Homesteady - Stories of Living off the Land

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't heard the prologue to this episode:Emergency on the Farm, Just One More, we highly suggest you stop and listen to this episode first. It's about an hour, and highly emotional, so don't forget those tissues!

Thank you, listeners, for your support regarding the loss of Boone.

We were, and continue to be, profoundly moved by your outpouring of empathy. Your stories of the beloved companion animals you have lost help heal the hole in our own heart.

We are heartened by  how many of you told us that you have made changes on your own properties- reducing and eliminating your own use of poisons-in honor of Boone. This is why we shared Boone's story.

On the podcast, we share parts of several of your stories- of your much-loved pets, of the changes you've made on your properties. Our hearts are so grateful for this podcast community.

As you may remember, I was able to get a spot put on the waiting list of Three Cedar's Retrievers list for JUST ONE MORE puppy sired by the same parents as Boone. How did this selection process go for us? Watch this video to find out. It will be the cutest thing you see all day. With the help of Jack's matchmaking skills, we selected "Socks" to come home with us to the farm.

Or maybe, "Socks" picked us.

To be honest, it was hard to get a new puppy while still grieving Boone's loss. But we moved forward and started to build a spot in our family for our puppy. All purebred animals are registered, with a an official name. We re-named Socks "Bones" for his call name, a name that honored Boone. His official name? Three Cedars Boone's Little Brother. After earning the nickname Lazy Bones, for his marked lack of interest in any training activities, Bone matured into an eager retriever.

More than that, he has filled the hole next to me, and has become my new best friend.

This episode of Homesteady really highlighted how this podcast engenders community. Want to be a bigger part of this community? Become a Pioneer today!

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In this Episode of the Homesteady Campfire, we listen to a tale of dark woods, big bears, and a Woman who decided to try to feed her family by hunting a large black bear. 

Robin Follette decided one morning that she wanted a change in life.

She had been a Market Farmer for years. She knew the importance of raising and harvesting your own food. But she wanted to take farm to table lifestyle one step further. She wanted to learn to hunt. 

Her Father was a hunter, and she remembered as a young girl all the boys leaving for hunt camp. 

Girls were not allowed to hunt. 

Now, as she realized her daughter was about to Graduate, and her life was going to be changing.

She figured it was the perfect time to take on a new life challenge. She was going to learn to hunt.

Years later, she still had no success in the field. Close calls, and some scary interactions with bears and moose, but no meat in the freezer. 

One day a 400 Lb Boar began showing up on Robins Game Camera.

This bear was frequenting her spot, often. Robin Decided that this was the bear she was going to take home. The average bear taken in Maine weighs under 200 lbs. This was a special bear, and it would feed Robin's family for a long time. 

Sitting in her treestand one evening she hears the loud sound of a bear crashing through the woods.

Its no doubt a big bear, Robin thought, because of how much noise it was making. 

The Bear steps out into the clearing, and Robin realizes its not the bear she was hunting.

Its a much smaller bear. And its wounded. 

What is the right thing to do? 

She knows the Big Bear is coming, he often visits this spot. But this bear is badly wounded and suffering. 

She has one Bear tag, and if she uses it on the wounded bear, her hunt for the year is over. 

But the little bear is suffering, and will most likely starve over the winter. 

Listen to the story and learn what decision Robin made. 

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The Most Important Thing in becoming a future beekeeper is to have a fascination with bees.

In this episode of Honesteady, we meet Beekeeper or "beek" Dane Strickland of RJS Beefarm. Dane is truly fascinated with bees. Dane was introduced to the power of bees when severe asthma symptoms prompted his children's pediatrician to suggest a daily spoonful of dark honey as a remedy for the allergies triggering his son's asthma attacks. When his son showed improvement on his dark honey regimine, Dane dove into research to understand how honey could be responsible.

Personal Fulfillment. Satisfying Curisoty. All good reasons to get into beekeeping. But of course, let's not forget...HONEY.

Dane tells us that honey is a syrup generated 100% by the bees. It is primarily nectar from living plants. Dane is committed to chemical-free beekeeping. This means that his honey is all-natural, only composed of the nectar made by his bees from what they consume in their natural environent.

