As a whole, we as humans are more distracted than we've ever been at any point in our history. We now have available to us an unlimited stream of instant distractions in the form of phones, email, apps, social media, Netflix, etc. Ultimately, what it all boils down to is focus. In today's episode, I share with you some of my best strategies to stay focused on day-to-day tasks and keep on track with big goals. Listen to find out how to set your phone for success, how to use the 80/20 ru...
Nov 01, 2021•36 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast Without question, reading outside on the porch is my favorite way to relax on the the homestead. However, contrary to popular belief, you won't find me sitting around reading homesteading books for 8 hours a day. In today's episode, I cover my favorite subjects, what I'm reading right now, my feelings on audio books vs. physical books, and what's next on my reading list. Make sure you stay tuned until the end to find out what controversial author I've found to be transfo...
Oct 25, 2021•25 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast As I touched on in a previous episode, much of my evolution as a homesteader and as a person in general has revolved around saying 'NO' to traditional systems. However, a recent trip to Virginia forced me to confront another system that I'm not so fond of but have reluctantly accepted in the past: public transportation. Listen to today's episode to find out why I had so much anxiety over flying, how a cancelled flight led to a cross country road trip, and why (and how) Christ...
Oct 19, 2021•25 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast When it comes to homesteaders, in many ways we're natural born preppers. While we might not be preparing for the apocalypse, we're always focused on looking down the road to be ready for any situation. One particular situation that always comes up in my head is "What if you couldn't buy food at the grocery store?" In today's episode, I cover the three steps I'm taking to prepare my family for any food supply related issues. I also explain why it's importan...
Oct 11, 2021•24 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast Society creates systems for us to live by far before we are ever conscious of what is going on. While some of these systems might help us, many of them can also harm us and prevent us from achieving greater things in life . In our pursuit of our homestead dreams, we inadvertently cast aside several of the most common and harmful societal constructs. In today's episode, I'm going to cover how opting out of financial, medical, educational, and agricultural systems have created freedom an...
Oct 04, 2021•31 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast For a variety of reasons homeschooling has become a hot topic in 2021. While I consider myself to be a homeschooling veteran by now, I'm dealing with something completely brand new this year. For the first time ever, I will have three kids in school at the same time! No matter if you're a seasoned professional or a first time homeschooler, I'm here to dish out my favorite tricks to save time, explain how to teach multiple ages at once, and share my homeschool curriculum for this y...
Sep 27, 2021•30 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast Hello again my friends! With so much going on in my personal life and business, I realized I was hitting a wall. After going and going non-stop, I found myself becoming resentful. No matter how much I fought it in my mind, everything around me was telling me I needed to take a break. The past month or so has made me realize that while homesteading is a major part of my life, by no means is it the only part of me. In the past I've been hesitant to speak on other topics, and in today's e...
Sep 21, 2021•22 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast It's that time again my friends. We've reached the end of another season. As I reflected on the different methods of food preservation we've covered over the past several weeks, I came to a surprising realization. There was one common thread between every preservation method. Can you guess what it is? Yes, that's right! Salt is the one constant for all your preservation needs. In today's episode, I cover the different types of salts, why salt can turn your food colors, a...
Aug 12, 2021•25 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast When it comes to the art of canning, many times it's best to do things by the book. However, as my guest today will explain, there are still opportunities to push the boundaries and get creative. In today's episode I'm joined by my friend Angi Schneider, an author and food preservation specialist who is an expert canner. Together we discuss some of the biggest myths about canning, why salt and sugar aren't necessary, the truth about acid, and so much more. Most important, Ang...
Aug 09, 2021•50 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast A few episodes ago, my friend Jessica and I laid out all the basics when it comes to getting started with dehydrating. Today, I'm thrilled to be joined be Darci Baldwin to push this conversation even further. Darci is an author and blogger who specializes in helping homesteader preserve their harvests through dehydration and pantry planning. In today's episode, we discuss why you have to be careful when dehydrating proteins, Darci's favorite fruits & veggies for dehydrating, h...
