Living Free in Tennessee - Nicole Sauce

Today we're changing things up a bit and putting Tactical on the spot. If you were handed Basecamp Lodge and told to turn it into a functioning homestead, where would you start? We dig into infrastructure, food production, livestock, and why figuring out what you want your property to DO should come before piling on projects. We also take a side trip into Tactical's decision to quit smoking and what happens when an addiction becomes part of your identity. Sponsors The Wealthsteading Podcast — John Pugliano Discount Mylar Bags Home to Homestead Why we're changing up the weekly Homestead Happenings format What we learned about homestead living when the world stopped in 2020 Local networks, seasonal eating, and becoming less dependent on the grocery store Introducing Christopher — AKA Tactical Redneck What would Tactical do if Basecamp Lodge were his homestead? Why Basecamp isn't really a blank slate Assessing what is already there, what works, and what needs to go Three generations of water systems on the property Stabilizing existing infrastructure before adding new systems Finishing one major system before moving to the next Starting with functions instead of jumping straight into projects Sheep, poultry, and rabbits Easy-to-maintain food production Why Tactical would install an aquaponics system Growing meat and vegetables Supporting overnight guests, camping, classes, and small events Getting Tactical out of tactics and into strategy A Side Trip Into Quitting Smoking Tactical is quitting smoking after about two decades The difference between feeling like you're supposed to quit and actually deciding to quit Cutting nicotine instead of trying to flip a switch overnight Herbal alternatives and changing the physical habit Addiction, faith, and deciding something no longer belongs in your life The identity wrapped around an addiction Changing the things you tell yourself Removing the inputs that reinforce the identity you're trying to leave behind Back to Basecamp My vision for a productive two-acre homestead Food production, processing, and storage Living soil and returning surplus to the land Working with Mother Nature rather than against her Grazing animals, vegetables, and composting Redundant water and energy systems What happens when grid power or city water stops working? Flowers, beauty, and places to sit and reset Why a homestead should support happiness and pleasure, too Winter is coming: getting redundant heat in place The wood stove and getting the chimney ready Why the piano moved ahead of the wood stove on my priority list Making room for music, Christmas carols, and community Zone Zero before trying to build everything else Food storage and processing Composting kitchen scraps and building fertility Plans for a bioreactor build this fall Water backup and storage Planning the grounds for camping without rushing to build every garden Creating one peaceful place that doesn't constantly demand attention Why composting feels as basic as having a trash can once you've lived this way long enough Building the new podcast studio at Basecamp Homestead Updates Plumber Mickey is moving to Tennessee A sheep recovering from polio and loudly objecting to being separated from the flock Four four-wheelers, two currently running, and one working four-wheeler actually under our control Waiting on parts for another four-wheeler Soil & Microscopy Intensive The class is moving to a flexible date Put down your deposit at LivingFreeinTennessee.com Once we have ten people, we'll work with the group and instructors to choose two days that work Holler Roast Coffee HollerRoast.com Make it a Great Week!

