The Florida Homesteader Podcast

What does it mean to build a farm that will last for generations?

Join Jamie Bateman on The Florida Homesteader Podcast for a conversation with the Sampson family of North Florida, where family, farming, and caring for the land come together.

From raising grass-fed cattle and sheep to practicing rotational grazing and regenerative agriculture, the Sampsons share their journey of working with nature while building a sustainable family farming legacy.

We explore the importance of healthy pastures, responsible livestock management, family traditions, and passing agricultural knowledge from one generation to the next.

Whether you're a beginning homesteader, an experienced farmer, or simply someone who values knowing where their food comes from, this episode celebrates the people and practices helping preserve Florida's agricultural future.

🌿 Real stories. Real farms. Real Florida living.

Subscribe to The Florida Homesteader magazine for more stories about Florida farms, regenerative agriculture, homesteading, and rural living.

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Thinking about starting a backyard flock? Or maybe you've already got chickens scratching around, ducks waddling through the yard, and geese keeping watch over the homestead!

In this episode of The Florida Homesteader Podcast, Jamie Bateman sits down with veterinarian Dr. Jeff Saunders to talk about raising and caring for backyard poultry.

While chickens take center stage, the conversation also explores ducks, geese, and the importance of understanding the needs of different birds.

From everyday flock management to poultry health and the challenges of raising birds in Florida, Doc shares insights to help both new and experienced poultry owners become more knowledgeable and confident.

Whether you're raising birds for fresh eggs, enjoying them as part of your homestead, or considering your very first flock, this episode is for you!

For more practical animal husbandry advice and Florida homesteading stories, visit TheFloridaHomesteader.com and subscribe to The Florida Homesteader magazine.

What does it really take to turn a thriving hive into a bottle of local Florida honey?

In this episode of The Florida Homesteader Podcast, we sit down with CBbees to talk about beekeeping in Florida, producing local raw honey, caring for honeybees, and the important role pollinators play in Florida agriculture.

We also go beyond the bottle to hear the story behind CBbees and learn more about the work, challenges, and rewards that come with keeping bees and producing honey right here in the Sunshine State.

CBbees is also featured in the September/October issue of The Florida Homesteader, and this conversation gives us an opportunity to bring their story from the pages of the magazine to life.

If you're in Florida's Heartland, you can pick up the September/October issue of The Florida Homesteader at Rural King in Sebring—and while you're there, look for a bottle of CBbees honey to take home, too!

Not local? Subscribe to The Florida Homesteader online and discover more stories about the farmers, homesteaders, growers, makers, and families who are keeping Florida's agricultural heritage alive.

In this episode: Florida beekeeping, local honey, honeybees and pollinators, Florida agriculture, supporting local producers, and the story behind CBbees.

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Real stories. Real farms. Real Florida living.

There’s a side of Florida you won’t find along the interstate or inside a theme park. It’s down sandy roads, beneath sprawling oaks and towering pines, and along trails best experienced from the back of a horse.

In this episode of The Florida Homesteader Podcast, Jamie Bateman sits down with Kathy Wolfe of Wolfe’s Born to Ride to talk about horses, trail riding, Florida’s natural landscape, and a way of experiencing the Sunshine State that feels a whole lot like Old Florida.

Kathy shares her story, her love for horses, and how Wolfe’s Born to Ride gives others the opportunity to slow down, saddle up, and experience a side of rural Florida that many people never get to see.

It’s a conversation about more than horseback riding. It’s about our connection to the land, preserving Florida traditions, and appreciating the wild and beautiful places that still remain.

Come along with us Where Old Florida Still Rides.

For more stories celebrating Florida’s farms, homesteads, people, places, and traditions, visit TheFloridaHomesteader.com.

To visit and connect with Kathy, you can visit their website at Wolfesborntoride.com.

To follow along with the Florida Cracker Trail Association, visit their Facebook page Florida Cracker Trail, here!

Thinking about starting a homestead in Florida? Or are you already homesteading and looking for ways to improve your soil, grow more sustainably, and work with nature?

In this episode of The Florida Homesteader Podcast, Jamie Bateman sits down with Joel Salatin, farmer, author, and regenerative agriculture advocate, to explore what homesteading and regenerative farming look like in Florida.

From the challenges of Florida's unique growing conditions to the principles of building a healthier, more productive homestead, Joel shares his perspective on working with nature and approaching agriculture differently.

Whether you're growing your first backyard garden, raising livestock, exploring regenerative agriculture, or managing an established homestead, this conversation is for anyone interested in learning more about farming and homesteading in the Sunshine State.

Keep growing with The Florida Homesteader!

Discover more Florida homesteading stories, practical advice, and inspiration in The Florida Homesteader magazine.

Subscribe today at TheFloridaHomesteader.com.

Follow The Florida Homesteader Podcast for more conversations about faith, family, farming, regenerative agriculture, and homesteading in Florida.

To learn more about Joel and Polyface Farms, visit them at polyfacefarm.com

What happens when you start with an overgrown piece of Florida land, a vision, and the willingness to figure things out as you go?

In this episode of The Florida Homesteader Podcast, we sit down with Tina Reynolds, whose story, From Nothing to Everything, was recently featured in the pages of The Florida Homesteader.

Tina and her husband, Jimmy, arrived in Putnam County on January 1, 2021, looking for a fresh start. Their property was covered in pine trees and palmettos, and there wasn't a ready-made homestead waiting for them. They cleared the land, lived temporarily with family, and began transforming a metal barn into the unconventional home Jimmy affectionately calls their “Barnaminium.”

But Tina's story is about much more than building a home.

We talk about starting with what you have, learning along the way, the value of documenting the journey, and how Florida agriculture and homesteading can look very different from one family to another—including Tina's experience in Florida's shrimping industry.

It's a conversation about perseverance, resourcefulness and what can happen when you're willing to start—even when you don't have everything figured out.

Want to read Tina's full story?

From Nothing to Everything is featured in the latest issue of The Florida Homesteader, Florida's first homesteading magazine. Each issue is filled with real Florida farm and homestead stories, gardening tips, recipes, livestock guidance and practical encouragement for building a more community-sufficient life right here in the Sunshine State.

Subscribe today and have The Florida Homesteader delivered directly to you in print or enjoy the digital edition wherever you are.

Real stories. Real farms. Real Florida living.

What started as a desire to provide healthy food has grown into something much bigger.

In this episode of The Florida Homesteader Podcast, we sit down with Spencer Askew of Azure Standard to talk about the mission, faith, and people behind a company that has become a trusted resource for families seeking healthier food and more intentional ways of living.

Spencer shares more about Azure Standard's commitment to making healthy food accessible and affordable, the importance of community, and how the company's values continue to guide its growth.

We also talk about David Stelzer's upcoming book, Seeds of Hope, which tells the story of Azure Standard, David's journey, and the faith that has remained at the heart of it along the way.

If you've ever ordered from Azure Standard, or you've wondered what those delivery trucks and community drop locations are all about, this episode gives you a closer look at the story behind the company and the mission that continues to move it forward.

Tune in for a conversation about faith, food, community, and planting seeds of hope for the future.

David Stelzer's Book, "Seeds of Hope" Pre-Order Now.

Click here to watch one of David's YouTube episodes on wheat.

...and while you're over on YouTube...

Subscribe to our channel, The Florida Homesteader to see the families of the magazine share more about their homesteading journeys.

Thank you to Azure Standard for being a proud partner of The Florida Homesteader! If you would like to know more about ordering from Azure Standard, click ⁠HERE⁠ and use the promo code JamieBateman1 to get started today!

Want to start receiving the magazine delivered straight to your own mailbox? It's easy! Click HERE to get started today!

New World screwworm is a name many livestock owners hoped would remain part of Florida’s past—but its resurgence has brought renewed attention to the importance of knowing what to watch for and how to protect our animals.

In this episode of The Florida Homesteader Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Jeff Saunders to talk about New World screwworm, the threat it can pose to livestock and other warm-blooded animals, signs owners should be watching for, and why awareness and early detection matter.

Dr. Saunders also shares more about this important topic in the July/August issue of The Florida Homesteader Magazine, giving readers another resource to better understand New World screwworm and its potential impact on Florida agriculture.

Whether you raise cattle, goats, sheep, horses, backyard livestock, or simply want to stay informed about issues affecting Florida agriculture, this is a conversation worth hearing.

Read more from Dr. Jeff Saunders in the July/August issue of The Florida Homesteader.

We are grateful to Citrus Animal Clinic for supporting The Florida Homesteader and helping us continue sharing educational conversations like this one with Florida's farmers and homesteaders.

📍 Citrus Animal Clinic
270 US 27 South
Lake Placid, FL

📞 863-465-2176

🌐 citrusanimalclinic.com

When you visit or give them a call, be sure to tell them The Florida Homesteader sent you!

🌿 Stay Connected with The Florida Homesteader

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What if we stopped thinking about a garden as simply a place to grow food?

In this conversation, Frankie Flowers shares his unconventional approach to growing crops that can serve a purpose far beyond what ends up on the dinner table. 

From plants grown specifically for chop-and-drop, animal feed, food forests, soil building, and garden fertility, Frankie challenges the traditional way we think about what belongs in a homestead garden. 

We talk about choosing crops with multiple purposes, working with nature instead of against it, and finding creative ways to make the most of what you grow. Some of the plants Frankie recommends may not be the typical choices you'll find in a backyard garden, but that's exactly what makes his approach so interesting.

Whether you're raising animals, building a food forest, improving your soil, or simply looking for ways to make your homestead more productive, this conversation will have you looking at your garden, and what you plant in it, in a whole new way.

Sometimes growing outside the lines is exactly what your homestead needs.

To connect with Frankie, you're welcome to call or text him at 828-290-3429.

To subscribe to The Florida Homesteader magazine, just click here and we'll get this next issue in the mail to you!

⁠https://www.thefloridahomesteader.com

Sometimes the place we feel most at home isn't where we expected to be.

In this episode of The Florida Homesteader Podcast, we sit down with Amie Cochran, whose story, Too Country for the City, reminds us that home is about more than a location—it's about living a life that reflects your values, your family, and your calling.

Join us as we talk about homesteading, faith, family, and the journey that led Amie to embrace a simpler way of living. Whether you're already living the homestead life or simply dreaming about it, we hope her story encourages you to bloom where you're planted.

📖 Read Amie's full feature story in The Florida Homesteader magazine.

👉 Subscribe today:
www.thefloridahomesteader.com

Thank you to Toups & Co. for sponsoring today's podcast chat! To learn more, visit www.toupsandco.com