

Living Free in Tennessee - Nicole Sauce
Nicole Sauce
Helping you live the live you life you choose on your terms. Living Free in Tennessee chronicles how we build our homestead, develop independence, plan and manage time and grow and preserve food sustainably - from a woman's point of view.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 1, 2025 • 49min
Nothing Beats Being In Person - EP 1076
Today we talk about transformational experiences in our lives and why being in person matters, as well as out usual Monday Segments. Featured Event: Small Engines Class With Alan Bechard, Sept 20 at 10am LivingFreeInTennessee.com Don't forget to get your SRF tickets!! Use coupon code LFTN for $10 off: SelfRelianceFestival.com Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com Sponsor 2: StrongRootsResources.com Tales From The Prepper Pantry Frugality Tip Operation Independence Main topic Make it a great week. GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. Community Follow me on Nostr: npub1u2vu695j5wfnxsxpwpth2jnzwxx5fat7vc63eth07dez9arnrezsdeafsv Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Aug 29, 2025 • 1h 13min
Redneck Pie, Food Forest Whisperer And More; Homestead Happenings for August 29, 2025 - Ep 1075
Today I am joined by the Tactical Redneck to discuss: Redneck Pie, subdividing paddocks, food forest whisperer’s latest action, and old garbage revealed through grazing. Featured Event: Sunday Meetup and Demo From Hoff Grid Meat Company! 1pm this Sunday Sponsor 1: TheWealthsteading Podcast Sponsor 2: AgoristtaxAdvice.com/LFTN Redneck Pie Fall is in the air - winter is coming! SRF is so cool this year Filling in rock wall with mint, oregano, thyme, and a sacrificial rosemary Bean replacements are up Ducks are in full molt Cheese class update (Wild forage, fun, fellowship, reset) Boys are out of jail and in the best paddock over here The loud - paddock garbage revealed through grazing Lambchop Rip cord The roof is DONE at Basecamp Lodge Comfrey in the swales Hoff Grid Meat Company Order for the year (and why we are doing it this way) The AI Class this weekend Sweet potato flowers Time to harvest Goldenrod Passion flowers Rose of sharon Spice berry Time to breed and process rabbits Girls: Subdividing paddocks to increase density Holler Hub/Basecamp Calendar Wednesdays are back The tomato wall problem Finances - cheese class 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

Aug 27, 2025 • 44min
Sheep Jail, foraging Walk And More; Homestead Happenings for August 22, 2025 - Ep 1074
Featured Event: SelfRelianceFestival.com Oct 4-5 Sponsor 1: TheWealthsteading Podcast 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

Aug 18, 2025 • 1h
The Holler Hub Story You Haven’t Heard Yet - EP 1073
You’ve heard me drop the words “Holler Hub,” but what does that actually mean? Today I’m going off-script to share the real story of what’s happening here, why we built it, and where it’s headed next. Featured Event Cheesemaking class at the Holler Homestead (with add-on Wild Edible Walk): https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/product/soft-cheese/ Sponsor 1 Strong Roots Resources – Permaculture consulting, education, and more Sponsor 2 AgoristTaxAdvice.com – Helping entrepreneurs, homesteaders, and freedom-minded folks handle taxes the smart way Tales from the Prepper Pantry Mold fog reset in the pantry Making lots of cheese Frugality Tip From Margo Was randomly looking at Etsy and saw someone selling something I was interested in that was local to me. I messaged them and asked about local pick up and cash price. They were very interested in cash money with pick up and I saved some money on my purchase. So ask, it will never kill you, and might save you a few dollars. Operation Independence Inherited “free” chickens for the Holler Hub — and they’re so friendly you can pet them! Main Topic: The Holler Hub Story You Haven’t Heard Yet What is the Holler Hub? Basecamp Lodge as the center of the community Biggest recent change: new roof on Basecamp Ryan Steva dropped off hens Airbnb bedroom rental now open Calendar of upcoming events Classes like cheesemaking, Michelle learning elderberry syrup Grocery buying club next on deck Valerie’s affordable lodge outfitting list Unplanned magic moments: Tactical + visitor campfire talk on alcoholism Looking ahead this year: full calendar, RV spots, cabins, food systems clarity Challenges & reset Working so hard we weren’t resetting ourselves PickTN Store at the State Fair: great exposure, but exhausting Drawing a line: one full day off each week The Holler Hub is where we stop talking about freedom and actually build it — one messy project at a time. Make it a great week! GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. Community FreeSteading Group: https://freesteading.com/groups/living-free-in-tennessee/ Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Twitter: @nicolesauce IG: @nicolesauce Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivingFreeInTN Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Aug 17, 2025 • 1h 12min
The Wealthsteading Way To Find Your Purpose With John Pugliano - EP 1072
Today I am interviewing John Pugliano of The Wealthsteading Podcast - find out what it took for him to grow from rags to riches - and what that really means. Featured Event: Curds and Connection: https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/product/soft-cheese/ Sponsors:x Above Phone, Coupon code livefreetn, https://abovephone.com/?above=104 Holler Roast Coffee Connect With John: https://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. Community FreeSteading Group: https://freesteading.com/groups/living-free-in-tennessee/ Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Twitter: @nicolesauce IG: @nicolesauce Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivingFreeInTN Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Aug 16, 2025 • 1h 12min
Sad Cheese, Reroofing, HVAC Chaos; Homestead Happenings for August 15, 2025 - Ep 1071
Featured Event: SelfRelianceFestival.com Oct 4-5 Sponsor 1: TheWealthsteading Podcast Sponsor 2: DiscountMylarBags.com Tigger Polyface - modular and scalable Driving without getting hurt Pig gates: los tn translation Tractors ?2 cows? Grazing density discussion PawPaws are very close and likely this week or next Escaping Sheep and miscommunicating Rednecks Burnout Project: Roofing, Cheese Class Prep, and Broken AC, OH MY! This week’s Lodge Visitor: Michelle from Trippy Acres (Elderberry, pears, and okra) Balancing projects and real time with real people - something will have to give or we need more stewards on site Water System Meltdown Eggless Ducks Fall seeds are in and the watering system is simplified Early morning dumpster work A disappointing shopping experience Finances: havent sold enough cheese tickets - give us a hand by telling a friend! Cheese Class Menu Retraining the sheep on electric Increasing mowability of fence lines at the Holler Homestead Finances: Facebook Funds LOL 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