The health benefits from natural honey come from the small amounts of natural pollen particles found in minimally filtered honey. This is why some people do experience desensitization from their allergies when ingesting local dark honey.

While the benefits of local honey has been found to benefit some people in treatment of their allergies, this information is certainly not to be taken as or in lieu of advice from your medical professional.

Dane himself shares that his son experienced relief from this remedy; his daughter did not experience great results.

There is a big difference between processed honey and local honey. 

Dane enlightens us to the fact that commercially processed honey uses pumps and filters in order to produce a product with "flow" for commercial container. This is why your favorite honey bear shaped bottle is able to pour a smooth stream through the spout. Consumers mistakenly believe that sugar crystals signal honey that has "gone bad."

Local, raw honey retains the original enzymes from the nectar produced by the bees. The commercial process of heating the honey to 160 degrees kills the enzymes and dissipates the flavor. The main difference between local honey and commercial honey is that different colors, flavors, and textures between hives. These changes are made by the differences in the bees' diet. The district, intense flavors of local raw honey is what has made honey a preferred sweetener for centuries.

Each jar of local honey tells a story about the bees who made it, and beekeepers who are supporting the bees.

Dane alerts us to the fact that our bee population is in danger. Bees are credited with 22-25% of the pollination of plants that produce our food supply. Even if you don't see yourself as a beekeeper, you can choose to maintain your outdoor space in a bee-friendly way, by avoiding chemicals and pesticides that are harmful to bees.

Now, do you want to become a beekeeper?

Dane lets us in on the three essentials to becoming a beekeeper: a beehive, tools and protective gear, and of course, BEES! Dane also shares start-up cost estimates, and sets realistic expectations for a beginning beekeeper. In three years, Dane thinks you can break even on the initial investment by selling honey!

Making your own honey and keeping bees is deeply satisfying, which is important to the Homesteady idealist...but do the dollars make sense to Accountant Mike?

Accountant Mike takes everything into account and breaks down the numbers- stings, time spent tending the hive, and time spent making honey. Does it get a financial thumbs-up, or does fascination with bees have to be its own reward?

Need a little more information on beekeeping before you take the plunge?

Homesteady Pioneers have access to a Pioneer-Only Intro to Beekeeping podcast! Not a Pioneer? Join here!

Want to start your own honey business? (Or any other business?) Get on the early warning list for the next Homesteady Launchpad Business Course, and get your own thumbs up or thumbs down, along with practical tips and know-how from Aust and Accountant Mike.

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"Close your eyes. I want you to imagine your dream farm...What do you see?"

In this episode of Homesteady, Aust talks to two individuals in different stages of their journeys to the ultimate destination: The Dream Farm. You-yes, YOU! can go from owning nothing, to finding stepping stones towards the perfect spot for reaching your own homesteading goals.

Stepping Stone 1: A Mission for what type of Property YOU want.

The Proving Grounds is one example of stepping stones leading to a dream property come true. Grant Woods, a wildlife biologist who lives in 2000 acres in the Ozark Mountains in Missouri, documents and teachers others successful land management techniques through his web series and website, GrowingDeer.tv. Grant's "mission" was to manage his land for the optimal growth of both plants and animals, while enabling him to spend more time with his family. Grant's land is called "The Proving Grounds" because with it, he has proven that his land management techniques lead to successful, bountiful results.

Stepping Stone 2: Don't wait! Start now. Practice.

"If ever a person has looked at their life as a series of stepping stones laid out in front of them on the way to that big 'ol lake full of bass, that's Alexia."

Not everyone owns 2000 acres of land. In his interview with Alexia Johnstone, The Suburban Escapee, Alexia talks about taking one small step at a time.

A self-proclaimed "anxious achiever," Alexia urges the burgeoning homesteader to set a series of small goals, each with a result that is rewarding. Achievable goals allow us to build towards bigger goals by feeding our self-confidence with small successes. Wherever you live, whatever your life right now, PRACTICE the skills that will lead you towards your homesteading goals.

Stepping Stone 3: The Property Search.

