Pantry Chat - Homesteading Family

Buying a homestead, whether it is 1/4 or 40 acres, is a big investment. What's the best way to go about it? Buy with all cash if you've got it and then develop it as more resources come your way, or is getting a mortgage so you have some funds left over to build your dream a better way to go? The answer may surprise you. Join Josh and Carolyn today on The Pantry Chat - Food for Thought as they share their experiences and things to think about when buying a property to homestead.And don't forget to sign up for the dairy class while there is still a chance to get in: https://www.schooloftraditionalskills.com/dairy-class-waitlist-sign-upSee you soon!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MORE ABOUT US!WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our nine 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/HFWelcomeVideo Grow, 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-workshopFREE PDF DOWNLOADS:- Homesteading Family's Favorite Holiday Recipes - Grab all of our family’s favorite holiday recipes. https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-holiday-recipes- 5 Steps to a More Self-Sufficient Life - Simple steps anyone can take wherever they are to start a more self-sufficient lifestyle. https://homesteadingfamily.com/5StepsYT- Thrive Wellness Checklist - A simple guide for healthy living: https://homesteadingfamily.com/TWC_YT- Permaculture for Your Homestead- An introduction to permaculture with some strategies for applying it to one’s homestead and garden.https://homesteadingfamily.com/PFYH_YT- Carolyn’s Cottage Garden herb list - Carolyn’s favorite herbs for growing at home.https://homesteadingfamily.com/CGHL_YT- Carolyn’s Make-Ahead Breakfast Casseroles - These easy casseroles are a life-saver for busy weeks! https://homesteadingfamily.com/MABC_YT- Your FREE Guide to Preserving Eggs - Grab your guide to preserving eggs with multiple methods. https://homesteadingfamily.com/Eggs_YT- 5 Steps to a Healthy Garden - Get an explanation of what makes healthy soil and 5 steps you can take to improve your garden. https://homesteadingfamily.com/5StepsGardenYT- Save the Crumbs- Several Recipes for using bread leftovers, a less committal entry to bread than the workshop. https://homesteadingfamily.com/STC_YT- Fearless Fermenting- A simple guide on basic lacto-ferments. https://homesteadingfamily.com/FF_YT- Fermenting Tomatoes - Easiest and fastest tomato preservation: https://homesteadingfamily.com/FT_YT- Preserving Culinary Herbs - Downloadable, step-by-step directions to drying, freezing, and salting culinary herbs. https://homesteadingfamily.com/PCH_YT- RYou are officially invited to be part of our brand-new Everyday Homesteading Podcast Launch Team. Yay!By joining, you’ll get:✅ Behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at the new podcast✅ Entry into our private launch community✅ The chance to win some incredible giveaways

Today we're covering one of Josh's favorite topics this week on The Pantry Chat- soil! Come join Josh and Carolyn as we discuss prepping your soil for a fall garden. See you there!And hey, don't forget to get on the waitlist for the upcoming release of Carolyn's new Master Class on easy homemade dairy- https://www.schooloftraditionalskills.com/dairy-class-waitlist-sign-up~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MORE ABOUT US!WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our nine 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/HFWelcomeVideo Grow, 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-workshopFREE PDF DOWNLOADS:- Homesteading Family's Favorite Holiday Recipes - Grab all of our family’s favorite holiday recipes. https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-holiday-recipes- 5 Steps to a More Self-Sufficient Life - Simple steps anyone can take wherever they are to start a more self-sufficient lifestyle. https://homesteadingfamily.com/5StepsYT- Thrive Wellness Checklist - A simple guide for healthy living: https://homesteadingfamily.com/TWC_YT- Permaculture for Your Homestead- An introduction to permaculture with some strategies for applying it to one’s homestead and garden.https://homesteadingfamily.com/PFYH_YT- Carolyn’s Cottage Garden herb list - Carolyn’s favorite herbs for growing at home.https://homesteadingfamily.com/CGHL_YT- Carolyn’s Make-Ahead Breakfast Casseroles - These easy casseroles are a life-saver for busy weeks! https://homesteadingfamily.com/MABC_YT- Your FREE Guide to Preserving Eggs - Grab your guide to preserving eggs with multiple methods. https://homesteadingfamily.com/Eggs_YT- 5 Steps to a Healthy Garden - Get an explanation of what makes healthy soil and 5 steps you can take to improve your garden. https://homesteadingfamily.com/5StepsGardenYT- Save the Crumbs- Several Recipes for using bread leftovers, a less committal entry to bread than the workshop. https://homesteadingfamily.com/STC_YT- Fearless Fermenting- A simple guide on basic lacto-ferments. https://homesteadingfamily.com/FF_YT- Fermenting Tomatoes - Easiest and fastest tomato preservation: https://homesteadingfamily.com/FT_YT- Preserving Culinary Herbs - Downloadable, step-by-step directions to drying, freezing, and salting culinary herbs. https://homesteadingfamily.com/PCH_YT- Render Your Own Lard - Grab these easy instructions on how to render your own lard. https://homesteadingfamily.com/RYL_YT- Grandma Lynn's Blueberry Buckle - A delicious dessert anytime of year: https://homesteadingfamily.com/BB_YTYou are officially invited to be part of our brand-new Everyday Homesteading Podcast Launch Team. Yay!By joining, you’ll get:✅ Behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at the new podcast✅ Entry into our private launch community✅ The chance to win some incredible giveaways

