Pantry Chat - Homesteading Family

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 JeavonsHow would you like to come get a personal farm tour from me and Josh? Every year, we invite a small group of people to our homestead for a tour, and when you grab your tickets you get an exclusive invite to our private farm-to-table dinner! This year's event is coming up on July 25th, but we only have a few tickets left. Go ahead right now and save your spot!

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 VideoHow would you like to come get a personal farm tour from me and Josh? Every year, we invite a small group of people to our homestead for a tour, and when you grab your tickets you get an exclusive invite to our private farm-to-table dinner! This year's event is coming up on July 25th, but we only have a few tickets left. Go ahead right now and save your spot!

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 InstagramHow would you like to come get a personal farm tour from me and Josh? Every year, we invite a small group of people to our homestead for a tour, and when you grab your tickets you get an exclusive invite to our private farm-to-table dinner! This year's event is coming up on July 25th, but we only have a few tickets left. Go ahead right now and save your spot!

You’re going week to week buying groceries and spending way too much money…There has to be a better way, and there is! Buying in bulk and storing it!   But before you make the transition to being a bulk-buying homesteader, there are some basic rules you need to follow. Josh and Carolyn continue their series on food storage with some helpful strategies you can start putting in place now to grow your long-term food storage supply. In this Episode:Carolyn is using lots of leftover pumpkins. Pumpkin spiced leather with maple syrup recipe coming soon.  Josh and Carolyn bought new baby chickens and explain why it’s actually a good time to be buying new chicks to be able to maximize your egg production in the spring. Carolyn talks about her “famous” Colonel Littleton journal of recipes and special secrets that she one day hopes to publish. Shout out to Michelle of “Chocolate Box Cottage” who is their moderator, and also a master gardener, preserver and nutritionist who just launched her new YouTube channel. Why if your kitchen strategy isn’t in place, the rest of your homestead won’t work. How buying in bulk can save you big bucks and time, and is a great skill for new homesteaders to develop. 4 key reasons why stocking up is a great idea. Why producing things yourself actually leads to less waste and energy. 5 rules you need to follow before you start stocking up on food items.Why it’s important for you to develop a “producer’s mindset.” The reason why you need to know the shelf-life of the products you’re buying in bulk.What are the 4 ways you can actually get started stocking up? Where to look and who to ask for reputable bulk-buying places and recommendations? How to make the right adjustments to your food budget so you can start buying in bulk. Resources:BCS Two Wheel TractorsFarmhouse Teas Colonel Littleton Leather Azure Standard Chocolate Box Cottage YouTube Channel - Please subscribe!Follow Homesteading Family on InstagramFollow Homesteading Family on FacebookHow would you like to come get a personal farm tour from me and Josh? Every year, we invite a small group of people to our homestead for a tour, and when you grab your tickets you get an exclusive invite to our private farm-to-table dinner! This year's event is coming up on July 25th, but we only have a few tickets left. Go ahead right now and save your spot!

Winter should be a time for rest, relaxation and reflection, so the last thing you want to be doing is scrambling around trying to manage your homestead through the snow and ice and frigid temperatures.  In this episode of the Pantry Chat, Josh provides three core strategies to help you take stock of your winter needs, be more efficient and save money to make the overall management of your homestead easier and more enjoyable during the season.    In this EpisodeWhy stocking up your barn should be very similar to stocking up your pantry. The process of moving from pasture to indoors and the steps you’ll need to take to ensure your animals have everything they need. Why going week to week is so much more costly. Why doing your research today is critical and a good place to start to determine how much feed you’ll actually need. How much feed does an average cow consume and other feeding rules of thumbs for livestock? How to determine how much you need to buy in bulk and the different ways you can save on delivery.  Why it’s a good idea to start keeping records of how much you’re buying and using. The importance of providing salt and minerals to keep your animals healthy during the winter months and why you need to determine what elements are lacking in your particular area. How to ensure your water supplies are adequate for your animals. Why the right bedding is so important for your barn and the benefits of using wood shavings over straw to manage the waste. Why your nose is a good indicator for determining how much bedding you need. What is “economy in motion” and does it matter where you put your feeders? Resources: MadeOn skin care products (use code “homesteadingfamily” for 15% off your purchase)Follow Homesteading Family on InstagramFollow Homesteading Family on FacebookHow would you like to come get a personal farm tour from me and Josh? Every year, we invite a small group of people to our homestead for a tour, and when you grab your tickets you get an exclusive invite to our private farm-to-table dinner! This year's event is coming up on July 25th, but we only have a few tickets left. Go ahead right now and save your spot!

