Sourdough bread made with freshly-milled flour. It's many a homesteader's dream, but those whole wheat loaves can easily turn into a nightmare if you're not prepared.  I am so excited to be joined by Mary of The Rose Homestead in today's episode. She's mastered the art of baking light, fluffy loaves with freshly-milled whole wheat flour and she's sharing her secrets with us. I learned SO much and I know you will too! Podcast Episode Highlights Mary's background and how she got passionate...

Ever been accused of being a "fun hater?" If so, you're not alone. In fact, it seems to be a common trait in those of us drawn towards old-fashioned things.  Find out the difference between fun vs. flow and why your fun-hating ways may actually be a superpower. Podcast Episode Highlights Perceptions of 'fun'How an interview made me think about 'fun'Modern definitions of 'fun'Older definitions of 'fun'What brings me the most fun and joyThe idea of a 'flow state'Why I think the homesteading...

It's no secret-- I am an unfit sourdough parent. I often forget to feed it and I regularly leave it in my fridge for 8 months at a time. Yet-- even through my sourdough faux paus, I'm able to maintain a starter that creates delicious bread and more.  In today's episode I'm confessing my sourdough sins and sharing my sourdough CPR method for bringing neglected starters back from the dead. Podcast Episode Highlights My sourdough bad habitsMy typical sourdough routineMy most recent sourdough...

There's a lot of fear floating around the homestead community lately.  In today's episode I'll share my history with paranoia, how it ultimately will hurt your homestead, and why I no longer subscribe to fear-based homesteading. Podcast Episode Highlights Thoughts about the term' homestead'Concerns about current shifts in what 'homestead' meansWhy I think fear has creeped into the homestead movementMy background with paranoia-based cultureCycles, perspectives, and a closer look at...

The world of whole wheat can be ridiculously overwhelming: Hard, soft, winter, spring, red, white... and that doesn't even take into account all the different varieties out there.  In today's episode I'm sharing my helpful whole wheat framework that will not only cut through the noise, but also empower you to finally tackle that whole wheat baking (without making bread bricks in the process). Podcast Episode Highlights Common perception about whole wheatWhole wheat framework that I created...

Last year we decided to stop watching TV for 6 months. In the process we learned a lot of new skills and made the internet very angry.  Today I'm breaking down our decision in detail and sharing my best tips for doing your own tech fast. Podcast Episode Highlights Backstory on our TV fastDetails on what was involved in our TV fastOur kids reaction to this fastWhat we were doing instead of watching TVWhat we learned after 3 months of a TV fastWhat worries me about watching TVViral video and...

A homestead that funds itself... that's the dream, isn't it? We've covered a number of income-producing ideas on the show over the years, and I have another one for you today.  I'm joined by the brilliant Marjory Wildcraft as she outlines how you can turn seed-saving into a viable and profitable income stream to add to your homestead this year. Podcast Episode Highlights Marjory Wildcraft's background and interest in growing foodWhat is the 7 Hour Business concept for funding a backyard...

How do you know when to PERSEVERE and when to PRUNE?? We recently listed the soda fountain for sale, which has (understandably) caused a stir.  Today I'm sharing the decision making process that got us to this point and how you can use several old-fashioned principles to help you focus on what matters around your life and homestead. Podcast Episode Highlights Why we bought the soda fountain in the first placeWhat was involved in Phase One in our soda fountain projectFiguring out if we...

"How do you find a community of like-minded people who share your beliefs?" I get this question a lot and my answer might surprise you.  It also prompted some interesting discussion on social media, so I'm diving into all the nuance and messy, community-building truth in this podcast episode. Podcast Episode Highlights Why community is a pillar of the old-fashioned on purpose lifestyleCommon questions about creating communityTensions and drama that occurred recently about community on...

Most homesteaders are frustrated with the modern healthcare system, but disentangling ourselves from it is easier said than done.  I’m thrilled to be joined by Dr. Amber Belt today as we discuss how to safely and effectively take charge of your health. Dr. Belt offers an empowering (and balanced) approach to dealing with homestead first aid, acute issues, colds and fevers, and lots more. Grab your notebook and pen— this episode is packed full of info! Podcast Episode Highlights Dr. Belt's...

I've been promising this episode for months, and it's finally here! Christian is joining me to finally share the entire charter school saga and trust me-- it's a doozy! It's the hardest project we've ever done by far, but also one of the best.  Listen in for our darkest times, our biggest victories, and our most poignant lessons. Even if you have no interested in charter schools, you won't want to miss this one! Podcast Episode Highlights Background story behind starting the charter...