We're a week late for First Tuesday Coffee, but Jack Spirko from The Survival Podcast, John Willis from Special Operations Equipment, and I are back for another round of conversation. This month we dig into what small business owners can do when sales slow down, why learning new things matters at every age, and how experience turns knowledge into wisdom. We also get into Starlink, government surveillance, raising capable kids, and a few rabbit trails along the way. Featured Event: Soil Microscopy Intensive with Alan Booker: https://livingfreeintennessee.com/product/soil/ Learn to use a microscope to understand what's living in your soil and how to improve it. The class is $465, with a $200 deposit to reserve your spot. We will choose the date together once ten people have signed up. LivingFreeinTennessee.com Today's Topics The mysterious morning rocket launch that had people wondering about aliens What to do when your business is down and the economy looks ugly John's approach to identifying and serving his best customers Using sales data, customer feedback, and social media to guide product development Why you should focus on what already works before chasing new ideas Finding opportunities in a changing economy instead of waiting for better times Testing new products before investing heavily in production Pricing your products to account for labor, materials, equipment, and overhead Amanda's soap business, subscription sales, and building a premium product Using your existing relationships and distribution channels to grow a business Business lessons from Henry Ford's My Life and Work John's fig trees and regenerative orchards The skills younger generations aren't learning and what we can do about it Learning new technology through experimentation, including AI and NotebookLM Why challenging yourself and surrounding yourself with capable people matters Knowledge versus wisdom: Why experience and failure are necessary Open-ended toys, outdoor play, and teaching kids to solve problems Learning to say no Starlink internet, mobile connectivity, and the coming changes to cell service Interest rates, savings, Bitcoin, and the difference between price and market value Why your website needs to work for mobile customers Flock cameras, surveillance, and tracking publicly funded vehicles Safety regulations, personal responsibility, and unintended consequences Gen X childhood, bicycle ramps, trampolines, and learning from mistakes Resources The Survival Podcast — Jack Spirko Jack Spirko's Laws of Life, Books 1 and 2 My Life and Work — Henry Ford Special Operations Equipment — John Willis Living Free in Tennessee — Soil Microscopy Intensive with Alan Booker Holler Roast Coffee — Start your day with a great cup of coffee Make it a Great Week!

Today, we will discuss the Home to Homestead project I have started at the Basecamp Lodge and how a single email from a friend has changed everything. We will also cover our usual segments Tales From The Prepper Pantry, Operation Independence and More. Sign Up for the Soil Microscopy Intensive Here: LivingFreeinTennessee.com Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Sponsor 2: StrongRootsResources.com Tales From The Prepper Pantry Canned goods bookshelf update Relocation impact on the pantry Thoughts on food shortages and creating your food and supplies "bank account Jerusalem Artichokes - what to do with them at this time of year Operation Independence Holler Roast Update From Mickey As to installing your chimney liner, sometimes there will be mortar clumps hanging inside that it can get caught on. The best method I've used for this is to duct tape a clothesline to end of liner with about 6" of rope sticking up, then loop that back down and put on another layer of duct tape to help keep rope from pulling off. On other end of rope drill a hole through a tennis ball and insert rope through it then tie knot on other end. This gives the rope enough weight to go down chimney while the ball is soft enough to not damage chimney crock. Then one person on roof guiding liner down, while another person inside guides liner with the rope to keep it from hanging up. Often a mirror from underneath helps in guiding liner down so you don't have to try to get your head in chimney. For the hard water, it's already filled with minerals and therefore raises specific gravity. Since water does have a saturation point relative to its specific gravity you can dissolve your soap in a jar of warm water. Shake well or stir. Allow it to settle for about 10 minutes then pour through a sieve, or gently pour out without spilling settled solids. Once you discover the actual amount of soap your water will completely dissolve you'll then know how much to safely add to a load, based on how much dissolves in a known quantity and multiply it out to how much water your machine adds per load. That's the hard part, is figuring out how much water is in a load for your machine. This got me to thinking about our community and the vast amount of knowledge we have housed among us on the Facebook group and Telegram group. Sometimes I feel like I might be boring you all with some of the things we do here because we live fairly differently than most modern world things. So let's talk crowdsourcing homestead systems... I started out wanting to build a repository of homesteading skills. What I ended up building was a community of people who know how to do things. And that's far more useful. So let's end with this recipe thought: The best pork chops >Coffee, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic, salt and pepper Sous vide at 155 But cook with what you have yo. And really the bigger conversation to have here is this - what are YOU really good at? Have you shared it with the community? Make It A Great Week!

