Old Fashioned On Purpose

Homesteading in harsh environments... Can it be done and is it worth it? Today we cover the good, the bad, and all the encouragement you need in this episode. Sarah Allison, my guest last week, joins us again this week for this informative episode that's going to inspire you. Because, yes, homesteading is something you can do, no matter where you live. Ready to join the newsletter for maveric...

Is it possible to homestead while also caring for aging parents? Today's guest Sarah Allison not only dispels any fears you might have but also dives into practical tips that you're going to love. So whether your parents might need to someday move onto your homestead, or you're already caring for your older parents and wonder if you could ever start a homestead too... this episode w...

Today I am so excited to have Ed Laivo join us.  Ed is an edible landscaping specialist, with a focus on small space gardening. I'm pretty sure he's going to convince you  that everyone can grow food, even when they have very little space. With over 40 years of extensive experience in plant production, he's pretty inspiring. Book mentioned in the podcast episode: Edible Landscaping...

Today I'm talking with Bob Osborne, columnist on CBC radio,  a Canadian farmer with more than 40 years of experience with all things apples, and the author of a brand new book, Hardy Apples. Bob and I chat about how to grow healthy apples (even in cold climates), talk about the Renaissance of apples, and discuss why there are thousands of different apples out there but only the standard five...

Today I’m talking to 67-year-old Cheri, who is running a 20-acre homestead, complete with milk cows, goats, sheep, chickens, gardens and more. And she’s doing it alone.  Cheri breaks down encouraging tips explaining how anyone can do this. I think you’ll love this episode. And Im pretty sure I want to be Cheri when I grow up. Ready to join the newsletter for mavericks who value free-thinking, ditc...

What does it look like to homestead as a teen? What if you're a teen who longs to homestead, but your family doesn't own a farm? What are practical ways you can work towards your dream? Today Kayla Visser has some helpful, encouraging insights for you. Kayla was managing her own business at 9 (seriously) and many aspects of her family’s brand-new homestead at 13. Kayla has been a member...

Join in as I chat with this husband and wife team, Chad & Tara Philipp, of She's Rooted Home, about how they managed to build a homestead in the Southern California Mohave desert. Surrounded by tumbleweeds, with Juniper berry bushes as the only occasional “greenery," they've built a thriving homestead. They share with me how they overcame the numerous obstacles of life in such a...

Today's guest, Kathi Rodgers of Oakhillhomestead.com, not only encourages us that it is possible to homestead effectively throughout the retirement years, but she gives us practical tips to downsizing wisely, and effectively tweaking the way you do things, as you look toward homesteading during the golden years. Where you can find Kathi : oakhillhomestead.com facebook.com/OakHillHomestead ins...

From jogging strollers to dandelions, this episode we're breaking down lots of ways to see things differently when you're homesteading with littles, how to make them a team member on your homestead early on, and why you can expect your kids to rise to the occasion. Find my beef here: Genuine Beef Co. Learn more about Freedom Foundry here ---> http://freedomfoundry.us Ready to join the...

It's calving season, I'm deep into writing book #2 (this one isn't a cookbook), and I thought it was time to catch you up on some things. In this episode we'll talk about what's going on with me and social media lately, why I've been craving deep dives into meaty topics, what I'm reading currently, and (drum roll please!) the exciting theme of next season here on...

Join me as I sit down with one of my very favorite persons, Michelle Visser. Michelle's family raises pigs on their New England farm. (In fact, reach out to Michelle if you're looking for a great source of pasture-raised pork in the New Hampshire area.) Michelle is also a published author and my Marketing & Project Manager (pretty much one of my right hands on The Prairie Homestead t...

Today we're diving deep into the unseen world of sourdough microbes. Karyn Newman, author of the new book Sourdough by Science , personifies the many parts of our sourdough starters and explains the chemistry happening in our kitchens to help us make perfect sourdough loaves. Every time. Find out the best time to feed your starter, why the fridge is your starter's friend,  and what chara...

Today we're talking about meat in a way we haven't before here on the podcast.  My good friend, Justin Rhodes, is sitting down with me to talk about his version of what some people might call the carnivore diet, or the zero carb diet. Basically, we're talking about what it looks like to eat an exclusively animal-based diet. We're debunking casseroles,  joking about cabbage kill...

With my guest today, certified nutritionist Karalynne Call, we’re breaking down the details you need to know about the ingredients you find on the grocery store shelves. We discuss many red flags to watch for and a great rule of thumb for someone just starting out on this effort to choose the best ingredients. Karalynne Call is a mom of 6 who began her own health journey 15 years ago after battlin...

With today’s guest, Lisa Steele of Fresh Eggs Daily, we’re taking a deep dive into farm fresh eggs and talking about all the elephants in the coop, so to speak. We chat about salmonella. We discuss the flaws to the float test, what an egg’s bloom really is, what about fresh eggs bring out our angry side, Lisa’s favorite way to preserve eggs (and why she doesn’t do it often), the down side of refri...

In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to be chatting with a long-time friend, Lisa Bass, of Farmhouse on Boone.  Lisa talks about how she lived the farm life while living in town. And how she cooked like a homesteader before she even owned a farm. And Lisa and I delve deep into a topic that has always been a thorn in my side. Lisa breaks down the secrets behind her meal planning, how she’s developed a...

We’re diving into a topic we’ve never discussed here before, and I think you’re going to love the insight Stacy Lyn Harris brings to this “meaty” episode.  We’re breaking down the numerous benefits to hunted meats, comparing grass-fed beef to wild meat, talking about how to hunt even if you don’t own land to hunt on, and even walking through exactly how to start if you’re new to hunting and how to...

A Skeptic's Guide to Eating Offal I have to confess. There I was, a homesteader who has been raising and butchering our meat for well over a decade, but I didn’t even know the proper way to pronounce “offal,” not alone how to process organ meats to make nutritional meals out of them.  And I didn’t know if I wanted to know.  Today I'm talking about the liver and the heart and lots of othe...

What Stage of Homesteading are You In? In today’s episode, we’re talking about a true light-bulb moment for me, when I realized that homesteading happens in distinct stages and I realized which stage we were in and why. We define the 3 stages and talk about what takes you in—and out—of each stage. This episode will challenge you to seriously challenge yourself with a palpable life plan, remind you...

Greetings again my friends! While it was great to take some time off and enjoy the holidays with my family, I’m thrilled to kick off this new season of the podcast. While there has been a huge shift over the past few years toward grassfed products, some people find the taste of real foods somewhat shocking. The truth is, products like eggs, dairy, and beef can taste different than what most people...

We made it! Yes my friends, we've made it to the end of another season, and what a season it has been. Throughout the past couple months, I've been discussing how to opt out of many of the systems that govern modern life. While I've enjoyed creating a new style of content and discussing new topics I've never talked about before, it has come with a fair share of criticism. In to...

While we've been discussing opting out of various systems throughout this entire season, most of our solutions have been to seek out things that aren't necessarily mainstream. However, there is one area of the food system that most of you have the opportunity to take ownership of in your own home. In today's episode, I'm joined by my friend Bailey Vantassel, a garden blogger an...

It's no secret at this point. No matter where you look, it's likely supply chain issues have had some type of impact on your life. Even though I strive to be as independent as possible, I'm not immune to these issues either. We still rely on the store for things like chicken feed, pig feed, seeds, and other essential items needed to keep the homestead running. On today's episod...

While opting out of chemical laden food seems like a no-brainer for everyone, there's another not-so-obvious industry that effects all of our daily lives. Whether it's hand soaps, lotion, shampoo, or make-up, cosmetics and skincare products carry some of the most toxic chemicals out there. So how do we combat this problem? Today I'm thrilled to be joined by my friend Emily Toups. Em...

Have you ever wondered why real food can seem so expensive? I know I have, and there were even times in my life where I opted to take the cheaper route when it comes to my food choices. However, please be aware that the price you're paying for your food doesn't ultimately doesn't reflect the total cost. In today's episode, I cover the true costs of some of your favorite foods,...