Homesteady - Stories of Living off the Land

When you leave a home to go on vacation you always worry about a few things... THat's why so many people will hire a house sitter to look after the house, pet, garden, etc. Now add a few cows, pigs and camels to that mix... Yeah! Leaving the homestead can be a bit of an ordeal! What do we do when we leave the Homestead? How do we make sure everything not only survives while we are away, but thrives? THE MINDFUL HOMESTEAD DAKOTA'S RABBITS AND HOMESTEAD ITEMS WE USE TO KEEP TABS WHILE WE ARE AWAY Wyze Cam Brinsea CHicken Coop Auto Door Halo Collar Bar Bar A Collar Sign up to our email list so you don't miss any of our videos here - LOVE HOMESTEADY? Help us keep it going! Becoming a Pioneer - You get instant access to the new forum, discounts, and homesteading classes and podcasts! Are you shopping at Amazon? Shop through our Amsteady Link Just click that link then do your regular shopping, it doesn’t cost you any extra but we earn a commission for sending you there. Get Homesteady Tee Shirts (and other clothing) Here - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Months ago our oldest daughter started talking about missing goats. She was the caretaker of our last bunch of Nubians, and she really liked them. K and I love letting our kids have animals of their own to care for. We both feel they learn so much from animal husbandry. But could we do goats again? We have had so many problems over the years with them! After a few months of planning and infrastructure changes, we decided to give our daughter the green light. Find out what we plan on doing differently this time around, what kind of goats we got, and some of my Daughters plans for her animals in this Podcast! Sign up to our email list so you don't miss any of our videos here - LOVE HOMESTEADY? Help us keep it going! Becoming a Pioneer - You get instant access to the new forum, discounts, and homesteading classes and podcasts! Are you shopping at Amazon? Shop through our Amsteady Link Just click that link then do your regular shopping, it doesn’t cost you any extra but we earn a commission for sending you there. Get Homesteady Tee Shirts (and other clothing) Here - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune in to hear about our crazy spring! We have not 1, but 3 NEW ANIMALS to talk about, it should be a great show! Sign up to our email list so you don't miss any of our videos here - LOVE HOMESTEADY? Help us keep it going! Becoming a Pioneer - You get instant access to the new forum, discounts, and homesteading classes and podcasts! Are you shopping at Amazon? Shop through our Amsteady Link Just click that link then do your regular shopping, it doesn’t cost you any extra but we earn a commission for sending you there. Get Homesteady Tee Shirts (and other clothing) Here - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to Start feeding your family from your land? There is NO EASIER WAY that raising meat birds! Join Us Today to talk Meat Chickens and how to grow enough to feed your family chicken all year long! My Family doesn't buy chicken, and we have not for years. How can you raise enough chicken for your own family? In this video we share our method for raising meat chickens on pasture in chicken tractors. RESOURSES John Suscovich Chicken Tractor Plans And Packets Sign up to our email list so you don't miss any of our videos here - LOVE HOMESTEADY? Help us keep it going! Becoming a Pioneer - You get instant access to the new forum, discounts, and homesteading classes and podcasts! Are you shopping at Amazon? Shop through our Amsteady Link Just click that link then do your regular shopping, it doesn’t cost you any extra but we earn a commission for sending you there. Get Homesteady Tee Shirts (and other clothing) Here - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We were shocked this week to find a little of pigs being born.... We bread our Kune Kune pigs, watch for signs of pregnancy, and even were preparing for the births! But something caught us off guard, and when the dust settled we had 14 little piglets to care for and one little deformed one who's life hangs in the balance... Can we save him? And what happened that had us surprised by pig births? Join us today for lunch (12:30 eastern time) for our live podcast as we share with you the incredible week we have had here at the farm! Sign up to our email list so you don't miss any of our videos here - LOVE HOMESTEADY? Help us keep it going! Becoming a Pioneer - You get instant access to the new forum, discounts, and homesteading classes and podcasts! Are you shopping at Amazon? Shop through our Amsteady Link Just click that link then do your regular shopping, it doesn’t cost you any extra but we earn a commission for sending you there. Get Homesteady Tee Shirts (and other clothing) Here - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us today to talk about new farm animals, choosing breeds, putting chickens out on pasture, starting homestead businesses and more! LINKS FOR TODAY'S SHOW WYZE CAM - https://amzn.to/3a2n5gc MOUSE CREEK FARM - https://www.facebook.com/mousecreekfarm JODI'S BOOK - https://amzn.to/3a2mYRO VALORIE'S SOAP SHOP - https://allay-handmade-naturals.myshopify.com/ WAITING LIST FOR BUSINESS CLASS - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/time-make-money-homesteading/ SYMAN SAYS FARM YOUTUBE CHANNEL - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPresk6FCncOSvqZIq3iLgA Sign up to our email list so you don't miss any of our videos here - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/join-homesteady-movement/ LOVE HOMESTEADY? Help us keep it going! Becoming a Pioneer - You get instant access to the new forum, discounts, and homesteading classes and podcasts! https://www.thisishomesteady.com/head-west-become-pioneer/ Are you shopping at Amazon? Shop through our Amsteady Link http://www.amsteady.com Just click that link then do your regular shopping, it doesn’t cost you any extra but we earn a commission for sending you there. SUBSCRIBE to our PODCAST HERE - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/subscribe-podcast/ AFFILIATE LINKS To The HOMESTEADING GEAR I use everyday -https://www.thisishomesteady.com/gear-use/ Get Homesteady Tee Shirts (and other clothing) Here - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/go/parsons-homesteady-shop/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

K actually said NO to an animal... I was SHOCKED! I think we all agree the most fun part of homesteading is new animals... right? A new breed of chickens, a pair of cute little goat kids, or your first cow! It is SO FUN to get new animals. And that is why it is so dang hard to say NO when you have an opportunity to get a new animal! K and I are both pretty bad at this whole animal self-control thing... and that is why it was so surprising last week we BOTH... K INCLUDED... decided to say NO to a new animal we were offered! Also we will have some fun cow pregnancy updates, a camel worm issue to talk about, and a live guinea egg candling reveal! We are currently incubating guinea eggs in a Brinsea Incubator. We have used this little fully automatic incubator to hatch guineas and chickens for years! CLICK HERE to check out the BRINSEA INCUBATOR (and remember if you shop through our Amazon Link we make a small commission for the sale without costing you a penny extra! The Homesteady Podcast is brought to you by the Homesteady Pioneer Program! Join us for our monthly round table zoom meetups with the Homesteady pioneers! The last Pioneer Meetup we discussed how and why to start a Homestead Business! Click Here to become a Pioneer! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we talk all about how to design a perfect 10-acre homestead for you! First, we chat about what’s new in the barn! Our Camels have been keeping life on the homestead exciting! NOW - HOW TO DESIGN A HOMESTEAD FROM SCRATCH? We have a great Pioneer’s Only Episode on basic infrastructure needs for a new homestead BECOME A PIONEER HERE Get on our EMAIL LIST INSTAGRAM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have some exciting news to share today! Get on our EMAIL LIST - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/join-homesteady-movement/ PIONEER PROGRAM - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/head-west-become-pioneer/ PARTNER Cheeky Maiden CODE HMSTDY25 - https://www.cheekymaidensoap.com/?utm_source=CM&utm_medium=WEB&utm_campaign=HMSTDY INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/homesteadyshow/ OUR PODCAST LINK - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/subscribe-podcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Homesteaders are more powerful in numbers. From the earliest days of the homestead movement there have always been power in numbers. So how can you build your own homestead community? Join Nichole Sauce from the Living Free in Tennessee Podcast and myself as we discuss how to (and why to) build a Homestead Focused Community! NICHOLES PODCAST - https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/ Click Here to checkout Nichole's Kickstarter - https://kickstarthollerroast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you need to get started beekeeping? Why should you bring bees to your homestead in the first place? Find out in this episode of the Homesteady Podcast. Checkout the Honeystead here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB2BKzY2HgpTEgYeba78KHA Sign up to our email list so you don't miss any of our videos here - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/join-homesteady-movement/ SUBSCRIBE to our PODCAST HERE - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/subscribe-podcast/ LOVE HOMESTEADY? Help us keep it going! Becoming a Pioneer - You get instant access to the new forum, discounts, and homesteading classes and podcasts! https://www.thisishomesteady.com/head-west-become-pioneer/ Are you shopping at Amazon? Shop through our Amsteady Link http://www.amsteady.com Just click that link then do your regular shopping, it doesn’t cost you any extra but we earn a commission for sending you there. AFFILIATE LINKS To The HOMESTEADING GEAR I use everyday -https://www.thisishomesteady.com/gear-use/ Get Homesteady Tee Shirts (and other clothing) Here - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/go/parsons-homesteady-shop/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The pandemic we have lived through in the last few months has changed the world as we know it. Changes that society was going to see in the next decade have been sped up because of the pandemic and the associated lock downs, political unrest, and problems associated with it. No doubt, even when the current disease is long gone, the effects from this strange disease will linger. How can you and your family be sure to not only get by, but even thrive, financially and otherwise, in the days ahead? John Pugliano Joins Us to answer that question. John Pugliano, host of the Wealthsteading Podcast, has over 30 years investing experience, he’s an entrepreneur, author, inventor and the founder and money manager of Investable Wealth LLC. John's Podcast, the Wealthsteading Podcast, takes a homesteader like, holistic look at the market, and ways we can grow and preserve our wealth. John is coming on the show tonight to discuss Covid's impact on the market in the days ahead. We will discuss how it could effect you and me financially in the next 6 months, but more importantly, how we should structure our lives and homesteads to be ready to adapt to the changes Covid will bring to our lives LONG TERM. Sign up to our email list so you don't miss any of our videos here - LOVE HOMESTEADY? Help us keep it going! Becoming