Old Fashioned On Purpose artwork

Old Fashioned On Purpose

385 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1.7K ratings

Have you felt it? Something is rippling through humanity at this moment. It's a stirring... a longing... a remembering. A sense that we are more capable than we’ve been led to believe. We want to feel alive, not sedated.. but we've lost our way. We've traded a life intertwined with nature for asphalt and artificial lights. We've swapped natural movement for a sedentary existence. We've given up food from the earth in favor of food from the factory. We've sacrificed our traditional skillsets for apps and gadgets. But while our overdose on modernity may have made us sick, there is an antidote. Join best-selling author and mentor, Jill Winger, each week as she digs into a different facet of the old-fashioned on purpose lifestyle.

How To Education Leisure Hobbies homesteading farm gardening cooking canning cows chickens farming homestead
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Episodes

S1 E2: 1200 Miles Away from Everything

December 10, 2020 09:00 - 18 minutes - 12.6 MB

At the age of 14, I got my first horse. For a shy little homeschool girl, this wound up being a huge boost to my confidence and completely shifted my identity. In the years that followed, I joined 4-H, worked in the stalls, and eventually went to college to ride horses. What did I learn through all of this? Even if you're unable to live your dream right now, there are always ways to get close to it and prepare yourself for what's to come. Listen to find out how I got my first real mentor whe...

S2 E1: Who Were You Before Life Told You Otherwise?

December 07, 2020 09:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MB

After a short break to regroup, I’m thrilled to be back recording podcasts.  While I loved recording the individual episodes, it’s time to make a change.  Instead of recording single episodes on a topic, I’m going to be dedicating an entire season to a specific theme.  Together we’ll take deep dives that build a broader depth of knowledge and allow you to take action on the things that matter.  In this first season, I’m taking it back to the beginning.  We’re tapping into the ORIGINS of my l...

S1 E1: Who Were You Before Life Told You Otherwise?

December 07, 2020 09:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MB

After a short break to regroup, I’m thrilled to be back recording podcasts.  While I loved recording the individual episodes, it’s time to make a change.  Instead of recording single episodes on a topic, I’m going to be dedicating an entire season to a specific theme.  Together we’ll take deep dives that build a broader depth of knowledge and allow you to take action on the things that matter.  In this first season, I’m taking it back to the beginning.  We’re tapping into the ORIGINS of my l...

171. Learning to Respect Seasons + An Announcement

October 22, 2020 08:00 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MB

While I’m the first person to trumpet consistency, sometimes a change is needed.  Lately, I’ve recognized I’ve been lacking a bit of inspiration.  While under normal circumstances I’d attempt to push through, I’ve realized that creativity and inspiration is actually a seasonal thing.  Because of this, I need a break.  Fear not my friends!  This isn’t the end of the podcast.  On the contrary, this is an opportunity to present a new format that will offer even more value and resources for ever...

170. Why This Homesteader Finally Started Working Out...

October 19, 2020 08:00 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MB

For quite some time, I felt with the physical work I did on the homestead, I didn’t need to set aside extra time to workout.  I thought the shoveling, the pitchforking, and the day-to-day activity was enough.  However, as I’ve got older and my metabolism has shifted my attitude has changed.  While I’ll never be one of the workout warriors you see on Instagram, I’ve realized that making the extra time to workout is not only important, but it’s essential for my long-term health and well-being....

169. Doing This Gave Me 10 More Hours of Homestead Time Each Week

October 15, 2020 08:00 - 26 minutes - 18.7 MB

Recently I’ve noticed that something has been taking up more-and-more of my time, seemingly with each passing day.  Any guesses on what that might be?  (Hint:  it has nothing to do with homesteading).  Yes, that’s right my friends, I’m talking about social media.  Whether it’s been filling time while waiting for food to cook or mindlessly scrolling through Facebook, I realized that I’ve literally been wasting hours of every single day using my phone as a distraction.  In today’s episode, I’m...

168. Wanna Start a Homestead? DON'T Follow This Advice

October 13, 2020 08:00 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MB

If you take a look around the internet, you will see that the homestead life is exploding at the moment.  All over social media, there’s growing evidence of people beginning a homesteading journey of their own.  However, as with anything new and popular on the internet, it can be difficult to tell the imposter “ influencers” from the true homesteaders.  So how do you know who to listen to?  In today’s episode, I'll share the advice you want to be sure to SKIP and providing three key action i...

