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Plans and Provisions Homestead

Plans and Provisions Homestead

By Jason White

Welcome to the Plans and Provisions podcast, your source for homesteading and preparedness inspiration and information. As a new homesteader, Jason White shares his personal journey towards resiliency and independence. He'll be sharing his struggles and successes, giving you an inside look into the problems and solutions he faces along his journey of becoming less of a consumer and more of a producer. Join him for discussions and interviews with real people doing real things in the real world so that you can walk away with the confidence that you can do it too. He’ll be providing tips and tricks about gardening, security, food preservation, food storage, homeschooling, natural medicine, nutrition, grazing livestock, permaculture, communications and much more, so that you can find inspiration, motivation and practical information to help you on your journey. It's a mix of solo shows with Jason and interviews with amazing people that you are not going to want to miss. Hit subscribe and get ready to discover ways that you can take steps today to ensure a more independent and secure tomorrow.
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018: August Farm Update

Plans and Provisions HomesteadAug 05, 2022

00:00
26:35
057: Homestead Dairy in the Desert with Dani Welton

057: Homestead Dairy in the Desert with Dani Welton

There is no doubt that climate plays a major role in the plans of everyone on the homesteading path. In regions with harsh winters, homesteaders must contend with frozen soil and limited growing seasons, while in more arid climates, water scarcity and heat become critical concerns. The success of any homesteader is strongly tied to their ability to adapt and innovate in response to the unique climatic conditions of their location.


Today I welcome Dani Welton who, along wih her husband and 5 kids, homestead on the outskirts of Phoenix, AZ. They seem to have maximized on their strengths and overcome the challenges of raising livestock in the hot, dry Sonoran Desert. Since 2015, they have tried a lot of things and currently have a focus on cattle, having both a small dairy and beef herd on their three and a half acres.


TOPICS DISCUSSED:

* How her family got their start on their homestead 9 years ago and all the things they’ve tried over the years.

* What drove them to get started with homesteading and some of the early challenges they had to overcome

* The division of labor on their property and the importance of having their kids involved in process of raising food

* What resources she leaned on in the early days before there was an abundance of online options for learning

* Her passion for dairy cows and how they rotationally graze their cattle

* How they made things work with what they’ve had along the way and slowly improved systems over time

* The different ways she uses milk and makes dairy products on her homestead

* Dani shares a ‘happy accident’ that ended up being a family favorite cheese recipe

* She shares the details of her Home Dairy Recipes E-Book


BUY DANI'S HOME DAIRY RECIPES E-BOOK:

https://msha.ke/daniwelton

CONNECT WITH DANI ON INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/dani.welton/


SHOP AT AZURE STANDARD:

https://www.plansandprovisions.com/azure



Nov 28, 202301:04:39
056: Growing Fruit Trees Fast with Susan Poizner

056: Growing Fruit Trees Fast with Susan Poizner

As we begin to wrap up our second growing season here on our homestead this fall, we’re grateful for the food we’re producing and the progress that we’re making. Our property came pretty much “turn-key” for what we were planning to do here, but there is one thing we do wish was already here that wasn’t….and that’s fruit trees. We’ve tossed around plans and ideas from the outset, but never got around to planting fruit for one reason or another. They’re definitely a long term commitment and, while we know it takes quite a while to get a harvest, we didn’t want to make any big mistakes from being too hasty.

In today’s episode, I get to pick the brain of someone who has been hasty, made lots of mistakes and is now able to teach people like me how to start off on the right track when planting an orchard. Her name is Susan Poizner of OrchardPeople.com who, over 14 years ago got an idea to plant a community orchard in a neglected park in her neighborhood. That decision started her on a journey which, today, finds her using her knowledge and experience as an author, educator, radio host and podcaster.


TOPICS DISCUSSED:

* Susan’s experience establishing a community garden in a neighborhood park

* I ask her if I made a mistake by not planting fruit trees right away on our property

* The problems with buying what’s available at the ‘big box stores’ and the importance of selecting the proper trees for your specific needs and conditions

* The mistakes that she made when se was in the earl stages of her orchard journey

* The pros and cons of raising dwarf fruit trees and how semi-dwarf threes are often preferable as long as you have enough space

* The importance of planning for proper pollination

* The proper methods for planting bare root trees and how to avoid the most common mistakes

* Susan shares her advice for growing fruit trees fast, with minimal effort, as covered in her book “Growing Fruit Trees Fast”

* Common signs of fruit trees that are struggling

* The many resources available for learning at her website, including a blog, podcast, books and online courses


VISIT SUSAN'S WEBSITE:

https://orchardpeople.com/

BUY SUSAN'S BOOK 'GROWING FRUIT TREES FAST':

https://a.co/d/eAy15Qg

SUSAN'S ONLINE COURSES:

https://learn.orchardpeople.com/


SHOP AT AZURE STANDARD:

https://plansandprovisions.com/azure

Nov 07, 202353:02
055: November Farm Update
Nov 03, 202318:32
054: Greg Sweeton of TruNorth Farm

054: Greg Sweeton of TruNorth Farm

When my family and I embarked on this incredible journey two years ago, we had no way of really knowing the challenges we would face as we got our feet under us in our new home. The first couple of years proved to be tougher than we imagined and we definitely looked to other, more established homesteaders for inspiration and encouragement. Knowing that others had gone through similar struggles and made it through helped us to keep our heads and fight through the early storms of our transition to homesteading

In today’s episode, I’m happy to welcome back Greg Sweeton to the podcast. It was just over a year ago he was last on the show and in that episode, he shared the dramatic transition his family experienced as they left behind their fairly typical, suburban lifestyle. Now with over 4 years under their belt as homesteaders, I think it’s safe to say that these guys are the real deal and they have definitley been a big inspiration to me and my family.

