Small Farm Nation: Farming | Marketing | Homesteading

So, what can happen when an active youth pastor gets the results from his life insurance physical? grassfed-cattle Today, you’ll hear how those results and what the doctor ordered drove the youth pastor to become the beginning farmer. Ethan Book dreamed of being a farmer when he was a kid, but life's necessities steered him in a different direction. After having children, his practical wife insisted he procure life insurance. But that required a physical exam, which revealed Ethan had very high cholesterol. The two options for treatment included a lifetime of medicine, which Ethan wanted to avoid, or a drastic diet change centered on grassfed beef. Ethan opted for the latter approach, but there was a problem. Grass fed beef was expensive, and Ethan didn't earn too much as a youth minister. So, he did the only thing he could do--he bought land, and became a farmer. Today, Ethan blogs at thebeginningfarmer.com, and has an excellent podcast called The Beginning Farmer Show. Listen in to how Ethan and his wife feed their family of seven on less than $150/month at the grocery store, while producing excellent pasture raised pork, beef and lamb for local customers in Iowa. Show notes at http://www.theselfsufficientlife.com/ssl15

From Investment Banker & Fashion Designer to Sustainable Farmers! Imagine being a young couple living the good life in New York. One's an investment banker, the other's a fashion designer and both are on their way to the top. Then, they get this wild idea--"let's quit our jobs and move to the country to milk cows and make artisan cheese." Only when they find their farm, it's not what they imagined. One obstacle after another confronts the couple as they fight to give birth to Little Seed Farm. This is the story of starting an artisan goat soap business. Actually, the dream was to start an artisan farmstead cheese business, but one obstacle led to another and forced the couple down a different path. If you're into modern homesteading, self-reliance, preparedness or self-sufficiency, grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Show notes at http://www.theselfsufficientlife.com/self-sufficient-life-podcast/

So, what can happen when a suburban couple living on a golf course decides to take a horseback riding trip? Turns out they decide to chuck the house, buy 100 acres in the country and become the accidental farmers. Welcome to Episode 13 of Self-Sufficient Life! This is a story about...well...it's my story. Or more accurately, the story of how my wife, Liz, and I found ourselves out here in the country when we used to be in there (corporate America). Liz was a teacher with a Masters degree. I (Tim) was an entrepreneur, running marketing-type businesses. We were both successful, but not over the top successful. Just...typical suburban people living the typical suburban life. I'd like to say we planned our escape out of the rat race, but we never even contemplated it. We just took a horseback riding trip for Liz's birthday and fell in love with the notion of rural living. Then, after reading books such as The Omnivore's Dilemma and Slaughterhouse, we immediately became aware of and appalled by how food was produced. So, rather than doing something sensible (like just going to a farmers market), we sold our golf course house, bought a run-down piece of land deep in the country and became first-generation farmers. We produced every type of meat--grassfed beef, pastured pork, chicken, turkey, duck, rabbit and geese, and even started a grass-based dairy. From there we began making farmstead and artisan cheese, and loved serving customers in Atlanta and north Georgia. But we continually struggled to find the balance between farm life and homesteading. We openly shared that struggle for years in our blog and podcast, called the Nature's Harmony Farmcast. In this very special episode of Self-Sufficient Life, I share one of our old Farmcasts, recorded six years ago in November 2010. It's appropriate to share now at Thanksgiving, and for you long-time fans and follower, I hope you enjoy this trek down memory lane. Please have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, and if you're interested in figuring out how to get out of the rat race and earn a self-sufficient income living off the land, grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Show notes at theselfsufficientlife.com/ssl13

Welcome to Episode 12 of Self-Sufficient Life! This week you’ll hear the real-life Green Acres story of how a lawyer learned what it really means to bring home the bacon. In the 1960’s fictional television series, Green Acres, Eddie Albert played the character Oliver Douglas. Oliver was a Harvard-educated lawyer who traded city life for a farm in Hooterville, deep in rural America. Likewise, James Faison is a Harvard-educated lawyer who, after the death of his grandparents, traded in fancy dinners and big paychecks to restore his grandfather's farm to health. But after taking a few farming classes, James the lawyer quickly learned, as he says, that he "couldn't grow a blade of grass!" Undeterred, James found a better way to make an impact in the local farming scene. He identified a gap in the market between chefs and retailers who wanted pastured meat products and small, family farmers who struggled with how to market their products. James created a business to fill that gap. The business, Milton's Local, was named after his grandfather, and is a distributor for family farmers as well as an award-winning brand of pastured pork products. James teaches us that there are many ways to "play" the farming game, and that you don't necessarily have to be a "grower." If you're interested in figuring out how to get out of the rat race and earn a self-sufficient income living off the land, grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Show notes at http://www.theselfsufficientlife.com/ssl12/

Whatta ya get when you combine a drunken homeless man, a deer tick and the Internet? Today, you’ll find out how those three ingredients, along with a determined entrepreneur, add up to Abundant Permaculture. Welcome to Episode 11 of Self-Sufficient Life! This is a story about Justin Rhodes. A fellow who didn’t opt out of the rat race, because he never even opted in. Justin has taken a winding journey from western North Carolina to Honduras and even Australia before landing back near Asheville to start his online homesteading business, Abundant Permaculture. Along the way Justin encountered a homeless man who prophesied his homesteading future, faced financial crisis that threw his family onto food stamps and even battled Lyme Disease that forced him to abandon market farming and find other sources of self-sufficient income. But Justin is a determined, resilient man and an outstanding example of modern homesteading. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Justin launched Abundant Permaculture and a wildly popular YouTube channel and has figured out how to make money homesteading with online courses, blogging, selling homestead videos and via his YouTube channel. If you're interested in figuring out how to get out of the rat race and earn a self-sufficient income living off the land, grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Show notes at theselfsufficientlife.com/ssl11

Everyone wants to be a millionaire, but where do you turn when you strike it rich then lose it all in a real estate meltdown? In this episode I share the story of a hot dog who rescued a couple of corporate drop-outs who lost everything in the Great Recession. Welcome to Episode 10 of Self-Sufficient Life! This is the story of Laurie Charpentier, who accomplished something we all dream of--becoming a millionaire. Then, in the blink of an eye she lost it all, including her house, before a dauschand came into her life and changed everything. After dropping out of high school, Laurie earned her GED, then a college degree and climbed the corporate ladder, first as an accountant and then as director of human resources. Her employee-loving boss appreciated her, so much that he rewarded her with a six-figure income and an annual bonus. But when the boss sold the company, the new buyer had a very different perspective on how to treat employees. Laurie lost her job, but thanks to the stock options she had been rewarded, she had some time to chart a new course. So she became a life coach, only to find out that you actually have to sell to get new clients. Laurie's introverted personality prevented that, so she and her husband, Mark, decided to focus on generating passive income by investing the millions they had made from the company sale. They invested every penny in the real estate market. In 2008. Of course, they lost everything, including the house they lived in. So Laurie got another job in HR. Again, she was valued so much that her new boss doubled her salary within the first six months. And shortly thereafter, with no warning--he fired her. With her life out of control and with no security, Laurie didn't know where to turn. She was dependent on others for income and her identity in life. That's when a little dog named Max entered into her life and changed everything. Max allowed Laurie to think, not of what had gone wrong, but of what was still possible. Laurie and Mark soon found a way to start a small farm. After analyzing other farm enterprises--milking goats, market gardening, etc.--she decided to start a lavender farm in Rhode Island. And Max decided to start an apothecary for dogs. This is really a powerful story that winds through the highs and lows of life, and ends up on a small farm. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Show notes at http://www.theselfsufficientlife.com/ssl10

