Small Scale Life Podcast

Our topic this week on the Adam and Tom Live (ANT LIVE) is “Mindset and Milestones: Prepping for a Life Upgrade.” Before you step out on that limb and begin a new venture, there needs to be a shift in your mindset as and your prep for a life upgrade. Starting a new job, new small business, a new project, going in a different direction or starting over again from scratch takes planning, preparation...

In Episode 229 of the Small Scale Life Podcast, my friend Adam Rick joins me as we discuss the importance of getting away on a short vacation or short trip. Both Adam and I went away this weekend. One of us had a get-away with his spouse; the other had a get-away with his son and friends (and their sons) on a fishing trip. There are a lot of benefits to getting away for the weekend. We’ll talk abo...

In this 228th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I had a chance to catch up with Adam Rick from Modern Frontier Farms in Dousman, Wisconsin. At the same time, Adam and I are kicking off a new Livestream on the Small Scale Life YoutTube Channel on Monday nights at 7:30 PM Central. This is the audio from that first show. Adam Rick is my brother from another mother and owner/creator of Modern F...

In this 227th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, Tom discusses 9 Types of Garden Fertilizers and How to Use Them. Tom has tried different methods to improve plant growth in his gardens over the years, and he shares his experience and "recipes" with you. This is intended to be a high level discussion of different fertilizers including Miracle Grow, Mittleider Method Micro-Nutrients, Used Coff...

In this 226th episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast Tom discusses four garden failures in the 2024 Season, why he suspects these plants are failing and how he plans to change things up to make more productive self-watering garden beds. Yes....Tom just built the garden ion June 2024, and yes, he is going to make some changes already! Listen to find out more. For more information about Gardening a...

In this 225th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I recorded a video and audio while I was IN the garden, so this is truly a garden chat with your lovable host Tom.  In this episode, I discuss the garden build project including the fencing, the border, mulch, gates, Wicking Bed Planters and Hybrid Rain Gutter Grow System Planters.  I talk about cabbage worms eating my broccoli, how...

In this 224th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I discuss three critical elements of vegetable garden layout design and planning. I have always said that there are three elements for successfully growing plants: light, water and nutrients. It is time to take these three elements from theory to reality as I show you how these three elements impacted my new vegetable garden layout here at The...

In this 223rd Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I discuss the Whole30 Reintroduction Phase. This is a critical part of the process, and I have 8 Tips for a successful Whole30 Reintroduction Phase. Remember: this part of the Challenge is incredibly important, so please take this phase slow and don’t rush through it. We are on Day 30 of our April 2024 Whole30 Challenge! We have arrived! ...

Happy Spring, everyone! In this 222nd Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I am going to discuss attending my first Beekeeper Conference called Beek Meet 2024 and 5 Lessons Learned from Beekeepers at the conference. While I am not a beekeeper, I found the conference incredibly interesting, educational and entertaining. I also met some really great folks at the conference, and I had a chance to...

In this 221st Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I am going to look back at our experiences with the Whole30 Challenge in 2019, 2020 and 2024. I will discuss some of the lessons learned and “non-scale wins,” and I will finish by talking about Next Steps including a new Whole30 Challenge on April 1, 2024! For show notes and links, head over to smallscalelife.com .

It's a Leap Year Episode Small Scale Life Podcast! Episode 220 was recorded at 2:22 PM on 2/29/2024 (look at all those 2's), so you know this was a special, foundational show. In this episode, your Host Tom introduces the Whole30 Challenge and summarizes the basic rules of this elimination diet. There are plenty of do's and don'ts, but do not let the rules stop you. By doing the Whole30 Challenge,...

Happy New Year, friends! Welcome to 2024! The Small Scale Life Podcast has been silent since April 26, 2023. At that point, we had just announced that we were selling Driftless Oaks Farm, which was our little 10-acre hobby farm in Western Wisconsin. We had a lot of discussions, a lot of soul searching and a lot of work leading up to that point, and what happened afterward was nothing short of a mi...

