Everyday Homesteading

What if we lost everything tomorrow and had to start our homestead over from scratch? No land, no livestock, no stocked pantry, and very little money. Where would we begin?

After decades of homesteading and raising our family, we've learned a thing or two about what really matters when it comes to building a productive homestead. And if we had to start over today, there are some things we'd do exactly the same and others we'd approach very differently.

In this episode of the Everyday Homesteading Podcast, we're sharing our top priorities for starting a homestead with limited resources, including:

✅ What we'd look for when choosing land (and why the house wouldn't be our biggest concern).
✅ How we'd stretch a tight grocery budget while investing in long-term food security.
✅ Why a productive garden would be one of our very first investments.
✅ Which livestock we'd prioritize and which animals we'd avoid.
✅ What we wouldn't waste our time or money on.
✅ Why building relationships with your neighbors might be one of the most valuable things you can do.

Whether you're just beginning your homesteading journey or looking to simplify your current homestead, we hope this conversation helps you focus on what really matters.

Read the full blog post: https://homesteadingfamily.com/starting-over-with-nothing/

Thank-you to today's sponsor, American Blossom Linens!

We believe working hard and resting well go hand in hand. American Blossom Linens makes comfortable, high-quality American-made sheets and bedding that are designed to last. Visit https://homesteadingfamily.com/abl/ and use code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY2026" to save 15% on your order.

We'd love to hear from you! If you had to start your homestead over again, what's the very first thing you'd do differently? Let us know in the comments!

#Homesteading #HomesteadingForBeginners #SelfSufficiency

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Introduction
3:07 - Chit Chat
8:30 - American Blossom Linens
11:02 - Main Topic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop
Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love.

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'll walk you through what makes each fat different, where it comes from, and how to use it in everyday cooking.
You'll also learn how different fats respond to heat, which ones work well for frying and baking, and how to substitute traditional fats for vegetable oils and shortening without changing all your favorite recipes.
Plus, I share why producing and sourcing traditional fats is an important homesteading skill that can help build a more resilient kitchen.
In This Episode:
Why our bodies need dietary fat
The differences between common traditional cooking fats
Which fats to choose for frying, roasting, baking, and dressings
Simple substitutions for vegetable oil and shortening
How to render and properly store animal fats
Why traditional fats matter for homestead self-sufficiency
Resources Mentioned:
Traditional Cooking Fats Guide: https://homesteadingfamily.com/fat-sources-on-the-homestead/
Rendering Lard or Tallow: https://homesteadingfamily.com/rendering-lard-or-tallow/
Homemade Butter: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-make-butter/
Growing and Pressing Your Own Seed Oil: https://homesteadingfamily.com/growing-pressing-your-own-seed-oil/
Today's Sponsor: Azure Standard
You don't have to grow everything you put in your pantry! Azure Standard is one of our favorite resources for stocking up on bulk organic ingredients, pantry staples, and food-preservation supplies.
First-time customers can save 15% on their first order of $100 or more delivered to an Azure drop location.
Visit https://homesteadingfamily.com/azure-standard/ and use coupon code HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15 at checkout.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop
Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love.

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 the full blog post: https://homesteadingfamily.com/soil-aeration/

Check out Truly Free! Make the switch to cleaner household products and save 30% on your order with coupon code HOMESTEADING30: https://homesteadingfamily.com/trulyfree

Time Stamps
0:00 - Introduction
1:12 - Truly Free
3:10 - Main Topic

#SoilHealth #SoilAeration #OrganicGardening #HomesteadingFamily
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop
Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love.

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 doing differently on your homestead this winter? Are you simplifying your livestock setup, changing how you preserve food, or finding new ways to become more self-sufficient?

Let us know in the comments! We'd love to hear what you're learning.

🌿 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR: FARMHOUSE TEAS

We're thankful to have Farmhouse Teas sponsoring today's episode! We love their herbal teas, including their Not Coffee blends and the custom Plum Tuckered Out tea. This year, we're especially excited about their elderberry syrup mix, which makes preparing homemade elderberry syrup so much easier when there isn't time to forage for elderberries or measure out individual herbs.

Shop all my favorites here and use coupon code "CAROLYN10" for 10% off your order (one-time use): https://www.farmhouseteas.com/carolyn

#WinterHomesteading #HomesteadingFamily #SelfSufficiency #EverydayHomesteading #homesteadlife 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop
Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love.

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 journey hasn’t been simple or linear, but I hope sharing it encourages you to keep asking questions, pay attention to what your body is telling you, and keep moving toward better health.

In this episode, I’m talking about:

- What my lab work revealed
- My experience with toxin testing and detoxification
- How my insulin levels changed
- What I’ve been doing to improve my metabolic health
- The diet, herbs, movement, sleep, and lifestyle changes I’ve focused on
- Why strength training is now part of my routine
- What I’ve learned from discouraging lab results
- Why I’m choosing to keep walking toward better health
For more information, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-im-reversing-prediabetes/
RELATED RESOURCES:
- Our Toxin Journey: https://homesteadingfamily.com/our-journey-with-glyphosate-toxicity/
- Toxins are Making You Sick - Herbal Cleansing Detox: https://homesteadingfamily.com/herbal-cleansing-detox/
- Common Household Toxins: https://homesteadingfamily.com/common-toxins/
- Work with Dr. Torrie Thompson: https://homesteadingfamily.com/toxin-testing
- At-home insulin/metabolic health kit: https://zivli.com/testing 

Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring this podcast.
If you're ready to layer on some cozy bedding for those chilly fall nights, be sure to check them out and use coupon code HOMESTEADINGFAMILY2026 for 15% off your purchase: https://homesteadingfamily.com/ABL

Important: This episode shares my personal health experience and is not medical advice. Please work with a qualified healthcare professional when making decisions about your own health, medications, supplements, or treatment.
Time Stamps:

0:00 - Introduction
1:08 - American Blossom Linens
4:01 - Main Topic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop
Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love.