Everyday Homesteading

Discover what it truly means to live off-grid, beyond just power and water. Jeff Burkinshaw reveals his journey from suburbia to a remote homestead, driven by a desire for intentional living. He discusses breaking free from monetary pressures, raising resilient kids, and embracing community over big systems. Tune in for practical insights on self-sufficiency, personal skills, and the challenging yet rewarding path toward genuine freedom in life. If you're seeking simplicity, this conversation will inspire and motivate you!

Reflecting on two decades of homesteading, the hosts share valuable lessons from their early mistakes. They highlight the dangers of trying to do everything at once, emphasizing that a slower, focused approach leads to sustainability. From prioritizing foundational garden skills to mastering kitchen basics, their insights urge listeners to unlearn the perfectionist mindset. They also debunk myths about needing vast land for effective homesteading, reminding everyone that nurturing relationships matters most in this lifelong journey.

What does a “Year of Rest” actually look like on a working homestead?In this episode, we’re reflecting on our decision to slow down over the past year, what changed, what stayed the same, and what surprised us along the way. We share how cutting big projects brought more margin into our days, why rest doesn’t mean the work disappears, and how an unplanned cabin build for the next generation fit into our bigger vision.This is an honest, end-of-year conversation about pace, sustainability, and having the courage to adjust before burnout forces it.If you’re feeling tired, scattered, or unsure how to move into the next season, we hope this episode encourages you to slow down and have an honest conversation about what really matters.Thanks to Azure Standard for sponsoring this week's podcast. First-time customers can get 15% off their first order of $100 or more with the coupon code “HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15” at checkout: https://homesteadingfamily.com/main-azure-standard-bTime Stamps:0:00 - Introduction1:19 - Chit Chat9:57 - Azure Standard11:34 - Main Topic~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MORE ABOUT US!WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideoGrow, Preserve & Thrive with us!Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.comFacebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamilyInstagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamilyRumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamilyA few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHytYour Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshopThe Rhythm Challenge is included completely free inside my Homestead Kitchen Membership. If you’ve been thinking about joining us, this is absolutely the perfect time. You’ll get the magazine, the classes, the community, all the training…and this guided reset to bring calm and confidence back into your home. To join us, CLICK HERE! 

If you have ever found yourself saying, “This winter, we’ll finally rest,” you are not alone. Josh and I have joked about it for years, imagining a slower season that somehow never quite arrives on its own.In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, I’m sharing what I’ve been learning about real rest. Not just getting more sleep, but the kind of deep, soul-level rest that brings clarity, peace, and renewed purpose. The kind of rest that helps you remember your why.We talk about why rest never happens by accident, how much control we actually have over our overwhelm, and what intentional rest can look like in the middle of real homestead life. From simplifying digital noise to creating gentler rhythms at home, this is a conversation about choosing rest on purpose.If you’re heading into a new season feeling tired, stretched thin, or quietly longing for slower days, this episode is an invitation to pause, breathe, and make room for rest that truly restores.For more information, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/finding-rest-in-the-quiet-times/Thanks to Laurel Mountain Soaps for sponsoring this podcast episode. Grab 15% off your first order when you use the coupon code "Homesteading15" at checkout: https://laurelmountainsoaps.com/collections/goat-milk-and-honey-soap~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MORE ABOUT US!WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideoGrow, Preserve & Thrive with us!Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.comFacebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamilyInstagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamilyRumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamilyA few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHytYour Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshopThe Rhythm Challenge is included completely free inside my Homestead Kitchen Membership. If you’ve been thinking about joining us, this is absolutely the perfect time. You’ll get the magazine, the classes, the community, all the training…and this guided reset to bring calm and confidence back into your home. To join us, CLICK HERE! 

