Living Free in Tennessee - Nicole Sauce

Today we have our first Tuesday Coffee Chat with John Willis of SOE Tactical Gear and Nicole Sauce of Living Free in Tennessee. These discussions are always a wildcard and can go anywhere. We usually hit on some current events of course. We also tend to talk about things like entrepreneurship, homesteading and a ton more. In general we try to inspire you a bit, make you laugh a few times, entertain you and teach you a thing or two along the way. Sponsors Today: Wealthsteading.com DiscountMylarBags.com

Today, I am joined by the Tactical Redneck for a discussion of life on a homestead. Sponsor 1: StrongRootsResources.com Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN

Today, we discuss story and how in strongly influences our success or failure. Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com Sponsor 2: The Wealthsteading Podcast, InvestableWealth.com

Join us for an update on the sheep, all the sheep, milking sheep, bottle babies, sleep deprivation. Featured Event: Foraging on the Farm at Blueberry Hill Farm in Knoxville, March 22 Sponsor 1: Wealthsteading.com Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN

Today, we talk about lessons learned after four (or five?) seasons of birthing lambs at the Holler Homestead. We will also cover all our usual Tuesday segments like Tales from the Prepper Pantry, Seasonal Forage and more. Featured Event: Refuge Ruckus is this weekend! ONLY 50 TICKETS LEFT! https://www.refugeruckus.com/ Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Sponsor 2: AbovePhone.com: https://abovephone.com/?above=104 Coupon Code LiveFreeTN Tales from the Prepper Pantry Used up beef from the been canning webinar of 2022 (Beef stew) Will be harvesting the first lettuces soon from the outside gardens Giving all storage here a big facelift with the help of Opalyn Cutting up 3 Eyes of Round RIP Claire the Fridge (The freezer/fridge combo) Frugality Tip From Nicole Freeze dried meals with a thermos, OR lunch pail thermos Operation Independence 3 Beef Rounds for the workshop Main topic: Lessons learned from 5 birthing seasons Make a management decision >rotation vs single pasture and medications >Interventions vs survival of the fittest >Hair vs wool Finding strong Stock Pasture Birthing Bag >gloves >Lube >thermometer >towels >Alcohol or other sterilizer (Basiic first aid is already at the pasture) Home Lamb Support Kit >Colostrum >Bottles >Milk Replacer >Pee pads from Sam's club >Dog crate >Diapers if you will go this route >Lamb-dedicated towels >Hair dryer or heat lamp >Temperature probes >Heating box >Sous Vide >Mason jars >Funnel >thermometer >more gloves >lamb probiotics Things to prepare for in birthing >Stuck lamb >Breach Lamb >Sideways lamb >Cold Lamb >Dopey lamb >Low milk production from mom >Lamb not breathing >prolapse Great resources >All Creatures Great and Small, etc >Laura Lawson Lamb Problems another references >get a sheep mentor BACON CLASS

Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: Looking for lamb births, getting rapid forward progress on the homestead, and more. Featured Event: March 14 Makin' Bacon from 10am-12pm - LivingFreeinTennessee.com Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com Sponsor 2: TheWealthsteadingPodcast.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift! Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Want to come to the Holler Homestead and learn to make bacon? Makin' Bacon is March 14th at 10 am and space is limited. Join us for a First Tuesday Coffee with John Willis of Special Operations Equipment, Nicole Sauce of The Living Free in Tennessee Podcast, and Jack Spirko of The Survival Podcast. Connect with us! SOETacticalGear.com LivingFreeinTennessee.com TheSurvivalPodcast.com

