Plans and Provisions Homestead

When my family and I embarked on this incredible journey two years ago, we had no way of really knowing the challenges we would face as we got our feet under us in our new home. The first couple of years proved to be tougher than we imagined and we definitely looked to other, more established homesteaders for inspiration and encouragement. Knowing that others had gone through similar struggles and made it through helped us to keep our heads and fight through the early storms of our transition to homesteading In today’s episode, I’m happy to welcome back Greg Sweeton to the podcast. It was just over a year ago he was last on the show and in that episode, he shared the dramatic transition his family experienced as they left behind their fairly typical, suburban lifestyle. Now with over 4 years under their belt as homesteaders, I think it’s safe to say that these guys are the real deal and they have definitley been a big inspiration to me and my family. In our talk, Greg shares some of the challenges that led to his family’s decision to sell the small herd of cattle that they had started. We talk about our shared goal of establishing a suitable dual purpose chicken flock on our homesteads and his family’s experience with the Bielefelder breed. We get to hear about the success they’ve had raising pigs and Greg shares some exciting news about their homestead. PURCHASE SHEPHERD'S CROOK COFFEE: https://www.shepherdscrookcoffee.com/ SHEPHERD'S CROOK COFFEE INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/shepherdscrookcoffee/ TRUNORTH FARM INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/trunorthfarm/ SHOP AT AZURE STANDARD: https://www.plansandprovisions.com/azure

It's the first Friday of May so it's time for a quick update on everything going on around the homestead. Lot's of activity and lot's of new life around here and we're busy as we can be. Stay tuned for a new run of interview episodes with some amazing guests. Some you probably know and some you may not but will be glad to after hearing our discussions.

Many of us in the homesteading movement are making major life changes as we work toward a simpler, but not necessarily easier, way of life.  It takes great courage to step away from the security and familiarity of convention into a world that is, for many of us, unfamiliar.  The promise of a better life drives us into that new world and the challenges we face are met with the determination to truly live the dream we have for ourselves and our families. My guest today is someone who, three years ago, took that leap with his family into the world of homesteading.  Leaving behind a mainstream, suburban life and a couple of corporate careers, Greg Sweeton and his wife Laura stepped out to carve out a new way of living for their family.  They faced the new challenges of homestead living head on and, in just a few short years have developed systems of abundance for their family and the community that they live in. Topics of discussion: * How Greg raises New Zealand White rabbits, Dexter Cattle, hogs in silvopasture as well as utilizes multi-species rotational grazing with Cornish Cross chickens and Katahdin-Dorper Cross sheep. * How health issues drove Greg and his wife toward a Keto diet and, ultimately buying a small farm/homestead. * How the movie “Food, Inc.” was a major inspiration and the influence that Joel Salatin has had on their decision to homestead. * His experience using a Chickshaw and Meatshaw, both designs by Justin Rhodes. * Perfectionism and its hindrance to progress. * Learning to adapt to your own homestead context through constant problem solving * The joys of raising children on a homestead and homeschooling * The challenges of leaving corporate life and consumer culture to become more independent and truly productive * How they developed side hustles and eventually started Shepherd’s Crook Coffee. * The philosophy of planning your homestead production around a seasonal diet. BUY SHEPHERD’S CROOK COFFEE: https://www.shepherdscrookcoffee.com/ FOLLOW SHEPHERD’S CROOK ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/shepherdscrookcoffee/ FOLLOW TRUNORTH FARM ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/trunorthfarm/ SUPPORT THIS PODCAST: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/plansnprov SIGN UP FOR THE PLANS AND PROVISIONS NEWSLETTER: https://www.plansandprovisions.com/landing-page/ VOICEOVER INTRO/OUTRO PROVIDED BY: https://www.sweetteafilms.com/

#023 - In a time where inflation and supply chain issues are everyday  topics, it’s easy to fixate on cost and scarcity concerns when it comes  to managing our resources.  Many of us have, undoubtedly, taken on a new  project  out of one concern or another and then found ourselves  enjoying other benefits well outside of our original motivations.  After  realizing the massive price increase of honey this summer, I started  questioning whether or not adding bees to my homestead was a realistic  goal, and whether doing so would provide more than just free honey. In today’s episode, I welcome back Bobby Jimenez of the Rabbitry Center to share his passion for beekeeping which actually started from his desire to improve pollination on his homestead.  7 years after his initial dive into the craft, he manages a number of hives on several properties as well as hosts a YouTube channel where he shares his knowledge and enthusiasm for keeping bees. Bobby shares how he jumped into beekeeping head first and without much initial knowledge and how, through consistent observation and determination, he has reaped rewards well beyond his initial expectations.  We discuss different management options available to new beekeepers as well as different strategies to  making money from your bees.  We also talk about the seasonal tasks required to be successful and Bobby shares the next steps for anyone interested in getting started. Key discussion points: All natural beekeeping vs. treatments, raising bees for honey vs. raising bees to sell nucs, finding community through local beekeeping groups, biggest challenges every beekeeper will face, unexpected benefits of raising bees, pollination. VISIT BOBBY'S WEBSITE: https://bobbysbeez.com VISIT BOBBY'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTUDI6Nm5cd4ENkT_qK7HBg VISIT MY RESOURCES PAGE: https://www.plansandprovisions.com/resources/ SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/plansnprov INTRO VOICE OVER PROVIDED BY: https://www.sweetteafilms.com

#021 - It's time for an update of everything that's been going on around the homestead over the past month. Still learning some tough lessons in the garden, but bringing in baskets of produce as well. Having some breakthroughs in our rabbitry and the steer calves are putting on weight.Celebrating 6 months of the podcast with some new arrivals on the homestead.VISIT MY RESOURCES PAGE:https://www.plansandprovisions.com/resources/SUPPORT THE SHOW:https://buymeacoffee.com/plansnprovSupport the show

#019 - As the homesteading movement gains momentum and more people are taking matters into their own hands regarding food and other resources, the demand for learning new skills grows as well. While we are certainly blessed to live in a time with an abundance of digital and print resources, there is simply no replacement for hands on experience and networking opportunities that come with in-person learning.My guest today certainly understands that as she has worked tirelessly to develop what is quickly becoming one of the top homesteading gatherings in the nation. After a long career in the print newspaper industry, Cheryl Franklin has started a new life as the organizer of the upcoming Ozarks Homesteading Expo which takes place on August 26th and 27th of this year. In our talk, we get to hear her perspective of what it was like to get started as a young homesteader, fresh from the city and newly transplanted in SW Missouri. We talk about the importance of community and the challenges of balancing a full time career, family responsibilities and a growing homestead. She tells the story of how she found herself running a successful homesteading event and gives some details on what folks can expect who attend this year. Check out Cheryl's site for more information on the upcoming Ozarks Homesteading Expo:https://ozarkshomesteading.com/Sign up for the Plans and Provisions Newsletter:http://plansandprovisions.comSupport the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/plansnprovSupport the show

#017- I think that when many of us hear the words preparedness or prepper, we tend to think in terms of things we can buy like stockpiles of gear and supplies. While having ample supplies in a crisis could certainly mean the difference between life and death in a serious catastrophe, having the right mindset just might be as, or more important.Today’s guest has taken it upon herself to teach the average person, particularly women and mothers, to take realistic and practical steps toward food security and preparedness in general. Her 2018 book ‘A year without the grocery store’ is, in my opinion, the perfect guide for anyone in the early stages of working towards becoming more intentional and organized in managing their family’s food resources. She teaches that preparedness is more than just a stockpile of supplies and gear, but also a mindset that should be absent of fear, doom and gloom.In our conversation, Karen shares how she found herself essentially preparing by accident and some of the ways she and her family have had to be flexible in order to maintain their food storage. She shares some personal crises and disasters she and her family have been through and the lessons she learned from them. She lays out some solid first steps for those wanting to get started in preparedness and shares some exciting new developments you won’t want to miss.Visit Karen's website and blog:https://www.areyoupreparedmama.comSUPPORT THE SHOW:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/plansnprovSupport the show

#015 - As I’ve continued my journey towards a more independent and resilient lifestyle, I’ve started to think outside of the box when it comes to providing food for my family. While learning how to produce and store food in ways that reduce or eliminate dependency on conventional supply channels, I started to wonder whether foraging could play a role in my family’s food security.My guest today is an expert in primitive skills and foraging and, since the release of his book “Foraging the Ozarks” in 2020, many have been turning to him to learn how to safely and ethically utilize the abundance of wild plants around them. His name is Bo Brown and he has been teaching survival skills for decades at his First Earth Wilderness School in Southern Missouri. In our conversation, we discuss the nutritional superiority of wild foods over cultivated varieties and how, by eating garden weeds, we can instantly increase the productivity of our gardens. We talk about which plants are best to start with for beginners and Bo shares some valuable resources for those looking to get started in foraging. SUPPORT THE SHOW:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/plansnprovSupport the show

#013 - One of the things that I’ve found in the early stages of my homesteading journey is that this life is one of problems and solutions and, at least so far, often more time is spent on planning and thinking than actually doing. As our first spring on our new property is fully underway, we’re realizing that there is a delicate balance between proper planning and just getting started. My guest today is a man of action and his passion for permaculture and preparedness has been leading many toward living a more independent and resilient life. His name is Billy Bond and through his YouTube channel “PermaPastures Farm” he is relating his infectious energy and convictions to many of us who are forging our own way towards building systems of abundance and health for our families. We get to know a bit about what drove him to become so passionate about permaculture and preparedness, as well as what drove his family to invest deeply in learning from some of the greats in the permaculture and regenerative agriculture space. Billy takes a stab at defining what permaculture is, and while he swears that definition is elusive, I think he did a really good job of breaking it down for the average person. We talk about a lot of things and I think the best thing for me to say is that you’re in for a real treat. SUPPORT THE SHOW:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/plansnprovSupport the show

#011 - If you've ever wondered how to improve the cost, supply and quality of your daily coffee needs then you have to consider roasting coffee at home. It is a simple and rewarding process that allows you to become more independent and resilient in one of the more decidedly American luxuries that many of us take for granted.In this episode, I take a few minutes and talk about some of the basics of roasting your own coffee at home and give some pointers on process and finding a good supply of green beans.SUPPORT THE SHOW:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/plansnprovSupport the show

#009 - In my family’s quest for food security and health we have often considered raising meat rabbits as a solution to the problems of meat price, quality and availability. Since moving onto our new homestead late last year, we have begun the process of starting our own rabbity by building infrastructure and acquiring our own starter breeding stock.While researching how to get started on the right foot, we found Bobby Jimenez through his youtube channel called “The Rabbitry Center”. His videos have helped steer us in the right direction and have been a valuable resource for us during the early stages of our meat rabbit journey. In our discussion, we learn about the many benefits of raising meat rabbits and he gets into some of the more challenging aspects of running a rabbitry. We talk about some considerations for breeding and management as well as go in depth about the possibilities of raising rabbits for meat in a world where bagged feed may not always be available. SUPPORT THE SHOW:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/plansnprovSupport the show

#007 - As food prices are soaring and the basic availability of everyday items is anything but guaranteed, we also face a deeply concerning trend as it relates to our nations farming population. Put quite simply, our farmers are getting old with approximately 2/3 of the 3.4 million American farmers within a decade of retirement age. Couple that with the seemingly broken food supply chain and the serious concerns over the future availability of fertilizers, we have to ask the question of who is going to feed the people of this country in the future.My guest today has found herself on the front lines of the fight to, not only produce sustainable food for her community, but to educate and inspire an energetic new generation of young farmers. Her name is Grace, but she is better known online as “The Shepherdess” through her YouTube channel by the same name, where she shares her new journey as a sheep farmer using regenerative agricultural practices. In our conversation, we get to hear about her interesting transition from a city girl working as a digital marketer in the fashion industry to a life of a young sheep farmer and content creator. We talk about the inherent flaws of the centralized food system that connects farmers to the average consumer, as well as some of the better options those consumers have available. We also learn about why sheep are a compelling option for those interested in starting out in regenerative agriculture and raising grass fed meat. CHECK OUT THE SHEPHERDESS' WEBSITE:http://harmonyfarms.blogCHECK OUT THE SHEPHERDESS' YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/c/theShepherdessSUPPORT THE SHOW:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/plansnprovSupport the show

#005 - The homesteading movement in America is growing at a rapid pace as many people look to find meaning and security by leaving behind city life in favor of a slower and more self sufficient lifestyle. Thankfully, there are people who have been living that lifestyle since before homesteading was a buzzword and are willing to share their wisdom and experience with those of us just getting started. My guest today is Danny King and he is one of those who have lived the life and are generous with their advice, wisdom and experience. Through their Youtube channel “Deep South Homestead”, Danny and his wife Wanda share their day to day life: the challenges they face and the practices they depend on; as well as their take on current events and how they relate to all of us.In our conversation, we learn about the world that Danny grew up in and how he got started in homesteading and preparedness. We talk about first steps for a new homesteader or gardener and dig deep (pun intended) into issues of herbicide use and it’s downstream effects on gardening practices and food safety. Danny talks about some of the basic metrics of preparedness and food security as well as hints at some of the darker realities of the world we live in today.For the best source of healthy bulk foods and ingredients at Azure Standard click the link below:https://www.plansandprovisions.com/azureSUPPORT THE SHOW:https://buymeacoffee.com/plansnprovSupport the show