Welcome back to Everyday Homesteading. Today I’m sitting down with two people I deeply respect and always enjoy talking with, Shawn and Beth Dougherty. If you have ever wondered whether a family milk cow actually fits into a busy modern homestead, or if you’ve been feeling that tug toward a simpler, more land-rooted way of feeding your family, this conversation is for you.Shawn and Beth have spent more than twenty-five years raising a large family, stewarding rough Appalachian ground, and building a thriving homestead centered around the grass-fed family cow. Their new book, One Cow Revolution, takes everything they’ve learned and puts it into a guide that feels like having a wise neighbor over the fence.We talk about why the dairy cow is still one of the most powerful tools for food independence, how managed grazing can rebuild soil and family culture, and why the cow is far less of a burden than most people fear. Whether you already have a cow, hope to bring one home someday, or think you never will, you’ll walk away from this episode with a whole new sense of what’s possible.Let’s dive in.- Grab a copy of One Cow Revolution here: https://a.co/d/gAx6o34- Check out the accompanying blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/can-anyone-keep-a-dairy-cow- Thanks to Lehman's for sponsoring today's podcast. Be sure to check out all Lehman's has to offer at https://lehmans.com Time Stamps:0:00 - Introduction1:42 - Lehman's2:39 - Main Topic42:31 - One Cow Revolution (Book)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MORE ABOUT US!WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideoGrow, Preserve & Thrive with us!Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.comFacebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamilyInstagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamilyRumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamilyA few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHytYour Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshopThe Rhythm Challenge is included completely free inside my Homestead Kitchen Membership. If you’ve been thinking about joining us, this is absolutely the perfect time. You’ll get the magazine, the classes, the community, all the training…and this guided reset to bring calm and confidence back into your home. To join us, CLICK HERE! 

Mistakes happen on every homestead, and today we are sharing some of our biggest ones from the past year so you can learn right alongside us. Whether it is garden chaos, livestock mishaps, or ignoring that little voice of intuition, these lessons are part of growing wiser and more resilient on the homestead.We are also chatting about winter prep, homeschool rhythms, fruit flies in the pantry, and a few behind–the–scenes stories from life here at Riverbend. Grab a warm drink and join us for some real talk about what went wrong and how we are moving forward.Time Stamps0:00 - Introduction1:20 - Chit Chat3:00 - Cabin Build (Card)10:41 - ForJars12:19 - Main TopicGrab Your Spot:Get registered for our free, live How to Homestead Anywhere crash course. This week-long training will help you build resilience and peaceful rhythms no matter where you live: Learn Seed Saving:Start saving your own garden seeds with this simple beginners guide:https://homesteadingfamily.com/seed-saving-for-beginners/Thank You to ForJars:We appreciate ForJars for sponsoring this episode. Check out their line of durable, homestead-friendly canning and preserving tools. Use coupon code HOMESTEADINGFAMILY10 to save 10 percent on your order: https://homesteadingfamily.com/forjarsAs always, we love hearing from you. Share your biggest homesteading mistakes in the comments below so we can learn from each other.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MORE ABOUT US!WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are the Homesteading Family, where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideoGrow, Preserve & Thrive with us!Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.comFacebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamilyInstagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamilyRumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamilyA few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4-video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHytYour Best Loaf – A Free 4-video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshopMeals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!  Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshopThe Rhythm Challenge is included completely free inside my Homestead Kitchen Membership. If you’ve been thinking about joining us, this is absolutely the perfect time. You’ll get the magazine, the classes, the community, all the training…and this guided reset to bring calm and confidence back into your home. To join us, CLICK HERE! 

Learn how to make cheese the traditional way using natural raw milk cultures like clabber, kefir, and backsplash whey. In this conversation with Robyn Jackson from Cheese From Scratch, we dig into how to create and maintain your own starter cultures, how to troubleshoot clabber that smells a little funky, and how to use these cultures to make everything from cream cheese to aged wheels.This episode covers:• What clabber is and why it was used for generations• How to build and maintain a healthy clabber culture• How kefir can work as a starter culture• When backsplash whey is useful and when it is not• How to know if your culture has gone bad• How to make a simple clabber cream cheese at home• Why natural cultures can make your cheeses taste better than commercial starters✅ If you want to learn how to work with raw milk in a way that is simple, safe, and incredibly rewarding, this episode will give you the confidence to begin. Learn more here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/natural-cheesemaking/✅ Grab a copy of Robyn's book, Cheese From Scratchhere: https://homesteadliving.com/product/cheese-from-scratch/✅ Check out my Practical Homemade Dairy Masterclass here: https://homesteadliving.com/product/cheese-from-scratch/Time Stamps:0:00 - Introduction2:54 - American Blossom Linens4:48 - Main Topic- Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring today's podcast. Be sure to grab yourself 20% off your purchase with coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY". Check out all their amazing products here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/s-american-blossom-linens~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MORE ABOUT US!WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideoGrow, Preserve & Thrive with us!Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.comFacebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamilyInstagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamilyRumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamilyA few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHytYour Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshopMeals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!  Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: The Rhythm Challenge is included completely free inside my Homestead Kitchen Membership. If you’ve been thinking about joining us, this is absolutely the perfect time. You’ll get the magazine, the classes, the community, all the training…and this guided reset to bring calm and confidence back into your home. To join us, CLICK HERE! 

