Every Friday, we record our Homestead Happenings update, followed by a questions and answers session. Today’s podcast is the questions and answers session from yesterday’s podcast. We cover: rat poison, sheep, Self Reliance Festival, the new Holler Neighbors, and more.
Main content of the show
Replay of the Tuesday Live on Youtube.
Episode 620 – Homestead Happenings for Sept 16, 2022
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.
Community
- Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
- Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
- Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b
Advisory Board
- The Booze Whisperer
- The Tactical Redneck
- Chef Brett
- Samantha the Savings Ninja
Resources
Fall is taking hold in the Holler. We still could use more rain, but it is much cooler. The second wave of plants is upon us and we are preparing for winter.
Forage
- Someone else got persimmons
- Mullein seeds we scattered are taking hold
Livestock
- I hit a duck
- Sick sheep (Bloat or obstructions)
- 9 days ahead on paddock shifting
- Still no babies
- Goats are trained to electric and rotating
- Need to move the bees
Grow
- Steady flow of green beans
- Tomatoes coming on the regular but close to done
- Peppers coming on
- Lots of basil and herbs to process
- Preparing for the Food Forest Class in October
Holler Neighbors/Community
- Eversoles moved egg layers into basecamp
- Trained housesitters for SRF – STILL need someone for the Friday before
Infrastructure
- Rebuilding the 4 wheelers
- Upgraded goat pasture to be the hub for the whole property
Finances
- Nothing to report
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!
Community
- Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
- Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
- Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b
Advisory Board
- The Booze Whisperer
- The Tactical Redneck
- Chef Brett
- Samantha the Savings Ninja
Resources
Today we talk about building market share and defense dogs with Joel Ryals and John Willis.
Show Resources
Main content of the show
Replay of the Tuesday Live on Youtube.
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.
Community
- Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
- Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
- Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b
Advisory Board
- The Booze Whisperer
- The Tactical Redneck
- Chef Brett
- Samantha the Savings Ninja
Resources
Today, we will talk about learning new things as you dive into homesteading or anything else. I realized over the weekend that we have many new listeners interested in growing food, cooking, prepping, starting a new business. Let’s talk about analysis paralysis and getting going!
Livestream Schedule This Week
- Wednesday Live at 12:30pm with Joel Ryals of FortressK9 and John Willis
- Friday at 9:30 Central – Homestead Happenings (assuming my internet works!)
Tales from the Prepper Pantry
- Prepping food for the Food Forest Workshop, Oct 28 & 29
- Green Beans are all canned
- Less Salsa this year due to dearth of peppers
- The Tomato Rat is gone
Frugality Tip
- Get yours in!
Shopping Report: 09/10/2022
The entire weekend is likely to be dreary and rainy, so we went during light sprinkles, thinking it may be worse later. Traffic was moderate. We made three stops.
The first stop was Dollar [twenty-five] Tree. The Health aisle still looked rather picked, but other shelves, particular in foods, were stuffed.
Home Depot was next. A 2x4x8 remains at $4.48. The store was normal-busy, and I didn’t notice any holes. They have a good number of chest freezers now taking up space in at least a couple of aisles. I think $179 was the price for a 5 cu.ft. model. If we had the space…
The battery carrels were mixed. The coin-cells were fully stocked, but the more typical sizes (AAA up to D) had massive holes, such as only the center one of three columns being stocked on one side. If you need batteries, you’ll still find them, but levels are definitely declining. Many are made in China, so with very few cargo ships coming from there now, I expect them to run out. I saw a couple of end-of-season deals on a couple of the Ryobi One+ outdoor tools, and hope that is just starting and will spread.
Aldi was last. Canned cat food has jumped a whopping 14c/can, to 54c. Bacon has dropped to $3.99 (from $4.3?). They had plenty of TP. The meat selection was a little better; we added more pork, some of which will find its way into the slow-cooker by the end of the weekend. They had decent amounts of the canned tea I like, and the instant coffee that Sonia has been drinking. Produce was very well stocked and looked good.
I saw only a few face-diapers on this trip. At my last fill, untainted regular gasoline was $4.399. I’m seeing much lower prices on the corrupted stuff; I want to say as low as $3.199, which is a huge difference.
Operation Independence
- Post Friday Livestream Q & A Show
- Fermentation Workshop Was GREAT
Today’s Sponsor: Paul Wheaton of Wheaton Labs & Permies.com
<DO NOT PUT THIS TEXT ONLINE>
Paul Wheaton at permies.com and Wheaton Labs has something to help you with your food preservation efforts this harvest season: He wants to help you build a solar food dehydrator!
For only $5 bucks, you can check out the full movie that details the development of two different models of solar dehydrators at Wheaton Labs, and all the successes and challenges with each.
If you like what you see, you can also grab the plans for a solar dehydrator from permies.com as well, so check out the movie at the link in the show description.
</END>
Ready to preserve your harvest for the months to come? Build a solar dehydrator! Check out this movie detailing the development of 2 models of solar dehydrator at Wheaton Labs:
https://permies.com/wiki/91978f495/Design-Build-Giant-Solar-Food
Main topic of the Show: Learning New Things
Sometimes we forget how hard the things we do on an everyday basis were way back when we started doing them. As y’all know, LFTN hit a tipping point this year. We are growing faster than ever. In fact, if you want to help us grow – please share the episodes you find most helpful. The more people we bring into the LFTN community, the more of us there are who are building food savings account, becoming more financially stable, and learning new skills.
Which brings me to today’s topic: Learning New Things
- Why LFTN is focused on what we are focused on
- The basics: Sometimes we gloss over things that were hard years ago
- Stepping back and re-explaining some things – so many ideas:
- Cook With What You Have series that starts with “How to use a knife” (Because if you grow the food, you must also prepare it)
- Pantry Basics
- Preserving Food: drying, freezing, canning, root cellar (And how this is done in NOT homestead environments)
- Planning your day for success: Ideas for scheduling busy and not so busy days (Crockpot example)
- Vampire audit
- What learning new things feels like
- Anxiety
- Confusion (all the new terms)
- Learning Iteration 1 – baseline concepts
- Actually try the thing
- Learning Iteration 2 – NOW some things make sense
- Actually try the thing again – analyze it
- Learning Iteration 3 – Deal with identified roadblocks/mental blocks (sometimes we call a friend at this point)
- Actually try the thing again – analyze it
- Learning Iteration 4 – I finally know WHERE to start learning the thing! When I talk about it, I lose people at learning iteration 1
- Visual words vs conceptual words
- Analogies
- Call to action:
- LFTN Social networks (Mentors and newbys – it is all good)
- No question that is based in learning something new is a stupid question (Ways to respond to questions) (PANTRY STORY)
- Addressing the overwhelm: One thing at a time – sort of
What do you want to hear about that you are trying to learn?
Membership Plug
MeWe reminder
Make it a great week!
Song:
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.
Community
- Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
- Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
- Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b
Advisory Board
- The Booze Whisperer
- The Tactical Redneck
- Chef Brett
- Samantha the Savings Ninja
Resources
WE GOT RAIN! Join me today at 9:30 Central for a Homestead Happenings session: Jerusalem Artichokes, incoming visitors Imanee and River from Haven Earth on Youtube.
- Don’t forget: Fermentation Workshop is Saturday at 12pm in partnership with LiveFree.Academy
- Check out the video we did with Billy Bond on Youtube last Sunday
Forage
- Jerusalem artichokes are blooming
- Watercress
- Mullien is popping up
- Should be getting mushrooms but not hiking enough – this will hurt for winter stews
Livestock
- Finding Duck egg clutches – ducks need to go to jail for a week
- Pigs: no babies yet – looks imminent
- Girl Sheep: rotating fast – no signs they are close to having babies
- Boy sheep: testing the fence a ton – have adjusted to not going to the barn at night (They do look at it l bunch)
- Goats getting trained to three strand electric
- Bees – still no one to help rob honey and it is too late now
- Cycy found bees
Grow
- Cleaning out squash beds and resetting
- Peppers are coming on
- Second bean planting is producing
- Rat in the tomatoes!
- Need to harvest and dry basil
Holler Neighbors/Community
- Kerry came for a day to work on the hillside space and it looks a ton better – need more
- KH went to SOE to install a shower and in the future we will not do GSD weekends there because too many people pulled out last minute so it was a slog
Infrastructure
- New sheep fencing strategy
- Hillside AP is back in process – was on hold while we figured out sheep
Finances
- Spent another grand on fencing supplies to be able to make more paddocks in advance
- !inflation!
- Adding spreadsheet time on personal expenses to assess some choices
Membership Plug
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!
Community
- Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
- Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
- Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b
Advisory Board
- The Booze Whisperer
- The Tactical Redneck
- Chef Brett
- Samantha the Savings Ninja
Resources
Today we talk about Zero down loans, networks of regenerative farms, Fnords and more with Jack Spirko and John Willis.
Today’s Sponsor: Paul Wheaton of Wheaton Labs and Permies.com
Paul Wheaton’s rocket ovens movie shows all the nitty-gritty details of how you can build an oven to bake pizzas, pies, cakes, turkeys, and more, while only using a few sticks for fuel! It heats up in just 15 minutes, and can be built for dirt cheap. Check it out here: https://permies.com/wiki/rocket-ovens?f=495
You can also get your hands on some FREE rocket mass heater plans so you can heat your whole home on just a few sticks, so grab those here: https://permies.com/goodies/7/lftn
Show Resources
Main content of the show
Youtube Live Video:
First Tuesday Fireside Chat with Nicole Sauce, Jack Spirko and John Willis
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.
Community
- Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
- Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
- Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b
Advisory Board
- The Booze Whisperer
- The Tactical Redneck
- Chef Brett
- Samantha the Savings Ninja
Resources
Today we talk about integrating the LGDs with the sheep, late summer gardening, simplifying, infrastructure plans and more.
Homesteading on a budget: https://livefree.academy/sp/exit-and-build-homesteading-on-a-budget-workshop/?ref=52
Forage
- Paw Paw
- Watercress
- Goldenrod
- Mullein seeds
Livestock
- Bred the rabbits
- Ducks are in an egg pause which means wing clipping
- LGD Integration Story: access to yard during day with separation – this week we integrated fully with access to their “home”
- Birthing Update
- Pigs for sale
- Girl Sheep rotating fast because it isn’t raining
Grow
- Resetting two beds for garlic
- Final squash harvest
- New beans just now producing
- Tomatoes lasted one month longer than in past years
Holler Neighbors/Community
- New Holler Neighbors moving in
- SOE Shower Build this weekend
Infrastructure
- Fencing Plan for the Sheep
- Reels
- Hillside garden
Finances
- Nothing to report
Membership Plug
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!
Community
- Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
- Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
- Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b
Advisory Board
- The Booze Whisperer
- The Tactical Redneck
- Chef Brett
- Samantha the Savings Ninja
Resources
Today we talk about the SHTF, relocation, Self Reliance Festival, The Midwest Regional Meetup, Being 60 and Homesteading, preparedness and more with Bear Independent and John Willis.
Show Resources
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.
Community
- Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
- Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
- Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b
Advisory Board
- The Booze Whisperer
- The Tactical Redneck
- Chef Brett
- Samantha the Savings Ninja
Resources
It is a tradition in August to talk about what we are doing to get ready for winter here at the Holler Homestead. Why? Because waiting until that first frost to have things set is a terrible idea and leads to several days of no sleep and lots of activity. Today, I will share how we plan activities for a busy fall, in advance of winter, to be better prepared for the harsh realities of below freezing temperatures in a state ill prepared for its weather patterns.
Up this week:
- Wednesday Live with John Willis and Bear Independent: 12:30 Central (LivingFreeinTennessee.com/live for the relevant links)
- Friday Homestead Happenings and Q & A: 9:30am Central
- Live Free Academy, Homesteading on a budget workshop: https://livefree.academy/sp/exit-and-build-homesteading-on-a-budget-workshop/?ref=52
Tales from the Prepper Pantry
- Broth using strategies in August
- Hitting the bean patch this week under the hopes we get another round for canning
- Initiating the prepper pantry redo – using basecamp as a root cellar
- Testing new freezer sensors
Free Rocket Mass Heater Plans from Paul Wheaton
Show Sponsor: Paul Wheaton of Wheaton Labs and Permies.com
Looking to learn about permaculture, grow your skills, and accelerate your path towards self-sufficiency? Check out Paul Wheaton’s permaculture bootcamp at Wheaton Labs! Learn permaculture earthworks, gardening, rocket heating technology and more, all under the guidance of the Duke of Permaculture himself!
https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp/?f=495
If you’re interested in Rocket Mass Heaters, which can heat a home with as little as 10% of the wood consumed by conventional woodstoves, Paul Wheaton is offering FREE rocket mass heater plans to the LFTN community when you sign up for the permies newsletter. Snatch those up here: https://permies.com/goodies/7/lftn
Frugality tip: Add on from Christian
After hearing the tip from Anna about the watered down dish soap I had to reply to expand on it, this might not warrant sharing on the show.
I have been using watered down dawn for a few years and it never even occurred to me that it might be saving me money. I mix it even thinner than Anna, more like 1/4 or 1/5, and I put it in used foaming hand soap bottles from bath and body works. It dispenses from them no problem once watered down. I use this almost exclusively when hand washing dishes as I use them, and I use it to wash my hands a lot too. Since it’s good on food grease it works well on oil and grime from mechanical work, so I use it regularly to wash my hands while working in the garage and I set myself up another bottle at work. It’s way more gentle and I personally find it just as effective, if not better, than the gritty mechanic’s soaps (like gojo orange, if you’re familiar). Come to think of it, this has probably saved me a bit of money there since I don’t buy that stuff at all anymore, probably more than I might save on dishes.
Weekly Shopping Report from Joe for 8/28/2022
We made four stops on our weekly shopping run. The first stop was Community Chest to donate a box of books, an exercise chair we have not been using, and some miscellaneous other things. Second was Dollar Tree, where I grabbed a drink and we picked up a few other items. I wanted some ointment from the Health aisle, but there was none left. I saw a lot of empty hooks in that section, which is a big change from a month or two ago, when they were very well stocked.
Stop #3 was Home Depot. A 2x4x8 is $4.75. I know not long ago it was $4.98, but I don’t remember if that was last week or a little longer. They have plenty of stock of lumber, tools, batteries, and LED bulbs.
Aldi was last. The store was very crowded, but I think just because it was late Saturday morning; I didn’t see people panic-buying. Inventory looked good, except for limited quantities of meats. For example there was pork loin, but no tenderloin. Beef looked pretty sparse too, but there were enough different cuts of various meats to at least cover all the shelves.
I don’t recall seeing any face diapers. I think the Kung Flu narrative is finally collapsing. At my last fill during the week, I paid $4.399/gallon for untainted regular gasoline.
I understand the sixth largest refinery in the country has been shut down due to an electrical fire. They’re in Indiana, and they and a few surrounding states (Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin come to mind) have declared states of emergency, and the parasites at DOT have waived hour restrictions on truckers so they can bring in fuel.
Operation Independence
- SRF Digital Tickets are launching this week!!
- Fermentation Basics: Sauerkraut and Cucumbers
Main topic of the Show: Winter Is Coming
Why now?
Steps: Brainstorm, categorize: No Kill, Comfort, SHTF
Livestock
- Rabbits: Water, food, heating lamps
- Sheep: Water, hay, shelter with sides, minerals
- Pigs: Water, feed, shelter, bedding
- Goats: Water, feed, bedding
- Ducks: Water, feed, bedding
Humans
- Water
- Shelter
- Firewood
- Food
Pets: backup plans
Gardens
- Spring bed preparation
- Mulching figs and bananas
- Cover crop
Water Gardens
- Tear down
- Stock tank heater in ap system
Fuel and Backups
No kill list:
- Water
- Firewood
- shelter
- Food
Comfort list
- Winter clothing upgrades
- Automated antifreeze systems
- Backup heating (Kerosene, etc.)
- Automotive supplies turn over
- Solar Water Heater and outdoor shower/kitchen cleanout
SHTF Plans
- Generator/fuel storage
- Extra food
- Tarps, etc
Membership Plug
MeWe reminder
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.
Community
- Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
- Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
- Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b
Advisory Board
- The Booze Whisperer
- The Tactical Redneck
- Chef Brett
- Samantha the Savings Ninja
Resources