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The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 143 – June 15, 2020 – Weed Management In Your Garden With Guest John Moody. On this podcast episode guest, John Moody talks to us about many methods for controlling weeds in your garden. We Discuss: Controlling weeds using solarization Germinating and destroying weeds through occulation Weed control with cover crops Using a variety of mulches to control weeds A variety of other homesteading topics Links: Links to many of John's books including Winning The War On Weeds can be found at his website, https://johnwmoody.com/

The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 142 – May 31, 2020 – Just Shootin' The Breeze About Food Forests. On this podcast episode, I share a few thoughts about starting the food forest build on the lot I purchased last year. I Discuss: How the garden overall is coming along. The trees I chose and planted in the future food forest. Thoughts on building guilds around the trees. Creating a beautiful and happy place as well as a place that provides an abundance of healthy food.

The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 141 – May 17, 2020 – Another Urban Homesteading Success Story With Guest Anne-Marie Miller.       On this podcast episode, I chat with Anne-Marie Miller (Dash) from BloomWhereYourPlanted.com.       We Discuss: Her amazing journey into homesteading.  Learning through a community garden.  Utilizing a front yard for a garden when it's the only place you can grow.  The benefit of having great neighbors in an urban environment.  Raising small livestock in an urban setting.  Links:  Dash's Website: https://bloomwhereyourplanted.com/  Dash's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJBUP7AkJ5Sg_SlHue0jgdA 

The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 140 – May 10, 2020 – Building Self Reliance and Freedom Into Your Life With Guest Nicole Sauce. On this podcast episode I chat with Homesteader and Host of The Living Free In Tennesee Podcast, Nicole Sauce. We Discuss: Her journey into pursuing liberty, self-reliance, and homesteading. The pros and cons and the rights and wrongs of side hustles. What she's doing on her 3 acre homestead. How others can start right where they're at. Links: Nicole's Website and Podcast: https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/ Nicole's Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lftncoffeebreak

The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 139 – May 3, 2020 – Do What You Can Where You're At With Guest Brenda Scott. On this podcast episode, I chat with the Author of the blog "Well Fed Homestead" Brenda Scott. We Discuss: Her Journey into homesteading. Her families move from a 30-acre farm in Oregon to a 1/4 acre property in Virginia. The limitations of homesteading on a small property. The amazing amount you can still do even when on a small property. Water Keifer and Kombucha. Links: Brenda's Website: https://www.wellfedhomestead.com/ Brenda's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/WellFedHomestead

The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 138 – April 25, 2020 – The Guinea Fowl Principle With Guests Sean and Rachel Reeves.    On this podcast episode, I chat with Homesteaders Sean and Rachel Reeves who made a huge move from the city life of southern California to the country life of northern Virginia.    We Discuss: Their amazing journey into homesteading. Raising chickens for the first time. The lessons learned from raising guinea fowl. Choosing sheep as their larger livestock. Gardening when you've never gardened before. Plans for the future. Links: Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arabella_farm/

The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 137 – April 19, 2020 – The Homestead Journey With Guest Brian Wells. On this podcast episode, I chat with Brian Wells from The Homestead Journey Podcast. We Discuss: Brian's journey into homesteading. What he and his family are accomplishing on their 2 acre property. Raising American Guinea Hogs. The pros and cons of having a roadside honor system egg stand. Raised bed gardening. Gardening with the Ruth Stout method. Links: Podcast: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-homestead-journey Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast

The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 136 – March 2, 2020 – A Small Farm In The Making With Guest Jillae Dalmolin. On this podcast episode, I chat with Jillae Dalmolin from Wanderin’ Barefoot Farm. We Discuss: Jillae's journey into homesteading. Growing and raising nutritious food for better health. Seed Starting and selling plants. The livestock they are raising on their farm. Predator pressure. Transitioning from homesteading for themselves to farming for the community. Educating others on homesteading skills. Nutritious food and the medical community. Future homesteading plans. Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wanderinbarefootfarm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wanderinbarefootfarm/ Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Wanderinbarefoot

