conversation about what it’s like to run successful businesses while in the trenches of motherhood.  What does it look like to bring our children along with us in our work?  How do we manage to stay productive while meeting the needs of small children?  How have our businesses changed throughout different seasons of...

Having conversations about uncertain times ahead can often leave us feeling fearful or full of despair, but this conversation with Farmer John is one filled with hope.  He shares the truth about the history of farming, where things are now, and what we may see in the future, all while offering us encouragement about what is possible.  No matter where you are in your journey of growing your own foo...

As homesteaders, we understand the importance of sourcing our food well and cooking from scratch.  When it comes to baking, making the switch to freshly-milled whole grains in your home can take your family’s nourishment to the next level.  If you’ve ever had questions about milling grains at home – how whole grain flour differs from white flour, how to store grains, what kind of mill you need – t...

We talk a lot on this podcast about raising our own food, but today we are chatting all about preparing and serving the food we have worked so hard to produce!  Stacy Lyn Harris is the perfect person to join us for this conversation because she has been using produce from her garden and meat from her husband’s hunting trips to prepare delicious meals for her large southern family for decades.  We...

You are going to love hearing the Fuhrmanns inspiring homestead story in this episode!  They share about the health scare that led them to the homesteading life, how their homestead has become a blessing to their community, what it’s like to raise and homeschool nine children, and what has led their children to stay involved in the family business as they have become adults.  The Fuhrmann family’s...

On a recent episode of the podcast, we talked about how the homesteading lifestyle is a call back to home-centered living: homesteading, homemaking, home cooking, home business, homeschooling, etc.  Today’s conversation ventures off from farm and homestead topics and dives into an equally important aspect of homestead life: raising our kids. This chat with Durenda, author and homeschooling mother...

I hear from many homesteading families who have the dream of sustaining their families by making an income right from their homesteads.  This is the American dream, right?  In today’s episode, Emilie is sharing with us the story of how she and her family did just that.  What began as a quest to overcome health issues in her own family became a thriving skincare business that helps families all acr...

Mike’s journey into farming and conservation may not be what you expect, but he is a wealth of wisdom on this complex yet important topic of pasture management.  While Mike manages a thousand-acre cattle farm, he breaks down the principles of pasture health to apply to the everyday homesteader.  We talk about first identifying where the health of your pastures stands, how to take steps toward impr...

If you are paying attention to current events, you know how important it is to prepare your home and family for an uncertain future.  In this episode, John shares why it is also equally important to protect what you have prepared.  We dive into why and how to prepare, where faith meets preparation, choosing your community wisely, and more.  If you are feeling compelled to ready your family for the...

Any homesteader who has a dairy animal or two knows the importance of finding a use for all of that milk.  Making cheese at home is not only a great way to provide nourishing food for your family, it is also an excellent method of preserving milk.  Robyn began her cheesemaking journey by using her dairy cow’s milk to make cheese for her family, and she quickly realized there was a need for cheesem...

As homesteaders and farmers, local and federal regulations around food production and property rights impact us more than we might like to admit.  Nick Freitas joins us today to break down what it looks like for average citizens to get involved in the legislative process and make a difference in their communities.  Homesteaders, it is more important than ever to stay informed and make our voices h...

Jill Winger is one of the original homestead bloggers to start sharing her homesteading journey online.  She has been living this lifestyle for well over a decade, and she has gained insight and perspective over those years that she loves to share with others in the homesteading community.  In this conversation, we dive into comparison, money mindsets, community enrichment, and more.  Whether you...

You might recognize today’s guest from her successful years-long career in Christian music, but you may not know that Francesca Battistelli is part of the homesteading world as well.  What began as a nudge to leave behind the busy pace of a traveling musician and spend more time at home with her children has turned into a full-blown homesteading, homeschooling, homemaking, home-loving life.  Join...

For dairy cow owners who find themselves overwhelmed with an abundance of milk or an abundance of friends and neighbors asking for milk, a herdshare could be a great option for you!  Additionally, if you live in a state where it is illegal to sell raw milk, starting a herdshare is a wonderful way to provide milk to your community without legal issues.  Whether you are looking to join a herdshare i...

Anyone who has tried to fence in livestock knows that there are many variables to consider.  Will electric fencing work for every animal?  Why might my livestock be escaping?  Do I need an additional perimeter fence?  In this episode, fencing expert Joe Putnam of Premier 1 Supplies answers many of the most common questions about livestock fencing and shares the variety of resources Premier 1 has t...

What started as a mama’s desire to stay home and raise her babies has turned into a full-time income for Natalie’s family that supports their homesteading dreams.  Through the successes and failures of growing her first garden, Natalie discovered the magic of worm composting for soil fertility, and it transformed her garden.  Natalie began sharing the expertise she gained in worm farming via digit...

After listening to this episode, you are going to be itching to add dairy sheep to your homestead!  Rachel gives an overview of all of the most commonly asked questions about getting started with dairy sheep: milk quality, sheep breeds, breeding, milking, feeding, and more!  Sheep are an incredible multi-purpose homestead animal that can thrive even on small acreage.  If you want to be part of the...

We are bringing you a series of episodes on the podcast about raising sheep, and in today’s episode, Janet of Timber Creek Farm is lending her expertise to the conversation!  Janet has been building her homestead and growing her skills for decades, and she has a unique passion for creating beautiful fibers with natural dyes.  Join us as we talk about acquiring and maintaining a healthy flock of sh...

I am noticing a trend in the homesteading world toward raising sheep.  There are so many great reasons to consider adding sheep to your homestead, and Grace the Shepherdess is here to share with us all about her small-scale regenerative sheep farming operation.  She talks through some of the different breeds of sheep and what they are useful for, the ins and outs of rotational grazing with sheep,...

As a long-time content creator in the homesteading space, Justin Rhodes has become something of an expert in building an online business that can support your homestead dreams.  In this episode, Justin shares the journey from where he started to where he is now.  We even chat about ideas for the future and how to plan for tomorrow in a constantly changing online business environment.  Whether you...

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 conv...

As homesteaders, we work hard to make our homes a refuge from the storms that rage in the world around us.  Learning to protect what we are building and prepare for the future is an essential part of pursuing homestead security.  Author John Dyslin gets fired up about teaching people to stand up against and overcome evil in the world.  For those who are believers and those who are not, this conver...

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 ab...

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 tas...

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 h...