We are going to talk today about what happens when your project, your homestead, your business — whatever you are building — hits the point where it can't grow unless you step into leadership. Not louder. Not bossier. Just clearer. And what it costs when you avoid that moment. We'll also cover our usual Monday segments. Featured Event Monthly Meetup at Basecamp Lodge Saturday, 12pm–3pm Potluck + Seed Exchange (bring seeds if you've got them) RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1246004124202741 Bring a dish. Bring seeds. Bring yourself. Sponsors Sponsor 1: StrongRootsResources.com Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com Tales from the Prepper Pantry Considering a community lard pig buy – Kune Kunes available Breaking the bad habit of buying vegetables at the store — diving back into freezer and canned goods Seeking wet cat food by the pallet — anyone? Gardens getting up and running Recipe Favorite: Dutch Oven Chicken Root Bake Forage Update Watercress Dandelion Stinging Nettle Dead Nettle Chickweed Comfrey Everything is waking up. Frugality Tip Buying at the right time of year makes a big difference. Before the Super Bowl: buy a TV on sale. After the Super Bowl: buy the returned open-box TVs on clearance. Last year we snagged a small smart TV originally priced at $125 for $37. Brand new. Open box. Check your local clearance sections for open-box returns. Often brand new. Happy savings, y'all. Operation Independence Turkey Tail season is upon us. There may be real opportunity there. We're going to find out. Main Topic of the Day From Personality-Driven to Framework-Driven Yesterday I sat down and drilled into every project and business I run. Income-generating. Money-costing. Even things like helping when someone in the community is ill — and yes, we should mention the Jeffrey Dheeres fundraiser. Everything fit into three buckets: Nicole Sauce centered Holler Homestead centered Weird outliers The outliers go on the chopping block first. But the bigger realization was this: I have been avoiding a leadership vacuum. I kept waiting for consensus. Waiting for another leader to step forward. Waiting for clarity to magically appear. And while I waited, I tried to just do more myself. That cost me peace. It led to burnout. It stalled momentum. Here's the lesson: If I don't accept my role as leader — meaning I walk in front instead of pushing from behind — we stay in one place. Not because people aren't good. Not because they don't care. Because without structure, everything becomes personality-driven. And personality-driven systems stall when the personality gets tired. What we're building now at Holler Homestead is a framework. Basecamp Lodge is functional. Classes are being scheduled (like the March 14 bacon class). The basement classroom is moving forward. Homestead systems are being documented. The buying club is poised for its first test. We're looking at additional acreage. Long-term vision: Expanded land. Commons effort. Cabins for temporary stays. People coming to experience regenerative community, food, skill-building, and reset. Membership options for non-residents. Not a massive intentional community. An example. Something that can be learned from and replicated elsewhere. And here's the key: Structure allows generosity. When more people in the community have needs, chaos doesn't scale — structure does. If you don't build framework, your generosity burns you out. If you build framework, your generosity becomes sustainable. So here's the question for you: Where are you avoiding stepping into leadership? Where are you burning out because you won't build structure? Is your project personality-driven when it needs to become framework-driven? Sometimes growth doesn't require more effort. It requires clarity. And someone willing to walk in front.

Today, we will explore the concept of building community, but not from a pure numbers standpoint. Many people measure community in numbers, not quality. We will discuss a better way to create community around you that makes the whole network mightier. Featured Event: Spence MAG Meetup: This Sunday. Contact Brad for information. [email protected] Sponsor One: RarePlantStore.com Sponsor Two: https://abovephone.com/?above=104 (This is an affiliate link) Tales From The Prepper Pantry >11 years ago, crepe night for Fat Tuesday and we were snowed in >Rebuilding the pantry system after working through the "stuff" this winter (Why I did this) >Scaling from 2 to 5 - growing pains >Audit your canning supplies >German Food Day Frugality Tip From Margo I have a friend up North whose library has passes you can check out for discounted admission to museums. So check out your local library and see what they have to offer. Operation Independence Barrels for sale, grocery club update Main Topic We talk about community all the time with some of you saying there is no one around you, and others seeking to start your own community. Often, communities fail because they have the wrong goal. How do you know your community is successful? >number of people >length of community >etc I like to think about the goals differently: How many surface relationships do we house versus inner circle trust. >>explain this Total participants is meaningless if you don't house quality relationships. Singular selfishness versus selfish community Why I think we got off course (TOP DOWN COMMUNITY) Why do I support other networks? What then should our goals be? Does the community do what it says and say what it does? Does the community have a high number of quality, close relationships? Does the community refrain from bad-mouthing other similar communities AND each other? What makes a series of small pods mighty? So ask yourself, WHO is in my inner circle and, in the words of Brad, would I leave a car at the base of my driveway with $1000 cash in there if they asked without needing to know why?

Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: The season has become warmer but we are not out of the winter woods yet! Learn what we are doing to get ready for growing season. Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Sponsor 2: TheWealthsteadingPodcast.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift! Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: Friends, spring, and what we are experimenting with on the homestead. Featured Event: Farm Freedom Summit, February 7 Sponsor 1: StrongRootsResources.com Sponsor 2: DiscountMylarBags.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift! Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Join us for a First Tuesday Coffee with John Willis of Special Operations Equipment, Nicole Sauce of The Living Free in Tennessee Podcast, and Jack Spirko of The Survival Podcast. Connect with us! SOETacticalGear.com LivingFreeinTennessee.com TheSurvivalPodcast.com

Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: 10 Weird Things That Happen To Homesteaders That We Think Are Normal. Featured Event: LFTN Spring Workshop April 23-25 - Tickets go on sale on January 31 at 9am central! Sponsor 1: The Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com Sponsor 2: DisvountMylarBags.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift! Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Anxiety often shows up when our capability isn't being used in the real world. Building skills, systems, and doing meaningful work creates calm, stability, and a steadier life in 2026. Jan 31st, 9am Central, tickets go on sale for the LFTN Spring Workshop! Sponsor: StrongRootsResources.com Sponsor: AgoristTaxAdvice.com Opening Thought Who has felt anxious in the last few weeks?? Stop trying to feel better Build a life that steadies you Anxiety = unused capability Holler Hub: people working together Being useful calms people Idaho skiing Weather, terrain, attention Know when to push, when not to Preparedness without panic Winter storm came through Systems absorbed stress Humans stayed calm That's what preparedness is for Choose what grows Skills, systems, people Pull what destabilizes you Spring Workshop Hands-on Calm isn't something you wait for Calm is something you build 2026 = steady people

Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: Ice preps, Squeaks updates, and more Featured Event: LFTN Spring Workshop April 23-25 - Tickets go on sale on January 31 at 9am central! Sponsor 1: The Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift! Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Today, I am joined by Jessica Arno, The Combat Midwife, to discuss keeping women and children alive when you can't just drive to the hospital. More that that, we will discuss how building these skills is a foundation for improving health even if you CAN drive to the hospital. Sponsors AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN DiscountMylarBags.com Resources https://combatmidwife.com/ https://livingfreeintennessee.com/

Today, I am joined by Kerry Brown from Strong Roots Resources to talk through the new approach we are taking with the LFTN food forest and how he is using mother nature to progress the system through to maturity one season at a time. Tapping into what we know about the soil and conditions here, native plants, what the people in our community want to eat, and working toward a system that does not require many hours to maintain. When you work with nature, you develop systems that you can help along rather than battle with constantly. Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com Sponsor 2: StrongRootsResources.com Featured Event: March 7 Combat Midwife Training

Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: Rabbits, Domestic Day, Helpers and more! Featured Event: PickTN Products Conference - Jan 15-17. Holler Roast featured Jan 15 in the morning. Homestead Panel at lunch on Jan 16. Come support small food! https://www.picktnconference.com/ Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com Sponsor 2: The Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift! Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Let's Get Ready For 2026 Today we discuss how to apply the SWOT method to your own life plan, cover our usual Monday segments on pantry management and financial progress, and cover a question from a listener about erosion.

Let's get ready for 2026 with this replay episode! Today is another #my3things episode with the primary focus being to develop your purpose. We will also include the usual Monday segments.

Let's get ready for 2026! Today, we talk about what the #my3things method is, why a strategic plan for yourself and your life is a powerful tool, and we cover how to create a vision statement for your life strategic plan. (Or your family strategic plan). This is the first in a series of episodes explaining how to use the #my3things method to become more successful, productive and to build the life you choose on your terms.

Today, we have the first in our Night Before Christmas series, beginning with Leos: The Intellectual Night Before Christmas. Join us each night at 5pm leading up to Christmas

Tonight we have a reading of the Australian version of The Night Before Christmas by Aussieroo of the TSP Zello Group. Join us each night at 5pm leading up to Christmas.

Join us for the another version of The Night Before Christmas for the Redneck version, read by The Tactical Redneck. Join us each night at 5pm leading up to Christmas

Tonight we have a reading of the Pagan version of The Night Before Christmas by Mia of the LFTN Community. Join us each night at 5pm leading up to Christmas.

