Living Free in Tennessee - Nicole Sauce

Today I am interviewing The Tactical Redneck on the Living Free Podcast. he will tell his story of building freedom into his life which has included overcoming addiction, PTSD from being a combat veteran, and more.

NOTE: I will update this summary in the next few days will additional ways to reach Tactical and also a content summary.

Connect with us!

TheLivingFreePodcast.com

LivingFreeinTennessee.com

SelfRelianceFestival.com

@nicolesauce on instagram

@LFTN on youtube

@lftngroup on Telegram

Today, we talk about the hidden cost of constant distraction, as well as cover all of our usual Monday segments.

Featured Event: June 29 Meetup and Rabbit Processing Event. Join us for an in-person meetup and hands-on rabbit processing workshop right here at the Holler. Learn how to humanely dispatch, clean, and prepare rabbit for the freezer or dinner plate.

Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com Long-term food storage supplies that won't break the bank.

Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Helping entrepreneurs, homesteaders, and freedom-minded folks handle taxes the smart way.

Tales from the Prepper Pantry

• Added more pickled beets to the pantry this week—trying to stay ahead of the beet wave
• Dried a fresh batch of lemon balm, thanks to a special visitor who brought me a beautiful harvest
• Testing a new approach to event food and premade meals—moving to stainless steel restaurant trays with lids for things like meatloaf. Easier to stack, serve, and clean
• Hoping to score cucumbers this weekend for the next round of pickling

Frugality Tip

A little weekly effort saves you tons of money in convenience food over time. I've been making 8 pounds of meatloaf at a time lately—when meatloaf is on the meal plan, I shape and freeze extras for future, easy-to-serve meals.

In fact, once a week, I pick something to batch like this—whether it's blanching and freezing extra broccoli, or making carnivore pizza crusts. When life gets busy, I can just pull, cook, and serve—faster than driving into town or grabbing premade, low-quality food.

This habit saves money, improves nutrition, and helps prevent impulse spending. It also keeps us healthier, which could mean fewer medical bills later.

So here's your challenge: Look at your meal plan this week and find one thing you can double and freeze. Future you will thank you.

Operation Independence

I finished my taxes! One more round to go and I'll be fully caught up.

This process hasn't just been about checking a box—it's given me real insight into where money is flowing (and where it's not). That clarity has helped me reprioritize how I spend my time and energy moving forward. Sometimes, independence means getting your financial house in order—even if it's uncomfortable.

Main Topic of the Day: If I Were Starting a Homestead Today - a question from Ian who is about to buy his homestead from across the country and move…

FIRST THE BAD STUFF I DID

Make it fun more often and from the start -

Bulldoze the house and build new in a better location -

Emotional attachment to the goats

Maybe Not Get Goats

Moved the garden to zone 1

Retaining wall and French drain system - easy maintenance plan

1 animal or major change at a time until it is easy -

Hard reset on stuff

Infrastructure before animals (see above)

Time on the property to observe the seasons -

Overseen contractors and helpers more closely -

Build with profit in mind - 1 thing financing the next thing

Addressed the negative energy issue -

Better use of on-site resources - like junk trees - morel story -

Get good at compost first - grazing - soil

Water system - repair versus fix once and for all -

Learn from the local community regarding what grows well here, hydrology, local knowledge and dependable contractors

take classes

development relationships

talk to neighbors

Hydrology/water, access, then the rest is the order to plan in

I waited ten years to bring in a permaculture consultant and that was wrong

5 Things You Should Do When Starting a Homestead (From 18 Years of Hard Lessons)

1. Start With a Big-Picture Plan, Not What's Already There

Too many new homesteaders try to make existing structures or systems work—even when they don't. That old house, random infrastructure, or legacy garden spot can lock you into years of wasted time and money. Don't get emotionally attached to what's there.

Design from scratch based on what works, not what exists.

1. Build Soil and Observe Before You Build Anything Permanent

The smartest first year move is not to plant trees, build a barn, or install major systems - unless you just have to as part of your plan. It's to study your land and build soil health. Hydrology, sun, wind, and microclimates matter more than what you think you want to do.

Compost, watch water flow, graze slowly, and improve soil.

1. One System at a Time—Fully Functional Before You Add More

Piling on animals, gardens, or outbuildings without the infrastructure in place leads to burnout and chaos. If you're chasing goats while digging fenceposts, you're doing it wrong.

Add systems only when the current one runs easily.