If you’ve been wondering what to do with that constant overflow of kitchen and yard debris that’s left after cooking and pruning … this is the episode for you. In short, you need to compost!In this episode of Pantry Chat, Josh and Carolyn get down and dirty with a short tutorial on the art and science of easy home composting. Grab your shovel (and a cold lemonade), and listen in!In this Episode:Chit Chat: June is the “everything” month!A homesteader’s trick to having a happy marriageHow the pigs are helping the compost heapThe beginning of cheese productionThe dairy class is coming September 1st!How to pressure can beef stewThe first step in composting (not “wear boots”)What can and can’t be compostedA simple explanation of the science behind compostingHow much space you’ll need for compostingHow to build a simple composting spaceWhat italian food has to do with compostingGet yourself a composting thermometer (see link below)Composting and regional weather patternsThe basics of building beautiful compostResources:Sponsor: MadeOn Skincare (15% off with code: homesteading family!)How to Make Compost the Easy WayHow to Build a Compost SifterBackyard Compost Thermometer (affiliate link)You are officially invited to be part of our brand-new Everyday Homesteading Podcast Launch Team. Yay!By joining, you’ll get:✅ Behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at the new podcast✅ Entry into our private launch community✅ The chance to win some incredible giveaways

One of the most important aspects of a successful homestead is looking ahead. We’re constantly challenged by what needs to be done today, but with one eye fixed on what’s coming in the next few months as well. With a little planning, it doesn’t need to be overwhelming.In this episode of Pantry Chat, Josh and Carolyn get practical with an episode on preparing your pantry for the coming preserving season. If you need a break from weeding and milking, grab a cold lemonade, sit back, and listen in!In this Episode:Chit Chat: The Pantry Chat episode scheduleTheir new terrace garden areaGrowing good food closer to the kitchenEarly spring cropsGetting the main crop in and fighting Flea BeetlesA short composting updateFilming the upcoming Dairy Class!Which mixer makes better butter?Getting your pantry ready for preserving seasonThe art of cycling through food storesCleaning the pantry when it’s less filledMay: The month to “eat down” your pantryReusing canning jarsTaking note of what you ran out ofCleaning and organizing your food in the pantryWhat to do with the leftover lime water from egg storageIngredients for cleaning the pantryCorrect labeling of your pantry itemsChecking your preserving suppliesResources: Sponsor: BCS Two-wheel TractorsBosch MixerHow to Build a Compost SifterGarden Planning for Serious Food ProductionHow to Make Butter - 3 Easy Homemade MethodsWhere To Find Canning Supplies When There’s a ShortageYou are officially invited to be part of our brand-new Everyday Homesteading Podcast Launch Team. Yay!By joining, you’ll get:✅ Behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at the new podcast✅ Entry into our private launch community✅ The chance to win some incredible giveaways

Raising chickens has been a staple practice of homesteads large and small for thousands of years. Our beautiful birds give us so much, from scratching and fertilizing the ground as they move across the property, to delivering that perfect unit of food called the egg.In this episode of Pantry Chat, Josh and Carolyn dive deep into the art and science (and love) of egg-laying chickens. This is one of the topics they get the most questions about, so take a break from the garden for a bit and tune in to this mini masterclass on raising chickens for eggs!In this Episode:How they’re feeling as springtime gets into full swingTwo perfect springtime projectsThe particular vegetable Josh is doubling down onQuestion of the week: Can I can using an Instapot?What chicken breeds you should start withThe difference between meat breeds and egg-laying breedsWhy you shouldn’t try for dual purposes in breedsThe “high-production” egg-laying breedsChoosing the best chickens for your environmentWhere to buy quality chicks Should you incubate, buy chicks, or buy adult chickens?What a beginner should buyManaging the cost of raising chickensHow to take care of day-old chicksHow many eggs you can expect each dayChicken coops 101How much room your chickens will need to rangeThe importance of nesting boxes and the roostShould you let your chickens free-range?How to feed your chickens for maximum healthResources: Sponsor: MadeOn Skin Care (Use code “homesteadingfamily” for 15% off!)Video: Canning Safety 1015 Pressure Canning MistakesThe Abundant Pantry: CanningYou are officially invited to be part of our brand-new Everyday Homesteading Podcast Launch Team. Yay!By joining, you’ll get:✅ Behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at the new podcast✅ Entry into our private launch community✅ The chance to win some incredible giveaways

