The Homestead Journey

Sometimes we have a dream. It's something that you seemingly can't shake. It can start to consume you. You share it with other people. Instead of thinking you're crazy, they see the vision. And they buy into it. And it starts to consume them. And then it doesn't work out. That can be soul crushing. It can be demoralizing. And I think many, many homesteaders have been there. They found the perfect piece of property. They dream of all of the things they could do on that land. And then for whatever reason, it doesn't work out. That happened to us recently. And so I share with you our experience. And the fact that it's all good. Maybe it's not the right place. Maybe it's not the right vision. Or maybe right now, well, it's not the right time. But, it's all good. It's all good. Enjoy, Brian!! http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/the.hjp)

On today's episode we talk about All-American canners. I have two (a 921 and a 930). On this episode I give my thoughts on both of them. I also mention Mirro and Presto canners. It is my opinion, that if you go that route, you should upgrade the "jiggler" from the generic one to one that can be set to different lbs of pressure. Here is the Presto version. Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net

On this episode I give my thoughts on the Winstrip trays I trialed this spring. I tell you what I liked, what I didn't like and I give my recommendation on whether or not homesteaders should purchase them. If you're interested in checking them out, you can visit the Neversink Farm here. Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net

This episode is a bit of a follow up to last week's episode. Last week I talked about a recent interaction I had with "a jerk" in the homesteading community. And it got me to thinking. If we're not careful, sometimes we can end up being "that jerk". And so today's episode is just a friendly reminder..... don't be "that guy (or gal)". Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net

Today as I was scrolling through Facebook, I ran across a post in a meat rabbits group where someone was asking for some information. Instead of answering the question, someone else decided to make fun and belittle the person asking the question. And it got me to thinking; jerks are everywhere. And, if you're not careful, you can allow them to kill your curiosity. On today's episode I challenge you to ignore them. And to keep asking questions and growing in your knowledge of homesteading. Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net

This week I spent camping with my son's Boy Scout troop. While there, I was able to dive into Cathy R. Payne's book, Saving the Guinea Hogs. As I was reading the book, I was struck by the fact that the policies that lead to the near extinction of the American Guinea Hog were also responsible for the near extinction of homestead community. These are my thoughts on that. And here is a link to Cathy's wonderful book. https://guineahogbooks.com/product/saving-the-guinea-hogs-hardcover/ Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net

On episode 92 of the podcast, I shared with you the fact that I am FINALLY able to grow zucchini after several years of not being able to. But, with great power, comes great responsibility. And I'm sure that I'm not the only one who wonders what to do with all of the abundance I am seeing. Now, I could turn it into eggs or bacon by feeding it to my chickens and pigs. Or I could annoy my neighbors by sneaking it onto their porches. Or, I can eat it. On this episode I share with you some of our favorite ways to enjoy this veggie. Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net

Do you remember "why" you started your homestead journey? Sometimes we need to reminder ourselves of that to help us keep putting one foot in front of the other. Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net

A couple of weeks ago I ran into a friend from church. I don't think I had seen him since before the pandemic and if I had, it hadn't been for long. As we stood there catching up, he was asking me about some of the the things we had been doing on the farm that he had seen on Facebook. And then he asked me this question; "Brian, how do you get it all done????" And then, I had to share with him my dirty little secret..... I don't. Many times it is easy for us to get either an incomplete or fully wrong perspective of someone else's life. And then we measure ourselves against a measuring stick that isn't realistic or may be flat out wrong. The Bible tells us that those who measure themselves among themselves are not wise. How true that is. And so this episode is just a reminder for you to focus on living out your journey. Don't compare yourself to other people. And if you feel tempted to compare yourself to me and think that you're not doing enough, just remind yourself of my dirty little secret, "I'm not getting it all done either." And it's all good. Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net

This week, leading up to the Fourth of July, I was thinking about perhaps the most famous words from our Declaration of Independence. "We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." I think for many people in 2020 homesteading epitomized those words. I think there were a lot of people who woke up in 2020 to the fact that our food system is very, very fragile, that our political system is an absolute mess and that when it all boils down to it, we need to take greater responsibility for our Life. And our Liberty and our Pursuit of Happiness. And I think for some people, they saw in homesteading a way to live that out. And so that is our topic of conversation on this episode. Enjoy! Brian Jack's Video http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net

On FMF7 and FMF9 we talked about 9 items that are useful and versatile on the homestead. But, there are some products that while super useful, just don't seem to have more than their intended use. And that's ok. What they do, they do REALLY well. So, here are 5 of my favorites. Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net

Back on FMF7, we talked about 5 Useful and Versatile Items on the homestead. I asked your feedback with the promise that I would do a followup episode. So, as promised, here are 4 More Useful and Versatile Items. Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net

This episode is the first in what will be a monthly feature here on the podcast; a homestead product review. On this episode we talk about my portable poultry netting setup that I purchased in 2018 from Premier 1. I talk about what I like, what I don't like and whether or not I'd recommend you'd buy it!! Enjoy! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net

We are a small family farmstead in upstate NY. We raise American Guinea Hogs, meat "mutt" rabbits and a variety of heritage chickens. We also have started raising Cornish Cross broilers. We have a large garden comprised f raised beds and do a lot of canning and freezing of vegetables. We also do some fermentation as a means of food preservation and introducing natural probiotics into our diet. This YouTube channel is dedicated to our journey towards a more sustainable, healthy and wholesome lifestyle. Who knows what we might try next??!!!!! Visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ music by audionautix.com

