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Episode 203 | Building a $100k Farm Business in 3 Years | Grace the Shepherdess

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I hear from many of you that you want to live this homesteading lifestyle but you are wondering how to afford it.  Can a homestead pay for itself?  Can you actually earn an income from it?  With a background in business and marketing, Grace set out to start a profitable farm business, and she ended up growing her sheep farming business to $100k by the third year.  If you have a desire to draw a profit from your farm or homestead but you are unsure of the business mechanics, this episode is for you!  Grace is a wealth of wisdom on both business strategy and sheep farming.  Join us to be encouraged by her incredible story!

188. You Can Become a Stay-at-Home Homesteading Mama | Katie of Lost Oak Sheep Farm

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I hear from countless women who have a dream of starting a homestead and making it their full-time lifestyle.  Katie of Lost Oak Sheep Farm had the same dream, and she put her nose to the grindstone to make it a reality.  In our conversation, we talk through what it looked like for Katie to leave her full-time career as a teacher and begin her life as a stay-at-home homesteading mama raising sheep with a baby strapped to her back.  Whether the homesteading lifestyle seems like a far-off dream or it is your current reality, I know this chat with Katie will inspire you with what is possible!

Episode 168 | Essential Tools for Building a Homestead | Christina of Thermaland Oaks | Debt-Free Homesteading

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I frequently hear from listeners who want to start homesteading, but it can be overwhelming to know where to start.  Especially if you are building a homestead from scratch on raw land, and there are a variety of tools and skills you will need to acquire along the way.  Christina of Thermaland Oaks is very familiar with this whole process as she and her husband have built their entire home and homestead with their own hands.  Join us for this conversation as we dive into what tools are essential to build and maintain a homestead.  We also chat about the reality of sharing our lives on the internet as we pursue our homestead dreams.  For any hopeful homesteader, this episode is a must listen!

Episode 155 | Build a Homestead That Pays for Itself (and Pays You Too!) | Leah Lynch | Profitable Backyard Farming

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One of the major reasons people start homesteading is because they want to produce high quality food without spending a fortune.  However, if you are not careful, you can simply replace your grocery store bill for a feed store bill.  In today’s episode, Leah and I discuss what it looks like to create a homestead that not only pays for itself but also puts money back in your pocket.  Maybe you have a dream of starting a homestead but are unsure about the investment— this episode is full of ideas and tips for building a homestead you love without breaking the bank.  If you are already living your dream of homesteading but are feeling broke and burnt out, Leah’s advice could help you get back on the right track.  Wherever you are in your homesteading journey, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss! 

Episode 152 | All Things Eggs: Sourcing, Cooking, and Enjoying Eggs Every Day | Lisa Steele of Fresh Eggs Daily

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I wasn’t sure if we could talk about eggs for an entire podcast episode, but I was wrong!  From producing eggs in your own backyard to the many ways you can include them in your diet, there is plenty to discuss about this amazing superfood.  Lisa Steele is an expert backyard chicken keeper and has just released a cookbook all about using eggs in your kitchen, so I knew she’d be the perfect guest for this conversation.  You might be surprised at the many directions our conversation takes!  Whether you are raising a backyard flock of chickens or just want some new ideas for incorporating eggs into your diet, there is something for everyone in this episode.

Episode 148 | Small Homestead Living: Raising and Sourcing Quality Animal Foods | Amy Sliffe of Blue Whistler Farm

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What began as a conversation about options for sourcing quality meat turned into a fascinating discussion on all that you can accomplish on a small homestead.  Amy homesteads less than five acres, and she is full of creative ideas for making the most of a small space.  For those who are interested in raising their own meat, we dive into what that looks like on a small scale.  For those who want to source high-quality meat without raising it themselves, we also share our best tips for that.  And if you stick around until the end of our discussion, you might just find yourself adding dairy sheep to your homestead!  May this episode inspire you to think creatively about producing and sourcing animal foods no matter the size of your homestead.

Episode 146 | Misconceptions About Homesteading | Ash Turner of Turner Farm

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With the growing popularity of homesteading on Instagram, it’s easy to look at this lifestyle through a romanticized filter.  No one would say that the homesteading life is 100% glamorous, but it’s hard to fully grasp the weight of the difficult moments until you are in them.  Ash of Turner Farm wrote a beautiful article for Homestead Mamas on this very topic, so I’m excited to bring her on the podcast to dive deeper into this conversation.  Ash shares about the ups and downs of starting and growing her homestead from scratch— everything from losing newborn livestock to milking her cow in a field under a beautiful sunset.  Whether you are dreaming of starting a homestead or you are already in the trenches, may this episode inform and encourage you about the challenges and blessings of this lifestyle.

Episode 140 | How to Ease Into a Natural Lifestyle | Roxanne Ahern of Happy Holistic Homestead

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If you desire to live a natural lifestyle—whole foods, less toxins, holistic health—it can be intimidating to know where to start.  Many people are also concerned about the cost of living this way.  In this episode with Roxanne of Happy Holistic Homestead, we tackle the question of where to start if you simply can’t afford to jump all in.  What changes make the biggest impact on your family’s health?  We also bust the myth that it takes a lot of money or a lot of land to begin prioritizing your health by sourcing high quality foods.  You might be surprised by some of our money saving tips!  No matter where you are starting from, may this episode encourage you to take the next step in your journey towards a more natural lifestyle.

Episode 139 | Building a Debt-Free Homestead from Scratch | Katie Metka: Mother of 9, Photographer, Homesteader

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If you dream of starting your own homestead but worry that you don’t have the skills or time or money, you’ve got to hear Katie’s story.  Six weeks after giving birth to her ninth daughter, Katie and her husband moved their family from their established homestead in Texas to a piece of raw land in Missouri to start over.  They are building everything themselves and doing it debt-free!  Katie shares how she and her family of 11 found joy in the simple pace of living in a small shanty without electricity or running water.  Whether you have a homesteading dream or are pursuing another goal, may Katie’s story remind you of all that is possible with patience, sacrifice, and hard work.

Episode 134 | Teaching Kids About Farming | Brianna Widen of Widnor Farms

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With the many conveniences of our modern food system, it’s easy to become detached from the knowledge of how our food is actually produced.  Brianna is on a mission to reconnect the community to its farmers.  At her family’s ranch in Washington, Brianna welcomes her neighbors—especially children—to come experience what farm life is truly like.  Children learn invaluable, lifelong skills as a result of participating in animal care and food production.  Brianna shares age-appropriate ideas for teaching your kids about farming and responsibility whether you live on a farm or in an apartment.