Living Free in Tennessee - Nicole Sauce

Today, we will talk about ways to make time when you have no time. Announcements: Rogue Food Conference - LFIT30 - https://roguefoodconference.com/ Did you miss the pantry management webinar and are you a member?  Email feedback to nicole@livingfreeintennessee.com Tales from the Prepper Pantry Planning a weekend from the pantry Thoughts on the pantry as a process Edible Walks Seeking Morels Stinging nettle Wild Garlic Operation Independence Drywall is slow going - but adds $450 to the independence fund 1 debt left Main topic of the Show: Making Time  When There Is No Time I called a friend. He is very busy, overwhelmingly busy. He texted back - I will be driving in ten minutes. Ten minutes later, my phone rang. We chatted for fifteen minutes, then signed off. That is probably the last time I will hear from that friend on a phone call for a month. He is that overcommitted. No more calls for a month at least. And yet he has time to spend with his family, to be alone, to get exercise and to work on hobbies. He has time to hear podcasts done by friends. He is probably listening to this one thinking, she is talking about me. Yes. I am. Meanwhile, I have another friend. Her job is very demanding. She is frustrated because she is too tired when she gets up to do a few things for herself before she leaves and so mentally taxed when she gets home that all she has energy for is to eat some takeout, pour a glass of wine, pop on a video, and sit there until she falls asleep. Weekends are a rush of laundry and errands that never seem to get caught up. She managed to go see her friends and do fun things but feels a little guilty while she does because her garden is being ignored. She is that overcommitted. She is exhausted. She is grumpy all the time. She hates her job and can’t wait to move on in a few years. The funny thing about both these people is that they will hear this, they will probably know who they are, and that is a good thing. My first example in fact has more hours required of him professionally than the second example, and yet he has time to have some fun. He has time to nurture important relationships. He says no to so many things, including to things I as a close friend request of him, And he rarely complains about anything. He just does stuff. My other friend spends lots of time worried about her failings, her lack of control and her backpedalling -  which is leading her more deeply into the cycle of never having any time for anything. I heard from both of these friends recently and it really got me to thinking about how we make time for things. It was a timely thing to run into because here I am, also with a very aggressive set of commitments (You’d be surprised how long it takes to produce a podcast of this nature) and a desire to build my next five years into increasing success with time to do things I love to do. Will I end up like my male friend, or my female one? I know which boat I want to be in and it seems to boil down to making time, not having it. Now I have to say that I am not looking to end up like my former friend -- he spends way too many hours working and not enough hours sleeping. But there are things I can learn from him, and from the second example about setting myself up for success -- and I hope it will set you up for success too. The important thing here is that when you work on making time for things that are important to you, is that you do it to have the kind of life you want, rather than to live up to someone else’s expectations of your life. And the keyword here is expectations. We talked about boundaries last week. Setting clear boundaries with others results in clear expectations. Clear expectations reduce frustration -- at least for you. But to make time, you also need to set boundaries with yourself and make sure your expectations on yourself are clear. So if you hear yourself telling people NO to invitations because you “don;t have time” or “can’t” - take a deeper look at what is going on. DO you really not have time, or do you prefer to do something else? Is it can’t or won’t. Even if the answer is that you are needed at work and don;t have time to go kayaking, the answer is better framed to yourself as “I refer to earn money than to go kayaking Wednesday at 10am” because by talking to yourself in this way, you are being honest about the tradeoff. I mean sure, kayaking Wednesday at 10am sounds fun, doesn’t it? But if you skip work you are giving up $100 or $1000 in income to do it, when you could just shift it to Saturday at 10am and both earn some money and have some fun. This is all about perspective and as you build the habit of taking responsibility for your tradeoffs, you will find that sometimes you choose not to earn the paycheck and rather to go to that wedding, or dig in the garden. Because when you own your tradeoffs, it is easier to see the value of what you are trading off. So making time when you have no time starts with getting your perspective right, then setting better boundaries with yourself and everyone else. If a friend is a real friend, they can take a no. You can take a no too. And when you know why you are saying no to one thing and yes to another and it is absolutely clear to you which is the priority, it is easier to let go of the guilt, which in turn no longer slows you down. You will find that you used to say yes to lots of things that take time and that you both do not like doing, and that do not bring value into your life. Perspective in how you frame your choices and time challenges Set clear boundaries with others and yourself Evaluate interruption -- and eliminate it Simplify house, finances, and everything else Automate and Outsource Just Do it - no excuses I know you are sitting here listening to this thinkin, but Nicole I really don;t have any time, I am too tired, or the demands of my family/job/homestead are too much. I really cant make any more time. Oh yeah? Really. Then try this: Write down three things you want to have time for. It can be a walk. It can be organizing a cabinet in your kitchen. It can be writing something. Changing your oil. I don’t care what it is. Write it down. Tomorrow, set your alarm for 2 hours earlier than you usually get up. If you usually get up at 4, set it for 2. If you get up at 6, set it for 4. When it goes off do this: Get out of bed - have your coffee or whatever you usually have. 15 minutes. Do the thing you wrote down - 60 minutes Give yourself a reward -- maybe another cup of coffee, maybe 15 minutes of reading, maybe 15 minutes of surfing the web. Start getting ready for your day as you usually would. Try this one time. Then do your day as normal and right after dinner, grab a piece of paper and reflect for 5 minutes on how your day went. I think you will be surprised. Making time takes tradeoffs -- in this approach you have traded 2 hours of sleep to complete one thing that you wanted to do and did not have time for. Turns out you did have time -- and sure, maybe you do not want to get up 2 hours early every day, but the method works even if for you the tradeoff ends up being becoming more efficient with your email answering time so that you get 45 minutes a day on the rowing machine, or eliminating interruptions while you pay bills each month which opens up half an hour to spend with your kids playing badminton. The thing that you have to start with his this: You CAN make time and the buck stops with you to do it and today is a great day to start making this change. Make it a great week! GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.  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