Today we have our First Tuesday Coffee with John Willis of Special Operations Equipment, Jack Spirko of The Survival Podcast, and Nicole Sauce of Living Free in Tennessee. As usual, we wander through business, preparedness, current events, building your life, and whatever else comes up over coffee. Upcoming Events Soil & Microscopy Intensive – October 2 & 3 Alan Booker, Chase Jones and Nicole Sauce at Holler Homestead https://livingfreeintennessee.com/event/soil-and-microscopy-intensive/ SOE Party – October 10 Free to attend and free to vend. RSVP so John knows how much food and how many porta potties to get. https://SOETacticalGear.com The Survival Podcast Fall Workshop – November Registration opens September 19 at 9 AM Central and usually sells out FAST. https://TheSurvivalPodcast.com Topics Covered Remembering Dolly Parton and the difference between genuine people and fake media Tight budgets, layoffs and making yourself useful Stop underpricing your work Entrepreneurship, employment and preparing for a changing job market Housing costs, building codes and why modern houses suck Mold, drywall and healthier building Beef imports, wild horses and doing the math on internet conspiracies Government overreach, census takers, game wardens and learning to say no Build something instead of letting doom invade your life Family, kids and personal responsibility Generators, fuel, critical-load solar and actually testing your preps Harbor Freight, battery adapters and inexpensive tools that work Shipping, Amazon, Walmart and what your time is actually worth Upsells, customer value and lessons from companies that are really good at getting your money Connect With Today's Hosts TheSurvivalPodcast.com SOETacticalGear.com LivingFreeinTennessee.com Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Make it a Great Week

Today we're talking about what it really looks like to go from a home to a homestead, and I get to answer a question I've been asked for years in real time: If I had it all to do over again, what would I do differently? LFTN Stocking Exchange Reminder that the LFTN Stocking Exchange is coming up. Get it on your radar! Featured Event: Soil Microscopy Class Soil and Microscopy Intensive Learn to look at what is actually happening in your soil and better understand the biology that makes healthy soil work. LivingFreeInTennessee.com Sponsors Above Phone AbovePhone.com Strong Roots Resources StrongRootsResources.com Tales from the Prepper Pantry Building new shelves Consolidating freezer fat Meatloaf is the big project of the week Processed all peppers for salsa futures Frugality Tip: 100% Cotton Throws Buy a cotton blanket at Aldi for $15 Sew it in half and you get two throws for the price of one No unnatural plastic yuck in your throws Operation Independence SRF sponsorship has really come through! Holler Roast is up 20% since the weeks of the fair Thanks, y'all! Main Topic: From Home To Homestead One of the questions I get when on panels and suck is "If you had it to do all over again, how would you build your homestead?" Or "What are the 2 or 3 biggest mistakes you made early on in building your homestead?" As homestead advising types we tend to tell people to build things one at a time and go slowly so that you can get your systems working. Or we say get a permaculture plan in place first. Or we have more practical advice like infrastructure before livestock, get your zone 0 in place before you do anything else, etc All these things are true and not true at the same time What is homesteading? The eternal question, more controversial than what is off grid? (Reminds me of the how libertarian are you arguments) Homestead Where You Are Is land required? Mindset change Ongoing learning Then came the question: If you had it all to fro over again Holler Hub being developed for a year with Basecamp Lodge as the event center Fighting a type one error at the Holler Homestead where I live Acceleration of the challenges this year, remediation, health impacts, processing past grief and letting things go that hold you back (Resentment episode) So if I had it to do all over again, how would I build my homestead differently? That is a question you can't really answer unless you are doing it The opportunity The reality: move, brought almost nothing with me, sourcing all new personal items as well as transforming basecamp into a homestead that can accommodate events AND serve as a live learning model for others who want an immersive experience in growing food and health living Pros: I own the property and home Its got good bones I have the experience and connections to do this right We are already set up with a basement classroom and open concept kitchen that works great for teaching I have income streams developed I am really good at "If I cannot do x then what CAN I do? Cons: this is a normal house not a home set up to accommodate pantry, power outages, processing animals and food, gardening, etc. (Now fuel efficient) I come to this without the funds to do it in my personal checking account I am still encumbered by past messes (although fewer) that I have made for. Myself This will be very much like when I was younger on the homestead and was just starting out, only I am not, in fact younger :D Plastics So how will we start? The assessment is this week. What have we got? What do we need? How will we navigate what to do first? This may become the constant topic of the podcast or a segment - I don't really know, But it is the BUILDING of the Holler Hub in real time and I am excited to finally answer the question for real - what would you do if you had it all to do over again? I guess we will find out. But one thing is true - the one most important part of homesteading that you can never let languish - BE FEARLESS.

