Pioneering Today Podcast - Homesteading in a Modern World

Today we're learning how we can grow MORE food with LESS work by using food forests with my guest Takota Coen. This podcast includes information about what a food forest is, how they're restorative to nature, and how you can grow one no matter what climate or growing zone you're in. For more information and any links mentioned in this episode, visit https://melissaknorris.com/440 .

Join me with my guest Dr. Torrie Thompson. This is the functional doctor I've been working with to eliminate toxins for the past 9 months now. In today's episode we're diving into all things toxins. From where we get exposed to them, how to eliminate them and avoid them, to how to detox from toxins. I'm even asking her all the questions I've been gathering from you, my listeners. This is one jam-p...

Join me with Back to Eden master Paul Gautschi as we discuss basic methods for using woodchips in the garden. He walks me through some of the common mistakes I made and how to fix them. I'm happy to report that just a couple of months after implementing these strategies, I've already seen massive improvements in my garden. For more information and any links mentioned in this episode, visit https:/...

This week I'm sharing my favorite easy and FAST preservation methods. When the harvest comes on, it's not always convenient timing. But we don't want all our efforts to go to waste. Learn about my top four go-to preservation methods when I need to preserve food fast. Some of them can buy you time until you're ready for a larger preservation session! Learn more and find any links mentioned in this...

This week I'm excited to have Laura Gilmour on the podcast talking about herbal elixirs, shrubs, cocktails and mocktails. She's given me plenty of inspiration to start using my herb garden to create incredible drinks with health benefits! Laura also shared her favorite drink recipe using a blueberry and spruce shrub that sounds incredible. You can find that recipe and any other links mentioned in...

This week I'm sharing part two of my health journey and updating you on my six-month toxin results. Though I'm not going to disclose my exact detox protocol (because it's so individualized based on my numbers and labs), I will be sharing some basic changes you can make in your life to immediately reduce your toxin exposure. For more information and any links mentioned in this episode, visit https:...

This week I'm sharing my health journey and update on some toxin testing I've been doing for better health. It's been quite the journey, but one I'm happy to share about because I know I'm not the only one struggling from years of exposure to PFAS (or "forever chemical"). Unfortunately, our bodies don't know what to do with these chemicals and the results can be devastating to our health. For more...

Join me with guest Marc Warnke as he nearly convinces me to get goats again! We're talking all things raising goats, from the space and supplies required, time it takes to milk them daily, and the various uses they have around the homestead. He's a wealth of information and you'll definitely want to check out the corresponding blog post for the resources mentioned. For more information and any lin...

Join me as I continue on in this Homesteading 101 Series (Back to the Basics). Today's episode is all about the basics of preserving. There are ten different methods I'll discuss in today's podcast, listed in order from what I consider to be the easiest to the most difficult. I truly believe in layering on skillsets to help prevent overwhelm. If you're new to preserving, this podcast will be a tre...

In the realm of sustainable farming practices, regenerative agriculture has really come to the forefront of our attention. It provides hope with a holistic approach to land stewardship that goes beyond mere sustainability to actively restore and regenerate ecosystems. But what exactly is regenerative agriculture, and why does it matter? Join me with Noble Research Institutes Jim Johnson as he shar...

This week I'm sharing a bit more about my own health journey and what I learned about the dangers of soda. I'm excited to have CeAnne Kosel from Farmhouse Teas joining me as she's a wealth of information when it comes to making your own healthy homemade soda alternatives that actually taste good and that your family will love. If you'd like to learn more from CeAnne, she'll be at this year's Moder...

While I continue my podcast break, please enjoy this podcast episode that was published as a YouTube video only. I'm interviewing Dr. Patrick Jones on the medicinal herbs I'm growing in my garden, plus discussing many of their uses. If you're looking to grow a medicinal herb garden, you'll definitely want to check out the post that goes with this interview as it's jam-packed with more herbal info....

I know last week I said I'd be taking a break from podcasting, and while that's still true, I just couldn't leave you all hanging for three whole weeks. So this week and next week I have a couple of special podcast episodes that originally aired as video interviews over on YouTube with Dr. Patrick Jones from Homegrown Herbalist. In this podcast, he's sharing his wisdom of herbal medicine and veter...