Today, I was supposed to do a short show - a thought of the walk. And this week, I prerecorded an interview with Tim Cook. And I looked at what y’all are talking about on Mewe and on Telegram and I realized that you need to hear this interview NOW, not a week from now. So we will have a nice chat with Tim, from the people’s republik of Canada, about lessons learned from starting both his content creation business and his handyman one.  Show Resources Where you can find all things Toolman Tim Related http://toolmantim.co/ Toolman Tim’s YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/c/AllSeasonsMaintenance Toolman Tim’s ODYSEE Channel https://odysee.com/@Allseasonsmain:5?r=6XJVWQErBkw1GYRdm5McEYze16CmGRKa Main content of the show Tim Cook gave up working for the man three years ago and never looked back(well almost never) At the encouragement of his wife Becky he turned his side hustle into a full time gig.And together with the help of their 11 year old twin girls, they run All-Seasons Maintenance. A small town handyman business in the frozen tundra that is East Central Alberta. He may be better known to some of you as Toolman Tim on his YouTube channel where he encourages would be entrepreneurs and handymen on their individual road to financial freedom and success. A couple of Friday’s a month you can catch him answering questions as part of the expert council on the Survival Podcast. Does this coming weekend cause you excitement or anxiety? If it is anxiety, then take some time this weekend to evaluate why and fix that. Because building the life you want to live should be fun work, not misery. GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.  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

Today we have a listener variety show based on emails y’all have sent me. On the docket today is: Caring for chickens from Jennifer More Ice Preparedness Tips from Debi Do I need to order “Espresso” beans or “Espresso” roast for my fancy new espresso maker from Chris Thoughts on Dealing with a skittish goat by Nicole Sauce Pantry Management Practices Webinar is this Saturday at 2CT - there will be a recording if you sign up and miss the actual webinar - sign up here. Stump the Sauce What to do with three year old salsa that was home canned from Jennifer What’s Up in the Garden Nothing. Nothing is up in the garden, but lots of things are planted! Main topic of the Show: Listener Variety Show Thoughts on dealing with a skittish goat. Food and curiosity Time  Patience Make it a great week! GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.  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  

Today we have eight hacks for improving your productivity. Over the last two months, I have taken a good hard look at finding ways to find a better balance between working other important pursuits. Because grow= less personal time, but it does not have to.  Tales from the Prepper Pantry Beef heart tacos Beef heart stew Stuffed beef heart Lettuce grow operation - transplant on schedule is important! Operation Independence Drywall  Main topic of the Show: Productivity Hacks Quick Overview of #my3things Plan the next day at the end of the day & Journaling Process Eat Frogs First Email Removed From Phone Schedule 6am-11 or 12, then check email (time of day discussion) Fight Interruption like the plague Seek to drive all communications to a conclusion (Either I do something or they do something)  Use tools but do not over tool up -- Calendly and zoom combination Don’t give up WHAT ARE YOUR HACKS? Make it a great week! Song: Suicide by Sauce GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.  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  

