Featured posts

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Holy Moly: Guacamole

Squashed avocado is a perennial favorite dip for young and old, and avocados ripen in various countries at several times during each year.

Avocado contains at least a little of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, E, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, zinc, and phosphorous. There’s quite a bit of potassium. They’re also packed with monounsaturated fatty acids and fiber.

Here’s my favorite guacamole recipe. I warn you: each of the three women in our family has a different favorite recipe. Maybe you’ll use this as a starting point to settle your own “best guacamole” formula. Read more

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Tuesday Live with Billy Bond and John Willis – Ep 918

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Join me for a group discussion with John Willis of Special Operations Equipment and members of our community and beyond about building the life you choose, current events, building a durable life, community development, business, getting started, health and more. 

Each Tuesday, we welcome a different guest to tell their story, as well as take your questions live. 

Featured Event: The Self Reliance Festival, SelfRelianceFestival.com

Sponsors:

Show Resources

Perma Pastures Farm

Special Operations Equipment

Living Free in Tennesseee

NicoleSauce.com

HollerRoast.com 

Main content of the show

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

Community

Resources

 

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Zoning My Homestead and Vevor Beds

You can learn all the things about permaculture and zones and planning and STILL get into bad habits.

For the past 17 years, the Holler Homestead kitchen garden has been in a place affectionately known as Sunshine Plot. Out of sight and behind my home, I try to remember to go up there every day to at least take a look at it. Because it is in such a weird location, we have tried to change where livestock was and other things to make my morning coffee roam pass through there.

The things I grow in my aquaponics system get the most care. The garden that Tactical built for himself outside his back door gets plenty of attention. Sunshine plot is managed through methods to help keep things going even if I don’t drop by – with heavy mulch to keep down weeds and automated watering.

Over the past seven years, we have worked hard to adjust the design of this homestead from its original layout to one that integrates zones so that it is easier to maintain and just flows. For seven years, we have oft discussed ways to stretch my zone one to include that garden. For seven years this approach has been just plain silly and it hasn’t worked.

Then Tactical asked the question: Why, after seven years, have we not just moved that garden into your zone one?

Sometimes on your own land, you stop seeing the big picture for the details and the fact is, that garden was there when I moved in. That is why that garden is there seventeen years later. Even better, that garden was there because it WAS in zone one for the original 1880’s era cabin that was first here. You could walk out its door into the kitchen garden which also integrated chickens. I had to take that cabin down due to termite damage which is why I know this.

So my garden, firmly in zone 2, is there because someone who built a one-room cabin in the late 1800s put it in THEIR zone 1 and no one ever moved it after my house was built.

When Tactical asked me this question, it was very clear where the garden should go.

Timing is everything.

He asked this before we were about to embark on a process of transforming my kitchen garden into raised beds so that they would be easier to tend in 20 years. After he asked me this, it was so clear where my raised beds should go it, that there wasn’t any debate on the topic. Just a plan for how many beds and in which configuration.

Which brings me to today. Having JUST become an affiliate with Vevor, I plan to test their $96 raised beds in that space. They have a $70 one too that is smaller. If you are interested in these beds and you use my links to them, I get a small cut. (Use coupon code VVPROMO for 5% off).

I plan to document the advent of this project as we go. Here’s to putting my kitchen garden in zone 1 where she belongs!

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Homestead Happenings for June 14 2024 – EP 917

Direct Download

Today we talk about trees coming down on fences and power lines, funky sheep ears, type 1.5 errors in design and more.

Featured Event: Haven Earth Trade School Homestead Bootcamp This Week

Sponsor 1: Kangen Water Collective

Sponsor 2: Self Reliance Festival

Forage

  • Berries
  • Elderflower
  • Day Lillies

Livestock

  • Lambs Ear
  • Escaping Dog
  • Dog Shed Issue
  • Rabbit Tractor No kill list
  • Broody Ducks
  • Baby Duck Fail
  • Goats Getting Out

Grow

  • Tomato Wall Update
  • Lower ap is back up and running
  • Garden is growing slow but steady
  • Garlic is near harvest time
  • Garlic scape issue

Holler Neighbors/Community

  • Chicken Class Update
  • Eversoles Found Land!
  • Homesteaders Alliance

Infrastructure

  • Trees
  • Type 1.5 error

Finances

  • Paying a tree guy

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

Advisory Board

Resources

 

 

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Digital Matters with Aron Wagner – Ep 916

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Today I am joined by Aron Wagner of American Cloud to chat about digital matters.

Sponsor 1: The Wealthsteading Podcast

Sponsor 2: EMP Shield, Coupon Code LFTN

Show Resources

American Cloud

Aron Wagner is CEO of American Cloud, a data hosting solution that cares about freedom of speech.

Make it a great week

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

Community

Advisory Board

Resources

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Tuesday Live with Bear Independent and John Willis – Ep 914

Direct Download

Join me for a group discussion with John Willis of Special Operations Equipment and members of our community and beyond about building the life you choose, current events, building a durable life, community development, business, getting started, health and more. 

Each Tuesday, we welcome a different guest to tell their story, as well as take your questions live. 

Featured Event: The Self Reliance Festival, SelfRelianceFestival.com

Sponsors:

Show Resources

Special Operations Equipment

Living Free in Tennesseee

Bear Independent

NicoleSauce.com

HollerRoast.com 

Main content of the show

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

Community

Resources

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Home Food Preservation for Everyone – EP 914

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Join me today for a look at different ways to preserve food at home and ideas on how to make it work in your busy schedule.

Featured Event: Homestead Bootcamp at Haven earth Trade School: https://www.havenearthtradeschool.net/homestead-bootcamp-haven-village

Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com

Sponsor 2: Holler Roast Coffee

Livestream Schedule

  • Tuesday, 12:30PM Live with John Willis and Bear Independent
  • Wednesday, 2:00PM Digital Sovereignty with Aron Wagner from American Cloud
  • Friday, 9:30AM Homestead Happenings with the Tactical Redneck

Tales from the Prepper Pantry

  • Working through the rest of the pork, three meals a week
  • Smoked Pork Rib Roast
  • Bone Broth Overload as it gets hot
  • Drying herbal teas for winter
  • (Must harvest the mints)

Weekly Shopping Report from Joe

Our first stop was Hobby Lobby for some Velcro. Their sewing notions area looked well-stocked.

Next was Home Depot. The store was reasonably busy for a non-weekend day. There is still no price tag on the 2x4x8 studs, but online they have dropped to $3.48. Seems to me I’ve seen some stuff online suggesting the lumber market is “collapsing.” We’ll see…

Last was Aldi. We found everything we wanted. The 70% cacao chocolate was back in stock. It seemed there was more bread than there has been in recent weeks; more pork had returned to the meat coolers, and the cantaloupes were again decent. Staple prices were: bread (20 oz. white): 1.29; eggs: $1.54(-); whole milk: $2.83; heavy cream: $5.29; OJ: $3.29; butter: $3.59; bacon: $3.99; potatoes: $4.49; sugar: $2.99; flour: $2.35; and 80% lean ground beef: $4.09.

A gallon of untainted regular gasoline remains at $3.599.

Frugality Tip NOT from Margo

Quality cabinets are hard to find (ask me how I know). If you have a ReStore nearby, you can find some amazing buys. We were able to get a 14 piece set of wood build cabinets. It included 2 tall units and another one with glass doors. Total cost $1800 before taxes.

Have a great day.

Operation Independence

LFTN Community Independence: Chicken Processing

Main topic of the Show: Home Food Preservation For Everyone

As we get into food abundance season, I thought today would be a good time to talk about various home food preservation methods, and how to fit them into your life. Anyone can preserve food and you dont have to invest in tons of infrastructure to do it if you are not yet ready to fully commit.

Growing food and foraging is like printing money when you do it right. Likewise, food preservation is your savings account for winter.

Why Preserve food (Healthier, Saves Time, Savings Account, Skills and resilience)

What are the methods of food preservation

  • Dehydrating
  • Fermenting
  • Curing
  • Removing Exposure to Air (oils, etc)
  • Canning
  • Keeping Cold
  • On the Hoof

TIME SLIDE

What Works Best Where?

How do I create my preservation plan? (The time money grid)

Preserving on a budget/supplies

Example Plan – store what you eat and eat what you store

Fitting it Into Your Busy Life

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

Community

Resources

 

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Homestead Happenings for June 7 2024 – EP 913

 

Direct Download

Today we talk about observing your flock, transporting workshop chickens, freezer alarms and sensors, a not so great garden update and more.

Featured Event: Haven Earth Trade School Homestead Bootcamp Next Week

Sponsor 1: EMP Shield, Coupon Code LFTN

Sponsor 2: Holler Roast Coffee

Email feedback to nicole@livingfreeintennessee.com

Forage

  • Elderberry are flowering
  • Black Raspberry
  • Mint Harvest 1.0
  • Dandelion Flower
  • Red Clover
  • Jewel Weed
  • Yarrow
  • Queene Anne’s Lace
  • Lambs Quarter

Livestock

  • Observing your flock and the floppy ear
  • Hoof Trimming Challenge
  • Rabbit Update
  • Duck Drake Culling Season
  • Chicken Day
  • Broody Birds

Grow

  • Garden Slug Update
  • Runner Beans and the food forest
  • Fodder Tree Trimming
  • Weedmageddon
  • Volunteer Marigolds
  • Green Bean Challenge – not giving up yet
  • Duck Coop Compost

 

Holler Neighbors/Community

  • Holler Neighbor Chicken Class Help
  • The livestock trailer
  • Basecamp will be available some time in the next 6 months

 

Infrastructure

  • Camper Roof Update
  • Slab Estimates
  • Freezer and a yolink fail
  • Chicken Gut Compost

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

Advisory Board

Resources

 

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Episode 912 – Chicken Keeping with Dalia Monterroso

Direct Download

Today I am joined by Dalia Monterrosa of Welcome to Chickenlandia about chickens, finding your purpose and more/

Featured Event: June 8 Chicken Class at the Holler Homestead

Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com

Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/webinar

Show Resources

Chickenlandia Website: https://welcometochickenlandia.com/

Instagram: @welcometochickenlandia

Dalia Monterroso is a chicken keeper and a popular teacher on the basics of backyard chicken keeping. She speaks and teaches classes on the joys of chicken keeping and is passionate about broadening the community of chicken keepers to be more diverse and inclusive. She is the creator of the website and YouTube channel “Welcome to Chickenlandia”, podcast “Bawk Tawk”, and an online course called “Chickenlandia’s Backyard Chickens 101”. She also hosted a TEDx talk titled “I Dream of Chickens”.

She is also the author of the book, “Let’s All Keep Chickens! The Down-to-Earth Guide to Natural Practices for Healthier Birds and a Happier World”, a comprehensive guide for both beginners and experienced chicken keepers. The book has also gained popularity among homeschooling families, who appreciate its educational value as part of their learning curriculum. Dalia lives in Bellingham, Washington, with her family, continuing her mission to share the joy and simplicity of chicken keeping to the world.

Make it a great week

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

Community

Advisory Board

Resources

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First Tuesday Coffee Chat with Jack and John – Ep 911

Direct Download

Join me for a group discussion with John Willis of Special Operations Equipment and members of our community and beyond about building the life you choose, current events, building a durable life, community development, business, getting started, health and more. 

Each Tuesday, we welcome a different guest to tell their story, as well as take your questions live. 

Featured Event: The Self Reliance Festival, SelfRelianceFestival.com

Sponsors:

Show Resources

Special Operations Equipment

Living Free in Tennessee

TheSurvivalPodcast.com

NicoleSauce.com

HollerRoast.com 

Main content of the show

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

Community

Resources