By late summer, the garden can start to feel a little wild. The weeds are growing fast, the harvest is piling up, watering needs are changing, and life outside the garden is getting busier, too.

So what actually needs your attention right now, and what can you let go?

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we’re talking through our top priorities for the late summer garden. We’ll cover why harvesting should come first, how to adjust your watering as the season changes, what to do with bare garden beds, when to plant fall crops or cover crops, and how to keep weeds from creating more work next year.

We also talk about something that’s just as important: learning to recognize when good enough really is good enough. You don’t need a perfectly tidy garden to have a successful season.

Plus, we’re sharing what’s happening around our homestead right now, from preserving green beans and sauerkraut to fall pasture management, meat chickens, and preparing for the colder months ahead.

LINKS MENTIONED:

* Traditional Skills Academy Curriculum: https://traditionalskillsacademy.com/
* Thanks to Azure Standard for sponsoring this podcast. If you're new to Azure Standard, be sure to check them out and use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15" for 15% off your first order of $100 or more (delivered to a drop location): https://homesteadingfamily.com/azurestandard
* Grab a pre-order copy of David Stelzer's new book, Seeds of Hope here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/seedsofhope
* Check out the accompanying blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/late-summer-garden-care/

Whether your garden is still producing heavily or you’re starting to transition toward fall, we hope this episode helps you focus on the things that matter most and finish the gardening season well.

What does your late summer garden look like right now? Let us know in the comments!

TIME STAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction
1:17 - Chit Chat
9:55 - Traditional Skills Academy
11:10 - Azure Standard
14:06 - Main Topic

#Gardening #VegetableGarden #LateSummerGarden #FallGarden #GardenTips 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Healthy soil requires more than nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. In Part 2 of our soil health series, we're taking a deeper look at the essential minerals plants need to grow strong, resist stress and produce truly nutrient-dense food.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

🪨 The difference between macronutrients and micronutrients
🌱 How nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur support plant growth
🔍 Common signs of mineral deficiencies
🧪 Why soil pH and biology affect nutrient availability
♻️ Natural ways to restore minerals using compost, cover crops and targeted amendments
⚠️ Why you should test your soil before adding lime, gypsum, wood ash or other minerals

Healthy soil does much of the heavy lifting for you. When minerals, organic matter, oxygen, water and soil biology work together, you can grow healthier plants and more nourishing food.

Read the full blog post: 👉 https://homesteadingfamily.com/soil-minerals/

Catch up on Part 1 of the soil series: 👉 https://homesteadingfamily.com/healthy-soil-starts-here/

A special thanks to Grand Teton Ancient Grains for sponsoring this episode! Grand Teton Ancient Grains grows pure, unhybridized grains on a regenerative farm where soil health is a priority. Choose from spelt, khorasan, emmer and rye, all grown, tested and carefully protected from contamination from the field to the mill.

Shop Grand Teton Ancient Grains and use coupon code HOMESTEADINGFAMILY for 10% off your order: 👉 https://homesteadingfamily.com/ancientgrains

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Some of the best homemaking advice isn't new at all. Over the years, I've learned a lot from old household manuals, historical books and the way generations before us managed their homes. While I certainly love my modern conveniences, there are some old-fashioned practices that still make our household and homestead run so much more smoothly.

In this episode, I'm sharing six that I still use today, including:

🏡 Giving each day of the week a purpose
🥕 Shopping the garden and pantry before the grocery store
🍽️ Why we serve meals family style
📅 Preparing tomorrow's needs today
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Teaching children to share in the work
✨ Ending the day with a simple house reset

These aren't about creating a rigid schedule or keeping a perfectly clean home. They're simple rhythms that reduce decision fatigue, help everyone contribute and actually give our family more freedom.

Read the full blog post here:
https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-i-manage-our-home-household-management-series/

What old-fashioned homemaking practice do you still use in your home?

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
1:54 - American Blossom Linens
5:25 - Main Topic

Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring this podcast episode! Be sure to check out all their offerings, and use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY2026" for 15% off your purchase: https://homesteadingfamily.com/s-american-blossom-linens

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Preserving season can be incredibly rewarding, but when the garden is producing faster than you can keep up, it can also become overwhelming fast!

Over the years, we've learned plenty of lessons the hard way about what makes harvest and food preservation season easier... and what makes it much harder than it needs to be.

In this episode, we're sharing some of the biggest food preservation mistakes we've made and the practical habits that now help us manage the abundance without burning ourselves out.

We'll talk about why you shouldn't wait until the produce piles up, how to choose the best preservation method for each food, preparing ahead for a preserving day, and why we always think about dinner before we start!

We also discuss something that's easy to overlook: whether you're preserving food your family will actually eat and whether doing it yourself is truly saving you money.

Whether you're putting up a few jars from the garden or preserving a year's worth of food, we hope these lessons make your harvest season a little easier.

Check out the blog post for more information and any details mentioned: https://homesteadingfamily.com/tips-for-a-busy-preservation-day/

Links Mentioned:
- School of Traditional Skills Annual FREE Summit: Keep an eye out in future podcast episodes for a link to sign up for the free summit! We'll share it as soon as sign-ups are open!
- Homestead Kitchen Magazine: https://homesteadingfamily.com/magazine
- Carla Emery's Encyclopedia of Country Living: https://amzn.to/4fXywal

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Introduction
1:30 - Chit Chat
8:42 - Homestead Kitchen Magazine
10:21 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Homesteading and homemaking are often treated as two separate pursuits, but what if they were never meant to be?

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, I'm sharing why I believe homemaking is the true foundation of homesteading. From growing food and preserving the harvest to preparing meals and caring for my family, it's all part of the same purpose: creating a home that reflects our values and nurtures the people we love.

If you've ever felt like you're trying to "balance" homemaking and homesteading, I hope this conversation encourages you to see them in a whole new light.

📖 Read the companion blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/why-homemaking-is-the-foundation-of-homesteading/

I'd love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and tell me: What has homemaking or homesteading been teaching you in this season?

🌿 Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring this episode! I love American Blossom Linens because their sheets are made from 100% USA-grown cotton, crafted entirely in the USA, and built to last for years to come. Visit American Blossom Linens  and use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY2026" to save 15% on your order: https://homesteadingfamily.com/s-american-blossom-linens

I'd love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and tell me: What has homemaking or homesteading been teaching you in this season?

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
1:49 - American Blossom Linens
4:51 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Have you ever walked into your garden and felt completely overwhelmed? You're not alone! Every gardener reaches a point where the weeds seem to multiply overnight, the harvest starts piling up, and it feels like there's never enough time to keep up.

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we're sharing the practical routines, mindset shifts, and garden systems that have helped our family grow and preserve most of our food without burning out. From daily garden walks and harvesting routines to choosing your battles and letting go of perfection, these simple habits can help you enjoy your garden again.

In this episode, we discuss:
🌱 Why every garden has a "messy middle"
🌱 How 20–30 minutes a day can transform your garden
🌱 The difference between daily tasks and weekly project days
🌱 Harvesting strategies that prevent overwhelm
🌱 When it's time to let a struggling crop go
🌱 Why observation is one of the most valuable gardening skills
🌱 Creating systems that make gardening easier every year

Helpful Resources:
🌿 Avoid Garden Overwhelm: https://homesteadingfamily.com/avoiding-garden-overwhelm/
🌿 How to Keep Weeds Out of the Garden: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-keep-weeds-out-of-garden/
💧 Best Time to Water Your Garden: https://homesteadingfamily.com/best-time-to-water-garden/
🌱 No-Till Gardening: https://homesteadingfamily.com/is-no-till-gardening-right-for-you/
🌱 Lasagna Gardening: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-use-the-lasagna-gardening-method-or-layering-method/

🛒 Thanks to Azure Standard for sponsoring this video. Save 15% on your first Azure Standard order of $100+ with coupon code HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15 (orders sent to a drop location only): https://homesteadingfamily.com/azure-standard-yt

Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction
02:00 – Chit Chat
10:14 – Azure Products We Buy
13:40 – Main Topic

If this episode encouraged you, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who's feeling overwhelmed by their garden this season. Growing food doesn't require perfection—just simple systems and steady progress.