Grant, Alexia and Aust all reflect on how jumping for the first piece of land they saw, or right to a giant farm, wasn't the right choice for their families, due to location, cost, or size. While Grant is already there, Aust and Alexia are both in different spots on their journeys to their Dream Property.

After listening to this episode, are you motivated to learn more about land management, sustainability, and achievable goals on your way to owning your own Dream Property? Then join us this February for #iamhomesteady. We are so excited to bring you bees, bears and more in this four-episode month! In February's #iamhomesteady special, we will be encouraging you to become a Pioneer. If 50 new Pioneers sign up to the program this month, we will host a celebration episode, a live Q and A with Aust and Accountant Mike. All Pioneers will be invited, and we will share that episode with the entire Homesteady Audience.

Sign Up Here to become a Pioneer!

Also, share the show with #iamhomesteady to win a subscription to Grow Journey!

From the Suburban Escapee

Hey everyone! It was lots of fun to be part of the podcast this month. I am so excited to have the opportunity to share the journey my family and I have embarked on to be more Homesteady.

Want to amaze your friends with homemade tomato sauce? Here is the recipe, as promised.

Nonna's Basic Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

To Make:

This makes enough sauce for 6-8 servings of pasta.

Notes: If you are an experienced cook, feel free to vary the herbs. Rosemary, parsley, and thyme also are nice in this sauce. Fresh herbs work well too.

If you use plain stewed frozen garden tomatoes or home-canned tomatoes, blend the tomatoes before pouring them into the sauce. I have found that you need to lengthen the cooking time due to the extra water compared to commercially processed tomatoes. This is particularly true for frozen stewed tomatoes.

Mangia!

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Have you ever dreamt of turning your passion into a business?

Do you want to make a living doing what you love?

Join the Class! Book NOW!

In this special episode of Homesteady, Accountant Mike interview Aust about how he turned his love of homesteading into a business that he loves!

Want to Join the Class? Click The Pic Below To Join!

The Homesteady Business Launchpad Pilot Class will have a Maximum of 10 Students! So make sure to grab a spot Quickly!

In this episode Aust and Accountant Mike revisit the subject of Farm Fresh Eggs.... Raising chickens on your homestead can't save you money, but can it earn you some? Find out! 

This Episode was brought to you by our Partner Grow Journey, Join their Gardening Tip of the Month Email List here!

Want to sart a Homestead Business? Our Homestead Business Class is coming to help you do that!

Join the Early Warning List

In this episode Aust and Accountant Mike revisit the subject of Farm Fresh Eggs....

Do egg-laying chickens save a homesteader money? Accountant Mike said, "Not worth it!" in this previous episode. But what if you sell the eggs produced by your flock? Does that income equal the time, money, and energy from raising chickens? We interview John from The Growing Farms Podcast to find out on this episode of Homesteady.

Want more chicken tips? Dr. Michael Darre from the University of Connecticut, chicken specialist, may home some answers for you.

Want to learn more about farms and finance? The Farm Finance Project gives you an insider view on the workings of 12 small-scale farms.

John's extended interview giving his own chicken tips is available in the Pioneer Library. Pioneers also have access to an audio chicken raising class in the Pioneer Library. Join now!

Motivated and educated enough about chickens to build your own chicken tractor? Click here checkout John's Plans. (BTW... it's an affiliate link) 

Check out Homesteady on YouTube for great videos about many homesteading topics, including this one on How to Get Your Chickens to Lay More Eggs in the Winter.

The Suburban Escapee- Tales from Raising Roosters Farm

Do you see that fancy, $400 coop posted up there?

That is NOT what my backyard chicken coop looks like. This is the "Budget Coop:"

And it cost us MAYBE $100. In fact, this is the Budget Coop 2.0. Version 1.0 consisted of the lifted roof part you see on the left being made of free pallets buried into the ground like a fence with chicken wire over the top. The part on the left is actually a chicken tractor a friend of ours gifted us when they moved. We call it "the extension." As you can see, I really do have backyard chickens- the coop abuts my shed, and that's my house in the background.