167. 3 Tricks for Storing Vegetables When You Don't Have a Root Cellar

October 08, 2020 08:00 - 20 minutes - 14.5 MB

Unless you’re one of the lucky few, odds are most of you don’t have the luxury of a root cellar to store your harvest.  Fear not my friends, today I’m here to offer up some great alternatives to a root cellar that will help you preserve your vegetables through the winter.  Listen to find out why that drafty room in your house could be your best friend, when to turn to your fridge, and how long you can keep vegetables in the ground. Head to www.PrairiePlanner.com to get The Old-Fashioned on ...

166. The Snow Killed My Garden, So I'm Planting This Instead

October 05, 2020 08:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MB

To say the least, our recent snowstorm was completely unexpected.  Unfortunately, the snow and the cold completely destroyed my garden.  Unlike years past, this time I decided to plant a fall garden.  In today’s episode, I discuss how I cleaned up my garden, what I planted for the fall, why I’m planting cover crops now, and what I’m doing with our brand new greenhouse.  Overall, this is an entirely new experiment for me, so it’s going to be interesting to see if I have any success come winte...

165. How to Prepare your Homestead to go from Summer to Winter in 24 Hours

October 01, 2020 08:00 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MB

No, my friends, the title of this episode is not a mistake.  Recently we experienced a weather swing so severe most people would think that I completely made it up.  What we went through was a 65-degree drop in just 24 hours!  Trust me, that is not a typo.  In today’s episode, I detail how we prepped for the oncoming snowstorm.  This includes pulling crops, covering plants, taking down some structures, and more.  While most of you will never have to deal with such an extreme shift in weather...

164. It Took 10 Years, But We Finally Have a Greenhouse!

September 28, 2020 08:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MB

While it seemed like this day would never happen, we finally have a greenhouse on the homestead.  Why did it take so long?  Truthfully, we didn’t make it a priority and we somewhat suffered from “paralysis by analysis.”  In today’s episode I explain how to determine which greenhouse is right for your climate, why there’s no one size fits all solution, and my long-term plans for making the most of the greenhouse.  If you’re ready to extend your growing season year-around no matter your climat...

163. THE Tomato Episode: Hacks, Myths, & More

September 24, 2020 08:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MB

For those of you in harvest right now, hopefully, you’ve already done your homework.  If you haven’t, today I’m going to provide a crash course in tomato preservation.  I talk about dehydration, food mills, sauce, what makes paste tomatoes different, and so much more.  I even cover a few tips and tricks to help get tomatoes to ripen.  This episode is a true tomato 101 and will have you getting the most out of your harvest in no time. >> Head to www.PrairiePlanner.com to get the The Old-Fash...

162. How I use a Planner to Simplify Homesteading

September 21, 2020 08:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MB

One of the most common questions I receive on a weekly basis is “how do you get it all done?”  First off, let me reiterate that no matter what social media might have you believe, I don’t have it all figured out.  What I have figured out is that writing things down greatly helps me with recalling information.  For this reason, I lean heavily on paper planners to keep me on track with goals and projects.  Listen today to find out how I use my planner along with time-blocking, food prep, and t...

161. Homemade Kraut & Fizzy Pickles: How to Make Your Own Probiotics

September 17, 2020 08:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MB

Look, I get it.  Sauerkraut isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind when dreaming of your ideal homestead kitchen.  In fact, I went years swearing off sauerkraut.  It wasn’t until I made it myself that I actually enjoyed eating it.  In today’s episode, I explain why the change happened, how to make your own sauerkraut, and dive into the incredible benefits of kraut and other fermented foods.  While I’ve touched on fermented foods in the past, this is a special episode dedicated to f...

160. A Lesson in Rolling with the Punches: Growing Fruit in Wyoming

September 14, 2020 08:00 - 25 minutes - 17.6 MB

No matter what I was told, I wanted to grow fruit on the homestead.  Over-and-over again my attempts at growing fruit fell flat.  I soon realized I wasn’t a failure at growing fruit.  I was failing to embrace my surroundings.  On today’s episode, I go over what I’m growing in my garden, how to determine what will thrive in yours, and why you might need to change your expectations when it comes to fruit on the homestead.  >>  Join my Freedom Foundry community: http://freedomfoundry.us/ >> To...

159. Curious about Fermentation? This One's for You

September 10, 2020 08:00 - 21 minutes - 15.2 MB

Outside of pressure canning, fermentation might be the most intimidating process to tackle in the kitchen.  For most of you it’s probably difficult to even name any fermented foods you enjoy eating.  Believe it or not, fermenting foods is much easier than you might expect, and this process creates some amazing foods like pickles, sauerkraut, and yogurt.  On today’s episode, I cover everything you need to know to get started with fermentation.  This includes jars, starters, step-by-step ins...

158. My Garden Wins & Garden FAILS for 2020...

September 07, 2020 08:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MB

While gardening season is coming to a close for most of us, there are a few important things to do as we head into cooler weather.  First of all, congratulate yourself!  Whether you’re a first-time gardener or a seasoned professional, it’s great to take time and look back at the things that went well.  Reflecting on your wins will only serve as greater motivation moving forward.  However, as much as we’d like to ignore it, we need to analyze what went wrong and why.  Praising your wins and a...

157. How to Maximize your Micro-Harvests

September 03, 2020 08:00 - 18 minutes - 12.6 MB

While bringing in a giant basket of your favorite vegetable might be every homesteaders dream, for most of us it’s never the reality.  Instead, our harvests tend to look more like a smorgasbord of a small number of various vegetables.  Rather than let them go bad waiting for the rest of the harvest, today I’m going to explain several methods of utilizing and preserving your micro-harvests.  From pickling to stir-fry to soup, the options for maximizing your micro-harvests are endless.  What a...

156. Getting Chickens for the First Time? This Is Your Episode!

August 31, 2020 08:00 - 34 minutes - 24.1 MB

What can I say?  It’s no secret that my favorite thing about the homestead is without question the animals.  Whether you already have animals on your homestead or not, introducing something new can sometimes be intimidating.  Today we’re once again joined by my sister Jenna as she embarks on a chicken journey of her own.  We cover all of the basics including how many chickens you should buy, what you need to feed them, and the type of shelter they’ll need.  If you need to start from the grou...

155. What a (Sorta) Typical Day in My Life Looks Like

August 27, 2020 13:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MB

While I’d like to tell you that I have a special schedule I follow every day, it’s simply not the case.  In what might come as a surprise to some of you, there are even some days when I’m not doing anything that most would constitute traditional homestead activities.  In today’s episode, I’m going to explain how I go through planning on a weekly and daily basis to ensure everything gets done.  I discuss why planning everything minute-by-minute is sure to lead to failure, why getting your kid...

154. The #1 Thing That Will Improve Your Garden

August 24, 2020 08:00 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MB

No matter what type of shape your garden is in or what type of soil you have, there is one thing that is guaranteed to help:  compost.  Sometimes referred to as black gold, compost can remedy nearly any issue in your garden.  In today’s episode, I detail some of the best options for creating your own compost.  This includes the four elements needed for compost, hot and cold composting, and what constitutes green and brown material.  Learn how easy it is to create and use this incredible orga...

153. The Homeschool Curriculum I'm Using This Year

August 20, 2020 08:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MB

With the uncertainty that currently exists in school systems across the country, more-and-more people are looking at the possibility of homeschooling for the first time.  Though it can be quite confusing at first, I’m here to help make the transition as easy as possible.   Today I’ll explain how our curriculum has evolved from years past.  I’ll also go over all the books and tools we’re using for school this year.  Whether you’re looking to be a full-time homeschooler for the first time or y...

152. Thoughts from a County Fair

August 17, 2020 08:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MB

County fairs across the country have been canceled.  Thankfully here in Wyoming, we were still able to participate in this great tradition.  If you’ve never been to a county fair, it’s effectively a lot of sitting around mixed with moments of controlled chaos.  Why do we do it?  That’s the question we get asked most frequently by friends and neighbors.  With the significant amount of time and effort required to move our entire life to the fairgrounds for a week, on the surface it wouldn’t se...

151. This is Your Year for a Fall Garden!

August 13, 2020 08:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MB

A fall garden can be an incredible way to extend your growing season and add extra food reserves for the long winter.  However, for quite some time I held the belief that a fall garden was something you started in the fall.  While I’d like to say I learned my lesson after missing it the first time, this definitely wasn’t the case.  In today’s episode I explain how to determine when you start planting your fall garden, when to harvest, and what types of foods will grow in your climate at this...

