Pantry Chat - Homesteading Family

You’ve grown and sourced some amazing food. Now you want to get it on your shelves and store it. One of the best ways to do that is with canning. Canning is becoming more popular than ever, thanks to its many benefits. So, how do you get started the right way? In this episode of Pantry Chat, Josh and Carolyn kick-off a brand-new series on preservation techniques with an introduction to canning. They cover the different types of canning and what foods they are good for, what equipment you should be using and why it’s so important to follow the rules and practice the right safety measures, especially when it comes to canning.   In this Episode:For the weekly update, Carolyn has done a bit of harvest scrambling due to the freezes this past week and they butchered about 135 birds (mostly chickens), netting almost 600 lbs of meat in their freezer. She explains how being more efficient as a family has helped them get this done even quicker this year. How did canning originate? Carolyn and Josh trace its history all the way back to Napoleon during the war, to the evolution of the Mason jar in the 1850s, to the development of the standard two-part lid in the 1950s that is used today.  What are the different methods of canning and why is each most effective for different types of food? Since canning is not a “natural” preservation method, there is a specific set of rules you need to follow and not just trust your intuition. Why is canning not called “jarring” or “bottling?”What are the two biggest fears that people have when it comes to canning and why they don’t need to worry. Can you use an Instant Pot electric pressure cooker for pressure canning? What are the differences between the types of canners and is one better than the other? Why it’s important to be practical and determine what foods you really need to be canning ahead of time.  Question of the week: what kind of backup generator do they own and what brand(s) do they recommend?  Resources: Canning Tutorial Video BCS Two Wheel Tractors Follow 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

Want to know what happens when you combine people, gardens, animals, and weather? A guarantee that things can and will go wrong when you least expect it!  During this episode of Pantry Chat Josh and Carolyn talk about a recent incident on their homestead and how it helped them identify problem areas in the preparedness plan and ways you can learn how to be better equipped when those unexpected moments on the homestead throw you a curveball.In this Episode:A major windstorm and two unexpected freezes caused some major problems for Josh and Carolyn this past week and the impacts it had on the harvesting and produce. How unexpected events can help identify gaps in your preparedness plan.How to take stock of the situation, pause, look for the positive, and learn to identify problems quickly to find the right solutions. Josh talks about how to create better efficiencies, especially when it comes to fuel reserves and mobile lighting. What was the one success story that came out of this incident? How to involve your kids to work together as a family when you’re faced with unexpected circumstances. Question of the week: Regarding tomato fermentation and vegetable preservation. Do you have to burp your jars? Resources: MadeOn skincare products (use code “homesteadingfamily” for 15% off your purchase) Follow 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

COVID-19, flu season, civil unrest, education disruption, supply and demand issues. There’s a lot of challenges, uncertainty and fear affecting everyone right now, including homesteaders, in real, new and unprecedented ways.What are the things you can do now to be able to move through this season with confidence and positivity? Josh and Carolyn talk through some of the ways they are dealing with these obstacles and the actions you can start taking today to be more prepared.  In this episode: Harvesting season is still in full swing for Carolyn and Josh continues to make progress on the new addition. Question of the week: Why don’t Josh and Carolyn keep bees?  COVID-19 + Flu season is coming and why it’s important to take care of yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually, now more than ever. The current challenges with supply and demand and what you need to be aware of as you’re planning ahead. Why it’s a good idea to start stocking up on future supplies, bulk items and monetary resources now. How the education disruption is affecting our children and the benefits of homeschooling to give them a consistent routine. The power of prayer and connecting with people in your own circle of influence to build resilience and stability. Remembering to take a break from the news and practice social distancing from fear and negativity.  How to create some simple moments with the family to encourage hope and happiness during this time.  Resources: BCS Two Wheel Tractors Follow 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