#gardening #vegetablegarden #gardentips #homesteading #gardenmaintenance #growyourownfood 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Healthy soil doesn't happen by accident. It starts with protecting the living ecosystem beneath your feet.

In this first teaching episode of my Soil Health series, I'm sharing why keeping your soil chemical-free is the foundation for everything else we'll cover. Whether you're growing vegetables, fruit trees, flowers, or pasture, the health of your soil determines the health of your plants.

We'll look at how herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, and synthetic fertilizers affect the beneficial biology living in your soil and why quick fixes often create bigger problems over time. I'll also explain how healthy soil naturally becomes more resilient, helping your plants better withstand pests, disease, and drought.

If you've ever struggled with weak plants, poor harvests, or garden problems that seem to come back year after year, this episode will help you understand why the solution starts below the surface.

In this episode, you'll learn:
• Why a chemical-free foundation is the first step to healthy soil
• How common garden chemicals impact beneficial soil life
• Why healthy soil is a living ecosystem, not just dirt
• Simple steps you can take to begin restoring your soil naturally

This is Part 1 of my Soil Health series, so if you're ready to grow healthier, more nutrient-dense food while working with nature instead of against it, you're in the right place.

For the companion blog post, visit: https://homesteadingfamily.com/healthy-soil-starts-here/

And if you missed the introduction to the series, you can catch that here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-improve-soil-quality/

Thanks for listening to Everyday Homesteading. I'll see you in the next episode as we explore the next building block of healthy soil: minerals.

Thanks to Homestead Kitchen magazine for sponsoring this podcast. Grab your copy of this monthly print magazine here and start enjoying homesteading knowledge, tips and recipes in the palm of your hands: https://homesteadingfamily.com/in-the-homestead-kitchen-yt

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
1:12 - Homestead Kitchen Magazine
3:22 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Have you ever stopped to consider that caring for the land isn't just a homesteading skill, but part of our Christian calling?

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, I'm joined by Brendan McClenahan from Plant With Purpose and the TEND Initiative to explore what the Bible says about stewardship, creation, and why growing food can deepen our faith.

For many Christians, conversations about caring for the earth have become complicated. But long before environmental movements existed, God gave humanity the responsibility to cultivate and care for His creation. Together, Brendan and I discuss how homesteading, gardening, and working the land aren't separate from our faith. They're one of the ways we live it out.

We also talk about why true self-sufficiency is a myth, how community has always been part of God's design, and practical ways churches and families can reconnect with creation through simple acts like gardening, composting, and supporting local farmers.

If you've ever wondered how your faith and your homestead fit together, I think this conversation will encourage you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✔ What the Bible says about stewarding God's creation
✔ Why Christians shouldn't avoid conversations about creation care
✔ How gardening and homesteading can strengthen your faith
✔ Why self-sufficiency isn't God's design for His people
✔ Practical ways to build community through caring for the land

Time Stamps:
0:00 – Introduction
2:21 – Homestead Kitchen Magazine
4:25 – Main Topic

Resources Mentioned:
📖 Read the companion blog post: https://homesteadingfamily.com/biblical-stewardship-of-the-land/
🌱 Learn more about the TEND Initiative: https://tendlife.org
📰 Subscribe to Homestead Kitchen Magazine: https://homesteadingfamily.com/in-the-homestead-kitchen-yt

If this episode encouraged you, I'd love it if you'd subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who has a heart for growing food, stewarding God's creation, and building a resilient home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Have you ever finished a canning session only to discover one or more jars didn't seal? It happens to every home canner at some point, and even after more than 20 years of canning and preserving food for my family, I still have an occasional seal failure.

In this video, I'm sharing the most common reasons canning jars don't seal, how to troubleshoot failed seals, and what you should do if you find an unsealed jar. We'll also cover simple habits that can help you prevent seal failures in future canning sessions so you can preserve your harvest with more confidence.

In this video you'll learn:

✔ The most common reasons canning jars don't seal
✔ How to tell if a jar has sealed properly
✔ How headspace, siphoning, and dirty rims affect your seal
✔ Why overtightening bands can cause problems
✔ What to do if a jar doesn't seal within 24 hours
✔ When it's safe to refrigerate, freeze, or reprocess your food
✔ Why I always remove screw bands before storing my jars

For even more troubleshooting tips, read the companion blog post here:
https://homesteadingfamily.com/why-didnt-my-canning-jars-seal/

Time Stamps:

0:00 – Introduction
1:22 – American Blossom Linens
3:39 – Why Canning Jars Don't Seal

This episode is sponsored by American Blossom Linens. Josh and I love investing in quality products that are made to last, and American Blossom Linens fits that philosophy perfectly. Their sheets, towels, blankets, and pillows are all made in the USA from high-quality cotton and backed by a two-year return policy. Use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY2026" to save 15% on your order here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/s-american-blossom-linens/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Are you working yourself to exhaustion trying to preserve every possible food for your pantry? I used to think a successful pantry meant recreating the grocery store at home. But after more than 20 years of homesteading, I've learned that's one of the fastest ways to burn out.

In this video, I'm sharing the mindset shift that completely changed the way I preserve food. Instead of asking, "What do I want to eat?" I started asking, "What preserves well?" That one simple change has saved me countless hours while helping me build a pantry that's practical, resilient, and full of nourishing food my family actually uses.

In this episode, you'll learn:
✔ Why treating your pantry like a grocery store leads to unnecessary work and burnout
✔ The foods I make a priority to preserve every year
✔ How root cellaring and fermentation can dramatically reduce your preserving workload
✔ When it's actually smarter to buy food that's already preserved
✔ How to build a seasonal pantry that saves time, money, and effort

⏰ Time Stamps
0:00 - Introduction
1:24 - Azure Standard
4:47 - Main Topic

📚 Resources Mentioned
Stop Treating Your Pantry Like a Grocery Store:
https://homesteadingfamily.com/stop-treating-your-pantry-like-a-grocery-store/

Food Preservation: A Year at a Glance:
https://homesteadingfamily.com/food-preservation-a-year-at-a-glance/

Root Cellaring for Beginners:
https://homesteadingfamily.com/preservation-101-root-cellaring/

Eating Seasonally on the Homestead:
https://homesteadingfamily.com/meal-planning-on-the-homestead/

This episode is sponsored by Azure Standard, one of Josh's and my favorite sources for bulk foods, pantry staples, organic produce, garden supplies, livestock feed, and hard-to-find homesteading essentials. We especially appreciate that they now offer home delivery in many areas, making it even easier to stock up on the quality products we rely on. If you're looking for a trusted source for homesteading supplies, be sure to check them out using the link below. And for first-time customers, you can use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15" for 15% off your FIRST order of $100 or more, shipped to a drop location: https://homesteadingfamily.com/main-azure-standard-b

👇 I'd love to hear from you: What's one food you no longer preserve because you've realized it simply isn't worth the time? Or what's one thing you'll never stop preserving yourself? Share your answer in the comments!

#FoodPreservation #Homesteading #PantryStorage #FoodStorage #Canning #SelfSufficiency

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

What does it really look like to manage a large homestead garden? In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, I'm joined by my oldest daughter, Rachel, who has taken over management of our main crop garden this year. We sit down for a candid conversation about what's working, what we're learning, and a few garden bloopers that prove even experienced gardeners don't always get it right!

Rachel shares what it means to be responsible for a garden without having to do all the labor herself, how we're involving younger children in the garden, and some of the systems we're putting in place to make gardening easier and more sustainable year after year.

We also talk about sprinkler timers, compost surprises, cats in freshly planted beds, and Rachel's best advice for both new and experienced gardeners.

In this episode, we cover:

🌱 How our family manages the main crop garden together
🌱 The difference between responsibility and doing all the work yourself
🌱 Practical ways to involve children of all ages in the garden
🌱 New watering systems we're testing this season
🌱 Garden mistakes, lessons learned, and funny stories from this year
🌱 Rachel's top tips for staying on top of your garden without feeling overwhelmed

One of my favorite takeaways from this conversation is Rachel's reminder that daily observation is one of the most valuable gardening habits you can develop. A few minutes walking through the garden each day can help you catch problems early, harvest crops at the right time, and enjoy the process a whole lot more.