In our talk, Greg shares some of the challenges that led to his family’s decision to sell the small herd of cattle that they had started. We talk about our shared goal of establishing a suitable dual purpose chicken flock on our homesteads and his family’s experience with the Bielefelder breed. We get to hear about the success they’ve had raising pigs and Greg shares some exciting news about their homestead.

PURCHASE SHEPHERD'S CROOK COFFEE:

https://www.shepherdscrookcoffee.com/

SHEPHERD'S CROOK COFFEE INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/shepherdscrookcoffee/

TRUNORTH FARM INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/trunorthfarm/


SHOP AT AZURE STANDARD:

https://www.plansandprovisions.com/azure

Oct 26, 202301:09:39
053: Bobby and Rusty from the Rabbitry Center Homestead Podcast Interview Me

053: Bobby and Rusty from the Rabbitry Center Homestead Podcast Interview Me


Since starting this podcast last Spring, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with some amazing folks and covered a number of topics relevant to the homesteading lifestyle. It’s been a true pleasure to meet these great people, pick their brains, learn from their experiences and share all of that with you, my listeners. Something I realized recently is that many of you may not really know that much about me and so, I decided to do something about that.


Today, I welcome Bobby and Rusty from the brand new Rabbitry Center Homestead Podcast. They agreed to come on the show and interview me so that my audience can get a better understanding of where I come from, how I got to where I am today and what life is like on my little homestead. It’s something that I’ve wanted to do for a while and, thankfully, they were willing to help.


In our talk, Rusty asks some great questions that get me to open up a lot about how we’re making this new adventure work out as a family. I get the opportunity to share some of my background and how that helped to shape the decisions that led to me relocating my family to this beautiful place we now call home. I share some of my successes and failures so far on our homestead as well as give some of my best advice for those who are just forging their path into the homesteading way of life.


CHECK OUT THE RABBITRY CENTER HOMESTEAD PODCAST:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2240959/share


CHECK OUT THE RABBITRY CENTER WEBSITE:

http://therabbitrycenter.com/


CHECK OUT THE RABBITRY CENTER YOUTUBE CHANNEL:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheRabbitryCenter


SHOP AT AZURE STANDARD:

https://www.plansandprovisions.com/azure




Oct 10, 202301:10:58
052: October Farm Update
Oct 06, 202314:13
051: Jill Winger on being "Old Fashioned On Purpose"

051: Jill Winger on being "Old Fashioned On Purpose"

The homesteading movement is going strong and, with it, there is an ever growing list of resources available to those that are forging ahead with the lifestyle. It’s critically important that we have access to guidance and instruction as we branch out and begin to learn many of the old ways of living that have been lost to convenience and consumerism. That being said, I think it’s also important to zoom out and talk about the why’s, and the context, of a modern world that is driving so many to this way of living.


Well today I welcome Jill Winger of the Prairie Homestead to the podcast. Jill is an author, blogger, YouTuber, speaker and educator who has become one of the foundational personalities in the modern homesteading movement. Her ability to teach practical skills as well as bring context and meaning to the lifestyle is what, in my opinion, make her such a valuable resource to the countless people who are striving to live a better life.


TOPICS DISCUSSED:

* Jill shares where she drew her inspiration and got information in her early years as a homesteader

* How she learned through trial and error along the way

* the need to overcome the procrastination of planning to perfection and just get started

* Her thoughts on what’s driving the homestead movement

* We talk about societal norms and the need to overcome the limitations put on us by our consumer culture

* The intentional destruction of our food culture through corporate media

* Her journey from a standard American diet to learning to cook from scratch

* How to get started in scratch cooking

* Her advice for those new to the homesteading lifestyle

* Jill shares some details about her new book “Old Fashioned On Purpose”


BUY JILL'S NEW BOOK HERE:

https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/old-fashioned-on-purpose-book

VISIT JILL'S WEBSITE:

https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/

CONNECT WITH JILL ON INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/jill.winger/


SHOP AT AZURE STANDARD:

⁠https://www.plansandprovisions.com/azure

Sep 24, 202344:41
050: September Farm Update

050: September Farm Update

August was a great month here on the homestead and I thought I would share some of the highlights.



Sep 07, 202319:46
049: August Farm Update

049: August Farm Update

It is time for a quick update on what's been happening on our homestead over the past month.



Aug 06, 202312:01
048: Mom on the Run with Karen Morris

048: Mom on the Run with Karen Morris

There’s no question that most of us who are into homesteading are also, to some degree or another, into being prepared. The very act of homesteading develops systems of abundance and resilience into the places where we live, but what about the times when we’re away from home?


Well today I welcome back the podcast Karen Morris, who is an expert in family preparedness. In her recent book “Mom on the Run” she lays out the groundwork for being prepared while away from home and helps the reader develop a preparedness plan that fits their particular needs.

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

* How being prepared when on the run can actually save you money.

* Karen shares the top overlooked items for both everyday carry and for the vehicle

* She shares how she designed her book to help people tailor their personal preparedness

* We talk about the importance of knowing how to use your everyday carry tools

* Karen talks about the importance of reviewing and refreshing your supplies each Spring and Fall when the time changes

* She shares her tips for dealing with extremes in temperature when managing our vehicle preparedness

* She gives tips on how to determine what you need to carry when not at home

* Karen gives some great tips for organizing and storing your vehicle preparedness items


LINKS TO KAREN'S WORK AND CONTACT:

www.areyoupreparedmama.com

youtube.com/areyoupreparedmama

Instagram #areyoupreparedmama

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AreYouPreparedMama

Twitter - https://twitter.com/RUPreparedMama


Follow Karen on Amazon - Drop this link in for that tag-line - https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B079FMZQYV/#author-footer-B079FMZQYV


Follow Karen on BookBub - Drop this link in for that tag line - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/karen-morris-2d9861c1-91c2-42b1-9890-58c8c1c5a6e7?follow=true



Promotions - both good for 1 week


(1) Purchase Mom on the Run - https://amzn.to/3PZUTRc

Provide proof of purchase to Karen@areyoupreparedmama.com and you will get an MP3 copy of Mom on the Run audiobook.