a Pioneer - You get instant access to the new forum, discounts, and homesteading classes and podcasts! Are you shopping at Amazon? Shop through our Amsteady Link http://www.amsteady.com Just click that link then do your regular shopping, it doesn’t cost you any extra but we earn a commission for sending you there. AFFILIATE LINKS To The HOMESTEADING GEAR I use everyday -https://www.thisishomesteady.com/gear-use/ Get Homesteady Tee Shirts (and other clothing) Here - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/go/parsons-homesteady-shop/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Years ago when Aaron and Liz started their first farm, they had no idea it would free them from corporate life. Fast forward years later, and these once "fake farmers" are now farming full time! Through their Syman Says Farms Youtube Channel, Liz and Aaron have opened up their home and farm to help teach and inspire the next generation of farmers. They feel a strong sense of purpose to give back and share their love animals and knowledge of husbandry with those who may never otherwise step foot on a farm. Together, they shared their tips and tricks of how they manage and keep their goats, chickens and rabbits healthy. In early 2019, Aaron suggested setting up a live stream in the goat barn during kidding season. What better way to educate than to share the birthing process Live?!? A few weeks before the first doe was due to kid, Aaron hit the button that would forever change everything! The Live Cam quickly became a place of refuge, peace, solitude and community to a great deal of people. Affectionately called Goat Aunties and Uncles, the "Village" supports, uplifts, celebrates, cries and laughs together daily. It's become a place of acceptance and healing.Aaron & Liz have received countless emails and messages of thanks and gratitude from people all over the world who have said the Live Cam and the goats literally saved their lives or allowed them to be strong enough to seek help for their own struggles. Liz & Aaron's passion for sharing their knowledge and animals with the community, quickly became about sharing the power of animal therapy AND husbandry with the world!In this episode we talk about their favorite dairy breeds of goats, selling farm products, and how that lead to them leaving corporate life behind! Checkout their Website to find all their products and their videos and more! Sign up to our email list so you don't miss any of our videos here - LOVE HOMESTEADY? Help us keep it going! Becoming a Pioneer - You get instant access to the new forum, discounts, and homesteading classes and podcasts! Are you shopping at Amazon? Shop through our Amsteady Link http://www.amsteady.com Just click that link then do your regular shopping, it doesn’t cost you any extra but we earn a commission for sending you there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The IPP... the IDAHO PASTURED PIG. It has made quite a lot of noise in the homesteading world. There are a lot of big claims surrounding it. What is fact and what is myth? Today we share an interview on the channel with Mouse Creek Farm who has been raising these pigs for years. Kirstin answers lots of our IPP questions including do you have to supplement their diet or can they live off pasture alone? Do they ever root? And how is their meat production and quality? FACEBOOK GROUP FOR IPP MOUSE CREEK FARM Sign up to our email list so you don't miss any of our videos here - LOVE HOMESTEADY? Help us keep it going! Becoming a Pioneer - You get instant access to the new forum, discounts, and homesteading classes and podcasts! Are you shopping at Amazon? Shop through our Amsteady Link http://www.amsteady.com Just click that link then do your regular shopping, it doesn’t cost you any extra but we earn a commission for sending you there. AFFILIATE LINKS To The HOMESTEADING GEAR I use everyday -https://www.thisishomesteady.com/gear-use/ Get Homesteady Tee Shirts (and other clothing) Here - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/go/parsons-homesteady-shop/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we got the worst news about our cow ladybug. A routine disease test for our cows showed that Ladybug may be sick with Johnes Disease. Johnes Disease is devastating. It is a wasting disease, that prevents a cow from absorbing nutrients from the food it is eating. It can infect a calf before it is even born, and yet it will not kill that animal for a few years. It lies, secretly, beyond detection, for years, and when some stressful event happens in the cows life, for example, a calving, like the one ladybug had back in the fall, the disease goes active and quickly can turn a healthy looking cow into a skeleton, killing somewhere around 90% of cows that test positive with it. Because it can infect a cow for years without killing it, it spreads through cow herds quite easily. It is believed that all major diary and beef herds have Johnes positive cows. That is specifically why, when we purchased our first dairy cow, we found a herd of cows that was believed to be free of all cow diseases, including Johnes. Sadly this appears not to have been the case. In this episode of the podcast we talk about the sad news, and what will happen going forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we talk with Tara and Russel from Camel Connection all about this amazing animal! Are you interested in Camels? Check out Camel Connection here www.camelconnection.com See their Youtube Channel here - https://www.youtube.com/user/RussellOsborne1 Sign up to our email list so you don't miss any of our videos here - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/join-homesteady-movement/ SUBSCRIBE to our PODCAST HERE - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/subscribe-podcast/ LOVE HOMESTEADY? Help us keep it going! Becoming a Pioneer - You get instant access to the new forum, discounts, and homesteading classes and podcasts! https://www.thisishomesteady.com/head-west-become-pioneer/ Are you shopping at Amazon? Shop through our Amsteady Link http://www.amsteady.com Just click that link then do your regular shopping, it doesn’t cost you any extra but we earn a commission for sending you there. AFFILIATE LINKS To The HOMESTEADING GEAR I use everyday -https://www.thisishomesteady.com/gear-use/ Get Homesteady Tee Shirts (and other clothing) Here - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/go/parsons-homesteady-shop/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn all about raising rabbits on the homestead in today's episode of the podcast! Dana Thompson, author of Raising Meat Rabbits in a Colony is joining us to talk Meat Rabbits 101! Dana (said Daah naah, not the classic American Dayna) is a homesteading, homeschooling mama of 4 living on 10 acres in the south of New Zealand. She loves to garden and help people become more self sufficient no matter where they live. She shares her adventures on her Youtube Channel If you want to get started with rabbits, but are not sure what is needed, or if you should try a colony or a hutch, this interview will be perfect for you. LOVE HOMESTEADY? Help us keep it going! Becoming a Pioneer - You get instant access to the new forum, discounts, and homesteading classes and podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Take a break from scary corona virus news, and join us for an uplifting and inspiring live show today! DIGITAL TIP JAR FOR THE BAND - https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8nyiVu8cH2 NEW SHIRT - https://www.parsons-designs.com/homesteady Jonathan from Fairfield County Hydroponics will join us to talk Microgreens. https://www.fairfieldcountyhydroponics.com/ Dave from Northeast Edible is going to talk about perennials and growing fruit. http://www.northeastediblenursery.com/ John from Farm Marketing Solutions will be talking Chickens and Chicken Tractors https://farmmarketingsolutions.com/ Jess from Roots and Refuge will is going to be chatting about Starting a Garden https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTZN3HhejW1tOiRdLGUCGGA Not only are we going to be talking about Homesteading and Growing Food, but we are also going to talk about HEALTH! Jackie from Middle Path Counseling and The Mindful Homestead is coming on the show to talk about Anxiety and how to keep it in check during scary times. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-NLGo8JDE3g8POtPjTnIxg I am looking forward to learning about some real life solutions to controlling fear during a pandemic! And finally Dr Hillary from the Hunt Harvest Health Podcast is going to join us to talk about practical ways to stay healthy and avoid getting this virus! http://huntharvesthealth.com/ In addition to all this great info, there will be some really FUN music to enjoy, from the Bess and Mike Show. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeBFwBKmUuDeVxuti1e3lEQ RESOURSES FOR HOMESTEADERS HELPING OTHERS CLICK HERE TO SEE INFO - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lc5z68c2TiYFJFr2a1oTls6rUpHwX8m4B_n3VwHKErc/edit?usp=sharing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some people are worried, with this pandemic spreading, have they missed their opportunity to grow their own food? NO! You can grow your own food even now! In this episode we share a few ways you can grow food now, and fast! CAN YOU HELP SOMEONE ELSE? FILL OUT THIS FORM BECOME A PIONEER Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you are selling produce from your farm, or trying to fill on farm classes, there is an easy way to grow that business. Dr Tiffany Eurich joins us today to talk about farming, growing the farm business, and how to become a thought leader in your industry. TIFFANY'S FREE TRAINING FOR HOMESTEADY LOVE HOMESTEADY? Help us keep it going! Becoming a Pioneer - You get instant access to the new forum, discounts, and homesteading classes and podcasts! CAMEL TRAIN SHOUTOUT - THANKS to the Dozen Arrows Crew A.K.A. The Lopez Family for sponsoring this episode! Dr. Tiffany Eurich is the founder of tiffanyeurich.com, a resource for communications strategy, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs increase their brand's visibility, authority, and impact. She has a Ph.D. in communications, and over 20 years of experience in the communications industry. She spent a decade as a university professor and was the host of several award-winning television programs. She's also the author of "Knitting Together a Community," an in-depth analysis of the characteristics and practices of thriving online communities. When she isn't working with clients, you can find her working in her family's homestead and vineyard (which she affectionately refers to as farming with a better publicist). The Homesteady Podcast is part of the Waypoint Outdoor Collective, the Podcast Network for the Outdoorsman. Checkout all of the Waypoint Outdoor Collective Podcasts HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christina would do anything she could to help her son. But this seemed crazy.... Could camel milk help him? BUY CAMEL CRAZY HERE Christina Adams is an award-winning writer. She grew up on a Virginia farm where her family grew tobacco and hay and raised cattle, chickens, pigs and the occasional bee. She was active in 4-H and still visits farms today. She is the author of Camel Crazy (New World Library) and A Real Boy (Penguin), and a medical journal article on camel milk treatment for autism. Her work has been featured by NPR, The Washington Post, OZY, The Los Angeles Times, The Orange County Register, Open Democracy, RAVISHLY, Orange Coast Magazine, Web MD, Global Advances in Health and Medicine, Dubai One, Khaleej Times and more, and she consults with