Today, I will cover our usual segments as well as Last week, a listener asked a question that led us on an adventure about how to let go of the clutter in your life that are things you may not be things you LOVE but you love the person or memory that they trigger discuss what to do when all your green beans get ripe at the same time. Spoiler: You handle too many green beans much differently than too many tomatoes. Featured Event:Farm to Table Experience on September 19th at 1pm at the Holler Homestead in Lancaster, TN. $115 https://livingfreeintennessee.com/event/farm-to-table/ Sponsor 1: The Wealthsteading Podcast https://wealthsteading.com/ Sponsor 2: Strong Roots Resources: https://strongrootsresources.com/ Tales From The Prepper Pantry Green bean update 53 Smoked butts Schnitzel Saves the Day Shelving Idea for Basecamp Classroom Frugality Tip Most of us have tile somewhere in our house, and I have tried all kinds of things to get the grout lines clean. I personally have spent lots of money on a variety of cleaners. Well here you go: grab some peroxide and a toothbrush and prepare to be as amazed as I was. The grout looks brand new. So stop trying all of these weird chemicals that don't actually clean anything and go back to the basics. Operation Independence Duplex Update Summer Time brings me memories of lazy days at the family pool, mom in the kitchen processing food or in the garden tending things. Picking strawberries at 4 in the morning, then getting home by 3 or 4 to shower and do it all over again. It was lazy but not lazy. There was always a sense of go with the flow in the summer where I grew up. And back then, a kid could still earn pocket money in the fields. Sometimes I miss that life, but it was also work. And perhaps that is why I find it fun to do the garden work or the canning work. Once again, I got the call every homesteader wants to get: Hey do you want all the green beans in one of my rows? I have too many. And it was hot, I had just spent 2 days painting and only had a single day to prepare for a Saturday event here. So I said. YES PLEASE! Last week we talked about how to process an abundance of tomatoes by basically NOT processing them. This week it is beans. Ways to preserve green beans Pickled Blanched and frozen Blanched and freeze dried Blanched and dehydrated Canned Timeline Canning and pickling Blanching and Freezing or drying Compost Pre-freezing green beans for canning still means you need to blanch them so - why bother? My Secret to processing so many beans in just 24 hours - it was either a bushel and a half or 2 bushels. Presto electric canner Tapping into the in-between times One Last Batch at night How the supplies are organized Cleanup in between batches so I could also cook meals In sum: Hard work but not really that hard Recipes with green beans Steamed or boiled, drained, butter and spiced Pan seared Roasted Green Bean Salads Green bean eggy saute Make it a great week.