It’s time! It may not feel like it, depending on where you are in the world, but for Josh and Carolyn, it’s time to start making preparations for their early spring gardens. And of course, they’re here to share their thoughts on that with you ... In this episode of Pantry Chat, Josh and Carolyn get ready to bring the homestead around to spring, focusing specifically on getting early spring gardens growing in the ground!In this Episode:The whole side of beef incoming to their freezerGrinding pig fat down to 50 quarts of lardHow to extend your seasons and increase your harvestGetting seed started and working it into a new systemWhy the basement is not great for germinating seedsGetting hundreds of starts going in the kitchenWhy you want the most intensive projects as close to you as possibleThe long-term survival food benefits of freeze dryingTheir brand new cheese cave (cheese and dairy classes coming in September!)How to culture and use raw milk in butter makingThe challenge of growing zones and the last frost dateWhen to start thinking about planting out in the gardenA number of ways you can speed up the soil warming processThe standard varieties that are suited to early spring gardensThe most overlooked and easiest growing methodResources: When to Start Your Seeds IndoorsHarvest Right Freeze DryersAnatomy of Raw MilkHow to Make Homemade Butter (3 Ways)Clyde’s Garden PlannersHow to Use a Vegetable PlannerEliot Coleman5 Steps to Great Garden SoilYou are officially invited to be part of our brand-new Everyday Homesteading Podcast Launch Team. Yay!By joining, you’ll get:✅ Behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at the new podcast✅ Entry into our private launch community✅ The chance to win some incredible giveaways

Q and A sessions are always needed! Whether you’re brand new to homesteading or have been at it for years new twists and turns can pop up at any time or ALL the time. In this episode of Pantry Chat, Josh and Carolyn are ready for your questions! Listen in to hear the ins and outs of everything from creating a great garden to building the perfect homestead. In this Episode:Carolyn describes her book-reading habits.Josh and Carolyn share resources for brand new gardeners.Josh and Carolyn review best practices for gardening success.Josh and Carolyn provide advice for making easy bread (in just five minutes!)Josh and Carolyn discuss helpful tips for all types of pet gardening issues.Josh and Carolyn explain how they create salves and lotions.  Josh and Carolyn talk about the best age to start homesteading. Josh and Carolyn provide an overview of all of the differences in milk.Josh and Carolyn explain how to make butter. Josh answers a question on where you should place everything on your homestead. Carolyn describes how to use herbs in compresses. Josh and Carolyn give tips on the skills you need to be a homesteader.And so much more! You don’t want to miss this special Q & A. Resources: MadeOn skincare products (use code “homesteadingfamily” for 15% off your purchase)Stillroom Cookery - The Art of Preserving Foods NaturallyWhen to Start Your Seeds Indoors Greenstalk Vertical Planters (use code “homesteadingfamily” for $10 off your purchase)Easy Bread in 5 MinutesAnatomy of Raw Milk How to Make Homemade Butter (3 Ways)Dirt to Soil by Gabe BrownIntroduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison book Skills You Need to Start a HomesteadWhat to do First with your Homestead PropertyComfrey Compress You are officially invited to be part of our brand-new Everyday Homesteading Podcast Launch Team. Yay!By joining, you’ll get:✅ Behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at the new podcast✅ Entry into our private launch community✅ The chance to win some incredible giveaways

We’re already moving fast through 2021 and it’s time to start thinking about garden planning! How can you optimize the most amount of food possible from whatever space you have available? In this episode of Pantry Chat, Josh and Carolyn talk about food production right in your backyard. Whether you have a large amount of space or a small balcony the methods discussed will work great for you!In this Episode:Josh and Carolyn describe how their food storage is going this year. Josh and Carolyn share stories about their oldest son getting his driver’s license.Josh and Carolyn talk about the best time to buy garden seeds and poultry. Carolyn discusses the new cadence with Pantry Chat episodes.Josh and Carolyn are busy planning a dairy class to come out in the fall. Josh explains how and why to check the pH levels in your soil before you begin your gardening adventures. Josh and Carolyn review best practices for garden sunlight. Why being able to see your garden is important for long-term success.How to maximize your space by choosing the right type of beans. Protecting your garden against various critters. Carolyn references 5 Steps to a Healthy Garden. Josh and Carolyn discuss how to get creative using containers and container gardening no matter what size your space is.  Resources: MadeOn skincare products (use code “homesteadingfamily” for 15% off your purchase)5 Steps to a Healthy GardenGreenstalk Vertical Planters (use code “homesteadingfamily” for $10 off your purchase)Clyde's Planner (use code “homesteadingfamily.com” for 10% off your purchase)How to Grow More Vegetables by John JeavonsYou are officially invited to be part of our brand-new Everyday Homesteading Podcast Launch Team. Yay!By joining, you’ll get:✅ Behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at the new podcast✅ Entry into our private launch community✅ The chance to win some incredible giveaways

This year is over and that means it’s time to reflect! 2020 has been exhausting and stressful for many and the year at Riverbend was no exception.In this episode of Pantry Chat, Josh and Carolyn look back at their past year at Riverbend to discuss successes, failures, and accomplishments while hinting at what might be coming up in 2021.In this EpisodeJosh and Carolyn discuss the challenges of living in Idaho.Josh and Carolyn describe ice skating on the ponds and family fun at the New Year’s ice skating party this year. Josh and Carolyn answer whether they will ever get horses and how their dating story has a fun connection to horses.Josh talks about the four new people living at Riverbend.Carolyn reflects on planning and the importance of thinking ahead while also looking back.Carolyn is hosting a sourdough challenge on January 16th.  Join the waitlist now to have access to recipes right away!Josh and Carolyn talk about working on the property and all the surprises that have come along with their rehab efforts. To see why horse logging was so helpful with property fixes this year, watch this video.How grandma is doing sharing a bathroom with 10 kids and why the laundry room is challenging. Josh talks about producing compost and plans for next year with the compost. Should Josh make a video about his compost system?Carolyn talks about her favorite method of egg preservation. Learn more about liming eggs.The pros and cons and the success and failures of their garden, animals, food storage, as well as lessons learned. Resources: BCS Two Wheel TractorsSourdough Challenge WaitlistLogging with Horses on the HomesteadPreserving Eggs VideoYou are officially invited to be part of our brand-new Everyday Homesteading Podcast Launch Team. Yay!By joining, you’ll get:✅ Behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at the new podcast✅ Entry into our private launch community✅ The chance to win some incredible giveaways

Homesteading can be a great adventure, but it can also present its fair share of challenges and a whole lot of questions!   In this episode of Pantry Chat, Josh and Carolyn have fun trying to answer some of your questions on everything from pressure canning beef stew to best practices for storing ancient eggnog, how to select the right wood cookstove, and so much more! In this Episode:Josh and Carolyn are hard at work planning new content for 2021.  Carolyn is hosting a sourdough challenge on January 16th that will be inside the bread class, and there will be a best price of 2021 for people who want to join. More details are coming soon. Carolyn made 16 pies this year for Thanksgiving, and they finished them all off! Josh had a custom rack made for Carolyn to hold all of their cheese wheels, and in the interim, they used it to store all their pies for Thanksgiving. There’s an energy shift happening in the house due to the kids wanting to be more inside instead of out, and it requires a lot more time management for Carolyn. Josh cooked two medium-sized turkeys for Thanksgiving and had fun doing the rotisserie version, which he highly recommends!  Bud asks, “Is it OK to pour out some of the stored egg and alcohol mixture to make smaller batches of eggnog, then put the remaining mixture back into storage without ruining it?” For this season, was Josh able to create as much compost as he needed, or did he have to supplement it in other ways? Michelle asks, “Is there a way to take your pie pumpkins and turn them into a pumpkin spiced power that you can use in your coffee?”  Rachel asks, “Could you buy astragalus in a pill form to take daily to boost your immune system?” Josh recommends “Food, Inc” as an excellent documentary to motivate you to start raising your own meat or start looking for a local producer. “Indigestible” is another one on his watch list that he hasn’t seen yet.  SweetProtege asks, “If you have a rooster in the coop that has fertilized the other eggs, is it still safe to leave them on the counter, unwashed for weeks?”A FB user asks, “If I bought a wood cooking stove that was newly manufactured and properly maintained, how long should it last?”  What’s the best way to pressure can beef stew, and how many jars should it take?” (Blog post with a printable recipe is available here) For a refresh on the top mistakes people make with canning, watch this video. A FB user asks Josh, “How wide are your walking paths in the garden for laying down compost with the BCS tractor?” Betty asks, “When you pressure can the beef and veggies together do they get mushy, and what is the right cooking time for the stew?”  Resources: MadeOn skincare products (use code “homesteadingfamily” for 15% off your purchase)Top 5 Canning Mistakes VideoBeef stew canning instructions and recipe blog postFollow Homesteading Family on InstagramFollow Homesteading Family on FacebookYou are officially invited to be part of our brand-new Everyday Homesteading Podcast Launch Team. Yay!By joining, you’ll get:✅ Behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at the new podcast✅ Entry into our private launch community✅ The chance to win some incredible giveaways