Today we have an interview show with someone who has had an interesting life journey from engineer to founding an organization dedicated to farthing sustainable lifestyles. David Bolt joins me to talk about building sustainability into your lifestyle and talks about the Sustainable Future Center in Knoxville. How to get on an interview show Save the dates: Webinar coming up March 6, 2pm CT – Pantry Management Practices with Nicole Sauce Monday, June 14, chicken processing workshop, 9am Listener Feedback from Jenni - Little steps result in long term stability Show Resources Sustainable Future Center  https://www.sfcknox.org/ Main content of the show In 2012 David Bolt was selected as a White House “Champion of Change in Corporate Environmental Sustainability.”  That award recognized the central theme of David’s life and his career.  David has long sought to eliminate waste, promote efficiency, and preserve the world for future generations.  He leads by example, whether by converting his home to Net Zero energy, making his building net producer of energy or by driving a car fueled by the sun.  In short, the name of the non-profit says it all:  Sustainable Future Center.  The name is the vision.  His work is to support others that want to live more sustainably. More... Interview Make it a great week GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.  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

Today by listener request, I explain how the Holler Neighborhood works as a community, as well as cover some of the history of how we ended up here. Icemegeddon Update Webinar coming up March 6, 2pm CT - Pantry Management Practices with Nicole Sauce Monday, June 14, chicken processing workshop, 9am Tales from the Prepper Pantry Road food update, homegrown year Reorganized canned goods Reorganized prepper pantry Sold seed potatoes Found a stash of canned stock The final jar of 2019 green beans will be consumed this week Operation Independence Function stacking with the addition of a carport Phireon Update Main topic of the Show: How the Holler Neighborhood Works People often ask me about how to build community because they see what a great network we have in LFTN and the hear the stories of the Holler Neighbors and wish they had something like that near them. Sometimes it is hard to really say what each needs to do. This podcast has doubled in size since last year and it is on track to double again this year. That means there are a bunch of you who were not around for the dawning of the Holler neighbors.  History Moved to the holler & Island Mountain Pat, learned homesteading things The farmers market years and discovery of local organize and permaculture communities The work vs homesteading choices and mistakes Finding TSP and starting to go to events, Zello The advent of the podcast - 1 year to 500 listeners A personal transition from corporate work for my own health, friends Prioritizing relationships, hosting events here, 1st workshop, TN GSD Crew Friends moving to the area -- and the development from there Lessons learned You get out what you put in Make time to go be with people in person Let the community guide itself and set expectations of solutions and positive action rather than bitch fests It will go where it goes How the neighbors work now Each has their own household, land, etc We talk monthly about what we wish to accomplish Unified by shared values and priorities and the desire to help each reach their happiness Dealing with frustrations and boundaries Communication and connection Efforts do center on the events we do here, as well as producing high quality food Money matters and strategic plan Holler Dollars - the chicken processing workshop So far we have been successful as a community but that does not mean there has not been frustration, struggles with mental health, financial durres, and arguments. The deal is that we have agreed to open lines of communication, discussion of healthy boundaries, and putting hurt feelings aside to find solutions together as a family. It also really helps that everyone is king of their own castle. I cannot imagine how it would be to have someone telling me what color I can paint my home, etc.  The Holler Neighbors work because of shared values, love and good will and the most important shared value is that we buy into individual liberty and the non aggression principle -- this means that what you do, so long as it does not harm others, is none of my business. As a friend, I will tell you if I see it harming you, but at the end of the day, you can do what you want and I don’t get to stop you. You do you. That is what works -- we do not have a bunch of rules. Just mutual respect and supportive friendship. And this community has been empowering to all of us in many different ways. Make it a great week! Song: Thanks Dave GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.  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

The BIG FREEZE is upon us and today, I will share with you what is necessary to get ready for such a weather event on a homestead in the south - because we do not build for this kind of weather even though it hits about every three to five years. Tales from the Prepper Pantry This week is when the pantry process we use here really shines  Just opened the last heavy whipping cream that I bought in December (story) Planning based on what is here: Hearty foods for the cold, cooked in the crockpot (But easy to transfer to the woodstove) Fat Tuesday is crepe day Have piles of elephant garlic to process -- not getting that done this week Operation Independence 2020 Business Tax Prep is done! (For the first time in 20+ years of hating coding) Celebration concept for 2021 (Balance) Main topic of the Show: Preparing for the Big Freeze in the South Why this? Why now? Base philosophy Plan for what is likely Keep the solution simple and elegant Multiple purposes per one solution Divides into areas of focus (It is all about mindset) Inside Oddities (city versus country) Livestock Well House and Other Outbuildings The Holler Family Meeting Entertainment and Fun Weather happens and it is one of the easiest things to plan for. The benefit of being ready for weather, if you do it right, is that it prepared you for other things. Approaching your household planning in this way not only gives you security through the storms of weather, it can also be the foundation to get you through the storms of life. Make it a great week! Song: The Flood by Sauce GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.  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  