Today we talk about purging the sentimental stuff, from ball gowns and family heirlooms to someday projects that never seem to get done. How do you decide what stays, what goes, and how do you let go of things that carry memories without feeling guilty about it? Featured Event Homemade Condiments: The Secret Is in the Sauce Holler Homestead • $75 Learn how to make mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup and homemade salad dressing from scratch, including what I've learned from failing mayonnaise, mushroom ketchup, and how to build your own salad dressing flavor profiles. LivingFreeInTennessee.com/event/condiments Sponsors Strong Roots Resources StrongRootsResources.com Agorist Tax Advice AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Tales from the Prepper Pantry 49 jars of green beans put up, with four more jars worth coming out of the garden Using the Presto electric pressure canner alongside the regular pressure canner to get more done Purging old food from the pantry that we simply don't eat anymore Cooking with what we grow: squash, pork, homemade tomato sauce, herbs, garlic and onions What regenerative soil does for the flavor and nutrition of the food we grow Getting a "second flush" of cream by letting the raw milk sit longer before skimming Frugality Tip It's clearance season for gardening and summer supplies Look for deals on hoses, sprinklers, connectors, grills, pools and plants Back-to-school season also means deals on office supplies Stocking up on good journals while prices are low Operation Independence Picking a huge batch of green beans from Trippy Acres Main Topic: Purging the Sentimental How sentimental stuff quietly turns your home into storage for decisions you don't want to make Why grief can turn us into repositories for family heirlooms nobody else wants to deal with Stuff begets more stuff: once you're the person who says yes, everyone knows where to send the family heirlooms The ball gowns I loved, wore, no longer fit into and finally decided to let go Giving the original giver the right of refusal when something may still matter to them Being grateful for a gift does not mean you have to store it forever Letting go of useful things that are no longer the right things Why keeping the old thing until you replace it can leave you surrounded by worn-out shoes, furniture and other junk Getting rid of something can force you to finally find the solution you actually want Looking at what you want to do in a space before deciding what deserves to stay there Why boxes of old technology, cables and unused cameras are keeping me from having my sewing table If something can easily be replaced for $20–$50 and you haven't used it, consider letting it go Trusting that you can get what you need when you actually need it Keeping things because Grandpa or Grandma made them, even when you don't particularly like them Taking a picture when you want to preserve the memory without preserving the object Choosing the sentimental things you genuinely love instead of keeping every sentimental thing Keeping Grandpa's ironwood roadrunner instead of every object he made Vintage clothing, family glassware, quilts and other inherited things that carry emotional weight If another relative will be upset when you get rid of something, give them the opportunity to take it Don't transfer your guilt by forcing sentimental things onto someone else How physical clutter, financial clutter, paper clutter and mental clutter feed one another Clearing things out has created more than physical space—it has created space in my brain and in my day Making room for the things I actually want to do: swimming, singing, playing piano and writing songs Getting rid of the someday projects The broken chair you're someday going to repair The supplies you bought for a project six months ago and still haven't used Buying supplies for the project you're actually going to do now instead of the one you might someday do The emotionally difficult someday projects, including an embroidered pillow cover my grandmother intended for a baby I never had Either do the thing or make a decision about the thing—don't let it live forever in a someday pile Why centering your identity in old memorabilia can keep you looking backward instead of building your future You can appreciate the memories without allowing the objects attached to them to control your space It's okay to be ruthless Keep the things that genuinely matter. Preserve a picture when that's enough. Give things to people who actually want them. Then move forward. Reference Links Living Free in Tennessee LivingFreeInTennessee.com Holler Roast Coffee HollerRoast.com Make It A Great Week!