The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 135 – February 16, 2020 – Having Fun While Making Homesteading A Reality With Guests Kevin and Heather O'Rourke. On this podcast episode, I chat with Kevin and Heather O'Rourke from Bear Bottom Acres. We Discuss: Their journey into homesteading. The slow transition from an urban homestead to a 40-acre homestead. Building skills where they are before making the move. Homesteading in a cold climate. Possible full-time homesteading opportunities. Why they document their journey on Youtube. Their future homesteading plans. Links: Bear Bottom Acres Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtXghP4QIvA50ne9mjvcybw Website: https://www.bearbottomacres.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bearbottomacres/ Elliot Coleman Books - https://amzn.to/2u1YqGW Nikki Jabbour Books - https://amzn.to/39EBNr8

On this episode, I pick up where I left off on the last episode and give you the last 5 of 10 ways to repurpose 5-gallon buckets.  No doubt there are many other unique uses for 5-gallon buckets on the homestead and as the saying goes “necessity is the mother of invention” so I’m sure when you see a need around the homestead for which a 5-gallon bucket will do the trick then you will put it to work. Because if there is one thing I know about homesteaders, they are resourceful and creative people.

Most homesteaders I know are big on repurposing things and why wouldn’t they be. Repurposing saves money and reduces waste so whenever you can find another purpose for something laying around not getting used and might get thrown away then it’s a good idea. One such item that seems to be common on a homestead are 5 gallon buckets. We use them to carry feed and water, we use them to carry tools from place to place or perhaps as storage bins for things that pile up in our garages or barns, I even seem to use them for a step or a stool occasionally if I need to reach something or sit down to work on something. By default, just because of what they are, they have a lot of uses on the homestead. However, we may tend to end up with more than we need for those normal everyday purposes. So what are some other ways we can use 5 gallon buckets and make the most of this resource? Well on this episode of 5 minutes on the modern homestead I will share the first 5 of 10 ways to repurpose 5 gallon buckets for uses on your homestead.

The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 132 – February 6, 2020 – 5 Minutes On The Modern Homestead - Homestead Dogs. Welcome To This Episode of 5 Minutes on The Modern Homestead, Where Every Tuesday and Thursday You Get A Bite-Size Portion Of The Modern Homesteading Podcast Between Full Episodes To Help Keep You Inspired and Motivated On Your Homesteading Journey.

The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 131 – February 2, 2020 – Making The Homesteading Dream Happen With Guest Anna Sakawsky. On this podcast episode, I chat with Anna Sakawsky from thehouseandhomestead.com. We Discuss: Her journey into homesteading. All she is doing on a 1/4 acre homestead. Her online homesteading magazine. Her upcoming gardening course. Links: Website:  https://www.thehouseandhomestead.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehouseandhomestead Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUTVxGJO1SuxvYgF4-ZccnQ Email: Anna@thehouseandhomestead.com

Where Have I Been? Explanation of what happened to the podcast last year and the restart. New website, Facebook page, and a new Apple podcast feed. New office/podcast studio. Writing and releasing my first book... a little about that. Homestead Updates: Deconstructing a lot of the infrastructure. Rebuilding and moving raised beds. Fence build and relocation. Planting Trees and berry bushes. Planting guilds. Links: Website: https://redemptionpermaculture.com Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/redemptionpermaculture Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-modern-homesteading-podcast/id1483544772 My Book: From Home To Small Town Homestead: Pursuing Self-Sufficiency and Sustainability No Matter Where You Live

Using the Edge Effect in the layout of your homestead can make the most of your growing space by increasing productivity and even adding an element of natural beauty to your garden.

In this episode I discuss a few of the ways in which the permaculture design principle of “Integration not Segregation” can work to make your homestead more efficient and productive.

Every homestead needs a few tools but which ones are the most useful and make homesteading easier? On this podcast episode I discuss a few such tools, some might seem obvious, others maybe you haven’t thought about.