Join me with my guest Deanne Converse as we discuss ways to become more self-sustainable with our livestock feed costs. Deanne is sharing her years of experience in feeding livestock without the feed store. With the rise in feed costs over the past few years, this is one podcast you won't want to miss. We're not only talking about how to feed cattle, but chickens, pigs, sheep, goats and more. For...

Join me as I continue on in this Homesteading 101 Series (Back to the Basics). Today's episode is all about the basics of raising livestock, and I'll heavily focus on cattle. If you've ever wanted to raise your own grass-fed, grass-finished beef then this is the podcast for you. I'm giving you all the basics you need in today's episode, plus many links for additional resources. For more informatio...

Join me and my guest, Don Tipping from Siskiyou Seeds as we discuss the history of seeds and seed saving and how it's changed over the past 100 years. Our conversation takes a deep dive into how seed companies source their seed (this may surprise you!) and how to know you're getting quality seeds with the exact characteristics you want. For more information and any links mentioned in this episode,...

Join me and my guest, Susan Poizner, as we discuss the basics of growing fruit trees. With a few tips under your belt, you'll know what fruit tree varieties will work best for your climate, when to plant your trees, and the nine tips for getting your fruit trees to grow fast! Susan also covers some mistakes to avoid when planting new fruit trees and we briefly cover how to protect your trees from...

Join me as I continue on in this Homesteading 101 Series (Back to the Basics). Today's episode is all about the basics of gardening. Which ultimately means understanding the basics of soil. You don't have to be a soil expert, or a biochemist to understand how to know if your soil is good (or how to amend it, if needed). However, if you don't pay attention to your soil quality, it doesn't matter ho...

Join me for this podcast interview with Dr. Christopher Hobbs as we discuss the health benefits of mushrooms. The benefits are vast, and when you consider that you can easily grow mushrooms at home (or forage for them nearly everywhere), it gets even more exciting. Ever since I found healing from stomach acid and ulcers by changing the food I ate, I've continued down the rabbit hole of using our f...

One of the crops that's easily overlooked for growing a sustainable food source on the homestead is the nut tree. As with fruit trees, once a nut tree is established, it can produce food for your family for decades (and even generations) to come. Learn which nut trees are best for your homestead needs with David Hughes from Rock Bridge Trees. He's sharing his best tips on nut tree care and mainten...

Join me for this podcast series on Homesteading 101: Back to the Basics. We know countless people are joining this homesteading movement, and I would like to hold the door open and welcome you in. In this series we'll be discussing the five pillars of homesteading: gardening, livestock, homestead cooking, preserving and herbal medicine. Though this series won't be a comprehensive step-by-step on h...

For the first time ever, genetically modified seeds have been made available to the common gardener for home use. I've been hearing from many home gardeners how excited they are to grow this new variety of tomato in their home garden, which to be honest, surprises me. Which makes me wonder if everyone knows exactly what GMO seeds are, and if we ought to be concerned? In today's podcast, I'm diving...

Are you under the impression that you live in a pretty secure area, free of threats from natural disasters or wide-spread emergencies? I invite you to listen to today's podcast and you may reconsider just how prepared you and your family are. Emergencies happen in the blink of an eye, and if you're not ready, they can be catastrophic. Join me with Jeff Anderson from Warrior Life as he shares his k...

Now is the time to be thinking about your medicinal herb gardens. When planning to stock your herbal medicine cabinets, the planning starts well before harvest. Whether you're growing your own medicinal herbs, just getting started with an herb garden, or purchasing herbs, tinctures, or other herbal remedies already made, now is the time to plan to stock up for the year. Come listen to this episode...

With meat labeling laws being changed right before our eyes, it's getting harder and harder to trust where our meat is coming from, and how it was raised and processed. Will Harris and his daughter Jenni from White Oak Pastures share the steps consumers can take to regain control over the food industry. For more information and any links mentioned in this episode, visit melissaknorris.com/416 .