Today I am joined by the Tactical Redneck for our weekly update from Holler Homestead. We catch up on what's been happening around the farm, share an upcoming class at Basecamp Lodge, answer listener questions, and spend most of the episode talking about fencing. We cover the pressure-tested fencing supplies we've come to trust, the lessons we've learned after building miles of fence in rocky Tennessee soil, and the skills that actually make someone an asset when it's time to build infrastructure on the homestead. Featured Event Homemade Condiments Class Friday, August 22 • Holler Homestead Learn to make your own mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, salad dressings, and more. You'll taste a variety of recipes and head home with a homemade dressing you make in class. $75 https://livingfreeintennessee.com/event/condiments/ Sponsors Strong Roots Resources https://StrongRootsResources.com The Wealthsteading Podcast https://InvestableWealth.com Topics Covered Updates from Holler Homestead Nashville duplex project and staging it for sale Announcing the Homemade Condiments Class at Basecamp Lodge: https://livingfreeintennessee.com/event/condiments/ Combining FAMACHA scoring with routine flock maintenance Why rotational grazing becomes more challenging with four flocks A deep dive into electric fencing on rocky and hilly Tennessee ground Lessons learned from building and rebuilding fence The pressure-tested fencing products and brands we've come to trust Where it's worth spending money on fencing supplies The tools that make fencing faster and more reliable The skills that make someone genuinely valuable on a fencing crew Why careful planning saves far more time than hard work alone Building better homestead systems instead of repeating the same mistakes Reference Links Strong Roots Resources https://StrongRootsResources.com The Wealthsteading Podcast https://InvestableWealth.com Holler Roast Coffee https://HollerRoast.com THE FENCING SUPPLIES LIST FROM TACTICAL Recommend Companies American Grazing Lands https://www.americangrazinglands.com Farm Fence Solutions https://www.shopfarmfencesolutions.com Power Flex Fence https://powerflexfence.com Premier 1 https://www.premier1supplies.com Geared Reels O'Briens https://powerflexfence.com/collections/reels/products/ogr-obrien-gear-reel Speedrite https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/speedrite-geared-reel?cat_id=49 Strainrite https://www.shopfarmfencesolutions.com/31-geared-wheel-27897645.html Taragate https://www.americangrazinglands.com/collections/portable-fencing-supplies/products/taragate-geared-reel Gallagher https://powerflexfence.com/collections/reels/products/gallagher-reel-standard-1320 Wire and Jumper Wire Poly Wire Powerflex Fence - 1/2 Mile - 2640ft Super 9 PolyBraid https://www.americangrazinglands.com/collections/portable-fencing-supplies/products/polybraid-mixed-metals-6-stainless-3-tin-copper-strands-2640 Jumper Wire https://www.americangrazinglands.com/collections/portable-fencing-supplies/products/jumper-lead Step In Post Strainrite - Multi Wire Tread In Post https://www.shopfarmfencesolutions.com/multi-wire-tread-in-post-pk-10.html Steel Post, Multiwire Tread In https://www.shopfarmfencesolutions.com/steel-post-multiwire-tread-in-pk-10.html O'Brien Tredaline Post - White https://powerflexfence.com/collections/fence-posts/products/obtp-white-obrien-tredaline-post-white FenceGard Tread -In Post, White https://powerflexfence.com/collections/fence-posts/products/powertredin-post-white-box-50 Fence Charger 110 - Cyclops Super, 12 Joule, 110V AC Powered Energizer https://cyclopsfence.com/collections/ac-mains-powered-energizers/products/cyclops-super-12-joule-110v-ac-powered-energizer 12V - Cyclops Super, 12 Joule, DC Battery Powered Energizer https://cyclopsfence.com/collections/battery-powered-energizers/products/cyclops-super-12-joule-200-acre-12v-dc-battery-powered-energizer Fence Tester Speedrite Digital Fault Finder ST100 https://cyclopsfence.com/collections/fence-testers/products/speedrite-digital-fault-finder-st100-free-usa-shipping Insolaters 2" Offset Screw-In Ring Insulator (Pack of 25) https://www.americangrazinglands.com/collections/insulators/products/2-offset-screw-in-ring-insulator 6" Offset Screw-In Ring Insulator https://www.americangrazinglands.com/collections/insulators/products/6-offset-screw-in-ring-insulator XL Ring Offset Insulator 6" https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/xl-ring-offset-insulator?cat_id=46 Make It A Great Week!

