Everyday Homesteading

What if we lost everything tomorrow and had to start our homestead over from scratch? No land, no livestock, no stocked pantry, and very little money. Where would we begin?

After decades of homesteading and raising our family, we've learned a thing or two about what really matters when it comes to building a productive homestead. And if we had to start over today, there are some things we'd do exactly the same and others we'd approach very differently.

In this episode of the Everyday Homesteading Podcast, we're sharing our top priorities for starting a homestead with limited resources, including:

✅ What we'd look for when choosing land (and why the house wouldn't be our biggest concern).
✅ How we'd stretch a tight grocery budget while investing in long-term food security.
✅ Why a productive garden would be one of our very first investments.
✅ Which livestock we'd prioritize and which animals we'd avoid.
✅ What we wouldn't waste our time or money on.
✅ Why building relationships with your neighbors might be one of the most valuable things you can do.

Whether you're just beginning your homesteading journey or looking to simplify your current homestead, we hope this conversation helps you focus on what really matters.

Read the full blog post: https://homesteadingfamily.com/starting-over-with-nothing/

Thank-you to today's sponsor, American Blossom Linens!

We believe working hard and resting well go hand in hand. American Blossom Linens makes comfortable, high-quality American-made sheets and bedding that are designed to last. Visit https://homesteadingfamily.com/abl/ and use code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY2026" to save 15% on your order.

We'd love to hear from you! If you had to start your homestead over again, what's the very first thing you'd do differently? Let us know in the comments!

#Homesteading #HomesteadingForBeginners #SelfSufficiency

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Introduction
3:07 - Chit Chat
8:30 - American Blossom Linens
11:02 - Main Topic

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MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Butter, lard, tallow, olive oil, vegetable oil... how did choosing a cooking fat get so confusing?

After decades of changing recommendations about which fats we should and shouldn't eat, it's no wonder so many home cooks aren't sure what to reach for.

In this episode of the Everyday Homesteading Podcast, I'm simplifying traditional cooking fats and explaining how to choose the right one for the job.

From butter and ghee to lard, tallow, schmaltz, coconut oil, olive oil, and avocado oil, she'll walk you through what makes each fat different, where it comes from, and how to use it in everyday cooking.

You'll also learn how different fats respond to heat, which ones work well for frying and baking, and how to substitute traditional fats for vegetable oils and shortening without changing all your favorite recipes.

Plus, I share why producing and sourcing traditional fats is an important homesteading skill that can help build a more resilient kitchen.

In This Episode:

• Why our bodies need dietary fat
• The differences between common traditional cooking fats
• Which fats to choose for frying, roasting, baking, and dressings
• Simple substitutions for vegetable oil and shortening
• How to render and properly store animal fats
• Why traditional fats matter for homestead self-sufficiency

Resources Mentioned:

• Traditional Cooking Fats Guide: https://homesteadingfamily.com/fat-sources-on-the-homestead/
• Rendering Lard or Tallow: https://homesteadingfamily.com/rendering-lard-or-tallow/
• Homemade Butter: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-make-butter/
• Growing and Pressing Your Own Seed Oil: https://homesteadingfamily.com/growing-pressing-your-own-seed-oil/

Today's Sponsor: Azure Standard

You don't have to grow everything you put in your pantry! Azure Standard is one of our favorite resources for stocking up on bulk organic ingredients, pantry staples, and food-preservation supplies.

First-time customers can save 15% on their first order of $100 or more delivered to an Azure drop location.

Visit https://homesteadingfamily.com/azure-standard/ and use coupon code HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15 at checkout.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Did you know your garden soil needs oxygen to thrive? 🌱 In Part 4 of our Soil Health Series, Josh explains why soil aeration is essential for healthy roots, beneficial microorganisms, and nutrient-rich soil.

In this episode, you'll learn:

- 🌱 Why oxygen is essential for healthy garden soil.
- ⚠️ How compaction, waterlogging, and tillage affect soil aeration.
- 🪱 What healthy, well-aerated soil looks like.
- 🍂 Simple ways to improve soil aeration with compost, cover crops, and mulch.

📖 Read the full blog post: https://homesteadingfamily.com/soil-aeration/

Check out Truly Free! Make the switch to cleaner household products and save 30% on your order with coupon code HOMESTEADING30: https://homesteadingfamily.com/trulyfree

Time Stamps
0:00 - Introduction
1:12 - Truly Free
3:10 - Main Topic

#SoilHealth #SoilAeration #OrganicGardening #HomesteadingFamily

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Winter is coming, and we're rethinking some of the ways we do things on our homestead!

