Living Free in Tennessee - Nicole Sauce

Today we have an interview show with someone who has had an interesting life journey from engineer to founding an organization dedicated to farthing sustainable lifestyles. David Bolt joins me to talk about building sustainability into your lifestyle and talks about the Sustainable Future Center in Knoxville. How to get on an interview show Save the dates: Webinar coming up March 6, 2pm CT – Pantry Management Practices with Nicole Sauce Monday, June 14, chicken processing workshop, 9am Listener Feedback from Jenni - Little steps result in long term stability Show Resources Sustainable Future Center  https://www.sfcknox.org/ Main content of the show In 2012 David Bolt was selected as a White House "Champion of Change in Corporate Environmental Sustainability."  That award recognized the central theme of David's life and his career.  David has long sought to eliminate waste, promote efficiency, and preserve the world for future generations.  He leads by example, whether by converting his home to Net Zero energy, making his building net producer of energy or by driving a car fueled by the sun.  In short, the name of the non-profit says it all:  Sustainable Future Center.  The name is the vision.  His work is to support others that want to live more sustainably. More... Interview Make it a great week GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.  Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee

Every Friday, we record our Homestead Happenings update, followed by a questions and answers session. Today's podcast is the questions and answers session from yesterday's podcast. We cover: disappearing sheep, the light at the end of the fencing tunnel, why you will lose livestock if you do not check in every day, and the transition to fall. Main content of the show Replay of Friday's Homestead Happenings from YT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO6dKzDqT_o Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.  Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Today we talk about choosing freedom through geography, the criminal justice system, differences in the West versus the South, music, and more with Tesstimona, John Willis and NIcole Sauce. Show Resources Special Operations Equipment Living Free in Tennessee The Survival Podcast Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.  Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

  Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: Looking for lamb births, getting rapid forward progress on the homestead, and more. Featured Event: March 14 Makin' Bacon from 10am-12pm - LivingFreeinTennessee.com Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com Sponsor 2: TheWealthsteadingPodcast.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!   Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link  

  Want to come to the Holler Homestead and learn to make bacon? Makin' Bacon is March 14th at 10 am and space is limited. Join us for a First Tuesday Coffee with John Willis of Special Operations Equipment, Nicole Sauce of The Living Free in Tennessee Podcast, and Jack Spirko of The Survival Podcast. Connect with us! SOETacticalGear.com LivingFreeinTennessee.com TheSurvivalPodcast.com

We are going to talk today about what happens when your project, your homestead, your business — whatever you are building — hits the point where it can't grow unless you step into leadership. Not louder. Not bossier. Just clearer. And what it costs when you avoid that moment. We'll also cover our usual Monday segments. Featured Event Monthly Meetup at Basecamp Lodge Saturday, 12pm–3pm Potluck + Seed Exchange (bring seeds if you've got them) RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1246004124202741 Bring a dish. Bring seeds. Bring yourself. Sponsors Sponsor 1: StrongRootsResources.com Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com Tales from the Prepper Pantry Considering a community lard pig buy – Kune Kunes available Breaking the bad habit of buying vegetables at the store — diving back into freezer and canned goods Seeking wet cat food by the pallet — anyone? Gardens getting up and running Recipe Favorite: Dutch Oven Chicken Root Bake Forage Update Watercress Dandelion Stinging Nettle Dead Nettle Chickweed Comfrey Everything is waking up. Frugality Tip Buying at the right time of year makes a big difference. Before the Super Bowl: buy a TV on sale. After the Super Bowl: buy the returned open-box TVs on clearance. Last year we snagged a small smart TV originally priced at $125 for $37. Brand new. Open box. Check your local clearance sections for open-box returns. Often brand new. Happy savings, y'all. Operation Independence Turkey Tail season is upon us. There may be real opportunity there. We're going to find out. Main Topic of the Day From Personality-Driven to Framework-Driven Yesterday I sat down and drilled into every project and business I run. Income-generating. Money-costing. Even things like helping when someone in the community is ill — and yes, we should mention the Jeffrey Dheeres fundraiser. Everything fit into three buckets: Nicole Sauce centered Holler Homestead centered Weird outliers The outliers go on the chopping block first. But the bigger realization was this: I have been avoiding a leadership vacuum. I kept waiting for consensus. Waiting for another leader to step forward. Waiting for clarity to magically appear. And while I waited, I tried to just do more myself. That cost me peace. It led to burnout. It stalled momentum. Here's the lesson: If I don't accept my role as leader — meaning I walk in front instead of pushing from behind — we stay in one place. Not because people aren't good. Not because they don't care. Because without structure, everything becomes personality-driven. And personality-driven systems stall when the personality gets tired. What we're building now at Holler Homestead is a framework. Basecamp Lodge is functional. Classes are being scheduled (like the March 14 bacon class). The basement classroom is moving forward. Homestead systems are being documented. The buying club is poised for its first test. We're looking at additional acreage. Long-term vision: Expanded land. Commons effort. Cabins for temporary stays. People coming to experience regenerative community, food, skill-building, and reset. Membership options for non-residents. Not a massive intentional community. An example. Something that can be learned from and replicated elsewhere. And here's the key: Structure allows generosity. When more people in the community have needs, chaos doesn't scale — structure does. If you don't build framework, your generosity burns you out. If you build framework, your generosity becomes sustainable. So here's the question for you: Where are you avoiding stepping into leadership? Where are you burning out because you won't build structure? Is your project personality-driven when it needs to become framework-driven? Sometimes growth doesn't require more effort. It requires clarity. And someone willing to walk in front.

Today, we will explore the concept of building community, but not from a pure numbers standpoint. Many people measure community in numbers, not quality. We will discuss a better way to create community around you that makes the whole network mightier. Featured Event: Spence MAG Meetup: This Sunday. Contact Brad for information. sequatchieschool@protonmail.com Sponsor One: RarePlantStore.com Sponsor Two: https://abovephone.com/?above=104 (This is an affiliate link) Tales From The Prepper Pantry >11 years ago, crepe night for Fat Tuesday and we were snowed in >Rebuilding the pantry system after working through the "stuff" this winter (Why I did this) >Scaling from 2 to 5 - growing pains >Audit your canning supplies >German Food Day Frugality Tip From Margo I have a friend up North whose library has passes you can check out for discounted admission to museums.  So check out your local library and see what they have to offer. Operation Independence Barrels for sale, grocery club update Main Topic We talk about community all the time with some of you saying there is no one around you, and others seeking to start your own community. Often, communities fail because they have the wrong goal. How do you know your community is successful? >number of people >length of community >etc I like to think about the goals differently: How many surface relationships do we house versus inner circle trust. >>explain this<< Total participants is meaningless if you don't house quality relationships. Singular selfishness versus selfish community Why I think we got off course (TOP DOWN COMMUNITY) Why do I support other networks? What then should our goals be? Does the community do what it says and say what it does? Does the community have a high number of quality, close relationships? Does the community refrain from bad-mouthing other similar communities AND each other? What makes a series of small pods mighty? So ask yourself, WHO is in my inner circle and, in the words of Brad, would I leave a car at the base of my driveway with $1000 cash in there if they asked without needing to know why?

Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: The season has become warmer but we are not out of the winter woods yet! Learn what we are doing to get ready for growing season. Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Sponsor 2: TheWealthsteadingPodcast.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!   Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

  Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: Friends, spring, and what we are experimenting with on the homestead. Featured Event: Farm Freedom Summit, February 7 Sponsor 1: StrongRootsResources.com Sponsor 2: DiscountMylarBags.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!   Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link  

Join us for a First Tuesday Coffee with John Willis of Special Operations Equipment, Nicole Sauce of The Living Free in Tennessee Podcast, and Jack Spirko of The Survival Podcast. Connect with us! SOETacticalGear.com LivingFreeinTennessee.com TheSurvivalPodcast.com

  Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: 10 Weird Things That Happen To Homesteaders That We Think Are Normal. Featured Event: LFTN Spring Workshop April 23-25 - Tickets go on sale on January 31 at 9am central! Sponsor 1: The Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com Sponsor 2: DisvountMylarBags.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!   Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link  

Anxiety often shows up when our capability isn't being used in the real world. Building skills, systems, and doing meaningful work creates calm, stability, and a steadier life in 2026. Jan 31st, 9am Central, tickets go on sale for the LFTN Spring Workshop! Sponsor: StrongRootsResources.com Sponsor: AgoristTaxAdvice.com Opening Thought Who has felt anxious in the last few weeks?? Stop trying to feel better Build a life that steadies you Anxiety = unused capability Holler Hub: people working together Being useful calms people Idaho skiing Weather, terrain, attention Know when to push, when not to Preparedness without panic Winter storm came through Systems absorbed stress Humans stayed calm That's what preparedness is for Choose what grows Skills, systems, people Pull what destabilizes you Spring Workshop Hands-on Calm isn't something you wait for Calm is something you build 2026 = steady people

  Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: Ice preps, Squeaks updates, and more Featured Event: LFTN Spring Workshop April 23-25 - Tickets go on sale on January 31 at 9am central! Sponsor 1: The Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!   Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link  

Today, I am joined by Jessica Arno, The Combat Midwife, to discuss keeping women and children alive when you can't just drive to the hospital. More that that, we will discuss how building these skills is a foundation for improving health even if you CAN drive to the hospital.  Sponsors AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN DiscountMylarBags.com Resources https://combatmidwife.com/ https://livingfreeintennessee.com/

Today, I am joined by Kerry Brown from Strong Roots Resources to talk through the new approach we are taking with the LFTN food forest and how he is using mother nature to progress the system through to maturity one season at a time. Tapping into what we know about the soil and conditions here, native plants, what the people in our community want to eat, and working toward a system that does not require many hours to maintain. When you work with nature, you develop systems that you can help along rather than battle with constantly. Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com Sponsor 2: StrongRootsResources.com Featured Event: March 7 Combat Midwife Training

Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: Rabbits, Domestic Day, Helpers and more! Featured Event: PickTN Products Conference - Jan 15-17. Holler Roast featured Jan 15 in the morning. Homestead Panel at lunch on Jan 16. Come support small food! https://www.picktnconference.com/ Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com Sponsor 2: The Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!   Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link  

Let's Get Ready For 2026 Today we discuss how to apply the SWOT method to your own life plan, cover our usual Monday segments on pantry management and financial progress, and cover a question from a listener about erosion.

Let's get ready for 2026 with this replay episode! Today is another #my3things episode with the primary focus being to develop your purpose. We will also include the usual Monday segments.

Let's get ready for 2026! Today, we talk about what the #my3things method is, why a strategic plan for yourself and your life is a powerful tool, and we cover how to create a vision statement for your life strategic plan. (Or your family strategic plan). This is the first in a series of episodes explaining how to use the #my3things method to become more successful, productive and to build the life you choose on your terms.

Today, we have the first in our Night Before Christmas series, beginning with Leos: The Intellectual Night Before Christmas. Join us each night at 5pm leading up to Christmas