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we open up about cultivating contentment in every season of our homestead life. It's easy to feel grateful when everything is going smoothly, but true contentment is often built in the hard moments. Today, we talk about choosing gratitude, navigating overwhelm, balancing the desire to grow with the ability to rest, and finding joy in whatever season you are in.✅ For more information, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/cultivating-contentment-on-the-homestead/✅ Get all our favorite sausage recipes here: https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/pl/2148622418✅ Learn how to render lard here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/rendering-lard-or-tallow/✅ Thank you to ForJars for sponsoring today's podcast. Check out their full line of tools at their website and use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY10" for ten percent off your purchase: https://homesteadingfamily.com/forjarsTIME STAMPS:0:00 - Introduction2:55 - Chit Chat11:11 - ForJars12:35 - Main Topic~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MORE ABOUT US!WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are the Homesteading Family, where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideoGrow, Preserve & Thrive with us!Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.comFacebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamilyInstagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamilyRumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamilyA few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4-video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHytYour Best Loaf – A Free 4-video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshopMeals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!  Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshopThe Rhythm Challenge is included completely free inside my Homestead Kitchen Membership. If you’ve been thinking about joining us, this is absolutely the perfect time. You’ll get the magazine, the classes, the community, all the training…and this guided reset to bring calm and confidence back into your home. To join us, CLICK HERE! 

If you’ve ever wondered how to rehydrate dehydrated food so it actually tastes good, this episode is for you! Join me with guest Darcy Baldwin from The Purposeful Pantry as we share our best tips for dehydrating and rehydrating food for everyday use, not just for emergencies.You’ll learn:✅ How to rehydrate vegetables, fruits, and meats for soups, casseroles, and skillet meals✅ Why dehydrating is one of the easiest, most affordable long-term food storage methods✅ When to blanch vegetables before dehydrating✅ How to use green powders and veggie powders to boost everyday nutrition✅ Pantry organization systems that save you time and moneyWhether you’re building a working pantry, stocking up for winter, or learning how to use dehydrated food in real meals, this episode will show you how to make every jar on your shelf a tool for convenience and nourishment.✨ Learn more in the accompanying blog post: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-rehydrate-dehydrated-food/✨ Take Darcy’s full class inside the School of Traditional Skills: https://homesteadingfamily.com/STS_Member_n✨ Learn more from Darcy at The Purposeful Pantry: https://www.thepurposefulpantry.com/✨ Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring this podcast. Be sure to use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY" for 20% off your purchase here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/s-american-blossom-linensTime Stamps:0:00 - Introduction1:36 - American Blossom Linens3:32 - Main Topic~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MORE ABOUT US!WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideoGrow, Preserve & Thrive with us! Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.comFacebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamilyInstagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamilyRumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamilyA few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHytYour Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshopMeals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!  Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshopThe Rhythm Challenge is included completely free inside my Homestead Kitchen Membership. If you’ve been thinking about joining us, this is absolutely the perfect time. You’ll get the magazine, the classes, the community, all the training…and this guided reset to bring calm and confidence back into your home. To join us, CLICK HERE! 

We’re in that cozy shoulder season where the garden is winding down, the last jars are cooling on the counter, and the big question creeps in, did we do enough?In this episode, we're talking about how our family prioritizes filling the pantry without burning out. We cover the calm power of buying staples in bulk, simple preservation that fits your real life, and the secret weapon that gets us through winter even without a root cellar, think potatoes, squash, onions, apples, all stored smart. We also share the weekly rhythms that keep the pantry peaceful, like shopping your shelves first and tracking what your family actually eats.If you’ve ever felt pressure to “do it all,” this one will help you breathe, simplify, and still feel prepared.Read the full companion post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/building-up-your-long-term-food-storage-supply/And learn more about our Homestead Kitchen Membership here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-MEMBERSHIPThanks to Azure Standard for sponsoring this podcast. If you're a first-time Azure customer, be sure to use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15" at checkout to receive 15% off your first order of $100 or more: https://homesteadingfamily.com/main-azure-standard-b~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MORE ABOUT US!WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideoGrow, Preserve & Thrive with us!Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.comFacebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamilyInstagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamilyRumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamilyA few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHytYour Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshopMeals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!  Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshopThe Rhythm Challenge is included completely free inside my Homestead Kitchen Membership. If you’ve been thinking about joining us, this is absolutely the perfect time. You’ll get the magazine, the classes, the community, all the training…and this guided reset to bring calm and confidence back into your home. To join us, CLICK HERE!