The Homestead Journey
The homesteading podcast dedicated to the pursuit of self-sufficiency, self reliance, and sustainability. Brian is a 4th generation homesteader located in beautiful upstate NY. Along with his wife, Bonnie (also a 4th generation homesteader) and their son Brian Jr., Brian has been actively homesteading on a 2 acre piece of land since 2008. This podcast is dedicated to their journey and is a call for others to join them in pursuing self sufficiency, self reliance, and sustainability.
Episodes
186 episodes
S4E171 Season Finale: 2023:A Season of Change
2023 has been a season of change on our homestead. Some of that has been planned. So of it, not so much. On this final episode of season 4, I share with you some of those changes and some lessons I've learned. I also sha...
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Season 4
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Episode 171
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21:59
S4E170 11 Reasons Why Empty Nesting Hasn't Been As Traumatic As We Thought It Would Be
In this final episode Bonnie joins me on one last episode in our series on Empty Nest Homesteading . We expected this transition to be far more traumatic than it has been. While we understand that everyone's journey is different, on...
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Season 4
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Episode 170
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1:08:27
S4E169 How Is Homesteading Different From Farming?
This week I spent a lot of time reading the policy manuals of the Farm Bureau and the NY Farm Bureau. As I did, I spent quite a bit of time thinking about how homesteading and farming are the same. And how they are different. ...
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Season 4
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Episode 169
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26:58
S4E168 Why I Joined The Farm Bureau
Back in May at the Southern Adirondack Homesteading Festival, I was introduced to Natalie, the manager of our local region for the NY Farm Bureau. We became friends. She has been trying to convince me to join the organization, but I...
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Season 4
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Episode 168
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15:25
S4E167 Six Lessons I (re)Learned at the Fall Gathering of the Homesteaders of New England 2023
This past weekend, I had the privilege of helping Jack Pollner put on the Fall Gathering of the Homesteaders of New England. What a great time!!! On this episode I share with you about the event, including 6 lessons I've (re)learned by at...
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24:46
S4E166 Lessons I've Learned From My WORST Garden EVER!!
This year my garden has sucked. Worst. Garden. Ever. It's been one of those gardening seasons that could make you want to quit gardening. Forever.But, instead, I'm trying to learn some lessons. Some lessons that ...
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Season 4
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Episode 166
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32:57
S4E165 Southern Adirondack Homesteading Festival: What Is Homesteading?
On today's episode we jump back to May's Southern Adirondack Homesteading Festival and the talk I gave called "What Is Homesteading".Enjoy!!Brian
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Season 4
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Episode 165
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52:15
S4E164 Steam Canning With A VKP (Harvest) Multi-Use Steam Canner
On this episode, we take a deep dive into steam canning. I talk about it's history, the journey to "approval" and when it should be used.I also talk about the VKP Multi-Use Steam Canner that we just purchased. I've put it th...
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Season 4
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Episode 164
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32:48
S4E163 Five Reasons You Should Quit Doing Some Things
This week, we sent our last remaining American Guinea Hogs off to their new home in Michigan . It is a bittersweet day for us. And while a lot of thought went into making this decision, it is very easy to second guess "quitting" som...
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Season 4
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Episode 163
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37:15
S4E162 Lifesteading With Amy Dingmann - Empty Nest Homesteading
On this episode, I am joined once again by Amy Dingmann from A Farmish Kind of Life as we talk about "lifesteading" and her journey so far into being an empty nester.Enjoy!!Brian
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Season 4
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Episode 162
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45:41
S4E161 Empty Nest Homesteading: 3 Questions To Ask To Right-Size Your Homestead
On this episode we look at 3 questions we are asking ourselves to try to help right-size our homestead as we head in the direction of being empty nest homesteaders.1. What does your child contribute?2. What does your chi...
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Season 4
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Episode 161
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27:18
S4E160 Surving The Emotional Roller Coaster of Empty Nest Homesteading
This year has been an emotional rollercoaster for all of us. At times we have felt excitement, pride, sadness, anticipation, nostalgia, happiness and relief. And sometimes we have felt them all at the same time. On this episod...
