2024 was nothing like I expected—but somehow, it turned out even better than I could have hoped. It was a rollercoaster of a year, filled with some of the hardest lessons I’ve faced so far. While it wasn’t always easy, looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. In this episode, I’m sharing the challenges, struggles, and valuable lessons I’ve learned along the way. Tune in to hear the journey! Podcast Episode Highlights My predictions of 2024 failed... The book that influenced me this year Our busi...
Dec 16, 2024•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I sit down with Bob Quinn, a Montana farmer and the driving force behind Kamut wheat, to chat about his journey from conventional farming to becoming a pioneer in regenerative agriculture. We dive into the story of how he rediscovered this ancient grain, Kamut's healing properties, and the creative ways he's helped to boost the economy of his small rural community. Bob’s passion for farming and his vision for a better food system will leave you inspired and hungry for ...
Dec 09, 2024•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode I'm joined by Melissa Dowbiggin, the Sugar-Free Coach and founder of Be Free and Eat. I learned so much from this conversation! Listen in to learn how to tell if you are dealing with a sugar addiction (it's more prevalent than you think!), the surprising reasons our body's crave sugar, how to overcome the cravings, which natural sweeteners are best, and lots more! Podcast Episode Highlights The effects of sugar on our bodies Genetics and addiction connection Histor...
Dec 02, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I’m sitting down with David Stelzer, the founder of Azure Standard, to get real about what’s in our food. We dive into the hot topics of glyphosate, GMOs, and other hidden ingredients that many of us unknowingly consume. David sheds light on what we should be avoiding and why, plus he shares tips for making cleaner, healthier choices. It’s an eye-opening chat that’ll make you think twice about what’s in your pantry! Podcast Episode Highlights The background of David and Azure St...
Nov 25, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Wyoming has been on fire lately... and while our homestead hasn't been in danger, we've had plenty of grassfires in our surrounding area. As such, I've been thinking a lot about how we can better prepare our property, our animals, and ourselves in the event of a fire. I'm joined today about wildfire mitigation specialist Madison Huges to discuss this and more. Join us as she shares how we can prepare our homesteads for fire, how to create an evacuation plan for our animals, t...
Nov 18, 2024•58 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast A homestead is full of moving parts and when you combine that with the complexity of typical modern life, well... things get complicated fast. As our life has become more full over the years, I've learned to lean heavily on my planner to keep all the balls in the air. Today I'm getting specific and sharing my most useful rhythms and routines for using a planner to keep our busy life flowing. Podcast Episode Highlights How I 'live and die' by my planner 2 ways I use my planner...
Nov 11, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Curiosity is an underrated skill, especially when it comes to exploring topics that challenge our comfort zones. Today, I'm joined by one of my favorite content creators, Will Reusch—a brilliant educator who brings nuance to tough conversations. If you're looking to build bridges, tired of social media’s polarization, or want to encourage critical thinking in your kids, this episode is for you! Podcast Episode Highlights Will's background Some thoughts about the education system P...
Nov 04, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast What can history teach us about planting our gardens TODAY in 2024? In this episode, we sit down with Carol, the editor in chief of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, to explore the ancient practice of gardening by the moon. We dive into the best cold-hardy plant varieties (cold-hardy kiwis, anyone?), tips for dealing with unpredictable weather, and how to use the almanac to plan ahead for a successful growing season. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just getting started, this episode is packed...
Oct 28, 2024•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast We homesteaders often joke about our farms being our gym, but what do you do when homestead chores are causing you pain? And how can we ensure that we stay physically fit as long as possible to keep pursuing this lifestyle we love so much? Functional Strength and Fitness Coach Rory O'Brien is joining me today to answer these questions and more. We talk about how our modern muscles can suffer from "amnesia," a 10-15 minute routine you can weave into your busy days, how to build a m...
Oct 21, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Our life is.... weird and different. We're entering a season that I never saw coming, yet it's wonderful in it's own way. However, it's taken me a while to come to terms with it. In today's personal episode, I'm sharing what I've been wrestling with lately, as well as giving updates on the soda fountain, our beef company, and more. Podcast Episode Highlights Personal updates Deep thoughts on the seasons... The shifts and seasons happening in our lives right now...
