Old Fashioned On Purpose

Does a garden really require blood, sweat, and tears to grow well? It's easy to think that, but what if we found a way to work *with* nature instead of against it?  In today's episode, I'm sharing the most underrated garden hack and how it has forever transformed my growing spaces. Podcast Episode Highlights My garden challenges My tree growing story Underrated Principle: grow what...

We talk a lot about returning to our roots and reclaiming heritage skills... but what role does your family heritage REALLY play in your homesteading efforts? How can you lean on it for motivation during the stressful times? And what do you do if you DON'T have a rich heritage to draw from?  Today's guest, Dolores Taranto, speaks more beautifully to these topics than anyone else I'v...

Sourdough bread made with freshly-milled flour. It's many a homesteader's dream, but those whole wheat loaves can easily turn into a nightmare if you're not prepared.  I am so excited to be joined by Mary of The Rose Homestead in today's episode. She's mastered the art of baking light, fluffy loaves with freshly-milled whole wheat flour and she's sharing her secrets w...

Ever been accused of being a "fun hater?" If so, you're not alone. In fact, it seems to be a common trait in those of us drawn towards old-fashioned things.  Find out the difference between fun vs. flow and why your fun-hating ways may actually be a superpower. Podcast Episode Highlights Perceptions of 'fun' How an interview made me think about 'fun' Modern defin...

Note: Due to privacy reasons, Reesa has deleted her website. Even though I live ON-grid with electricity and running water, sometimes I day-dream about what it'd be like to live completely off-grid in a tiny cabin. And today's guest does exactly that!  This conversation with Reesa of Morning Star Mama is packed-full of creative strategies and tactics for DIY-ing a small home and living o...

It's no secret-- I am an unfit sourdough parent. I often forget to feed it and I regularly leave it in my fridge for 8 months at a time. Yet-- even through my sourdough faux paus, I'm able to maintain a starter that creates delicious bread and more.  In today's episode I'm confessing my sourdough sins and sharing my sourdough CPR method for bringing neglected starters back from...

There's a lot of fear floating around the homestead community lately.  In today's episode I'll share my history with paranoia, how it ultimately will hurt your homestead, and why I no longer subscribe to fear-based homesteading. Podcast Episode Highlights Thoughts about the term' homestead' Concerns about current shifts in what 'homestead' means Why I think fear...

The world of whole wheat can be ridiculously overwhelming: Hard, soft, winter, spring, red, white... and that doesn't even take into account all the different varieties out there.  In today's episode I'm sharing my helpful whole wheat framework that will not only cut through the noise, but also empower you to finally tackle that whole wheat baking (without making bread bricks in the...

Last year we decided to stop watching TV for 6 months. In the process we learned a lot of new skills and made the internet very angry.  Today I'm breaking down our decision in detail and sharing my best tips for doing your own tech fast. Podcast Episode Highlights Backstory on our TV fast Details on what was involved in our TV fast Our kids reaction to this fast What we were doing instead of...

A homestead that funds itself... that's the dream, isn't it? We've covered a number of income-producing ideas on the show over the years, and I have another one for you today.  I'm joined by the brilliant Marjory Wildcraft as she outlines how you can turn seed-saving into a viable and profitable income stream to add to your homestead this year. Podcast Episode Highlights Marjor...

How do you know when to PERSEVERE and when to PRUNE?? We recently listed the soda fountain for sale, which has (understandably) caused a stir.  Today I'm sharing the decision making process that got us to this point and how you can use several old-fashioned principles to help you focus on what matters around your life and homestead. Podcast Episode Highlights Why we bought the soda fountain i...

"How do you find a community of like-minded people who share your beliefs?" I get this question a lot and my answer might surprise you.  It also prompted some interesting discussion on social media, so I'm diving into all the nuance and messy, community-building truth in this podcast episode. Podcast Episode Highlights Why community is a pillar of the old-fashioned on purpose lifest...

