Old Fashioned On Purpose

In this episode, I welcome back Mike Vaona, the engineer-turned-baker behind Rosehill Sourdough, to chat about his recent deep dive into fresh-milled flours. We cover a range of topics, from tweaking hydration levels and the surprising effects of oxidation to the differences between ancient, heritage, and modern wheats.  Mike also shares his thoughts on nutrient loss over time, his favorite gluten...

In this episode, I chat with Mimi Smith-Dvorak, author of Too Many Eggs, a cookbook packed with over 800 ways to use eggs. We dive into the history of eggs, the current egg drama, creative ways to use up a surplus (including flavoring them in the shell!), storage tricks, and even some unexpected non-culinary uses.  If you’ve ever found yourself with more eggs than you know what to do with, this ep...

If you live in a cold northern area, you may have assumed growing fruit and nuts was out of the question, but I'm happy to tell you that it's not!  In this episode, I chat with St. Lawrence Nurseries about the best cold hardy fruit and nut tree varieties, common planting mistakes, and essential care tips for success. We cover watering, fertilizing, pruning, and more to help you cultivate...

What if the light around you is messing with your health more than you realize? In this episode, the amazing Johnna Sutton of Sutton Nutrition is back to talk about how artificial light, blue light exposure, and circadian rhythms impact our energy, sleep, and overall well-being.  We dive into how to adjust your routine with the seasons, why cold winter temps are good, and practical steps to use li...

In this episode, I sit down with Noelle Johnson, aka the AZ Plant Lady and author of Water Smart Gardens, to uncover practical tips for making your garden more water-efficient without sacrificing beauty or productivity. We dive into time-saving watering strategies, the best veggies to grow in dry climates, creative rainwater collection ideas, and whether your lawn really deserves all that water. ...

Curious about foraging but not sure where to begin?  In this episode, I chat with Whitney of Appalachian Forager about the essentials of starting your foraging journey, including how to get started foraging, how to safely identify wild mushrooms, best practices for preparing them, and tips for preserving your harvest. Whether you're a beginner or looking to deepen your connection with the wil...

In this episode, I chat with Dana K. White, author and creator of A Slob Comes Clean, about the surprising connections between decluttering and homesteading. We dive into Dana’s practical strategies, including the Container Concept and her no-mess decluttering method, to help you create a more functional and peaceful home.  Whether you’re managing a homestead or just tackling everyday clutter, Dan...

Why bother? It's a question I've certainly asked myself, and perhaps you have too. In an age where cheap, convenient food is everywhere, why take the time to cook from-scratch? Is it worth it? Are we wasting our time and fooling ourselves? In this episode, we're exploring this question as I share an excerpt from my book, Old-Fashioned on Purpose. It’s a heartfelt reminder of why hom...

As homesteaders, we often focus on sourcing high-quality, real food—but what about understanding how to truly fuel our bodies? In this episode, I sit down with Johnna Sutton, a functional nutritionist and seasoned homesteader, to discuss the finer points of macronutrients and how they fit into a seasonal, whole-food lifestyle.  From balancing protein, fats, and carbs to adjusting your diet for the...

2025 is already shaping up to be full of surprises. In this episode, I’m sharing some unexpected goals I’ve set for the year ahead.  From new adventures to shifting priorities, these plans might just inspire you to rethink what’s possible for your own journey. Tune in for a candid conversation about growth, taking risks, and embracing the unexpected. Podcast Episode Highlights Looking back at my p...

2024 was nothing like I expected—but somehow, it turned out even better than I could have hoped. It was a rollercoaster of a year, filled with some of the hardest lessons I’ve faced so far.  While it wasn’t always easy, looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. In this episode, I’m sharing the challenges, struggles, and valuable lessons I’ve learned along the way. Tune in to hear the journey! Podca...

In this episode, I sit down with Bob Quinn, a Montana farmer and the driving force behind Kamut wheat, to chat about his journey from conventional farming to becoming a pioneer in regenerative agriculture.  We dive into the story of how he rediscovered this ancient grain, Kamut's healing properties, and the creative ways he's helped to boost the economy of his small rural community. Bob’...