Oct 14, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast If your kitchen counters are currently covered in garden veggies like mine, this is the episode for you! We're talking all things tomatoes today: from how to make fresh sauce, to making tomato powder, to the controversary surrounding canning practices, to my favorite versatile sauce and so much more! Podcast Episode Highlights My thoughts on growing tomatoes... Ripening green tomatoes What to do when you're getting just a handful of tomatoes at a time What to do when you're gettin...
Sep 23, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast "I'll never be able to afford a homestead!" It's one of the most common pain points I'm hearing right now and for good reason: the real estate market is tricky. I'm happy to be joined by Anna Young today. She's a loan officer with Rural 1st and specializes in helping rural folks find the property of their dreams. We discuss interest rates, the volatile market, plus lot sof actionable strategies for getting closer to becoming a land owner. Don't miss this o...
Sep 16, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast How do you keep all the balls in the air when you're a multi-faceted homesteader? In this episode I'm sharing my most-used strategies for managing life as a homeschool mom, content creator, rancher, business owner, restaurant owner, and more. (Plus, the 2025 planner is HERE-- get the details at the end of the episode!) Podcast Episode Highlights How our lives have been lately... Planning ahead is the key The importance of brain dumping Project mapping Write everything down Make sure yo...
Sep 09, 2024•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast We've talked about goats... we've talked about cattle... but we've NEVER talked about dairy SHEEP. That's changing today with this enlightening conversation with Rachel Hester of Whoopsy Daisy Farm. If you love being a pioneer in new industries, or are looking for a smaller dairy animal with LOTS of potential, this episode is for you! Podcast Episode Highlights Why you might want to consider dairy sheep Ideal number of sheep for beginners Common breeds of dairy sheep A closer...
Aug 26, 2024•54 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast "What are you using for homeschool curriculum this year??" I don't consider myself a homeschool content creator, but I'm always happy to share my favorite books and studies. Find out what I'm using for this coming year, plus an important plea to any homeschooling families. Podcast Episode Highlights How I'm a homeschool minimalist Why we aren't dogmatic about our homeschool curriculum Our kids and their schooling this year My thoughts on homeschooling older kid...
Aug 19, 2024•38 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast For several years, I’ve been asking myself… how can we close our chicken loop? And by that, I mean how can I reduce the outside inputs in our home food production. It's easier said than done when it comes to livestock, BUT I've hatched a new plan for our chicken operation and I'm excited to share it with you. Listen in to hear me answer the question: "What is the BEST dual-purpose breed?" along with the breed I decided upon and how I plan to close our chicken loop once a...
Aug 12, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Looking for a bit of redemption after a less-than-stellar growing season? Want to reduce the pressure to preserve ALL the food right NOW? A fall garden can offer all of this and more and it's one of my secret weapons for growing more food with less stress. The time to start your fall crops is NOW-- join me to talk about what plants are best, some of my biggest mistakes, and how you can start your own fall garden no matter where you live. Podcast Episode Highlights First thoughts on fall gar...
Aug 05, 2024•32 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast I never get tired of talking about sourdough, ESPECIALLY when it comes to ways to bake it more efficiently! Today I'm joined by Mike from Rosehill Sourdough to dive into some of the common pitfalls in the sourdough world that are costing you time and flour. I love Mike's engineer perspective and he gave me a lot of new ideas to chew on including sifting whole wheat flour, his rule-breaking method of adding salt, why you should let your whole wheat flour age, and more! Podcast Episode H...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cooking for larger groups used to stress me out SO much, but over the years, I've honed my skills in putting food on the table for big groups WITHOUT spending all day in the kitchen. In today's episode I'm sharing a few of my favorite old-fashioned strategies for cultivating community with food. Podcast Episode Highlights How cooking for large crowds is an old-fashioned idea Goal #1: Staying in the action despite being in the kitchen Goal #2: Not expensive, still tasty, and not st...
Jul 22, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast I get the question constantly... "Where's the BEST place to homestead?" Listen in as I share my (probably surprising) answer, as well as the lessons I've been learning lately about community, flexibility, and leaning in. Podcast Episode Highlights Why this question seems to come up a lot lately (for others and myself) My first casual response to this question... My official answer to this question about the perfect place to homestead The potential for people to adapt to condi...
