It's another random audience questions podcast episode (and blog post) where I pull five questions from my giant mason jar of topics you've sent in. Today's questions are about my favorite podcasts, multi-generational living, my circle of friends, quitting a side hustle, and Ruth Stout gardening.

If you'd like to add a question to my jar for a future episode please email it to [email protected] or message me on social media.

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1 - The podcasts I listen to:

I'm a regular listener of your podcast and enjoy the wisdom you share with your listeners. Just like you, I like to listen to podcasts while working on our homestead. What podcasts do you listen to? Thank you. Sincerely, Karen

Thanks for your question, Karen! I love listening to podcasts. I have many that I listen to, but the ones I try to catch every episode of are:

Living Free in Tennesse

The Survival Podcast

Unloose the Goose

Cabinet of Curiosities

Lore

American Shadows

The Box of Oddities

2 - Pros and cons of multi-generational living:

I’m a long time listener and I’ve heard you mention occasionally that at some point in your adult life, you, your husband and kids, and your parents all lived together in a multi generational home. Was that experience intentional? I’m curious if you can talk about the pros and cons of that experience and why (to my knowledge) it’s not how things are set up anymore. My wife and I are considering multi-generational living with our four kids (ages 3-10) and her parents. It’s something we’ve always considered, but as we look at the state of the world, we think about making this move a lot more. I’m just wondering if there is a negative side to it. I’m guessing there is. Thanks for considering my question. -Brad

Back in the day it was always our plan to buy a piece of property, put two houses up on it, and have a sort of family commune where we all lived together—but how this all panned out for us was a lot different than we planned.

Back in 2007 my husband and I sold our little house on main street with the intention of pooling our money with my parents to buy a piece of property. Our house unexpectedly sold in 24 hours, and so we asked my parents, hey, can we crash in your basement for a bit while we work to find this farm?

Long story short, a little bit ended up being four years. (Remember the economy in 2008-2009? Yeah. That's a whole 'nother podcast episode.) When we found our farm (the place we are in now) my parents sold their house and moved up to the farm with us.

You are correct that we no longer live multi-generationally. My parents ended up divorcing (which had nothing to do with our living arrangement ;)) and are both remarried now.

There are lots of pros to multi-generational living, and also some things to be aware of:

Pros: 

Many hands make light work.

Super productive.

Working as a team.

Pooling your resources.

Be aware of:

People need their space.

Set boundaries so resources aren't taken advantage of.

Someone's problem is everyone's problem.

Possible disagreement over parenting strategies/life choices when other people are always in close proximity.

I don't regret our time living in a multi-generational home. I think there are many benefits and things to be gained from it. Just be sure you have good communication and are able to sit down and discuss your expectations/concerns before you get into it, and make sure the communication lines stay open once you jump in.

 

3. My circle of friends:

 I sometimes wonder if people in the podcasting world all hang out together. Do you and Nicole Sauce know each other?