Today, I want to talk to you about navigating homestead abundance when it feels like everything is happening at once: planting for fall, processing an abundant tomato harvest, livestock needing extra support in the heat, and personal things ramping up in the background. But mostly, today is about 120 pounds of tomatoes that appeared here yesterday during a week when I won't be around. We will also cover our usual Tuesday segments. Featured Event The Art of Containment: Practical Livestock Fencing, August 8th at 10am at the Holler Homestead in Lancaster, TN. Tickets ar $50, grab yours here All Holler Homestead Events: https://livingfreeintennessee.com/events/ Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Tales From The Prepper Pantry 120 Pounds of Tomatoes Peaches: Final Harvest ¼ bushel of green beans off 5 plants Time to plant the fall garden if you have not - for real, it is time! Moving from paper goods to washables where it makes sense Frugality Tip Say yes, but lean on community Operation Independence Seeking Farm Sponsors for our Farm To Table Dinner in September - how that works. Tomatoes All At Once Geraldines Story from A is For Cod-Wada: https://www.amazon.com/coda-wada-Geraldine-Duncann/dp/B0006YH9M2 THE MOMENT EVERY HOMESTEADER WAITS FOR: Michelle from Trippy Acres has too many tomatoes this is the day EVERY homesteader waits for - the moment someone says, can you take all this (WHATEVER) off my hands - and that whatever is a thing you love. Adjusted Monday schedule to harvest Admitted I wasnt processing last night to maintain health, but kept them all cool where? In my livingroom on a fold out table Processed them today - 120 pounds or so of tomatoes. A FAMILIAR RHYTHM: SORT - CUT - FREEZE - REPEAT GOAL is not homestead processing perfection, it is food spoilage stabilization. Works well post freezer: canned sauce, ketchup, salsa, stewed, freeze dried Must happen from fresh: Sundried, fresh Partial processing now helps future winter canning flow well Core and cut smaller to make it easier to process later as sauce Skins come off easily after freezing for stewed but before thawing, so store tomatoes you plan to skin as a single layer and only cored, not sliced smaller Dice the tomatoes you want for salsa in salsa batch sizes so that you can pull tomatoes for salsa straight from the freezer into the salsa pot Reducing sauce without heat by freezing and canned tomato water Keep Heat Outside Dehydrate and crockpot reduce sauces outside under cover (assuming you don't have a bear problem) to save adding heat inside Freezing for winter canning lets you heat the house int he winter while processing your tomatoes - win-win Prioritize ripest tomatoes first and set aside underripe ones to ripen as you go Favorite Tomato recipes Canned Salsa (Scaled for how many peppers I have) Fresh tomato Basil Soup (Make it and freeze for winter) Tomato Cucumber Salad Fresh Tomato and Meat Sauce Sliced Tomato with, salt and pepper, basil and a balsamic reduction Dried tomato in olive oil and garlic Freeze dried tomato powder Canned tomato sauce Canned stewed tomatoes if I am in a hurry Tomato cheese fry pies One of the things that can be hard to communicate to people about living a homesteaders lifestyle is that you will have times where everything seems to be happening at once. Like for me right now: I need to be in Nashville for a few days managing my rental property, my mobility is coming back so I am working on a backlog from my injury and also setting a foundation for a fall garden, the livestock does best when they are handled daily even though they can sort of go on auto pilot. We just finished a large peach harvest, there are saturday farmers markets to do, our events are happing every other week or so, and then, 120 pounds of tomatoes appeared. You build the skills over years on a homestead to tap into something like this and run with it. I used to drop everything for days to do projects like this and that is how I learned a better way. One that preserves the food while preserving the reason I am on the homestead: to live in concert with nature, build abundance from the land, and enjoy the beauty of this place. So if you are new to homesteading, it may feel like lots of pressure at this time of year with the pest pressure, the weeds and the harvest, but it doesn't have to be. And being frantic all the time isn't why you are doing this, is it? Make It A Great Week

iTUNES was running audio as empty so I am reposting this for folks on iTunes and iTunes connected podcatchers. XOXO Today we will discuss my personal ways of letting go of resentment, a question posed by one of our long-time community members toward the end of the show I did with Joel Ryals. That question is a longer answer than something flip like, "I go for a run." In addition to this topic, we will cover my usual weekly segments. Featured Event: FENCING CLASS YO - The Art of Containment: Practical Livestock Fencing, August - get tickets here. Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Sponsor 2: StrongRootsResources.com LFTN Stocking Exchange Announcement https://livingfreeintennessee.com/2026/07/21/lftn-stocking-exchange/ Tales From The Prepper Pantry Seeking Green Beans For Canning Meal Planning With Visitors Peach Pie Filling And Sliced Peaches Simplification Is Working Well Drying and Putting Up Herbs Freeze Dryer/ Temperature Matters Frugality Tip Why Be Frugal and What Does That Mean FD Hiker Meal (Meatballs) Operation Independence Farmers Market Update and the Network Effect Main Topic of Today's Show: Letting Go Of Resentment Make it a Great Week!

