Everyday Homesteading
Everyday Homesteading
Homesteading Family
Desperate to grow, cook, and preserve real food for your family in only 5-10 hours a week, but stuck as a new homesteader looking for practical, tried and true methods that work? You wanted those pantry shelves filled yesterday, but the more you try, the more it seems a distant pipe dream. Online content is filled with impractical, untried homesteading advice, which wastes your precious time and money.Everyday Homesteading steps in with practical, tested solutions, cutting through the chaos with clear plans tailored for busy beginners to reclaim your family’s health and independence through gardening, raising livestock, fresh seasonal cooking, herbal medicine and safe food preservation.Hosted by veteran homesteaders, Josh and Carolyn Thomas, who grow 70% of their family’s food while running two businesses and homeschooling their large family, they have mastered practical homesteading for busy modern families. They have taught hundreds of thousands of new homesteaders to thrive with real-life homesteading through their online platforms Homesteading Family and School of Traditional Skills.Tune in weekly to learn how to grow, cook, and preserve your family’s food, ditch health-destroying toxins, and save money monthly on groceries, all while building strong relationships and a sustainable legacy for your kids. Hit play now!
Confused About Healthy Cooking Fats? Start Here!
Butter, lard, tallow, olive oil, vegetable oil... how did choosing a cooking fat get so confusing? After decades of changing recommendations about which fats we should and shouldn't eat, it's no wonder so many home cooks aren't sure what to reach for. In this episode of the Everyday Homesteading Podcast, I'm simplifying traditional cooking fats and explaining how to choose the right one for the job. From butter and ghee to lard, tallow, schmaltz, coconut oil, olive oil, and avocado oil, she'l...
Oct 31
43 min
Your Soil Needs to Breathe! | Soil Health Series Part 4
Did you know your garden soil needs oxygen to thrive? 🌱 In Part 4 of our Soil Health Series, Josh explains why soil aeration is essential for healthy roots, beneficial microorganisms, and nutrient-rich soil. In this episode, you'll learn: - 🌱 Why oxygen is essential for healthy garden soil. - ⚠️ How compaction, waterlogging, and tillage affect soil aeration. - 🪱 What healthy, well-aerated soil looks like. - 🍂 Simple ways to improve soil aeration with compost, cover crops, and mulch. 📖 Read...
Oct 24
25 min
We're Rethinking How We Homestead (Here's Why)
Winter is coming, and we're rethinking some of the ways we do things on our homestead! As we transition from fall into winter here in North Idaho, we're looking at everything from livestock and food storage to daily chores and what it really means to become more self-sufficient. Whether you're new to homesteading or you've been doing this for years, we hope this conversation encourages you to rethink your priorities and embrace the season you're in. What's one thing you're rethinking or do...
Oct 17
43 min
How I Reversed my Pre-Diabetes (Health Update)
In this episode, I’m sharing a very personal update on my health journey and what I’ve learned along the way. What started as frustration over stubborn weight eventually led to deeper testing, toxin exposure, high insulin levels, leptin resistance, thyroid concerns, and a whole lot of questions. The good news is that I’m seeing real progress. My insulin numbers are coming down, I’ve lost weight, my energy is better, my brain fog is gone, I’m sleeping better, and I’m getting stronger. This ...
Oct 10
26 min
Crazy Gas Prices and Free Potatoes
What do high gas prices have to do with free potatoes? More than you might think! When everyday expenses keep climbing, it’s easy to feel like there’s very little we can do about it. But Josh and I have found that growing food, cooking from scratch, and choosing our homestead projects carefully can help us take back a little control. In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we’re sharing the story of a $2,000 garden investment we made when money was tight, why we call this year’s potatoes ...
Oct 3
36 min
The Secret to Healthier Soil? | Soil Health Part 3
In Part 3 of our Soil Series, I’m diving into soil organic matter and why it’s one of the most important pieces of healthy, productive soil. We’ll look at what organic matter actually is, how it feeds soil biology, improves water retention and soil structure, and the practical ways you can build more of it with compost, mulch, cover crops and less tillage. For more information, read the full blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/soil-organic-matter/ - Thanks to the School of Tradit...
Sep 26
33 min
The Meat We Eat: How We Choose It, Buy It & Cook It
If you’re trying to feed your family better-quality meat, it can be hard to know what all the labels really mean. Grass-fed, grass-finished, pasture-raised, organic... and once you bring that meat home, does it need to be cooked differently? In this episode, Josh and I are talking about the meat we eat here on our homestead and why the way an animal is raised and fed matters so much to us. We’ll explain the difference between grass-fed and grass-finished beef, what pasture-raised really mea...
Sep 19
49 min
How I Care for Myself (So I Can Take Care of Others)
Self-care isn’t about escaping your responsibilities. It’s about caring for your body, mind, and soul so you can show up well for your family. In this episode, I share what self-care looks like in my own life, including my morning routine, health habits, and why true self-care should actually move you toward greater health. You can watch and read more at the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/self-care-for-moms/ TIME STAMPS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:04 - American Blossom Linens 4:...
Sep 12
36 min
Late Summer Garden Tasks
By late summer, the garden can start to feel a little wild. The weeds are growing fast, the harvest is piling up, watering needs are changing, and life outside the garden is getting busier, too. So what actually needs your attention right now, and what can you let go? In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we’re talking through our top priorities for the late summer garden. We’ll cover why harvesting should come first, how to adjust your watering as the season changes, what to do with ba...
Sep 5
41 min
Your Soil Needs More Than NPK | Soil Health Part 2
Healthy soil requires more than nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. In Part 2 of our soil health series, we're taking a deeper look at the essential minerals plants need to grow strong, resist stress and produce truly nutrient-dense food. In this episode, you’ll learn: 🪨 The difference between macronutrients and micronutrients 🌱 How nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur support plant growth 🔍 Common signs of mineral deficiencies 🧪 Why soil pH and biology affect nutr...
Aug 29
37 min
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