The Homestead Journey

Raising kids on a homestead leads to some interesting conversations.  They learn so much about life by living the homesteading lifestyle.  They learn about the birds and the bees, the cycle of life, the fragility of life and so much more. Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/blog http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/newsletter http://www.thehomeste...

On this episode, we begin a multipart series about raising kids on a homestead.  Over the next several weeks we'll talk about how life on the homestead leads to lessons in life, death and loss, responsibility, and value of hard work and food.  And we'll end the series with an interview with my son, Brian Jr.  However, to kick things off, we talk about the importance of involving your kid...

On this episode I am joined once again by Jack Pollner from The Mindful Homestead as we discuss homestead scale maple syrup production.  We also discuss why Jack decided NOT to make maple syrup this year on his homestead.   In this episode we mention his barrel evaporator: This Barrel Will Make Liquid Gold! - DIY Barrel Maple Evaporator Pt 1 This Barrel Will Make Liquid Gold! - DIY Barrel Maple Ev...

On this episode, I am honored to be joined by Amy Dingmann from the blog and podcast, A Farmish Kind of Life.    Her podcast was one of the first homesteading podcasts I discovered and she has been a source of encouragement to me.  Part of the reason why is because Amy keeps it real.  In a world where many times content creators focus on the Instagram worthy and neglect the "ugly parts"...

This week I received confirmation of what I had feared.  The farm truck will cost more to repair than it's worth.  And so, now it's time for me, a guy who is so not a car guy, to begin searching for a new farm truck.  And so I decided to reach out to some local buddies of mine to have them help me talk through what I need to consider.  Hopefully, if you find yourself in a similar spot, y...

Last year I bought the Proletariat Wire Weeder (aka hoe, although that seems to get people in trouble on Facebook and Youtube).  And so after using it for a season, I decided to give you my thoughts on it.  Spoiler alert, I highly recommend it.  And so I reached out to Never Sink Tools and asked for a coupon code and they delivered.  Use code: HOMESTEADJOURNEY at checkout for 5% off any wire hoe o...

We are back, kicking off season 3.  And we are starting with a garden episode.  I think that no matter how long you've been gardening, you struggle with deciding what to plant and how much to plant.  And that all starts with knowing how much and what to buy from a seed perspective.  Seeds aren't cheap.  Garden space is at a premium.  And so on this episode, I share with you 5 things I th...

Back in December, when I put the podcast on hiatus, I promised you that I would come back with at least one more episode to let you know if I was going to quit for good or continue on. On this episode, I reveal that decision. Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHome...

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Part of the feedback I got from the survey was a suggestion that I share some of the books I find helpful.  This is the list General Homesteading: 1. Back to Basics 2. The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It: The Complete Back-to-Basics Guide by John Seymore 3. From Home To Small Town Homestead: Pursuing Self-Sufficiency and Sustainability No Matter Where You Live by Harold Thornbro 4. The Enc...

This week I ran across an article entitled: Meet the Appalachian Apple Hunter Who Rescued 1,000 ‘Lost’ Varieties It is the story of a retired chemical engineer named Tom Brown who since 2001 has been searching for and "rescuing" apple varieties from the Appalachians.  He actually stumbled across this "hobby" by visiting a farmer's marked in 1998 where he found a little sta...

My buddy Jack Pollner from the Mindful Homestead and I have been talking for awhile about whether or not a homesteading convention in New England is needed.   And I also wonder if other regional conventions might be needed?  So, on this episode we talk about that. Below, are a list of conventions that I am aware of along with their "region" as I see it. Homesteaders of America (Southeast...

If you are new to raising chickens and you live in a place that has colder winters, you may wonder what you should do to ensure you properly care for your chickens during the winter.  On this episode we talk about 3 very common mistakes people make when winterizing chicken coops.   Also, keep in mind that during the month of November, 2021, you can fill out the survey found at http://thehomesteadj...

This week I ran across this article that discusses the importance of fermentation to gut health (microbiome) and I found it very fascinating.  As someone who has struggled with gastro-intestinal issues and has found help through fermented products, it really resonated with me.  I challenge you to read the article and I hope you enjoy my thoughts. You can fill out the survey I mentioned by going he...

In February of 2019, approximately 4 months after we took delivery of our Kioti CK3510SE, I did a video about why we purchased that particular tractor.  I have had many people ask for a follow up video and so now, after 3 years of ownership, I am following that video up with the issues I've had with the tractor as well as my thoughts on whether or not I'd buy it again. You can fill out t...

The most watched video on my Youtube channel is my initial thoughts on our Kioti CK3510SE.  Very frequently, I have been asked about providing an update to that video since we have had our tractor now for 3 years.  But, before I do an update on that, I thought that perhaps an episode on some of the things a homesteader should consider when buying a tractor would be helpful  And so, on this episode...

One of the members of the supporting listeners program reached out to me with recommendations on a burner for outdoor canning.  And so on today's episode, I share with you some of the things you should consider when coming up with a setup for outdoor canning.    National Center For Home Food Preservation Pennstate Extension Camp Chef Explorer Stove Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney...

On this podcast, I am joined by Meredith Leigh, the person who ran the charcuterie workshop that Jack and I talked about last week.  We talk about her journey into teaching (which may surprise you) as well as why ethical meat is so important. Information about the upcoming charcuterie class in Maryland can be found here .   http://www.mereleighfood.com/ https://www.fermentationschool.com Links to...

Last weekend, I attended with Jack Pollner a charcuterie intensive course in Massachusetts.  I also was privileged to spend a few nights with Jack, Jackie and Emma at The Mindful Homestead .  And so, on this episode Jack and I talk about what we learned and enjoyed about the course that was taught by Meredith Leigh. We talk about two of her books: The Ethical Meat Handbook Pure Charcuterie: The Cr...

On this episode I am honored to be joined by Carl from The Self Sufficient Hub Podcast .   Carl is a homesteader living in the UK with his wife and young family.  He hosts the self sufficient hub podcast and YouTube channel and is 3 years into working towards self sufficiency. This September he is undertaking a self sufficient challenge where he is only eating things he can procure himself - right...

Back on episode 46, I shared with you 10 things you can do now to set yourself up for success with next year's garden.  Using those thoughts as a springboard, I share with you on this episode some of the lessons I've learned this year and things I'll be doing next year to achieve an even more abundant harvest.   Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehom...

On today's episode we talk about lacto-fermentation.  Can you believe that I am 100 episodes in, and I haven't dedicated an episode to this topic?  I couldn't believe it myself.  So, today we talk about what it is, it's benefits, and how easy it is to get started doing it. Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.faceb...

Sometimes I can get so focused on raising and growing food that I lose sight of other things.  On this episode I talk about a big mistake I almost made and why sometimes, the homestead needs to take second fiddle to other things in your life. Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtu...

This week was our county fair . And, for us, when it's fair time, nothing else matters..... And this year I was honored to be asked to speak once again on the topic of modern homesteading.  And so this week's episode is all about our time at the fair and includes the talk I gave. Because this was recorded at the fair, the audio isn't as good as it usually is, but my hope is that it...

Sometimes we have a dream.  It's something that you seemingly can't shake.  It can start to consume you.  You share it with other people.  Instead of thinking you're crazy, they see the vision.  And they buy into it.  And it starts to consume them.  And then it doesn't work out. That can be soul crushing.  It can be demoralizing.  And I think many, many homesteaders have been t...