Pioneering Today Podcast - Homesteading in a Modern World
Melissa K Norris
Pioneering Today is all about getting back to basics, simple living, and self-sufficiency with old-fashioned skills and wisdom in a modern world. With heirloom gardening, canning, preserving the harvest, from scratch cooking, raising your own food, including livestock (backyard chickens, pigs, and cattle), natural medicine, herbs, DIY like soap making along with living a simple self-sufficient life, no matter where you live. Hosted by 5th generation homesteader, Melissa K. Norris, author of The Made-from-Scratch Life. This podcast brings you the conversation from MelissaKNorris.com and The Pioneering Today Academy, with Q&A's, teaching, tutorials, and always giving you practical ways and tips to live the simple and self-sufficient life.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 20, 2023 • 52min
Losing Clover and Rebel's Birth Story
This might be the hardest podcast I've had to record. As many of you already know, we lost our dairy cow Clover after she delivered a beautiful bull calf (who we named Rebel). We still aren't certain of the cause of Clover's death, but the vet gave us some ideas. Though it doesn't make this homesteading life any easier, it's been nice to know I'm not alone in this journey. If you want to hear Clover's birth story and the events that transpired the last week of her life, then come listen to today's podcast episode. For the show notes and links, visit my website at https://melissaknorris.com/374.
Jan 13, 2023 • 47min
One Year of NO Internet With Rory Feek
Could you (or would you) go without the internet for an ENTIRE year? Rory Feek encourages us to look deeper at finding those connections with the faith, family and friends in our lives. If you were fortunate enough to be at the Homestead Festival last year, you know just how special these events can be. Connecting with homesteaders, making friends, learning new skills, and being inspired by like-minded people is incredible. It's for this reason that Rory took on a one-year challenge where he's completely unplugged for an entire year. To hear more about this, or for all of the show notes and links, visit my website at https://melissaknorris.com/373.
Dec 23, 2022 • 50min
Your Questions Answered Part #4 - Ask Me Anything!
Welcome to part four of my four part series where I'm answering YOUR questions! This week it's ask me anything! I'm answering all the remaining questions from my Instagram poll. I'm covering topics from how to get started homesteading, how to homestead while working a full-time job and raising children, what my favorite and least favorite homestead chores are, and what my favorite podcasts are! For all of the show notes and links, visit my website at https://melissaknorris.com/372.
Dec 16, 2022 • 29min
Your Questions Answered Part #3 Preserving (w/ BONUS Sourdough)
Welcome to part three of my four part series where I'm answering YOUR questions! This week it's all about preserving! From dehydrating, pressure canning, steam canning, and water bath canning, I'm covering all of your questions. I've even got some bonus sourdough tips on how to know if your starter has gone bad! For all of the show notes and links, visit my website at https://melissaknorris.com/371.
Dec 9, 2022 • 33min
Your Questions Answered Part #2 Livestock
A few weeks ago I took to social media and told you to ask me anything! This is the second of a four-part series where I'll be breaking those questions up into categories and answering your questions! Today's topic is all about livestock, more specifically, milk cows and chickens. From how to protect your flock, how Clover our milk cow is doing, and how I use up all our extra raw milk. For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/370.
Dec 2, 2022 • 33min
Your Questions Answered Part #1 Gardening
A few weeks ago I took to social media and told you to ask me anything! This is the first of a three or four part series where I'll be breaking those questions up into categories and answering your questions! Today's topic is all about gardening. We're talking about using greenhouses and high-tunnels, over-wintering herbs and strawberries, getting started with the easiest crops to grow and more. For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/369.
Nov 25, 2022 • 37min
Favorite Must Have Homestead Items
It's that time of year again when we're all searching for that perfect holiday gift for the ones we love. If you have a homesteader in your life (or someone who loves quality gifts), this is THE holiday gift guide for you, and I'm updating it this year with my newest favorite finds! You can think of this podcast like two friends sitting down chatting about their amazing deals. For all of the show notes and links to these great companies and products, visit https://melissaknorris.com/368.
Nov 17, 2022 • 45min
How to Find & Buy Land Beyond the Usual Routes
In this podcast episode, we're talking to land-buying expert Dave Denniston from Generation Family Properties. He's sharing all about purchasing land for on or off-grid living, ensuring a clean title and affordable options. If you've ever wanted to buy land, you may realize early on that it can be an intimidating process. Come listen to Dave's best tips on doing your due diligence when acquiring land. For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/367.
Nov 11, 2022 • 21min
What you don't know about the USDA & Canning Safety Rules
Let's talk about the truth behind the USDA in America and its home canning industry regulations and recommendations. The USDA has guidelines for each different food to preserve as well as for different canning methods. Food preservation safety is crucial to keep food from spoiling and people who eat it from getting sick. If food is not preserved correctly, it will spoil and, therefore, must be discarded. For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/366.
Nov 4, 2022 • 53min
The One Thing You Didn't Know Your Homestead Needed
Trust me when I say you're in for a treat with today's podcast. I'm chatting with Beth from Crowley House Flower Farm about how she earns a living doing what she loves… growing cut flowers. If you're thinking, "I don't need to grow cut flowers," or, "I already grow flowers in my garden, so this episode isn't for me," stick with me because, for decades, I didn't put time or effort into growing flowers. Then I started studying herbalism and quickly realized how certain flowers (that double as medicine) can actually help my vegetable garden as well. For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/365.