150. What If My Kids Fall Behind?? (And other Homeschooling Questions)

August 10, 2020 08:00 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MB

With the unprecedented nature of pretty much everything in the world right now, homeschooling is the one topic that has been coming up more frequently than anything else.  With the uncertainty of what’s going to happen in public schools, more-and-more parents are looking into the possibility of taking their children’s education into their own hands.  While I will be the first to admit that it’s not for everyone, in today’s episode I’m going to walk through some of the incredible benefits of ...

149. My 4 Favorite Ways to Preserve the Harvest

August 06, 2020 08:00 - 26 minutes - 18.1 MB

While my garden is in a bit of a lull at the moment, I know in the back of my mind that harvest time is just around the corner.  Perhaps this year more than ever, I’m focused on preserving everything I possibly can.  In today’s episode, I cover the four primary methods that I use to make sure our family takes full advantage of our harvest:  canning, freezing, dehydrating, and fermenting.  Discover why a method of preservation could be great for one type of food but not good for another.  I a...

148. The Ask Me Anything Episode!

August 03, 2020 08:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MB

While I do my best to be thorough in my podcast topics, it’s inevitable some things fall through the cracks.  Most of the time these questions get raised in my Facebook groups, on Instagram, or Youtube, and I’m simply unable to address each and every one of them.  On today’s show, I’m thrilled to be doing my first ever ‘Ask Me Anything’ episode.  I’m fielding all of your questions from my Instagram post addressing anything from buying health insurance, my worst kitchen failures, the role of ...

147. The Scoop on Growing Garlic

July 30, 2020 08:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MB

Garlic is by far one of my favorite crops to grow.  It's easy to plant, easy to grow, requires almost no maintenance, and adds flavor to every dish.  In today's episode, I walk you through my garlic growing process.  I explain the difference between softneck and hardneck, what to look for when buying garlic seeds, how to harvest it, and some simple uses in the kitchen.  Listen today to find out how to add a serious punch to your cooking with minimal effort.  In all seriousness, you'll forget...

146. How to Eliminate Project Overwhelm Once and for All

July 27, 2020 13:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MB

For any new homesteader, the mountain of tasks and to-do's can seem overwhelming.  Even a more experienced homesteader such as myself tend to have several projects in motion at once and about a hundred others waiting to be started.  While it'd be great to snap our fingers and have everything done at once, that's simply not realistic.  On today's episode, I'm joined by my sister Jenna as she continues to build her homestead.  We break down her goals, talk through short term and long term plan...

145. Why We Built a Circus Tent Over Our Garden

July 23, 2020 08:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MB

Hail is easily one of the biggest enemies that exist on our homestead.  As some of you might know, last year a hail storm destroyed one of my gardens (and our trampoline).  While there are many different solutions to this problem, we had to be mindful of not only the hail but also the extremely high winds that occur in this part of the country.  Because of this, we knew we needed a heavy-duty, permanent structure, and not some of the lesser solutions that might be fine in other regions.  Lis...

144. Your Canning Questions: Answered!

July 20, 2020 08:00 - 47 minutes - 32.5 MB

For anyone that’s followed me for some time, I don’t have to explain my long-time love for canning.  It's perhaps my favorite kitchen activity on the homestead.  However, there’s a lot of potential for error in the canning process, and for some, it can be intimidating to get started.  On this special episode that was recorded live on Facebook, I answer all of your questions and concerns when it comes to canning.  If you’ve ever had any questions in regards to canning, then press plays now.  ...

143. Setting Goals & Chasing Dreams: How Big is Too Big??

July 16, 2020 08:00 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MB

Dreams. Everyone has them, but not everyone achieves them. Why is that true? Believe it or not, a large number of people never even voice their dreams let alone create an actual plan to accomplish them. On today's episode, I'm once again joined by my sister Jenna. As she continues on her homesteading journey, we begin discussing Jenna's big goal for what's left of 2020 and the objectives she can hit to prepare herself for succes in 2021. My hope is that today's episode will serve as inspirat...

142. I'm Growing Something New in my Kitchen: Kefir!

July 13, 2020 08:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MB

While kefir might be the newest addition to the long list of things growing in my kitchen, it most definitely isn't new to my life. After taking a round of anti-biotics, I took to kefir to help repair the baceria in my gut. Upon discovering some of the incredible benefits of this tasty beverage, I started digging a little deeper. Incredibly I found out that keifer can be used to make cheese culture! While this might not be a huge deal for you, all my cheesemakers will soon discover why kefir...