Aug 11, 2025 • 59min
Episode 1070: How TO Deal With Homestead Burnout
Today, we talk about homestead burnout, why many new homesteaders feel tempted (and do) give up after only a year or three, and what to do about it. We also cover our usual Monday segments. Featured Event August 23: Wild Edible Walk with Kerry Brown of Strong Roots Resources – 8:30 AM before Curds and Connection at the Holler Homestead. Sponsor 1 Strong Roots Resources – Permaculture consulting, education, and more. Sponsor 2 AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN – Helping entrepreneurs, homesteaders, and freedom-minded folks handle taxes the smart way. Tales from the Prepper Pantry Setting up Basecamp for long-term storage Road food from the pantry Fall garden focus Pushing for more dried herbs Frugality Tip From Margo: Before making a large purchase, check multiple sites. Margo scored a $100 gift card from Northern Tool by ordering online (over $1000 purchase), then picking up in-store. A little research can literally pay off. Operation Independence Adding value can make all the difference — like offering a Wild Edible Walk add-on for the cheese class. Main Topic of the Day: How to Fix Homestead Burnout Discussion with Tactical about my dead garden bed Why so many homesteads give up after 1–3 years Striving for perfection Using 1 person to do the work of 2, 3, or even 4 Instagram homesteads vs. reality The same reasons we burn out on anything The homestead is always there — and you live there Why people get into homesteading The homesteader’s curse My 140 tomato story If you’re not on a homestead yet, what you can do How to avoid homestead burnout Create a space where you can truly let go and reset Have other interests or hobbies Adjust expectations before you start Create goals that aren’t fear-based Learn to spot burnout early: Constant fatigue Irritability or loss of excitement Letting maintenance slide Avoiding certain areas or projects More arguments or isolation Spending more time on screens than outside Self-check questions: When’s the last time I felt genuinely excited about a homestead task? Am I doing chores because I want to or just because they have to be done? Have I been skipping or half-doing maintenance I used to stay on top of? Am I avoiding certain areas, animals, or projects because they feel overwhelming? How to address burnout if you’re already there Make space to get away for 2–3 days and stay off social media Take a true day of rest Move your body Assess eating and drinking habits Follow homesteaders who show their failures and lessons learned Scale back without feeling like you’ve failed The world, and we, are messy. Do three things anyway and see how far you can go in a month, then 2 months, then a year! Make it a great week. GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. Community Follow me on Nostr: npub1u2vu695j5wfnxsxpwpth2jnzwxx5fat7vc63eth07dez9arnrezsdeafsv Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Aug 8, 2025 • 45min
Farm Sitters, Rogue Mowers and more; Homestead Happenings for August 1, 2025 - Ep 1066
Today we talk about farm sitters, basecamp, rogue lawn mowers and more. Featured Event: SelfRelianceFestival.com Oct 4-5 Sponsor 1: TheWealthsteading Podcast Sponsor 2: StrongRootsResources.com What is a Food Forest Whisperer? Looking at places for a bath house and cabins at Basecamp 1st Airbnb guest Beans need harvesting Retraining the Boys on electric fence Duck Nests State Fair Preparations and Angrotourism Preparing for a new roof at Basecamp Mower Hijinks and repair Camper parking spot next steps Getting Fall Seedlings going Freezer Reorganization Finally in Process Frankentomato Need to harvest creek mint Watercress coming in Time to harvest Passion flower Proof that ducks are racist Holler Neighbor Dinner, schnitzel Finances - Basecamp Wishlist Idea 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

