Pantry Chat - Homesteading Family

Honey is so much more than a sweetener... It’s medicine. In this episode of the Pantry Chat, I sit down with beekeeper and herbalist Kaylee Richardson from The Honeystead to explore how combining bee products like honey, propolis, and beeswax with herbs can take your natural remedies to the next level. We’ll cover: 🌿 Why bees are the “original herbalists” 🍯 How honey makes herbal medicine more effective (and better tasting!) 🛡️ Using propolis as a powerful antimicrobial for throat sprays and...

It’s midsummer here on the homestead, and that means the harvest is rolling in, the to-do list is growing, and the kitchen floor is… sticky. In this Pantry Chat, we're talking about: 🌱 What to plant now for a winter harvest (and why August is the perfect time) 🐛 How to deal with grasshopper invasions when you can’t keep chickens 🥬 The easiest way to grow lettuce without spending forever washing it 💛 Why gratitude changes everything when homestead life feels overwhelming 🌳 Lessons from our fr...

Want to preserve the fresh flavors of summer herbs to use all year long? In this video, I’m showing you how to make herbal oils and herbal vinegars, a simple, beginner-friendly way to infuse all that goodness into your pantry staples. We’ll talk about how to safely make flavored oils (yes, there are safety concerns!), and how herbal vinegars are a perfect, safe project for kids and beginners. These make amazing salad dressings, cooking ingredients, and even homemade gifts! 🌿 In this video:...

Is your homestead truly secure? In this Pantry Chat episode, I'm joined by Tim Eng (veteran, real estate agent, and fellow homesteader) to unpack the essentials of homestead security. From predator prevention and property layout to firearms training, fencing, alarms, and community defense, this is a must-watch for anyone serious about protecting their homestead. 👉 Topics covered: - Practical ways to secure your home and barn - How to build awareness and reduce vulnerability - The role of fir...

Is your garden looking a little droopy in the August heat? 🌞 In this episode of The Pantry Chat, we’re sharing 7 water-saving gardening tips that will help you keep your garden alive and thriving, without running the sprinkler all day long. From mulching and deep watering to smart irrigation, dry farming techniques, and choosing heat-tolerant plants, we’re covering the tried-and-true methods we’ve used in dry climates and here on our North Idaho homestead. Whether you're gardening in a drough...

In today’s episode, we dive into a summer gardening classic: how to manage insect pressure without chemicals, using simple, natural and organic pest control strategies you can start implementing today. For more information on organic pest control, check out our blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/garden-pest-control/ In this episode, we cover: 🌿 Seasonal chit-chat: What’s thriving in our North Idaho garden: garlic scapes, raspberries, Napa cabbage, red currants, hops, asparagus,...

In this episode, Carolyn sits down with Dana K. White of A Slob Comes Clean to talk all things kitchen and pantry organization—without the guilt, stress, or need to pull everything out first! Dana shares her simple, realistic system for decluttering that actually works for busy homesteading families, including her “container concept,” how to let go of food no one’s going to eat, and why organizing isn’t about perfection—it’s about function. For the full breakdown and extra resourc...

In this episode, Josh sits down with Jade Koyle of Grand Teton Ancient Grains to dive deep into the world of ancient grains like einkorn, emmer, and spelt. They discuss how regenerative agriculture practices not only rebuild soil health but also produce more nutrient-dense crops, leading to better health for your family and the planet. Jade shares why ancient grains haven't been hybridized or altered like modern wheat, and how their original structure makes them easier to digest and more no...

Seed-saving is a homesteading skill that takes time and practice. Many feel intimidated and overwhelmed with what can feel like endless information on the topic, but with this seed saving for beginners guide, you can start with the basics. You certainly don't need a college degree to get started with some seed saving on your homestead! For more information, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/seed-saving-for-beginners/ Thanks to Amercian Blossom Linens for sponsoring t...

With the preservation season upon us, you may already be feeling the pressure to "get it all done" while also maintaining the home, the garden and the livestock... but what if I told you there's a secret hack for saving time when preserving food at home? Join me for today's Pantry Chat podcast as I share my tips! For more information on what our preserving year looks like, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/food-preservation-a-year-at-a-glance/ Grab your Modern Homeste...

Join me with my guest, Amy Cross from The CrossLegacy, as we discuss how to properly harvest, wash, dry and store your produce so it lasts weeks (or months) longer! Amy is filled with great tips, from how to know how to wash different types of produce to which items are "produce buddies" or "produce frienemies." For more details, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-keep-fruit-fresh-longer/ Be sure to check out Amy's Zero Waste Produce Guide (use coupon code "Hom...

Good quality coffee is hard to come by, especially a blend that you can actually enjoy black. Join us in this podcast episode with Lore Coffee Roasters' Graysen and Nicholas as we dig deeper into what makes quality coffee, why sourcing is important, and how to know it's mold and mycotoxin free. Give Lore Coffee a try with our custom half-caff blend and be sure to use coupon code "Homestead15" for 15% off your first purchase: https://homesteadingfamily.com/half-caff-coffee-blend Check out Lor...

With summer comes scrapes, burns, stings and bites. Let's prepare our herbal medicine cabinets now so we're armed and ready for the season! In this episode, I'm sharing three of my go-to remedies for the summer, including a calendula sunburn salve, plantain bug bite balm and a peppermint lemon cooling spray. For the printable, step-by-step recipes, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-start-using-medicinal-herbs/ Thanks to Azure Standard for sponsoring this podca...

If you're on the fence about buying a freeze dryer, these 10 surprising foods you can freeze dry may convince you to make that purchase. What foods can you freeze dry? Let us share our favorites with you! For links to these tutorials, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/10-surprising-foods-you-can-freeze-dry/ Sign up for my freeze drying class, The Abundant Pantry: Freeze Drying here: https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/the-abundant-pantry-freeze-drying-evergreen G...

Justin Rhodes joined Josh in this episode of the Pantry Chat to discuss recovery on the homestead after Hurricane Helene and homestead builds, which happen to be the topic of his new book. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MORE ABOUT US! WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly...