Old Fashioned On Purpose

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...

For several years, I’ve been asking myself… how can we close our chicken loop? And by that, I mean how can I reduce the outside inputs in our home food production. It's easier said than done when it comes to livestock, BUT I've hatched a new plan for our chicken operation and I'm excited to share it with you.  Listen in to hear me answer the question: "What is the BEST dual-pur...

Looking for a bit of redemption after a less-than-stellar growing season? Want to reduce the pressure to preserve ALL the food right NOW? A fall garden can offer all of this and more and it's one of my secret weapons for growing more food with less stress.  The time to start your fall crops is NOW-- join me to talk about what plants are best, some of my biggest mistakes, and how you can start...

I never get tired of talking about sourdough, ESPECIALLY when it comes to ways to bake it more efficiently!  Today I'm joined by Mike from Rosehill Sourdough to dive into some of the common pitfalls in the sourdough world that are costing you time and flour. I love Mike's engineer perspective and he gave me a lot of new ideas to chew on including sifting whole wheat flour, his rule-break...

Cooking for larger groups used to stress me out SO much, but over the years, I've honed my skills in putting food on the table for big groups WITHOUT spending all day in the kitchen.  In today's episode I'm sharing a few of my favorite old-fashioned strategies for cultivating community with food. Podcast Episode Highlights How cooking for large crowds is an old-fashioned idea Goal #...

I get the question constantly... "Where's the BEST place to homestead?"  Listen in as I share my (probably surprising) answer, as well as the lessons I've been learning lately about community, flexibility, and leaning in. Podcast Episode Highlights Why this question seems to come up a lot lately (for others and myself) My first casual response to this question... My official an...

I love to share the mental health benefits of gardening, but what do you do when your garden makes you feel STRESSED, not serene? I've been there (more than once). Today I'm sharing my 3 non-negotiable garden strategies that I use every single year to ensure my garden is a place of joy and not overwhelm. A must-listen if you're trying to grow food in the midst of a busy life! Podcas...

This episode blew my mind! I've been around plenty of working dogs, but they've always been used for working large numbers of livestock on huge pieces of land.  However, this conversation with Jordyn Kelly of Working Aussies Homestead completely changed my mind. Listen as she shares the creative, time-saving ways she uses dogs around her homestead (even for handling chickens!), plus trai...

Ever wondered what happens when a social media influencer with a million followers swaps the digital spotlight for a tech-minimal lifestyle? This episode features Erin Lochner, the inspiring powerhouse behind "The Opt-Out Family." Erin takes us on a journey from her high-profile career in social media to her decision to embrace a technology-minimal lifestyle. We delve into her new book,...

With gardening scaled back due to some timing issues with the milk cows, the spotlight is on the lifesaving benefits of mulch, especially as we brace for an impending drought. Learn how mulch can transform your garden by saving time, reducing weeds, and conserving precious water. Get ready for a treasure trove of practical gardening advice as we explore the world of mulch. From grass clippings to...

I love to cook... I love to plan... but I've never been able to stick with a consistent meal planning system. And it bugged me for YEARS. However, when I realized our unconventional life requires an unconventional meal plan, everything changed. In today's episode, I'm sharing my best tips for getting from-scratch food on the table without rigid recipes or confining plans. If you pre...

Herbs have been used to doctor animals for millennia, but sadly it's tough to find information on how to use them in our modern age.  Today I'm so thrilled to be joined by Dr. Patrick Jones-- a veterinarian, naturopath, and herbalist who knows this topic inside and out. Dr. Jones sheds light on the complexities of herbal dosages, species-specific risks, and the profound impact these trea...

Sometimes growing vegetables in a wintery climate can feel like an extreme sport... So when I received an email from Nate of the Manti Homestead sharing how he built an off-grid greenhouse that's growing bananas, passionfruit, and more in the Utah snow, I was intrigued.  Nate shares a wealth of knowledge in this value-packed episode. Prepare to have your gardening paradigm challenged in the b...