So what would cause a trained scientist and big pharma executive to sell everything he owns and move to the country? Well, find out as I share the story of, not a mad scientist, but a scientist who got mad when he discovered we’re on a Crash Course with economic collapse. This is the story of Chris Martenson, who isn't your average scientist. Or corporate executive, for that matter. While he was "nature boy" as a child, Chris loved science and data, and continued his formal education until he was almost 30. He wanted to teach at the secondary level, but found himself forced to purse a career in business. His passion for science landed him in "big pharma," where he pulled down big bucks and played the game just the way it was supposed to be played. But when a market "correction" wiped out 40% of his portfolio, the scientist in Chris became mad. So he began to investigate, and found that, not only was the game rigged against him (and you), but that we're on a crash course with collapse in energy, the environment and the economy. So Chris and his wife, Becca, opted-out and changed everything. They sold the waterfront home and big boat and moved to rural Massachusetts to begin homeschooling their children and homesteading to buffer themselves from the hard times ahead. In the midst of that, Chris began sharing his concerns and built a large following for his Crash Course book and videos, and his website, Peak Prosperity. Chris shares his thoughts on the economy, the importance of becoming resilient through self-reliance, the value of gold, silver and precious metals, how to decide where to locate, homeschooling and so much more. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair!

If you think it’s tough trying to raise a kid, try raising 185 hungry kids. Today, I’ll share the story of a New York lawyer and a high-end builder who decided to ditch their demanding clients so they could herd goats and make artisan cheese. Kathryn Spann grew up in the farm country of Durham, NC, but she quickly fled to become a high-flying New York lawyer. But things go full circle in life, and when she met a high-end builder, Dave Krabbe, who had as much stress in his work as she did, they decided to opt-out of the rat race. They bought land, fell in love with goats and became farmstead artisan cheese makers. In no time, their goats were giving birth to almost 200 kids a year, meaning Kathryn and Dave had to quickly learn every aspect of sustainable farming. Milking, breeding, marketing, cheese making, pasture management--the skills and chores seem endless, and Kathryn and Dave work more hours for less money than before. But their life is much fuller and more rewarding, and they wouldn't trade it. Kathryn shares her thoughts on cheese making, farming, Kickstarter crowdfunding, goats and much more. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair!

This is the fascinating story of Daisy Luther from the blogs The Organic Prepper and DaisyLuther.com. I think you'll really enjoy the story of the winding path that led Daisy to homesteading and outspoken preparedness. A series of family tragedies, job losses and hardships drove her deep into the wilderness to homeschool her children, and learn that homesteading isn't as easy as it first seems. Her experiences reignited the skeptical, always questioning persona of her youth and inspired her to take up writing. She wrote books and multiple blogs centered on prepping, preparedness and delivering the truth in an unabashed way that you never see in mainstream media. Daisy shares her thoughts on homeschooling, homesteading, online courses, self-sufficient income, prepping, preparedness and much more. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair!

We all love our children, but what do you do when that cute little girl of yours grows up to be a defiant teenage trouble maker? Today, I’ll share the story of how a rebellious teenager in a gang-infested neighborhood escaped to develop a new life on a homestead. Raising a teenager is challenging—always has been. But imagine you’re raising one in a busy California coastal town—say—Santa Barbara. It’s 1996 and the city is besieged by violence. The police have their hands full with over 800 gang members, creating a steady stream of mischief. And there’s been an increasing trend in real violence. Drive-by shootings, gang rapes, brawls, stabbings, And here you are, a single mom trying to raise a 15-year old by yourself. So, what do you do with your rebellious daughter? You stick her on a plane and sentence her to a new life on a homestead. This is the inspiring story of Kendra Lynne from the blog New Life on a Homestead. If you're into modern homesteading, self-reliance, preparedness or self-sufficiency, grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Show notes at http://www.theselfsufficientlife.com/self-sufficient-life-podcast/

In this episode, you'll hear the story of a man who got trapped in the purple haze of life, only to see the light when God himself answered his prayer from the county jail. Listen in, as I share the story of a man who kicked his drug addiction to become a prepper and bestselling author of post-apocalyptic Christian novels. Kentucky is the bourbon capital of the world. It's also where Mark Goodwin grew up, where he learned preparedness from the best--The Boy Scouts. But he wasn't prepared for life's temptations after he got out of school. He made great money working bars and restaurants, but spent every nickel on partying. He may still be doing that today, but he received two loud and clear messages from above that forever changed his path in life. Today, Mark is the host of the Prepper Recon podcast, and is a bestselling Kindle author of post-apocalyptic Christian novels. We discuss everything from prepping, preparedness and overcoming addiction to making money as a Kindle books author and modern homesteading. If you're into modern homesteading, self-reliance, preparedness or self-sufficiency, grab some coffee and pull up a chair!