As we transition from fall into winter here in North Idaho, we're looking at everything from livestock and food storage to daily chores and what it really means to become more self-sufficient.

Whether you're new to homesteading or you've been doing this for years, we hope this conversation encourages you to rethink your priorities and embrace the season you're in.

What's one thing you're rethinking or doing differently on your homestead this winter? Are you simplifying your livestock setup, changing how you preserve food, or finding new ways to become more self-sufficient?

Let us know in the comments! We'd love to hear what you're learning.

🌿 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR: FARMHOUSE TEAS

We're thankful to have Farmhouse Teas sponsoring today's episode! We love their herbal teas, including their Not Coffee blends and the custom Plum Tuckered Out tea. This year, we're especially excited about their elderberry syrup mix, which makes preparing homemade elderberry syrup so much easier when there isn't time to forage for elderberries or measure out individual herbs.

Shop all my favorites here and use coupon code "CAROLYN10" for 10% off your order (one-time use): https://www.farmhouseteas.com/carolyn

#WinterHomesteading #HomesteadingFamily #SelfSufficiency #EverydayHomesteading #homesteadlife 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

In this episode, I’m sharing a very personal update on my health journey and what I’ve learned along the way.

What started as frustration over stubborn weight eventually led to deeper testing, toxin exposure, high insulin levels, leptin resistance, thyroid concerns, and a whole lot of questions.
The good news is that I’m seeing real progress.

My insulin numbers are coming down, I’ve lost weight, my energy is better, my brain fog is gone, I’m sleeping better, and I’m getting stronger.

This journey hasn’t been simple or linear, but I hope sharing it encourages you to keep asking questions, pay attention to what your body is telling you, and keep moving toward better health.

In this episode, I’m talking about:

- What my lab work revealed
- My experience with toxin testing and detoxification
- How my insulin levels changed
- What I’ve been doing to improve my metabolic health
- The diet, herbs, movement, sleep, and lifestyle changes I’ve focused on
- Why strength training is now part of my routine
- What I’ve learned from discouraging lab results
- Why I’m choosing to keep walking toward better health

For more information, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-im-reversing-prediabetes/

RELATED RESOURCES:
- Our Toxin Journey: https://homesteadingfamily.com/our-journey-with-glyphosate-toxicity/
- Toxins are Making You Sick - Herbal Cleansing Detox: https://homesteadingfamily.com/herbal-cleansing-detox/
- Common Household Toxins: https://homesteadingfamily.com/common-toxins/
- Work with Dr. Torrie Thompson: https://homesteadingfamily.com/toxin-testing
- At-home insulin/metabolic health kit: https://zivli.com/testing 

Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring this podcast.
If you're ready to layer on some cozy bedding for those chilly fall nights, be sure to check them out and use coupon code HOMESTEADINGFAMILY2026 for 15% off your purchase: https://homesteadingfamily.com/ABL

Important: This episode shares my personal health experience and is not medical advice. Please work with a qualified healthcare professional when making decisions about your own health, medications, supplements, or treatment.

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Introduction
1:08 - American Blossom Linens
4:01 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

What do high gas prices have to do with free potatoes? More than you might think!

When everyday expenses keep climbing, it’s easy to feel like there’s very little we can do about it. But Josh and I have found that growing food, cooking from scratch, and choosing our homestead projects carefully can help us take back a little control.

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we’re sharing the story of a $2,000 garden investment we made when money was tight, why we call this year’s potatoes “free,” and how we decide which projects are worth our time and money. And while Josh would start with the garden, I think there’s an important first step right in your kitchen!

You don’t need a big property or an established homestead to begin. I hope this conversation encourages you to choose one practical step that serves your family today and helps you provide more for them in the years ahead.

For more information and any links mentioned, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/high-gas-prices-and-free-potatoes

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Introduction
0:45 - Chit Chat
7:34 - Grand Teton Ancient Grains
10:11 - Main Topic

Thanks to Grand Teton Ancient Grains for sponsoring this podcast. If you'd like to check them out and get a discount, use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY" for 10% off your order: https://homesteadingfamily.com/ancientgrains 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

In Part 3 of our Soil Series, I’m diving into soil organic matter and why it’s one of the most important pieces of healthy, productive soil. We’ll look at what organic matter actually is, how it feeds soil biology, improves water retention and soil structure, and the practical ways you can build more of it with compost, mulch, cover crops and less tillage.