In this podcast episode I talk about building skills other than what we consider traditional homesteading skills. There are many other skills you can develop that can help you take steps toward self sufficiency and sustainability.

The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 125 – September 3, 2019 - Increasing Soil Fertility Through Permaculture Practices. In this episode I discuss a few ways to help soil fertility in ways normally exercised in permaculture practices. These are ways that are simulated in nature to create balanced, rich and living soil. Using Plants To Increase Soil Fertility Polycultures and Guilds Nitrogen fixing plants Fast decaying root systems Using  Chop and Drop To Increase Soil Fertility Puts nutrients on topsoil Creates an environment for worms and beneficial insects Creates an environment for a thriving microbiology Using Livestock To Increase Soil Fertility Rotational grazing Using Swales and Ponds To Collect Nutrients Using Hugelkultur To Create A Nutrient Dense Area Increases microbiology through organic material decay and moisture retention. Using Biochar By making biochar from brush and other hard to compost organic material, you can improve soil — it enhances nutrient availability and also enables soil to retain nutrients longer. What’s biochar? Basically, it’s organic matter that is burned slowly, with a restricted flow of oxygen, and then the fire is stopped when the material reaches the charcoal stage. Unlike tiny tidbits of ash, coarse lumps of charcoal are full of crevices and holes, which help them serve as life rafts to soil microorganisms. The carbon compounds in charcoal form loose chemical bonds with soluble plant nutrients so they are not as readily washed away by rain and irrigation. Biochar alone added to poor soil has little benefit to plants, but when used in combination with compost and organic fertilizers, it can dramatically improve plant growth while helping retain nutrients in the soil. Using Leaf Mold Leaf mold is the result of letting leaves sit and decompose over time. It is dark brown to black, has a pleasant earthy aroma and a crumbly texture, much like compost. In fact, leaf mold is just that: composted leaves. Instead of adding a bunch of organic matter to a pile, you just use leaves. Leaf mold is essentially a soil conditioner. It increases the water retention of soils. According to some university studies, the addition of leaf mold increased water retention in soils by over 50%. Leaf mold also improves soil structure and provides a fantastic habitat for soil life, including earthworms and beneficial bacteria. Using Fungus For feeding fungi, the ideal wood chips should be obtained from freshly cut smaller branches with the leaves still on them. That’s where the most nutrients reside and the good fungi love that. Beneficial fungi are certain species of fungi that protect our plants from disease by: Out-competing disease organisms Creating a healthy soil biology Offering direct protection to our plants by producing anti-pathogens Providing nutrients and water directly to the plants for better plant health Compost Tea Comfrey Manure Vermicompost Worm Castings

The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 124 – June 23, 2019 – Chatting About Elderberry (Mostly) With Guest John Moody. On today’s podcast episode I have a chat with author, speaker and homesteader John Moody about growing and using Elderberry and his new book on the subject. Homestead Updates: Quail, quail and more quail. More rabbit buns on the homestead but not without complications. Rain, rain and more rain. It’s starting to really cause me some problems in the garden. Should be closing on this week on a property we are buying next door. Main Topic: Chatting About Elderberry (Mostly) With Guest John Moody John is a return guest who you can also hear on episode 112. He discovered more than a decade ago that his diet was killing him, with duodenal ulcers, seasonal allergies, and other health problems. So, the family began to transition to local foods and local food distribution. Eventually, he relocated his family to 35 acres of land to put his learning into practice. He is the founder of the Whole Life Buying Club, and also speaks at many local, regional, and national events on food, farming, and nutrition. Author of the Frugal Homesteader Handbook, he has three books forthcoming to help growers and gardeners, including one on weed control and one on elderberry. Resources: John’s Books – The Frugal Homesteader: Living The Good Life On Less The Elderberry Book Pre-order Form John’s Website – https://homesteaderhandbook.com/ Homestead Recipe Of The Week: This week’s recipe comes in from Sam at Lupine Wood Rabbitry in Alexander, NC. and she has an awesome fermented drink recipe for us called Tepache.