Before I gloat about my Budget Coop, however, I have to admit: Accountant Mike has a point.  Over the last 18 months, we have brought home and fed, at one time or another, no fewer than 18 chickens.

We currently have five. One of them lays eggs. I am not great with numbers, but even I know the math on that one does not work out.

What happened to the other THIRTEEN CHICKENS? I could go on for days, but here is a short list:

To continue to justify the expense of backyard chickens, we have stuck to a few budgeting tips:

However, it's not completely about the money.

There are, however, as Accountant Mike's mom said, intangible benefits to owning chickens. Rather than getting chickens to replace our children, we got chickens for our children.  My oldest daughter is a chicken whisperer, and she is the one that is able to hold, pet, catch, and herd the chickens.

The chickens have brought us more than eggs. My children have learned about where food comes from. They have learned to take care of another creature. They have learned about predators and death from the chickens. They have learned to be "calm and confident" when they approach animals, and to gage the effect of their presence.

For me personally, it's all about the taste. Farm fresh eggs are MUCH better than a "big ag" egg. I am an eggs over easy aficionado, and recently ate eggs at a popular chain restaurant. Spoiled by months of rich, delicious yolks, I nearly spit out my toast as my tongue met the insipid, watery yellow of the factory farmed egg I had ordered. An over easy egg cooked while still warm from the coop? Priceless.

Like what you heard? Want to read more? Visit our archive of show episodes and blog posts.

Not a Pioneer? Join here.

The Homesteady Pioneer Shoutout of the Episode

Paul and Katie

YOU could be next!

This episode was also brought to you by our partners RJS BEE Farm, and PowerPlucker.

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In this Episode of the Homesteady Campfire, we meet Aust's friend "Sweet Lou", and hear his story of survival in the wilderness.

A true "city boy"

Sweet Lou and his friend Jonathan pick Mount Washington, located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, as their first ever overnight backpacking trip.

Not only is Mount Washington the highest peak on the Eastern seaboard,

it's also, according to Gear Junky, the eighth most dangerous mountain in the WORLD.

How do Sweet Lou and Jonathan fare?

Follow along Sweet Lou's trip on his Instagram Feed: @lfvision_ and join us around the Homesteady Campfire (I would suggest with a nice hot pouch of chicken a la king) for this comedy of errors on the mountain with the world's most dangerous weather!

Special Guests Heather and Josh Weigh in

As you know, normally we end the show with Accountant Mike giving the ceremonial "thumbs up" or down to the topic. Since this weeks topic was about hiking and wilderness survival, we decided to bring in some experts. Heather and Josh breakdown Luis' performance on the mountain. Does he pass their test?

Hear more from our guests at The First 40 Miles Podcast.

But Wait! There's More!

A Leatherman is a true friend in the wilderness. We are pleased to announce that we are hosting a giveaway! Subscribe to our email list and be entered to win a Leatherman knife!

I wish I was sitting with all of you, literally around a campfire, listening to this story.

I don't want to post spoilers, but let me tell you: I was literally freaking out while listening to the tale of Sweet Lou's adventure. I laughed, I yelled at the podcast, and I nervously bit my nails while waiting to see how things were going to turn out for the intrepid adventurers.

Also, I make EPIC s'mores.

Wilderness backpacking is more than a simple walk through the woods.

The amount of preparation, training, skills, and gear that is necessary varies depending upon you who speak to, and where you are going; but going to the eighth most dangerous mountain in the world for your first overnight is generally not recommended.

That being said: I wanted to share my favorite fire-starting tip with all of you, from my very first camping trip. Which coincidentally, also happened in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, at Crawford Notch State Park.

At nineteen, I had never been camping before.

When I told my parents I was going camping with my then boyfriend and a group of friends, their response was, "Why?" My parents are not fans of "roughing it," and while we certainly spent long days outside as kids, those days ended with showers and beds.

My then boyfriend and his best friend were accomplished Boy Scouts.

They spent the drive up to the park bragging about past campfires; how big, how hot, how much wood they gathered.

When the time came to make a fire for the evening, they went and bought wood at the ranger station, came back, and proceeded to build a fire.

If only tall tales could fuel an actual fire.