Thanksgiving is almost here and that means food and lots of it! Prepping a big Thanksgiving feast can be challenging, but having a good strategy in place can make all the difference between being thankful or being stressed in the kitchen. In this episode of Pantry Chat, Josh and Carolyn share their own Thanksgiving menu, plus a few of their fun annual traditions, and some tips that can help you plan ahead to create a memorable and blessed holiday with your family. In this EpisodeGet some of Carolyn and Josh’s favorite holiday recipes as well as Carolyn’s “go-to” pie crust. Why is Thanksgiving Josh and Carolyn’s favorite holiday? Why is sharing and giving thanks so important during this time? What is “Mayflower Night” and some of the other family traditions that Carolyn and Josh have every Thanksgiving?  Why it’s OK to have pie for breakfast (Josh has a good reason!) What is on the menu for Thanksgiving this year at Josh and Carolyn’s house? Why you should write out your entire menu first and start by working backward?The importance of having extra butter on hand. What to plan for dinner for the night before and what is a good breakfast option for Thanksgiving morning? Why BYOD (bring your own dishes) is a great alternative for reducing waste. Find someone you can bless and invite them to dinner this year.   Question of the day: Annette asks, “do you have a preferred supplier for all your jars?” Resources: Favorite holiday recipes BCS Two Wheel TractorsFollow Homesteading Family on InstagramFollow Homesteading Family on FacebookHow would you like to come get a personal farm tour from me and Josh? Every year, we invite a small group of people to our homestead for a tour, and when you grab your tickets you get an exclusive invite to our private farm-to-table dinner! This year's event is coming up on July 25th, but we only have a few tickets left. Go ahead right now and save your spot!

You're incredibly busy! One of the things that shouldn’t be adding more stress to your day is trying to figure out how to make sure there are meals on the table for everybody.  In this episode of Pantry Chat, Carolyn talks about the strategies she uses to plan ahead for meals and the ways you can create your own system for saving your sanity and still having healthy, delicious meals ready for your family.   In this EpisodeThe wood cookstove is up and running and Carolyn is making meals on it and loving it. Carolyn is teaching the older kids how to sew with a personal goal of trying to get further away from buying “disposable” items.  What is Carolyn’s “secret weapon” for always having a hot breakfast? What is Carolyn’s strategy for creating simple lunches (Hint: It’s about big dinners) What is the typical dinner menu she creates and why is it so important to put all your energy into creating this meal? How to establish your own meal routine by identifying your current daily problem areas.  Why creating a meal plan is essential and why you should actually “plan to fail” What are Carolyn’s back-up meal options?  Watch the video on “15 Minute Pantry Meals” for more easy ideas. Free training on creating roasted tomato soup and other canned meal ideas. Why “producing your basics” should be part of your weekly routine and how you can actually make this a part of your kid’s chores.  What are the essentials you should always keep stocked and why they should always be included as part of your regular maintenance schedule?   What are some other good “grab and go” pantry meal options? Question of the week: Bethany asks for Carolyn’s insight about living life with such a large family and any advice or encouragement she can give to those parents with young kids and no older kids to help them out.   Resources: MadeOn skin care products (use code “homesteadingfamily” for 15% off your purchase)Meals on Your Shelf/Roasted Tomato Soup: https://www.schooloftraditionalskills...Breakfast Casseroles: https://www.schooloftraditionalskills...Canned Beans: https://youtu.be/HytQgxiYMyoCanning 15 Minute Pantry Meals: https://youtu.be/79rk6PCDcak20 Minute Meals (From Canned Food on the Shelf): https://youtu.be/T2w7rfboWEUCanning Stew: https://youtu.be/iwJ0c7pgahwHomemade Bone Broth: https://youtu.be/tBRi85_a8HQFollow Homesteading Family on InstagramFollow Homesteading Family on FacebookHow would you like to come get a personal farm tour from me and Josh? Every year, we invite a small group of people to our homestead for a tour, and when you grab your tickets you get an exclusive invite to our private farm-to-table dinner! This year's event is coming up on July 25th, but we only have a few tickets left. Go ahead right now and save your spot!

Supply and demand issues are impacting homesteaders everywhere, especially when it comes to finding quality canning supplies. The reality is that this problem is not going away anytime soon, so what can you do? In this episode of Pantry Chat, Josh and Carolyn present some creative solutions you can try as well as the practicality and safety issues you need to look out for when exploring these alternatives.In this Episode:Temps have gotten down to only 6 degrees already and sent Josh and Carolyn scrambling to get their final prep done for winter. Carolyn has completely finished the family clothing switch, which has saved them so much money. (Household management video series available as well for reference.)    Josh has been getting the hay and feed ready for winter and laying down compost for the spring planting, as well as helping some new baby chicks adjust to the colder temps.  Where did these supply and demand issues originate from and why are factories so behind now?  How you can utilize resources close to you, like small out of the way grocery stores and even hardware stores to find supplies, as well as the big box stores and online retailers. The pros and cons of buying manufactured lids from China on Amazon or other online retailers and why you need to be careful and do the right research. What are the sizes you need to look for regular mouth jars and wide-mouth jars? What are the safety protocols you should follow if you decide to reuse lids and why you should never store more than 2 years supply of reusable lids? (Do a refresh on the Top 5 Canning Mistakes Video).  What are one piece (one-part) lids and why the USDA recommends against using them and what you can do to get around this if you want to go this route? Other jar options like glass jars (spaghetti) that could work for canning alternatives and the 3 things you need to look out for. Is a water bath canner worth it right now?  What are some of the other preservation methods you can use to substitute for canning?  Why it’s smart to use your freezer and other storage options while you’re waiting for your supplies to arrive. Question of the week: DC asks on preparing your garden and soil for winter, can you use chicken manure, even if it is fresh, and allow it to stay until Spring (even if it’s for 6 months out?)  Resources: BCS Two Wheel Tractors Household Management Video Series Top 5 Canning Mistakes Video Follow Homesteading Family on InstagramFollow Homesteading Family on FacebookHow would you like to come get a personal farm tour from me and Josh? Every year, we invite a small group of people to our homestead for a tour, and when you grab your tickets you get an exclusive invite to our private farm-to-table dinner! This year's event is coming up on July 25th, but we only have a few tickets left. Go ahead right now and save your spot!