You’ve bought your new homesteading property and you’re ready to move in. But don’t go buy the cow just yet! There are some key things you need to check off your list so you can be better prepared as you start to settle in.  Josh and Carolyn talk about the mistakes they made when they first moved in and how setting a strategy, learning your environment and taking it slow can set you up for success on your new property. In this episode: How creating the right plan, thinking ahead and following these key steps will save you time, money and reduce stress. Why it’s important to spend time observing your property and learn as much as you can to be able to adjust over time. Why being a “prepper” is just as important as being a “homesteader.” What you need to do before you start your garden and bring on animals.What is permaculture and why is it important? Question of the week: Is butter made from clabbered milk considered a “fermented butter?” You can check out a butter making video Josh and Carolyn made on their YouTube channel. Harvesting season is in full swing and Carolyn is trying a new canning method called, “low-temperature pasteurization.” Resources: MadeOn skincare products (use code “homesteadingfamily” for 15% off your purchase) Follow 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

There’s a big movement happening right now with people who are looking to leave the city life behind and make the leap to the country but making the move too quickly without the proper planning and due diligence, can spell big problems for first-time homesteaders.  In this episode, Carolyn and Josh walk through the 8 essential things you need to look for when buying a homestead property. What are the deal-breakers and contingencies you need to consider before you commit to buying and how do you choose a property that will cater to your long-term needs and set you up for success and not regret? In this episode: Why are so many people making the move from the city to the country and how is this affecting the real estate market? What are the deal-breakers and negotiation points you need to consider when looking at a property?How choosing the wrong property can lead to a lot of unexpected costs and time away from actual homesteading. How to slow down and methodically choose the right place that fits your long-term needs, rather than reacting too quickly. How they wrapped up another successful county fair with some first-time wins. What are some of the practical uses for sheep, what types of breeds do they have and how hard are they to actually care for?  It’s green bean season and the joys of “snapping.”   To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit homesteadingfamily.com. Resources:MadeOn skincare products Follow 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

Josh and Carolyn debunk the most popular myths around what you really need to do to get started homesteading and share 16 essential skills you need to start mastering now before you can take it to the next level.   Creating a homesteading lifestyle doesn’t mean having to make a giant leap out to the country. Whether you’re in the suburbs or even a one-bedroom apartment in the city, you can start your homesteading journey today by applying these key principles and begin making the mindshift from a “consumer” to a “producer.” In this episode: What are the 16 essential skills you need to start mastering now to begin your homesteading journey? How to start with the small things so you can level up.  What do Josh and Carolyn believe is the heart of homesteading? Cucumber season has officially started and Carolyn has some new ways of how to keep pickles fresh. Why does Josh keep wearing hats?To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit homesteadingfamily.com Resources:BCS 2 wheel tractors Follow 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

Welcome to the first episode of Pantry Chat! Josh and Carolyn have taken their popular YouTube series and turned it into a podcast so you can get all your homesteading tips on the go.  If you’re new to the Homesteading Family, welcome! Josh and Carolyn were living the “normal” life, pursuing their careers and doing the daily commute in Los Angeles, while living in a tiny apartment with only a couple small herb gardens and some tomato plants. It didn’t take long for them to realize that they wanted a better life and more sustainability for their family after the birth of their first child. But they didn’t just make the move from the city to 40 acres in Idaho overnight. It was a process that took time for them to refine their homesteading skills and prepare them for each new season of their journey.  How did they do it and what are the things you need to consider when looking at making the shift to a homesteading lifestyle?  In this episode: Josh and Carolyn talk about why they made the move from the city to the country 18 years ago.  How they honed their homesteading skills in the early years. How to fill up the space you have now and be resourceful before moving on to something bigger. How to be strategic, ask the right questions and make the right decisions when starting to grow your own food.   What is clabbered milk and how can you reuse the cultures to speed up your process.To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit homesteadingfamily.com Resources:BCS 2 wheel tractors Follow 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

The Homesteading Family is taking their popular YouTube series, “Pantry Chat” and turning it into a podcast!  Now you can listen to it anytime, anywhere. Carolyn and Josh talk about their journey from the busy city to the country and why homesteading gave them a healthier, more sustainable life for their family. Now they’re inspiring and helping others to do it too. In this episode: Carolyn and Josh talk about how they got started in homesteading. Why they wanted to start a podcast.  What they are going to cover in upcoming episodes. The first season of the Pantry Chat Podcast starts August 16th Find it on the favorite podcast app by searching for “Pantry Chat.” 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