camel scientists and farmers worldwide. She has spoken to audiences in Germany, India, England, Pakistan, UAE, and the US. Check her out at her website - www.christinaadamsauthor.com Follow her on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/christina_adams_author/ The Homesteady Podcast is part of the Waypoint Outdoor Collective, the Podcast Network for the Outdoorsman. Checkout all of the Waypoint Outdoor Collective Podcasts HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Homesteady has a new mini podcast series, the Hoemsteady Coffee Break! Enjoy a discussion over coffee with Aust as we talk about news, current events, and how they all relate to homesteading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A sick baby, the hills of western Pennsylvania, and the animal you least expect to find on a farm. This is the story of 2 crazy homesteaders who just bought a milk camel. Watch the Camel Arrive in THIS VIDEO Learn about the Camel Train in THIS VIDEO JOIN THE HOMESTEADY CAMEL TRAIN HERE The Homesteady Podcast is part of the Waypoint Outdoor Collective, the Podcast Network for the Outdoorsman. Checkout all of the Waypoint Outdoor Collective Podcasts HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ariel has been living off grid in a tiny house nestled into the western mountains of Wyoming, a little over 6000 feet above sea level for six years now. She splits her own wood for heat, carries water by hand, uses a composting toilet, and attempts to grow as much of her own food as possible between the weather and wildlife she's surrounded by. As a child, she was fortunate enough to be able to spend much of her free time exploring and playing in the woods. Little has changed now that she older. She moved to a place with a bigger woods and still enjoys spending her time outside hiking, gardening, and photographing the natural world. As the eldest of seven children who grew up in a homeschooling family Ariel had the opportunity, not always appreciated at the time, to learn to do quite a bit of work. She's enjoyed a wide range of jobs, everything from greenhouses and flower arranging, to wilderness therapy with teens, to milking cows. Mostly, she enjoys doing the kinds of things that try to provide a real service or value to others. Some of her other hobbies include backpacking, hosting people, cooking, preserving food, anything to do with nutrition, skiing, reading, journalling, and sitting around a fire and talking to close friends. You can follow Ariel's adventures here at her Youtube Channel - youtube.com/fynyth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Morgan wasn't happy. He had a "great job" that paid well in the city. But it was not what he really wanted. Morgan's dream was to build a farm! After he quit his finance job in Washington, DC, his wife and he moved to a farm in a remote part of Northern Vermont. He planted a 600 tree integrated orchard consisting of chestnuts, hazelnuts, elderberries, mulberries, apple, black locust and many others. He also established a flock of 40 egg-laying ducks that will live in a mobile duck house that travels through our orchard. His ultimate goal is to develop a long-lasting sustainable farm that is sustainable on three levels - environmentally, financially and personally. Morgan has been documenting his farm's development through a YouTube channel and a newly launched podcast. Enjoy listening to this podcast episode as Aust and Morgan talk making the leap from living in places like New York City and Washington, DC to town of 700 people in Northern Vermont, planting a 600 tree orchard, being a duck farmer who is allergic to duck eggs, and so much more! CHECKOUT MORGANS YOUTUBE CHANNEL and PODCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Heritage Craft Butchers didn't learn to cut meat in the super market. They learned in a barn. Cutting up their own home grown pigs, and curing the meat in an old refrigerator, the guys decided they would try to follow their passion and start a butcher shop. They found an old bank in the middle of Pennsylvania farm country. Perfect. Lots of elbow grease, experimenting with old world recipes, and bourbon, and here they are running a successful butcher business from scratch. Check them out at their Facebook Page or at Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE WHOLE START HOMESTEADING TODAY COURSE FOR FREE I feel one of the best things you can do for yourself, and especially for your children, is to raise some livestock, even if only for a short time. The connection you and your family will form to these animals that are so dependent on you is powerful. And the rewards livestock give back are hard to beat! If you are thinking about getting some livestock in the future but are not sure how, you will enjoy this excerpt of the 4th Lesson in the Start Homesteading Today course, Your First Livestock. In this 4th lesson we will talk about The Golden Rules of Livestock What are the best kind of livestock for beginners Basic infrastructure for livestock that will make your life easier And MORE!!!! HOMEWORK Raising Chickens Masterclass Raising Feeder Pigs Masterclass Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to hear the extended version of this podcast? BECOME A PIONEER HERE - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/head-west-become-pioneer/ Hatching and raising poultry on the Homestead can be a great way to feed your family, and entertain yourselves at the same time! Today we are joined by Jake and Becky of White House on the Hill to talk poultry! WHITE HOUSE ON THE HILL CHANNEL - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfuEu0ff9Yy_oA5U21C5Stw WHITE HOUSE on INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/whitehouseonthehill/ Jake , Becky and their three boys make up White House on the Hill. YouTubers and homesteaders in NW Missouri that are interested in growing their own food, hatching and raising birds, and starting a farm from scratch. They recently bought a large piece of property (previously renters on a small farm) where they plan to build a house, barn, big exterior fence so they can raise a number of animals for meat, some animals for fun, and explore a new life that they never thought was possible when they started doing this three years ago. Join us as we talk all things poultry and homesteading! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join myself and a special guest for a live discussion on planning a great year on the homestead! Become a Pioneer HERE - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/head-west-become-pioneer/ FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/homesteadyshow/ SUBMIT HOMESTEAD LESSONS LEARNED VIDEOS HERE - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1h_VAsoscsEM1WyG4p88X9XBoj0vmm8JI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are going to help you start homesteading this year! TAKE THE COURSE CLICK HERE TO BECOME A PIONEER FOR FREE FOR 1 MONTH "I WOULD LOVE TO HOMESTEAD! BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START!" If that sounds familiar, you are not alone. Over the last 2 years we have been doing a survey at our website. We found most of our followers are either new homesteaders, or are homestead dreamers. What was the number one thing people mentioned needing help with on their homestead? Not how to make money raising pigs Not how to raise enough food for your own family NOT EVEN how to fence in goats The number one problem people are having with regards homesteading? STARTING. So.... I WANT TO HELP YOU START YOUR HOMESTEAD THIS YEAR. No more waiting. No more dreaming. ALL DOING. I have been working on a course for the last year. Since we have moved to a new homestead in a new state I have been paying special attention to the things that need to be taken care of so someone can actually start AND MORE IMPORTANTLY continue homesteading without burning out! I have taken notes on all these steps, and compiled this info into a simple process that you can replicate, which will be presented to you as an online course. I am happy to announce we will be launching our new course next week! START HOMESTEADING TODAY the Start Homesteading Today course is a 5 lesson course designed to help you do just that... start today! The 5 Lessons are How To Start Homesteading Today Finding Your First (next) Homestead Your First Garden Your First Livestock Growing a Sustainable Homestead This course will walk you through the journey that it takes to take a dream and turn it into a farm fresh eggs on your plate each morning reality. HOW CAN YOU TAKE THIS COURSE? I will be starting this course on Monday Jan 13, at 5 P.M. Eastern Time. It will be a live webinar that you can join me for. After the 30 Minute Presentation there will be a Q and A session. This will be repeated each Monday after that for all 5 lessons. If you miss the live show you can watch the recording and leave questions in the chat box. This course is open to ALL Homesteady Pioneers. If you are a pioneer just join me in the Pioneer's Live From the Barn Show on Monday and you will be able to be a part of the show. NOT A PIONEER? Try it free for a month! If you don't like it you still will have taken 4 lessons for free and can cancel your membership after that. Click below to sign up. You will need to put in your credit card info, but you will not be charged for 30 days. If you like the program, keep going. If not, cancel any time. CLICK HERE TO GET A FREE TRIAL PIONEER MEMBERSHIP. I hope to see you Monday Night! Pushing People into the Pig Pen Aust FOOD PRESERVATION CLASS BOOK HOMEWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Judy was on the brink of bankruptcy. 3 Yeas later he had paid off his house, 200 acre farm, and went on to buy 3 more farms and lease 12. How did he earn enough money from grazing livestock? Find out in this video. CHECKOUT GREG JUDY'S CHANNEL GREG JUDY'S BOOKS Comeback Farms No Risk Ranching GREG JUDY'S WEBSITE BECOME A PIONEER Greg and Jan Judy of Clark, Missouri run a grazing operation on 1620 acres of leased and owned land. Greg and Jan went from near bankruptcy in 1999 to paying off a 200 acre farm and house in 3 years with custom grazing on leased land and are completely debt free. They own 4 farms and lease 12 farms. They graze cattle, hair sheep, woods pigs, pastured laying hens, sawmilling and grow shitake mushrooms. Greg wrote his first book in 2001, entitled “NO RISK RANCHING, Custom Grazing On Leased Land”, which details the methods they used to build their operation from scratch. In 2008 Greg wrote a second book “COMEBACK FARMS, Rejuvenating Soils, Pastures and Profits with Livestock Grazing Management”. Greg’s second book covers all the methods they use with Holistic High Density Grazing, multi-species grazing, grass finishing animals, eliminating costly inputs. Greg gives talks and schools all over the US, New Zealand, Germany, England & Canada teaching the benefits of Holistic High Density Planned Grazing, leasing land, multi-species grazing, custom grazing, agroforestry and wildlife management. The Judy’s hold an annual grazing school the first week of May each year at their farm teaching the principles of HHDG. Greg quit his off farm job in 2009 and is now a full time rancher. The Judy’s website is: greenpasturesfarm.net. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can save THOUSANDS of dollars every year by raising your own meat or buying farm fresh meat in bulk and removing the expense of butchering that meat by learning to butcher yourself! In this video we are joined by Butcher and Educator Jamie Waldron. Together we explore the world of home butchery and how it can greatly increase your home economy by taking control of how you purchase meat and providing you with more flexibility by purchasing whole carcasses. Jamie was born in Windsor, Ontario, and raised in the small rural town of Harrow. He started his career in a small country butcher shop as a teenager. Since then, he has dedicated 18+ years to the art of butchery. Jamie has worked at some of the top butcher shops in Canada, helped craft menus and meat programs for restaurant groups, consulted for butcher shops, and worked with and for abattoirs in Ontario. In 2013, he wrote the Home Butchering Handbook (Penguin/Alpha). It covers all aspects of traditional meat cutting, from whole carcass to usable cuts. JAMIE'S BOOK - https://amzn.to/2Sbokln JAMIE'S WEBSITE - http://www.jwaldronbutchers.com JAMIE'S INSTAGRAM- https://www.instagram.com/j.waldron_butchers/ JAMIE'S RECOMENDED KNIVES 6 Inch Boning - https://amzn.to/35L2g4X 8 Inch Boning - https://amzn.to/2sMLWCe Saw - https://amzn.to/2ZcCpjJ JAMIE'S RECOMENDED BOOKS River Cottage Meat Book - https://amzn.to/2Sq2AlZ Meat the Ultimate Companion - https://amzn.to/2EIMlrQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Karin grew up on a mixed family farm in Alberta, Canada, raising and selling backgrounding stocker steers. Her main passion since she was little was with the cattle, from handling to pasture management. She currently works as a forage-beef extension specialist with the provincial government and is working towards getting into farming of her own some day. She shares thoughts, and advice on all things cattle at her website https://www.bovinepracticum.com/ Karin is coming on the show to talk about working with Cattle. She will help us cover safety, how to make their life as comfortable as possible, and share some tips and tricks to working with cattle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Podcast, we interview Rachyl Travis, of Travis Family Farm. At 9 years old, milking her first goat, Rachyl had no idea that someday she would be running a successful family farm business. A pet goat given to her at 9 years old soon turned into multiple goats, and when Rachyl wound up with 15 goats in milk, and 15 gallons of milk a day to process, she had to figure out something to do with all of the milk. Rachyl didn’t want the milk to go to waste. She enlisted the help of her older sister and together they came up with the first goat milk product: the famous goat milk soap. In June 2012, Rachyl’s Goat Milk Soap was born after family and friends raved about the soap they received as gifts and asked to buy it! Now Rachyl sells her product in many stores and farmers markets through out Rhode Island with her mom and sister at her side! Rachyl shares her story, and the secret to overcoming fear when starting your own farm business. CHECKOUT RACHYL AND TRAVIS FAMILY FARM at Travisfamilyfarm.com A new feature on our podcast will be a Q and A session, called ASK HOMESTEADY. Each episode we will feature Questions asked by our Audiance in the podcast. To have a question answered just leave a question in the comments section of our Youtube Channel with the hastag #askhomesteady. This episodes question... Goats Milk vs Cows Milk vs Sheeps Milk... which is best for your homestead? Sign up to our email list so you don't miss any of our videos here - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/join-homesteady-movement/ SUBSCRIBE to our PODCAST HERE - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/subscribe-podcast/ LOVE HOMESTEADY? Help us keep it going! Becoming a Pioneer - You get instant access to the new forum, discounts, and homesteading classes and podcasts! https://www.thisishomesteady.com/head-west-become-pioneer/ Are you shopping at Amazon? Shop through our Amsteady Link http://www.amsteady.com Just click that link then do your regular shopping, it doesn’t cost you any extra but we earn a commission for sending you there. AFFILIATE LINKS To The HOMESTEADING GEAR I use everyday -https://www.thisishomesteady.com/gear-use/ Get Homesteady Tee Shirts (and other clothing) Here - https://shop.spreadshirt.com/homesteady/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A PIONEER FOR NEW LOW PRICE Homesteading roots began with people trying to turn their life around by making a profit. Signed into law in May 1862, the Homestead Act opened up settlement in the western United States, allowing any American, including freed slaves, to put in a claim for up to 160 free acres of federal land. Modern Homesteading is similar. Google pallet homestead projects and you will know, it's often people with little, that dream big. But dreaming and reality are 2 different things. Is it possible to run a profitable homestead? Let's see if our guest can help. GUEST INFO : Accountant Mike Mike currently works as a Senior Accountant at DiLeo & Charles. He has spent about a decade working providing accounting, tax, and consulting services to small business clients and high net worth families. He uses his extensive knowledge of tax and financial statements to help small business owners set and achieve business goals, both financial and otherwise. He currently specializes in strategic planning, income tax reduction, and cash flow management for small businesses. When he isn’t working Mike enjoys following Formula 1 and playing peek-a-boo with his infant daughter. What is a profit? Profit : a financial gain, especially the difference between the amount earned and the amount spent in buying, operating, or producing something. 2 - advantage; benefit. TO BE PROFITABLE SOMETHING MUST PRODUCE MORE THAN IT CONSUMES A profitable garden produces more than it consumes. A profitable chicken produces more than it consumes. A profitable Homestead produces more than it consumes. To find out if we are running a profitable homestead we need to identify what is produced, what is consumed, and see if there is a gain in the difference. The 7 Costs Every Homestead Has to Cover Startup Costs - land, Infrastructure, fencing (Generally Amortized Costs) Running Costs - more than feed, Electricity, water, taxes on land, Surprise Costs - Vet bills, storm damage Finishing costs - butcher, packaging, storage TIME and Labor Opportunity Costs - time spent raising egg laying chickens could be spent driving for uber WASTE - Veggies grown not eaten, eggs go bad The PASTURED POULTRY PACKET is good at this. 3 Ways to Profit From Your Homestead Direct Products - lettuce, eggs, milk, cheese, REPLACING WHAT YOUR BUYING Indirect products - manure, land management, (BUT NOT UNLESS NEEDED, if you don’t NEED manure in your life it’s not brown gold) Sales - selling excess How much do you charge above your costs? Accountant Mike suggests a MINIMUM of 10%! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are settled into our new homestead. Finally. But it was a LOT of work getting to this point. When our homestead in CT went onto the market to be sold things moved quickly. In just 10 days we had an offer on the place and accepted it. Suddenly we needed a place to live in PA WAY FASTER than we expected. We needed to figure out what we were going to live in. We have wanted to live in a Yurt for almost as long as we have been married. The dream of the yurt resurfaced. We needed a inexpensive structure that could house us for at least a few months, that we could put up quickly. The yurt seemed like a perfect idea. But a harder look at the yurt, and the expense, made us decide otherwise. On the family farm there was already a Pole Barn build, with insulated walls and electricity run to it. The shell was done, and upstairs above the pole barn was 1000 square feet of unfinished space. It was a no brainer. The yurt dream had to die… once again. Maybe someday K and I will wind up as empty nesters, living our days within the round cozy walls of a yurt. But for now, that remains just a dream. Work began on the pole barn. Turning an unfinished pole barn into a home takes a LOT of materials! The upstairs space was wide open. The floors were plywood, and the walls and ceilings metal. There was big LED lights on the ceiling and electric already run, but the rest of what we needed to put into the house we needed to buy or scrounge. We purchased lumber, sheetrock, flooring, paint, and all the hardware and supplies needed to build the interior. In addition to those supplies we needed to buy a toilett, 2 sinks, and bathtub. We put in a washer, dryer, and dishwasher. Also we added an electric hot water heater and 2 heat/AC units. The kitchen cabinets were a steal for us, as we had a family member who was turning a home into a salon and was getting rid of an entire kitchen, cabinets, stove and fridge. That we got for FREE and it was a big savings to us! The only added expense to the kitchen was the counter tops that needed to be made to match the new layout. We couldn’t DIY the entire project, we would need to hire some contractors. We wanted to finish the space all ourself, but unfortunately we still had a farm in CT to run (until move out day) and so we could only dedicate 1 week to working on turning the pole barn upstairs into a living space. We spent about $30,000 turning this unfinished space into a beautiful little living space for our large family. When the dust settled, about 12,000 was spent on supplies and materials for the space, and between the carpenters, electricians, and plumbers we spent about 18,000 on labor. All and all it was worth it. Our family had a great space to live in for the last year while the second house on the family farm was being built, and now that we are out of the pole barn, we have a great guest space for visitors, and I have a awesome office to run my business out of. Once the place we need to live in was built we could move onto the new homestead. Since we had moved onto a homestead once before we had a good idea of what NOT to do and what we should spend our time doing on our new homestead. 3 Things You Don’t Want To Do On Your New Homestead DON’T Invest a Whole Bunch Of Time and Money On Infrastructure. DON’T Get New Animals Right Away. DON’T Expect to Make Money Right Away. You are going to make mistakes the first year. Mistakes are a natural way we learn. The first time you burned your hand on something hot you learned not to touch hot things in the future. If you avoid these 3 mistakes you will be ahead of us when we were new homesteaders, and you will get to learn your own lessons the hard way 😉 So what should you spend time doing on your new homestead? Take walks daily on your new property. Get to know it. Spend some time learning it. Whatever you see on those walks… capture it. Photos, journals, videos, whatever way you can capture what you are observing on your walks. Setup temporary movable infrastructure. If you have animals or are getting a few new ones, don’t setup permanent fences and waterlines yet… use moveable electric, hoses, and whatever other moveable infrastructure you can to learn your property before investing in permanent changes. Fix what is broke. If you don’t spend a bunch of time and money on new permanent infrastructure you will be saving it for the things that are going to break on you. Our first year on our new PA homestead is done. We have settled in. What is in store for us? What farm plans do we have in our future? Find out in the next episode of the Homesteady Podcast. Sign up to our email list so you don't miss any of our videos here - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/join-homesteady-movement/ SUBSCRIBE to our PODCAST HERE - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/subscribe-podcast/ LOVE HOMESTEADY? Help us keep it going! Becoming a Pioneer - You get instant access to the new forum, discounts, and homesteading classes and podcasts! https://www.thisishomest