Are we really selling Driftless Oaks Farm? Julie and I just bought and moved to the farm almost two years ago and got everything we ever wanted...or did we? Tune in to Episode 218 of the Small Scale Life Podcast to find out who, what, when, where and why!

In this 217th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I talk about Tipping Points and Getting Back to Basics. We have seen bank collapses before, and it didn't go well for us in 2008. It is a reminder to get back to Small Scale Living and growing/canning our own food. I have to tell you: the bank closures and bank runs remind me so much of the Lehman Brothers collapse of 2008. It made me pause as...

In this 216th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I continue the conversation with my friend Adam Rapier from Colorado. We are going to discuss Starting a Beekeeping Business including different small business niches in the Beekeeping world. Now, I know many of you are not beekeepers and will never be beekeepers, but I hope you hold on and stay tuned to this episode. Like walking through a ga...

In this 215th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I continue the conversation with my friend Adam Rapier from Colorado. We are going to dive into gardening and beekeeping in this episode. We discuss some fantastic garden beds they built at Adam's parent's house, and we discuss the start of their beekeeping journey. If you want to find The Rapier Ranch or High Desert Hives, there are links to...

In Small Scale Life Podcast Episode 214, I talk with my friend Adam about his family's journey to starting High Desert Hives and Homestead in Colorado. How does a successful guy decide to walk away from the hustle and bustle of city life and a fast paced corporate job and move to the country to start a garden, grow a thriving beekeeping business and raise boys in a world of freedom and wonder? Lis...

In this 213th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I am talking with my friend Maria the Intuitive Energy Healer about How to Set Your 2023 Guiding Words and Mantras. This is building on last week's Small Scale Life Podcast where I discussed 10 Goal Setting and Self Inventory Questions to Start 2023 , so if you haven't listened to that one, you should (it's not required, but you should). Worki...

In this 212th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast (and first episode of 2023), I am talking about 10 Goal Setting and Self Inventory Questions to Start 2023. From my own work while on vacation and after my birthday, I am starting the 2023 Project Me Initiative. As part of the New Year self inventory and goal setting exercise, I have 10 questions that I have asked myself (and one bonus question...

The last Small Scale Life Podcast Episode was posted on September 9, 2022. This was two days before Danny passed away, and after a long road, we are back to say Merry Christmas and begin to shine our light once again. In this episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, your host Tom talks about the past three months including losing Danny and the long road since September 11, 2022. Tom reads a beauti...

Host Tommy Cakes provides a garden and homestead update here at Driftless Oaks Farm in this 210th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast. During the show, Tommy talks about the following topics: Change is in the Air - Fall and Winter are Coming! The Orchard - Criss Cross Apple Sauce The Land Provides - Sweet Corn and Wild Grapes Canning * Four Tips for Successful Canning * Corn Relish and Cowboy...

In this 209th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, your Wandering Gardener Host Tom talks with his friend Mr. Tactical Jay about the modern back to the land movement, setting big goals and creating a Jay's massive garden on the side of a mountain. This is Part 2 of an earlier conversation about the Modern Day Back to the Land Movement that has been happening in the United States as society see...

In this 208th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I am looking back in time to June 2022 where I was talking about projects and efforts at our Driftless Oaks Farm. The projects featured in this episode are: Removing Fence from the Blue and White Pens Cutting Box Elder Trees Building Wicking Beds out of 55 Gallon Food Grade Barrels Working on Operation WW Prepping to Plant Potatoes My Farm Jou...

In this 207th episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I introduce the Drifting to Driftless Series by focusing on my recent Adventure in Cedar Rapids, Mount Vernon and Decorah, IA. The Drifting to Driftless Series is where I share my adventures and wandering. It will be a regular feature on Small Scale Life. For pictures, videos and links from this "Drift," head on over to smallscalelife.com.

In this 206th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I am introducing two new efforts here at our Driftless Oaks Farm and on the Small Scale Life Podcast: My Farm Journal Operation WW My Farm Journal posts, videos and podcast episodes will document our progress and our observations of life at our little Driftless Oaks Farm. Operation WW is focused on cleaning up the Weeds and Woods at Driftless...