Mother Earth News and Friends

This podcast episode from Mother Earth News and Friends provides expert guidance on managing the "awkward teenage stage" of poultry, focusing on physical development, feathering patterns, and the transition from brooder to outdoor coop. Speakers Lacy Armentor and Queren King-Orozco share practical tips on breed selection, nutritional requirements, and safety measures like supervised "field trips" to ensure young birds acclimate successfully to their environment. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Thank you to Brinsea for sponsoring this epeisode. In this episode of the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast, host Josh Wilder joins chicken keepers Audra Trosper, Alyssa Warner, and Tonya Olson to discuss practical coop design and strategies for reducing chore time. The panel shares expert advice on essential maintenance features, such as wide doorways for easy shoveling, the benefits of vinyl flooring, and choosing nesting boxes that are as easy to clean as they are comfortable for the flock. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Thank you to Home Fresh Feeds for sponsoring today's episode. Host Josh Wilder and producer Alyssa Warner discuss practical strategies for preventing "brooder boredom" and the aggressive pecking behaviors that can arise in young flocks. From DIY enrichment like "cool sticks" and suspended vegetables to essential tips on nutrition and space management, this episode provides homesteaders with the tools to raise well-socialized, healthy chickens. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

In this episode of the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast sponsored by True Leaf Market, host Josh Wilder speaks with homesteader Patrice Lewis about the essential transition from food consumer to producer. Lewis shares practical strategies for achieving year-round self-sufficiency, offering a "roadmap" that covers everything from calculating crop yields and navigating steep learning curves to utilizing raised beds and companion planting. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Listen as long-time gardener and homesteader Ed Block shares practical wisdom on adapting self-reliance practices for the "golden years" by using lighter tools and efficient systems. Through a blend of personal anecdotes and expert tips, he discusses the importance of planning, community, and "working smarter" to maintain a thriving, artistic landscape at any age. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

This podcast episode brought to you by Brinsea features Betsy Trice, a poultry expert and farmer, who details the biological journey of a chick from egg anatomy to the final "pipping" and hatching process . She also shares practical insights into managing a small-scale farm, including breed selection for high-production egg layers and the benefits of raising hardier meat birds like Freedom Rangers . More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Managing Editor Amanda Sorell joins the podcast to read her article on how specific plants like lemon balm, hops, and kava can support stress relief, better sleep, and sobriety. She shares personal anecdotes and practical advice on preparing teas and tinctures, emphasizing a "casual practitioner" approach to herbalism that focuses on gaining deep knowledge of a few key plant allies. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

In this audio article episode of Mother Earth News and Friends, join us as we explores the practical joys and challenges of using a traditional woodburning cookstove to achieve off-grid self-reliance in the modern age. Wren Everett's article teaches essential techniques for fire management, fuel selection, and wood-fired baking, proving that this 19th-century skill remains a powerful tool for independence today. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine

In this episode brought to you by Homesteaders of Iowa (HOI), host Josh Wilder and Ana Skemp sit down with David Ford, a researcher, homesteader, and keynote at the upcoming HOI Expo and Midwest Conference who shares his journey of restoring degraded Iowa farmland using the principles of biomimicry. The conversation explores the vital role of mycorrhizal fungi in soil health, the importance of nutrient-dense food security, and how emulating nature's solutions can lead to a more resilient homestead. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

In this episode of the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast, host Josh Wilder speaks with Gianaclis Caldwell about her book, The Useful Goat, which explores a "nose-to-tail" approach to goat keeping. The conversation covers the practicalities of raising goats for milk and meat, offering expert advice on sustainable homesteading, humane processing, and the unique nutritional benefits of goat dairy. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

This episode of the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast features an annual editorial roundup where editors from Mother Earth News and Grit magazines share their favorite, most surprising, and most inspiring articles from 2025. The editors discuss a diverse range of topics, including food preservation techniques like freeze-drying, sustainable gardening and habitat restoration, DIY skills such as roof thatching, winter foraging, and the importance of protecting wildlife habitats. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

This episode of Mother Earth News and Friends features a conversation with Rosemary Gladstar, an acclaimed herbalist and author often called the "godmother of modern herbalism." She discusses the history of herbalism, the importance of reconnecting children with nature and plants, and provides guidance on sustainable harvesting and sourcing herbs. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Comedian Tig Notaro joins the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast to share the story of her dedicated transition to a plant-based lifestyle following a series of health crises, a journey that led her to pursue a plant-based nutrition certification. She discusses the surprising health benefits she experienced, how she approaches nutrition with her family, and the importance of finding your personal motivation ("North Star") for making major lifestyle changes, all delivered with her trademark honesty and dry wit. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Dr. Christine Wilkinson joins the podcast to discuss how homesteaders can achieve equitable and lasting coexistence with urban and suburban wildlife. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

This episode of Mother Earth News features an interview with Shelby Lucero from Growing Spaces about four-season gardening, even in challenging climates like Colorado. Shelby explains how the structures like their geodesic dome greenhouses which enable strength, combined with passive solar technologies like a thermal mass pond and under-soil ventilation, creates an energy-efficient, year-round growing environment. This episode was sponsored by Growing Spaces More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Get ahead of the cold as poultry keeper and Mother Earth News Editor Audra Trosper shares practical tips for weatherproofing your coop from fall through spring, including balancing ventilation and insulation. Plus, learn why breeds like Silkies and Frizzles are at high risk in cold weather and how to prevent common issues like frostbite and bumblefoot. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Join Alayna McDonald as she explains how she left her career in logistics to become a single-income, urban homesteader and how food preservation, specifically freeze-drying, has helped her save money. She delves into the technical process of freeze-drying, outlines the financial considerations of owning a freeze dryer, and shares her favorite freeze-dried foods, including a strange but successful zucchini bread mix. The episode is a great resource for anyone interested in homesteading, food preservation, and the practical economics behind it all. This episode is sponsored by Harvest Right Freeze Dryers. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.