Living Free in Tennessee - Nicole Sauce

Today, I am going to talk with you about opportunity and simplification. Simplification is the top of people's minds for so many right now as they declutter their closets, re-examine their priorities and see opportunities come to fruition. And opportunity is the name of the game. Here at the Holler Homestead, we have been on 18 months of growing side hustles as I transitioned to a different way of life, and, well, the opportunities just keep coming in. Direct Download What mother nature is providing Wild garlic is here - well it was always here, but it has made itself known. My favorite herb of the 2017/18 winter: Mullein Chicken eggs are back! Getting the Gardens Ready Setting my growing plans bit late this year - second tier priority Tales from the prepper pantry Elderberry syrup Hunting the rotting potato Almost through the salsa we canned I haven't bought Garlic in 10 years Stretching Meals Meatballs in stroganoff: $9+$2+$2=$13 (6 meals), Meatballs in lasagna: $1+$2=$3 (6 meals), Meatballs with rice and greens: $2+$1=$3 (4 meals). Total:$1.18 per meal. Operation Independence Caught up on the finance review, but not the declutter goal. Had to prepare to be gone for a week and precooked some things to make it easier on Mark and save money Cover over the camper *might* be done - no one can find my drill battery charger. 5 Ways to simplify your life Just Say NO. Every time you say yes, you a trading a bit of yourself. Is it worth it? Journal, meditate or pray each day - find your time - focus on whatever is in your way then let it go. Implement systems thinking: Declutter and organize and maintain Schedule time with your humans (Prioritize relationships) Schedule in time to grow your skills - books, new skills, expand your capability Of course there are many ways to simplify your life, but it is not simple to do them all. And when you make space for serenity, you also make space for opportunity. Next week, I am doing an episode on lessons learned from moving across the country. Do you have specific things you want to know about? Send your questions to me. Make it a great week! Song: Thanks Dave, Sauce

Today, I am going to talk with you about how to cure ham. This topic is robust enough that we could do several shows on it in fact. I even reached out to my buddy, Chef Brett, to get his take on the dry curing method alongside my brining approach to this conundrum. He and I will have a curing interview later this week.

Today, I've got a whole bunch of stull lined up for you, some of which I meant to tell you last week, but ran out of time. We are going to go through some lessons learned on budgeting for the homestead - Ive collected them from various sources, most of whom are not natural budgeters and we will talk about something I learned this week: How to square a pole barn with a measuring tape, stakes and string. SPRING WORKSHOP INFO

Today I am joined by Brian Norton of Food Forest Farms as he talks about his trials and tribulations along the road toward starting a micro roasting business, breaking out of corporate America, and more! References: Food Forest Farms Brian's Kickstarter

Today, we talk about what we did to deal with the unusually long cold spell in Tennessee this year. This includes strategies for dealing with cold when your housing isn't built for it. We also announce the Spring workshop registration process and go over the membership portal.

It is amazing to me how adding music to a great poem can bring more life to it. This is the final in a series of four versions of the Night Before Christmas with a special song, performed live on Dec 3, 2017 in Cookeville, TN, by the Cookeville Mastersingers and the music wsa arranged by Simone. Merry Christmas all!

Today may be the night before the night before Christmas for us here in the US, but our friends in Australia are already there. For them, it IS the night before Christmas. A friend from down under recorded this version of the poem for us with a few adjustments made for her local environment. Thank you AussieRo.

Join us for the second in a series for 2017 of poems read from throughout the world. This version of The Night Before Christmas comes from me, recording from Tennessee. It is followed by a performance of Jingle Bells, recorded live on December 3, 2017 in the Wanntenbarger Auditorium by the Cookeville Mastersingers and arranged by Don Large.

Join us in the series in the first in a series for 2017 of poems read from throughout the world. This version of The Night Before Christmas comes from our friend "Jaggy Little Thistle" who listens from Scotland. Thanks for the recording Jaggy!