Most homesteaders are frustrated with the modern healthcare system, but disentangling ourselves from it is easier said than done.  I’m thrilled to be joined by Dr. Amber Belt today as we discuss how to safely and effectively take charge of your health. Dr. Belt offers an empowering (and balanced) approach to dealing with homestead first aid, acute issues, colds and fevers, and lots more. Grab your...

I've been promising this episode for months, and it's finally here! Christian is joining me to finally share the entire charter school saga and trust me-- it's a doozy! It's the hardest project we've ever done by far, but also one of the best.  Listen in for our darkest times, our biggest victories, and our most poignant lessons. Even if you have no interested in charter s...

Who would have thought the world of olive oil would be so fascinating? From the "Agromafia" to "Three cough oils" to how to develop your palate like an olive oil connoisseur, this is an episode you won't want to miss!  I'm joined by T.J. Robinson, the "olive oil hunter" himself to dive into the ins and outs of this ancient oil and why it matters more than yo...

Tis the season for fresh garden dreams and pretty seed catalogs. It's easy to get swept away in the excitement of a new season, but before you whip out the credit card and order a pile of new seeds, take a moment to listen to this episode.  I'm sharing some money-saving advice that will not only help your garden to be more efficient, but also save you some cash in the process. Podcast Ep...

If you have a homestead of any kind, failures are inevitable. And the beginning of a new year is the perfect time to create action plans on how to prevent missteps in the coming year.  In this podcast episode, I'll share my 4-step Homestead Reset Framework that I use for figuring out why certain aspects of my homestead failed, and how to make it better in the coming year. Podcast Episode High...

Whew! 2023 was a doozy and not without some major mountain top AND valley moments. Join me as I break down my biggest wins (and lessons) of the past year. Podcast Episode Highlights Lesson #1: Be extremely careful about who you partner with on big projects (business, homesteading, etc.) Lesson #2: Always listen to your gut Lesson #3: No one is coming to save you Lesson #4: If you want to advance i...

You’ve probably heard me say that starting your own seeds is one of the most cost-effective things you can do on your homestead. And while it's not difficult, a lot of people struggle with it.  I'm thrilled to be joined by THE seed starting guru today, Shawn McLoughlin of All About the Garden. Never in my life have I met a person this passionate and driven to understand every detail rela...

They're two of the most burning questions in the homestead world right now: "How do I find land?" and "How can I make money from my land?" In the current economy, this can feel like an impossible task. Today I'm thrilled to be joined by someone that has created a bulletproof framework on this very subject. Jaymie Friesen has not only created incredible income from his...

Here on the podcast we talk a lot about choosing an old-fashioned path. Sometimes that’s skills like cooking or gardening, but other times, it’s a definitive choice in how we choose to think and move through life. I believe one of the most powerful old-fashioned practices we can adopt is to push against the modern victim mindset.  Today I’m thrilled to be joined by Mike Roberts of The Converse Cow...

It's time for another Q & A, and this time-- I'm answering the more personal questions I've been getting. From "What religion are you?" to "what homeschool curriculum do you use?" to "have you ever wanted to quit homesteading?" we're getting vulnerable, real, and a little bit spicy in today's episode! Learn more about my Old-Fashioned on P...

While there are many ways to squirrel away food for later, one of the most old-fashioned options is fermentation. However, this method is often shrouded in mystery... Is it really safe? What if it tastes weird? What if you don't have a root cellar? How do fermented foods compare to probiotics?  Wild fermentation revivalist Jamie Powell joins me in this podcast episode to answer all these ques...

We're stepping on ALL the toes in today's episode! I was thrilled to have Austin and his family from the popular Homesteady podcast & Youtube channel swing by our home to record this episode in person. We held nothing back in talking about some of the biggest myths and misconceptions in the homesteading world. Do you agree with our takes on these issues? I can't wait for you to...

Our modern era has wreaked havoc on many aspects of our health, but perhaps nothing is as concerning as what conventional life is doing to our guts.  In this podcast episode, I'm joined by holistic nutritionist and gut health guru Josh Dech to take a DEEP dive into why America has some of the worst gut health in the world. Josh is excellent at explaining these topics in a practical, tactical,...