Everyday Homesteading
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!
Everyday Homesteading
Natural Pest Control That Actually Works (Without Chemicals)
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If you’ve ever struggled with pests in the garden, this episode will completely change how you think about natural pest control.
Instead of reaching for sprays first, we’re talking about a layered, holistic approach to growing healthier plants that naturally resist pests better. From building living soil to attracting beneficial insects and knowing when organic interventions are actually appropriate, this conversation is all about working with nature instead of fighting against it.
In this episode, we cover:
• Why healthy soil is the foundation of pest resistance
• The connection between soil biology and plant health
• How daily observation can stop infestations early
• Physical and mechanical pest control methods that actually work
• Companion planting and attracting beneficial insects
• When organic sprays can help and when they can do harm
• Why adjusting expectations may be one of the most important parts of organic gardening
Whether you’re a brand new gardener or have been growing food for years, this framework can help you create a healthier, more resilient garden ecosystem.
For more information, check out the accompanying blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/garden-pest-control/
LINKS MENTIONED
- Traditional Cooking Class - Check out Carolyn's new class over at the School of Traditional Skills here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/STS_Member_n
- Modern Homesteading Conference - Join us in Idaho this June 2026 and come say hi! Grab your tickets here: https://modern-homesteading.myshopify.com/HF10
- Thanks to Azure Standard for sponsoring this podcast. Grab your canning supplies and be ready for preservation season. For first-time customers, get 15% off your order of $100 or more with coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15": https://homesteadingfamily.com/AzureStandard
Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
1:28 - Chit Chat
9:18 - Azure Standard
11:00 - Natural Pest Control
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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
You know that every month, we send out a physical magazine to over 10,000 subscribers? Each issue has seasonal recipes, fresh inspiration for your kitchen, practical homesteading tips, and traditional wisdom from seasoned homesteaders. This magazine equips you to thrive on your homestead, whether you’re in the city, a suburban neighborhood, or on 40 acres. Subscribe today for just $9 a month.