A year ago this podcast disappeared. We announced we were moving, selling our homestead in CT, and headed to a new farm in PA. We said that you would be getting updates from us as we went on this journey to our new home in the state of PA. Then silence. In our official Season 2 of Homesteady, we start to fill you in on what happened, where we went, and what is going to happen going forward. In this first episode, brought to you by the Homesteady Pioneers (BECOME ONE HERE) we talk about selling Squash Hollow Farm, our farm in CT and Moving to PA. The truth is we have been talking about doing this for years. K's Dad has been trying to get us to move to PA for the last decade. K grew up on the 100 acre family farm, and her dad wanted us to take it over. K loved the land, the location, and was excited about the idea of being close to her family again. I was the hold out. My entire life was spent in CT. My friends, family, all my roots were there. The older a tree gets the HARDER it is to uproot it. Every year K's dad would pitch us the idea to move back home, and farm off the family farm. And every year I had an easy out. My business, my clients, the means of feeding my family, all of that was located in CT. Honestly it was too scary to shake that up. The idea of building a new business in a new place, searching for new clients, with a ever growing family to feed, that was too scary for me. But over the last few years something was slowly changing... As Homesteady grew, K and I started pushing towards making it our full time work and means of income. My business went from a local client based operation, to an internet business that allowed us to earn a living anywhere. Last winter K and I decided it was time to try to jump into doing Homesteady full time. This meant we were now making all our money off our online show, and no longer did it matter where we lived, as long as we could homestead and produce our show. We started discussing the idea of moving to a new place with a lower cost of living than Connecticut, and where we could own a larger farm. About that time K's Dad made his annual pitch to take over the family farm. Suddenly it all made sense. Taking over the family farm in PA would be the perfect move. Still, it was scary, and I needed a nudge. So I called the guy I always call when making big decisions... Accountant Mike. After a long discussion of goals, what we wanted in life, and looking at the hard logic of it all, it became clearer. PA was the right move for us. 10 Years of saying no, it was time to say yes to taking over the family farm. Before we could move to PA we needed to sell our farm in CT. Selling a farm is not easy, but we were able to get the offer we wanted in just 10 days. HOW? STEP 1 - CLEAN YOUR PROPERTY UP The first thing we did to our farm to sell it was to CLEAN IT! As a homesteader, we save a lot of random things that we think we could use to build infrastructure. These random things included random old metal bunk beds, lots of plastic barrels, pallets, pallets and more pallets.... These junk piles make your property look less valuable to a potential customer, and should be removed. SETP 2 - FIX WHAT'S BROKE You don't want potential buyers to see glaring issues. So walk your property, see what is broken, cracked, etc, and fix it. This does NOT mean remodel your farm, just find cracks in drywall, broken windows, or unfinished projects and make finish and fix them! STEP 3 - STAGE YOUR PLACE TO SELL Once the property is clean and fixed up, you want it to look like a place anyone could see themselves living in. This means removing your personality from your home and property, and make it a more blank pallet. We took down bunk beds, family photos, and even changed the sheets on beds to bright white sheets. The goal was to make the home look bright, white and warm, and the property big, beautiful and clean. STEP 4 - TAKE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES (and Marketing Materials) When your property is all staged and ready to be seen, help more people see it online with beautiful pictures. This does NOT mean snap a couple quick pics on your phone. We bought a lighting kit ($90 kit like THIS one) and used a wide angle lens - ( LIKE THIS ONE ) on our canon camera to get the best looking photos. Good lighting and a wide angle lens makes your rooms look large, bright and beautiful. Then we put these in a brochure with our story and history of the property. Once the house was sold it was time to start packing up. This was NO small feat, with all the animals, farm equipment, feed, etc. But the hardest part of it all was saying goodbye to the homestead we loved so much... After spending years building a beautiful little homestead from the ground up, we were leaving Squash Hollow Farm forever. While we were excited to go to our new home, leaving the place with so many memories, a home we brought 3 little babies home to, was very hard to do. Selling and Moving was just the beginning, stay tuned to a future

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE HOMESTEADY PODCAST? It has been almost 1 year since we released a podcast. What happened? We talk about that in this little announcement episode... I have been busy working on our Podcast studio! The studio is almost done, and now we are taking submissions to get you on our show! Do you have a homesteading story to share? Want to discuss a topic with us on the podcast? Submit an application to get on our show by CLICKING HERE --- https://www.thisishomesteady.com/guest-application/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A very big announcement on todays episode of the podcast! K and Aust sit down and share with you some very big news that you don't want to miss out on... Sign up to our email list so you don't miss any of our videos here - https://www.thisishomesteady.com/join-homesteady-movement/ In Friday’s Video we announced our big move. https://youtu.be/pMufdfVZN-A You had a lot of questions, so we address those, and hopefully more, in todays episode! SUBSCRIBE to our PODCAST HERE - iTunes - https://goo.gl/oWorJB Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/homesteady LOVE HOMESTEADY? Help us keep it going! Becoming a Pioneer - You get instant access to the new forum, discounts, and homesteading classes and podcasts! https://www.thisishomesteady.com/head-west-become-pioneer/ Shopping at Amazon through our Amsteady Link - http://www.amsteady.com Just click that link then do your regular shopping, we get a bonus! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Homesteady, we continue our Homestead Business Side Hustle Series and interview Dan Arms, of the Arms Family Homestead (Find him here and here). Dan's successful business? Goats. Would you believe that a goat solved the problems of an entire country? Believe it, and learn all about it here. We meet Dan through the story of the loss of his mom. He cites it as a strong influence in his first career as a state trooper. He was raised by his dad on a homestead with a small cattle herd, hunting, fishing, and spending his days outside. Growing up as a homesteader was a confidence building experience for Dan, and as an adult he took over the family farm after his dad's passing. After ending his cow raising days due to cost, Dan went back to the land as a hobby gardener. Unexpectedly, the garden grew into a small homestead business, as Dan's community started asking him for fresh fruits and vegetables from his garden. However, Dan's business growth was stymied when his work schedule as a state trooper limited the amount of time he was able to put into his garden. His schedule and logistics made the harvesting and delivery of produce for others unsustainable. Enter the goats. You know, Aust's LEAST favorite homestead animal. You know how we feel about goats, at this point, right? Before you think this is a sudden change of heart, a flip flop, a goat endorsement: heed the following rules: Even though the baby goat is cute, DON'T BUY THE GOAT. When you ignore us and buy the goat anyway: don't get more than one. When you ignore rules number one AND two: Remember that BABY GOATS GROW UP. Like Gremlins. We warned you. If you need a really solid reminder, we have some NEW goat shirts in our Homesteady swag store! Moving on. The third time trying a side-hustle was the charm: Dan's money maker on the farm, believe it or not, is GOATS. Beginning with Boer Goats from South Africa, Dan then identified Kiko Goats from New Zealand as the best match for his homestead. Kiko Goats are great goats for homesteaders. Specifically bred by Garrick and Ann Batten for the island country of New Zealand. Aust was able to interview Garrick to discuss the step. by step development of the goat breeding process in New Zealand. Using the theory of population genetics, Gerrick was able to breed the Kiko goat to meet the needs of the farmer in New Zealand. (Extraneous Lord of the Ring Footage Here.) But back to Dan. Dan is able to breed, raise, and sell Kiko goats on his property. They an excellent match for his lifestyle, his property, and his family. Their grazing patterns also allow Dan to simultaneously feed the goats on his pastures and hay his fields. While not without challenges, Dan is able to make approximately $3000 per year on his side homestead hustle. In addition, he is able to write off farm equipment on his taxes (which gets a check plus from Accountant Mike!). However; is Dan truly making a profit? You may be (not) surprised to learn that...technically, no, not really. However, the value added to the experiences of Dan and his family in participating and contributing to all his homestead endeavors- goat breeding, chickens, gardening- are worth it to Dan. Dan isn't planning on giving up his day job; as he puts it, "This lifestyle is about what makes you happy." We have a new partner! Aust is so pleased to partner with Wildcat Outdoor Gear as they premier their collection of tents designed by and for "Outdoorsy Dads." Watch a great video of Aust, Kendra and the kids enjoying their tent here. Enter coupon code Homesteady at check-out for a discount! Join our email list, and don't miss any of the exciting updates we have coming up in 2018! We have a new addition to the Pioneer Program: A PIONEER ONLY FORUM! Learn from one another and get to talk with Accountant Mike, The Foraging Beard, Dave from Northeast Edible, Alexia The Suburban Escapee. Our podcast guests will also be in the forums! If you are looking for more information about Kiko goats, we have an extended version of our interview with Garrick available in the Pioneer Library. Not a Pioneer? Join today! Instantly download twenty bonus episodes when you become a Homesteady Pioneer. Want even more ways to support the show? Do your Amazon shopping through our affiliate link- www.amsteady.com. The wait will be shorter than ever for the next episode, as Aust is now creating Homesteady Content FULL TIME. What does that mean? A daily YouTube Video and a NEW podcast every two weeks. Subscribe now to make sure you don't miss part four of our Homestead Business Series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Homesteady, we meet Elaine Vandiver of Old Homestead Alpacas. Elaine's journey to her purpose began on 9/11. A college student at the time, She felt the right thing for her to do was the join the army and serve her country. Now, she's an alpaca farmer. Wait, what? Let's back up. We met Elaine in the Homesteady Launchpad business course hosted by Aust and Accountant Mike. Elaine is currently finding success in agrotourism- giving tourists an "on-farm" experience that is projected to net $11,000 this year. Elaine isn't from Walla Walla Washington. Originally from Indiana, Elaine completed a successful military career and followed