Jul 15, 2024•25 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast I love to share the mental health benefits of gardening, but what do you do when your garden makes you feel STRESSED, not serene? I've been there (more than once). Today I'm sharing my 3 non-negotiable garden strategies that I use every single year to ensure my garden is a place of joy and not overwhelm. A must-listen if you're trying to grow food in the midst of a busy life! Podcast Episode Highlights My current struggles with streamlining my life It's fine to question garde...
Jul 08, 2024•31 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast This episode blew my mind! I've been around plenty of working dogs, but they've always been used for working large numbers of livestock on huge pieces of land. However, this conversation with Jordyn Kelly of Working Aussies Homestead completely changed my mind. Listen as she shares the creative, time-saving ways she uses dogs around her homestead (even for handling chickens!), plus training tips and more. Podcast Episode Highlights Why working dogs are important for a homestead The tas...
Jul 01, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ever wondered what happens when a social media influencer with a million followers swaps the digital spotlight for a tech-minimal lifestyle? This episode features Erin Lochner, the inspiring powerhouse behind "The Opt-Out Family." Erin takes us on a journey from her high-profile career in social media to her decision to embrace a technology-minimal lifestyle. We delve into her new book, "The Opt-Out Family," and discuss how she and her family choose to engage more meaningfull...
Jun 24, 2024•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast With gardening scaled back due to some timing issues with the milk cows, the spotlight is on the lifesaving benefits of mulch, especially as we brace for an impending drought. Learn how mulch can transform your garden by saving time, reducing weeds, and conserving precious water. Get ready for a treasure trove of practical gardening advice as we explore the world of mulch. From grass clippings to wood chips, I break down the benefits and potential pitfalls of various organic materials. Discover ...
Jun 17, 2024•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast I love to cook... I love to plan... but I've never been able to stick with a consistent meal planning system. And it bugged me for YEARS. However, when I realized our unconventional life requires an unconventional meal plan, everything changed. In today's episode, I'm sharing my best tips for getting from-scratch food on the table without rigid recipes or confining plans. If you prefer a more laid-back approach to meal planning, listen in! Podcast Episode Highlights Feeling guilt ...
May 27, 2024•36 min•Ep 21•Transcript available on Metacast Herbs have been used to doctor animals for millennia, but sadly it's tough to find information on how to use them in our modern age. Today I'm so thrilled to be joined by Dr. Patrick Jones-- a veterinarian, naturopath, and herbalist who knows this topic inside and out. Dr. Jones sheds light on the complexities of herbal dosages, species-specific risks, and the profound impact these treatments can have on our animals from household pets to livestock. He packed this interview with loads ...
May 20, 2024•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sometimes growing vegetables in a wintery climate can feel like an extreme sport... So when I received an email from Nate of the Manti Homestead sharing how he built an off-grid greenhouse that's growing bananas, passionfruit, and more in the Utah snow, I was intrigued. Nate shares a wealth of knowledge in this value-packed episode. Prepare to have your gardening paradigm challenged in the best of ways! Podcast Episode Highlights Nate's background and passion for growing tropical stuff...
May 13, 2024•43 min•Ep 19•Transcript available on Metacast Does a garden really require blood, sweat, and tears to grow well? It's easy to think that, but what if we found a way to work *with* nature instead of against it? In today's episode, I'm sharing the most underrated garden hack and how it has forever transformed my growing spaces. Podcast Episode Highlights My garden challenges My tree growing story Underrated Principle: grow what wants to grow where you live Permaculture principle that changed my life How these two principles wor...
May 06, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast We talk a lot about returning to our roots and reclaiming heritage skills... but what role does your family heritage REALLY play in your homesteading efforts? How can you lean on it for motivation during the stressful times? And what do you do if you DON'T have a rich heritage to draw from? Today's guest, Dolores Taranto, speaks more beautifully to these topics than anyone else I've come across. This conversation left me feeling so inspired and I know it will leave you feeling the...
Apr 29, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sourdough bread made with freshly-milled flour. It's many a homesteader's dream, but those whole wheat loaves can easily turn into a nightmare if you're not prepared. I am so excited to be joined by Mary of The Rose Homestead in today's episode. She's mastered the art of baking light, fluffy loaves with freshly-milled whole wheat flour and she's sharing her secrets with us. I learned SO much and I know you will too! Podcast Episode Highlights Mary's background ...
Apr 22, 2024•51 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast