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Desperate to grow, cook, and preserve real food for your family in only 5-10 hours a week, but stuck as a new homesteader looking for practical, tried and true methods that work?
You wanted those pantry shelves filled yesterday, but the more you try, the more it seems a distant pipe dream. Online content is filled with impractical, untried homesteading advice, which wastes your precious time and money.
Everyday Homesteading steps in with practical, tested solutions, cutting through the chaos with clear plans tailored for busy beginners to reclaim your family’s health and independence through gardening, raising livestock, fresh seasonal cooking, herbal medicine and safe food preservation.
Hosted by veteran homesteaders, Josh and Carolyn Thomas, who grow 70% of their family’s food while running two businesses and homeschooling their large family, they have mastered practical homesteading for busy modern families. They have taught hundreds of thousands of new homesteaders to thrive with real-life homesteading through their online platforms Homesteading Family and School of Traditional Skills.
Tune in weekly to learn how to grow, cook, and preserve your family’s food, ditch health-destroying toxins, and save money monthly on groceries, all while building strong relationships and a sustainable legacy for your kids. Hit play now!
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Just like we prepare for many other things around the homestead, preparing for a new baby is no different. It takes forethought and planning to help with the smooth transition when adding a new family member. Not only that, but it's important to have plans in place to allow both mom and baby the appropriate and healthy amount of time to recuperate and recover after delivery. For more links and additional information, check out the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/preparing-fo...
Today's Pantry Chat we're chatting with Mary from @MarysNest about learning lessons from those who went through the Great Depression, how these lessons are still applicable today, and tips for implementing more traditional skills into our every day life. For more information, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/cooking-from-home-when-times-get-hard/ Be sure to check out Mary's Nest on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@MarysNest/featured ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MOR...
We’re all busy and have a lot on our schedules, and sometimes we only have time for a quick podcast. Come listen to this podcast short as we answer your questions in a short amount of time. Today’s podcast short is talking all about planning out your garden and knowing where to plant specific crops before it's time to plant. There's a big difference, in our house, between the main crop garden and the kitchen garden. We encourage you to think outside the box when it comes to growing food...
We're all ready for the gardening season to come, but there are a few things we need to prepare for first! Such as ordering your seeds! If you haven't already ordered your seeds, we highly encourage you to do so soon. But how do you read those seed packets when it comes time to start your seeds indoors or plant them in the garden? That's what we're discussing today on this episode of the Pantry Chat. For more information and any links mentioned in this video, visit the blog post here: https:...
Cultured dairy sounds intimidating, but it's actually one of the easiest traditional kitchen skills you can learn. In this video, I explain how cultured dairy works, why it’s so beneficial for digestion and gut health, and how you can start making your own yogurt right at home. Once you understand the basics, you’ll realize that cultured dairy is far simpler than most people think. The bacteria do almost all the work. Your job is simply to create the right environment and give it time. In ...
Most people never fail at gardening. They quit before they begin. In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, Josh sits down with Luke from MIgardener to talk about why so many aspiring gardeners stay stuck in the dreaming and planning phase — and what it actually takes to start. You’ll learn: Why fear of failure quietly holds people backThe mindset shift that changes everythingThe importance of journaling and tracking your harvestHow to grow what your family actually eatsWhy building soil ever...
For many homesteaders, the dream is complete self-sufficiency. Producing all your own food. Depending on no one. Living independently. But is that really possible? And more importantly, is it even the right goal? In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we’re sharing why complete self-sufficiency is actually a myth and what matters far more: building practical skills and strengthening community. We discuss how focusing on skills rather than trying to do everything yourself leads to more resi...
Even with healthy, well-selected animals, there comes a day when you have to call the vet. And when that moment comes, most of us aren’t nearly as prepared as we could be. In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend and veterinarian, Dr. Patrick Jones of The Homegrown Herbalist, to talk through what every homesteader should know before picking up the phone. We discuss: The importance of signalment (age, breed, sex, pregnancy status)Why taking a temperature can immediately narrow down ...
Making bread isn’t about talent, and it’s not about finding the perfect recipe either. In this episode, I’m sharing why bread is one of the most foundational skills in the homesteading kitchen and how learning to read your dough instead of following formulas changes everything. From flour amounts to kneading to rise times, we’re breaking down the simple techniques that lead to consistent, reliable bread no matter where you live or what recipe you use. If you’ve ever felt frustrated, inconsist...
Thinking about keeping backyard egg-laying chickens, but not sure where to begin? In today’s episode, we walk through the essential checklist every new chicken keeper should know. We cover: • What to think about before bringing chickens home • Coop setup and space requirements • Feeding, water, and daily care routines • How to successfully raise chicks in their first few weeks • Biosecurity basics and avoiding common pitfalls • Planning for seasonal egg production Whether this is your first f...
Feeling overwhelmed while trying to add homesteading skills to an already full life? You’re not alone. In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, I’m continuing our conversation about going from overwhelmed to peaceful and sharing what I’ve learned about building a homestead life that’s sustainable for the long haul. This is Part 2 of our series on creating peaceful household rhythms instead of rigid schedules. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, I recommend starting there and then coming b...
If you love the idea of homesteading but constantly feel behind, overwhelmed, or emotionally exhausted, I recorded this episode for you. In Part 1 of this new series, I’m sharing the household system that helped me move from constant pressure and burnout to a calmer, more sustainable rhythm of life. I talk about why overwhelm usually isn’t a discipline problem and why trying to “work harder” often makes things worse, especially for busy moms caring for families while adding homesteading skill...
Homesteading is about so much more than chores, food, and checklists. In this episode, I’m joined by RuthAnn Zimmerman from Homesteading With the Zimmermans for a conversation that goes straight to the heart of what this lifestyle is really about: people. We talk about balancing hospitality with busy homestead life, raising children with a strong work ethic and character, and learning to trust God’s economy when it comes to time, energy, and priorities. RuthAnn shares how she keeps emotional...
A lot of people talk about going off-grid. But what if off-grid living isn’t just about power and water, but about freedom from systems that quietly run your life? In this episode, I sit down with Jeff Burkinshaw from the Gridlessness YouTube channel to talk about what gridlessness really means. Jeff shares how his family moved from suburban life to a remote homestead in the Canadian wilderness, not out of fear, but out of a deep desire to live with intention. We talk about • redefining wha...
After more than 20 years of homesteading, we are looking back and sharing what we wish we had known when we first started. In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we talk honestly about the mistakes we made, the pressure to do everything at once, and the lessons that helped us find a more peaceful, sustainable rhythm. From gardening and kitchen skills to land size, infrastructure, and people-first priorities, this conversation is full of perspective for anyone feeling overwhelmed on their ...
What does a “Year of Rest” actually look like on a working homestead? In this episode, we’re reflecting on our decision to slow down over the past year, what changed, what stayed the same, and what surprised us along the way. We share how cutting big projects brought more margin into our days, why rest doesn’t mean the work disappears, and how an unplanned cabin build for the next generation fit into our bigger vision. This is an honest, end-of-year conversation about pace, sustainability, an...
If you have ever found yourself saying, “This winter, we’ll finally rest,” you are not alone. Josh and I have joked about it for years, imagining a slower season that somehow never quite arrives on its own. In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, I’m sharing what I’ve been learning about real rest. Not just getting more sleep, but the kind of deep, soul-level rest that brings clarity, peace, and renewed purpose. The kind of rest that helps you remember your why. We talk about why rest never...
Welcome back to Everyday Homesteading. Today I’m sitting down with two people I deeply respect and always enjoy talking with, Shawn and Beth Dougherty. If you have ever wondered whether a family milk cow actually fits into a busy modern homestead, or if you’ve been feeling that tug toward a simpler, more land-rooted way of feeding your family, this conversation is for you. Shawn and Beth have spent more than twenty-five years raising a large family, stewarding rough Appalachian ground, and bu...
Mistakes happen on every homestead, and today we are sharing some of our biggest ones from the past year so you can learn right alongside us. Whether it is garden chaos, livestock mishaps, or ignoring that little voice of intuition, these lessons are part of growing wiser and more resilient on the homestead. We are also chatting about winter prep, homeschool rhythms, fruit flies in the pantry, and a few behind–the–scenes stories from life here at Riverbend. Grab a warm drink and join us for ...
Learn how to make cheese the traditional way using natural raw milk cultures like clabber, kefir, and backsplash whey. In this conversation with Robyn Jackson from Cheese From Scratch, we dig into how to create and maintain your own starter cultures, how to troubleshoot clabber that smells a little funky, and how to use these cultures to make everything from cream cheese to aged wheels. This episode covers: • What clabber is and why it was used for generations • How to build and maintain ...
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This is a great informative talk. I am getting into herbs and there is so much info in this . thank you
I have been gardening for several years and there is a lot of good info in this. Thanks for all your help.
I love Josh and Carolyn! Their practical solutions are such an encouragement to me in my own family's homesteading journey!
Josh and Carolyn are the real deal! Have enjoyed their content for years!
I got a copy of that newsletter it is excellent and free.
well, that was a blunt answer. little knot in the stomach there.
Rural Roads to Security: America's Third Struggle for Freedom by Luigi g. ligutti free download on internet archive
this is so heartening. it seems like we're beginning to come together here.
Hi! Thank you for this! Now, I’m pretty sure that I wanna keep bees 🐝 yay
Hi! As a beginner homesteader, I just discovered your podcast! I wanted to say that it's absolutely awesome and incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
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Interesting idea in planting the tomato! I accidentally did that this summer and had two tomato plants come up in my compost pile (one I had neglected to turn much!).
I love watching their YouTube videos and now I can't wait to hear their new podcast.
I have been following them for a couple years now and love to see how the grow. it gives me hope knowing I may not be there yet but if I keep learning I can get there. They always have so much information and help. I have learned so much from them. cant wait for the podcast!
This channel has been a blessing to me and my family. I am so happy to have it in podcast form. Keep up the blessed work!
the information shared by Josh and Carolyn is very helpful. they share enough details to help you regardless of your experience. Thank you for sharing so much of you time and knowledge.