🛏️ American Blossom Linens - Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring this podcast. We love their products because they're designed to last for years and are backed by an impressive 2-year money-back guarantee. They're also made with a focus on reducing unnecessary chemicals and toxins in the products you use every day. Use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY2026" for 15% off your order: https://homesteadingfamily.com/s-american-blossom-linens

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
1:13 - Chit Chat
5:26 - Homestead Kitchen Magazine
8:23 - Soil Health

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

What if the secret to healthier plants, bigger harvests, fewer pests, and less work in the garden isn't another fertilizer or amendment? What if it's your soil?

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we're kicking off a brand-new Soil School series by exploring the foundation of every productive garden: healthy soil. You'll learn why soil is much more than dirt, how a thriving soil ecosystem works, and the six key elements that create resilient, nutrient-dense gardens.

Over the next several months, Josh will be diving deeper into each of these topics in a special Soil School series designed to help you build healthier soil and work smarter, not harder, in the garden.

In this episode:
🌱 Why healthy soil is the key to healthier plants
🪱 The surprising amount of life living beneath your feet
💧 How healthy soil improves water retention
🐛 Why soil health can reduce pest and disease pressure
🌿 The four levels of soil health
🧑‍🌾 The six foundations of healthy soil

Whether you're a beginner gardener or have been growing food for years, this series will help you understand how to build living soil that works for you.

Check out the accompanying blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-improve-soil-quality/

This episode is sponsored by Homestead Kitchen Magazine. If you're passionate about from-scratch cooking, preserving the harvest, and building a thriving homestead centered around the kitchen, you'll love Homestead Kitchen Magazine. Filled with practical recipes, traditional skills, seasonal inspiration, and beautiful ad-free content, it's designed to help you build confidence in the kitchen and strengthen the connection between your garden, pantry, and table. https://homesteadingfamily.com/in-the-homestead-kitchen-yt

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
1:13 - Chit Chat
5:26 - Homestead Kitchen Magazine
8:23 - Soil Health

#Gardening #SoilHealth #OrganicGardening

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Have you ever tried to identify a plant, opened a field guide, and immediately felt overwhelmed? You're not alone.

In this episode, I'm joined by Rachel Parks of Botany in an Hour to talk about a simple approach to botany that can completely change the way you look at plants. Instead of trying to memorize thousands of individual species, Rachel explains how learning a handful of plant families can help you become a better gardener, herbalist, forager, and homesteader.

We discuss why understanding plant families is often the missing link that makes plant identification easier, how this knowledge can improve your gardening decisions, and why even young children can quickly learn to recognize common plant groups once they know what clues to look for.

Whether you're interested in medicinal herbs, foraging wild plants, improving your garden, or simply understanding the plants growing around you, this conversation will give you a practical framework for learning botany without feeling overwhelmed.

In This Episode We Cover:

• Why plant families are easier to learn than individual species
• How botany can improve your gardening and companion planting
• The connection between plant families and herbal medicine
• Simple clues for identifying plants in the mint family
• Why plant family knowledge can make foraging easier
• How understanding plant relationships can help you learn faster
• Using botanical knowledge to recognize patterns in food sensitivities
• Why plant diversity matters in the garden

Resources Mentioned:
🌿 Save 20% on any Botany in an Hour course with coupon code: HFPODCAST20
https://botanyinanhour.com/
🌿 10 Questions You Need to Ask to Identify Any Flowering Plant
https://botanyinanhour.com/2025/05/07/10questionstoask/
🌿 Best Botany Resources for Kids
https://botanyinanhour.com/find-the-best-botany-resources-for-kids/
🌿 Read the accompanying blog post: https://homesteadingfamily.com/learn-botany-for-beginners/

Thanks to Farmhouse Teas for sponsoring this podcast. Be sure to check out their herbal tea selection for delicious iced tea for summer! Use coupon code "HSPodcast" for 10% off your purchase (one use per customer): https://homesteadingfamily.com/HFteas-favorites 

Time Stamps
0:00 - Introduction
3:19 - Farmhouse Teas
5:36 - Main Topic

#Botany #PlantIdentification #Herbalism 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

If you’ve ever struggled with pests in the garden, this episode will completely change how you think about natural pest control.

Instead of reaching for sprays first, we’re talking about a layered, holistic approach to growing healthier plants that naturally resist pests better. From building living soil to attracting beneficial insects and knowing when organic interventions are actually appropriate, this conversation is all about working with nature instead of fighting against it.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why healthy soil is the foundation of pest resistance
• The connection between soil biology and plant health
• How daily observation can stop infestations early
• Physical and mechanical pest control methods that actually work
• Companion planting and attracting beneficial insects
• When organic sprays can help and when they can do harm
• Why adjusting expectations may be one of the most important parts of organic gardening

Whether you’re a brand new gardener or have been growing food for years, this framework can help you create a healthier, more resilient garden ecosystem.

For more information, check out the accompanying blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/garden-pest-control/

LINKS MENTIONED

- Traditional Cooking Class - Check out Carolyn's new class over at the School of Traditional Skills here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/STS_Member_n
- Modern Homesteading Conference - Join us in Idaho this June 2026 and come say hi! Grab your tickets here: https://modern-homesteading.myshopify.com/HF10
- Thanks to Azure Standard for sponsoring this podcast. Grab your canning supplies and be ready for preservation season. For first-time customers, get 15% off your order of $100 or more with coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15": https://homesteadingfamily.com/AzureStandard 

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
1:28 - Chit Chat
9:18 - Azure Standard
11:00 - Natural Pest Control

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

In this podcast, I’m diving into three canning concepts that confuse even experienced home canners. These are the kinds of things that can leave you second-guessing whether your jars are actually safe on the pantry shelf.

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, I’m breaking down:

- Why I never store jars with the rings tightened on
- What changing liquid levels in your jars actually mean
- Why proper headspace matters so much
- What causes siphoning and how to prevent it
- How false seals happen and what to watch for

I know canning can feel overwhelming at times, especially when your jars don’t look “perfect,” but I want you to understand what actually matters for safety so you can preserve food confidently.

For even more safety tips and common canning questions answered, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/canning-mistakes-to-avoid/

🎉 FREE LIVE CANNING TRAINING: This month I’m hosting a free live canning training where I’ll walk you through the canning process step-by-step and answer your questions live during the Q&A. Sign up here 👉 https://homesteadingfamily.com/freecanningtraining

A huge thank you to today’s sponsor, Grand Tetons Ancient Grains! They offer incredible traditional organic grains like einkorn, spelt, emmer, and rye straight from their regenerative family farm and mill. Use coupon code HOMESTEADINGFAMILY for 10% off through the end of June 2026. 👉 https://www.ancientgrains.com/?a_aid=HF&a_bid=7ebf0172 

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
1:15 - Free Canning Training
3:07 - Grand Teton Ancient Grains
6:21 - Canning Rules

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Should you water your garden every day? The short answer is probably not. In this episode, we’re breaking down one of the most common gardening questions and helping you understand how to water your garden for healthier plants, deeper roots, and better harvests.

You’ll learn:
• How often most gardens actually need water
• Why daily watering can weaken plants
• The difference between deep watering and shallow watering
• The best time of day to water
• How soil type changes your watering schedule
• Signs you may be overwatering or underwatering
• How mulch and healthy soil reduce watering needs naturally

Whether you garden in raised beds, containers, or a large in-ground garden, these simple principles will help you stop guessing and start watering with confidence.

Read the full article here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/best-time-to-water-garden/

Thanks to Farmhouse Teas for sponsoring this podcast! Be sure to check out all our Homesteading Family favorites, including the Persnickety Peach Chai for your summer iced tea!  If you want to give it a try, Farmhouse Teas is offering 10% off your order with the code HSPODCAST. It’s a one-time use discount and good for one per customer, so be sure to use it wisely: https://homesteadingfamily.com/FHTeas-Favorites

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Intro
1:27 - Chit Chat
5:00 - Farmhouse Teas
6:52 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

How do we preserve family, community, and truth in a culture that seems to be moving faster and faster away from them?

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, I sat down with my friend Rory Groves for a thoughtful conversation about modern culture, technology, family economy, and what many families are sensing right now: that something important has been lost.