Aug 05, 2021•53 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast Canning has always been my go-to food preservation method, but navigating the world of canning can be a daunting challenge. Fear not my friends, today I'm excited to bring to you my second ever canning Q&A. This episode is a recording from a Q&A session I held with my followers on Facebook Live. Today we discuss things like canning condiments, what to do with bad recipes, what soups you can and can't can, and much more. Tune in to find out the solutions to problems that homeste...
Aug 02, 2021•53 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast As someone who recently started cheesemaking, I can very much verify that cheesemaking is most definitely an art form. Today I'm thrilled to be joined by a master of her craft, Robyn Jackson from Cheesemaking from Scratch. In today's episode, Robyn describes what supplies you need to get started, how to determine what cheese press to buy, the difference between freeze-dried and natural cultures, and much more. Robyn also discusses the best cheeses for every beginner and which ones to m...
Jul 29, 2021•47 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast While I love to use my dehydrator for preserving food, I can't even begin to claim to be an expert. If you're anything like me, you never really venture beyond the very basics. Well my friend, that's about to change. On today's episode I'm joined by my good friend Jessica Spiers. Listen as Jessica lays out all the necessities when it comes to dehydration. Discover the best foods to dehydrate, how you can dehydrate your food even if you don't have a dehydrator, the b...
Jul 26, 2021•41 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast For many of us accustomed to the standard American way of food preservation, fermentation can be a strange topic to broach. Although it's a subject I've discussed before on this podcast, given the focus of this season I thought it'd be great to bring in a true expert. Today we're joined by my good friend, author and fermentation guru Wardee Harmon. In this episode we cover why fermentation is best for preserving nutrients, the benefits of probiotics, what to use for starter c...
Jul 22, 2021•48 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast When it comes to preserving homestead staples, there is perhaps none more confusing than the egg. If you spend time researching some of the methods used in the past, you're likely to question the validity and safety of the vast majority of them. Thankfully, today I'm joined by a true expert in egg preservation, Carolyn Thomas of Homesteading Family. In this episode we cover everything including liming, water glassing, oiling, freeze-drying, freezing, and much more. We even discuss some...
Jul 19, 2021•52 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Modern conveniences have made most of us accustomed to one primary method of long-term meat preservation. Without a doubt the freezer has become an essential tool on every homestead, but what happens if you run out of space or have limited access to electricity? Fear not my friends. Today I'm joined by my friend Derek Smiley, a veritable expert in all things regarding meat preservation. In this episode, we cover dehydration, smoking, canning, freezing, freeze drying, salt curing, and more. ...
Jul 15, 2021•57 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast For most of us gardener's around the country, we're currently sitting in that honeymoon phase. It's that time where everything is starting to grow and looking beautiful, but nothing is ready to harvest. However, before we know it the time will be upon us. In this season of the Old Fashioned on Purpose podcast, I'm going to make sure you are able to maximize your bounty while discussing one of my favorite topics in the world; food preservation. Today I'm thrilled to be jo...
Jul 12, 2021•55 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast As we reach the end of this season and reflect on what we've learned, today I'm thrilled to be able to give you an update on how I've been applying these lessons within my own life. At the beginning of the season I told you that Christian and I bought a soda fountain in a neighboring town. Two months later I'm here to share our progress, the lessons I've learned in the process, and explain why you shouldn't try to make everyone like you. Make sure you stick around u...
Jun 28, 2021•35 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast Growing a business anywhere is a challenge, but doing so in a small town can seem almost impossible. Whether it's a tiny population, a small amount of foot traffic, or a perceived lack of demand, the obstacles always seem to outweigh the opportunity. Today it's time to bust that myth as I'm joined by my friend Dana Larson. Dana is the founder of Rural Revival, a podcast dedicated to telling the stories if people like yourself who are building thriving businesses in small towns acr...
Jun 24, 2021•41 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast While this entire season has been dedicated to generating additional income for your homestead, there's a good chance that you've already heard of or contemplated many of the ideas we've discussed. Today that's about to change my friends. In this episode I'm joined by Chloe Mackintosh of Boxwood Avenue. Despite living in a tiny town in California, Chloe has been able to support homestead by building an online store featuring handcrafted items by local artisans, antiques,...
Jun 21, 2021•47 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast Have you ever sunk a TON of your valuable time, energy, and effort into something only to see little-to-no results on the backend? Despite what you might see on my YouTube page now, this was my experience on the platform several years ago when I first started. In fact, I got so frustrated I nearly gave up on it entirely. Does this describe your current circumstance? If so, fear not my friend. Today on the podcast I'm joined by the one and only Tim Schmoyer. Tim is the owner of Video Creator...
Jun 17, 2021•55 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast While social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram might be all the rage right now, the trusty blog remains an extremely powerful tool for building your business and your brand. However, when it comes to monetizing a blog and actually turning it into a business, most people have no idea where to start. If that's you, don't worry my friend. My guest today is the incredible Julie Blanner. Julie was an event planner who started a blog to share decor ideas and recipes in the offseas...
Jun 14, 2021•44 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast Without a doubt, Instagram is one of the best tools we have today to help grow our blog, business, or side-hustle. However, it can be daunting to even know where to get started. Fear not my friends, help is on the way! Today we're joined by Instagram marketing guru Ruthie Gray. Ruthie helps her clients by teaching them how to build an authentic following. She also hosts the Instagram Insider Hacks podcast where she shares weekly tips to leverage your Instagram marketing. On today's epi...
Jun 10, 2021•45 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast Throughout this season, we've been covering some extremely important concepts when it comes to building a business. However, much of what we've discussed has been broad in nature up to this point. Fear not my friends, today we're going to get tactical and practical. I'm excited to be joined by Laura Patterson of Hand-Grown Greens. Hand-Grown Greens specializes in growing organic, dense, micro-greens year round. Laura shares her story on how she got into microgreens, how growi...
Jun 07, 2021•45 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast Whether you like it or not, your business is going to require some type of social media presence in order to maximize your potential. While the ever-changing landscape of social media can be daunting, with the proper tactics, knowledge, and execution it has the power to take your business to incredible new heights. Today I'm thrilled to be joined by my long-time social media manager Cris Daining. Cris has managed my Facebook and Pinterest accounts for longer than either of us can recall. To...
Jun 03, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast Partnerships are an essential component of every business, especially if you're looking to grow an online presence. Anyone that's followed me for an extended period of time has without a doubt seen me leverage sponsorships and partnerships to grow my business. However, information on how to take advantage of sponsorships is rarely shared by the influencers benefitting the most from them. This is why I'm thrilled to be joined today by my friend Michelle Visser. Michelle is my marke...
May 31, 2021•55 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast The world of selling things online can be intimidating. For some, the anxiety that comes when deciding where to sell their products is enough to make them quit before they ever really start. Today I'm thrilled to be joined by Nicole Gennetta. Among other things, Nicole is the host of the Backyard Bounty Podcast which features a specific segment on farm entrepreneurship. Nicole caught the online fever after selling items on EBay at the age of 15. In today's episode we cover everything a...
May 27, 2021•49 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast If you're still with me at this point, my guess is that you've decided it's time to start a business. Congratulations, you've done it! While it's certainly an important step in the process, it's merely the first domino to fall. In today's episode, I'm here to explain the benefits and pitfalls of all of the various types of business opportunities that could be available to you. Whether it's selling farm products, running an online business, network mar...
May 24, 2021•42 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast When it comes to marketing experts, few are as savvy as today's guest. I'm thrilled to be joined by my good friend CeAnne Kosel. CeAnne is an expert product designer and is highly experienced in launching products into the marketplace. Along with her husband, the Kosel's founded Farmhouse Teas. Incredibly, what started as a fun project has now turned into a fill-fledged business. In today's episode, CeAnne and I cover everything from getting started to pricing to differentiat...
May 20, 2021•45 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast 1Welcome back my friends! While the past few seasons have been fun and have certainly been helpful, I'm thrilled to be addressing one of the most frequently asked questions in the history of my blog and podcast. It's no secret. If you've followed me for any amount of time, you know I've been able to leverage side businesses to build and grow our homestead. In season five of the Old Fashioned On Purpose podcast, I'm bringing in some of my very own business mentors and coa...
May 17, 2021•25 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast