In this engaging episode, we sit down with our friends Shawn and Beth Dougherty, veteran homesteaders who have been farming together since the 1980s. For the past 20 years, they’ve been cultivating their 27-acre farm in eastern Ohio—land officially deemed “not suitable for agriculture.” Despite the odds, Shawn and Beth have transformed this landscape into a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem using sunlight, rainfall, and intensive grazing as their primary inputs. Their farm supports dairy and beef cows, sheep, farm-fed hogs, and poultry, producing nearly all their food and feed on-site.

Authors of The Independent Farmstead, published by Chelsea Green in 2016, Shawn and Beth have dedicated themselves to reducing dependency on off-farm resources like fuel, fertilizer, and even electricity. They’ve identified grass conversion—especially through dairy ruminants—as a cornerstone of whole-farm sustainability. Their research and practical experience reveal how diverse animal and plant systems work together to create a self-sufficient, regenerative homestead.

This was a casual, insightful conversation about their homesteading journey, filled with practical wisdom and a vision for empowering others to begin their own paths toward independence. This was also our longest episode because we had so much fun with our discussion and did not want to cut any of the valuable info. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for advanced insights into homestead sustainability, this episode is a must-listen!

Learn more about Shawn and Beth on their website or find them speaking at a Homesteading Conference or Festival near you.

Purchase their book, The Independent Farmstead.

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