Ditch The Store

What does a self-sufficient year actually look like?

In this episode, CJ shares a practical 12-month roadmap for becoming more self-sufficient — without burnout. From choosing one food to stop buying, to building seasonal rhythms and learning small skills each quarter, this is about steady progress, not perfection.

If you’ve ever felt behind or overwhelmed, this one will ground you.

📓 Journals mentioned in this episode:

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

CJ covers seasonal planning for your first homesteading year, including what to prioritise in each season, how to avoid doing too much too fast, and why simple routines + record-keeping make everything easier.

Main takeaway: keep it small, grow what your family eats, and review what worked so year two is easier.

Also includes a quick personal update on CJ’s recovery and how it’s shaped this year’s plans.

Canva 2026 Calendar Free to Use

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

CJ and the Handy Helper cover the real beginner tool list for homesteading, including garden basics, livestock gear, and kitchen/preserving essentials—plus what not to buy yet. They talk frugal strategies like secondhand shopping, repurposing containers, and borrowing tools before investing. Practical, no-fluff advice to help you start without blowing the budget.

Links mentioned:
https://www.mojohomestead.net

Ditch the Store with CJ from Mojo Homestead🌱 www.mojohomestead.net

This week we’re taking a little detour — into the spiritual side of homesteading.

Join CJ as she explores Lammas (also known as Lughnasadh) — an ancient Celtic harvest festival that marks the beginning of reaping what we’ve sown. Whether you’re into folklore, farming, food preserving, or just the rhythm of the seasons, this episode is all about connection — to the land, to the work, and to yourself.

You don’t have to be religious or even spiritual to take something away from this episode. You just have to be someone who cares about your patch of dirt.

🧭 In this episode:

🍞 What is Lammas (Lughnasadh) and how does it connect to farming?🌾 Why this ancient grain festival still matters today📆 Seasonal transitions: letting go of summer, preparing for winter📓 How CJ is using journaling & gratitude to cope with injury and celebrate harvest wins🔥 Fire, sun & energy — symbolising the final push before winter sets in🐐 Stories from the farm: baby goats, first tomatoes, and the gift of homegrown joy🍲 Simple ways to mark the occasion — from baking your own bread to sharing a meal with your mob

📣 CJ also shares:

• The role of Celtic heritage and earth-based traditions in her homestead life

• How Lammas can be a time to reflect on effort vs reward

• The power of compost, soil care, and “giving back” to the land

• Why you don’t need to grow eggplants if your family hates them 😉

📝 Want to honour the season in your own way? Try this:

• Bake something using homegrown or local ingredients

• Light a candle to mark the sun’s energy

• Write a reflection on what you’re proud of this season

• Offer something back to the earth (compost, mulch, or simple thanks)

• Share your harvest wins with CJ over at @mojohomestead

🎁 Grab the sourdough starter printable and more at:www.mojohomestead.net

📸 Instagram & Facebook → @mojohomestead

Podcast: Ditch the Store with CJ from Mojo Homestead🌱 www.mojohomestead.net

This week, CJ gets real about what it takes to build a homestead while still working full-time. She shares personal stories, lessons, and hard-earned tips from managing 120 acres with a shift-working partner, teenagers, and a busted leg… all without quitting the day job.

💬 “You don’t need to live off-grid or quit your career to start homesteading. You just need to start — one small step at a time.”

🧭 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why 2.5 acres was more than enough to begin

• How CJ and Handy Helper slowly added veggies, chooks, bees, goats — and kept their sanity

• Building your homestead season by season and job by job

• Why scheduling, prioritising, and planning are non-negotiable

• How to break homesteading into 10–30 min chunks a day

• What to start with if you’ve got no time: veggie gardens, chooks, laundry powder, herbs

• Letting go of “Instagram homesteading” guilt

• Why failing at something (like sourdough) doesn’t mean you’re a failure

• Managing homestead tasks between shift work and kids’ sport

• How CJ’s teenagers are part of the team (and proud of it!)