Using the republished book Henry and the Great Society as a starting point, we talked about how modernization changed family life, community, work, and even the way we think about self-sufficiency. We also discussed why history matters and how looking backward can help us move forward with more intentionality.

This conversation touches on:

 Family economy and durable living  The tension between independence and community  Why intentionality matters more than ever  Building culture for future generations  Encouragement for families trying to live differently in uncertain times 

I really appreciated Rory’s perspective and his heart for helping families think deeply about what it means to build a life that lasts.

Links Mentioned:
- Grab your copy of Henry and the Great Society here: https://homeward.press
- Find Rory's book, Durable Trades here: https://www.thegrovestead.com/product/durable-trades/
- Learn more about the Gather and Grow events here: https://gatherandgrow.us

🌿 Today’s episode is sponsored by Homestead Kitchen Magazine: Homestead Kitchen Magazine is our ad-free monthly print magazine filled with trusted recipes, seasonal living inspiration, gardening, herbalism, preserving, and practical homestead skills from experienced teachers and contributors. Carolyn also shares a monthly faith-centered reflection from the heart of the homestead. Grab your subscription here: 👉 https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-magazine

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

After years of pushing hard on our homestead, we reached a point where we had to ask a tough question: Is everything we’re doing actually sustainable?

Last year, we intentionally slowed down. Not completely, but enough to take a step back and evaluate what was working and what wasn’t.

And what we learned changed how we’re approaching this year in a big way.

In this episode, we’re sharing the real-life changes we’re making on our homestead. The projects we’re moving forward with, the systems we’re simplifying, and a few things we’re choosing to let go of entirely.

Because here’s the truth most people don’t talk about... You don’t have to do everything to build a successful homestead.

🌱 In This Episode

 Why we took a slower year and what it revealed  The homestead projects we’re focusing on in 2026  What we’re scaling back and why it matters  How our homestead is shifting into a multi-generational model  The systems that were adding too much pressure  What we’re doing differently this time around 

🧭 Topics We Cover

 Simplifying dairy production  Stepping away from pig breeding  Turning over the main garden to the next generation  Expanding the beef program  Starting a family egg business  Rebuilding the house exterior  Resetting the orchard for long-term success 

🧭 Mentioned in This Video
- Learn how much to plant for a year’s worth of food: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-grow-a-years-worth-of-food/
- Raising backyard chickens: https://homesteadingfamily.com/raising-backyard-egg-laying-chickens/
- Stocking your pantry the right way: https://homesteadingfamily.com/prepping-your-pantry-for-winter/
- Planting fruit trees: https://homesteadingfamily.com/growing-perennials-on-the-homestead/
- Thanks to Azure Standard for sponsoring this podcast. For first-time customers, use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15" for 15% off your first order of $100 or more: https://homesteadingfamily.com/main-azure-standard-b

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 - Introduction
1:22 - Azure Standard
5:29 - 2026 Projects

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

I’ll be honest… when I first heard about freeze dryers, I thought they were a gimmick.

I didn’t want to spend money on an expensive appliance that would just sit there collecting dust.

But after using one in my own kitchen, I can tell you this clearly… I was wrong.

In this video, I’m sharing the 7 things I wish I knew before getting a freeze dryer. These are the lessons that would have saved me time, food, and a whole lot of frustration when I was first starting out.

If you’re wondering whether a freeze dryer is worth it, or how to actually use one in real life, this will help you make a much more confident decision.

I’ll walk you through:

• Why I thought a freeze dryer would be a waste (and what changed)
• The #1 factor that determines how your food turns out
• Why you need a simple workflow, not just a machine
• The packaging mistake that can ruin your food
• Why freeze drying isn’t as complicated as it sounds
• The best foods to start with (and what to avoid)
• How a freeze dryer can pay for itself faster than you expect

Freeze drying has helped me reduce food waste, simplify meal prep, and honestly… give me back weeks of my time every year. And that’s something I don’t take lightly.

👉 Want help getting started without the trial and error?

Join me for my FREE live freeze drying training where I walk you step-by-step through:

• The 7 steps to freeze drying (so you get it right the first time)
• How to afford a freeze dryer
• Practical ways it saves money
• How to actually make it work in your daily life

You can sign up here:
https://homesteadingfamily.com/freeze-drying-training

I’ll be there live teaching and answering your questions.

If you’ve been thinking about freeze drying, this is one of those skills that can truly change how you preserve food and manage your time at home.

For more information, check out the accompanying blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/things-i-wish-i-knew-before-getting-a-freeze-dryer/

LINKS MENTIONED:

- Freeze Drying FREE Webinar: https://homesteadingfamily.com/freeze-drying-training
- Freeze Drying the Harvest book: https://homesteadingfamily.com/hl-freeze-drying-the-harvest
- Freeze Drying Archives on our website: https://homesteadingfamily.com/category/preserve/freeze-drying/
- How to Store Freeze Dried Food: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-store-freeze-dried-food/
- Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring this episode of Everyday Homesteading. If you want to replace your linens with cleaner, more sustainable options, use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY2026" for 15% off your order: https://homesteadingfamily.com/s-american-blossom-linens/

TIME STAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction
1:50 - American Blossom Linens
4:35 - Main Topic

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

If you’ve ever felt like you need to learn everything before starting a garden, you’re not alone.

In today’s episode, we’re simplifying the process and showing you how to start a garden without getting overwhelmed.

Gardening is a journey. And the truth is, you don’t need perfect soil, perfect seeds, or perfect knowledge to begin. You just need a few key principles and a willingness to learn as you go.

This episode is all about helping you take that first step with confidence.

In this episode we cover:

 Why your first garden should be a practice garden The 5 essential elements for a successful garden  What beginners often overthink (and can safely ignore)  How to build confidence through small, simple steps 

Resources Mentioned

 Check Out the Traditional Skills Academy: https://traditionalskillsacademy.com Grab your Homestead Kitchen Magazine subscription here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-magazine To track the sun, use the SunSeeker app 

You don’t need to have it all figured out to start gardening. Just get something in the ground. Learn as you go. And remember… this is your practice garden. 🌱

For more information and other helpful blog posts, check out the accompanying post to this podcast: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-start-a-garden/

Time Stamps

0:00 - Introduction
 1:28 - Chit Chat
 11:11 - Homestead Kitchen Magazine
 13:58 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Are your chicken eggs coming into the house dirty, especially during mud season?

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, Carolyn is joined by Amy, cofounder of Good Egg, to talk about how to keep eggs clean starting in the coop—and how to properly handle fresh eggs once they’re in your kitchen.

We’re covering everything from nesting box strategies to the right (and wrong) way to wash eggs, plus how storage methods affect shelf life. If you’ve ever wondered whether to wash your eggs, how long they last, or how to keep them cleaner in the first place, this episode will give you clear, practical answers.

In this video, you’ll learn:

- How to keep eggs clean in the coop (even during mud season)
- The difference between clean, dirty, and washed eggs
- What the egg bloom is and why it matters
- How to wash eggs safely without pulling bacteria inside
- The best ways to store fresh eggs for longer shelf life
- Whether you’re new to backyard chickens or have been raising hens for years, these simple systems will help you bring cleaner eggs into your kitchen and use them more efficiently.

- Read the full blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-keep-eggs-clean/
- Learn more about Good Egg products and use coupon code "15OFFHSFAMILY" for 15% off your purchase: https://goodeggstuff.co/hsf
- Grab my FREE guide for preserving eggs here: https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/PreservingEggs
- Thanks to Farmhouse Teas for sponsoring this episode. Click the link to check out all of Homesteading Family's favorites, and be sure to use coupon code "HSPODCAST" for 10% off your order: https://homesteadingfamily.com/FHTeas-Favorites

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
2:42 - Farmhouse Teas
6:20 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

How do you get your kids excited about gardening, especially if you’re still learning yourself?

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, I’m joined by Luke Hammond from Dirt Academy Kids to talk about why gardening is one of the most powerful tools we have for raising capable, grounded kids.

We dive into:

 Why so many adults who garden today had childhood garden experiences  The real-life skills kids learn in the garden  How gardening helps improve kids’ health and their relationship with food  The challenge of teaching kids while you’re still learning  A simple, structured way to bring kids alongside you 

Luke also shares how Dirt Academy Kids is helping families bridge the gap with a hands-on gardening curriculum designed specifically for kids.