142. I'm Growing Something New in my Kitchen: Kefir!

July 13, 2020 08:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MB

While kefir might be the newest addition to the long list of things growing in my kitchen, it most definitely isn't new to my life. After taking a round of anti-biotics, I took to kefir to help repair the baceria in my gut. Upon discovering some of the incredible benefits of this tasty beverage, I started digging a little deeper. Incredibly I found out that keifer can be used to make cheese culture! While this might not be a huge deal for you, all my cheesemakers will soon discover why kefir...

141. Why We bought a 100 year old House in a Forgotten Little Town

July 09, 2020 08:00 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MB

Yes, you read that correctly. We bought a house. Rest assured, we haven't decided to abandon the homestead and head into the suburbs. On the contrary, we're making an investment in our future and and the future of our community. Join me today as I explain our plans to (hopefully) generate more income and jump start the growth of an old town. Follow along with our thought process of investing in tools over toys and how this can excel your growth in every area of your life. Don't get me wrong....

140. How to Raise Your Own Freezer Beef

July 06, 2020 08:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MB

Raising beef can seem like a difficult and daunting task on the surface, but suprisingly it's one of the easiest methods of producing food on the homestead.  While we've had issues in the past with other food sources, that's never been the case with beef.  In today's episode I cover the essentials you'll need to begin growing beef of your own.  Learn about the different fencing options, the differences bewtween heifers and steers, how to determine the type of animal you need, and so much mor...

139. Starting a Homestead From-Scratch: Unexpected Side Effects of Buying Your First Property

July 02, 2020 08:00 - 44 minutes - 31 MB

Starting a homestead can be a daunting task.  It can be even more overwhelming when you compare yourself to a seasoned homesteader such as myself.  While "how do I start a homestead?" is one of the most common questions I receive, after living the homestead life for almost 12 years I'm a little disconnected from the startup portion of the journey.  Today I'm happy to announce that my sister Jenna has come to save the day.  Recent life changes have driven her and her husband to buy a 10 acre ...

138. What We're Eating for Supper this Summer

June 29, 2020 08:00 - 27 minutes - 19.3 MB

No matter the time of the year, there's one topic that always remains in high demand. Whether you're on the homestead or in the city,  every single one of us has to eat.  While I'm definitely not a meal planner by any stretch of the imagination, over the years I've learned several great tricks to save countless hours in the kitchen.  In today's episode, I fill you in on what we're eating this summer.  Listen to find out some of my favorite ground beef recipes, why I love sheet pan dinners a...

137. How I'm Simplifying Our Life This Summer

June 25, 2020 08:00 - 35 minutes - 24.3 MB

If you've come to know anything about me over the years, you've likely recognized that the phrase "slow down" simply doesn't exist in my vocabulary. As summer began and nearly all of our planned events and obligations were cancelled due to Covid-19, I started to seriously investigate my life and how I'm spending my time on a regular basis. On today's episode I discuss the Pareto Principle, a surefire method to increase efficiency and free up more time to do exactly what you love to do. I als...

136. Your Definitive Guide to Growing Potatoes

June 22, 2020 08:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MB

Potatoes are by far my favorite food and it’s not even close.  This easy to grow vegetable is not only versatile in the kitchen, but they last long in storage and are fun and easy to harvest from the ground.  In today’s episode, I’m going to discuss how my potato growth has evolved over the years and provide my top tips for increasing your potato yield. If you’re looking to take your potato game to the next level you have come to the right place. A BIG thank you to Remond’s Real Salt for be...

135. These 3 Tricks are Saving Me TONS of Time in the Garden

June 19, 2020 08:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MB

Have you ever had garden amnesia?  It’s that time of year you get so excited about beginning your garden that you completely forget about all the time and hard work needed to make it happen?  That’s where I’m currently at right now.  Even with the well-documented struggles I’ve had, I’m ready and raring to go for this gardening season.  Why you might ask?  This year I’m armed with three secret weapons that I know will save tons of time and prevent many headaches throughout this busy summer. ...

134. How to Start Canning with ZERO Special Equipment

June 17, 2020 08:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MB

A BIG thank you to Remond’s Real Salt for being our podcast sponsor for the month of June! http://theprairiehomestead.com/salt Redmonds is my #1 go-to salt for cooking and food preservation. I love that it’s mined in the USA and contains 60+ trace minerals which makes it an easy choice for stocking your homestead pantry. During the month of June, use code HOMESTEAD to save 15% on your order. >>Do you want to start canning but don’t know where to begin?  Head over to https://www.learnhowtoc...

133. Salt: The Unsung Hero of Your Homestead Kitchen (with Darryl Bosshardt of Remond's Real Salt)

June 15, 2020 08:00 - 53 minutes - 37 MB

Today I’m thrilled to be joined by Darryl Bosshardt of Redmond’s Real Salt.  Darryl is a true salt expert.  His grandparents founded Redmond's 60 years ago and they have been my salt of choice for as long as I can remember.  As we discuss today, salt is an essential mineral for our daily lives, but it’s often misunderstood and sometimes carries a negative connotation.  Darryl provides an advanced course in everything related to salt as we talk about the harmful use of dextrose, why sea salt ...

133. Interview with Darryl Bosshardt of Redmond's Real Salt

June 15, 2020 08:00 - 53 minutes - 37 MB

Today I’m thrilled to be joined by Darryl Bosshardt of Redmond’s Real Salt.  Darryl is a true salt expert.  His grandparents founded Redmond's 60 years ago and they have been my salt of choice for as long as I can remember.  As we discuss today, salt is an essential mineral for our daily lives, but it’s often misunderstood and sometimes carries a negative connotation.  Darryl provides an advanced course in everything related to salt as we talk about the harmful use of dextrose, why sea salt ...

132. Why We Bought a Milk Machine After a Decade of Hand-Milking

June 12, 2020 08:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MB

After being hardcore proponents of hand milking for a decade, we finally made the decision to cave in and buy a milk machine.  So why is now the time to make a change?  As I’ve mentioned in recent episodes, we’ve committed to becoming producers for our community.  Simply put, in order to be able to produce milk in large quantities, it was no longer viable to milk by hand.  While I did have some reservations at first, I soon found out the time saved greatly outweighed any cost or additional c...

132 Why We Bought a Milk Machine After a Decade of Hand-Milking

June 12, 2020 08:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MB

After being hardcore proponents of hand milking for a decade, we finally made the decision to cave in and buy a milk machine.  So why is now the time to make a change?  As I’ve mentioned in recent episodes, we’ve committed to becoming producers for our community.  Simply put, in order to be able to produce milk in large quantities, it was no longer viable to milk by hand.  While I did have some reservations at first, I soon found out the time saved greatly outweighed any cost or additional c...

131. How I'm (Attempting) to Improve Our Clay Soil This Year

June 10, 2020 08:00 - 26 minutes - 18.1 MB

If you’re hoping to grow high quality plants, you must first dig deep (no pun intended) into your soil.  Much like the foundation of a house, your soil sets the tone for everything that follows.  In today’s episode, I’m going to cover a variety of tips and tricks to help you strike the perfect balance in your soil that will allow your crops to flourish.  Learn about the three primary components of soil, how to determine if you have clay in your soil, and why organic matter is your best frien...

130. What We Did Differently for Our Best Meat Chickens Ever

June 08, 2020 08:00 - 17 minutes - 12.4 MB

To put it lightly, this year has been one of revelations on our homestead.  As I’ve discussed in previous episodes, our goal to become producers for our community has necessitated some changes.  We’ve raised meat birds for almost five years now, but as you’ll find out today virtually nothing is the same from when we first started.  Listen to find out why we ditched the chicken coups,  how we sped up our plucking process, and discover the best $200 I’ve ever spent in my adult life.   A BIG t...

129. How to Put a Instant Pot to Work in your Homestead Kitchen

June 05, 2020 08:00 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MB

If you’ve watched any of my videos or have seen any pictures on my social media, it’s pretty easy to tell that I’m not a gadget girl when it comes to the kitchen.  I must say that this does come with one key exception; the instant pot.  Being the control freak that I am, I understand there is a bit of irony in me using an appliance I’m not supposed to touch.  On today’s episode, find out why the instant pot is the best way to make farm fresh hard boiled eggs, bone broth, beans, rice quinoa, ...

128. The Emotional Side of Raising Your Own Meat

June 03, 2020 08:00 - 24 minutes - 17.3 MB

I don’t believe it’s any secret by now; we like to raise our own meat.  More than any part of the process, people question how we handle the butchering of animals.  While it isn’t always easy, I’ve come to recognize that butchering animals ourselves has only helped us to gain an even greater appreciation for the meat the we raise for ourselves and our community.  While some might find it inhumane or even try to convince us to go vegan, most would be surprised to know animals raised on the ho...

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