• Getting your partner involved even if they’re not into it

• Tips for automating water, batching feed, using reminders, and more

• Communication & calendars: key to making it all work

💥 Whether you’ve got a backyard or a broadacre, a 9-to-5 or night shifts, this episode will show you that homesteading isn’t all or nothing. It’s real, messy, imperfect — and absolutely doable.

🛠️ Mentioned in the episode:

• PICC lines, antibiotics & recovery (CJ gives a health update)

• Seasonal planning for planting, animals, and projects

• Tips for single parents & busy families

• Why CJ still struggles with plants (but has nailed raising animals!)

📚 Want to start your own journey? Grab CJ’s homesteading journals & trackers:📓 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

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

🌐 Plus freebies & extras at: www.mojohomestead.net

📸 Follow behind the scenes:Instagram & Facebook → @mojohomestead

🐓 Getting Started While You’re Still Working🧠 Time, Energy & Mindset👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Roster, Routine & Real Life

🎧 Episode 147 – 12 Beginner Homesteading Mistakes to Avoid

Podcast: Ditch the Store with CJ from Mojo Homestead🌱 www.mojohomestead.net

Let’s be honest — when you’re starting out with homesteading, it’s easy to miss things you didn’t even know to think about. This week, CJ goes through the 12 most common beginner mistakes (yep, not 10 — she added extras she couldn’t leave out) and gives you practical tips on how to avoid each one.

From fencing fails and foxes, to burnout, budgeting and bypassing the council… this is the stuff that trips people up early. Whether you're still dreaming or already knee-deep in goat poop, this episode will save you time, money, stress — and maybe even a few chickens 🐔.

🧭 In this episode, CJ breaks it down into three groups:

1. Practical Mistakes

• Not securing animals properly (aka The Great Chicken Escape)

• Ignoring council rules and getting fined

• Underestimating water needs and running dry

• Skipping pest/disease prevention and losing stock

• Not tracking expenses or keeping records (future-you will thank you)

2. Mindset Mistakes

• Doing too much too fast (hello burnout)

• Romanticising the lifestyle (it's not all sourdough & sunshine)

• Getting stuck in research and not starting

• Comparing your journey to others on Instagram or Pinterest

3. Lifestyle Mistakes

• Not factoring in time limits (work, kids, life)

• Not including your partner/family

• Forgetting to budget for animals, fencing, feed and gear

🎯 Whether you’re a total newbie or feeling a bit overwhelmed, this episode is your permission slip to slow down and simplify.

📝 Ready to get organised? Start tracking your homesteading journey with CJ’s journals:Check out our books and journals on Amazon📓Books 

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

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

📓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

📚 Coming soon: “From Brooder to Breakfast: Raising Chickens for Eggs Without the Carton” & “Bread to Plate” — stay tuned!

🌐 Grab freebies, printable checklists, and get on the email list at:www.mojohomestead.net

📸 Tag your real-life homesteading wins (mud and all):Instagram & Facebook → @mojohomestead

🎧 Episode 146 – How Much Land Do You Need?

Podcast: Ditch the Store with CJ from Mojo Homestead🌱 www.mojohomestead.net

Ever been told you need a farm to start homesteading? In this episode, CJ sets the record straight. Whether you're in a unit, on a suburban block, or out on five acres — you can absolutely start homesteading right where you are.

From window-sill herbs and homemade laundry powder to backyard chooks and full-scale food forests — this week is a deep dive into what you can do with the land you have, plus what to think about if you're eyeing off a bigger block.

🔍 What you’ll learn:

• Homesteading with no land at all (yes, really)

• How much you can actually do on an 800m² block

• The realities of rural living (off-grid power, septic tanks, snakes and all)

• What livestock fits where — goats, chickens, cows and more

• Why bigger land = bigger responsibilities (and how to prep for that)

• What I started with... and how I built up from there

If you’ve been waiting for “more space” to start homesteading, this is your sign. You already have enough to begin.

📝 Want to start planning your own homestead dream?

Check out our books and journals on Amazon

📓Books 

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

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

📓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

🌐 Jump on the email list for freebies, printable cheat sheets & more:www.mojohomestead.net

📸 Tag me in your homesteading wins!Instagram & Facebook → @mojohomestead

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