Tonight we have a reading of the Cajun version of The Night Before Christmas by The Ellender Family - listeners of LFTN. Join us every day at 5pm for a reading of a different version of the poem, "The Night Before Christmas."

Today is the last solo show of 2025. We examine something you may not want to look at: being too sensitive to criticism and ultimately letting other people decide who you are rather than be who you were meant to be. We will also do a final run through our usual Tuesday segments.Featured Event: Combat Midwife Class. March 7 at the Basecamp Lodge. Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com Sponsor 2: StrongRootsResources.com LFTN UPDATE: Tonight at 6pm is the last Tour Livestream on Youtube with all the festival crews. Nicole is closed BUT - The Night Before Christmas Series starts soon and will run every night ending on Christmas Eve. My3Things Series after Christmas. See you January 2, 2026 I did a thing…. Tales From The Prepper Pantry Beef Math 715 hanging weight Cow 1: 370 pounds: $285 + $2307. $7 a pound 750 hanging weight Cow 2: 325 pounds: $376 + $2420. $8.60 a pound Getting ready to put out pickled things from this year at the Christmas event – we will see what ends up on the table. Pre-making burger patties, breakfast sausage and meatloafs for convenience Next year I hope to have more cured meats! Frugality Tip The day after Christmas is coming. Need I say more? Featured Forage We had a deep freeze and nothing is left, right? WRONG! Now is a time to look at things below ground. One of my favorites at this time of year requires that you look for the plant in the fall, mark where it is, then dig: Jerusalem Artichoke. Cleaning Favorite recipe: Steamed into a mash with butter, garlic, salt and pepper. Complements a steak beautifully without the glycemic impact of mashed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_artichoke for a picture. These grow themselves and a little care will allow you to have many - but be careful about that many! Operation Independence PickTN store at the Dickens of a Christmas last weekend - SOLD OUT of tins! But you can still order them online: https://www.picktnstore.com/ The Exhausting Game No One Wins - Letting Other People Live Your Life For you GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. Community Follow me on Nostr: npub1u2vu695j5wfnxsxpwpth2jnzwxx5fat7vc63eth07dez9arnrezsdeafsv Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Today, I am joined by the Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: the sheep acting "a little eminent," a surprise community deer drop, and the brass water faucet we dug up while doing chores. We'll cover ongoing projects like the compost bin design, the memory garden plan, the hillside garden reset, mushroom experiments, rabbit breeding, and the ever-important Operation Leaf Collection. We'll wrap up with holiday touches around the Tajmaholler, the new Canoe Rose Bed, alternate routes home, and how we're gearing up to cook a whole lamb. Featured Event: Dec 20 LFTN Christmas Reception - LivingFreeinTennessee.com Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com Sponsor 2: The Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com Are the Sheep Really eminent? Community Deer Drop from a neighbor Found Treasure: Brass Water Faucet Explain the Compost Bin Design Planning a Memory Garden Operation Leaf Collection Hillside Garden Reset In Process Mushroom Experiment update Ghost Light Disappointment Rabbits Bred Canoe Rose Bed Christmas Lights and Tajmaholler Alternative Routs Home Preparing to cook a whole lamb Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift! Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Today, we will talk about the word of the year, how mine went in 2025, why to even choose one and how it related to building the life you choose on your terms. We will also cover our usual Tuesday segments Featured Event: Tonight. 6pm, So You Bought a Whole Pig — Now What? How to read and navigate the cut sheet Ways to save money by doing certain cuts at home Planning storage so nothing goes to waste Light overview of the odd bits and what to ask the butcher for Sponsors 1: Strong Roots Resources — StrongRootsResources.com Sponsor 2: Discount Mylar Bags — DiscountMylarBags.com Tales from the Prepper Pantry Two cows added to the freezers Garlic planted; raised beds mulched Mushroom tent producing well Mushroom coffee block experiment looking promising Burning through green beans at an alarming rate Featured Forage: Watercress Slow moving water - check water quality Fresh green for salads until it gets too too cold Great in a cream of watercress soup or saute as well Tastes like radished Operation Independence The Venison Story Main Topic of the Day: Word of the Year What is the word of the year Why choose one What is the dark side of the word of the year What is the upside of the word of the year How does it fit in with #my3Things My 2025 WOTY update: Enrich SRF changes Holler Hub and Smaller Events Lessons: Focus on fewer things to do them better, invest in learning, sometimes you must take a financial hit to set a better foundation, Holler Roast Holiday progress, RESULT: stronger inner circle network & connection with God My 2026 word of the year: characteristics - return to home and homestead, hub development, personal physical improvement (invest in mental and physical health), increase wealth. Combat Midwife Course — March 7, 2026 at the Holler Hub Tickets half off right now Make it a great week. GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. Community Follow me on Nostr: npub1u2vu695j5wfnxsxpwpth2jnzwxx5fat7vc63eth07dez9arnrezsdeafsv Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Facebook Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Stay at Basecamp Lodge Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Today, I am joined by the Tactical Redneck to talk about updated from the Holler Homestead! Featured Event: Dec 20 LFTN Christmas Reception - LivingFreeinTennessee.com Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com Sponsor 2: The Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com

Join me for the December first Tuesday chat with John Willis and Jack Spirko.

Today, I am joined by the Tactical Redneck to talk about Holler Thanksgiving, the stubbornest Ewe and more! Featured Event: Dec 20 LFTN Christmas Reception - LivingFreeinTennessee.com Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com Sponsor 2: The Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com

Today we're talking about something that matters more than most of us care to admit: accepting help, and more importantly — taking responsibility for the role we play when help doesn't go the way we imagined. Featured Event Dec 9 – Member Webinar (also available to purchase) "So You Bought A Whole Pig, Now What?" Details + sign-up: https://livingfreeintennessee.com/event/so-you-bought-a-whole-pig-now-what-webinar/ Sponsors Strong Roots Resources If you want solid, boots-on-the-ground homesteading and preparedness consulting, these are your people. 👉 StrongRootsResources.com Holler Roast Coffee Coffee for Doers — roasted right here at the Holler Homestead. 👉 HollerRoast.com Tales from the Prepper Pantry * Pantry challenge update * Pulling from the pantry for Thanksgiving * Using up the last of the 2024 cow – recipes Frugality Tip from Margo "When you are looking at making a large dollar purchase, check multiple websites. I came across an offer that was impossible to refuse. With a purchase of $1000 or more, online only, they were giving a $100 gift card. So we ordered online and picked up in store and got $100 to spend later. With a little time spent looking around, you never know who wants to give you extra money for buying what you were going to buy anyway. Happy Savings Y'all Margo p.s. This was Northern Tool" Operation Independence * 4 lbs of blue oyster mushrooms — testing the market Main Topic: Accepting Help (and Why It Matters) We're talking about help — asking for it, accepting it, and dealing with the truth that when people "do it wrong," it's usually because we didn't set them up for success. This is also where homesteading meets real life meets Thanksgiving — and yes, there will be a cat-and-chipmunk story.

Today I am joined by the Tactical Redneck for an update from the Holler Homestead all about sheep, communication, late fall and more. Featured Event: LFTN Christmas Reception: https://livingfreeintennessee.com/event/lftn-christmas-reception-3/ Sponsor 1: StrongRootsResources.com Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN

Today, we are diving deep into what it truly means to be fearless—whether you're launching a business, standing up to the local government, or just trying to live a sustainable life. Featured Event: Mark your calendars for the Dec 20 LFTN Christmas Reception—sign up now! Sponsors: Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com DiscountMylarBags.com Tales from the Prepper Pantry Broccoli rip cord TSP left over saute Peppers from Rick Ready for whole cows Shopping Report: Should we reboot this segment? Who wants to start going to Aldi on a weekly basis? Frugality Tip I was randomly looking at Etsy and saw someone selling something I was interested in that was local to me. I messaged them and asked about local pick up and cash price. They were very interested in cash money with pick up and I saved some money on my purchase. So ask, it will never kill you, and might save you a few dollars. Operation Independence 3-Month Rental at Basecamp: $800/month, Event Rental Launch Main Topic: Fearless Living – The Two Sides of "Go For It" We are talking about two forms of courage today: Professional Courage (to launch and critique) and Personal Courage (to be vulnerable and stand up). 1. The Courage to Launch and Critique: The Farm-to-Table AAR The Farm-to-Table Dinner was a huge "Go For It" moment. The real courage is in the fearless honesty of the After Action Review (AAR): Is this financially viable? $155 - 13/hour The Diagnostic Tool: The Homestead Revenue Stack We put the Dinner through our Homestead Revenue Stack to analyze where it sits and what it needs to succeed. The Dinner sits primarily in the Service Layer (Dinner/Class). AAR Findings & Action Plan Logistics Check: Reality vs. plan mismatch. Example: "Sunset on paper vs. Sunset in the holler (30 min BUBBLE)." Venue Needs: The oven/stove at BC needs an upgrade. Experience Flow: Need better arrival/mingling flow. Financial Fixes: We need to Price up, increase numbers at the dinner, and rely on Upsells. Opportunity: There is an opportunity for a premium cherry add-on for the dinner service. Action: Get the chef on the wild edible walk (to enhance the product layer). Action: If connected to a Farm-to-Table meal delivery service, that would be amazing. 2. The Courage to Stand Up and Be Vulnerable: Local Politics Sometimes "Go For It" means stepping outside your established comfort zone for a cause greater than your business. The Event: Giving public testimony in front of county officials. The Experience: I got nervous! My voice sounded emotional instead of my usual assertive self. The Takeaway: The vulnerability made the testimony more powerful. Being involved in important local matters is one of the few ways we can truly make a difference for our communities, food freedom, and farmers. Bringing it Home: Your Challenge to Go For It Courage is action, not the absence of fear. Don't wait until you're "ready." 1. Fearlessly Audit a Project: Go For It and audit a side hustle or homestead project using a framework like the Revenue Stack. Be honest about where you need to price up, fix it, or drop it. 2. Go For the Hard Conversation: Go For It and speak up about a local issue or personal matter you know you should address. Your passion is more powerful than silence. 3. Take the First Small Step: What is the one small, specific step you can take today to move toward a big goal? Final Thought Sometimes, you just need to go for it. Make it a great week. Song: GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. Community Follow me on Nostr: npub1u2vu695j5wfnxsxpwpth2jnzwxx5fat7vc63eth07dez9arnrezsdeafsv Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Join us for our monthly conversation about the world, business, and whateer strikes yall's fancy!

Join the Tactical Redneck for an update from the Holler Homestead. While the cat's away the sheep will escape.

Today, we hear the session that I hosted at the Self Reliance Festival about developing your revenue on your homestead, including stories from the network.

Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead, sheep chaos, wine cap mushrooms and more. Featured Event: November 15 Farm To Table Dinner: https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/product/farm-to-table/ Sponsors: The Wealthsteading Podcast Discount Mylar Bags

Sponsors Discount Mylar Bags: DiscountMylarBags.com Agorist Tax Advice: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/lftn Episode Links Farm-to-Table Dinner – Nov 15 LivingFreeinTennessee.com/product/farm-to-table North Spore Martha Tent (Affiliate): northspore.sjv.io/N9qEe2 LFTN Christmas Stocking Exchange: Sign Up Here Holler Roast Coffee: HollerRoast.com Summary Sometimes the best thing you can do—whether it's growing food or running a business—is stop forcing it. This week I share what mushrooms taught me about systems, patience, and letting things grow on their own. In this episode: Why I started cultivating mushrooms and how it ties to the Holler Roast coffee-grounds waste stream Early failures with DIY bins and Tennessee humidity The easy automated setup that finally worked First-round lessons (including a moldy pink oyster experiment) Cooking payoff: duck-fat blue oysters worth the wait And the big picture—how the "don't force it" mindset applies to business and life You don't make mushrooms grow, you make it easy for them to show up. Same goes for your business. The Takeaway Mushrooms—and systems—thrive when you build the right environment and step back. Stop forcing it, build your setup, and let the good stuff show up. Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.

Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead. Featured Event: Oct 24 50s Show: Mastersingersinc.com Sponsors: The Wealthsteading Podcast Discount Mylar Bags

Today, we talk about how the Airbnb at the Holler Hub became a real revenue stream — what's working, what isn't, and what we've learned along the way. If you've ever thought about turning a space on your property into income, this one's for you. We'll also cover our usual Monday segments. Featured Event Farm to Table Dinner Friday, November 15 Basecamp Lodge, Lancaster, TN Join us for an unforgettable evening featuring a full-course dinner sourced entirely from Tennessee farms. Real, local food, cooked from scratch, and shared in community. Sponsors AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN – Helping entrepreneurs, homesteaders, and freedom-minded folks handle taxes the smart way. StrongRootsResources.com – Homestead design, consulting, and high-quality plants to help you build resilient systems that last. LFTN Stocking Exchange Time is running out to sign up! We'll assign your Secret Stocking Santa on November 1, so don't miss out on this fun community tradition. Sign Up Here Tales from the Prepper Pantry Lambs came in, lambs went out! Processing and rotation are in full swing. Time to harvest the sweet potatoes. The restackening of the firewood has begun — getting ready for cold weather. Starting to tap into the canned goods, especially green beans. Made powdered sugar from regular sugar after realizing I forgot to buy it. Frugality Tip I like a little lemon juice in my water. Some of those bottles pour out like a waterfall, which is wasteful and makes something I do not want to drink. So this is a hack and a tip in one. The cap from Worcestershire sauce bottles fits on a lot of other things, including every lemon juice bottle I have purchased. So keep the lids that help you regulate the amount of "stuff" coming out of a bottle so you do not end up wasting product. Happy savings y'all ~Margo Operation Independence The Airbnb has been renting well since we got back from SRF! It's great to see the Basecamp space generate steady revenue while serving the broader Holler Hub vision. Main Topic: Airbnb Revenue Stream – Lessons Learned Every property should have a purpose, not just be a payment. Turning Space Into a System The Airbnb wasn't about renting space — it was about keeping the Basecamp Lodge working for the mission. Formerly a long-term rental ($1,600/month). Now a flexible, short-term system that: Generates income when not used for training. Brings new people into the Holler Hub community. Connects us to potential partners and collaborators. Tools like Airbnb and VRBO open us to audiences beyond LFTN, expanding both reach and opportunity. What's Working Booked every available weekend in October by opening to tourists during fall travel season. Earned ~$650 in October while still hosting events — a deliberate tradeoff between revenue and flexibility. Low cleaning fee + clear expectations → relaxed guests and repeat visitors. Purposefully low nightly rate to earn initial 5-star reviews and build credibility. Making meaningful connections with guests — one couple with 10 glampers in California, another moving to Tennessee for homesteading. Where It Got Messy One guest left it a wreck → 8 hours of cleanup. Result: added language about cleaning expectations. Next step: keep a vacuum for pet-friendly stays. "Clean beats new every time." Set boundaries early: check-out policies, no parties, pet rules. Pricing & Positioning Set nightly rate (~$100) based on $3,000/month gross goal if fully booked. Kept pricing low to reflect the space (one usable bedroom, not remodeled). Using Airbnb's automated pricing to test how it behaves during peak season. Cleaning service quote revealed current pricing barely covers costs — future plan to add modest cleaning fee. Focus remains on mission-aligned guests first, not just volume bookings. Systems That Keep It Running Reset takes 45–60 minutes; double linens to avoid bottlenecks. Pet stays add 1 hour for vacuuming and extra laundry. Critical practice: always start cleaning immediately after checkout to stay ready for last-minute bookings. Personal touch: greet guests, tell the Holler Hub story, collect feedback, and build relationships. How to Apply It Don't build the Taj-Ma-Rental — start minimum viable and test. Clean trumps new every time. The biggest mindset shift: being comfortable letting strangers on your land. Most people with bad intentions aren't paying hundreds to sleep in your barn. Reality Check Short-term rentals aren't easy money there's always time involved: Responding to messages, building a guidebook, handling maintenance. Be available when problems arise — or you'll hate the process. The fast reset is key: handle the "yucky" stuff early so it never piles up. What's Next Goal: book events at Basecamp that aren't led by you — already in the works. Next expansion: a miner's cabin/tent rental to diversify the property's offerings. Each step builds toward the broader Holler Hub vision — systems that connect people, sustain the land, and generate reliable income. Every propert

Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead. Featured Event: Oct 25-26 GSD Weekend at the Eversoles - Join the LFTN Telegram Group to RSVP