If you’ve ever wondered how to bring your kids into the garden without frustration, this episode is for you.

Watch or learn more with the accompanying blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-get-your-kids-excited-about-gardening/

👉 Learn more about Dirt Academy Kids here: https://dirtacademykids.com

Thanks to our sponsor, Azure Standard. For first-time Azure customers, use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15" for 15% off your first order of $100 or more: https://homesteadingfamily.com/main-azure-standard-b 

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
0:52 - Azure Standard
2:14 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

What happens when your child grows up… and chooses to stay?

In this episode of the Everyday Homesteading podcast, I’m joined by my oldest daughter, Rachel, as we share the story behind her and her husband’s decision to stay close to home and build a tiny house right here on our homestead.

We’re talking about what it really looks like to build a life near family in today’s world—from navigating independence and boundaries to learning how to work together as separate households with a shared vision.

Rachel also shares honestly about her experience growing up on a homestead, what made her want to stay, and what it’s been like adjusting to off-grid living (including the parts that aren’t so glamorous).

If you’ve ever wondered what multi-generational homesteading could look like—or if it’s even possible—this conversation will give you a real, behind-the-scenes look.

In this episode, we cover:

Why Rachel and her husband chose to stay on the homesteadWhat it’s like building and living in a tiny home on family landThe reality of off-grid living (and the biggest adjustment!)How we’re creating independence while living close togetherA new take on the “family economy” and shared homesteading lifeWhy communication is the foundation of making this lifestyle work

 Read the full blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/why-our-daughter-chose-to-stay-close-to-home/

Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring this podcast! If you'd like to give their products  a try, use the coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY2026" for 15% off your entire order (one time use per customer), and know they have a two-year warranty on all their products!: https://homesteadingfamily.com/s-american-blossom-linens

TIME STAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction
1:00 - Chit Chat
4:29 - American Blossom Linens
6:28 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Canning safety can feel overwhelming, especially when you hear all the warnings and conflicting advice out there. But what if it’s actually much simpler than you think?

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down the three things you absolutely must get right for canning safety so you can preserve food with confidence and peace of mind.

We’ll talk about:

Why so many people feel afraid of canningThe truth about botulism and real riskHow pH determines whether you water bath or pressure canWhy processing time matters more than you thinkThe biggest mistakes to avoid (including unsafe methods still being taught today)How to confidently know your food is safe on the shelf

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?”—this episode will give you the clarity you need.

👩‍🌾 Get the FREE Confident Canner Pack here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/confident-canner-podcast

To learn more, visit the accompanying blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/canning-mistakes-to-avoid/

🌿 Thanks to Azure Standard for sponsoring today's podcast. If you're brand new to Azure, get 15% off your first order of $100 or more with code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15": https://homesteadingfamily.com/main-azure-standard-b

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

We spend a lot of time learning the hands-on skills of homesteading like baking, gardening, and preserving. But what if those aren’t the skills that actually make a home run well?

In this episode, we’re talking about the quiet skills that don’t get much attention but make all the difference. Things like planning ahead, creating rhythms, finishing what you start, and learning how to say no.

These are the habits that protect your peace, prevent burnout, and help you build a sustainable homesteading lifestyle for the long haul.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to do it all, this episode will help you step back, refocus, and create a home that feels both productive and peaceful. 

For more information, check out the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/the-quiet-skills-that-make-a-home-run-well/

Links Mentioned:
- Eat Pluck - If you want to get more organ meats into your diet, Pluck is the best place to start! Use coupon code "EATHEALTHY15" for 15% off your order: https://homesteadingfamily.com/eat-pluck

Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring this podcast. If you would like to give them a try, they have a two-year warranty! Plus, grab 15% off your first order with coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY2026": https://homesteadingfamily.com/s-american-blossom-linens

Time Stamps
0:00 - Introduction
1:35 - Chit Chat
10:29 - American Blossom Linens
12:27 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Cultured dairy sounds intimidating, but it's actually one of the easiest traditional kitchen skills you can learn.

In this video, I explain how cultured dairy works, why it’s so beneficial for digestion and gut health, and how you can start making your own yogurt right at home.

Once you understand the basics, you’ll realize that cultured dairy is far simpler than most people think. The bacteria do almost all the work. Your job is simply to create the right environment and give it time.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What cultured dairy actually is
• Why fermented dairy is easier to digest
• The two types of dairy cultures (thermophilic and mesophilic)
• How to make homemade yogurt step-by-step
• Simple ways to keep yogurt warm while it cultures
• How to keep your yogurt culture going batch after batch

If you've ever thought making yogurt or cultured dairy was complicated, this video will show you just how approachable it really is.

Traditional kitchen skills like this can help you stretch your grocery budget, improve digestion, and bring healthier foods into your home.

👉 Read the full blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/cultured-dairy-made-simple/

👉 Join our FREE live dairy training here:
https://homesteadingfamily.com/dairy-live-podcast

Thanks to Farmhouse Teas for sponsoring this podcast! Be sure to check out the Sneeze-Ali Tea here, along with our other favorites: https://homesteadingfamily.com/FHTeas-Favorites

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Introduction
1:45 - Farmhouse Teas
4:45 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Most people never fail at gardening. They quit before they begin.

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, Josh sits down with Luke from MIgardener to talk about why so many aspiring gardeners stay stuck in the dreaming and planning phase — and what it actually takes to start.

You’ll learn:

Why fear of failure quietly holds people backThe mindset shift that changes everythingThe importance of journaling and tracking your harvestHow to grow what your family actually eatsWhy building soil every year is non-negotiable

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect conditions, this episode is your reminder: imperfect action beats perfect planning every time.

Watch the interview or read the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/stop-planning-and-start-gardening-even-if-its-imperfect/

Be sure to find Luke at MIgardener on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or at https://migardener.com
You can also email any of your gardening questions to [email protected] and be sure to check out his full line of seeds at https://migardener.com/seeds

We want to thank Grubbly Farms for sponsoring this episode. If you raise chickens, you know they’re not just livestock — they’re part of the daily rhythm of your homestead. That’s why we appreciate Grubbly’s focus on clean, thoughtfully sourced feed and treats made without fillers or unnecessary additives. If you’d like to try them, you can get 30% off your first order with the code HOMESTEADING30 and give your flock a boost the natural way: https://homesteadingfamily.com/grubbly-farms-fb 

TIME STAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction
1:15 - Grubbly Farms
3:02 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

For many homesteaders, the dream is complete self-sufficiency. Producing all your own food. Depending on no one. Living independently.

But is that really possible? And more importantly, is it even the right goal?

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we’re sharing why complete self-sufficiency is actually a myth and what matters far more: building practical skills and strengthening community.

We discuss how focusing on skills rather than trying to do everything yourself leads to more resilience, less overwhelm, and greater freedom in your homesteading journey.

You’ll learn how to shift your mindset, avoid burnout, and build real, lasting resilience for your family.

Read the full blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/self-sufficiency-is-a-myth/

Thanks to Azure Standard for sponsoring this episode! Azure has been our trusted source for bulk foods and pantry staples for years. When we can’t grow or produce something ourselves, Azure Standard is often our first choice. Get 15% off your first order of $100 or more using coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15" at checkout: https://homesteadingfamily.com/main-azure-standard-b

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
 - Azure Standard
 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Even with healthy, well-selected animals, there comes a day when you have to call the vet.

And when that moment comes, most of us aren’t nearly as prepared as we could be.

In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend and veterinarian, Dr. Patrick Jones of The Homegrown Herbalist, to talk through what every homesteader should know before picking up the phone.

We discuss:

The importance of signalment (age, breed, sex, pregnancy status)Why taking a temperature can immediately narrow down a diagnosisThe questions your vet is likely to askWhat details matter most in an emergencyHow good observation can improve care and reduce stress

This is one of those practical, real-life conversations that helps you feel equipped instead of overwhelmed.

If you raise livestock or have animals on your homestead, this episode will give you simple, actionable steps to be ready when something goes wrong.