With supply and demand issues being so commonplace right now, it’s a smart move to have your reserves stocked up and ready to go so you feel more confident and secure as the colder weather approaches. In this episode of the Pantry Chat, Josh and Carolyn talk through the three main areas you need to focus on, as well as how to maximize your storage space when prepping your pantry for winter.  In this EpisodeCarolyn is getting ready for her “semi-annual clothing switch” which means getting out the kid’s winter clothes from storage and boxing up their summer wardrobe.  Carolyn is working on a beef stew canning video that will be coming out soon and is also prioritizing canning their own convenience meals for the winter.  Josh is in full-on winter prep finishing up with the root crops and has also created a video on how to plant garlic. Carolyn talks about the three main areas you need to focus on when stocking your pantry and the four top questions you need to answer.  The pros and cons of organizing your pantry by type (fruits, vegetables, etc) Josh also has a video on how to build shelving so you can maximize your space (link in Resources). Why it’s important to clean as you go and hand wash your jars if you encounter any issues when stocking.  What are those things in your pantry that will need continual maintenance? How to take inventory of what you have so you know what you’re missing.   Why it’s important now to determine what needs your family will have for the upcoming holiday season. Why it’s beneficial to buy directly from local producers and what you can negotiate with them.Why going to the big box chain stores should be your last option.  Making sure you stock up on medicines, herbs, supplements, and toiletries. Question of the day from Denise - As your root cellar stored food starts nearing the end of its shelf life, do you need to cook them right away or can you process them through canning?Resources: MadeOn skin care products (use code “homesteadingfamily” for 15% off your purchase)How to Design Your Own Custom Pantry Shelving How to Plant GarlicAzure Standard Food SupplyFollow Homesteading Family on InstagramFollow Homesteading Family on FacebookHow would you like to come get a personal farm tour from me and Josh? Every year, we invite a small group of people to our homestead for a tour, and when you grab your tickets you get an exclusive invite to our private farm-to-table dinner! This year's event is coming up on July 25th, but we only have a few tickets left. Go ahead right now and save your spot!

Frigid temperatures, along with ice, and snow can present a ton of challenges for homesteaders and it’s even worse when you haven’t planned ahead to be ready when mother nature strikes.  In this episode of Pantry Chat, Josh and Carolyn talk through the 7 basic areas you need to focus on in order to get prepared for winter on the homestead.  In this EpisodeCarolyn has been making a lot of cheddar cheese while Josh has been getting stores of firewood ready and prepping the garden for winter. (Tutorial on garden prepping available in the resources section.) Why it’s important for you to slowly build your skillset over time and try not to add too many skills at once. If you have animals, why you need to have windbreaks, trees, or something to make sure they are protected. What do you need to look for when designing your pump system so you can continue to supply water to your house and animals in the event of bad weather?  What are the alternatives and backup options you can use for heat in the event of a power outage and why a wood-burning stove is a must-have? The importance of stocking up on bulk food, toiletries, and essentials now. Why having a couple of “grab and go” meals are good options to have on hand and what foods should they be. What backup sources do you need in the event of power outages and how do you hook them up? What are your backup power options if you live in the city? How to ensure you can still have adequate lighting in your house using battery backup power, rechargeable batteries, and LED options.   What are the basic medical supplies you should have on hand? What are the communication items you should have in case phone lines go down or there are satellite interruptions due to inclement weather?  Question of the day: Amanda W. asks Carolyn how do you keep your patience when your brain has to keep track of everything, especially when it comes to managing all your preserved food? Resources: BCS Two Wheel Tractors Prepping Your Garden for Winter Tutorial Follow Homesteading Family on InstagramFollow Homesteading Family on FacebookHow would you like to come get a personal farm tour from me and Josh? Every year, we invite a small group of people to our homestead for a tour, and when you grab your tickets you get an exclusive invite to our private farm-to-table dinner! This year's event is coming up on July 25th, but we only have a few tickets left. Go ahead right now and save your spot!