Who would have thought the world of olive oil would be so fascinating? From the "Agromafia" to "Three cough oils" to how to develop your palate like an olive oil connoisseur, this is an episode you won't want to miss!  I'm joined by T.J. Robinson, the "olive oil hunter" himself to dive into the ins and outs of this ancient oil and why it matters more than you think to your home kitchen. Podcast Episode Highlights Current olive harvest issues and fake olive oil problems"Agromafia" issuesWhy...

Tis the season for fresh garden dreams and pretty seed catalogs. It's easy to get swept away in the excitement of a new season, but before you whip out the credit card and order a pile of new seeds, take a moment to listen to this episode.  I'm sharing some money-saving advice that will not only help your garden to be more efficient, but also save you some cash in the process. Podcast Episode Highlights Organizing your seeds is going to save you a lot of moneyHow a seed inventory will...

If you have a homestead of any kind, failures are inevitable. And the beginning of a new year is the perfect time to create action plans on how to prevent missteps in the coming year.  In this podcast episode, I'll share my 4-step Homestead Reset Framework that I use for figuring out why certain aspects of my homestead failed, and how to make it better in the coming year. Podcast Episode Highlights A closer look our 2023 homestead failsWhy action is better than hope Homestead Reset #1:...

Whew! 2023 was a doozy and not without some major mountain top AND valley moments. Join me as I break down my biggest wins (and lessons) of the past year. Podcast Episode Highlights Lesson #1: Be extremely careful about who you partner with on big projects (business, homesteading, etc.)Lesson #2: Always listen to your gutLesson #3: No one is coming to save youLesson #4: If you want to advance in your life, go beyond your comfort zoneLesson #5: Sometimes you need to micro-manageLesson #6: When...

They're two of the most burning questions in the homestead world right now: "How do I find land?" and "How can I make money from my land?" In the current economy, this can feel like an impossible task. Today I'm thrilled to be joined by someone that has created a bulletproof framework on this very subject. Jaymie Friesen has not only created incredible income from his land, he's taught thousands of people to do the same. And he's sharing his secrets in today's episode! Learn more about...

Here on the podcast we talk a lot about choosing an old-fashioned path. Sometimes that’s skills like cooking or gardening, but other times, it’s a definitive choice in how we choose to think and move through life. I believe one of the most powerful old-fashioned practices we can adopt is to push against the modern victim mindset.  Today I’m thrilled to be joined by Mike Roberts of The Converse Cowboy. We’re diving deep into mental toughness, battling the resistance, and more in this...

It's time for another Q & A, and this time-- I'm answering the more personal questions I've been getting. From "What religion are you?" to "what homeschool curriculum do you use?" to "have you ever wanted to quit homesteading?" we're getting vulnerable, real, and a little bit spicy in today's episode! Learn more about my Old-Fashioned on Purpose Planner here: http://www.prairieplanner.com/ Learn more about Genuine Beef Co. here: https://genuinebeefco.com/ While supplies last, get 15%...

While there are many ways to squirrel away food for later, one of the most old-fashioned options is fermentation. However, this method is often shrouded in mystery... Is it really safe? What if it tastes weird? What if you don't have a root cellar? How do fermented foods compare to probiotics?  Wild fermentation revivalist Jamie Powell joins me in this podcast episode to answer all these questions and more! Learn more about Jamie Powell here: https://linktr.ee/Wildandartfullyme Learn more...

We're stepping on ALL the toes in today's episode! I was thrilled to have Austin and his family from the popular Homesteady podcast & Youtube channel swing by our home to record this episode in person. We held nothing back in talking about some of the biggest myths and misconceptions in the homesteading world. Do you agree with our takes on these issues? I can't wait for you to listen in! Learn more about Austin here: https://www.thisishomesteady.com/  Learn more about Genuine Beef...

Our modern era has wreaked havoc on many aspects of our health, but perhaps nothing is as concerning as what conventional life is doing to our guts.  In this podcast episode, I'm joined by holistic nutritionist and gut health guru Josh Dech to take a DEEP dive into why America has some of the worst gut health in the world. Josh is excellent at explaining these topics in a practical, tactical, and interesting way. Plus, he blew my mind with the facts around a common parasite-- don't miss this...

He's back! I had SO much positive feedback from my first interview with lard evangelist Charles Mayfield, I had to have him join me for another conversation. Last time we talked all things pastured pork, so this time we're talking next steps. It's everything you need to know about butchering your home-raised pigs, finding a processor, scalding & scraping, rendering lard, and making homemade skincare rolled into one epic episode! Learn more about Charles Mayfield here:...