1. Tap Local Knowledge and Outside Experts Early

You don't need to figure everything out yourself. Local growers, neighbors, county experts, and consultants can save you years of mistakes—if you listen.

The culvert story

Build relationships and take advice. Pay consultants when it counts.

1. Manage the Energy—Spiritual, Emotional, and Environmental

Homesteading isn't just physical work. There is a spiritual signature from before you were ever there and you may have attracted some haters over time - take control of the bad energy, get your property blessed or whatever you need to do to protect it, and yourself, from unnecessarily bad baggage. This is ongoing.

Clear bad energy, maintain spiritual health, and set firm boundaries.

The Holler Roast Prebuy is live! Support the shack, get coffee credit, and score digital goodies. HollerRoast.com

Self-Reliance Festival tickets—Only a few left at the $95 price point. Don't miss it before the next price jump.

Make sure you're on the newsletter list for updates, events, and all things Holler.

Make it a great week.

GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.

Community

• Follow me on Nostr: npub1u2vu695j5wfnxsxpwpth2jnzwxx5fat7vc63eth07dez9arnrezsdeafsv
• Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
• Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
• Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b

Resources

• Membership Sign Up

• Holler Roast Coffee

• Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: Disruptive energy, sheep ear scab, garlic harvest and more.

Featured Event: SOE PARTY tomorrow! SOEParty.com

Sponsor 1: The Wealthsteading Podcast - InvestableWealth.com

Sponsor 2: HollerRoast.com - Prebuy!!

Sheep Ear Scab

Disruptive energy on the Homestead

Rock Garden Installed

Duck Nests

How are we going to shade the garden

Forage: Everything is ready so it is hard to keep up!

1st tomato is close

Arranging to be out of a Saturday and still getting veggies

Nicole's Garlic

Goat Garlic

Old Garden Getting attacked by goats, on purpose

Canning is ramping up - Broccoli and pickled beets

Time to do cucumbers, but I am booked so here is what I am hoping for

Black Board? How is it working

Garden is getting taxed by sudden heat uptick - add calcium and magnesium?

Discussion of moving the shed

Event update and finanances

https://hollerroast.com/product/hvac-coffee-pre-buy/

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!

Community

• Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
• Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
• Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b

Advisory Board

• The Booze Whisperer
• The Tactical Redneck
• Chef Brett
• Samantha the Savings Ninja

Resources

• Membership Sign Up

• Holler Roast Coffee
• Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Today, I am joined by Cynthia Tina to talk about intentional communities and her journey away from a traditional path via a traditional college to her current life in community, building her own home.

Sponsor 1: AbovePhone.com

Sponsor 2: HollerRoast.com

Connect With Cynthia

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

LinkedIn

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!

Community

• Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
• Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
• Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b

Advisory Board

• The Booze Whisperer
• The Tactical Redneck
• Chef Brett
• Samantha the Savings Ninja

Resources

• Membership Sign Up

• Holler Roast Coffee
• Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Today, we talk about the hidden cost of constant distraction, as well as cover all of our usual Monday segments.

Featured Event: June 29 Meetup and Rabbit Processing Event

https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/2025/06/02/rabbit-processing/

Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com

Long-term food storage supplies that won't break the bank.

Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com

Helping entrepreneurs, homesteaders, and freedom-minded folks handle taxes the smart way.

Tales from the Prepper Pantry

• Country Store Update
• Canning Season Is Started
• Dried Herbs For Sale – Packaging Ideas
• Broccoli Score and How to Freeze It

Weekly Shopping Report From Joe:

Food City: The pet food aisle was well-stocked. Then we hit the usual places, next stopping at Dollar Tree. The drink selection continues to change, although the shelves remain full. There's not a lot of Monster left, and I'm seeing a distressing number of "zero sugar" alternatives. These typically contain liver toxins disguised as artificial sweeteners. Fortunately I'm seeing a few choices made with cane sugar. They don't have caffeine, but I'm trying to cut down on that anyway.

The tag in the store has lately been missing, but the online price of a 2x4x8 stud at Home Depot is still $3.85.

Aldi was last. Other than my preferred chocolate (I had to choose the 85% alternate), we found everything else we wanted. There have been a few more price changes since the last report, with decreases bigger than increases. Staple prices were:

• Bread (20 oz. white): $1.39
• Eggs: $2.96 (-)
• Whole milk: $2.72 (+)
• Heavy cream: $5.29
• OJ: $4.25
• Butter: $3.75
• Bacon: $3.99
• Potatoes: $3.49 (-)
• Sugar: $3.29
• Flour: $2.35
• 80% ground beef: $4.69

Untainted regular gasoline at Weigels is still $3.59/gallon.

No frugality tip this week.

Operation Independence

Attempt to launch the glamper rental LOL

Main Topic of the Day: The Hidden Cost of Constant Distractio

What happened when I deleted tiktok from my phone - it got me to observing.

• Every major mistake I have made involved an interruption
• Slow progress

So I did a test - I became hardcore about interruptions, including leaving my phone away from me completely for hours at a time, setting alarms for benchmark tasks, and setting better boundaries.

• Better sleep, better health, better focus
• I pissed off some folks and hurt a feeling or two

Why do people resist stillness so hard?

• Fear of rejection
• They never learned to be alone
• Not following their purpose and they know it
• Using distraction to avoid processing trauma or other things

Then it hit me - distractions aren't just digital—boundary violators are distractions too. We all have encountered people who don't care a whit about your boundaries because what they need is more important to them. Who push beyond what is reasonable. And who seek to manipulate you when they realize that you are not going to play along.

What happens next is:

• Character assault
• Temper tantrums
• Manufactured crisis
• So much more

But what about being available to your true friends and your family?

The delio is this - If you need space to accomplish things, then your true friends and family will not only understand when you create that space, but they will help you do it. And if they won't one of two things is true:

1. You are not honoring your commitments to relationships (We've all done this)
2. They arent a true friend or nontoxic family member

Because you are building YOUR life on YOUR terms to fulfill YOUR purpose

And that NEED to be constantly available and responsive? Is it truly a need because your Mom is in the hospital? Or is it a way to feel important? And what price are you paying by letting the distractions happen without end?

Just some food for thought.

REMEMBER

The Holler Roast Prebuy is live! Support the shack, get coffee credit, and score digital goodies. HollerRoast.com

Self-Reliance Festival tickets—Only a few left at the $95 price point. Don't miss it before the next price jump.

Make sure you're on the newsletter list for updates, events, and all things Holler.

Make it a great week.

Song:

GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.

Community

• Follow me on Nostr: npub1u2vu695j5wfnxsxpwpth2jnzwxx5fat7vc63eth07dez9arnrezsdeafsv
• Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
• Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
• Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b

Resources

• Membership Sign Up

• Holler Roast Coffee

• Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: Sheep Ear Scab, Zebra Fun, Losing Focus - and recovering from it, Lemon balm and more. Come on out and ask us anything. 12:30pm CT

Featured Event: June 8, 2025, 1pm-4pm - Tomato Wall Hydro Build. RSVP LivingFreeinTennessee.com

Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN

Sponsor 2: EMPShield.com, Coupon Code LFTN

Foxglove Is blooming

Goat gets cut out of fence

Lemonbalm harvest challenges: Better step planning for under 6ft tall people

Mushroom update

Zebra on the loose

Saturday of rest

Standing water audit

Running toilet and the water system

Homestead with profit in mind and tracking - read the email

Sheep ear scab

You got to close the gate...efficiency and sop

INTERRUPTIONS FROM THE PHONE - what is the solution?

Coffee pre-sale goodies from Paul Wheaton! https://hollerroast.com/product/hvac-coffee-pre-buy/

What we are doing about out of control areas?

Mailbox ants

Black raspberry but not blackberries yet

Yarrow

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!

Community

• Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
• Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
• Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b

Advisory Board

• The Booze Whisperer
• The Tactical Redneck
• Chef Brett
• Samantha the Savings Ninja

Resources

• Membership Sign Up

• Holler Roast Coffee
• Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Join me for a group discussion with John Willis of Special Operations Equipment and Jack Spirko of The Survival Podcast.

Featured Event: Tomato Wall Open House June 8: https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/event/june-8-homestead-open-house-tomato-wall-build-at-the-holler/

Sponsors:x

• Above Phone, Coupon code livefreetn, https://abovephone.com/?above=104
• Holler Roast Coffee

Show Resources

Special Operations Equipment

TheSurvivalPodcast.com

Living Free in Tennessee

NicoleSauce.com

HollerRoast.com

Main content of the show

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.

Community

• FreeSteading Group: https://freesteading.com/groups/living-free-in-tennessee/
• Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
• Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
• Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b
• Twitter: @nicolesauce
• IG: @nicolesauce
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivingFreeInTN

Resources

• Membership Sign Up

• Holler Roast Coffee

• Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Today, I take your questions in an old-school LFTN Variety Show: Pickling beets, more about our new farmstand, how to prioritize what you grow in your smaller garden space, how to prioritize your time on the homestead and more. We will also cover our usual Monday segments.

Featured Event: River and Imanee's Solstice Meetup at Haven Villiage, June 21 - I will be making cheese in case you want to come see that.

Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com

Sponsor 2: The Wealthsteading Podcast, InvestableWealth.com

Tales from the Prepper Pantry

• 20 quarts of extra tomato sauce from last year
• Initiating canning season with round one of pickling
• Drying herbs from the garden on rotation - adding it to the homestead store
• Preparing meatloafs in advance while also cooking them for now

Weekly Shopping Report

Dollar Tree was first. The drink selection always changes, but there was plenty of stock. That's all we needed in there this time, after adding a variety of storage containers and the like, and minor health items over the past several weeks.

The online price of a 2x4x8 stud at Home Depot is still $3.85.

Aldi was last. We found everything we wanted. There have been a number of price changes since the last report, but nothing dramatic. Egg and milk prices have definitely come down. Staple prices were: bread (20 oz. white): $1.39; eggs: $3.46 (-); whole milk: $2.66 (-); heavy cream: $5.29; OJ: $4.25 (+); butter: $3.75 (+); bacon: $3.99; potatoes: $4.39; sugar: $3.29 (+); flour: $2.35; and 80% ground beef: $4.69 (+).

I may make an additional trip tomorrow to Walgreens as I recently opened my last melatonin, and I want another wrist brace. I will likely also stop at the adjacent Food City for another bag of Meow Mix (that our cats ask for by name).

Untainted regular gasoline at Weigels is still $3.59/gallon.

Frugality Tip from Margo

Down here in Florida we are getting ready for the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. For two weeks we get to purchase things such as batteries, coolers, tarps, radios, fuel tanks, and generators and not have to pay sales tax. We are currently in the market for a new generator and we are going to save about $100 buying that during this break. So look up your states tax holidays and see what you can purchase during them and save some money.

Happy Savings y'all

Main topic of the Show: A variety show

Tina in Arkansas asks:

"I've got more beets than we can eat—how do you preserve them?

Nicole Sauce's Pickled Beet Recipe

1/4 bushel beets makes about seven quarts

Brine:

1/2 cup pickling or kosher salt

5.5 cups 5% vinegar

6 cups water

Per quart jar spice mix (add to jar)

2 heads dill weed

2-4 cloves garlic

1-2 hot peppers (cayenne or jalapeno)

6 peppercorns

Process method: Cold pack

Process time: 20 minutes for pints, 25 minutes for quarts

(wait 6 weeks before eating so everything tastes well blended)

Aunt Helen's Beet Pickles with an extra step (Courtesy of Mama Sauce)

1/4 bushel beets makes about 10 pints.

Brine (make enough batched to cover beets)

1 qt vinegar (5% acidity)

6 c sugar

2 TBSP salt (plain, kosher, or pickling: may not be iodized)

2 tsp pickling spice

Lots of beets

Boil beets in water. Skin and slice more thinly than for a regular pickled beet: say 1/8" or thinner. Pack in glass container or containers. Keep track of how many beets you've pickled (for backpack portion control.)

Bring brine to boil. Completely cover beets. If you plan to eat these without further processing, pack and seal in wide-mouth Mason jars in the usual fashion. If you plan to dehydrate, why not pickle in a single glass bowl?

Cover and let pickle for 2 weeks. Then you can eat or dehydrate them.

To dehydrate:

Drain beets. You can save and reuse the pickling solution a time or two before you should dump it and make fresh, so you can run successive batches.

Mark from middle Tennessee asks:

"What's your setup for the new farmstand—how are you building it, and how are you handling payment without having someone there full time?"

• Start with what we have
• Considering pickup hours beyond opening for the gatherings here
• Honor system set up is step 2
• Waiting on feedback from the community
• Want to add something to the store? Contact me

Lisa from Kentucky writes:

"We've downsized our garden space this year—how do you decide what to plant when you're working with limited square footage but still want to preserve food?"

• List
• Decide what you like to grow and what grows well
• Layer your beds
• Develop local relatiionships

David in Texas asks:

"What's the cheapest way to test a product idea from your homestead before going all-in? I've got eggs, herbs, and soap—but don't want to waste time."

• Wrong question

Nate in Kentucky asks:

"How do you approach banking and online payments without getting sucked deeper into centralized control?"

• I dont worry about it. Do you want to build wealth and make a profit in your business? Then you shouldn't either.
• How do we opt out of the system? Become ungovernable
  • Relationships
  • Cryptocurrency - learn it and use it
  • Skills and Homesteading

Rachel from North Carolina asks:

"How do you keep your business tasks organized when your farm life, podcast, and everything else are constantly pulling at you?"

• My3Things
• Sometimes I don't

Ian in Alabama says:

"I'm thinking about building a greenhouse—what lessons did you learn from the swim spa greenhouse idea that might save me time and money?"

• Im not putting a greenhouse there is what i learned
• Tailor it to your needs and climate

Patrick from Ohio asks:

"I want to host a small event on my property—what's the best way to start without getting overwhelmed by logistics or liability?"

• Start with a party

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.

Community

• Follow me on Nostr: npub1u2vu695j5wfnxsxpwpth2jnzwxx5fat7vc63eth07dez9arnrezsdeafsv
• Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
• Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
• Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b

Resources

• Membership Sign Up

• Holler Roast Coffee

• Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: Wild edible harvests, the Homesteader Grocery Store, water austerity measures and so much more.

Featured Event: June 8, 2025, 1pm-4pm - Tomato Wall Hydro Build. RSVP LivingFreeinTennessee.com

Sponsor 1: TheWealthsteadingPodcast.com

Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com

Water austerity measures

Sea showers vs dishes... all the showers

Free wood chips for cleanup work

Homesteader grocery store conversations

Black raspberries ripe

Clover gets stuck in the fence

Tomato demo

Rabbit day

Bed 4 is ready to plant

Rain all the time and spring/summer 2010

Trellis?

Preparing the Toyota

Cabin hydro re-set up

Holler Neighbor Dinners, KH Family in Town

Char chat

Kerry's event

Fire ant battle

What were you chipping away at last night?

Basecamp spring

Edible harvest: lemon balm, chamomile, red Clover, yarrow, comfrey, chocolate mint, last rose harvest

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!

Community

• Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
• Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
• Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b

Advisory Board

• The Booze Whisperer
• The Tactical Redneck
• Chef Brett
• Samantha the Savings Ninja

Resources

• Membership Sign Up

• Holler Roast Coffee
• Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Today I am joined by TJ, AKA Bear Independent, on how he found and followed the path toward light and freedom. This is a deep discussion about falling, faith and freedom.

Connect with Bear! https://www.bearindependent.com/

Show Sponsors:

HollerRoast.com

Above Phone, Coupon code livefreetn, https://abovephone.com/?above=104

Personal Transformation Journey: Bear shares his profound life transformation from an angry, destructive young man playing in heavy metal bands to a purposeful, faith-driven individual focused on serving others and following a spiritual calling.

Pivotal Life Moments: Several critical events shaped his path, including being diagnosed with colon cancer, meeting his wife Harmony, returning to church, and experiencing multiple near-death experiences that he believes were divinely preserved.

Radical Personal Responsibility: Bear emphasizes the importance of self-examination, actively taking control of one's life, and deliberately choosing to focus on positive intentions rather than dwelling on negativity or past mistakes.

Spiritual Calling and Service: His journey evolved from playing worship music to rescuing children, building restoration facilities, and creating ministries that help people heal from traumatic experiences, driven by a belief in serving a higher purpose.

Freedom Through Obedience: Bear describes freedom not as rebellion, but as willingly following spiritual guidance, even when it's uncomfortable, and using personal experiences of darkness to help others navigate similar challenges.

Entrepreneurial and Ministry Work: He has developed multiple businesses and ministries, including Refuge and Caleb House, focusing on preparedness, rescue operations, and rehabilitation for traumatized children, demonstrating his commitment to practical service.

Empowerment and Potential: A core message is that anyone can transform their life by getting out of their own way, taking radical personal responsibility, and pursuing their true calling with persistence and faith.

Make it a great week

GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.

Community

• Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
• Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
• Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b

Advisory Board

• The Booze Whisperer
• The Tactical Redneck
• Chef Brett
• Samantha the Savings Ninja

Resources

• Membership Sign Up

• Holler Roast Coffee

• Harvest Right Affiliate Link