Aug 8, 2025 • 2h 10min
Tuesday Coffee With John Willis, Nicole Sauce and Jack Spirko - EP 1068
Join me for a group discussion with John Willis of Special Operations Equipment and Jack Spirko of The Survival Podcast. Featured Event: Curds and Connection: https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/product/soft-cheese/ Sponsors:x Above Phone, Coupon code livefreetn, https://abovephone.com/?above=104 Holler Roast Coffee Show Resources Special Operations Equipment TheSurvivalPodcast.com Living Free in Tennessee NicoleSauce.com HollerRoast.com Main content of the show Make it a great week! GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. Community FreeSteading Group: https://freesteading.com/groups/living-free-in-tennessee/ Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Twitter: @nicolesauce IG: @nicolesauce Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivingFreeInTN Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Aug 4, 2025 • 1h 16min
Finding the IDEAL Homestead Property - EP 1067
Today, we discuss how to navigate all the options out there as you seek your ideal homestead property. We also cover our usual Monday segments. Featured Event August 9: Foraging on the Farm at Strong Roots Resources Strongrootsresources.com Sponsor 1 DiscountMylarBags.com Long-term food storage supplies that won’t break the bank. Sponsor 2 AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Helping entrepreneurs, homesteaders, and freedom-minded folks handle taxes the smart way. Surprise Guest JOHN WILLIS - Buy his cool tactical gear here. Tales from the Prepper Pantry We topped off green bean canning for the year — another seasonal task checked off the list. We're also setting up long-term canned goods storage at Basecamp so it’s easier to rotate and access what we’ve put up. While I was away, Tactical survived thanks to the stash of homemade convenience meals we’d prepped in advance. Proof that a little forethought goes a long way. And this week, we’re finally getting seedlings started for the fall garden — about a week later than planned, but they’re going in. Frugality Tip If you’ve got a spare room sitting empty, it might be time to put it to work. We brought in $150 this week just by renting out a bedroom on Airbnb — just a clean space, a good description, and letting the system do its thing. Sometimes the easiest money is already inside your house. Operation Independence We’re gearing up for a trip to Polyface Farm to see Joel Salatin’s systems in action. The goal? Learn what we can, adapt what fits, and scale up operations here at the Holler. Always learning, always building. Main Topic of the Day: Finding the Ideal Homestead Everybody wants the perfect homestead. Creek in the back, rich soil, gentle slopes, friendly neighbors, no codes, low taxes, a vast homeschooling network, hospital that is close but not TOO close…Oh — and under $200,000, please. Today, we're digging into how to actually find the IDEAL land for your homestead — starting with the real questions, not the fantasy map. Where to go in the state How to choose land Where the best community is Regulatory environment To rent or to own? What does ideal mean? WHY ARE YOUR DOING THIS? What does your ideal day on your land actually look like? Is this about freedom? Fear? Feeding your family? Are you chasing a dream… or running from a disaster? Zac Bauer of An American Homestead’s thoughts on water List what is important to you: Family Hospitals? Entertainment Supplies Church Crime/Safety Kid stuff Tax regulations Cultural mix HERE IS THE TRUTH THOUGH : the ideal property? It’s either taken or priced much higher than you will expect - and those super nice properties also have hidden problems. That’s the problem we’re really solving today — what do you do when your dream and your budget don’t match? That is when you have to prioritize = prioritize what you truly need in a piece of land as Zac pointed out. In Fact the best homesteaders I know didn’t start with perfect property. They started with a good enough place and made it work. EXAMPLES John Willis, Rock Quarry The Eversoles (bare land) Kerry Brown (off grid) Ryan & Steve (local partners) Shawn Mills (off grid) They didn’t find a unicorn property — they built a life anyway. Don’t forget — Self-Reliance Festival tickets are still available, but the price goes up soon. If you’ve been thinking about joining us in Camden this October, now’s the time to grab your pass and make a plan. Details are at SelfRelianceFestival.com. Make it a great week. GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. Community Follow me on Nostr: npub1u2vu695j5wfnxsxpwpth2jnzwxx5fat7vc63eth07dez9arnrezsdeafsv Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link