Ditch The Store

Think there's nothing to do in the garden in May?

Think again. CJ covers the autumn cleanup jobs that'll save you a heap of work come spring — from harvesting the last of the season, prepping your soil, getting winter crops in, and planning ahead so you're not scrambling when the weather warms up again.

👉 Weekly seasonal tips at mojohomestead.net

Potatoes, garlic, and onions are three of the easiest, most satisfying crops you can grow — and right now is exactly the right time to plant them.

CJ covers everything from soil prep to harvest, so you can stock your pantry for months without spending a fortune at the shops.

👉 Jump on our newsletter list and see freebie links at mojohomestead.net

Think composting is too hard, too smelly, or needs a fancy setup?

It doesn't.

CJ breaks it down to the basics — greens, browns, and just getting started. Whether you've got a backyard or a farm, this episode will have you composting by the end of the week.👉

Find the Ditch the Store book series at

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

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

Cool Season Gardening: What to Grow This Winter (and How to Actually Keep It Alive)

Think winter means shutting the garden down and waiting for spring? Think again.

In this episode, CJ breaks down everything you need to know about cool season gardening — what actually changes in your garden over winter, which crops thrive in the cold, and how to set yourself up for success without overcomplicating it.

Whether you've got a backyard veggie patch or a full homestead, there's no reason your garden has to go dormant. From garlic and potatoes you can basically ignore, to brassicas worth the extra effort — CJ covers the lot, including the beginner mistakes she's made herself (and would very much like you to avoid).

In this episode:

• Why winter gardening is slower — and why that's completely fine

• The best leafy greens, root vegetables, and brassicas for cool weather

• Herbs that actually prefer the cold

• Soil prep and mulching: why it matters more in winter than any other season

• Frost protection without spending a fortune

• The most common beginner mistakes (and how to dodge them)

• Why garlic is the ultimate set-and-forget crop

No fluff, no Pinterest-perfect gardens. Just practical advice for real people who want to grow food through winter.

🌿 Part of the Ditch the Store podcast — practical homesteading for real people on real budgets.

Easter on the Homestead: Seasonal Cycles, Real Food & Why You Should Pat Yourself on the Back

Easter looks a little different when you're living off the land — especially in the Southern Hemisphere, where it lands smack in the middle of autumn, not spring.

In this episode, CJ digs into what Easter actually means for homesteaders: the ancient seasonal roots behind the chocolate eggs and rabbits, why the northern and southern hemispheres are at completely opposite ends of the cycle right now, and what you should actually be doing on your property this time of year.

She also makes a passionate case for why Australians need to stop being so bloody modest about their wins — and why Easter is the perfect time to sit down, reflect on your season, and give yourself credit for what you grew, raised, and kept alive.

In this episode:

• The real (pre-chocolate) history of Easter

• What autumn on the homestead looks like in Australia right now

• Practical Easter ideas using what you've already got

• Why your seasonal reflection notes matter more than you think

• A shoutout to every shift worker, nurse, ambo, and police officer working through the long weekend

Whether you're heading into spring or winding down into autumn — this one's for you.🌿 Part of the Ditch the Store podcast — practical homesteading for real people on real budgets.

New to backyard chickens and something suddenly looks… wrong?

In this episode of Ditch the Store, CJ walks through the most common chicken problems new chicken keepers run into — and the simple fixes that usually solve them.

This isn’t a deep dive into complex poultry health issues. Instead, it’s a practical overview designed to help beginner homesteaders stay calm when something unexpected happens in the coop.

CJ covers common situations like:

• chickens suddenly stopping laying eggs

• strange or misshapen eggs

• moulting and feather loss

• bullying in the flock and pecking order behaviour

• egg eating habits and how to stop them

• mites, lice and basic parasite control

• when a chicken might actually need attention or isolation

You’ll also hear CJ’s practical approach to livestock care, including how to decide when to treat an animal, when to manage it yourself, and when it may be kinder to dispatch.

If you’re raising backyard chickens for eggs, this episode will help you feel more confident handling the small problems that every chicken keeper eventually faces.