For more information, read the full blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/soil-organic-matter/

- Thanks to the School of Traditional Skills for sponsoring this episode! Their free Traditional Skills Summit is one of our favorite opportunities to learn from experienced homesteaders and traditional-skills instructors. Register for FREE here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/sts-summit

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Introduction
0:53 - Traditional Skills Summit
3:27 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

If you’re trying to feed your family better-quality meat, it can be hard to know what all the labels really mean. Grass-fed, grass-finished, pasture-raised, organic... and once you bring that meat home, does it need to be cooked differently?

In this episode, Josh and I are talking about the meat we eat here on our homestead and why the way an animal is raised and fed matters so much to us.

We’ll explain the difference between grass-fed and grass-finished beef, what pasture-raised really means for chickens and pigs, and how you can start sourcing better meat without feeling like you have to make the jump to “perfect” overnight.

Then we’re taking the conversation into the kitchen. I’ll share a simple way to think about different cuts of meat so you know whether to cook them hot and fast or low and slow. Once you understand whether you’re working with a tender or hardworking cut, cooking meat becomes much less complicated.

We also talk about buying meat directly from local farmers, purchasing beef or pork in bulk, and why pasture-raised meat can have more variation in flavor and texture than what you may be used to from the grocery store.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s simply to take the next step toward better food for your family.

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction & Chit Chat
5:30 - Grand Teton Ancient Grains
9:14 - Main Topic

👉 Watch our podcast all about meat terminology and how to know what you're buying here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUB9x7QeoFM

🌻 Keep your eyes on School of Traditional Skills for the upcoming class with the Doughertys on feeding your animals from your homestead:
https://homesteadingfamily.com/STS_Member_n

🌾 Thanks to Grand Teton Ancient Grains for sponsoring this podcast. Be sure to check out all their regeneratively grown grain and get 10% off your order with coupon code "homesteadingfamily" now through October 2026:
https://homesteadingfamily.com/ancientgrains

#EverydayHomesteading #GrassFedBeef #GrassFinishedBeef #PastureRaised #HomesteadingFamily #podcast #homesteadingpodcast

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Self-care isn’t about escaping your responsibilities. It’s about caring for your body, mind, and soul so you can show up well for your family. In this episode, I share what self-care looks like in my own life, including my morning routine, health habits, and why true self-care should actually move you toward greater health.

You can watch and read more at the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/self-care-for-moms/

TIME STAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction
1:04 - American Blossom Linens
4:49 - Main Topic

Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring this podcast. If you want to grab yourself some high-quality sheets that will last (and save some money doing so), be sure to use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY2026" for 15% off your order. Check out all they have to offer here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/americanblossomlinens

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

By late summer, the garden can start to feel a little wild. The weeds are growing fast, the harvest is piling up, watering needs are changing, and life outside the garden is getting busier, too.

So what actually needs your attention right now, and what can you let go?

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we’re talking through our top priorities for the late summer garden. We’ll cover why harvesting should come first, how to adjust your watering as the season changes, what to do with bare garden beds, when to plant fall crops or cover crops, and how to keep weeds from creating more work next year.

We also talk about something that’s just as important: learning to recognize when good enough really is good enough. You don’t need a perfectly tidy garden to have a successful season.

Plus, we’re sharing what’s happening around our homestead right now, from preserving green beans and sauerkraut to fall pasture management, meat chickens, and preparing for the colder months ahead.

LINKS MENTIONED:

* Traditional Skills Academy Curriculum: https://traditionalskillsacademy.com/
* Thanks to Azure Standard for sponsoring this podcast. If you're new to Azure Standard, be sure to check them out and use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15" for 15% off your first order of $100 or more (delivered to a drop location): https://homesteadingfamily.com/azurestandard
* Grab a pre-order copy of David Stelzer's new book, Seeds of Hope here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/seedsofhope
* Check out the accompanying blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/late-summer-garden-care/

Whether your garden is still producing heavily or you’re starting to transition toward fall, we hope this episode helps you focus on the things that matter most and finish the gardening season well.

What does your late summer garden look like right now? Let us know in the comments!

TIME STAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction
1:17 - Chit Chat
9:55 - Traditional Skills Academy
11:10 - Azure Standard
14:06 - Main Topic

#Gardening #VegetableGarden #LateSummerGarden #FallGarden #GardenTips 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love.