In this episode I'm joined by Melissa Dowbiggin, the Sugar-Free Coach and founder of Be Free and Eat. I learned so much from this conversation!  Listen in to learn how to tell if you are dealing with a sugar addiction (it's more prevalent than you think!), the surprising reasons our body's crave sugar, how to overcome the cravings, which natural sweeteners are best, and lots more! P...

In this episode, I’m sitting down with David Stelzer, the founder of Azure Standard, to get real about what’s in our food. We dive into the hot topics of glyphosate, GMOs, and other hidden ingredients that many of us unknowingly consume.  David sheds light on what we should be avoiding and why, plus he shares tips for making cleaner, healthier choices. It’s an eye-opening chat that’ll make you thi...

Wyoming has been on fire lately... and while our homestead hasn't been in danger, we've had plenty of grassfires in our surrounding area. As such, I've been thinking a lot about how we can better prepare our property, our animals, and ourselves in the event of a fire.  I'm joined today about wildfire mitigation specialist Madison Huges to discuss this and more. Join us as she s...

A homestead is full of moving parts and when you combine that with the complexity of typical modern life, well... things get complicated fast. As our life has become more full over the years, I've learned to lean heavily on my planner to keep all the balls in the air. Today I'm getting specific and sharing my most useful rhythms and routines for using a planner to keep our busy life flow...

Curiosity is an underrated skill, especially when it comes to exploring topics that challenge our comfort zones.  Today, I'm joined by one of my favorite content creators, Will Reusch—a brilliant educator who brings nuance to tough conversations. If you're looking to build bridges, tired of social media’s polarization, or want to encourage critical thinking in your kids, this episode is...

What can history teach us about planting our gardens TODAY in 2024? In this episode, we sit down with Carol, the editor in chief of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, to explore the ancient practice of gardening by the moon.  We dive into the best cold-hardy plant varieties (cold-hardy kiwis, anyone?), tips for dealing with unpredictable weather, and how to use the almanac to plan ahead for a successful gr...

We homesteaders often joke about our farms being our gym, but what do you do when homestead chores are causing you pain? And how can we ensure that we stay physically fit as long as possible to keep pursuing this lifestyle we love so much? Functional Strength and Fitness Coach Rory O'Brien is joining me today to answer these questions and more. We talk about how our modern muscles can suffer...

Our life is.... weird and different. We're entering a season that I never saw coming, yet it's wonderful in it's own way. However, it's taken me a while to come to terms with it.  In today's personal episode, I'm sharing what I've been wrestling with lately, as well as giving updates on the soda fountain, our beef company, and more. Podcast Episode Highlights Per...

If your kitchen counters are currently covered in garden veggies like mine, this is the episode for you! We're talking all things tomatoes today: from how to make fresh sauce, to making tomato powder, to the controversary surrounding canning practices, to my favorite versatile sauce and so much more! Podcast Episode Highlights My thoughts on growing tomatoes... Ripening green tomatoes What to...

"I'll never be able to afford a homestead!" It's one of the most common pain points I'm hearing right now and for good reason: the real estate market is tricky.  I'm happy to be joined by Anna Young today. She's a loan officer with Rural 1st and specializes in helping rural folks find the property of their dreams. We discuss interest rates, the volatile market, p...

How do you keep all the balls in the air when you're a multi-faceted homesteader? In this episode I'm sharing my most-used strategies for managing life as a homeschool mom, content creator, rancher, business owner, restaurant owner, and more. (Plus, the 2025 planner is HERE-- get the details at the end of the episode!) Podcast Episode Highlights How our lives have been lately... Planning...

We've talked about goats... we've talked about cattle... but we've NEVER talked about dairy SHEEP. That's changing today with this enlightening conversation with Rachel Hester of Whoopsy Daisy Farm.  If you love being a pioneer in new industries, or are looking for a smaller dairy animal with LOTS of potential, this episode is for you! Podcast Episode Highlights Why you might w...

"What are you using for homeschool curriculum this year??" I don't consider myself a homeschool content creator, but I'm always happy to share my favorite books and studies.  Find out what I'm using for this coming year, plus an important plea to any homeschooling families. Podcast Episode Highlights How I'm a homeschool minimalist Why we aren't dogmatic about ou...