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Season 4
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Episode 160
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49:42
S4E159 Empty Nest Homesteading - 5 Steps To Rediscovering Purpose
As I have been anticipating 3B Farm becoming 2B Farm as Brian Jr. heads off to college, it's left me with a bit of an identity crisis. For the last 18+ years of my life, my primary focus has been on trying to be a present dad. Now, ...
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Season 4
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Episode 159
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27:32
S4E158 Empty Nest Homesteading: Letting Go
On this episode, we begin our series on homesteading as empty nesters. Bonnie and I are in the midst of that transition right now. This past week was Brian J's last week of school. And in a few months, he'll be headed off to c...
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Season 4
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Episode 158
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46:23
S4E157 Be A Teachable Homesteader
The day after I released Episode 156, (Be A Helpful Homesteader), I ran across a Facebook post that got me to thinking about the topic in a slightly different manner. Yes, sometimes people are harsh when replying to people's questions or ...
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Season 4
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Episode 157
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32:18
S4E156 Be A Helpful Homesteader
While scrolling through some of the Facebook homesteading groups, I saw over and over again people starting their post by saying, "Please be kind" or "Please don't judge me". It's sad to me that people feel the need to start out their pos...
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Season 4
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Episode 156
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33:49
S4E155 Don't Let Them Take Your Animals
This week, I ran across the story of Paul Strobel, a farmer in Western NY who had a run-in with some animal rights activists that left him shaken and worried that they might try to steal his livestock.His story reminded me of a farmer n...
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41:36
S4E154 Does Your USDA Hardiness Zone Matter When Planting A Garden?
This time of the year, I see many people asking questions similar to this: I'm in zone xyz, is it too soon to plant beans outside? On this episode we talk about what USDA hardiness zones or growing zones are and why I don't think th...
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Season 4
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Episode 154
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25:50
S4E153 The Pros and Cons of The Mediterranean Diet
On this final episode in our series on the Mediterranean Diet, I am once again joined by Bonnie as we talk about the pros/cons of the Mediterranean WOE. Enjoy!!Brian
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Season 4
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Episode 153
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42:48
S4E152 We Visited A Real Alaskan Homestead
Last week, we visited my brother Eric in Alaska. He made arrangements for us to visit the homestead of some friends of his from church. On this episode I talk about that visit and what I learned. Am I inspired to move to Alask...
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28:52
S4E151 How Is The Mediterranean Diet Impacting The Meat We Are Raising On Our Homestead?
Perhaps the biggest impact the Mediterranean Diet has had on how we homestead is on the animals we are raising for meat. On this episode we dive into what those changes are. Enjoy!!Brian
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Season 4
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Episode 151
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23:12
S4E150 How To Grow A Garden For The Mediterranean Diet
On this episode we talk about gardening Mediterranean style? Are there things you MUST grow while on the Mediterranean diet? Are there things you shouldn't grow? How is following this diet, impacting how we garden this year?
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Season 4
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Episode 150
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32:20
S4E149 Can We Homestead In Upstate New York And Still Follow The Mediterranean Diet?
For awhile, I really struggled with whether or not we could follow the Mediterranean Diet and still be homesteaders. After all, we don't live in the Mediterranean. And there are a lot of common ingredients to the Mediterranean Diet,...
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Season 4
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Episode 149
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31:37
S4E148 What Is The Mediterranean Diet?
On this episode, Bonnie joins me once again as we dive into what the Mediterranean Diet is and why we have chosen to adopt it. We talk about what we've found easy. And what we've found challenging. I also give Bonnie a pop geo...
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Season 4
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Episode 148
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1:14:14
S4E147 5 Keys To Establishing Long Term Healthy Eating Habits
On this episode, I am joined by my lovely wife Bonnie as we talk about 5 keys to ensuring long term success when adopting a new way of eating. We talk about the difference between diets, diet plans and "ways of eating" and how that termin...
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Season 4
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Episode 147
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52:49