For more information (or to watch my interview with Doc Jones), visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/things-to-know-before-calling-the-vet/

For more from Dr. Jones, visit: https://homegrownherbalist.net

Thanks to the sponsor of this podcast, Farmhouse Teas! Check out the Plumb Tuckered Out tea (and all the rest of our favorites), and be sure to use the coupon code "HSPodcast" for 10% off your order (one time use per customer): https://homesteadingfamily.com/FHTeas-Favorites

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Introduction
2:57 - Farmhouse Teas
5:57 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Making bread isn’t about talent, and it’s not about finding the perfect recipe either.

In this episode, I’m sharing why bread is one of the most foundational skills in the homesteading kitchen and how learning to read your dough instead of following formulas changes everything. From flour amounts to kneading to rise times, we’re breaking down the simple techniques that lead to consistent, reliable bread no matter where you live or what recipe you use.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated, inconsistent, or convinced that bread “just isn’t your thing,” this episode will help you see bread making in a completely new way.

👉 Read the accompanying blog post here:
 https://homesteadingfamily.com/the-secret-to-reliable-bread/

🎥 Free Bread Training
If you want to see these techniques in action, I’m hosting a free bread training where I walk through each step on video and show you exactly what to look for.
👉 Sign up here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-bread

🛏 Today’s Sponsor: American Blossom Linens
Most sheets are made with toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, PFAS, and flame retardants. American Blossom Linens makes toxin-free sheets right here in the USA, and they’re built to last. Use code HOMESTEADINGFAMILY2026 to get 15% off your order (one use per customer). They also offer a 2-year money-back guarantee, so you can try them risk-free: https://homesteadingfamily.com/s-american-blossom-linens

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
2:15 - American Blossom Linens
5:53 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Thinking about keeping backyard egg-laying chickens, but not sure where to begin? In today’s episode, we walk through the essential checklist every new chicken keeper should know.

We cover:
• What to think about before bringing chickens home
• Coop setup and space requirements
• Feeding, water, and daily care routines
• How to successfully raise chicks in their first few weeks
• Biosecurity basics and avoiding common pitfalls
• Planning for seasonal egg production

Whether this is your first flock or you’re brushing up on best practices, this episode gives you a clear, practical foundation so you can raise healthy, happy chickens.

- Read more on the blog and get your free printable checklist:
https://homesteadingfamily.com/raising-backyard-egg-laying-chickens/

- Printable Quick-Start Chicken Keeping Checklist: https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/pl/2148743214

- Check out the monthly chicken articles inside the Homestead Kitchen Magazine: https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-hkm

- Thanks to Grubbly Farms, the sponsor of this podcast episode. If you'd like to give Grubbly a try, use coupon code "HOMESTEADING30" for 30% off your order! https://homesteadingfamily.com/grubbly-farms-fb

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Introduction
1:38 - Chit Chat
5:38 - Grubbly Farms
7:18 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Feeling overwhelmed while trying to add homesteading skills to an already full life? You’re not alone. In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, I’m continuing our conversation about going from overwhelmed to peaceful and sharing what I’ve learned about building a homestead life that’s sustainable for the long haul.

This is Part 2 of our series on creating peaceful household rhythms instead of rigid schedules. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, I recommend starting there and then coming back to this episode so these ideas can really come together.

👉 Listen to Part 1 and Part 2 here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/3-things-that-keep-our-homestead-running/

In this episode, we talk about:

Why you don’t have the same energy every day or every seasonHow rhythms work better than strict schedulesAssigning focus days to reduce overwhelmCreating household minimums that support your family instead of exhausting youLetting go of unrealistic expectations and finding peace in everyday life

If this conversation resonates with you and you’d like help putting it into practice, you’re invited to join me inside the Find Your Peaceful Homestead Rhythm Challenge, where I walk you through creating a custom system for your own home.

👉 Join the challenge here:
 https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/homestead-kitchen-membership-evergreen

You can also find ongoing encouragement, seasonal inspiration, and practical homesteading skills inside the Homestead Kitchen Magazine.

👉 Subscribe here:
 https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-magazine

Links Mentioned:

👉Homemade Sandwich Bread Recipe: https://homesteadingfamily.com/basic-homemade-sandwich-bread-recipe/
👉Homemade Make-Ahead Breakfast Casseroles: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MABC_YT

Thanks for spending this time with me. My hope is that this episode helps you release some pressure, find more peace in your day, and move toward a rhythm that truly works for your home.

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Introduction
3:45 - Homestead Living Magazine
6:00 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

If you love the idea of homesteading but constantly feel behind, overwhelmed, or emotionally exhausted, I recorded this episode for you.

In Part 1 of this new series, I’m sharing the household system that helped me move from constant pressure and burnout to a calmer, more sustainable rhythm of life. I talk about why overwhelm usually isn’t a discipline problem and why trying to “work harder” often makes things worse, especially for busy moms caring for families while adding homesteading skills.

I share why stacking homesteading on top of an already full life doesn’t bring peace, how historical households managed full workloads without living by the clock, and the simple mindset shift that helped me stop feeling like I was always behind.

This episode lays the foundation for creating a homestead life that fits real seasons, real energy levels, and real families, without guilt or burnout.

Learn more about the Homestead Kitchen Membership and the Peaceful Homestead Rhythm Challenge here: homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-hkm

Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring this podcast. Use code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY2026" for 15% off your next order. Only ONE use per customer. Enjoy! https://homesteadingfamily.com/s-american-blossom-linens

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Homesteading is about so much more than chores, food, and checklists. In this episode, I’m joined by RuthAnn Zimmerman from Homesteading With the Zimmermans for a conversation that goes straight to the heart of what this lifestyle is really about: people.

We talk about balancing hospitality with busy homestead life, raising children with a strong work ethic and character, and learning to trust God’s economy when it comes to time, energy, and priorities. RuthAnn shares how she keeps emotional needs first in her family and why that simple shift brings so much peace to the home.

If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed by the busyness, or wondering how to keep relationships from getting lost in the work, this episode is for you.

📚 RuthAnn's book, The Heart of the Homestead, here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/heart-of-the-homestead-book
🎥 Find her on YouTube: @Ruthannzimm

Thanks for being here and for walking this journey of everyday homesteading with us.

Thanks to Azure Standard for sponsoring this episode of Everyday Homesteading. For first-time customers, use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15" at checkout for 15% off your order of $100 or more: https://homesteadingfamily.com/main-azure-standard-b

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Introduction
2:59 - Azure Standard
5:10 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

A lot of people talk about going off-grid. But what if off-grid living isn’t just about power and water, but about freedom from systems that quietly run your life?

In this episode, I sit down with Jeff Burkinshaw from the Gridlessness YouTube channel to talk about what gridlessness really means. Jeff shares how his family moved from suburban life to a remote homestead in the Canadian wilderness, not out of fear, but out of a deep desire to live with intention.

We talk about
• redefining what it means to be “off-grid”
• breaking free from debt and financial pressure
• raising kids with responsibility, resilience, and confidence
• the real challenges of independent living
• and why freedom is worth the work it takes to build it

If you’ve ever felt the pull toward a simpler, more meaningful way of living, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.

👉 Links mentioned in this episode
• Jeff’s book: Gridlessness: Finding Freedom Off Grid: https://homesteadingfamily.com/gridlessness-book
• Gridlessness YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Gridlessness
• Everyday Homesteading podcast: https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcasts/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

After more than 20 years of homesteading, we are looking back and sharing what we wish we had known when we first started.

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we talk honestly about the mistakes we made, the pressure to do everything at once, and the lessons that helped us find a more peaceful, sustainable rhythm. From gardening and kitchen skills to land size, infrastructure, and people-first priorities, this conversation is full of perspective for anyone feeling overwhelmed on their homesteading journey.

Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been at this for years, we hope this episode helps you slow down, focus on what matters most, and remember that homesteading is a lifelong journey, not a destination.