Today's show is the last one until next year! In this episode, we will take a look at 2017. The good, the bad, the sad. We will also cover holidays, navigating them, being with your family who you may love, may find frustrating, or may even find abusive. I'll share what this time means to all of us here in the Holler Homestead. Share some recipes we will try this year. Marvel at the bounty that surrounds us, talk about bitcoin and two-factor authentication, share some cool thoughts from listeners. Today, the show is about you, about us, and about the learning from the past, letting it go, and making our future. Direct Download What mother nature is providing Kale, Carrots, Radishes Stinging Nettles abound I saw mint in the creek - unbelievable Sprouts in the house: http://www.simplebites.net/how-to-grow-sprouts-at-home/ Tales from the prepper pantry The Turkey The potatoes are fished - we got a bushel in October and polished them off yesterday Facing our usual squash struggle Meatloaf recipe Dry stores: Flour, rice and oatmeal Put up lots of meat Thoughts on buying equipment for processing and preserving food Operation Independence Tomorrow we are doing a webinar called Crypto in Plain English. Sign up: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_W7kB5iXuR7St0UBBW2umLw Roasted coffee like a mad woman - it has been great! Making hiking trails on the land with the goats Started journaling once a week Frugal Feasting - the turkey tale: Yesterday we served an $11 turkey with about $2 in potatoes and sweet potatoes, $1 in carrots, $.25 in onions, and $.10 in flour. Total meal cost is: $14.35. We fed four people. Fed them to beyond stuffed. ($3.60 a person) Today, I have the bones in a stock pot making stock, Plenty of leftover turkey for soup and other side dishes. I wonder how much we will spend on meals the rest of the week? Example: If I do turkey rissoto, it is $2 in specialty rice, $1 in wine, $.50 in ancillary veggies. I don't have to charge ourselves for garlic since we grow it... Everything else was covered in yesterday's fees. Total meal to feed 3-4 people: $3.50. Brunch for Mark and me ran us $.50 Ok, time to talk about 2017. Remember what I was talking about this time last year? Grandma A coming job change Gleaning value from our land How much change a year makes! She died, my job changed, and in nine short months, Holler Roast Coffee has gone from a hobby to a business that has operated in the black for the past two months! Steps along the way: Evaluated and reevaluated our strategic objectives for the family Evaluated and reevaluated what we love to do Worked really hard Underestimated how much money and time HRC would take Shipping Bean sourcing Bags, labels, etc Building a roasting room for the roaster Five billion failed roasts because the roaster was not working right Grew the podcast community to 1000 - and invited people into our peaceful retreat Took risks when we didn't really have the money to lost in order to forge new relationships Made great new friends - I mean really really great new friends Learned that selling ads in a very well targeted print publication that brings our advertisers better results than most other channels is still very hard. Went on some epic hikes with Mark Found new mushrooms and enjoyed them We lost an old cat We bought a few goats We found a stray pig - !! Holiday Recipes Roast Beast in the Roemertopf Gingerbread cookies Spiced Apple Cider Homemade Hot chocolate Bread pudding IF YOU HAVE COINBASE - turn on two factor authentication Looking forward to 2018 Grow Holler Roast Spring Workshop - sign up in January, cost will be $400, but we will just ask for a deposit at registration. Build a cold smoker in an hour for $80 or less Basics of lacto-fermentation Beyond Organic Hydroponics Charcuterie Project Accelerators More… Expand the Airbnb on site with agrotourism experiences Taking a very close look at the Center Hill Sun Growing the podcast, adding video and more. Expanding marketing facilitation and websites Thought for 2018 from a fried: I'm walking into 2018 with a clear heart and mind...If you owe me, don't worry about it - you're welcome...If you wronged me, it's all good - lesson learned...If you're angry with me, you've won...If we aren't speaking, its cool (I love you and I wish you well)...If you feel I wronged you, I apologize...Life is too short for all the penned up anger, holding grudges and extra pain!...Here's to 2018!!!...Spread the positive forgiveness! Love to all. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Make it a great week! Song: Grandpas Song, Sauce