Today I am joined by the Tactical Redneck for our weekly update from the Holler Homestead: managing MORE injuries and Airbnb turnovers, infrastructure improvements, upcoming events, and lessons learned from trying to build a sustainable homestead and community at the same time. Sponsors InvestablyWealth.com – The Wealthsteading Podcast with John Pugliano StrongRootsResources.com SHOUT OUT OrchardHouseCreamery.com Both Tactical and I are dealing with injuries and learning to adjust how we work. Getting Basecamp Lodge turned over for Airbnb guests while staying on top of the homestead. The "Peeping Tom Ladder" story. Why cleaning up after events and projects has become a bigger priority. Using Airbnb income to help support Basecamp while building out the broader Holler Homestead vision. Working toward systems that require less emergency effort. Updates on peaches and what's happening around the orchard. Upcoming fencing class, farm tours, and other events. Improvements underway around the pond and property. Why finishing projects completely matters more than starting new ones Building systems that are sustainable when life happens. What injuries reveal about weak spots in your homestead systems. Why relying on heroics eventually catches up with you. Learning to prioritize infrastructure over constant reaction. Creating processes that continue to work even when you're not at 100%. The importance of finishing one project before creating three more. Growing community while also protecting your own capacity. Make It A Great Week!

Today I am joined by Joel Ryals from FortressK9 to discuss AI, protection dogs and dog training, cast iron cookware, homestead gatherings, and Joel's brand-new book. The conversation takes a few unexpected turns, not unusual for Joel. Today's Sponsors DiscountMylarBags.com StrongRootsResources.com Show References FortressK9.com Topics covered The latest at the Ryals Homestead and Fortressk9 How to use AI in your business and why you should A special announcement about something you probably hadn't heard yet What makes a protection dog different from police, military, and sport dogs The process of self-publishing and getting a book ready for Amazon Homestead updates and upcoming community gatherings. A discussion about caring for cast iron cookware, seasoning, and restoring rusty pans.

What happens when a commitment to growing food, caring for livestock, and building a life closer to the land becomes part of your daily routine? In this episode, I sit down with Mary Davis of Laughlin Highlands Farm to discuss the connection between homesteading and health. Mary shares her experiences building a farm-based lifestyle, the lessons learned along the way, and how working with the land has influenced her physical health, mental outlook, and overall quality of life. We also explore the realities of homestead living, the challenges that come with it, and why more people are looking for practical ways to take ownership of their food, health, and future. SPONSORS Agorist Tax Advice Save money, stay compliant, and get strategic tax guidance designed for entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and freedom-minded business owners. https://agoristtaxadvice.com/LFTN Strong Roots Resources Practical resources and preparedness products for people building greater self-reliance. https://strongrootsresources.com In This Episode Mary's journey into homesteading How farm life has impacted her health and well-being The physical and mental benefits of working with the land Challenges and rewards of raising food and livestock Building resilience through practical skills Creating a lifestyle that supports long-term health Lessons learned from years of homestead experience Advice for people who want to get started Resources Laughlin Highlands Farm: https://www.laughlinhighlandsfarm.com/ Mary Davis on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@laughlinhighlandsfarm Living Free in Tennessee: https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/ Holler Roast Coffee: https://www.hollerroast.com/ Support the Show If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a review. Every share helps more people discover practical ways to build a life they choose. Make It A Great Week.