I love things on the homestead that are useful. But, I also love things that are versatile. And I really enjoy repurposing things. So, today I talk about 5 of the most versatile and useful items on our homestead. Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/the.hjp)

This week was absolutely a crazy week on the homestead. Between a trip to PA to attend a family reunion, my parent's 45th wedding anniversary and a visit from my brother and sister in law and their family, I really didn't have much time for homesteading stuff. Instead, I tried to be in the moment, spending as much time as I possibly could with them. This FMF is my challenge to you attempt to find balance in life, EVEN IF that means allowing the homestead to take a backseat to other, more important things. Enjoy Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/the.hjp)

This week Basil had a litter of piglets. On Saturday, I did my initial evaluation and thought that it might be helpful for me to explain what I look for in a pig. So, on this episode I talk about the things that are important to me as a breeder. Here is a link to this week's Five Minute Friday. I also mention The Livestock Conservancy and The American Guinea Hog Association. Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/the.hjp)

Every year, my goal is a weed free garden. And every year, I fail. This year, I have a plan. 3 easy steps that I am going to follow that I think you can follow too!! Japanese Sickle Hoe: https://amzn.to/3a53tH7 Wire Hoe from Never Sink Farm: https://www.neversinktools.com/collections/wire-hoes/products/proletariat-hoe-without-wood-handle Enjoy! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/the.hjp)

Have you ever felt like nothing is going right? That nothing is going according to plan? This spring has felt that way on our homestead. Starting with the leaky window sills that led to a mold issue in the master bedroom up through this past week where I had a visit to the ER, it has been a struggle to get things headed the right way on the homestead. So, today (at Bonnie's urging) I share with you some of the ways that we handle when things don't go right on 3B Farm and Homestead. Enjoy! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/the.hjp)

On this week's 5 Minute Friday, I encourage you to move beyond fruits when making jams and jellies. Did you know you can use flowers, herbs, veggies and even corn cobs to make jams and jellies? If you're new to all of this, you may want to start with the more standard fruit based jams and jellies (and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. They taste GREAT!!) But, if you've done that, then I urge you to try something unique. You might just like it. Enjoy, Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net

A lot of times, as we think about being a homesteader, we think about the short term. We think about raising and growing food. We think about preserving food. We think about raising animals and putting meat in the freezer and that's certainly important, but many times I think we lose sight of the fact that what we are doing is far more important than just putting food on the table or food in the freezer. We are building a legacy. On this episode I share some of my memories of my legacy. And encourage you to keep up the good work, as you too, are leaving a legacy behind. Enjoy! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net

Many people would like to start canning but they aren't sure where or how to get started. Making jams and jellies is an easy way try it out. You can get started in many cases with things you already having in your kitchen (you'll need to buy jelly jars/lids/rings). But, if you have a stock pot, you have all you need to get started. Most jelly/jam recipes are very easy. They generally require three ingredients; fruit, sugar and pectin. My advice is to buy a box of Sure Jell pectin and follow the recipe to a "T". It may seem likes its a lot of sugar. Just go with it. (Or buy the low sugar variety. But, i'd still recommend new people start with the regular Sure Jell). You can can. Making jams and jellies is kind of like getting chickens; its the gateway drug to food preservation. Enjoy, Brian

We are a small family farmstead in upstate NY. We raise American Guinea Hogs, meat "mutt" rabbits and a variety of heritage chickens. We also have started raising Cornish Cross broilers. We have a large garden comprised f raised beds and do a lot of canning and freezing of vegetables. We also do some fermentation as a means of food preservation and introducing natural probiotics into our diet. This YouTube channel is dedicated to our journey towards a more sustainable, healthy and wholesome lifestyle. Who knows what we might try next??!!!!! Visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ music by audionautix.com

Don't ever give up. Don't stop trying. Don't give up. Push harder. Don't quit. These are things that we are told from a young age. But, sometimes the best thing we can do is be a quitter. I'm not talking about just turning tail and running when adversity comes. We are certainly going to face adversity on the homestead. But, there are some times when quitting is the best thing we can do for our homestead journey. On this episode of Five Minute Fridays I encourage you to be a quitter. Here is the link to Episode 37: https://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/podcast/episode/49776f11/s1e37-bigger-isnt-always-better-wspecial-guest-brenda-scott Here is a link to Don at Little Mountain Life about quitting his microgreen business: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3gogIzaU9M Enjoy!! Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net

On this episode we talk about when you may want to NOT do some homesteading things and instead, hire someone else to do them; in essence, trading dollars for hours. I also mention the Livestock Conservancy and the fact that this week is International Heritage Breeds Week. Episode with Cathy Payne https://www.livestockconservancy.org/ I also mention Beardsley Zoo, Enjoy, Brian http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net/shop http://www.thehomesteadjourney.net https://www.facebook.com/TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast http://www.youtube.com/c/3BFarmandHomestead https://www.facebook.com/3BFarmNY/ https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadjourneypodcast/?hl=en https://teespring.com/stores/thehomesteadjourneypodcast Brian@thehomesteadjourney.net