Little kids dream of becoming all kinds of things when they grow up, but usually outgrow their fantasies when they become adults. But every now and then a kid holds on tight and grows up to live her dream. Jill Winger grew up in the city. But from her earliest memory she fantasized about living in the country. So when she turned 18, she fled and began pushing her childhood wheelbarrow to rural Wyoming. Today she's a successful modern homesteader at The Prairie Homestead, and earns enough money through blogging and her essential oils business to pay herself and her husband. Jill offers great advice on how to start and monetize a blog, building an essential oils business, the value of frugality, following Dave Ramsey and avoiding debt and so much more. It's a great listen to anyone inspiring to be more self-sufficient. If you're into modern homesteading, self-reliance, preparedness or self-sufficiency, grab some coffee and pull up a chair!

Patrice Lewis sat in a monster Sacramento traffic jam and reached her tipping point. Patrice was a project coordinator for an agricultural research firm in Sacramento.Her husband, Don, was a geologist with a geo-engineering firm. They entered their respective fields because they loved the outdoors. But, as they sat in traffic with the heat waves rising from the asphalt, they realized the truth.They rarely got to be outdoors. It had begun to gnaw at them. The commute. The flickering fluorescent lights. The cubicles. And the crowds. They reached the tipping point--and fled. First to Oregon, but later deeper into the wilderness to an Idaho homestead. When they fled they were young, idealistic newlyweds. But they were also broke, and with no jobs available where they moved, they had to learn to take care of themselves. Patrice and Don mastered the "Three H's" of self-sufficiency: homeschooling, homesteading and home-based business. Their woodcraft business (they make medieval wooden tankards) has now sustained them for over two decades. But Patrice and Don also mastered the concept of multiple-streams of income, and earn money freelance writing, selling grassfed beef and other ways. If you're into modern homesteading, self-reliance, preparedness or self-sufficiency, grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Show notes at http://www.theselfsufficientlife.com/self-sufficient-life-podcast/

Lisa Steele made Gordon Gecko proud, living the high-life on Wall Street during the go-go '80s. But when terrorists bombed the World Trade Center for the first time in 1993, Lisa reached her tipping point and began looking for a simpler life. It was many years later when boredom and necessity motivated her to start writing about her passion; chickens. What started as a simple Facebook page grew into a thriving blog, books and television series, all centered around Lisa's brand, Fresh Eggs Daily. A lot of people start blogs, but few turn their passion into a blogging business. Lisa Steele did just that, and now earns an income to rival what she walked away from when she left Wall Street. Lisa teaches us how giving readers what they want can earn you more than chicken feed. If you're into modern homesteading, self-reliance, preparedness or self-sufficiency, grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Show notes at http://www.theselfsufficientlife.com/self-sufficient-life-podcast/

Imagine being a young couple living the good life in New York. One's an investment banker, the other's a fashion designer and both are on their way to the top. Then, they get this wild idea--"let's quit our jobs and move to the country to milk cows and make artisan cheese." Only when they find their farm, it's not what they imagined. One obstacle after another confronts the couple as they fight to give birth to Little Seed Farm. This is the story of starting an artisan goat soap business. Actually, the dream was to start an artisan farmstead cheese business, but one obstacle led to another and forced the couple down a different path. If you're into modern homesteading, self-reliance, preparedness or self-sufficiency, grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Show notes at http://www.theselfsufficientlife.com/self-sufficient-life-podcast/