her then boyfriend (now husband) to Washington State. Falling in love with the beautiful landscape, they put down their roots. Elaine credits her time in the military for giving her invaluable perspective, and assisting her success in homesteading. Elaine felt that the time she spent as a solider helped her become a stronger person and put hardship in perspective. It was after her military experience however, that Elaine met what was to be a true test of her strength: her desire to have a family and her journey through infertility. After seven years of exhaustive medical intervention and ongoing mental stress and disappointment, Elaine and her husband found themselves choosing the end their journey to become pregnant and take a different path. This led them to selling their family-ready home and moving to the country. "Undervalued" was the word Elaine and her husband had in mind when searching for their property- looking for a "country fabulous" property they could bring to its full potential. They found their "gem" of a fixer upper, and the work the property needed was the perfect project to distract the Vandivers from their previous seven years of heartbreak. The property also came with a few surprises- in-tact perimeter fencing, a history of a previous homestead, 3 pastures- and two llamas, Leroy and Loretta. If Elaine was going to have her country home, she was going to have to take in the llamas. Googling the care of llamas, Elaine took her new (pets? livestock?) day by day. In her research, she came upon alpacas. They were softer! Cuter! Nicer! When spring came, Elaine purchased a couple to take care of the pastures full of grass on her property. When a connection with a local alpaca farmer was made, the alpacas increased from 2 to 41. In exchange for taking care of the alpaca heard she had acquired, she could keep their product. Through happenstance, Elaine became an alpaca farmer, and began her unplanned, unexpected journey to being a homestead business owner. Things began to fall together so nicely; Elaine wasn't going to stand in the way. Cementing her path was a manila envelope with the original paperwork detailing her property's history as a parcel from the Homestead Act of 1862. Deciding to go all-in, Elaine went step by step to become a legitimate business, following the appropriate protocol to ensure the growth and success of her alpaca farm. It is important to note, however, that the alpaca farm is Elaine's side hustle- she is a "cubicle dwelling bureaucrat" by day. She credits her job with working one side of her brain, and her farm working the entire other side- creativity, problem solving, and passion. However -what about the alpaca fiber- is this really a valuable product? How do we make it that way? Turns out, it is a "diamond in the rough" type product, requiring many steps to become useful and beautiful. Two years, actually, from start to finish. Elaine realized that with such a long turn around time, she needed to re-think how to utilize the value in her property. Turns out, the BEAUTY of the farm could be capitalized on. Check out Elaine on Instagram to see the gorgeous vistas of her farm. If you find a photo of Elaine and an alpaca on the back of a Volkswagon bus, follow her feed, leave a comment identifying yourself as a Homesteady listener, and Aust will give you a FREE month of a Homesteady Pioneer Membership! Elaine started giving tours and opened a little gift shop. More on-farm events have followed: alpaca yoga, a farm to needle workshop series on alpaca fiber, (check out the upcoming sunset yoga and wine tasting!) and then: Airbnb. For her Airbnb, the guest received a port-a-potty and land to put up a tent or camper. For $50 per night, Elaine's farm was extremely popular. Would Elaine's business come out as profitable according to Accountant Mike's standards? No, not yet. But in terms of the added value of happiness- Elaine puts it best: There is a difference between making money, and making a life. Is the juice worth the squeeze? Hells yeah, because I had a BLAST doing it. We have a new partner! Aust is so pleased to partner with Wildcat Outdoor Gear as they premier their collection of tents designed by and for "Outdoorsy Dads." Watch a great video of Aust, Kendra and the kids enjoying their tent here. Enter coupon code Homesteady

Sometimes the most obvious way of solving a problem is not the best way. On this episode of Homesteady, we explore our most valuable non-renewable resource: time. Beginning with the story of the Village on the Hill, we see that looking outside the box for a different solution may be the best way for us to achieve our goals. In part two of our ten part Homestead Business Series (miss part one? Listen here ) we head to North Idaho to meet Dan Ohmann on his grassfed homestead. How did this police-officer-turned-stay-at-home-dad-and-farmer do it? On the surface, we see a couple and a child living on a homestead raising lamb and pastured poultry. Dan's spouse still works a traditional job in the software industry, and they gross approximately $2,250 from their meaty side hustle. Like so many of us, the arrival of his first child inspired Dan and his wife to escape their HOA-ruled suburb for something different. Dan decided he needed to take a lot more responsibility for his resources-namely, food, and increasing food security and self-sufficiency. (An aside-food security is an incredibly weighty and important topic. Learn more here.) Dan's explorations led him to the concept of permaculture. Designing sustainable systems using the natural resources that are available led him to Geoff Lawton's work. "The primary goal of permaculture is to provide a permanence of culture on the earth for people and all living things." -Geoff Lawton So, what is permaculture, anyway? It is an amalgamation of social and agricultural systems that, like most things, is best defined by Wikipedia. Dan experienced a paradigm shift in watching Geoff Lawton's permaculture videos and taking his online permaculture course. Dan realized that like so many of us, he had designed his life according to the socially accepted success formula- good grades+ good college= good job, good money, good life. The permaculture model not only shifted Dan's thinking about sustainable agriculture, but showed him that he could apply these same principles to design a lifestyle that deviated from the acceptable success formula. Why? There has been a growing awareness though that firstly, there is the need to pay more attention to the peoplecare ethic, as it is often the dynamics of people that can interfere with projects, and secondly that the principles of permaculture can be used as effectively to create vibrant, healthy and productive people and communities as they have been in landscapes. (Wikipedia 2018) When Dan's son ran into health problems that were directly related to his diet, that was the final push he needed to start figuring out how to provide what he needed for his family himself. They were able to make a big change, and leave their home in suburban Atlanta when his wife got a big promotion at work where she received a large pay raise and could work remotely. Leaving the police force was a difficult transition for Dan. It was his entire career: he had worked his way through the ranks for many years. This was a meaningful job for Dan, with real value in serving his community, and he knew that he had continued career growth with his department. However, North Idaho was calling, with the land and lifestyle that Dan and his wife wanted for their family. After a two year search for the right property was finally completed, Dan started developing his homestead right away. Sheep were delivered less than 48 hours after move-in day, and they were off! Currently, they are in their second season of raising animals, with a focus on grassfed lamb. How is Dan growing his business? Start small and with with people you know. Dan raised four lambs his first season. Sending strategic emails that resulted in a friend buying a half a lamb, Dan networked his way into selling two lambs, which left two for his family to eat. Make a marketing plan based upon on-the-ground feedback from your possible customer base. When Dan was marketing his lamb, everyone asked, "But how do you cook lamb?" With a series of YouTube cooking videos, he answered this question for his consumers. He developed these videos over the winter to share at a local food advocacy group event. In alignment with slow food principles, Dan showed his consumer where their food came from and what to do with it. Have reasonable growth expectations. Through word of mouth, Dan has sold six lambs and cut off sales. He has since been turning people away. "I can't meet the demand-yet," says Dan. Also- is the business profitable? Let's get down to brass tacks, shall we? (What does that even mean, anyway?) Aust invokes the spirit of Accountant Mike to get down to the nitty gritty dollars-and-cents with Dan. Through a value system that incorporates money as only ONE part of the value of an enterprise, however: is Dan's homestead profitable? Through a permaculture lens, yes. Despite challenges, Dan has built many different forms of capital into the value of his endeavor. Namely? Control over his life- specifically, his

On this episode of Homesteady, Aust further explores the dream vs. the reality of homesteading, by explaining the harshest reality of them all: why your homestead business WILL fail. Through video, Aust's brother-in-law parodies the overt optimism that brings us into the homesteading world in the first place: the beauty of vegetables, the imagined ease of "working at home" now that you have a farm. REALITY CHECK: It is RARE to make more money than you spend on your homestead. But does that mean you have to give up the dream? Based on our Homesteady poll, (thanks for your responses!) THREE OUT OF FOUR of you have the dream that someday, you will be able to exit your current careers due to the successful pursuit of a full-time homesteading business. Through a new series, Aust is going to share his six years of experience with all of you. Full-time podcaster Aust (one dream, now more of a reality!) is going to make ten episodes about making your homestead profitable. Along with interviews to exploring others' journeys and sharing knowledge, we hope to help you, the burgeoning homestead businessperson, to get off to a positive start. It should be no surprise that Accountant Mike has a lot to say on the topic of failed businesses. This episode on failing businesses EXCLUSIVELY features Accountant Mike. (PS: the tax laws have changed. Stay informed!) On this first episode about Homestead Businesses, we are going to talk about The Side Hustle. To qualify as a side hustle, the homesteader in question has to fit the following criteria: the homesteader, or one half of a homesteading couple, has to have a full-time job outside the homestead. Secondly, the homestead based business had to have grossed $1,000 or more. The Side Hustle common theme: lots of people aren't anywhere near profitable. Aust takes us back to his first failed business: selling custom POG slammers made out of Sculpy clay. Developing his business acumen through his youth via Pokemon cards and spare lunch burritos, Aust has learned throughout his lifetime as a "hustler" the basics of a profitable business. Now, as a homesteader, Aust shares with us that the farm is a side-hustle. Even six years in, he is not relying on his farm to be profitable or the main source of support for his family. There are three main areas where a business side hustle can fail: Failure to Plan: This results in wasting time, effort, and money. However, don't get stuck in analysis paralysis! A concrete goal is the best way to move forward. Starting without Sufficient Capital: Do you ACTUALLY know how much your business venture costs? Take note of all of your data: infrastructure, supplies, and repairs. Not Planning Ahead with your Time: Time is Money! Pay specific attention to the scalability of your enterprise. The number one way to stay safe? GROW SLOW. Make a plan, stick to it, and stay small. Remember that the business skills you learn along the way are infinitely applicable. Freight Farms: grow food anywhere with the help of the Leafy Green Machine. Thanks for continuing to sponsor the podcast! Go to www.freightfarms.com/homesteady for access to a FREE Business planning guide! Join our email list, and don't miss any of the exciting updates we have coming up in 2018! We have a new addition to the Pioneer Program: A PIONEER ONLY FORUM! Learn from one another and get to talk with Accountant Mike, The Foraging Beard, Dave from Northeast Edible, Alexia The Suburban Escapee, and Allyson, our producer. Not a Pioneer? Join Today! Want even more ways to support the show? Do your Amazon shopping through our affiliate link- www.amsteady.com. The wait will be shorter than ever for the next episode, as Aust is now creating Homesteady Content FULL TIME. What does that mean? A daily YouTube Video and a NEW podcast every two weeks. We are looking forward to even more Homesteady in 2018! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Homesteady, Aunt, Kendra, and the family update us on the changes on the farm throughout 2017. A year ago, Aust and Kendra were going to sell the farm and go on a road trip. Instead, they have had the most productive year on the homestead yet! They updated with major infrastructure improvements and even got a cow (check out our family cow episode here- you may be convinced to get one a well.) What happened? With small children who don't travel well, and a re-discovered appreciation for their home in Connecticut, Aust and Kendra decided staying at their current homestead was the best choice. Kendra set a goal for the homestead to be NEAT and ORDERLY. 2017 was the year of form and function. Every change, every innovation, had a purpose. Improving the infrastructure on the farm was the number one priority. Our YouTube Video shows the giant machine that made a road to the barn in just one day! An improved, more accessible barn opens many possibilities for Aust and Kendra, and increased efficiency for all barn related tasks. Have a new barn? How about getting pigs earlier, as they can be easily cared for and sheltered in the new barn? Aust and Kendra were able to buy their pigs in April, a whole month earlier than they usually do. The combination of an early start, mild weather, and Stone House Grain led to pigs that were 100 pounds heavier than their previous heaviest batch of pigs. Heavier pigs allowed Aust and Kendra to create more flavors of bacon and sausages with their pigs. Who doesn't like sausages? This year, the farm raised 50 Cornish Cross and 25 Ranger Chickens, plus seventeen new egg layers. This was the first year of raising two different types of chickens, and Just was very impressed with the rangers. Pro Tip from Kendra: Keep the two breeds separate, as the rangers were found to be aggressive towards the Cornish Cross! Raising turkeys seemed like an excellent idea for the oldest Martin child to expand his existing egg selling farm business. However, a shipment of turkeys arrived in very poor health. The two surviving turkeys imprinted on the family as their own flock. With some adventures in turkey behavior notwithstanding, the turkeys have survived the holiday season (so far). Stay tuned... Raising ducks is something that has been done on the homestead before. However, during the at-home butchering process, a few things went awry... SHOUT OUT TO NATHAN: In 2016, Nathan let us know that he had an allergy to duck eggs. Aust does too, and was able to recognize the symptoms thanks to his letter. Between the egg allergy and not wanting to butcher ducks on the homestead, ducks are going to be a "decoration animal" on the farm from this point forward. The biggest adventure? Dairy Cows! Kendra shares her journey exploring which cow is best, taking care of a cow, and birthing her first calf. Spoiler Alert: A cow is EASIER than goats. Throughout this episode, we refer to many of our past podcasts and YouTube videos. You can find all of our past episodes here, and search through all of our YouTube Videos and subscribe to our channel so you don't miss any updates. The Biggest Update of all: Aust is going to be doing Homesteady FULL TIME. This means more of everything: videos, classes, and bonus podcasts. Plus: We will be opening a new Homesteady Pioneers Forum. Want a sneak peak? Email us at [email protected] if you'd like to be a tester. Wait, are you not yet a Pioneer? For $5 a month YOU can be a homsteady pioneer. You get bonus episodes of the podcast through the Pioneer Library, plus access to our new "one click" feature that will allow you to download 20 episodes of Homesteady WITH JUST ONE CLICK. Thank you to Freight farm for sponsoring this episode. Their innovative hydroponics systems allow you to grow farm fresh food year-round. Check them out on our hydroponics episode. Do you want to support the podcast? Are you doing some online shopping? Use our Amazon affiliate link and a portion of your spending supports the show. www.amsteady.com. 2018 promises to be an exciting year. Stay Tuned! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was WAY BACK! May 16, 2014.... The very first episode of the Homesteady Podcast was released.... Since then we have released 55 episodes of the podcast 286 Youtube videos blog posts courses swag! I didn't start this thinking I would ever go full time with it. I didn't think content creation could be a career... But the world has changed! Back in Feb, 2015 we launched the Pioneer Program... It consisted of Bonus videos and podcasts Courses I taught to local schools Discounts from homestead vendors It sells everyday for $5 a month. (https://www.thisishomesteady.com/head-west-become-pioneer/) Slowly we built this podcast, then youtube channel, and turned it to a better and better business. NOW ITS TIME TO LEAP! Learn our big news in todays LIVESTREAM! Or... If you don't feel like watching that .... Here it goes... I AM GOING TO DO HOMESTEADY FULL TIME!!! For the last few years we have been building our show to the point where I could do this full time. Now, my life has had some changes that allow me to focus on Homesteady, and we are going to try for the next 3 months to do this full time! We could only do this with the help from our Homesteady Pioneers! Their support has been huge. If you would like to become a Homesteady Pioneer, get access to all our Classes, Bonus Podcasts and Videos, and Pioneer Discounts, we are going to have a special BLACK FRIDAY - CYBER MONDAY Sale! CLICK HERE to become a Pioneer for the whole year, for just $33! It is the cheapest sale we have ever done. It will go away on Tuesday. SO WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT FROM HOMESTEADY? In the next month we will be ramping things up over here. Starting in 2018, expect to see 2 Podcast episodes a month! About 45 min long, released every other week. On the YouTube side, we will be releasing 1 or 2 vids weekly, as well as a livestream... FARM FRIDAYS - ABOUT TO CHANGE BIG TIME TOO... In addition to our emails every Friday, we will be hosting a livestream on Fridays! The farm Friday livestream will be a recap of our week, share our latest content, and answer a weekly question! Email us or comment on a video with a Question and you could be featured in that piece. Thats it! Thanks for helping us get here... We couldn't do it without you! -Aust PS - if you want to help us produce this show, but can't do the pioneer program, no worries! You can do your cyber Monday shopping at amazon through our www.amsteady.com link, spend nothing extra, but we get a little affiliate bonus! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Homesteady, we explore the lifestyle of the modern hunter. We will be examining both the facts and the feelings that come into play when decided whether hunting is an ethical option for feeding one's family. With scenes from Bambi resonating within the formative memories of Aust's childhood, we are going to re-examine the discussion on hunting: Is it wrong? With such easy access to food, do we need to head into the woods with a gun? This episode is for those of you who are not currently hunters. We ask that you listen to this episode with an open mind as we present the facts and feelings on hunting from multiple perspectives.We know that Aust is a hunter now- but we learn that he wasn't always this way. After learning about factory farming, Aust and Kendra wanted a healthier option for their growing family. Once figuring out that hunting was the most affordable option for his family, Aust became a self-taught hunter, and soon after harvested his first deer. "At a base level, every single one of us is a hunter." Tyler Sharp, the founder and creative director of Modern Huntsman, our first hunting interviewee, takes an historical perspective on hunting that he is aware can be polarizing amongst mixed company. Growing up in Texas, he grew up with hunting as a typical part of his culture. Once he moved to California to college, and disclosed his experience filming hunts to his peers in his photography and film classes, he was made aware that many regarded his experiences with gross disdain. As friends close to him expressed they found hunting appalling, Tyler was pushed to search within himself why hunting was an ethical choice. Spending several years in Tanzania filming safaris post-college, Tyler filmed and photographed the hunting safaris for an established outfitter on a game reserve. Living in the Kilombero region for several years, Tyler had the opportunity to learn outdoor skills from those in the region- and come face to face with a lion. The takeaway? To be a good hunter, you have to be a good outdoorsman, and be comfortable spending a lot of time there. Also- hunters love animals. Surprised? It was after his encounters with animals that Tyler decided that hunting was actually the best thing one can do to take care of wildlife. After three years living in the bush and hunting in Africa, Tyler shares these facts about hunting that support his perspective: Fact #1: There is a difference between hunters and poachers. Fact #2: Hunters produce more money than any other group when it comes to taking care of our animals. Despite the fact that it is unfashionable to be a hunter, Tyler argues that hunting can be an ethical lifestyle choice. Brad Neathery, our next guest, is the co-founder and CEO of Modern Huntsman. Since childhood, Brad has seen a different side of what a modern hunter could be. "Hunting was essentially a medium to pull together some father-son bonding time. To be honest, we'd rarely pull a trigger, because we got lost in conversation more than anything else." Brad does, however, have an issue with mainstream general media, and mainstream hunting media, in its portrayal of hunters. He feels that the image portrayed has been homogenized to one stereotype in most American media. Instead, hunters need to be portrayed in all the diversity they represent- traditional tribal hunters in Tanzania, master trackers, fathers and sons in Texas, husbands and wives learning together to hunt in adulthood. The media celebrates those who are in it for shooting, as opposed to those who use and respect all parts of the animals they harvest. BUT HEY- Did you know you can purchase meat at the supermarket? So why hunt? The emotions you experience while hunting, as beautifully detailed here, by Eamon Waddington, are not the same as those you experience when finding ground beef for 99 cents a pound in your grocer's meat case. "My anticipation had my heart pounding – whatever was in front of him was close. I hold back every urge in my body to get closer and peek over his shoulder like a curious child – the suspense was killing me." The Modern Huntsman Magazine portrays this alternative view of hunters. In finding and sharing stories about hunting that sit with the hunter's remorse of taking a life, and their gratefulness for the harvest of the animal, and the details of their acquired skills, Brad shows that many hunters are thoughtful, respectful, and keepers of tradition. The alternative narrative he presents is a stark counterpoint to mainstream media's homogenous bloodthirsty portrayal of the hunter. Food for thought, to be sure. Thank you to Brad and Tyler at the Modern Huntsman Huntsman for sharing their stories, perspective, and their mission. To make Modern Huntsman a reality, visit their Kickstarter campaign to support the first issue. $5 off an edition of Modern Huntsman for Homesteady backers! Are you homesteady? Help us find YOU on social media with the hashtag #iamhomesteady. Thanks for

