Hey everyone, and welcome to Episode 145 of Ditch the Store!

We’re officially a week into 2026 (can you believe it?), and after a cracking start with last week’s beginner episode, this week I’m diving into the big question: What even is homesteading?

Because let’s face it — everyone seems to have their own definition. From off-grid living to growing herbs on a balcony, homesteading can mean very different things depending on where you live, what you have, and what you’re aiming for.

In this episode, I’m unpacking:

• 🏡 The real (and historical) definition of homesteading

• 🌱 The difference between homesteading and farming

• 👩‍🌾 What homesteading looked like for me growing up — and how it’s evolved

• 🐓 Key elements like self-sufficiency, food preservation, backyard chickens, and more

• 🧼 The skills you might need (yes, even soap-making counts!)

• 🧘‍♀️ Busting the myths: You don’t need to quit your job or move to the bush

• ✍️ How to define your version of homesteading — and why that’s what truly matters

Whether you’re working full-time in the city, wrangling kids in suburbia, or halfway to building a goat shed on a few acres, this episode will help you clarify your goals and get honest about what homesteading means to you.

🌿 Grab your FREE resources and join the newsletter
👉 www.mojohomestead.net

• Includes the 7 Must-Knows for Backyard Chicken Keeping – great for newbies and seasoned chook-lovers alike!

👕 Browse practical homesteading gear & gifts
👉 www.notthefarmerswife.com

• T-shirts, linens, tools, and more for actual homesteaders (not Instagram ones 😉)

📚 Books by CJ Steedman

• Brooder to Plate

• Eggs Without Cartons – coming soon!

🧑‍🏫 Backyard Chicken Course – Reopening Soon!

• A practical, down-to-earth online course for first-time chicken keepers

• Keep an eye on www.mojohomestead.net or follow me on socials for the launch date

👩‍💻 Join the new Mojo Homestead SKOOL community

• Share your wins, ask questions, and connect with others on the homesteading journey.

• Free to join – details at mojohomestead.net

Got a 2026 homesteading goal? Let me know!
📸 Tag me @mojohomestead on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok when you:

• Bake your first sourdough

• Make a bar of soap

• Get those first backyard chickens

• Ditch one more thing from the store

Because remember — every single time you skip the shops, you’re homesteading. And that’s worth celebrating 💚

How Much Land Do You Actually Need to Homestead?
Spoiler: It’s probably less than you think. Whether you’ve got a balcony or 100 acres, we’ll break it down and look at what’s truly needed to grow, raise, or make your own.

Happy New Year and welcome to Episode 144 of the podcast!We’re kicking off 2026 by going back to basics — because let’s face it, a lot’s changed in the last couple of years and it’s time for a reset.

This month on the podcast, we’re talking all things beginner homesteading — where to start, what to think about before diving in, what you absolutely don’t need, and how to avoid that slap-in-the-face overwhelm that can knock you sideways when you try to do too much, too soon.

Whether you’re dreaming of backyard chooks, a veggie patch, or just making your own soap and skipping the supermarket aisle, this episode is your practical and honest starting point.

I’ll share:

• My journey from suburban block to 120 acres in the Southern Tablelands

• Why homesteading isn’t about perfection, or even farming

• The real reasons people are ditching the store and taking back control

• The gateway drugs of homesteading (spoiler: it’s probably chickens)

• And my top 5 tips for getting started without losing your mind

Plus, I’ll be talking about how 2026 is my year of no hospital visits (you’ll get it when you listen) and what’s coming up for Ditch the Store, Not the Farmer’s Wife, and our new printables and course launches.

🛒 Books by CJ Steedman

• Brooder to Plate – Raising Meat Chickens the Practical Way

• Eggs Without Cartons – coming soon to Amazon! Keep an eye out!

🌱 Mojo Homestead Freebies, Courses & Printables→ https://www.mojohomestead.net – Sign up for the newsletter and grab your freebies to help plan your homestead journey.

👕 Homestead-Themed Gear (T-shirts, Towels, Linens & More)→ www.notthefarmerswife.com – Practical and fun products for real homesteaders, not influencers.

What's your why for wanting to start homesteading this year? Leave a comment or message me on socials – I’d love to hear your goals for 2026.

🎧 Next Week (Ep. 145): What Even Is Homesteading?We’ll dig into the definition — what it is, what it isn’t, and why you don’t need a farm (or a flowing linen dress) to do it right.

📚 Mentioned in this episode💬 Let’s Chat

It’s Christmas Day, and if you’re tuning in — thank you. Whether you’re milking goats, cooking a roast, working a shift, or hiding from the in-laws with your earbuds in — this episode’s for you.

I’m looking back on 2025 with real honesty. It was the year where plans went pear-shaped: a knee replacement, a broken leg, a dog attack, and a veggie garden that never even got planted. But amongst the chaos, there were wins too — healthy goat kids, infrastructure progress, and an incredible show of support from my family (and you).

So in this episode, I’m sharing:
🎁 What 2025 taught me about resilience, rest and real life on a working homestead
🎁 Why your worth as a homesteader isn’t measured in productivity
🎁 What to do when you feel like you’ve achieved “jack-all”
🎁 How I’m planning smarter (not harder) for 2026

This isn’t your typical “look what I achieved this year” wrap-up. It’s a raw, practical and heartfelt check-in for anyone who feels like life got in the way of their homesteading dreams.

Here’s to doing what we can, when we can — and being kind to ourselves when we can’t.

Merry Christmas from Mojo Homestead 🎄🐐
Catch you next week for the New Year episode!

#ditchthestore #homesteadinglife #farmfailures #christmaspodcast #honesthomesteading #ruralaustralia #mojohomestead

🎙️ EP 142 – My Farm Accident

(Warning: Graphic Content)
This episode is raw, real and straight from the paddock. I’m sharing the full story of my recent farm accident — from a routine neighbourly favour to an emergency dash in the ambo and major surgery.

It’s not pretty. It’s not polished. But it’s important.

Farm accidents do happen. And if you’re working with animals, you need a plan for what to do when things go pear-shaped.

I'm sharing the moment it all went wrong, the pain, the paramedics, the x-rays (which you’ll see on YouTube), and the slow road to recovery — bedrest, blood thinners, and all.

If you’ve ever wondered how you'd cope with a serious injury on the land, this one's for you.

📌 Heads up: This episode contains some graphic medical descriptions, injury photos on YouTube, and a few well-earned swear words.

Thanks for sticking with me. It’s good to be back 💪

#farmaccident #homesteadingreality #rurallife #backontrack #ditchthestore

It’s time to talk about the stuff under your boots — soil.

Industrial farming has turned living earth into lifeless dirt, and the fertiliser companies are cashing in on the damage. In this episode, we dig into how Big Ag broke the soil — and how you can fix it in your own backyard.

🌾 In this episode:

• What’s really killing our soils

• The fertiliser myth that’s keeping farmers broke

• How to bring your soil back to life naturally

• Compost, worms, and microbes — your real soil army

Because if the soil dies, so does our food. And rebuilding it starts with us.

The backyard veggie patch isn’t just about saving a few dollars — it’s about taking back control of your food.

In this episode, we’re talking about why growing even one tomato plant is a quiet act of rebellion against a food system that’s broken, overpriced, and overprocessed.

🌱 In this episode:

• Why growing food matters more than ever

• The truth about supermarket dependence

• How home gardening builds independence and resilience

• Turning your backyard (or balcony!) into a personal food revolution

This one’s for the doers — the people ready to take their food supply into their own hands and say, “No thanks, I’ll grow my own.”

Every goat keeper faces it sooner or later — Barber’s Pole Worm, the bloodsucking parasite that can take down even the healthiest doe overnight.

In this episode, we’re diving deep into how to recognise, prevent, and manage Barber’s Pole Worm without relying on constant chemical drenches.

🐐 In this episode:

• What Haemonchus contortus actually is — and why it’s so dangerous

• Early warning signs and how to use the FAMACHA card properly

• The truth about faecal egg counts (FECs) and what your results really mean

• Pasture management tips that break the worm life cycle

• How to use COWP boluses safely to support resistance

• Natural vs chemical treatments — what actually works and what’s just hype

• Post-treatment recovery and building long-term herd resilience

🎙️ Whether you’re running a small herd or a full farm, this is your go-to guide for staying ahead of worms and keeping your goats thriving.

Links

Dr Sandra Baxendell - https://goatvetoz.com.au/home

WormBoss - https://wormboss.com.au/

FAMACHA - https://animal.ifas.ufl.edu/media/animalifasufledu/small-ruminant-website/fact-sheets/FAMACHA-Factsheet.pdf

Raw goat’s milk is one of the most talked-about — and sometimes controversial — topics in the homesteading world. In this episode, we’ll unpack the benefits, the risks, and how to handle raw milk safely so you can decide if it’s right for your homestead.

🥛 In this episode:

• Nutritional benefits of raw goat’s milk vs cow’s milk

• Safety concerns and how to reduce risks with good hygiene

• How to store and use raw milk at home

• Why raw milk is more than just food — it’s part of food sovereignty

💡 Resources to explore:

• Raw Milk Institute — education & standards for safe raw milk

• Jannei Goat Dairy — an Australian raw goat milk story

Raw milk is a deeply personal choice — and this episode gives you the tools to make an informed one.

📥 More goat-keeping resources at: www.mojohomestead.net
📸 Share how you use your raw goat’s milk with @MojoHomestead.

So you’ve got goats — now it’s time to fill the bucket! In this episode, we’re walking through exactly how to milk a goat, from the first squeeze to storing that fresh milk in your fridge.

🐐 In this episode:

• When to start milking after kidding

• Setting up your milking space and equipment

• Step-by-step milking routine (without the fuss)

• Hygiene tips for safe, long-lasting milk

• How to store and handle your milk to keep it fresh

Whether you’re brand new to goats or just want to refine your routine, this episode will give you the confidence to sit down on the stool and get milking.

📥 More goat-keeping resources at: www.mojohomestead.net
📸 Share your milking set-up with @MojoHomestead — we’d love to see your dairy in action!

Sometimes goat kids can’t stay on mum — and that’s when bottle-feeding steps in. In this episode, we’re covering everything you need to know about raising bottle babies with confidence.

🍼 In this episode:

• When and why to bottle-feed (rejection, multiples, weak kids, or management choice)

• Colostrum and the first 24 hours

• Feeding schedules and what to feed

• Preventing bloat and scours

• Bonding and training benefits of bottle babies

Bottle babies take more work, but they also become some of the friendliest, easiest goats you’ll ever own.

📥 Learn more and grab goat-keeping resources at: www.mojohomestead.net

📸 Share your bottle baby photos and tag @MojoHomestead — we’d love to see them grow!