Boy Scouts or not, that thing would NOT light. After about thirty minutes of fruitless effort, they decided that the only solution was lighter fluid.

The boys piled into the car and took off for the nearest gas station.

My two friends and I (one of them my own longest-standing friend) stood around the un-lit fire and watched the car drive away.

"You guys," I said, all my freshman anthropology classes on my mind, "Cavemen made fire. This cannot possibly be that hard. I mean, we have a lighter."

"They didn't put enough tinder," said my oldest friend, a seasoned camper, who had watched the proceedings with quiet amusement, "We need something that will smolder and get really hot."

We started going through our bags of food and supplies. I pulled out a tube of the greasiest item I found in my backpack. "What about these?"

The boys returned an hour later, stunned to find us sitting and snacking around a roaring fire.

"How did you do that? Did someone help you?"

We looked at each other and started laughing. "Would you like a Pringle?" I offered, "Not only are they delicious, but they make a great fire starter."

It's hardly a Man vs. Wild moment, but that small success from my first campout remains one of my favorite camping memories.

Now, go join the email list and win a knife to help you create your own campfire!

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In this in depth short episode of Homesteady, we dive into the details of raising pastured pigs. We interview Tom Dexter, a man that has been raising pigs for decades. He shares his insights on how to buy the right pigs for your farm. He discusses breeds, feeding, and pig care. 

We also share an announcement regarding the Homesteady Pioneer Library!

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A broken lawn mover has led Aust to ponder...should he buy a new ride-on lawnmower? Or pass over a new machine and invest in some sheep to eat the lawn?

Aust pulls out all the stops and brings in Accountant Mike to develop a comprehensive pro/con list to investigate this completely new venture for the homestead. Have you ever thought about the ways lawnmowers are dangerous? And we all know from the last episode the downside of growing useless grass.

Sheep, however, cannot simply be parked in the shed once they're done dining. They require food in the winter, when the lawns of New England are covered in snow, medical attention, and shelter. As opposed to lawnmowers, when they are fully grown, they can be butchered and either sold or served for dinner. There is also the possibility of shearing sheep and selling wool. Do these ventures create a profit that make sheep a good business decision?

Accountant Mike and Aust battle it out: To mow or not to mow? Do the numbers add up in favor of sheep?Find out on Part 1 of this FIRST serialized episode of Homesteady!

Know a lot about lawn mowers, but nothing about sheep? Aust shares his entire conversation with Susan Napotnik about selecting the perfect breed of sheep here on the Pioneer sheep episode. Not a Pioneer? Join here.

P.S.: Did you know Accountant Mike is a reality star?

From the Suburban Escapee:

I began to write an reflection of this episode where I waxed poetic about lawns, livestock, and this episode of Curious George. (Which, yes, is about goats, but it's relevant.) I mean, I'm from the suburbs. Is there anything more suburban than lawnmowers?

The backbone of this episode, however, isn't so much about the topic itself, or the debate of Animal vs. Machine. This is the first time we have Aust step out from behind the curtain of his homestead in a particularly vulnerable position: as a newbie. Despite his success in other areas of his homestead, many of which have been shared on the podcast, Aust is revealing that decisions on the farm aren't made in a vacuum. They are made after hours of research, consulting with experienced mentors, and running numbers about the cost of any new venture vs. any possible revenue.

Decision-making is an art and a science. In my own life, with a family, a job, and multiple interests, needs, and dreams, learning to make decisions has become a necessary skill. A biography of my early adulthood could be called "The Consequences of the Poorly Thought Out Choices."

In trying to reverse that trend, the Country Boy and I have grown more cautious and methodical. After living in the city, we found a town where we could afford enough land (not a farm, just a big yard) to start experimenting with homesteading. After two seasons of growing plants based upon capricious wants (see here for how that turned out), we finally began to do research to inform ourselves on the best possible way to grow the vegetables and plants we want and enjoy. This year, we have purchased a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) farmshare with two goals in mind: increase the variety of vegetables in our freezer, and meet local farmers to begin the make the relationships that could possibly gain us a few mentors for our homestead journey.

