In this episode, we'll discuss what to say when someone asks "why are your farm products so expensive?" To master farm marketing, join the Small Farm Nation Academy whenever you're ready. GET STARTED

So it’s December and we’re winding down the farm season. Let's take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing. In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.

We all know that sustainably produced food is more expensive than supermarket food, so how do we explain that when challenged? This week I want to discuss a challenge that many small farmers face.  It’s one that they seem to all dread and it puts them on the defensive. It’s the whole issue of defending why their products cost so much. Or, at least seems to cost so much.

One of the challenges I hear most often expressed from small farmers (really any small business, actually), is how difficult it is to create an email list of potential customers. In this episode, we'll discuss three keys to putting your list-building efforts on autopilot so you can grow your email list.

Okay, so it’s strategy week here on the Small Farm Nation podcast. And nothing says “strategy” more than business planning, so that’s the focus this week. Now, the first thing you're told to do when starting a business is to write a business plan. But should you? Do traditional business plans help? Or is there a better way. Yes, there is a better way, and in this episode I'll walk you through how to create an actionable one-page business plan.

What do most people think of when they think of branding? They think of logos. In fact, many people think that their logo is their brand. And you can’t have a great brand without a super cool logo design, can you? Today, I’m gonna tell you the mistakes you’re making with your farm logo design and what you really should be doing, instead.

What can you do if you have a business but you’re not a natural entrepreneur? In this farm podcast, I’m gonna show you how to stop working ON your business rather than being a slave to it so you can avoid burnout and realize your entrepreneurial dreams. And I've got a special, awesome download to help you do just that.

Is branding important for your farm business? Let’s start with what I mean by the word “brand” because it’s a word that we hear often, but we may not understand the meaning.  I mean, what does the word “brand” mean anyway?

So what’s the secret to marketing farm and local food products? Today, I’ll tell you, and set you on a solid foundation for marketing your farm and/or food products. Because, if we produce great food and farm products and there’s no one to buy it, what’s the point?

An email list is your most important communication asset, and email marketing is a great way to sell your farm products. But how do you build a list in the first place? In this episode I walk you through the four not-so-simple steps of email list building for your farm business.

Small businesses routinely fail in every industry segment, but what   causes small farms to fail? In this episode I share 7 reasons why small farms fail, so you learn what not to do so that your farm thrives. I'll walk you through seven reasons why small farms fail.

The phrase hobby farm is cute and all, but what’s the difference between a hobby farm and a farming business? In this episode, I’m going to tell you why you might have a farm hobby that costs you money rather than a thriving farm business that earns you money.

Want to know How to Start a Farm Business? Here are 11 rules that will guide you so that your farm business is profitable, sustainable and enjoyable!

Whether you're selling market vegetables, pastured meats or raw milk and farmstead cheese, one thing's for certain. You gotta keep your products cool to preserve shelf life. In this episode, we learn how farmers use Coolbots to do just that.

You’ve probably heard how important it is to define and communicate with your ideal customer. So is it? In this episode, I’ll tell you why it’s a waste of time focusing on mythical ideal customers and walk you through what you should be doing, instead!

This week I’ll answer a listener’s question on whether it’s best to start a Facebook page or a Facebook group for her farm. I cover the pros and cons of each and describe what you can do with a Facebook page that you can't do in a group, and vice versa.

Let's discuss a crisis in small business. A crisis in most businesses, actually, but particularly in farm businesses. It’s a problem that creates undue stress, panic and results in farmers not building their brands, getting enough customers and growing their farm business. I’m talking about Random Acts of Farm Marketing.

If you’re planning to start a farm—or any small business—when should you start marketing it? In this episode I explain why you should start marketing your farm BEFORE you even open for business.

Building a recognized brand for your farm business is one of your most important priorities. This episode discusses why and how to do it.

This week I tackle three questions. One is about the tricky issue of selling meat by product weight online. A related question is about managing inventory of meat when selling both online and at a farm store. And the third question is about managing the reservation and payment process for farm tours.

This week I’m speaking with a farmer turned online marketing expert about how to use Google Ads to attract customers to your farm business. If you're interested in farm marketing, you'll get a lot out of Robert's expertise, as I did.  Enjoy the episode!

This week I address listener questions on: When to buy farm equipment, whether to buy new or used equipment, and how to set wholesale prices for farm products.

Lots of farmers struggle with how to share their story. In this week's farm podcast, I share the advice I gave to a farmer about how to share her story and create a great about page for your website.

In this farm podcast, I discuss why you may not want to use automated sales funnels and marketing gimmicks in marketing your farm business. I describe the Jeff Walker Product Launch Formula, what it's designed to do and why I recommend that farmers exercise caution with this strategy.

In this farm podcast, Joel Salatin and I have a provocative discussion about how to quit an unfulfilling job and start a farm business. Joel offers some real gems in this episode, as he outlines his seven rules for starting a profitable farm. We talk at length about his latest book, Your Successful Farm Business, which can be thought of as a graduate course to the book that got so many people started in farming, You Can Farm!

People have been talking about the importance of local food for years but what about local flowers? In this farm podcast, I'm speaking with a "farmpreneur" who found the courage to quit her job and start a thriving flower farm. Even though she had never farmed before.

As sustainable livestock farmers, we want to honor the whole animal. But what about when it comes to using the animals hides? Joining me in this farm podcast, is Sarah Scully founder of Vermont Natural Sheepskins. Sarah and her husband, Rick, started the first commercial organic tannery in America.

Guess what? You CAN start a pastured poultry business and scale it to a size that supports a family. Or multiple families. Tune in as Paul Grieve from Pasturebird and Primal Pastures shares the story of how his family has done just that.

In this farm podcast, I talk about the sometimes long and steady process of setting up a new farm. My guest is Jenn Colby of Howling Wolf Farm in Vermont. We also tackle the touchy issue of why it's sometimes more challenging for women farmers than men. Listen in to see what you think.

In this farm podcast, I examine one of the biggest problems consumers face when wanting to buy directly from farmers, the problem of convenience. I talk with Joe Heitzeberg, co-founder and CEO of Crowd Cow. It’s an interesting business model that is endeavoring to make it easier for farmers and consumers to come together and celebrate what Crowd Cow calls “craft meat.” Tune in for a great story.

Today I’m speaking with Callene and Eric Rapp of Rare Hare Barn in Kansas. I love this topic of raising rabbits for meat because, in general, our society has become very disconnected from our food—and what food is, right? Nowhere in the meat world is that more evidenced than with rabbits. We discuss many fascinating aspects of running a rabbit enterprise on a small farm. Whether you’re a consumer, chef, homesteader or farmer, this is a thoroughly interesting discussion about the life (and death) of rabbits.

In this episode I’m joined by Sarah Hoffman of Green Dirt Farm in Missouri, where she raises sheep on pasture, milks them and turns their milk into award-winning cheese. We discuss Sarah’s journey to farm life and how her desire to raise children in that setting led her and her husband to make some courageous career choices.

Greg Judy went from having $8 in his pocket after a long divorce to now farming over 1,600 acres. In this episode, Greg and I recap how he got started, mistakes he’s made and what he looks for in terms of farm properties. He shares his best tips on negotiating leases, what fencing tools to use and even what type of cattle to raise.

Today I want to cover a critical mistake that almost everyone makes with their email list. Not just farmers, but over 90% of ALL businesses. And I don’t want you to continue making that mistake, so we’re gonna set you on the right path today. Because, as you no doubt know why now, building a thriving, engaged list of email subscribers is hugely important to the success of your business.

So it’s branding week here on the Small Farm Nation podcast. And we’re going to talk about not just branding, but how many farm brands you should have. So this isn't a super long episode but it is super important. Because farming lends itself to multiple enterprises and multiple products more than any industry I know of. I mean, imagine you raise cows and only cows. Sounds like you have one product, right? Well...

What can you do if you have a business but you’re not a natural entrepreneur? In this farm podcast, I’m gonna show you how to stop working ON your business rather than being a slave to it so you can avoid burnout and realize your entrepreneurial dreams. And I've got a special, awesome download to help you do just that.

So it’s marketing week here on the Small Farm Nation podcast. And one of the challenges I hear most often expressed from small farmers (really any small business, actually), is how difficult it is to create an email list of potential customers. In this episode we'll discuss three keys to putting your list-building efforts on autopilot so you can grow your email list.

It’s online marketing week here on the Small Farm Nation podcast. And this week we’re talking websites, or, more specifically, what website design tool you should use. And we have plenty of options, right? There’s lots of website builders out there—you know, Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, GoDaddy, and WordPress. I'll walk you through all the options and help you decide what's right for your farm business.

What do most people think of when they think of branding? They think of logos. In fact, many people think that their logo is their brand. And you can’t have a great brand without a super cool logo design, can you? Today, I’m gonna tell you the mistakes you’re making with your farm logo design and what you really should be doing, instead.

Okay, so it’s strategy week here on the Small Farm Nation podcast. And nothing says “strategy” more than business planning, so that’s the focus this week. Now, the first thing you're told to do when starting a business is to write a business plan. But should you? Do traditional business plans help? Or is there a better way. Yes, there is a better way, and in this episode I'll walk you through how to create an actionable one-page business plan.

Okay, so it’s Marketing week here on the podcast. And it’s an important episode, and if you’re a farmer, this is gonna really resonate with you. I want to talk about why small farms struggle so much to sell their products. If you’re a small, family farmer, you know what I mean. I've created a list of ten reasons why small farms struggle to sell their products. Listen in and see what you think.

Okay, so it’s Online Marketing week here on the Small Farm Nation podcast, and we’re gonna discuss the dirty dozen...the 12 Fatal Flaws of Most Farm Websites. I'd say at least 90% of farm websites commit these sins. Do you?

One of the most common things new farmers stress over is what to name their farm business. Well, in this week's episode I'm going to tell you there are lots of WRONG names to choose, and give you a tool for choosing the right name for your farm. We'll also cover how to choose product names and taglines.

Farmers love to blame Wal-Mart, regulations and unpatriotic consumers as reasons why their farms struggle. But is that really the case? In this episode I explain why it is not the case, and I also share some structural changes I'm making to upcoming podcast episodes.

This week I'd like to introduce you to an awesome new podcast. I really enjoyed my conversation with Tim and Tyler Nuss of the Modern Acre podcast recently. If you haven't heard their podcast, here's your chance. Then hit their site and subscribe.

In this episode, I talk with John Suscovich of Farm Marketing Solutions. We discuss John's new book on Marketing Pastured Poultry, how to start a pastured poultry business, the critical success factors to achieving profitability and much more. And, of course, we discuss what Howard Stern has in common with pastured poultry.

Today I want to discuss a crisis in small business. A crisis in most businesses, actually, but particularly in farm businesses. It’s a problem that creates undue stress, panic and results in farmers not building their brands, getting enough customers and growing their farm business. I’m talking about Random Acts of Marketing.

Where oh where can you go to learn all the skills you need to market your farm business? Today I’m going to tell you about the greatest farm tool you can invest in this year, the one that will help you to get growing! A membership site full of training videos, Mastermind interviews and resources to teach you how to market your farm business.

Is branding important for your farm business? Let’s start with what I mean by the word “brand” because it’s a word that we hear often, but we may not understand the meaning.  I mean, what does the word “brand” mean anyway?

So what’s the secret to marketing farm and local food products? Today, I’ll tell you, and set you on a solid foundation for marketing your farm and/or food products. Because, if we produce great food and farm products and there’s no one to buy it, what’s the point?

Serving the local food community and reconnecting heritage breed animals to neglected farmland was, and is, a worthy pursuit, and it's one that a growing number of people are drawn to. If you're one of those people, that's awesome, and I encourage you to follow your dream.

Each month, I conduct a mastermind interview for members of the Small Farm Nation Academy. They’re video calls between me and an expert in matters that relate to growing a profitable farming business, and they tend to be an hour long, give or take. In this episode, I’m gonna share some highlights of my discussion with Greg Gunthorp of Gunthorp Farms in Indiana. 2018 marks Greg’s 20th year as a successful sustainable farmer. This year he’ll raise and market well over 100,000 poultry in addition to 2,500 pigs. Tune in as Greg and I discuss: how to process and wax ducks, what poultry processing equipment to use, how to sell farm products to restaurants, how to pitch products to chefs, what chefs look for in terms of consistency, building a meat smoking/curing facility, financing a farm business, managing the wholesale order process, the most profitable farm distribution channels, much more! So listen in, now. Thanks for Listening! To share your thoughts: Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn To help the show: PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW for Small Farm Nation on iTunes. Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Credits/Resources Relevant to This Episode Farming for You lyrics by Tim Young Buy the rock classic, Stuck in the Middle With You by Stealer's Wheel on Amazon Thanks for listening. Until next time! OTHER WAYS TO ENJOY THIS EPISODE Download on iTunes

Each month,I conduct a mastermind interview for members of the Small Farm Nation Academy. They’re video calls between me and an expert in matters that relate to growing a profitable farming business, and they tend to be an hour long, give or take. In this episode, I’m gonna share some highlights of my discussion with Jordan & Laura Green of J&L Green Farm in Virginia. The Green's have built a fast-growing pasture-based meat business and, get this...they don't even own a single acre of farmland. We discuss: how they started their farm farm investors, partners and contractual relationships the pros and cons of selling at farmers markets why J&L Green Farm hasn't aggressively pursued selling to restaurants logistical issues shipping frozen meat products delivering farm products via drop sites (or metropolitan buying clubs) and so much more that relates to marketing and running a farm business So listen in, now. Thanks for Listening! To share your thoughts: Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn To help the show: PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW for Small Farm Nation on iTunes. Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Credits/Resources Relevant to This Episode Farming for You lyrics by Tim Young Buy the rock classic, Stuck in the Middle With You by Stealer's Wheel on Amazon Thanks for listening. Until next time! OTHER WAYS TO ENJOY THIS EPISODE Download on iTunes

Each month,I conduct a mastermind interview for members of the Small Farm Nation Academy. They’re video calls between me and an expert in matters that relate to growing a profitable farming business, and they tend to be an hour long, give or take. In this episode, I’m gonna share some highlights of my discussion with Curtis Stone. Curtis is well known for maximizing farming profits on small, urban lots, and has helped lots of folks to do the same thing. Whether you’re interested in urban or rural farming, I think you’ll get a lot out of this. So listen in, now. Thanks for Listening! To share your thoughts: Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn To help the show: PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW for Small Farm Nation on iTunes. Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Credits/Resources Relevant to This Episode Farming for You lyrics by Tim Young Buy the rock classic, Stuck in the Middle With You by Stealer's Wheel on Amazon Thanks for listening. Until next time! OTHER WAYS TO ENJOY THIS EPISODE Download on iTunes

Facebook is now focused not on the brands…or those of you who have farm Facebook pages, but rather focused on the individual FB user. Learn how to use Facebook effectively with the end in mind. And the end is getting people to conduct a transaction with you.

An email list is your most important communication asset, and email marketing is a great way to sell your farm products. But how do you build a list in the first place? In this episode I walk you through the four not-so-simple steps of email list building for your farm business.

Small businesses routinely fail in every industry segment, but what   causes small farms to fail? In this episode I share 7 reasons why small farms fail, so you learn what not to do so that your farm thrives. I'll walk you through seven reasons why small farms fail.

A lot of people dream of starting a family farm and selling directly to customers, but how do you protect yourself from getting sued? In this episode, join me and the Food Lawyer as we discuss farm law, liability and how to protect your personal assets.

The phrase hobby farm is cute and all, but what’s the difference between a hobby farm and a farming business? In this episode, I’m going to tell you why you might have a farm hobby that costs you money rather than a thriving farm business that earns you money.

This week I was a guest on the popular Peak Prosperity podcast. It was a great pleasure speaking with Adam Taggart, who co-founded Peak Prosperity with Chris Martenson. You can listen to the episode here on the Peak Prosperity website, here on iTunes or here on YouTube. We discussed many aspects of starting and running a successful small-scale farming business. If you'd rather read than listen, you can read the entire transcript of the episode, below. Episode Transcript Adam: Hello, and welcome to the Resilient Life podcast. Resilient Life is part of peakprosperity.com. It's where we focus on practical and actionable knowledge for building a better future. I'm your host, Adam Taggart. Many of those looking to live with greater resilience dream of owning productive farmland that's managed sustainably. Now, in the past we've profiled funds like Farmland LP that enable folks to become directly invested in farmland like this, but many aren't interested in simply being passive investors. They want to become farmers to work the land themselves, to grow food to feed their families and their local community. From firsthand knowledge, having in the past being a part owner of a CSA, it's rewarding work and a worthy pursuit, but it's hard. Farming demands more time and toil than most jobs out there, and mother nature's unpredictability always finds a way to up end your best laid plans. So how does one succeed at running a successful small farming operation? Today, we're joined by Tim Young, founder of Small Farm Nation, which offers farmers proven, practical guidance for growing their farm businesses. His first and most important advice: successful small farming is 20 percent about growing and 80 percent about marketing to customers. From his firsthand experience, Tim has observed that is the business side that farms live and die by. And from my own work with small producers in California's Sonoma County where I live, I 100 percent agree with this. But most farmers, especially new ones, are undereducated and under experienced in key business skills. Tim's mission is to correct this knowledge deficiency which is why he created the Small Farm Nation Academy, a curriculum and knowledge center that teaches farmers key skills like marketing, accounting, customer management pricing, handling insurance, sales strategy and more. Tim knows what he's talking about. He built and operates and award-winning artisan cheese business, but before doing that he spent 25 years closing large marketing deals in the tech industry. Then he founded an Inc. 500 company. He has learned firsthand which business fundamentals are necessary for small farms to thrive. Tim, thanks so much for joining us today. I think a lot of folks are going to be interested in what you have to tell us. Tim: Thanks, Adam, it's my pleasure. Thanks a lot for having me. Adam: Oh, gosh, it's a real pleasure. And I know that you interviewed Chris for a podcast for the Small Farm Nation, and I know that he really enjoyed that experience, so we're very happy to return the favor today. Tim: Yeah. That was one of our most popular episodes last year. I encourage everyone to check that out. I think a lot of us really admire what you guys are doing in terms of helping people to become more resilient and take preparedness a little bit more seriously. Adam: Well, thanks. I think it's a little bit of a mutual admiration society here because we're big fans of what you're doing too. Tim, why don't we start here by giving our readers a little bit more background into how you transitioned from the world of high tech into becoming an expert on small scale farming. Tim: Yeah. Farming's not in my background at all. I didn't grow up on a farm. I have never really, for the most part, I've never petted a cow or seen a chicken too much close up. I lived in North Georgia growing up and had seen some of that from afar.

We’ve all heard the term corporate branding, but what is a personal brand, and do farmers need one? In this episode, I’m going to tell you why you need to develop your own personal farm brand, and how to do it. Because, from a marketing perspective, a sustainable farm business is quite unique in the scheme of business models.

When people think of retirement, they often think of golf or travel. But what about homesteading or farming as a retirement strategy? In this final episode of season 1, I’ll share with you how we and many other farmsteaders are thinking very old-school about retirement. Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Several years ago as we prepared to transition from sprawling urban life to our rural farmstead, Liz and I were filled with excitement about growing our own food and being immersed in nature. Yet, during that period of intense change and learning we also spent many hours discussing, of all things, retirement. At the time the idea of retirement was many years away for us, but in our “former” lives we at least understood what the plan was, so we rarely thought about it. The plan back then was simply to keep working until we were, I don’t know, 62 or so and then let a 401K or pension plan fund the rest of our lives, perhaps with a little help from social security. But moving to the farm meant that there may be no pension plan and for many people it means converting a 401K or other savings into hard assets such as land. And then, just as we were moving to the farm the “great recession” of 2008 hit. Just like you, we witnessed the economic hardship forced onto so many people as a result of reckless  lending and investments by major lending institutions and equally reckless government spending, which required government bail-outs and central banks intervention to prop up global markets. After that experience, our confidence that pension fund obligations would ever be met had eroded anyway, so we began to consider thinking of retirement planning, and homesteading, in a new way.                         See, the thing is that this whole concept of retirement is a relatively new one. I mean, not so long ago, when we all lived in a more agrarian based society, few people ever retired. Their daily duties just changed. As we grew up we would take over running the farm, until one day when stepped back to let our kids do the same. But that didn’t mean we stopped working. Perhaps we would take over maintenance of the equipment or something less physically demanding, but something that required our knowledge and experience. Or maybe we would help out more inside the home with cooking or childcare. But flat-out retirement to travel or play golf all day was the domain of the ultra rich. And even then, most tycoons were still wheeling and dealing well into their 60s and beyond. And that was when live expectancies were barely 60, so even the rich worked until the end. Nowadays with retirement plans tanking and pension funds bleeding out, we may find ourselves without the ability to retire once again. However, this time, we will not have the farm to feed us and the multi-generational home to keep us occupied and close to our loved ones. For many, if they’re very fortunate they may be able to find a spot in a retirement home and sell their current homes to pay for it. But this whole notion of retirement is flawed, as many people are starting to realize. Even the Harvard Business Review wrote a recent article titled, Why Retirement is a Flawed Concept. The whole notion of retirement as we understand it was invented by the Germans in 1889, when German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck invented the idea of retirement with the Old Age and Disability Insurance Law of 1889, which established the concept for the rest of us. “Those who are disabled from work by age and invalidity have a well-grounded claim to care from the state,” he said at the time. What he wanted was to address high youth unemployment by paying those 70 and older to leave the workforce. Made sense to many, so other countries followed suit with retirement ages around 65 or 70. And those are the ages we’ve all grown up with thinking of as retirement age. But,

Sign Up Spring has sprung but the grass ain’t ris, and we can’t find where the flowers is. This week, Liz joins me as we shake the winter blues and share an update of what’s happening on the farm. Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Welcome to Episode 29! First off, we've received 70 reviews on iTunes, and Liz and I would like to thank each of you for leaving a review. This podcast is a labor of love for us and we greatly appreciate you showing us that it's not a waste of energy. This week Liz is back on the podcast, and she shares a surprising challenge that we've had to deal with in recent months. And that challenge is, boredom. The climate in our new homestead means winter is longer and spring arrives later, so we've really had to adjust to having more time off from garden and farmstead chores. Sounds like a good thing...but it it'll drive you stir crazy. Still, we've got a lot going on, and in this episode we discuss: our recent cruise vacation and how these crazy preppers prepared to spend a week on the ocean clearing land for pasture and putting in a one-acre pond getting laying hens and building a micro-eggmobile a new Dexter calf building a milking parlor for our Jersey cow home milking procedures and raw milk quality hugelkultur and adding compost to raise or not to raise meat rabbits our Tamworth pigs top bar bee hives and adding bees permaculture, plantings and installing a vineyard of Norton grapes expanding the medicinal garden Grab some coffee or tea, pull up a chair and listen in as we invite you into our world of modern homesteading. Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW for Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Resources Relevant to This Episode How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young Start Prepping by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Get the Free eBook: The Self-Sufficient Road Map Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix

We love animals, so farming livestock was an easy decision for us. So how can we eat the animals we love? Today, I’ll tell you why PETA is dead wrong and why eating the "right" meat is best for people, the environment AND the animals. Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn So, of all the decisions we contemplated when we began farming a decade ago, choosing to farm livestock was the easiest. Of course, that meant we would care for livestock, and then eat animals we cared for. We spent years hatching cute little chicks, watching Ossabaw Island piglets being born in the woods, pulling calves, collecting and cleaning eggs, and just watching our cows and sheep graze lush pastures. We’ve loved farm animals since we took our first steps out of the rat race, and we love everything about them. So it seems strange to some folks that we not only eat our animals, but we give them names and develop relationships with them before we do. If that doesn’t make sense to you, let me explain why it does to us. You see, there were four reasons why the path of raising animals for food was so clearly right for us 10 years ago, and continues to be today. The first reason is that we love animals. All animals. One of the things we joked about when we first bought our sprawling acreage was that we could have as many pets as we wanted. My wife, Liz, is attracted to pet stores the way Winnie Mandela is attracted to shoes, so it was easy for us to dream of raising chickens, cows, pigs, sheep and any other animals we could get our hands on. But if you love animals, you can’t eat them…can you? I mean, how Can You Eat the Animals You Love? Our love of animals brings up a paradox for many people and leads into the second reason why we chose to raise (and eat) animals. The paradox is, how could we love an animal and yet kill it for its meat? When it comes to eating meat there is a clear line of division among people. The majority, being products of an environment where meat is cheap and plentiful, think nothing of consuming it. Then there are those who, acting mainly out of what they view as compassion for animals, choose to not eat meat. They derive their protein from other sources and take comfort in their perception that no life is harmed in order for them to eat. In reality, it’s well known that countless lives of insects and mammals are sacrificed to sustain a vegetarian diet. There’s a thought-provoking article on care2.com titled, Do Vegetarians Kill More Animals Than Meat Eaters?The article has over 23,000 comments so, yeah, it was widely read and got people thinking. The article cited  an written by Mike Archer AM, Professor and member of the Evolution of Earth & Life Systems Research Group at University of New South Wales. That article was titled, “Ordering the vegetarian meal? There’s more animal blood on your hands.” According to Archer’s research, he concluded that protein obtained from grazing livestock costs far fewer lives per acre than simply growing grains. Therefore, he concluded that it is a more humane, ethical and environmentally-friendly dietary option. If you eat meat, you’ll probably agree, and if you don’t, you’ll vehemently disagree, right? But let’s get back to our reasons. To my way of thinking, even though vegetarians often tout perceived health benefits of their diet, the health benefits are not the reason they originally sought a diet free of meat. Rather the decision was based on moral grounds, and it is these values that are put forth as a moral challenge to the world’s meat eaters with the claim that it is unethical to eat meat. If you look closely at the reasons cited, vegans indeed have a point worthy of consideration. After all, the factory-farmed animals that give their lives for our dining pleasure endure, by most definitions, horrid existences. Laying hens packed in battery cages unable to ever spread thei...

When you search for rural land you’ll find all sorts of places that look promising. But how do you know if you’ve found your dream property? Today, I’ll share what we’ve learned and cover the 23 questions you should answer before buying that rural property. Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn So, Liz and I have bought rural property twice now. It’s both an exciting and exhausting time, Before you plunk down that deposit on the first rural property that screams your name, consider this: you are planning to make a move there for life. A new life, a better life and, perhaps, not only the rest of your life but a homestead that future generations will cherish. So, yeah, it’s appropriate to take time and weigh the decision against criteria that are important to you and your family. With that in mind, I’ve come up with a list of 23 important questions you should ask and answer when looking for rural property. But, really, these 23 questions are more like 23 categories. As you’ll hear, each question…or category…has many sub-questions, so it’s way more than 23 questions. So, having said that, let’s get going on our list of 23 questions to ask when looking for rural property. 1. How much land do you really need? This gets to the issue of land lust, as we all seem to want more land and more privacy. But the question you’ll need to answer is how much land do you actually need to achieve your goals or dream? I mean, if you simply want to have a garden and some chickens you can certainly homestead on less than an acre.  Many people do. But what if you want livestock, such as cows and horses?  How about orchards? Do you want to be able to hunt on your own land…do you want a lake or pond for recreation and fishing? The risk here is that you, like us, will say…yeah, I want all that, and more. But of course all that comes at a cost, both financially and in terms of upkeep. So you have to be clear on your goals, because keeping chickens and rabbits require very little land, sheep and goats require a little more and cows require, at a minimum, one or two acres of dedicated pasture each… and that is IF you are in good pasture/rainfall areas typical of the eastern United States. In much of the western parts of the U.S. more land is usually required, often much more. And if you are thinking about having horses, get far more rural property—10 acres per horse (in the east) in addition to your house, driveway, garden, etc. Okay, moving on. Question # 2. Can you COMFORTABLY afford the land? Only you know how much you can afford for the home and land. Can you purchase your rural property and be debt-free?  You’ve heard me talk about this before so you know I think this is a really important milestone to achieve. But, if you’re not there yet, can you comfortably afford the down payment with plenty of financial reserves left over to deal with the unexpected? And I mean plenty, because there’s always a need for money out here. For instance, how much will any improvements to the land or buildings cost? Then there’s the cost for livestock, trees and garden beds and so on. So make sure your purchase leaves you with financial reserves. # 3. How is the water? Does the land have excellent water? (I encourage you to make this a very high priority.) Does the water come from a natural spring or has a well been drilled? If it is a spring, is it located above the elevation of the house and garden so you can use gravity for water distribution? If the water is from a well, how many gallons per minute does it produce AND what is the static water depth? For example, on our last farm, we had two wells, each 300 feet deep that produced over 45 gallons per minute, but the static water depth is less than 40 feet. On my current homestead we only have one well that produces about 5 gallons per minute, but that’s plenty. Besides,

Many people believe that The Great Depression was a hard time for all Americans, but is that true? This week, I’ll tackle that myth and share 10 Survival Lessons from The Great Depression era. Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn So, we all grew up reading and hearing about The Great Depression, right? That time in American history when times were tough, everyone was thrown out of work, food was scarce. On top of that we had the Dust Bowl with infertile land and tremendous storms of dust blanketing the heartland of the country. And, of course, virtually no one had money. Sounds like a made-for-TV nightmare that’s almost beyond belief. But—as terrible as that time was, was it really terrible for everyone? I ask, because sometimes the impact of events is often exaggerated when recalled, whether it be a personal or societal event. And, even if it is horrific, what percentage of the population is it horrific for? Just a few years ago, from 2007-2009, we had what we’re now calling the Great Recession. That’s when the 8 trillion dollar housing bubble burst. It led to a big reduction in jobs and consumer spending but, to be honest, I didn’t have much of an impact on my family. We were farming at the time, selling pasture based meats direct to consumers who still were hungry and could afford to eat. And, the truth is, while many people lost paper money during those years, the unemployment rate peaked at under 11%, meaning that over 88% of people could find jobs. It’s true that perhaps maybe not the jobs they wanted, and it may also be true that the real unemployment rate was considerably higher, when you factor in people who gave up looking. But the point I’m making is that it’s often a common misconception that times are harder than they actually were. I found that to be the case for The Great Depression when I listened to the audiobook, Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression. In it, author Mildred Armstrong Kalish recounts her childhood fondly as she retells many stories of what it was like to live through hard times.  Funny thing though; like many who lived pretty self-sufficient lifestyles, she wasn’t aware that there were hard times. Of course now, those who lived in the cities and depended on paychecks fared far worse than Mildred’s family. And, while a small number of people remained wealthy, being able to provide for oneself made the family much better off since stocks and bonds became worth far less and money was very tight. As a modern homesteader, I’ve thought a lot about those times and what I’ve heard over the years from grandparents and others who endured them. Now, well over a decade after Liz and I left the rat race for a more self-reliant lifestyle, I’m able to clearly see the rules that will allow us to thrive in GOOD times or in BAD times. I’ve distilled this list down to 10 Survival Lessons from the Great Depression. And here’s a shock if you’re a prepper…guns and ammo aren’t on the list. Regardless of whether good times or very bad economic times lie ahead, you’ll get through just fine if you follow these 10 rules NOW as well as later. Okay, here we go. 1. Be Frugal – During the Great Depression (and prior), being frugal was considered a virtue…something to be proud of. Imagine that! Now, compare that with the connotation frequently assigned today, when it is suggested by many that one is stingy or cheap. That’s a ridiculous definition and is the result of living in a society where marketers admonish consumers to spend ever more money in an effort to keep up with the (perpetually out of reach) Jones’s. The path to freedom and wealth is to make the most of what you have and live below your means. If you have children, show them now how to do the same. Practice budgeting yourself, teach them to do the same and lead by example. 2.

A lot of folks have asked me if they can make money farming or homesteading, but is that even the right question to ask? This week, Liz and I will share why it may not be and what we’ve learned about the financial side of a self-sufficient lifestyle. Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn   Welcome to Episode 25! So, we can't count the number of times someone has asked us over the years, "can you make money farming or homesteading?" Usually the question is more revealing than any answer I could provide, for it fails to consider one of the most obvious benefits of homesteading: saving money. Because, the truth is that homesteaders have far more opportunities to eliminate or reduce expenses than most people do. In this episode we list dozens of ways we found to save money WHILE enjoying a more fulfilling, free lifestyle. Some of the areas we cover include: the importance of house size the value of buying cheap (infertile) land and restoring it unnecessary expenses you can do without ways homesteaders and preppers reduce food costs alcohol, gifts and other things you can make yourself what and how to barter to build your homestead the importance of paying for quality how your need for vacation and entertainment changes once you move to the country So, if you're looking for ways to tips and inspiration to become more self-sufficient, you won't want to miss this. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW for Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Resources Relevant to This Episode How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young Start Prepping by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Get the Free eBook: The Self-Sufficient Road Map Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix

Myself and many others on this podcast use the phrase modern homesteading, but what does that really mean in this digital age? Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn   Welcome to Episode 24! So, here's a question for you: What do you visualize when you hear the phrase homesteading, self-sufficient or self-reliance? I’m willing to bet that many of you visualize a natural setting. Perhaps a loving family working hard together. Something between Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons, for those of you old enough to know those television shows. We often picture a family living off the land, tending to crops and animals while being…well…self-sufficient. But...this ain't the 1800s. This is the digital age. In this episode I'll define what modern homesteading really is, and dispel some myths surrounding the notion of homesteading. I also share why I walked away from big-time corporate America, trading in the boardroom for the barnyard. And I share several tips on how to start homesteading and becoming more self-reliant, even if you're cramped in an urban apartment. Things you can do right now to start down your path to self-sufficiency. So, if you're looking for ways to tips and inspiration to become more self-sufficient, you won't want to miss this. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW for Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Resources Relevant to This Episode How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young Start Prepping by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young No Risk Ranching by Greg Judy New Farmers USDA Grants List of all USDA Grant Winners in 2016 SARE Grants ATTRA Grants Calendar Get the Free eBook: The Self-Sufficient Road Map Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix

Many modern homesteaders made a choice to opt-out and provide for themselves, but what impact does that choice have on their children? This week, we’ll begin a series of discussing the real life ups and downs of homeschooling children. Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn   Welcome to Episode 23! This week, Liz and I discuss how we arrived at the difficult choice of homeschooling our daughter. Now, since we've embraced modern homesteading, it's natural that people would assume that we would homeschool. But Liz has a Masters in Special Education and is a former public school teacher. Homeschooling her own child is something she would have never embraced...in our old life. Back before we "opted out" of the rat race. In this episode we share intimate details about: what led us to decide that homeschooling was right for our daughter and our family the unschooling process that Liz has had to go through as a former teacher the fears and worries we had before deciding to homeschool, and how we overcame them how we set-up our permanent homeschool room (see this post for pictures of our set-up) the various curriculum options we examined (Montessori, blending multiple styles - Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio, unschooling, thematic unit study, etc.) and how we chose what was right for us We also dive into the benefits and downsides of homeschooling, and what we've learned in our first year on the job. And, of course we talk about the "S" word, or the concern newbies have about "socialization" of homeschool children. We'll continue this discussion quarterly or thereabouts to track our progress. For now, if you're curious about the decision to homeschool, you won't want to miss this. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW for Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Resources Relevant to This Episode How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young Start Prepping by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Get the Free eBook: The Self-Sufficient Road Map Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix

I’ve shared many stories of people who have opted out of the rat race, but some of them had saved money to do so? But what if you haven’t? Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn   Welcome to Episode 22! Today, I’ll deal with a caller’s frustration on how to start a homestead or farm with no money. So, I got this call in from a listener a while back and haven’t had a chance to center an episode around it yet. In the call, you can really hear his pain and heartfelt desire to live freely in the country. But, while he has really enjoyed the stories I've shared of others who have "opted out," his perception is that they (and I) made enough money in the corporate world to afford to do so. What he wants to know is how can people with no money afford to live freely in the country. It's a struggle I hear all the time, and today I provide as much help and as many ideas as I can, including the six macro categorical options, at least as I see them. Have savings Inherit land or money Pay as you go Borrow money Raise money Get someone to give you money I dive deep into the ways to get money, from conventional bank and USDA loans to crowdfunding, venture capital, government grants and more. If you're looking for ways to find money so you can start your farm or homestead, you won't want to miss this. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair!   Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW for Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Resources Relevant to This Episode How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young Start Prepping by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young No Risk Ranching by Greg Judy New Farmers USDA Grants List of all USDA Grant Winners in 2016 SARE Grants ATTRA Grants Calendar Get the Free eBook: The Self-Sufficient Road Map Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix

Moving to the country means you still make money, so how do you decide what business ideas to pursue? Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn   Welcome to Episode 20! This week Liz and I address a caller’s question about how to research and decide the best way to make money homesteading. Listen in as we discuss the many ways to make money farming or with modern homesteading: First, find your PASSION Why exactly do you want to homestead or farm? What excites you and what do you want to do? Do you long to grow the best tomatoes and sell directly to leading chefs? Do you simply want to feed your family? Do you want to be the next Joel Salatin and have a farm of chicken tractors, eggmobiles and salad bar beef? Do you want to live freely in the country but still make a lot of money? Three Revenue Categories to Profitable Homesteading How to Make money homesteading using your land Large livestock -raising cows, selling calves or animals (registered or not). After all, we bought our pigs and Dexters from somewhere :-) Small livestock - chickens, rabbits, etc. (heritage/rare breeds) Farm Stays, events, wedding, private parties Boarding animals How to Make money homesteading with your skills Locally or Physical Teaching classes (preparedness, permaculture, edible landscapes, medicinal herbs, etc.) (we’ve taught classes on cheese, butchering, etc.) Organize and market classes and events on topics you can’t teach (we’ve marketed many classes we couldn’t teach) wilderness survival foraging butchering classes Start a business helping farmers Guided fishing or hunting service Woodcraft business (Patrice Lewis) Online or Virtual Monetized Blogging (Jill Winger, Lisa Steele, Daisy Luther and others) Monetized Podcasting (EO Fire, etc.) Copywriting or editing Authoring (Mark Goodwin and others) Illustrating for authors, web designers, etc. Become a virtual assistant Web or graphic design Voice overs Make money homesteading selling products from your land Farmstead meats (grassfed beef, pastured poultry/pork, etc.) artisan meats (charcuterie) Raw milk Farmstead or artisanal cheese Eggs Become a grower (vegetables, cut flowers, pick your own, transplants, etc.) Artisan soap (Little Seed Farm) It was a insightful discussion and I hope you enjoy it and find that it gives you a lot to think about as you prepare for your self-sufficient life. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Subscribe to the Self-Sufficient Life Podcast Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode: Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW for Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates! Resources Relevant to This Episode How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young Start Prepping by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix

Welcome to Episode 18!  So, if you’re the daughter of a famous homesteader, you’re destined to live off the land yourself, right? Today, you’ll find out what falls from the sky when a teenager rebels against the mother of modern homesteading. Listen Now! Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn So, imagine your mother wrote the book on Country Living. I mean—literally. In addition to bearing seven children in the 70s, Carla Emery also found time to write The Encyclopedia of Country Living. That’s the first book that many wannabe homesteaders place on their mantles. It’s a million word tome that’s on my bookshelf, and I’ve thumbed the pages of my copy until they’ve frayed. But this isn't a story about Carla. It's the story of Esther Emery, Carla's youngest daughter. Carla was 30 when her first child was born in 1970, 40 by the time Esther, her seventh, arrived. In a “back-to-the-land” era when it seemed everyone wanted to know how to make it in the country,The Encyclopedia of Country Living began selling like hotcakes. But Esther grew up on the latter side of that trend, as the go-go 80s and 90s saw Silicon Valley capitalistic values render the idea of homesteading as quaint and archaic. When tragedy struck Carla's family and resulted in her losing her homestead, Carla, the mother of modern homesteading, was forced to move to the city to homeschool her children. As a result, Esther knew nothing of the life of open spaces and farm chores that her mother wrote about, and took a long and winding path through life to where she is today. That path included battling bulimia, enrolling in a far away college at the age of 15, a career in theater in southern California and even a full year of self-imposed exile from the Internet, a story she chronicled in her new book, What Falls From the Sky. After that year of exile she and her husband, Nick, felt a calling to return to their Idaho roots, where they have lived off-grid in a yurt for three years while Nick builds their cabin from timber he milled himself. Now that Esther is baking bread in a wood stove, doing laundry with the help of a bicycle and fighting off bears, she is finding that the circle of life is becoming complete. She is becoming like the mother she rebelled against as the land has summoned her home. It's a great story of renewal and redemption that you won't want to miss. Grab your coffee and listen in. Subscribe Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode of Self-Sufficient Life: Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it!   Resources Relevant to This Episode Esther Emery's Site What Falls From the Sky by Esther Emery How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Start Prepping by Tim Young Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod & Audionautix

How can a modern homesteader expect to achieve personal privacy in the digital age? This week, Liz and I discuss the homestead we settled on and the steps we have taken to live a private, self-sufficient life. Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Welcome to Episode 17! This week Liz and I tell describe the homestead property we settled on, and share what concessions we had to make since there is no "perfect" property. Here's what we discuss about the property: How much acreage we settled on Woods vs pasture/open land House size/configuration Well vs gravity water Streams/water features Southern exposure Fruit trees Garden space and outbuildings To heat or not to heat with wood Proximity to populated areas Homeschooling/homesteading culture We also discuss our overall objectives for homesteading. Those include: Living as freely as possible maximize free time having a property that requires low maintenance time to develop skills we're interested in, such as foraging, medicinal herbs and bushcrafting maximize time together as a family able to travel if desired Be as independent and sustainable as possible grow our own vegetables and most of our fruit grow and butcher or hunt for our own meat produce dairy and eggs Teach our daughter about animal husbandry and...you know...the birds and the bees Provide pollination and collect honey and wax from bees Use our land's materials for building projects Grow, harvest and produce as much of our own medicine as possible Beyond that, we had an overarching goal that we began discussing in Episode 16. That is, to achieve and maintain a high level of personal privacy. That's a hard thing to do in this digital age. But when a listener called in and asked about privacy, we decided to share our approach on achieving privacy in this episode. Here's what we discussed: Why privacy is important to us bad guy takes license plate number (road rage, etc.) That privacy is about keeping our private life private. It’s not about avoiding taxes or even asset protection, although it helps with the latter. The importance of separating your name from physical residence driver's license managing FedEx, etc., deliveries home ownership titling deposits for utilities, DirecTV, etc. Setting up PO boxes BEFORE moving. That way you can complete the USPS forms truthfully with your two forms of ID. Providing no forwarding address Setting-up bank account before moving or keeping existing bank account Using passport for ID instead of Driver’s License. DL very seldom actually required. Using cash over credit Dealing with family who wants to know why they can't tell people where you live What is a lie (intent to both deceive and cause harm) It was a spirited and interesting discussion, and I hope you enjoy it and find that it gives you a lot to think about as you prepare for your self-sufficient life. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates! Resources Relevant to This Episode How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young Start Prepping by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix

If you had an opportunity to opt out of the rat race and set up a modern homestead, how would you go about it? This week you’ll hear my wife Liz and I share our step-by-step process for choosing our new homestead location. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 16! This week’s episode is a little different in that it doesn’t profile another homesteader or farmer. Instead, it begins the process of profiling us. By that I mean my wife, Liz, and myself, and the life of modern homesteading that we’re enjoying. Now, many of you have followed our journey since we left the rat race, back in 2006. You read the farm blog we maintained years ago. And bout a quarter million of you listened to our podcasts from 2010-2012, many from all corners of the world. And tens of thousands more have read my books, most notably The Accidental Farmers and How to Make Money Homesteading. Still, many of you are unacquainted with our story. In a nutshell, we lived in suburban Atlanta in 2006, on a golf course with a strict HOA. We’d never farmed, but that didn’t stop us from buying over 120 acres in rural Georgia, leaving behind our careers in corporate America and teaching to become first-generation farmers. We raised pretty much anything that walks. Grassfed beef, meat chickens, laying hens, rabbits, pigs, geese, ducks, dairy cows and, just for fun, donkeys, guineas and guardian dogs. We built a great customer base from Atlanta to Athens, GA, and loved hosting farm tours for up to 100 people a month. And then—we sort of went into seclusion in late 2012. We stopped blogging and podcasting, though we continued farming through 2015, selling grassfed meats and farmstead cheese. But in 2015 we stopped farming commercially and began the process of migrating from being farmers to being homesteaders. This is a story of what to look for in a modern homestead property. Liz and I spent a couple of years searching for a new homestead property, as we transitioned from being commercial farmers (for others) to homesteaders. Of course, the process took longer than we wanted, as we had to sell off farm animals and a farm business. We discuss how we handled that in this episode, as well as the reasons that drove us from farming to homesteading. Once we completed those tasks, we still had to find a new homestead. We wanted this to be a very long-term move, if not for life, so we established a series of criteria in looking for a new homestead. Those criteria included: 1) macro criteria for new property incurring no debt / strict budget proximity to family slightly cooler garden zone southern exposure higher elevation rainfall low taxes low/no restrictions on building codes state friendly to homeschool 2) micro criteria for new property mature fruit trees at least 20 acres, unless on a mountain good well water or gravity water/water on property (pond, mountain stream, springs) no sight of paved road no sight of neighbors good hunting/foraging much smaller house ideally heated with wood pasture, but no more than a few acres within an hour of sizable town, 30 mins of grocery store/hospital around like minded-people (homeschool groups, homesteading culture, farming, etc.) 3) things we knew weren’t critical school system fencing high quality pasture outbuildings existing garden (because we’d be putting in raised beds) cosmetics on house…just well insulated and sound Liz and I discuss all these criteria in detail as well as the life of farming versus homesteading. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Subscribe to the Small Farm Nation Podcast Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode: Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the...

Welcome to Episode 15! So, what can happen when an active youth pastor gets the results from his life insurance physical? Today, you’ll hear how those results and what the doctor ordered drove the youth pastor to become the beginning farmer. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Ethan Book dreamed of being a farmer when he was a kid, but life's necessities steered him in a different direction. After having children, his practical wife insisted he procure life insurance. But that required a physical exam, which revealed Ethan had very high cholesterol. The two options for treatment included a lifetime of medicine, which Ethan wanted to avoid, or a drastic diet change centered on grassfed beef. Ethan opted for the latter approach, but there was a problem. Grass fed beef was expensive, and Ethan didn't earn too much as a youth minister. So, he did the only thing he could do--he bought land, and became a farmer. Today, Ethan blogs at thebeginningfarmer.com, and has an excellent podcast called The Beginning Farmer Show. Listen in to how Ethan and his wife feed their family of seven on less than $150/month at the grocery store, while producing excellent pasture raised pork, beef and lamb for local customers in Iowa. Subscribe Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode of Self-Sufficient Life:     Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Read the Transcript You can read a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here. Resources Relevant to This Episode The Beginning Farmer Blog You Can Farm by Joel Salatin How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Start Prepping by Tim Young Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod & Audionautix

In this episode you'll hear the story of how an investment banker and a fashion designer traded the glamour of Manhattan for goats and brambles in Tennessee. Imagine being a young couple living the good life in New York. One's an investment banker, the other's a fashion designer and both are on their way to the top. Then, they get this wild idea--"Hey, let's quit our jobs and move to the country to milk cows and make artisan cheese." Only when they find their farm, it's not what they imagined. This is the story of starting an artisan goat soap business. Actually, the dream was to start an artisan farmstead cheese business, but one obstacle led to another and forced James and Eileen Ray down a different path as they struggled to give birth to Little Seed Farm. If you're into modern homesteading, self-reliance, preparedness or self-sufficiency, grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Many people dream of opting out of the rat race, but most don't act on their dreams. James and Eileen did. They walked away from great jobs and incomes, took a leap of faith and now live a life with purpose. A life they want to live. Their journey is an inspiration to anyone wanting a self-sufficient life. Subscribe Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode: Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates! Read the Transcript You can read a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here. Resources Relevant to This Episode Little Seed Farm Making Soap From Scratch: How to Make Handmade Soap-A Beginner's Guide How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Start Prepping by Tim Young Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod & Audionautix

So, what can happen when a suburban couple living on a golf course decides to take a horseback riding trip? Turns out they decide to chuck the house, buy 100 acres in the country and become the accidental farmers. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 13! This is a story about...well...it's my story. Or more accurately, the story of how my wife, Liz, and I found ourselves out here in the country when we used to be in there (corporate America). Liz was a teacher with a Masters degree. I (Tim) was an entrepreneur, running marketing-type businesses. We were both successful, but not over the top successful. Just...typical suburban people living the typical suburban life. I'd like to say we planned our escape out of the rat race, but we never even contemplated it. We just took a horseback riding trip for Liz's birthday and fell in love with the notion of rural living. Then, after reading books such as The Omnivore's Dilemma and Slaughterhouse, we immediately became aware of and appalled by how food was produced. So, rather than doing something sensible (like just going to a farmers market), we sold our golf course house, bought a run-down piece of land deep in the country and became first-generation farmers. We produced every type of meat--grassfed beef, pastured pork, chicken, turkey, duck, rabbit and geese, and even started a grass-based dairy. From there we began making farmstead and artisan cheese, and loved serving customers in Atlanta and north Georgia. But we continually struggled to find the balance between farm life and homesteading. We openly shared that struggle for years in our blog and podcast, called the Nature's Harmony Farmcast. In this very special episode of Self-Sufficient Life, I share one of our old Farmcasts, recorded six years ago in November 2010. It's appropriate to share now at Thanksgiving, and for you long-time fans and follower, I hope you enjoy this trek down memory lane. Subscribe to the Small Farm Nation Podcast Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode:   Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates! Resources Relevant to This Episode How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young Start Prepping by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix

Whatta ya get when you combine a drunken homeless man, a deer tick and the Internet? Today, you’ll find out how those three ingredients, along with a determined entrepreneur, add up to Abundant Permaculture. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 11! This is a story about Justin Rhodes. A fellow who didn’t opt out of the rat race, because he never even opted in. Justin has taken a winding journey from western North Carolina to Honduras and even Australia before landing back near Asheville to start his online homesteading business, Abundant Permaculture. Along the way Justin encountered a homeless man who prophesied his homesteading future, faced financial crisis that threw his family onto food stamps and even battled Lyme Disease that forced him to abandon market farming and find other sources of self-sufficient income. But Justin is a determined, resilient man and an outstanding example of modern homesteading. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Justin launched Abundant Permaculture and a wildly popular YouTube channel and has figured out how to make money homesteading with online courses, blogging, selling homestead videos and via his YouTube channel. If you're interested in figuring out how to get out of the rat race and earn a self-sufficient income living off the land, grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Subscribe to the Self-Sufficient Life Podcast Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode: Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates! Read the Transcript You can read a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here. Resources Relevant to This Episode Abundant Permaculture Permaculture Chickens Film The Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris Launch! An Internet Millionaire's Secret Formula To Sell Almost Anything Online, Build A Business You Love, And Live The Life Of Your Dreams by Jeff Walker How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young Start Prepping by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix

Everyone wants to be a millionaire, but where do you turn when you strike it rich then lose it all in a real estate meltdown? In this episode I share the story of a hot dog who rescued a couple of corporate drop-outs who lost everything in the Great Recession. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 10! This is the story of Laurie Charpentier, who accomplished something we all dream of--becoming a millionaire. Then, in the blink of an eye she lost it all, including her house, before a dachshund came into her life and changed everything. After dropping out of high school, Laurie earned her GED, then a college degree and climbed the corporate ladder, first as an accountant and then as director of human resources. Her employee-loving boss appreciated her, so much that he rewarded her with a six-figure income and an annual bonus. But when the boss sold the company, the new buyer had a very different perspective on how to treat employees. Laurie lost her job, but thanks to the stock options she had been rewarded, she had some time to chart a new course. So she became a life coach, only to find out that you actually have to sell to get new clients. Laurie's introverted personality prevented that, so she and her husband, Mark, decided to focus on generating passive income by investing the millions they had made from the company sale. They invested every penny in the real estate market. In 2008. Of course, they lost everything, including the house they lived in. So Laurie got another job in HR. Again, she was valued so much that her new boss doubled her salary within the first six months. And shortly thereafter, with no warning--he fired her. With her life out of control and with no security, Laurie didn't know where to turn. She was dependent on others for income and her identity in life. That's when a little dog named Max entered into her life and changed everything. Max allowed Laurie to think, not of what had gone wrong, but of what was still possible. Laurie and Mark soon found a way to start a small farm. After analyzing other farm enterprises--milking goats, market gardening, etc.--she decided to start a lavender farm in Rhode Island. And Max decided to start an apothecary for dogs. This is really a powerful story that winds through the highs and lows of life, and ends up on a small farm. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Subscribe to the Small Farm Nation Podcast Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode:     Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates! Read the Transcript You can read a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here. Resources Relevant to This Episode Max's Herb Farm Start Prepping by Tim Young How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix

So what would cause a trained scientist and big pharma executive to sell everything he owns and move to the country? Well, find out as I share the story of, not a mad scientist, but a scientist who got mad when he discovered we’re on a Crash Course with economic collapse. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 9! This is the story of Chris Martenson, who isn't your average scientist. Or corporate executive, for that matter. While he was "nature boy" as a child, Chris loved science and data, and continued his formal education until he was almost 30. He wanted to teach at the secondary level, but found himself forced to purse a career in business. His passion for science landed him in "big pharma," where he pulled down big bucks and played the game just the way it was supposed to be played. But when a market "correction" wiped out 40{f08661e966cfbba2afdc219076bf0ce6e15467ec087bdfb769bbeccdbc1c77ea} of his portfolio, the scientist in Chris became mad. So he began to investigate, and found that, not only was the game rigged against him (and you), but that we're on a crash course with collapse in energy, the environment and the economy. So Chris and his wife, Becca, opted-out and changed everything. They sold the waterfront home and big boat and moved to rural Massachusetts to begin homeschooling their children and homesteading to buffer themselves from the hard times ahead. In the midst of that, Chris began sharing his concerns and built a large following for his Crash Course book and videos, and his website, Peak Prosperity. Chris shares his thoughts on the economy, the importance of becoming resilient through self-reliance, the value of gold, silver and precious metals, how to decide where to locate, homeschooling and so much more. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Subscribe to the Self-Sufficient Life Podcast Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode: Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates!   Resources Relevant to This Episode Chris's website - Peak Prosperity The Crash Course Videos on YouTube Chris's book - The Crash Course Chris's book - Prosper Book - Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus Start Prepping by Tim Young How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix

If you think it’s tough trying to raise a kid, try raising 185 hungry kids. Today, I’ll share the story of a New York lawyer and a high-end builder who decided to ditch their demanding clients so they could herd goats and make artisan cheese. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 8! Kathryn Spann grew up in the farm country of Durham, NC, but she quickly fled to become a high-flying New York lawyer. But things go full circle in life, and when she met a high-end builder, Dave Krabbe, who had as much stress in his work as she did, they decided to opt-out of the rat race. They bought land, fell in love with goats and became farmstead artisan cheese makers at Prodigal Farm. In no time, their goats were giving birth to almost 200 kids a year, meaning Kathryn and Dave had to quickly learn every aspect of sustainable farming. Milking, breeding, marketing, cheese making, pasture management--the skills and chores seem endless, and Kathryn and Dave work more hours for less money than before. But their life is much fuller and more rewarding, and they wouldn't trade it. Kathryn shares her thoughts on cheese making, farming, Kickstarter crowdfunding, goats and much more. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Subscribe to the Self-Sufficient Life Podcast Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode: Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates!   Resources Relevant to This Episode Prodigal Farm How to Start an Artisan Cheese Business - Online Course Start Prepping by Tim Young How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix

If you want to change the way people think, sometimes you just gotta get right up in their grill and tell ‘em what you think. Today, I’ll share the story of Daisy Luther. A freedom fighting, gun-toting, homeschooling mother who’s inspiring a nation of Organic Preppers. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 7!  This is the fascinating story of Daisy Luther from the blogs The Organic Prepper and DaisyLuther.com. I think you'll really enjoy the story of the winding path that led Daisy to homesteading and outspoken preparedness. A series of family tragedies, job losses and hardships drove her deep into the wilderness to homeschool her children, and learn that homesteading isn't as easy as it first seems. Her experiences reignited the skeptical, always questioning persona of her youth and inspired her to take up writing. She wrote books and multiple blogs centered on prepping, preparedness and delivering the truth in an unabashed way that you never see in mainstream media. Daisy shares her thoughts on homeschooling, homesteading, online courses, self-sufficient income, prepping, preparedness and much more. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Subscribe to the Self-Sufficient Life Podcast Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode:     Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates!   Resources Relevant to This Episode The Organic Prepper DaisyLuther.com Prepper's University How to Be Invisible by JJ Luna Start Prepping by Tim Young How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix

We all love our children, but what do you do when that cute little girl of yours grows up to be a defiant teenage trouble maker? Today, I’ll share the story of how a rebellious teenager in a gang-infested neighborhood escaped to develop a new life on a homestead. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 6! Raising a teenager is challenging—always has been. But imagine you’re raising one in a busy California coastal town—say—Santa Barbara. It’s 1996 and the city is besieged by violence. The police have their hands full with over 800 gang members, creating a steady stream of mischief. And there’s been an increasing trend in real violence. Drive-by shootings, gang rapes, brawls, stabbings, And here you are, a single mom trying to raise a 15-year old by yourself. So, what do you do with your rebellious daughter? You stick her on a plane and sentence her to a new life on a homestead. This is the inspiring story of Kendra Lynne from the blog New Life on a Homestead. Grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Subscribe to the Small Farm Nation Podcast Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode: Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates! Resources Relevant to This Episode Kendra's Blog - New Life on a Homestead Kendra's Canning DVD - At Home Canning for Beginners and Beyond All American 921 Pressure Canner Start Prepping by Tim Young How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix

Some men get trapped in the purple haze of life, only to see the light when God himself answers their prayers from the county jail. This week, I share the story of one such man. A man who kicked his drug addiction to become a prepper and bestselling author of post-apocalyptic Christian novels. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 5. Kentucky is the bourbon capital of the world. It's also where Mark Goodwin grew up and where he learned practical preparedness from the best--The Boy Scouts. But he wasn't prepared for life's temptations after he got out of school. He made great money working bars and restaurants, but spent every nickel on partying. He may still be doing that today, but he received two loud and clear messages from above that forever changed his path in life. Today, Mark is the host of the Prepper Recon podcast, and is a bestselling author of post-apocalyptic Christian novels. We discuss everything from prepping, preparedness and overcoming addiction to making money as a Kindle books author and modern homesteading. It's a great, inspiring episode. So pull up a chair! Subscribe to the Self-Sufficient Life Podcast Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode: Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates!   Resources Relevant to This Episode Mark's Podcast - Prepper Recon Mark's Post-Apocalypitic Novels Start Prepping by Tim Young How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix

Welcome to Episode 4.  In this episode, you'll hear the story of a little girl who pushed her city wheelbarrow to the life in the country she was destined for. Little kids dream of becoming all kinds of things when they grow up, but usually outgrow their fantasies when they become adults. But every now and then a kid holds on tight and grows up to live her dream. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Jill Winger grew up in the city. But from her earliest memory she fantasized about living in the country. So when she turned 18, she fled and began pushing her childhood wheelbarrow to rural Wyoming. Today she's a successful modern homesteader, earning enough money through blogging and her essential oils business to pay herself and her husband. Jill offers great advice on how to start and monetize a blog, building an essential oils business, the value of frugality, following Dave Ramsey and avoiding debt and so much more. It's a great listen to anyone inspiring to be more self-sufficient. Keep up with Jill at The Prairie Homestead. Subscribe to the Podcast Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode:   Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates!   Resources Relevant to This Episode Jill's Blog - The Prairie Homestead Jill's Book: Your Custom Homestead Jill's Book: Natural Homestead: 40+ Recipes for Natural Critters & Crops Book: Best Essential Oils Guide How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Start Prepping by Tim Young Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix

Welcome to Episode 3. In this episode, you'll hear the story of how a monster traffic jam in Sacramento sparked a rural revolution in Idaho. Patrice Lewis sat in a monster Sacramento traffic jam and reached her tipping point. Patrice was a project coordinator for an agricultural research firm in Sacramento.Her husband, Don, was a geologist with a geo-engineering firm. They entered their respective fields because they loved the outdoors.But, as they sat in traffic with the heat waves rising from the asphalt, they realized the truth.They rarely got to be outdoors. It had begun to gnaw at them. The commute. The flickering fluorescent lights. The cubicles. And the crowds. They reached the tipping point--and fled. First to Oregon, but later deeper into the wilderness to an Idaho homestead. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES When they fled they were young, idealistic newlyweds. But they were also broke, and with no jobs available where they moved, they had to learn to take care of themselves. Patrice and Don mastered the "Three H's" of self-sufficiency: homeschooling, homesteading and home-based business. Their woodcraft business (they make medieval wooden tankards) has now sustained them for over two decades. But Patrice and Don also mastered the concept of multiple-streams of income, and earn money freelance writing, selling grassfed beef and other ways. Keep up with their journey on Patrice's blog, rural-revolution.com. Subscribe to the Podcast Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode: Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates! Read the Transcript You can read a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here. Resources Relevant to This Episode Rural-Revolution Blog The Simplicity Primer by Patrice Lewis Rural-Revolution's Country Living Series of Books Making Soap From Scratch: How to Make Handmade Soap-A Beginner's Guide How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Start Prepping by Tim Young Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix

Welcome to Episode 2. In this episode, you’ll hear the story of how Lisa Steele escaped the concrete jungle surrounding Wall Street and built a lucrative brand around backyard chickens. Lisa Steele made Gordon Gecko proud, living the high-life on Wall Street during the go-go '80s. But when terrorists bombed the World Trade Center for the first time in 1993, Lisa reached her tipping point and began looking for a simpler life. It was many years later when boredom and necessity motivated her to start writing about her passion; chickens. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES What started as a simple Facebook page grew into a thriving blog, books and television series, all centered around Lisa's brand, Fresh Eggs Daily. A lot of people start blogs, but few turn their passion into a blogging business. Lisa Steele did just that, and now earns an income to rival what she walked away from when she left Wall Street. Lisa teaches us how giving readers what they want can earn you more than chicken feed. Subscribe Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode: Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates!   Resources Relevant to This Episode In this episode we mentioned the following resources: Fresh Eggs Daily - Website Gardening with Chickens by Lisa Steele - the book Fresh Eggs Daily by Lisa Steele - the book Duck Eggs Daily by Lisa Steele - the book Lisa's Televesion Series: Fresh Eggs Daily How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Start Prepping by Tim Young Production Credits Story written by Tim Young Music Credits Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas & Audionautix