Because most chicken problems aren’t disasters — they’re just part of learning how to keep livestock.

Product mentioned - INCA Pestene Powder

What do you do when your chickens suddenly produce more eggs than your family can eat?

In this episode of Ditch the Store, CJ dives into the very real homestead problem of egg overload. If you keep backyard chickens, chances are you’ll eventually walk into the coop and realise you’ve got far more eggs than you know what to do with.

CJ talks through why egg gluts happen, how long fresh eggs actually last, and the simple ways you can store, preserve, cook, barter or even sell surplus eggs.

You’ll learn practical homestead skills like:

• how to check egg freshness using the float test

• how long unwashed eggs can safely last

• ways to use up lots of eggs in everyday meals

• freezing, dehydrating and water-glassing eggs for long-term storage

• bartering and selling eggs from your backyard flock

• how egg gluts can actually help you become more self-sufficient

If you’re raising chickens for eggs or thinking about starting a backyard flock, this episode will give you the practical tips you need to make the most of every egg your hens produce.

Because when the girls are laying their hearts out… wasting eggs simply isn’t an option.

The lime mention is food-grade calcium hydroxide.

You don’t need a fancy coop.

You need a secure one.

In this episode, I walk you through what actually keeps your chickens safe — not what looks pretty on Instagram.

We cover:

• The biggest predator mistakes beginners make
  

• Why chicken wire isn’t enough
  

• How dogs are often the real problem
  

• The 5 non-negotiables of a predator-proof coop
  

• Daily habits that protect your flock
  

• What to check before predators ever become an issue
  

Foxes, dogs, hawks, snakes — if you have chickens, you have predators. The goal isn’t panic. It’s preparation.

If you’re setting up your first coop, or you want to reinforce the one you’ve got, this episode will give you a clear plan.

📒 Chicken Keeping Logbook (track health, costs & egg production): 👉 https://amzn.to/44QgctY

🖨 Printable Planning Sheets: 👉 https://www.mojohomestead.net/journal-chicken

📬 Join the newsletter for seasonal chicken tips: 👉 https://www.mojohomestead.net

Next week: Egg Overload — what to do when you have more eggs than you can handle.

Life’s too short to eat store-bought eggs.

Not all chickens are created equal.

Some are hardy and steady. Some are high-drama divas. And if you're just starting out — you do not need divas.

In this episode, I break down the four best chicken breeds for beginners, focusing on:

We compare ISA Browns, Australorps, Sussex, and Plymouth Rocks — and I’ll help you decide which one suits your family, climate, and egg goals.

If you want chickens that are forgiving, practical, and low-maintenance… this episode is for you.

📒 Chicken Keeping Logbook (track eggs, feed, health & costs): 👉 https://amzn.to/44QgctY

🖨 Printable Planning Sheets: 👉 https://www.mojohomestead.net/journal-chicken

📬 Join the newsletter for seasonal tips + chicken updates: 👉 https://www.mojohomestead.net

Next week: Building a Predator-Proof Coop — don’t miss it.

Life’s too short to eat store-bought eggs.

Episode 153: Why Autumn Is the Smartest Time to Get Chickens

Thinking about getting chickens? Don’t wait for spring.

In this episode, I explain why autumn is actually the smartest time to start your flock — and exactly what to do over the next four weeks to set yourself up properly.

You’ll learn:

• The best age birds to buy for autumn timing
  

• Why daylight hours matter more than cold weather
  

• How to set up your coop before birds arrive
  

• What to feed (and what not to waste money on)
  

Journals

Beekeeping Journal https://amzn.to/46iNapz 

Chicken Keeping Journal https://amzn.to/44QgctY

Goatkeeping Journal https://amzn.to/4lzYGSa

Farm Management Journal https://amzn.to/4eSFfRL

Printables

Chicken Keeping Printable - https://www.mojohomestead.net/journal-chicken

Canva 2026 Calendar

https://www.canva.com/design/DAHBSZ73834/_ANyUH2p76eAOtATkZBxug/view?utm_content=DAHBSZ73834&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink&mode=preview

Life’s too short to eat store-bought eggs.