And yet, despite the careful mathematical calculations of profit margins, and scientific research on varieties and methods, and the technical ins and out of any pursuit, there is also that most incalculable of all variables: passion. Regardless of how much logical, financial, or any other type of sense any decision makes, without passion to fuel the effort, I truly believe success is limited.

I believe that passion is what largely fuels this community. Passion for eating whole, fresh food. Passion for the outdoors. Passion for animals, hard work, and being a "maker" as opposed to strictly a consumer. Making smart, well-researched decisions is what allows us to pursue our particular passion in a sustainable, fiscally responsible way.

Rather than listening to this episode and thinking "wow, I should look into livestock," I urge you all to take away the larger message and ask yourself: What is ONE decision I can make to further my passion?

Add to our blog community by sharing that step in the comments!

A special thanks to our partner: RJS Bee Farm. Pioneers get 10% off beekeeping equipment.

Raising chickens? Our sponsor The Power Plucker will make your life easier. Save 20 days of your life you would otherwise spend plucking chickens!

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Do you know what the most grown crop in the United States is? The answer many surprise you.

When agriculture focuses this exclusively on one crop, the land, water, and local eco-system are stressed by the constant strain of sustaining only one crop.

In this episode of Homesteady, we hear about how Aaron and Susan Von Frank of Tyrant Farms are tackling this problem head on. Through their Grow Journey, they've developed their own food forest garden that enables them to grow up to 75% of their food on their half-acre lawn. (It's ok not to know what a Food Forest is. It's why we have Wikipedia.)

A big part of this effort is creating this garden using heirloom seeds. Cultivating organic, heirloom seeds continues a generations-long story of agriculture and the natural development of ecosystems. Heirloom seeds have epigenetic qualities that reduce the need for pesticides and fertilizers.

Is this information on a new way of gardening enough to convince Accountant Mike to change his anti-gardening ways? Listen and see!

From the Suburban Escapee

This episode speaks to me because it reflects so much of my own homesteading journey thus far. I grew up in Lawn Country- a suburban subdivision where the summertime background soundtrack consisted of the whirring, buzzing, and tick-tick-ticking of lawn mowers, weed whackers, and sprinklers. "Gardening" consisted of multiple trays of pastel annuals, purchased at a big box store and planted in scenic rows along driveways and patios.

When the Country Boy and I moved from our urban, yard-free condo to a house with two-thirds of an acre, we had one thought: how much of this lawn can we rip up and turn into food? As we moved into our new home in late June, three years ago, with a one-year-old baby, we knew we had missed the spring planting window. Regardless, we bought a few plants at the local farmstand, stuck them in the ground, and hoped.

If memory serves me right, we got about four cherry tomatoes, six leaves of swiss chard, and enough chives to require a lawn mower. (The chives came with the house.) Literally everything else died. The soil, the Country Boy told me, was depleted from too many years of flower gardens, and too much lawn. It wasn't going to grow anything.

Since then, we have taken multiple steps to remedy the problem. We cut down decades old shrubs and replaced them with thornless blackberry plants, raspberry brambles, and strawberries. We built a raised bed and filled it with brand-new soil. We started a compost pile. I experimented with throwing cardboard down (I mean this literally. I threw down cardboard and piled dirt on it and then planted some tomatoes). We dug a garden directly into the lawn and planted blueberry bushes (they are doing well) and planted zucchini and cucumbers (which died AGAIN this year. The soil is still terrible.) Most importantly, we have largely eschewed GMO seeds for organic, heirloom seeds.

After all this work, I am now listening to this Pioneers-only podcast about no till gardening and thinking, "MAN! I needed this three years ago!"

Not a Pioneer yet? Become one here and skip a lot of the trial and error we experienced!

This is the first year we have grown enough of anything besides green beans to actually freeze what we can't eat right away. Our journey is still continuing as we experiment with what grows well at our house (peppers) what doesn't (zucchini) and how we can fight pests without chemicals (squeezing japanese beetles with your bare hands is gross, but effective). But watching our two little girls literally eat bite pea pods off the vines without having to worry, "Eww, what's on that?" makes is all worth it.