Today I am joined by David and Karen Magee, founders of the Station at 19e and recent hosts of the freedom cell meetup in East Tennessee to talk about designing your retirement business. Next week:  Headed to Florida to attend the Phireon Launch Party – check that out on their Telegram group. Rolling out Event and Webinar Schedule next week — stay tuned Workshop Waiting List and Attendee Update Show Resources The Station at 19e on Roan Mountain https://thestationat19e.com/  Main content of the show David and Karen Magee are the owners of The Station at 19e Roan Mountain TN on Mile Marker 395 NOBO on the Appalachian Trail. A hybrid 3 bed hostel/airbnb, 350 craft beer pub/restaurant, Roan Mountain Music Hall, shuttle service. 2nd location hobby farm. Grow food for the restaurant and glamping sites coming soon. 4th year running hostel. Owned large Travel Nurse Staffing Company. Lived in 4 horse living quarter trailer and followed the weather around the country for 5 years. 5 Years on a 2X7 mile island called Culebra, PR off the coast of mainland PR and 10 miles from St. Thomas. Interview Make it a great week GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.  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

Today we have a listener feedback show. It’s all about YOU! We will talk about: Do you have a reading list that I could work on to increase my critical thinking & independent thought skills? from Lydia; A recipe for using up salsa from Hillary and Joshua; A sketchy real estate tale from Pat; and Masks and Vaccines from Garth. Main topic of the Show: Listener Feedback Make it a great week! GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.  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  

Today, we will explore the concept of setting good boundaries and how that can set you free to thrive. Vin Armani’s Class: https://www.codefromgo.com/product/mystery-novice/ Tales from the Prepper Pantry Chinese food mishmash Sous vide and defrosting meats Homemade dressing recipe: Mayo, balsamic, garlic powder, salt, olive oil, mustard, dash of honey Meal planning by jar Operation Independence Signed up for Vin’s class to gain deeper knowledge of what crypto currency can do for me beyond transactional things 6 blueberry plants with a plan to plant them Main topic of the Show: Finding and Keeping Boundaries Over the weekend I took on a boundary setting project. One for myself. That’s right - I am quite good at community organizing, starting new businesses, communications and marketing, teaching, and helping friends. What I am not so good at is building in time for things that are important to me. Sometimes this includes maintaining close relationships, recreation and self care, exercise, detail management.  And like many of you,  struggle with no - yet no is the key to setting and maintaining boundaries. Not necessarily a big ol’ loud, in your face sort of no after you have let things go too far for too long - something we have all done, but just a measured no. No with no guilt. No as a matter of fact thing. And clarity - clarity of what constitutes a reasonable interaction. Over December, I found out someone in my network was very sick. It was at an awkward time in my work schedule and I agonized over how and if to offer help. I finally decided to ask if they needed help since people are in fact more important than coffee orders. Then Mama Sauce suggested a change of wording - Do you want help. Need versus want. A subtle change that. But an important one. It may not have changed the answer, but it did change the intention with just one word and set a clear boundary - I was willing to offer help, but was not setting myself up beyond a friendly offer to become responsible for the other person’s well-being. It was an important line to draw, not for the friend who might have wanted my help, but more for myself.  It is funny how sometimes these topics pop up in our network at the same time. Right after I came home from a meeting with my mental health coach with an assignment about creating boundaries, I popped into the LFTN Mewe group and there they were, having a conversation about boundaries. Specifically boundaries with people in your life whom you do not feel you can cut ties with - and who are interacting in your life in unhealthy ways. Review the toxic person approach we discussed several years ago As I watched that conversation unfold, I thought -- let’s talk about some ways that it can be tricky to set up boundaries: Realizing you need boundaries Communicating them at the right time and in the right way How boundaries make you expose your vulnerabilities Clarity and openness When boundaries are not respected (consequences) You can only control yourself  Identifying who is at the core of the boundary issue Finding models for good boundary setting and why to do it Damage of exploding boundaries. (lemming game) Where to focus if you are having trouble with someone breaking boundary agreements. In the end, only you know what your boundaries need to be in your day to day life. Only you can set and defend your boundaries. Only you can define what happiness and healthiness is for you. And that is why some people have an easier time with boundaries than others. Some people really do not care if their boundaries cause temporary hurt feelings because they know that the clarity in the long run will lead to a stronger relationship if that person stays in their lives. Others agonize over the damage that having a boundary might cause never realizing that by allowing an unhealthy situation to grow, they are creating a long term relationship that perhaps should not exist. And this is why boundaries are so important. Because only you can set them, only you can defend them, and only you can only control your reaction to situations. But the cool thing is that if you control you and you do it well, that is the most powerful tool there is toward the best outcomes. Make it a great week! GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.  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