Ditch The Store

Ditch The Store

By CJ SteedmanLeisureHome & Garden
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Ditch The Store episodes

  • Episode 132 Best Milk Goat Breeds

    Not all dairy goats are created equal — and choosing the right breed can make a big difference to your homesteading success.

    In this episode, I walk you through the most common dairy goat breeds in Australia (and a few lesser-known ones), comparing milk production, cream levels, personality, and how much space they really need. Whether you're feeding a big family or just want rich milk for cheese, butter or soap, there’s a breed that’ll suit your setup.

    I’ll also share what I wish I knew before I bought my first goat, why I’m leaning into Nigerian Dwarfs now, and a few red flags to watch out for when buying your first milker.

    👉 Great for beginners, backyard dairy dreamers, and anyone planning their first herd.

    🎙️ Topics Covered:

    • Best goat breeds for milk, cream, and butter

    • How much milk you really need

    • Small-property friendly goats

    • Loud vs quiet breeds

    • What to ask breeders before buying

    • Why temperament matters in the milking shed

    🛠️ Bonus:
    Tips for buying your first goats, avoiding dodgy sellers, and getting the support you need as a new goat owner.


    Listen to this old episode to learn about "Why Drink Raw Milk?" https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/mvJ3qzEFnQb


    53 min
  • Episode 131 - Should You Get a Dairy Goat?

    Thinking about adding a dairy goat to your homestead? In this episode, we chat through everything you actually need to know before you bring one home.

    I share the story of why we got goats in the first place (spoiler: it started with my son’s supposed lactose intolerance), plus the real-life pros, cons, and must-haves when it comes to owning dairy goats. We’ll talk costs, fencing, daily care, milking, and some common myths that might surprise you.

    Whether you’re still dreaming or nearly ready to dive in, this episode will help you work out if goats are right for your setup — and your sanity.

    👉 Perfect for beginner homesteaders, backyard dairy dreamers, or anyone keen to get off the supermarket milk treadmill.

    🎙️ Topics covered:

    • What goats need (and what they don’t)

    • Daily milking routines and time commitments

    • Fencing tips and housing setups

    • Goat milk vs pasteurised milk

    • Choosing your first two goats wisely

    🔗 Links mentioned:

    • Raw Milk Institute

    • Goat expert Dr Sandra Baxendell

    52 min
  • Episode 130 - Cleaning the Tough Stuff

    Some jobs feel too big to tackle — baked-on oven grime, greasy BBQ plates, rusty tools, even that sad-looking cast iron pan. But you don’t need toxic sprays or expensive “specialty” cleaners to get results.

    In this week’s Natural Cleaning Series finale, we’re diving into the heavy hitters with safe, affordable, and effective DIY methods.

    🔥 In this episode:

  • Why oven sprays, degreasers & rust removers can harm your health and septic system
    Simple pantry-staple recipes for:
    Oven cleaner paste
    BBQ plate degreaser
    Lemon & salt rust remover
    Gentle cast iron cleaning




    How to re-season your cast iron so it lasts a lifetime


    Tools & pro tips for getting big jobs done without chemicals

  • 💡 If you’ve been putting off the “too hard” cleaning jobs, this episode is your permission to dive in — naturally.

    📥 Follow us at: www.mojohomestead.net

    📸 Show us your before & after pics — tag @MojoHomestead.


    41 min
  • Episode 129 - Crystal Clear Naturally

    Glass cleaners are one of the most over-marketed — and overpriced — products in the cleaning aisle. In this week’s Natural Cleaning Series episode, we’re ditching the ammonia fumes, single-use plastic, and streaky finishes for a safe, affordable, and effective homemade solution.

    🪟 In this episode:

    • Why ammonia-based cleaners aren’t great for your lungs, skin, or septic
    • The hidden cost (and waste) of store-bought sprays
    • A simple 4-ingredient DIY glass cleaner that works on windows, mirrors, chrome & stainless steel
    • Streak-free technique tips — and when not to clean your windows
    • Bonus uses for your homemade spray around the home and even in the car

    ✨ Cheaper. Safer. Zero streaks.

    📸 Share your “window glow-up” and tag @MojoHomestead. 🧼 Next week: Natural Cleaning for the Tough Stuff.


    32 min
  • Episode 128: Bathroom Cleaning Without the Toxins

    Episode 128: Bathroom Cleaning Without the Toxins

    Your bathroom might sparkle, but at what cost?

    In this episode of the Natural Cleaning Series, we’re tackling one of the most chemical-heavy rooms in the house — the bathroom. From bleach sprays to mould removers, we’ll break down the hidden health and environmental risks, and show you how to swap them for safe, affordable, and effective DIY alternatives.

    🧼 In this episode:

    • Why bleach, ammonia, and synthetic fragrances aren’t as “fresh” as they seem

    • How commercial cleaners affect your skin, lungs, septic, and greywater systems

    • 3 simple DIY bathroom recipes that do it all:
      Fizzing toilet cleaner
      Mould & mildew spray
      Tile & grout scrub
    • Tips for keeping your bathroom fresh without toxic sprays


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      Lemon Essential Oil - https://amzn.to/3GRPb1A

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      Eucalyptus Essential Oil - https://amzn.to/3UrLSBf


    🌿 Healthier for you. Kinder to the planet. Easier on your wallet.

    📥 Grab the recipes here: www.mojohomestead.net

    📸 Tried them? Tag @MojoHomestead — we love seeing your results. 🧽 Next week: Window & Mirror Cleaning Without the Streaks.


    45 min
  • Episode 127 - Natural Dishwashing Solutions

    Ditch the Store, Clean the Sink

    Store-bought dish soaps and dishwasher tabs might leave your dishes shiny, but what else are they leaving behind?

    In this episode of our Natural Cleaning Series, we're diving into what’s really in conventional dishwashing products — from synthetic fragrances and surfactants to phosphates and formaldehyde-releasing compounds. We’ll also chat about how these chemicals don’t just vanish down the drain — they end up in your soil, your waterways, and potentially… on your cutlery.

    🧪 What you’ll learn:

    • Why natural dishwashing matters for your skin, gut, and garden

    • The environmental impact of phosphates, rinse aids, and non-biodegradable suds

    • How to make your own liquid dish soap and dishwasher tabs — for less than 10c a wash

    • What studies say about chemical residue on your dishes — and what it might be doing to your gut lining

    • Why citric acid is safe to use but still needs supervision with kids

    Whether you wash by hand or load the machine, these two DIY recipes will clean up your kitchen and your conscience.

    🍋 Ready to ditch the bottle? Tune in now, and grab your printable recipe + label set at www.mojohomestead.net

    📸 Tag your creations @MojoHomestead

    41 min
  • Episode 126 - Homemade Laundry Products

    🎧 Episode 126: Homemade Laundry Products

    The Load Down: Homemade Laundry Products That Actually Work

    Got sensitive skin? Sick of spending a fortune on detergents that smell like a fake rainforest? In this episode, we’re getting stuck into homemade laundry solutions that actually work.

    We’ll chat through:

    • The chemicals hiding in supermarket laundry products (and what they’re doing to your skin and our waterways)
    • How to make your own laundry powder with bicarb, washing soda, salt, and Sunlight soap
    • Simple fabric softener and stain soaker recipes
    • Real answers to FAQs about cold water washing, machine safety, and more
  • 🧺 Bonus? Our homemade recipe avoids the irritants and mystery ingredients flagged by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) — and it costs next to nothing.

    Let’s ditch the toxic load and take back our washing machine.

    🎙️ Tune in, try it, and tag @MojoHomestead with your results!

    👉 Get more info and follow us at  www.mojohomestead.net

    43 min
  • Episode 125 – Essential Oils for Cleaning

    This week on Ditch the Store, CJ dives into the essential oils that actually pull their weight in a clean home. These aren’t just for diffusers — we’re talking mold-fighting, degreasing, deodorizing powerhouses.

    ✅ Top 5 oils that clean AND smell amazing

    ✅ How to use and store them safely

    ✅ What’s safe for kids and pets

    ✅ How to build your own blends

    🎁 Join our mailing list at: www.mojohomestead.net

    🛒 Farm gear & funny aprons: www.notthefarmerswife.com

    🎧 Related Episodes:

    • Ep. 124 – One Spray to Rule Them All

    • Ep. 123 – Deep Cleaning the Natural Way

    #naturalcleaning #essentialoils #homesteadcleaning #ditchthestore #greenclean #diycleaners


    47 min
  • Episode 124 – One Spray to Rule Them All

    Ep. 124 – One Spray to Rule Them All: My Simple All-Purpose Cleaner

    You don't need a dozen overpriced bottles under your sink — you just need one. In this episode, CJ shares her go-to DIY all-purpose spray recipe that’s safe, powerful, and actually works. Whether you’re wiping down the kitchen, sprucing up the bathroom, or disinfecting surfaces — this is your everyday hero.

    ✅ The recipe (and why each ingredient matters)

    ✅ The best essential oils for cleaning

    ✅ What to avoid using vinegar on

    ✅ Surface-specific tweaks for glass, wood, and stone

    ✅ Add-ins to make it disinfect or degrease even better

    🎧 Also listen to:

    👉 Ep. 122 – Toxic Truth: Why You Should Ditch Chemical Cleaners

    👉 Ep. 123 – Deep Cleaning the Natural Way (That Actually Works)

    🎁 Freebies at:

    www.mojohomestead.net

    🛒 Shop cheeky aprons + Aussie-made farm gear: 👕 www.notthefarmerswife.com


    #naturalcleaning #allpurposecleaner #ditchthestore #greenclean #castilesoap #homesteadcleaning #diycleaners


    35 min
  • Episode 123 - Deep Cleaning the Natural Way

    Sick of bleach fumes and overpriced “miracle sprays”? In this episode of Ditch the Store, CJ reveals how to deep clean your home naturally and effectively using just 3–5 ingredients. From oven grime to mold and grout, you’ll get the real-life, homesteader-approved methods that actually work.

    ✅ Oven paste recipe

    ✅ Mold-fighting vinegar & tea tree spray

    ✅ Grout scrub trick

    ✅ Disinfection without harsh chemicals

    ✅ What tools and oils are best

    ✅ What NOT to clean with vinegar

    📌 Related Episode – Ep. 122: Toxic Truth: Why You Should Ditch the Chemical Cleaners at the link below https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/mojo-homestead/episodes/Episode-122--Toxic-Truth-Why-You-Should-Ditch-Chemical-Cleaners-e350ojk

    🎁 Check out our blog at:

    www.mojohomestead.net

    🛍️ Farm-themed hoodies & home gear: www.notthefarmerswife.com

    #ditchthestore #naturalcleaning #chemicalfreehome #homesteadcleaning #greenclean #mojohomestead


    47 min

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🎙️ Ditch the Store