🎓 Join the How to Homestead Anywhere Crash Course - Learn how to homestead wherever you live and build rhythms that actually work for your season of life. 👉 https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/crash-course

🍞 Grab my free bread workshop here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

🌿 Thank you to today’s sponsor, Farmhouse Teas - If you love a cozy, nourishing drink but want to skip the excess sugar, check out Farmhouse Teas’ Hushroom Cocoa Blend. It’s an adaptogenic mushroom cocoa that’s calming, customizable, and perfect for cold days. Use code "HSPODCAST" for 10% off.  👉 https://homesteadingfamily.com/hushroom-cocoa

📌 In this episode, we discuss:
• Why doing everything at once leads to burnout
• The foundational skills we wish we had focused on first
• Why bigger homesteads are not always better
• Letting go of the idea that you ever “arrive” at homesteading
• Keeping people at the center of homestead life

Thanks for spending time with us. We’re glad you’re here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

What does a “Year of Rest” actually look like on a working homestead?

In this episode, we’re reflecting on our decision to slow down over the past year, what changed, what stayed the same, and what surprised us along the way. We share how cutting big projects brought more margin into our days, why rest doesn’t mean the work disappears, and how an unplanned cabin build for the next generation fit into our bigger vision.

This is an honest, end-of-year conversation about pace, sustainability, and having the courage to adjust before burnout forces it.

If you’re feeling tired, scattered, or unsure how to move into the next season, we hope this episode encourages you to slow down and have an honest conversation about what really matters.

Thanks to Azure Standard for sponsoring this week's podcast. First-time customers can get 15% off their first order of $100 or more with the coupon code “HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15” at checkout: https://homesteadingfamily.com/main-azure-standard-b

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
1:19 - Chit Chat
9:57 - Azure Standard
11:34 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

If you have ever found yourself saying, “This winter, we’ll finally rest,” you are not alone. Josh and I have joked about it for years, imagining a slower season that somehow never quite arrives on its own.

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, I’m sharing what I’ve been learning about real rest. Not just getting more sleep, but the kind of deep, soul-level rest that brings clarity, peace, and renewed purpose. The kind of rest that helps you remember your why.

We talk about why rest never happens by accident, how much control we actually have over our overwhelm, and what intentional rest can look like in the middle of real homestead life. From simplifying digital noise to creating gentler rhythms at home, this is a conversation about choosing rest on purpose.

If you’re heading into a new season feeling tired, stretched thin, or quietly longing for slower days, this episode is an invitation to pause, breathe, and make room for rest that truly restores.

For more information, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/finding-rest-in-the-quiet-times/

Thanks to Laurel Mountain Soaps for sponsoring this podcast episode. Grab 15% off your first order when you use the coupon code "Homesteading15" at checkout:
https://laurelmountainsoaps.com/collections/goat-milk-and-honey-soap

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Welcome back to Everyday Homesteading. Today I’m sitting down with two people I deeply respect and always enjoy talking with, Shawn and Beth Dougherty. If you have ever wondered whether a family milk cow actually fits into a busy modern homestead, or if you’ve been feeling that tug toward a simpler, more land-rooted way of feeding your family, this conversation is for you.

Shawn and Beth have spent more than twenty-five years raising a large family, stewarding rough Appalachian ground, and building a thriving homestead centered around the grass-fed family cow. Their new book, One Cow Revolution, takes everything they’ve learned and puts it into a guide that feels like having a wise neighbor over the fence.

We talk about why the dairy cow is still one of the most powerful tools for food independence, how managed grazing can rebuild soil and family culture, and why the cow is far less of a burden than most people fear. Whether you already have a cow, hope to bring one home someday, or think you never will, you’ll walk away from this episode with a whole new sense of what’s possible.

Let’s dive in.

- Grab a copy of One Cow Revolution here: https://a.co/d/gAx6o34
- Check out the accompanying blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/can-anyone-keep-a-dairy-cow
- Thanks to Lehman's for sponsoring today's podcast. Be sure to check out all Lehman's has to offer at https://lehmans.com 

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
1:42 - Lehman's
2:39 - Main Topic
42:31 - One Cow Revolution (Book)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Mistakes happen on every homestead, and today we are sharing some of our biggest ones from the past year so you can learn right alongside us. Whether it is garden chaos, livestock mishaps, or ignoring that little voice of intuition, these lessons are part of growing wiser and more resilient on the homestead.

We are also chatting about winter prep, homeschool rhythms, fruit flies in the pantry, and a few behind–the–scenes stories from life here at Riverbend. Grab a warm drink and join us for some real talk about what went wrong and how we are moving forward.

Time Stamps
0:00 - Introduction
1:20 - Chit Chat
3:00 - Cabin Build (Card)
10:41 - ForJars
12:19 - Main Topic

Grab Your Spot:
Get registered for our free, live How to Homestead Anywhere crash course. This week-long training will help you build resilience and peaceful rhythms no matter where you live:

Learn Seed Saving:
Start saving your own garden seeds with this simple beginners guide:
https://homesteadingfamily.com/seed-saving-for-beginners/

Thank You to ForJars:
We appreciate ForJars for sponsoring this episode. Check out their line of durable, homestead-friendly canning and preserving tools. Use coupon code HOMESTEADINGFAMILY10 to save 10 percent on your order: https://homesteadingfamily.com/forjars

As always, we love hearing from you. Share your biggest homesteading mistakes in the comments below so we can learn from each other.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are the Homesteading Family, where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4-video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4-video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!  Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Learn how to make cheese the traditional way using natural raw milk cultures like clabber, kefir, and backsplash whey.

In this conversation with Robyn Jackson from Cheese From Scratch, we dig into how to create and maintain your own starter cultures, how to troubleshoot clabber that smells a little funky, and how to use these cultures to make everything from cream cheese to aged wheels.

This episode covers:

• What clabber is and why it was used for generations
• How to build and maintain a healthy clabber culture
• How kefir can work as a starter culture
• When backsplash whey is useful and when it is not
• How to know if your culture has gone bad
• How to make a simple clabber cream cheese at home
• Why natural cultures can make your cheeses taste better than commercial starters

✅ If you want to learn how to work with raw milk in a way that is simple, safe, and incredibly rewarding, this episode will give you the confidence to begin. Learn more here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/natural-cheesemaking/
✅ Grab a copy of Robyn's book, Cheese From Scratchhere: https://homesteadliving.com/product/cheese-from-scratch/
✅ Check out my Practical Homemade Dairy Masterclass here: https://homesteadliving.com/product/cheese-from-scratch/

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
2:54 - American Blossom Linens
4:48 - Main Topic

- Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring today's podcast. Be sure to grab yourself 20% off your purchase with coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY". Check out all their amazing products here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/s-american-blossom-linens

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!  Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we open up about cultivating contentment in every season of our homestead life. It's easy to feel grateful when everything is going smoothly, but true contentment is often built in the hard moments.

Today, we talk about choosing gratitude, navigating overwhelm, balancing the desire to grow with the ability to rest, and finding joy in whatever season you are in.

✅ For more information, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/cultivating-contentment-on-the-homestead/
✅ Get all our favorite sausage recipes here: https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/pl/2148622418
✅ Learn how to render lard here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/rendering-lard-or-tallow/
✅ Thank you to ForJars for sponsoring today's podcast. Check out their full line of tools at their website and use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY10" for ten percent off your purchase: https://homesteadingfamily.com/forjars

TIME STAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction
2:55 - Chit Chat
11:11 - ForJars
12:35 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are the Homesteading Family, where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4-video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4-video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!  Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

If you’ve ever wondered how to rehydrate dehydrated food so it actually tastes good, this episode is for you! Join me with guest Darcy Baldwin from The Purposeful Pantry as we share our best tips for dehydrating and rehydrating food for everyday use, not just for emergencies.

You’ll learn:
✅ How to rehydrate vegetables, fruits, and meats for soups, casseroles, and skillet meals
✅ Why dehydrating is one of the easiest, most affordable long-term food storage methods
✅ When to blanch vegetables before dehydrating
✅ How to use green powders and veggie powders to boost everyday nutrition
✅ Pantry organization systems that save you time and money

Whether you’re building a working pantry, stocking up for winter, or learning how to use dehydrated food in real meals, this episode will show you how to make every jar on your shelf a tool for convenience and nourishment.

✨ Learn more in the accompanying blog post: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-rehydrate-dehydrated-food/
✨ Take Darcy’s full class inside the School of Traditional Skills: https://homesteadingfamily.com/STS_Member_n
✨ Learn more from Darcy at The Purposeful Pantry: https://www.thepurposefulpantry.com/
✨ Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring this podcast. Be sure to use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY" for 20% off your purchase here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/s-american-blossom-linens

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Introduction
1:36 - American Blossom Linens
3:32 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!  Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

We’re in that cozy shoulder season where the garden is winding down, the last jars are cooling on the counter, and the big question creeps in, did we do enough?

In this episode, we're talking about how our family prioritizes filling the pantry without burning out. We cover the calm power of buying staples in bulk, simple preservation that fits your real life, and the secret weapon that gets us through winter even without a root cellar, think potatoes, squash, onions, apples, all stored smart. We also share the weekly rhythms that keep the pantry peaceful, like shopping your shelves first and tracking what your family actually eats.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to “do it all,” this one will help you breathe, simplify, and still feel prepared.

Read the full companion post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/building-up-your-long-term-food-storage-supply/

And learn more about our Homestead Kitchen Membership here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-MEMBERSHIP

Thanks to Azure Standard for sponsoring this podcast. If you're a first-time Azure customer, be sure to use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15" at checkout to receive 15% off your first order of $100 or more: https://homesteadingfamily.com/main-azure-standard-b

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!  Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

What would it really take to feed your family if the grocery stores closed tomorrow? In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, Josh talks with survival expert and herbalist Sam Coffman, author of Survival Gardening: Grow Your Own Emergency Food Supply, about how to build a garden that truly sustains life.

Learn how to choose calorie-dense crops, build living soil, and use every layer of your garden for maximum yield. Sam shares practical steps to start small (whether you’re growing in a backyard, raised bed, or apartment balcony) and explains why community resilience is just as important as self-sufficiency.

This conversation is a call to preparedness, not panic. You’ll come away ready to grow smarter, store longer, and feed your family well in any season.

Listen now and discover how to grow a survival garden that thrives when it matters most, or visit the blog post to watch this interview: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-grow-a-survival-garden/

Thanks to Lehman's for sponsoring this podcast. Visit their store to check out all their great offerings at Lehmans.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!  Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

As the seasons change, our bodies need a little extra care to stay balanced and healthy. In this episode, I’m sharing how our family supports our immune systems with simple, time-tested rhythms instead of quick fixes. 

From bone broth and fermented foods to elderberry syrup and herbal teas, these are the habits that keep us thriving through fall and winter.

You’ll learn how to build a natural wellness routine that fits into your daily life, not one that adds more overwhelm. I’ll also share my favorite seasonal herbs, tips for clean indoor air, and how emotional rest ties directly into physical health.

For more information (and links), visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-boost-your-immune-system-naturally/

👉 Download your Free Fall & Winter Wellness Checklist at https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-wellnesschecklist

Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring this podcast. Be sure to check them out and use code "homesteadingfamily". 🎧 Offer: 20% off your order for Homesteading Family listeners here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/s-american-blossom-linens

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MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!  Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Five “weeds,” tons of medicine. In today’s Everyday Homesteading episode, Carolyn sits down with herbalist Dr. Patrick Jones to unpack practical, safe uses for five common wild herbs: mallow/marshmallow/hollyhock (roots), plantain (leaf), burdock (root), stinging nettle (leaf/seed/root), and mullein (leaf/flower/root).

What you’ll learn:

Mallow family roots for soothing mucous membranes and calming “die lines” in stubborn woundsPlantain for punctures, drawing out toxins, and gentle gut supportBurdock root for liver, skin, and daily prebiotic benefitsStinging nettle leaf for allergies, seed for kidneys, root for male urinary supportMullein to quiet dry coughs, make simple ear oil, and support back/bladder with the rootBest times to harvest roots of biennials, how to slice before drying, and what to stock in a starter herbal kit

Resources:

- For more information, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/healing-herbs-and-plants/
- Check out Doc Jones' book here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-docjonesweeds
- Thanks to Lehman's for sponsoring this podcast. Be sure to check them out, and don't forget to request a FREE catalog at https://lehmans.com
- Check out Dr. Patrick Jones and everything he has to offer over at https://homegrownherbalist.net

Time Stamps:
- 0:00 - Introduction
- 2:29 - Lehmans
- 4:04 - How You Can Help!
- 5:14 - Main Topic

If you enjoy the show, please rate, review, and follow. Then, download the first five episodes of season 6 to help more homesteaders find us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us! 
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!  Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Let’s talk about starting homesteading when money is tight and time is even tighter. In this Everyday Homesteading episode, we show you how to begin right where you are, in the kitchen, and build skills that naturally grow into gardens, livestock, and a well-stocked pantry. No acreage required, no 40 extra hours a week, no influencer-level gear.

In this episode:
 • Why every homestead should start in the kitchen
 • Budget homesteading 101, price-per-unit, and ingredient-based shopping
 • Farmers markets, seconds boxes, and CSAs for nutrient-dense food on the cheap
 • Preservation you can begin this week, from freezing and dehydrating to simple water bath canning and fermentation
 • Seasonal rhythms on our North Idaho homestead, including winter squash, deep bedding, seed saving, and salt-curing pork

Sponsor:
Azure Standard is our go-to for healthy ingredients and bulk buys. Get 15% off your first order over $100 with code homesteadingfamily15 at https://homesteadingfamily.com/main-azure-standard-b

Links:
 • Homestead Kitchen Magazine, delivered right to your door (U.S. only): https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-magazine

⦁ For more information, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/homesteading-skills-to-learn-now/

If you enjoyed this conversation, would you take a minute to rate and review the show? Then, download a few episodes so more families can discover Everyday Homesteading. Thank you for helping spread real, doable homestead skills. Because you CAN do this.

TIME STAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction
2:46 - Chit Chat
8:03 - We Need YOUR Help!
9:35 - Azure Standard
10:54 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we're taking the fear out of canning and putting confidence back in your kitchen. If you’ve ever thought, “I’ve tried so many tutorials and still don’t feel like I actually know what I’m doing,” or “I’m terrified I’ll waste good food or make my family sick,” this one is for you. I'm breaking canning safety down into simple, step-by-step principles so you can stock your shelves with jars you trust.

What we cover

Why a sealed lid alone does not equal safe food, and what actually makes a jar shelf-stable.The pH "line in the sand" at 4.6, why it matters, and how it guides every canning decision.Exactly when boiling water bath canning is safe, and when you must pressure can.How heat, thickness, and circulation inside the jar impact safety.Common myths that lead to botulism risk, and the simple habits that keep you safe.Using approved recipes, what “acidifying” means for tomatoes and borderline foods.Reliable sources for tested recipes, so you’re not stuck in conflicting advice.

Key takeaways

High-acid foods can be safely water bath canned because molds and yeast are easy to kill at boiling temperatures.Low-acid foods like meats, vegetables, and most full-meal recipes require pressure canning to reliably reach about 250°F.Approved recipes exist to control pH, density, and processing time so you can stop guessing and start knowing.If you can follow a cake recipe, you will be able to can safely at home.

Resources mentioned

Check out all our canning resources, and to watch this podcast episode, on the website here: Free Canning Safety Training for visual learners: https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-canningTrusted recipe sources: Ball Blue Book, the National Center for Home Food Preservation, and Homestead Kitchen Magazine’s master-preserver approved recipes

Sponsor
A big thank you to Azure Standard for making bulk, vetted pantry staples affordable. New customers get 15% off a first order of 100 dollars or more with code HomesteadingFamily15.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love. 

Why do so many homesteaders quit before they ever see their gardens thrive or their shelves fill with home-canned food? 

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, I sit down with my friend Melissa K. Norris to talk honestly about burnout, expectations that don’t match real life, and the simple habits that make homesteading sustainable. 

We share personal stories, the mistakes we made, and the practical rhythms that helped us keep going. If you’ve felt overwhelmed, I want this conversation to remind you that homesteading is not about perfection. It is about purpose, persistence, and the joy that comes from doing the work with your own two hands. 

Check out the Homestead Kitchen Membership here: https://homesteadingfamily,com/podcast-homesteadkitchenmembership

💚 Thanks to ForJars for sponsoring this episode. Check out some of my favorite kitchen tools I use in my own kitchen and use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY10" for 10% off your order: https://homesteadingfamily.com/forjars

👉 For more information and any links mentioned in this episode, check out the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/why-homesteaders-quit/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love.