Pioneering Today

Learn the three most common homesteading mistakes people make when embarking on their homesteading journey. And learn a few tips to keep your focus where it will have the best impact. In this episode, I’m talking with Jess Sowards from Roots & Refuge Farm and she’s sharing her first-time homesteading wisdom, especially as she and her husband build their forever homestead from scratch on bare land in South Carolina. For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/362.

What are the basic supplies and knowledge we should all have to live a prepared lifestyle? Join me on this podcast with Malori from Black Rifle Homestead as she shares her experience as a military wife. We’re discussing what it’s like trying to homestead (while moving every 2-3 years) and the things she builds up after each move. She also shares some basic survival and preparedness skills, whether you live on a homestead or not. For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/361.

Have you reached a point where you've been homesteading long enough to consider offering something to your community? So have we! As a family and a business, we've maximized the space we're in and we've reached the limit as to the size of the workshops and classes we can offer… but we want to do more! Join me in this episode as I share all the preparation and planning happening behind the scenes to make this Farm Stay a reality. For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/360.

This homesteading lifestyle means we are ever learning, and that’s part of the excitement and joy we find in it. Learning new homestead skills or how to utilize old skills in a more modern, efficient way is one of my favorite things about this life. Today’s podcast is a continuation of the basic homesteading skills we should all learn, or continue learning. For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/358.

Learn how to use herbs safely, effectively and in the appropriate dosage for your pets and livestock with Doc Jones from HomeGrown Herbalist. We’re discussing mastitis in dairy cows, de-worming animals, even snake and spider bites in this episode. Plus the differences between essential oils and the whole herb and whether different variations of the same herb have different medicinal properties. For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/357.

Nate and Erin live on a ½-acre homestead in Illinois where they raise chickens and rabbits for meat. Join us for this podcast where they’re sharing their tips for how to cook rabbit so it tastes incredible (like a cross between chicken and turkey), comes out tender every time, and they even share their favorite recipes for using rabbit. For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/356.

This homesteading lifestyle means we are ever learning, and that’s part of the excitement and joy we find in it. Learning new homestead skills or how to utilize old skills in a more modern, efficient way is one of my favorite things about this life. Today’s podcast is all about the basic homesteading skills we should all learn, or continue learning. For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/355.

It’s that time of year again where we have zucchini coming out our ears! So how do we preserve and cook all of the zucchini to enjoy throughout the year? You won’t want to miss this episode of the Pioneering Today Podcast where I’m sharing ten ways to preserve and cook zucchini (including my husband’s and my favorite way). For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/354.

If you're a hunter or have the desire to cook wild game, then you won’t want to miss this episode. Learning these tips and tricks to cooking with wild game is a process, but Tammy Trayer can help us avoid common mistakes when preparing wild game. People often think they don't like the taste or texture of wild game, but it likely has more to do with the cooking methods than the meat. For all of the show notes and links, and how to find Tammy, visit https://melissaknorris.com/353.

This podcast is all about raising meat, specifically pork, and learning how to cure and store that pork without refrigeration. Brandon Sheard from Farmstead Meatsmith is joining us to share his many years of wisdom, especially the three methods of cooking that are pivotal when it comes to raising livestock. For all of the show notes and links, and how to find Brandon, visit https://melissaknorris.com/352.

Botulism is a real and deadly form of food poisoning that makes many home canners nervous. And for good reason! However, there are food preservation techniques and safety tips you can follow to ensure you and your family are safe. Learn the signs of contaminated food and the best preservation and storage methods in this podcast. For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/351.

If you suspect you've purchased contaminated soil, you'll want to know about the tips I’m sharing in today’s podcast for soil remediation and how to fix your soil. The number of issues of contaminated soil is increasing and people are having to deal with soil or compost that's been exposed to herbicides or other contaminants that are negatively affecting their gardens. For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/350.

We bought a 40-acre homestead but it’s not for us! That may sound strange, but we’ve had a dream to host large events and teach real life homesteading classes for a long time now, and this property, just ½ mile from our current home became available and we bought it! You’ll have to listen to the podcast (and watch the tour) to hear more of our vision for the property, but I’m so excited to finally be able to share this news with you! For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/349.

I’ve been going through my own hormone health journey since January 2022 and have been working with Dr. Shannyn. I’m so excited to have her on today’s episode of the podcast as she shares her wisdom and knowledge on how to heal our hormones, the steps we can take right now, and why individual testing is so crucial for true healing. For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/348.

If you're looking to raise meat chickens, the next natural step for us modern-day Pioneers is to consider breeding chickens for a sustainable flock. Join me for this podcast with Tom McMurray from Murray McMurray Hatchery to learn what it takes to successfully breed chickens, as well as tips and tricks if you're considering this option, and how the Avian Flu might effect you. For all of the show notes and links, visit https://melissaknorris.com/347.