(2) Provide an honest review of your purchase of Mom on the Run.  E-mail a photo of your review on Amazon to Karen@areyoupreparedmama.com get section 1 of a new product called The Prepper's Printable Binder.  In that section of the binder you get organized personal contacts - easy for anyone - especially children to use.  You'll get an organized place for you to list out all of your important numbers organized by category.  You'll get 39 pages of 

* Family Contacts

* Utility Contacts & Accounts

* Insurance Contacts  & Accounts

* Banking & Insurance Accounts

* Doctor's Contacts

* Friend Contacts


Jul 18, 202301:03:04
047: July Farm Update

047: July Farm Update

It's the first Friday of July and so that means it's time for a quick update on everything that's been going on around our homestead. It's summer time and we're as busy as can be in our second season homesteading on our property.



Jul 10, 202313:33
046: A Conversation with The President of Chickenlandia, Dalia Monterroso

046: A Conversation with The President of Chickenlandia, Dalia Monterroso

If there’s one thing that you’re almost sure to find on any property that even hints at being a homestead, it’s going to be the chicken. Chickens are a universal element to, not only the homesteading movement, but also the greater world at large. Their presence in the world spans cultures, continents and history, and are just a generally amazing element of the human experience.


Well today I welcome The President of Chickenlandia, Dalia Monterosso to the podcast to share her personal journey with chickens and how, she believes, these ubiquitous human companions can bring healing to a fractured world. She is a chicken educator, blogger, podcaster and You’re and has recently written a fantastic guide called “Let’s All Keep Chickens”


TOPICS DISCUSSED:


* Dalia shares about her life being raised by immigrant parents to working in Hollywood to becoming a mother.

* How she became fascinated with chickens and how that enthusiasm led her into teaching and speaking on the subject

* The origins of the “Chickenlandia” world.

* How chickens helped her recover from post pardum depression

* Her view that chickens are a universal human experience and their potential for bringing people together

* She share her vision for “community chicken coops” in urban settings

* She dives in to the current paradigm in chicken keeping and that fact that it is mostly based off of factory farming systems

* She challenges the idea that chickens have to be expensive to raise

* She shares some great ideas for stretching your chicken feed bill

* The challenges of relying on production breeds for a more sustainably raised chicken

* Considerations for breed selection

* We talk about chickens and kids

* She shares details of her new book which you can purchase here: BUY DALIA'S BOOK


DALIA'S WEBSITE:

https://welcometochickenlandia.com/


DALIA'S PODCAST:

https://welcometochickenlandia.com/welcome-to-the-podcast/


DALIA'S YOUTUBE:

https://www.youtube.com/@WelcometoChickenlandia






Jun 21, 202301:02:21
045: Jill McSheehy and the Beginner's Garden

045: Jill McSheehy and the Beginner's Garden

It’s that time of year where us homesteaders get to put our money where our mouth is, so to speak, and get out in the garden and grow food for our families. There’s no question that gardening can be one of the most rewarding activities on the homestead, but it is certainly not without it’s challenges. Getting started in growing your own food can be a daunting task and with so many variables and opinions in the gardening world, it can be hard to know where to start.


That’s why I invited today’s guest onto the podcast. Her name is Jill McSheehy and she hosts the “Beginners Garden Podcast” where she does an outstanding job of leading the way for those just getting started on their gardening journey. Her show has become one of my favorite sources for gardening information and, after hearing our conversation I’m sure you’ll understand why.


TOPICS DISCUSSED:

* What drove her to dive into the world of gardening 10 years ago

* What her first year of gardening was like and some of her early struggles

* The pros and cons of growing in raised beds versus in the ground and why she has moved to mostly growing in raised beds

* Jill shares her current struggles and the things that challenge her in the garden

* We talk about mulching and her preference for leaves and we both share that we’ve taken the leap to use weed mat

* She talks about her methods for pest management using multiple plantings, beneficial flowers and some organic inputs

* How she maintains fertility in her raised beds by using lots of organic matter in her starting soil as well as adding compost and using cover crops

* We discuss the problem of using hay in the garden due to residual pesticides

* Her journey into the world of Straw Bale Gardening

* Jill shares what she does for irrigation and how she got to that point

* She shares what all she has going on at her homestead

* Jill's advice for beginning gardeners


CHECK OUT JILL'S PODCAST:

https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/


CHECK OUT JILL'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL:

https://www.youtube.com/@thebeginnersgarden


CHECK OUT JILL'S BLOG:

https://journeywithjill.net/blog/



CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM:

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/plansandprovisions/⁠⁠

VISIT THE WEBSITE:

⁠⁠https://plansandprovisions.com⁠⁠

INTRO/OUTRO VOICEOVER PROVIDED BY:

⁠⁠https://sweetteafilms.com

Jun 06, 202301:01:51
044: June Farm Update
Jun 02, 202325:55
043: Pastured Pigs with Troy McClung

043: Pastured Pigs with Troy McClung

When I started planning our move to our new property a couple of years ago I decided pretty early that pigs would probably not be the right fit for our homestead. My main concern is their voracious appetites and that they typically require a lot of purchased feed compared to ruminants like cows and sheep. I loved the idea of raising my own pork, but just didn’t want the feed bill.

Then a friend introduced me to today’s guest Troy McClung. Troy has converted a neglected, trash filled 100 acre property in W. Virginia into a productive and profitable homestead producing, among other things, lumber and pasture raised pork. His ‘Pastured Pig Podcast’ is an amazing resource where he shares his experiences and talks with pastured pork producers of every size and scale.

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

* How he and his wife ended up on their 100 acre property out of a desire to get away and live in peace

* The massive cleanup they had to do on their property which had been used as a dumping ground for the local community

* How after having children and learning more about the modern food system they began their homesteading journey which was about 10 years after moving onto their land

* Their challenges early on making ends meet as they expanded their homesteading efforts as well as started homeschooling their children

* The development of their homestead from providing just the needs of his family to actually farming and providing food for his community

* How pigs came to be the perfect fit for his heavily wooded property

* His advice for how to start with three pigs to start your pig operation

* Some of the accounting and business considerations that helped move them scale up their operations

* How he manages his woodlots to produce usable lumber and leave behind protein producing trees for his pigs

* His advice for those who are looking to pasture pigs without a woodlot on their property

* His current breeds on his homestead which are Tamworth-Large Black mix and Red Wattle

* How important movement and breed choice are in the amount of damage pigs will do to your pasture

* Considerations for getting water to your pastured pigs

* The “Wagon Wheel” concept for a permanent arrangement for pastured pigs

* His reasons why processing on farm is ideal for homesteaders

* Ideas for establishing infrastructure for proper control and movement of pigs

* How important it is to have a plan in place for how to get the pig off the farm when it’s time for processing

* Tips for how to train pigs to electric fencing


Go check out all that Troy is doing at one of the below links.


https://thepasturedpig.com/


https://redtoolhouse.com/


VISIT THE PLANS AND PROVISIONS WEBSITE:

⁠https://plansandprovisions.com⁠

INTRO/OUTRO VOICEOVER PROVIDED BY:

⁠https://www.sweetteafilms.com



May 16, 202301:11:42
042: May Farm Update

042: May Farm Update

It's the first Friday of May so it's time for a quick update on everything going on around the homestead. Lot's of activity and lot's of new life around here and we're busy as we can be.

Stay tuned for a new run of interview episodes with some amazing guests. Some you probably know and some you may not but will be glad to after hearing our discussions.

May 05, 202310:23
041: April Farm Update

041: April Farm Update

It's the first Friday of April and so it's time for an update on everything going on around the homestead.



Apr 07, 202314:06
040: Rockbridge Farmstead with Greg and Marrianne Russell

040: Rockbridge Farmstead with Greg and Marrianne Russell

As my family enters our second year of homesteading, I’ve been able to look back over that first year and realize that we really are on a journey.  It feels great to plan for the year ahead knowing that we’re no longer starting from the beginning, but actually building on and continuing our efforts.  I can imagine that in several years, after growing, building and learning valuable lessons, the feeling will be even more profound.  

On today’s episode, I welcome Greg and Marrianne Russell of Rockbridge Farmstead.  They’ve been on their property now for almost 9 years and seem to have figured out what works for them on their homestead.  Through trial and error they’ve found the things they enjoy, the things that can bring in revenue, as well as the things that they really just don’t want to mess with.  Over the past 3 years, they have taken a deep dive into the world of beekeeping and found something that, not only makes them money, but brings them joy and satisfaction and, well, I imagine they never run out of honey.

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

* How they found themselves on their homestead in Kentucky

* The story of their first few years on their homestead and some of the early lessons learned

* The challenges of adding young children to the mix and how they got through it

* Their experiences with raising pigs and goats and why they ended up moving on from those projects

* How beekeeping became their primary revenue model for their homestead and their long term plans for that project

* How they saved money by building their own beehives

* How they quickly grew to 42 hives and lost half of them to a flash flood

* Their use of bee products to produce value added products such as balms and candles to sell

* The need for homesteaders to not try and take everything on and just focus on what they really need and enjoy

* Their advice for new homesteaders just starting out on their journey


LISTEN TO THE ROCKBRIDGE FARMSTEAD PODCAST:

https://www.rockbridgefarmstead.com/podcast/

VISIT THE ROCKBRIDGE FARMESTEAD WEBSITE:

https://www.rockbridgefarmstead.com/

CONNECT WITH THEM ON INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/rock_bridge_farmstead/

GET THE FREE HOMESTEADING RESOURCES FOR 2023 DOWNLOAD HERE:

https://plansandprovisions.com/HR2023

CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/plansandprovisions/



Mar 07, 202301:03:08
039: March Farm Update
Mar 03, 202311:40
038: The Quest for the Closed Loop Chicken

038: The Quest for the Closed Loop Chicken

What happens if I can’t get chicken feed.  Are there alternatives to the feed store?  Do chickens have to eat layer pellets to lay eggs?  What are they putting in chicken feed?  Will the price of chicken feed keep going up?


I can’t really give you an answer to all of those questions, but the fact that they need to be asked has really got me thinking.  In this solo episode, I talk about several ways in which I will be working toward reaching sustainability in regards to our flock of laying chickens. 


TOPICS DISCUSSED:

* Fermentation of commercial feed as a way to expand the volume and improve it’s digestibility.

* Raising insects like mealworms, black soldier flies and silk worms to begin producing more of your chickens protein on the homestead.

* The long term strategy of planting fodder trees around the homestead to help provide for a portion of their feed.

* The pros and cons of free ranging and why I am in the process of significantly reducing the practice on my homestead.

* Growing crops such as sunflowers and winter squash to provide food stores for the leaner times of the year

* The philosophy of flock management and the necessity of a proper culling schedule



GET THE FREE HOMESTEAD RESOURCES FOR 2023 DOWNLOAD:

https://plansandprovisions.com/HR2023


LINKS:  BLACK SOLDIER FLY BIN TUTORIAL:

https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/love-your-larvae/11184864


MODERN HOMESTEADING PODCAST EPISODE 181:

https://redemptionpermaculture.com/growing-insects-for-small-livestock-feed/


PRESENTATION ON FODDER TREES: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yqm3qM0biU


 VISIT THE PLANS AND PROVISIONS WEBSITE:

https://plansandprovisions.com


INTRO/OUTRO VOICEOVER PROVIDED BY:

https://www.sweetteafilms.com


Feb 28, 202324:46
037: White House on the Hill with Jake and Becky

037: White House on the Hill with Jake and Becky

I’ve said it before and it’s certainly said a lot in the homestead world, chickens are the ultimate gateway animal.  For many, the first time they got a few laying hens in the backyard was the point at which they would say they first started their homestead journey.  For my wife and I, it all started with 4 hens and 2 ducks and only grew from there as we forged ahead on our path.  We had to start somewhere and, while due to lack of experience that first backyard flock sadly didn’t last us very long, we learned valuable lessons that we would apply to our every expanding homestead journey.


In today’s episode, I welcome Jake and Becky who share how they got their start on their journey with 6 hens on a rented one acre homestead.   Things really took off from their as they grew their flock, outgrew their first homestead and began building a very successful YouTube channel called “White House on The Hill”.


TOPICS DISCUSSED:

* How they were inspired to pursue a homesteading lifestyle by watching YouTube channels like Justin Rhodes and Farm Marketing Solutions (John Suscovich)

* How their original flock of 6 hens grew to the point of needing a larger property

* How they grew their channel to becoming a full-time income

* Their advice for those working to build their own content creation business

* Their early challenges getting established and making the leap financially into full time homesteading and content creation

* How they’ve dealt with criticism and negativity as their online reach grew

* They’re decision to maintain transparency on their channel and showing the bad times as well as the good.

* How they got started hatching their own eggs and their experience trying and testing lots of different incubators

* How they hatched their way to a menagerie of exotic birds on their homestead.

* Their experience raising emu’s on their homestead and their hopes to breed them

* They both give their advice to those just getting started on their homestead journey


CHECK OUT THE WHITE HOUSE ON THE HILL YOUTUBE CHANNEL:

https://www.youtube.com/@whitehouseonthehill

WHITE HOUSE ON THE HILL'S INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/whitehouseonthehill/


GET THE FREE HOMESTEAD RESOURCES FOR 2023 DOWNLOAD:

https://plansandprovisions.com/HR2023

VISIT THE PLANS AND PROVISIONS WEBSITE:

https://plansandprovisions.com

INTRO/OUTRO VOICEOVER PROVIDED BY:

https://www.sweetteafilms.com

Feb 21, 202301:09:37
036: 5 things every chicken owner should know
Feb 14, 202318:14
035: Running Your Homestead Like a Business with Leah Lynch

035: Running Your Homestead Like a Business with Leah Lynch

Getting started on your homestead journey is truly exciting and, for many, it’s something that may have been on the drawing board for many years.  In the year or two prior to moving onto my homestead, I spent countless hours reading and watching videos, trying to absorb as much as I could that I hoped would help in my new journey.  While there is tremendous  value in having so many resources to turn to for information and inspiration, there is the chance that we can develop unrealistic expectations, which can develop into stumbling blocks during out first steps on our journey.

Today’s guest has a message that, in my opinion, is absolutely critical to anyone who plans to start homesteading.  Her name is Leah Lynch and she provides guidance and resources to help folks take control of their time and money, as well as to make intentional, intelligent decisions toward their homesteading goals.  She teaches small livestock care, time management and homestead income strategies through her blog, YouTube channel and online community.

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

* Leah shares the top reasons she believes homesteaders find themselves “broke and burned out”

* How to use time blocking to make good decisions that fit your available time and abilities

* The importance of not comparing yourself to others and just focusing on your own path

* The need to run your homestead like a business, whether you are after profit or not.

* The 5 things to consider when planning a new venture on your homestead

* Some thoughts on how to choose profitable options for raising livestock

* A formula for making significant money off of a small flock of laying hens

* How to “clean up the mess” for those whose homesteads haven’t turned out as expected

* The need to be cautious and intentional with attachment toward your animals that will be consumed or sold

* Her philosophy of gardening that focuses on growing things that either save money or she really enjoys eating



LEAH'S WEBSITE AND BLOG -
https://leah-lynch.com

LEAH'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL - http://youtube.com/@LeahLynchBlog

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Feb 07, 202355:35
034: February Farm Update
Feb 03, 202312:22
033: 2022 in Review
Dec 28, 202221:48
032: The Omnivore's Guide to Home Cooking with Judson Carroll

032: The Omnivore's Guide to Home Cooking with Judson Carroll

Food is at the heart of every life, every home and every community, but sadly that fact has slowly been forgotten over many decades of progress in the centralized and industrialized food systems in America.  Replaced by processed, adulterated and factory farmed foods, many of the traditions of the American food culture have not only been forgotten, but in many cases outright shunned.

Well today I welcome back Judson Carroll, a true American omnivore who not only has a passion for eating and cooking a variety of foods, but has shared that knowledge and passion with the world through his recent book “The Omnivore’s Guide to Home Cooking for Preppers, Homesteaders, Permaculture People and Everyone Else”

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

* Judson’s story of learning to cook from his Grandmother

* The basics of how to raise snails for food and the fact that their eggs are very similar to caviar

* The decline of the family table and community meals

* The loss of food culture and traditions in America

* The value of eating as seasonally and locally as possible for the best possible health

* The possibilities offered by eating small game such as groundhog, which can be compared to high quality pork

* The diversity of edible aquatic species and the folly of the designation of some species as “trash fish”

* The inherent prejudices developed by many against eating certain foods and how/why that has come to be

* A little history of soup in America

* Some tips and tricks for home fermentation including some great recipe ideas like fermented hot sauce and “redneck kimchi”


VISIT JUDSON'S SUBSTACK:

https://judsoncarroll.com


LISTEN TO JUDSON'S SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN HERBS PODCAST:

APPLE:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/southern-appalachian-herbs/id1540427015

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NBHEtJe8IXmlnFvCdmDox


BUY JUDSON'S COOKBOOK:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGKX37Q2




Dec 14, 202201:15:20
031: December Farm Update
Dec 02, 202217:38
030: Homesteading for Beginners with Mona Weathers

030: Homesteading for Beginners with Mona Weathers

The homesteading movement is indeed a rapidly growing movement and with that comes the fact that there are lots of newcomers to this way of life.  In many ways, the movement away from more conventional ways of life is a radical change for many who find themselves going against the grain of many decades of culture and conditioning.  There are lots of unforeseen challenges that, quite honestly, aren’t really being addressed in much of the current content surrounding the homesteading movement.

Well today’s guest has set out to address some of those very issues which really have nothing to do with the nuts and bolts of homestead life.  Her name is Mona Weathers and she is the host of the “Homesteading for Beginners Podcast”, where she plays the role of “homestead coach” to new homesteaders, as well as homestead dreamers.

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION:

* Mona’s definition of the word homesteading

* The importance of starting your homesteading journey where you are rather than waiting for the perfect situation

* The importance of getting connected with community

* The value of relying on trading with your community rather than taking on everything in the quest for self-sufficiency

* The two most common challenges new homesteaders face

* How to avoid overwhelm through planning and cautious movement forward

* The concept of developing multiple income streams to build a strong, long term financial position on your homestead

* The need to get back to working as a community and get away from the conditioning the be as independent as possible

* What motivated her to start the Homesteading for Beginners Podcast

* What people can expect by joining the Homesteading for Beginners Community

LISTEN TO MONA'S PODCAST ON APPLE:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/homesteading-for-beginners/id1636732326

LISTEN TO MONA'S PODCAST ON SPOTIFY:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jG3YZ9yxdZZxvtSX4elW1?si=YR4g8EorTkimDFrPemMfAw&nd=1

CHECK OUT MONA'S WEBSITE:

https://www.healthyhomesteading.com

CONNECT WITH MONA ON INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/farmer_mona/

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Nov 30, 202258:48
029: Homestead Cheesemaking with Robyn Jackson

029: Homestead Cheesemaking with Robyn Jackson

As my family heads into our second year on our homestead, the idea of having a milk cow has fallen in and out of favor as we plan and dream of the future.  There’s no doubt the allure of having fresh milk, butter, sour cream and (most importantly) homemade cheese on our homestead, but so far, we have made no plans to add any dairy animals to our land.  We love the idea, as I’m sure many of you do, but are cautious to move forward with such a large commitment and have concerns over what it would take to work that system into our current lifestyle.

Well, today’s guest is, in my opinion, one of the very best resources for those who are interested in diving into the world of homestead level dairy production.  Her name is Robyn Jackson, and through her online business “Cheese from Scratch” she teaches, inspires and connects cheesemakers and milkmaids from all over the world.  

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION:

* The differences between beef and dairy breeds and her plans to cross a Jersey and beef breed in the future for hybrid vigor

* Starting to make cheese from purchased milk as a great fundamental homestead practice

* The difference between pasteurized and ultra-pasteurized milk in regards to cheesemaking

* The fermentation process of cheesemaking using lactic bacteria

* There’s a cheese for everybody and the basic gear and ingredients needed to get started

* Taking steps to close loops of supply by developing a ‘clabber culture’

* The value of feta, brie, mozzarella and ricotta as beginner cheese recipes

* The stigma around owning a dairy animal and the reality of planning life around a milking schedule

* You don’t have to make a large variety of cheeses but should find what fits your lifestyle and location to determine your ‘homestead cheese’

* How to manage a schedule for the year and fit the extra work of cheesemaking into your life

* How children can become a fun component of the dairy lifestyle


ROBYN'S CHEESEMAKING 101 COURSE:

https://cheesefromscratch.com/course/homestead-cheesemaking-101-course/

THE MILKMAID SOCIETY:

https://cheesefromscratch.com/milk-maid-society/

ROBYN'S INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/cheese_from_scratch_/

THE CHEESE FROM SCRATCH WEBSITE:

https://cheesefromscratch.com/

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Nov 15, 202248:55
028: November Farm Update
Nov 04, 202216:46
027: Reclaiming Their Legacy with Austin and Rebekah Lebahn

027: Reclaiming Their Legacy with Austin and Rebekah Lebahn

As my family’s first year on our homestead comes to a close, we’ve begun to look into the next year or two and envision what reasonable growth and development on our property might look like.  As we reflect on the challenges and successes of our ‘rookie year’ of homesteading, we’re filled with excitement and gratitude to realize just how much of a foundation we’ve laid for the years to come.  Despite feeling sometimes like we haven’t done enough, we’ve come to understand the time it takes to build something like this and why homesteading is often referred to as a journey.


On today’s episode, I welcome Austin and Rebekah Lebahn as they share their story of how they left the city and completely changed their family’s lives.  They started their homesteading journey as a totally citified couple who, when the opportunity arrived, were among the least likely candidates to buy the family farm.   Four years later, these unlikely travelers on the homestead path are, not only homesteading on their 330 acre farm, but they’re selling pasture raised poultry and beef direct to consumers in their local market.

In this episode, Austin and Rebekah share:

* How they were a “totally citified” couple who were unlikely candidates to buy the family farm

* The fear of leaving the familiarity of a conventional life into a new rural culture

* Leaving the established rhythm of suburban life into the new rhythm of farming and homesteading

* How they had to learn to set priorities and boundaries to establish a functional rhythm 

* The early struggles of trying to monetize the farm and how moving too fast cost them momentum

* Their transition to direct to consumer marketing and how that put some wind in their sails

* The challenges of learning to do things the natural way as they transitioned their farm from chemical dependence

* The importance of community in getting them through the tough times

* How their children soared to the occasion of this radical change of lifestyle

* Their transition from public school to homeschooling

* How they learned humility through struggles in raising livestock and how that helped them drive through the hard times

* Their drive to provide the experience and opportunity for their children to embrace the farming lifestyle as adults


CONNECT WITH AUSTIN AND REBEKAH ON FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/lebahnfarm

CONNECT WITH AUSTIN AND REBEKAH BY EMAIL:

Lebahnfarm@gmail.com

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Nov 01, 202201:03:01
026: Carving Out a New Way of Life with Greg Sweeton

026: Carving Out a New Way of Life with Greg Sweeton

Many of us in the homesteading movement are making major life changes as we work toward a simpler, but not necessarily easier, way of life.  It takes great courage to step away from the security and familiarity of convention into a world that is, for many of us, unfamiliar.  The promise of a better life drives us into that new world and the challenges we face are met with the determination to truly live the dream we have for ourselves and our families.


My guest today is someone who, three years ago, took that leap with his family into the world of homesteading.  Leaving behind a mainstream, suburban life and a couple of corporate careers, Greg Sweeton and his wife Laura stepped out to carve out a new way of living for their family.  They faced the new challenges of homestead living head on and, in just a few short years have developed systems of abundance for their family and the community that they live in.


Topics of discussion:

* How Greg raises New Zealand White rabbits, Dexter Cattle, hogs in silvopasture as well as utilizes multi-species rotational grazing with Cornish Cross chickens and Katahdin-Dorper Cross sheep.

* How health issues drove Greg and his wife toward a Keto diet and, ultimately buying a small farm/homestead.

* How the movie “Food, Inc.” was a major inspiration and the influence that Joel Salatin has had on their decision to homestead.

* His experience using a Chickshaw and Meatshaw, both designs by Justin Rhodes.

* Perfectionism and its hindrance to progress.

* Learning to adapt to your own homestead context through constant problem solving

* The joys of raising children on a homestead and homeschooling

* The challenges of leaving corporate life and consumer culture to become more independent and truly productive

* How they developed side hustles and eventually started Shepherd’s Crook Coffee.

* The philosophy of planning your homestead production around a seasonal diet.



BUY SHEPHERD’S CROOK COFFEE:

https://www.shepherdscrookcoffee.com/


FOLLOW SHEPHERD’S CROOK ON INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/shepherdscrookcoffee/


FOLLOW TRUNORTH FARM ON INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/trunorthfarm/


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Oct 18, 202201:22:00
025: October Farm Update
Oct 07, 202223:32
024: Homesteading in the Suburbs with Harold Thornbro

024: Homesteading in the Suburbs with Harold Thornbro

We are blessed to live in a time where we have access to more information and communication opportunities than ever before.  Those opportunities are nowhere any more apparent than in the homesteading movement, where we enjoy an abundance of forums, YouTube channels, online communities, live events and podcasts—to name a few.  These resources are critical in that they not only provide practical knowledge and skills, but also bring people together and help build community.


In todays episode, I welcome Harold Thornbro—the founder and co-host of the Modern Homesteading Podcast.  He lives in a suburban neighborhood where he pushes the limits of what can be done on a small property, all while maintaining a neighbor friendly appearance.  In addition to his fantastic podcast, he blogs regularly at redemptionpermaculture.com, as well as hosts an Facebook community called the homestead front porch.


In this episode, we discuss:

* Harold’s bout with an aggressive form of cancer and how that drove him to a Keto diet

* How he began growing his own food and how that led him to begin to learn to cook

* What challenges he faced as he developed his suburban homestead

* How he developed perennial food forest systems on his property

* The idea of ‘edible landscaping’ and how that concept has helped him maintain a good relationship with his neighbors

* The benefits of raising qual for eggs and meat

* Using cover crops in the garden

* The idea that we should all get started where we are on our homesteading journey


CHECK OUT THE MODERN HOMESTEADING PODCAST:

https://redemptionpermaculture.com/category/podcast/

JOIN THE HOMESTEAD FRONT PORCH FACEBOOK GROUP:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/HomesteadFrontPorch

VISIT HAROLD'S BLOG:

https://redemptionpermaculture.com/


SUPPORT THIS PODCAST:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/plansnprov

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Oct 04, 202201:24:56
023: Beekeeping on the Homestead with Bobby Jimenez

023: Beekeeping on the Homestead with Bobby Jimenez

#023 - In a time where inflation and supply chain issues are everyday  topics, it’s easy to fixate on cost and scarcity concerns when it comes  to managing our resources.  Many of us have, undoubtedly, taken on a new  project  out of one concern or another and then found ourselves  enjoying other benefits well outside of our original motivations.  After  realizing the massive price increase of honey this summer, I started  questioning whether or not adding bees to my homestead was a realistic  goal, and whether doing so would provide more than just free honey.

In today’s episode, I welcome back Bobby Jimenez of the Rabbitry Center to share his passion for beekeeping which actually started from his desire to improve pollination on his homestead.  7 years after his initial dive into the craft, he manages a number of hives on several properties as well as hosts a YouTube channel where he shares his knowledge and enthusiasm for keeping bees.

Bobby shares how he jumped into beekeeping head first and without much initial knowledge and how, through consistent observation and determination, he has reaped rewards well beyond his initial expectations.  We discuss different management options available to new beekeepers as well as different strategies to  making money from your bees.  We also talk about the seasonal tasks required to be successful and Bobby shares the next steps for anyone interested in getting started.

Key discussion points: All natural beekeeping vs. treatments, raising bees for honey vs. raising bees to sell nucs, finding community through local beekeeping groups, biggest challenges every beekeeper will face, unexpected benefits of raising bees, pollination.

VISIT BOBBY'S WEBSITE:
https://bobbysbeez.com

VISIT BOBBY'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTUDI6Nm5cd4ENkT_qK7HBg

VISIT MY RESOURCES PAGE:
https://www.plansandprovisions.com/resources/

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Sep 20, 202201:05:29
022: Grow Where You're Planted with Rachel Jamison

022: Grow Where You're Planted with Rachel Jamison

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#022 - We all have different reasons for wanting to homestead and even different definitions of what exactly the word homesteading means.  We’re all drawn to different aspects of the homestead way of life and the possibilities are endless when it comes to the combinations of different plants, animals and practices you can find at the individual homestead level.  We also all have different skill sets and blessings, but also varying limitations such as climate, property size and local regulations.

Well today’s guest was drawn to homesteading from a personal desire for a better way of life, but then was driven forward by the will to survive.  Her name is Rachel Jamison and early in her adult life she found herself facing multiple severe health issues that made producing her own nutrient dense food not only a desire, but an absolute necessity.  Many years later she now, not only lives a life of abundant health, but also inspires others through her example and by co-hosting the wonderful “Modern Homesteading Podcast”.

We get to hear about her early journey in homesteading and how she was able to restore her, and her family’s health by taking control of their food.  We talk about homesteading as a matter of the heart and how important it is to ‘grow where you’re planted’, rather than wait for the perfect set of circumstances.  She shares some of the ways that she has built community over the years and even gets into some of the details of what she has done to build healthy soil on her property.

CHECK OUT THE MODERN HOMESTEADING PODCAST:
https://redemptionpermaculture.com/category/podcast/

CONNECT WITH RACHEL ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=91tw5kwiipn9&utm_content=qsh427

SOIL TEST AMENDMENT GUIDE:
https://growabundant.com/organic-amendments-users-guide/

SUPPORT THE SHOW:
https://buymeacoffee.com/plansnprov

Sep 06, 202201:12:35
021: September Farm Update
Sep 02, 202221:60
020: The Renaissance of the Community Grain Mill with Justin Metcalf

020: The Renaissance of the Community Grain Mill with Justin Metcalf

#020 - I’ve heard it said that, over the past few years, we’ve seen a back to the land movement on a level never before seen in this nation.  As the monolith of centralized and industrialized food production continues it’s decline, more and more people are taking a step or two back and learning how to do things in ways that have mostly been lost over the past few generations.  Many of us are eager to learn but at a real deficit in direct learning as a result of the cultural shift toward convenience over the past several decades.

My guest today has a different story than most of us as his family has occupied the same piece of land for about 200 years, living in ways that many of us are trying to learn today.  His name is Justin Metcalf and he is not only an 8th generation homesteader but he is also what is known as a traditional millwright.  His Youtube channel “Metcalf Mills” is a fantastic resource for those interested in learning traditional skills, as well as those with a curiosity about Appalachian history.

In our conversation, Justin shares the history of his grandfather’s grain mill and how, after several decades of neglect and disrepair, he was able to bring new life into that old milling equipment.  I ask him some specifics about homestead level grain production and he describes how he does things on his farm to keep his family fed.  We discuss the decline of the community grain mill and he shares some exciting news of his plans to bring them back to life. 

VISIT JUSTIN'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfL5xkT20SehAuS6TSKIRrw

VISIT MY RESOURCES PAGE:
https://www.plansandprovisions.com/resources/

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Aug 23, 202201:10:02
019: A Conversation with Cheryl Franklin of The Ozarks Homesteading Expo

019: A Conversation with Cheryl Franklin of The Ozarks Homesteading Expo

#019 - As the homesteading movement gains momentum and more people are taking matters into their own hands regarding food and other resources, the demand for learning new skills grows as well.  While we are certainly blessed to live in a time with an abundance of digital and print resources, there is simply no replacement for hands on experience and networking opportunities that come with in-person learning.

My guest today certainly understands that as she has worked tirelessly to develop what is quickly becoming one of the top homesteading gatherings in the nation.  After a long career in the print newspaper industry, Cheryl Franklin has started a new life as the organizer of the upcoming Ozarks Homesteading Expo which takes place on August 26th and 27th of this year. 

In our talk, we get to hear her perspective of what it was like to get started as a young homesteader, fresh from the city and newly transplanted in SW Missouri.  We talk about the importance of community and the challenges of balancing a full time career, family responsibilities and a growing homestead.  She tells the story of how she found herself running a successful homesteading event and gives some details on what folks can expect who attend this year.
 
Check out Cheryl's site for more information on the upcoming Ozarks Homesteading Expo:
https://ozarkshomesteading.com/

Sign up for the Plans and Provisions Newsletter:
http://plansandprovisions.com

Support the show: 
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Aug 09, 202201:12:24
018: August Farm Update
Aug 05, 202226:35
017: Preparing Without Fear with Karen Morris

017: Preparing Without Fear with Karen Morris

#017-  I think that when many of us hear the words preparedness or prepper, we tend to think in terms of things we can buy like stockpiles of gear and supplies.  While having ample supplies in a crisis could certainly mean the difference between life and death in a serious catastrophe, having the right mindset just might be as, or more important.

Today’s guest has taken it upon herself to teach the average person, particularly women and mothers, to take realistic and practical steps toward food security and preparedness in general.  Her 2018 book ‘A year without the grocery store’ is, in my opinion, the perfect guide for anyone in the early stages of working towards becoming more intentional and organized in managing their family’s food resources.  She teaches that preparedness is more than just a stockpile of supplies and gear, but also a mindset that should be absent of fear, doom and gloom.

In our conversation, Karen shares how she found herself essentially preparing by accident and some of the ways she and her family have had to be flexible in order to maintain their food storage.  She shares some personal crises and disasters she and her family have been through and the lessons she learned from them.  She lays out some solid first steps for those wanting to get started in preparedness and shares some exciting new developments you won’t want to miss.

Visit Karen's website and blog:
https://www.areyoupreparedmama.com

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Jul 26, 202201:09:20
016: July Farm Update
Jul 12, 202223:48
015: Foraging on the Homestead with Bo Brown
Jun 29, 202201:27:16
014: June Farm Update
Jun 14, 202224:40
013: A Passion for Permaculture with Billy Bond
Jun 01, 202201:15:48
012: May Farm Update
May 17, 202212:07
011: Roasting your own coffee
May 03, 202216:33
010: Recent Reading List
Apr 26, 202205:42
009: Getting Started with Rabbits with Bobby Jimenez
Apr 19, 202201:13:39
008: April Farm Update
Apr 12, 202222:47