Hydroponic Gardening. Some people have no clue what it is at all. Others (My Wife) may picture a creepy basement filled with bright white LED lighting, plants growing from tubes... When a hydroponicist... (is that even a real word?) thinks of hydroponics, they think of gardening with no bugs, in a controlled environment, year round, with perfect yields in half the time as a conventional garden. Sounds pretty good... right? Learn all about Hydroponics, and how you can grow farm fresh veggies in half the time as you usually do... year round, in this episode of Homesteady, all about Hydroponic Gardening. In this month's episode you will learn about the history of hydroponics, from back in the Aztec times, to the space station, to our modern day. Today we can find awesome companies like Freight Farms using hydroponics to grow farm fresh food in the cities. But hydroponics has become a great tool for homesteaders as well! Jonathan Russo shares his family's homestead hydroponic system, and accountant mike gets inspired to give it a shot! Special Thanks to Jonathan Russo from Fairfield County Hydroponics for sharing his hydroponic system with us! Check out Jonathan's website to learn more about his services. This episode of Homesteady is brought to you by Freight Farms, the creators of the Leafy Green Machine. Checkout their Farm Business Plan Guide and learn all about Freight Farming HERE And by HelloFresh, a dinner delivery service that gets meals to you in an easy, pre-portioned kit. Use promocode Homesteady30 to get $30 off your first meal delivery. Are you huge fan of the show? Join the Homesteady Pioneers by following this link and for only five dollars a month, you get bonus podcasts, free online webinars, discount codes (on awesome products like these, or maybe some Russian comfrey), and more! Dave from Northeast Edible will also give you a Pioneer discount on planning your orchard. Become a Pioneer today! We love hearing from you! Have you filled out our survey? You will be entered to win a $100 gift card from Tractor Supply Co. Want to hear more about what’s coming up next? Join our mailing list for up to the minute updates on our YouTube Channel and podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Homesteady, we are exploring the delights and dangers of foraging, or looking for and gathering wild foods. After a scare gathering mushrooms on the Homestead, Aust shares with us information on how to safely start your own foraging hobby. ******* Disclaimer: this blog and podcast are NOT a source for identifying wild plants************************************ Our guest, Jared White, is an extreme foraging enthusiast and hobbyist of The Foraging Beard on Instagram and YouTube is our guest on the show, to give us education and guidance on learning to forage. As a stay at home dad, Jared has dived into homesteading, with foraging emerging as his prominent interest. An avid photographer, his research into the flora he was photographing led him to the knowledge that lots of the plants he was photographing were edible! With his trusty Audobon Field Guide and the help of Google, Jared began to learn more and more about identifying wild edibles. But-how do we determine what is edible? And to NOT panic when we take a bite? Jared recommends starting with the onions. The allium tricoccum, or ramps, in particular, are great for the beginning forager. With their distinctive aroma and taste, the beginner can feel secure that they are eating the wild onion they think they are eating. Mushrooms, however, are trickier. Local and regional names can confuse a forager looking for the safely eaten variety. Using scientific names for all foraged plants helps ensure that no one finds an unwelcome variety on their dinner plate, and allows foodie enthusiasts to savor their chanterelles without fear. What other kinds of wild edibles are out there? Depending upon your region, the edible plants available vary. The best way to find them? Just keep looking. And looking. And looking. After your search, how do you decide whether to take a bite? What protocols do you follow to determine whether dinner is deadly? Jared, who had his own scare after thinking he ate a death cap when he meant to eat a russula, shares these safety tips: If it looks like food, take a picture or a plant home, and research it thoroughly. Learn to identify poisonous plants, so you don't take an accidental nibble! Use three sources to confirm what you found. Start with the foolproof four. Immediately go to your local ER and call Poison Control if you fear you have made a mistake. This cautionary tale shows you can never be too careful. Does Accountant Mike think foraging is worth the risks? Could he possibly be anti FREE FOOD? Or does the math add up in a surprising way? Listen to find out if gathering gourmet food pays off not only for your curiosity, but your wallet. Thank you to our sponsors! When your schedule prevents you from foraging your dinner, let HelloFresh deliver dinner to you in an easy, pre-portioned kit. Use promocode Homesteady30 to get $30 off your first meal delivery. Are you huge fan of the show? Join the Homesteady Pioneers by following this link and for only five dollars a month, you get bonus podcasts, free online webinars, discount codes (on awesome products like these, or maybe some Russian comfrey), and more! Dave from Northeast Edible will also give you a Pioneer discount on planning your orchard. Become a Pioneer today! We love hearing from you! Have you filled out our survey? You will be entered to win a $100 gift card from Tractor Supply Co. Want to hear more about what's coming up next? Join our mailing list for up to the minute updates on our YouTube Channel and podcast. Want still more Homesteady? Follow us on Instagram! You can follow Aust @homesteadyshow (see the morels for yourself) and Alexia, The Suburban Escapee, @suburbanescapee (I have finally grown something as opposed to killing it!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Take the Epic Homesteady Survey Here On the farm this week we successfully planted an entire orchard in just a few hours! How did we get so much work done in so little time? With an on-farm workshop! On-farm workshops are a great way to help a farmer get a lot of work done in a timely manner, and a great way for farm dreamers and homesteady types looking to spend some time living the farm life get some real hands on experience. But workshops can be tricky… How do you make sure they give both parties, the farmer, and the visitors, the experience they need? We have been running workshops on the farm for years, most of them have been great. Over this time we have learned a lot about how to do a successful on-farm workshop. Here are some of the lessons we have learned… Make sure you prepared for non farmers on the farm… People who come to workshops are not farmers, and not familiar with the risks, dangers, and responsibilities of a farmer. They may want to bring children, go places they don't belong, hurt themselves… If you're going to do workshops protect yourself legally and inform your guests. The visitors are not the same as hired help… When you host a workshop you are getting additional hands on the farm. And this can be incredibly helpful for a small farm to get a big project accomplished…. BUT these are not hired workers. You will need to make sure your students enjoy the workshop, learn a lot (because that is why they are there) and feel like they enjoyed their day on the farm. Sometimes you will get more done than you normally could. SOMETIMES… Less… It is OK to charge money, but consider what your getting from your workers…. Some workshops that you may plan give more to the students than to you. We used to do a chicken butcher workshop, this was only to teach others, it didn't do anything for us as far as production goes, so this we charged a lot for. Our Orchard workshop, however, was very cheap, as we were paid in work done on the farm. The little bit of money from tickets was given to the instructor. Sometimes you as the farmer get paid in work, sometimes in money… Everyone can get something from a good workshop… If you plan ahead, treat your guests well, you can get a lot of work done and enjoy time with your local community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we catch up with you all! It has been a busy spring on our homestead. Usually, winter leaves us all sitting inside our homes, by a fire, dreaming of all the new things we want to try on our homesteads in the following spring. We always spend that time talking together about big plans for the season. This year was no different! And in no time we had a few big ideas. Early in February, the weather got nice, and so we decided to jump start our season! It began with a serious upgrade to our existing barn. The barn was built on a gravel pad. The gravel drained well but made it very difficult to clean the barn. So it was time to pour a concrete floor. This has been on of the best improvements on the homestead! The next big project we began working on was our pasture improvement. Over the last few years, our biggest problem with livestock was a lack of enough pasture and good pasture at that. Lots of our property that we were not using was heavily sloped, and not good for pasture. So we cut a road to our barn, (to get the concrete truck in) and used that to fill our sloped area. Now we have some serious pasture area! Finally, we began prepping for our new orchard. This year we realized, (as we talked about in a previous show) the importance of growing fruit and other perennials on our homestead. The beauty of fruit is that it takes less and less work each year while yielding more and more fruit! So preparations began to install an orchard of many different fruit and nut trees! This Saturday we have an Event at the farm, where we will be installing the orchard! Join us for that event: https://www.thisishomesteady.com/early-bird-orchard-planting-workshop-tickets/ It has been a busy spring! We’re excited to tell you all about it! Join us for the chat, and Q and A session afterward. Visit Homesteady… See all we do at www.thisishomesteady.com Watch our Daily Videos at the Homesteady YouTube Channel Want to follow all of Homesteady’s Podcasts, Videos, and Classes? Sign up to our Email list HERE! Get access to the Pioneers Only library by becoming a Homesteady Pioneer HERE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices