Think $25 can't do much for your garden? Think again.

In this episode I break down the exact numbers on why buying seedlings (not seeds) this year could save you well over $200 in grocery money — and I show you every calculation so you can do it yourself.

In This Episode

• Why sometimes buying seedlings beats saving seeds (and that's okay!)
• A farm update — walking without crutches after 10 months, garden prep, and Loki the buckling melting hearts
• The exact 5 punnets I'm buying at Bunnings this year, and why
• The real dollar-for-dollar maths on seedlings vs. supermarket prices
• Why "don't buy crops you don't eat" is the golden rule of getting a good return
• What you still need to budget for: water, soil health, and sunlight
• This week's challenge: plan your own $25 garden

$25 Seedling Maths

Five punnets from Bunnings, total cost $24.08 — here's what came out of the ground:

Seedling Cost App. Yield S/market Return

Iceberg lettuce $4.85 ~6 lettuces $3.50 each = $21.00 ~4x

Cherry tomatoes $4.85~3kg p/plant x6 $29.50/kg = $531 ~110x

Spring onions $4.85 ~12 bunches $3.00/bunch = $36.00 ~7x

Baby spinach $4.85 ~200g $49.00/kg = $9.80 ~2x

Parsley $4.68 ~9 bunches $4.50/bunch = $40.50 ~9x

Total spent: $24.08 → Total value: $254.80

That's not a one-off harvest either — tomatoes, spinach, and parsley in particular keep producing for months, so this isn't a "pick it all at once" return. It's ongoing.

The Golden Rule

Don't buy seedlings for crops your family won't actually eat.

Grow what replaces your regular supermarket purchases — for us that's lettuce, tomatoes, spring onions, baby spinach, and parsley, because they're things we'd otherwise be buying (and often wasting) every week.

Don't Forget

• Water — hand water if you're not getting regular rain
• Soil health — dig in your compost now, ahead of planting
• Sunlight — make sure your bed gets good light through the day
• Frost protection — cover seedlings on cold nights, mulch around the base

This Weeks Challenge

Start planning your own five punnets now for September planting:

1. Pick five crops your family will actually eat
2. Check prices on the Bunnings website
3. Prep the garden bed (and any frames you'll need for climbers)
4. Track what it costs you vs. what you'd have spent at the supermarket over summer

Links

Take the free Ditch the Store Score quiz: www.ditchthestore.com/dtsscore

Enjoyed this episode? Share your "store swap" pick — lettuce, baby spinach, spring onions, or parsley — and tag me on social media.

Do you really need to buy new seeds every spring?

The answer is… not always.

In this episode, we're talking about one of the simplest ways to become a little more self-sufficient—saving your own seeds. I'll explain why seed saving is worth learning, the difference between heirloom and hybrid varieties, and which vegetables are the easiest for beginners to collect seeds from.

I'll also share a farm update, explain why some plants don't play by the same rules, and walk you through how I store my own seeds so they're ready for next season.

In This Episode

• Why I stopped buying as many seed packets each year
• How seed saving helps you become more self-sufficient
• Choosing the best plants to collect seeds from
• Heirloom vs hybrid seeds explained simply
• The easiest vegetables to save seeds from
• How to save seeds from:
• The biggest mistakes beginners make when storing seeds
• Which plants don't grow true from saved seed
• Why pumpkins, zucchini and cucumbers can surprise you next season
• This week's Worth Spending Money On
• This Week's Store Swap
• This Week's Challenge
• Take the FREE Ditch the Store Score

Saving seeds won't make you completely self-sufficient overnight, but it's one less thing you'll need to buy next season. It's a simple habit that can save money, build resilience and help your garden become more self-sustaining year after year.

Resources

🌱 Take the FREE Ditch the Store Score:
https://www.ditchthestore.com/dtsscore

📲 Follow along on social media:
@mojohomestead

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with someone who's ready to grow more and rely a little less on the supermarket.

Have you ever wondered why some gardens seem to thrive while others constantly need more fertiliser, more water and more attention?

In this episode, we're talking about the biggest mistake many gardeners make – focusing on feeding the plant instead of feeding the soil.

I'll explain why healthy soil is the foundation of every productive vegetable garden, how poor soil can become an expensive cycle to break, and the simple things you can start doing now to build a garden that produces more while relying less on fertilisers and other bought products.

I'll also share a farm update, introduce our newest Anglo Nubian buckling, Loki, and chat about what we're doing around the property as we get ready for spring.

In this episode:

• Meet Loki, the newest (and noisiest!) member of the farm

• Why poor soil costs you more than you realise
• The fertiliser treadmill and how to avoid it
• Why healthy soil grows healthier plants
• What nature can teach us about building fertile soil
• Five practical ways to improve your soil naturally
• The pros and cons of different animal manures
• What green manure crops are and why they're worth trying
• A simple explanation of crop rotation
• This week's Worth Spending Money On
• This Week's Store Swap
• This Week's Challenge
• Take the FREE Ditch the Store Score

Whether you're just starting your first veggie patch or looking to improve the one you've already got, this episode will help you build healthier soil, grow stronger plants and spend less at the garden centre over time.

🌱 Take the FREE Ditch the Store Score:
https://www.ditchthestore.com/dtsscore

📲 Follow along on social media:
@mojohomestead

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with someone who's ready to rely a little less on the supermarket.

Eggs are one of the most valuable foods you can produce—or buy—but most of us only think about them at breakfast.

In this episode, I share 10 practical ways to use every egg well, reduce food waste, save money, and get more value from your backyard chickens (or your local egg supplier).

We'll cover preserving eggs, meal planning, using leftovers, making homemade mayonnaise, and simple ways to stretch every dozen further.

Whether you've got your own flock or you're just beginning your homesteading journey, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can put into action this week.

In this episode:

• Why eggs are one of the most versatile foods you can keep on hand
• Simple ways to stop wasting eggs

• How to preserve surplus eggs
• Easy meals that use plenty of eggs
• What to do with eggshells
• Homemade mayonnaise that tastes amazing
• Why planning beats panic-buying every time

This week's challenge

🥚 See how many different meals you can make using eggs this week.

Then take your Ditch The Store Score and see where you are on your self-sufficiency journey:

www.ditchthestore.com/dtsscore

If you're enjoying Ditch The Store, I'd really appreciate it if you could follow the podcast and leave a review. It helps more hardworking families discover practical ways to grow, make and raise more of their own food.

Everyone says chickens are the perfect first homesteading animal—but are they?

In this episode, I explain why I love chickens, why they're still one of the best additions to any homestead... and why they might not be the first step for everyone.

If you're just starting your journey towards self-sufficiency, we'll look at the practical skills that can save you money, build your confidence, and make keeping chickens much more rewarding when the time is right.

We also cover Australia's current bird flu situation, the real costs of keeping chickens, and a simple challenge that will help you rely a little less on the supermarket this week.

This week's takeaway

Before buying chickens, ask yourself:

"What's one thing I could stop buying from the supermarket?"

Start with one simple change. Build confidence. Then keep going.

Tag me at @MojoHomestead and let me know what supermarket swap you made—I love seeing what you're creating.

If you're enjoying Ditch The Store, please follow the podcast and leave a review. It helps more beginner homesteaders discover practical ways to take back control of their food supply.

Have you ever watched a beautiful cabbage, zucchini, or box of fresh vegetables slowly turn into compost while sitting in your fridge?

What if there was a way to preserve that food for months, improve its flavour, support your gut health, and do it all without a freezer, pressure canner, or expensive equipment?

In this episode of Ditch the Store, we're diving into one of humanity's oldest food preservation methods: fermentation.

From simple homemade sauerkraut to kimchi, sourdough, kombucha, and even fermented horse milk used by Mongolian nomads, we'll explore why fermentation has been helping people preserve food for thousands of years and how you can get started with nothing more than cabbage, salt, and a jar.

Whether you're a complete beginner or you've been curious about making your own fermented foods, this episode will give you the confidence to have a crack at it.

Beginner Sauerkraut Recipe

Ingredients

1kg cabbage

1 tablespoon non-iodised salt

• Finely shred the cabbage.
• Add salt.
• Massage thoroughly until brine begins to form.
• Pack tightly into a clean jar.
• Ensure cabbage remains completely submerged beneath the brine.
• Ferment for 7–21 days depending on temperature and taste preference.
• Refrigerate once the flavour reaches your liking.

✅ Keep the cabbage below the brine.

Air is the enemy of good sauerkraut.

Mentioned in This Episode

🌿 Mojo Homestead Freebies & Newsletter

https://www.mojohomestead.net

🌿 Ditch The Store Book Collection

https://www.mojohomestead.net/home/books

Next Week

🐔 Bird Flu Has Arrived in Australia — What Every Chicken Keeper Needs to Know

We'll separate fact from fiction, discuss what the current situation means for backyard chicken keepers, and look at practical biosecurity steps you can take to protect your flock without falling into panic mode.

Enjoying the Podcast?

If you're enjoying Ditch the Store, please consider leaving a review on your favourite podcast platform.

⭐ Your reviews help more people discover the show.

⭐ Five-star reviews may even earn you a shout-out in a future episode.

🎧 Subscribe for weekly episodes on:

• Homesteading

• Backyard chickens

• Food preservation

• Gardening

• Self-sufficiency

• Traditional skills

• Food security

• Ditching the supermarket one skill at a time

#DitchTheStore #Fermentation101 #Sauerkraut #FoodPreservation #Homesteading #GutHealth #FoodSecurity #TraditionalSkills #SelfSufficiency #FermentedFoods #MojoHomestead

Bird flu has officially arrived in Australia, and if you keep backyard chickens, you've probably seen plenty of headlines, social media posts, and opinions flying around.

But what does it actually mean for your flock?

Should you be worried?

Do you need to lock your chickens up?

What practical steps can you take to protect your birds without falling into panic mode?

In this episode of Ditch the Store, CJ separates fact from fiction and explains what backyard chicken keepers need to know about avian influenza, how it spreads, the signs to watch for, and the simple biosecurity measures that can help keep your flock safe. Based on the episode transcript.

In This Episode

🐔 What bird flu (avian influenza) actually is

🐔 What's happening in Australia right now

🐔 How bird flu spreads between birds

🐔 Why backyard chicken keepers should pay attention

🐔 Practical biosecurity measures you can implement today

🐔 Signs and symptoms to watch for in your flock

🐔 Whether free-range chickens are at greater risk

🐔 Could bird flu affect egg supplies and prices?

🐔 How to stay informed without falling into fear and misinformation

Key Takeaways

✅ Don't panic

✅ Focus on practical biosecurity

✅ Secure feed and water sources

✅ Limit contact with wild birds where possible

✅ Monitor your flock daily

✅ Stay informed through official sources

✅ Preparation is more useful than fear

Resources Mentioned

📧 Mojo Homestead Website

http://www.mojohomestead.net

🇦🇺 Official Australian Bird Flu Updates

https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/pests-diseases-weeds/animal/avian-influenza

Next Week

From Shell to Shelf: How to Store, Preserve & Use More Eggs

Enjoying the Podcast?

If you're enjoying Ditch the Store, please consider leaving a review on your favourite podcast platform.

⭐ Reviews help more people discover the show.

⭐ Five-star reviews may earn you a shout-out in a future episode.

🎧 Subscribe for weekly episodes on:

Backyard chickens

Homesteading

Food security

Gardening

Food preservation

Self-sufficiency

Traditional skills

Ditching the supermarket one skill at a time

#DitchTheStore #BirdFluAustralia #BackyardChickens #ChickenKeeping #Homesteading #FoodSecurity #AvianInfluenza #AustralianHomesteading #SelfSufficiency #MojoHomestead

Winter has settled in. The garden has slowed down, the chickens are taking their annual leave, and the shortest day of the year is almost here.

But what if this wasn't something to endure?

What if it was something to celebrate?

In this episode of Ditch the Store, CJ explores the history of Yule, the ancient midwinter festival that celebrated the longest night of the year and the return of the light. We look at how many familiar Christmas traditions have roots in older seasonal celebrations and why Yule still makes perfect sense for modern homesteaders.

Whether you're interested in history, seasonal living, family traditions, or simply finding a meaningful way to mark the winter solstice, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can use on your own homestead.

❄️ What Yule is and why it was celebrated

🔥 The connection between Yule, winter solstice, and Christmas traditions

🌲 The history behind Yule logs, evergreen decorations, candles, and midwinter feasts

🐔 Why seasonal living still matters for modern homesteaders

📝 Questions to reflect on as you review your homestead year

🍲 Simple and affordable Yule traditions you can start with your family

🌱 How winter planning can set you up for success in spring

• Light candles to celebrate the return of longer days
• Share a meal made from homegrown or preserved food
• Gather around a fire pit or fireplace
• Create decorations from natural materials
• Reflect on what worked (and didn't work) on your homestead this year
• Set goals for the coming growing season
• Practice gratitude for the lessons, harvests, and experiences of the past year

Winter may feel slow, but it isn't standing still.

Every day after the winter solstice brings a little more light, a little more warmth, and one step closer to spring.

Mentioned in this Episode

🌿 Join the Mojo Homestead mailing list:
www.mojohomestead.net

🌿 Follow Mojo Homestead for more homesteading tips, seasonal living inspiration, and practical self-sufficiency advice.

🥬 Fermentation 101 – Learn the basics of fermenting food, improving gut health, preserving harvests, and adding natural probiotics to your pantry.

🎧 Subscribe to Ditch the Store for weekly episodes on homesteading, food security, backyard chickens, gardening, livestock, self-sufficiency, and creating a more resilient lifestyle.

#DitchTheStore #Yule #WinterSolstice #Homesteading #SeasonalLiving #SelfSufficiency #ChristmasInJuly #MojoHomestead #BackyardHomestead #SimpleLiving #HomesteadLife #AustralianHomesteading

Have your hens suddenly stopped laying eggs? Before you panic and start questioning your chicken-keeping skills, take a breath.

If it's winter, there's a good chance your girls haven't quit their jobs—they've simply gone on annual leave.

In this episode of Ditch the Store, CJ explains why egg production drops (or stops completely) during winter, what a molt actually is, how daylight affects laying, and the practical steps you can take to help your flock through the season.

You'll learn:

🐔 Why shorter days—not cold weather—are usually responsible for reduced egg production

🐔 What happens during a molt and why hens need this natural rest period

🐔 How to tell the difference between a molting hen and a sick hen

🐔 The best high-protein foods to support feather regrowth

🐔 Common mistakes that can make a molt last longer

🐔 Whether artificial lighting is worth using in a backyard flock

🐔 What to expect as spring approaches and egg production returns

If you've opened the nesting box lately and found nothing but disappointment, this episode is for you.

✅ Join the Mojo Homestead mailing list: www.mojohomestead.net

✅ Upcoming book: Eggs Without Cartons – the complete guide to raising chickens for fresh backyard eggs

✅ Current book: Ditch the Store: From Brooder to Plate

Remember: winter doesn't last forever, and neither does a molt. Feed them well, keep them healthy, and the eggs will return.

🎧 Subscribe to Ditch the Store for practical homesteading advice on chickens, gardening, self-sufficiency, food security, and living a more independent life.

#DitchTheStore #BackyardChickens #ChickenKeeping #EggProduction #MoltingChickens #HomesteadingAustralia #SelfSufficiency #FarmLife #MojoHomestead #RaiseYourOwnFood

Mentioned in this episode:

Brooder to Plate - USA and Kindle https://amzn.to/44yQr2L

Brooder to Plate - Aussie version https://amzn.to/4eTcGnw

✅ Join the Mojo Homestead mailing list: www.mojohomestead.net✅ Upcoming book: Eggs Without Cartons – the complete guide to raising chickens for fresh backyard eggs✅ Current book: Ditch the Store: From Brooder to PlateBrooder to Plate - USA and Kindle ⁠https://amzn.to/44yQr2L⁠

Brooder to Plate - Aussie version ⁠https://amzn.to/4eTcGnw⁠Remember: winter doesn't last forever, and neither does a molt. Feed them well, keep them healthy, and the eggs will return.🎧 Subscribe to Ditch the Store for practical homesteading advice on chickens, gardening, self-sufficiency, food security, and living a more independent life.#DitchTheStore #BackyardChickens #ChickenKeeping #EggProduction #MoltingChickens #HomesteadingAustralia #SelfSufficiency #FarmLife #MojoHomestead #RaiseYourOwnFood

Southern Tablelands, NSW and cool-temperate Australia — June, July, August

LEAFY GREENS

Kale: Cavolo Nero / Tuscan Kale, Curly Kale,

Red Russian

Silverbeet / Rainbow Chard

English Spinach: Bloomsdale, Winter Giant — direct sow only

Mustard Greens

Asian Greens: Bok Choy, Pak Choi, Wombok/Chinese Cabbage

BRASSICAS

Broccoli — plant as seedlings

Cauliflower — plant as seedlings, frost cloth on hard frost nights

Cabbage: Green Drumhead, Savoy

Kohlrabi

LEGUMES

Broad Beans: Aquadulce, Coles Dwarf — direct sow

Peas: Greenfeast, Snow Peas, Sugar Snap Peas — direct sow, needs a trellis

ROOT VEGETABLES

Radishes: Cherry Belle, French Breakfast — direct sow, very fast

Beetroot: Chioggia, Cylindra — direct sow

Turnips — direct sow

Swede — direct sow

Leeks — plant seedlings

ALLIUMS

Garlic: Monaro Purple, Australian Purple (ideal for Southern Tablelands) — best planted March–April, but plant now anyway; buy seed garlic, not supermarket bulbs

Spring Onions

HERBS

Parsley — very frost-hardy, thrives in cool weather

Coriander — best grown in winter; bolts in heat

Chives

Rosemary,

Thyme,

Sage — established plants sail through winter

DO NOT PLANT IN SOUTHERN TABLELANDS WINTER:

Tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkin, corn, French beans, climbing beans, capsicums, eggplant, sweet potato, basil

PRACTICAL TIPS FROM THIS EPISODE:

In Australia, north-facing beds get the most winter sun (sun comes from the north)

Use frost cloth in the evening when frost is forecast; remove in the morning

Mulch around plants to protect roots — keep mulch away from the crown

Direct sow: spinach, broad beans, peas, radishes, carrots, beetroot, turnips

Plant as seedlings: broccoli, cauliflower, kale, silverbeet, cabbage, leeks

Water less in winter — check soil before watering

Succession sow radishes and spinach every 2–3 weeks for continuous harvest

Cold frames and frost cloth can extend what's possible on hard frost nights

LINKS:

Join the Mojo Homestead email list: www.mojohomestead.net

'Eggs Without Cartons' — coming soon. Email list members hear first.