The Homestead Journey

On this episode I am privileged to be joined by Troy McClung from the Pastured Pig Podcast (You may remember that I was honored to be a guest on that show a couple of weeks ago) and from The Red Toolhouse Youtube channel. Troy is a wealth of homesteading knowledge. In particular, he focuses on pastured pigs and timber management (something I don't think any other homesteading YouTube channel does at all let alone as well as Troy does it.) Along with his wife Kelly (who should be nominated for sainthood) and their two sons, they have been building a homestead on the hills and hollers of West Virginia (NOT to be confused with Western Virginia). It was a joy and a privilege to talk to Troy about how they got started homesteading, the joys and successes, the sorrows and failures, and really everything else in between. We also talked some about their vision for the future which I think is pretty remarkable. You can find out more about Troy and his family at https://redtoolhouse.com/ where you will also find links to all of their social media accounts. 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

When it is processing time and I post pictures on Facebook or Instagram, one of the things I hear a lot from people is, "I don't know how you can raise animals and then eat them." I see many homesteaders in groups who struggle with the emotions that come from processing animals or losing animals to disease or natural causes. I have shared with you before some of the emotions that I struggle with. I have told you how it bothers me when I drop animals off to be processed, and how in part that is because I want to be the one to do the deed. I have told you how it bothers me when I dispatch rabbits and chickens and pigs on the homestead. I have also shared with you my firm resolution that the day it no longer bothers me is the day I get rid of my animals. Unfortunately, sometimes other homesteaders on some of the groups and forums are less than supportive as we deal with these emotions. Sometime we face the wrath of vegans/vegetarians who try to guilt us into not eating meat any longer. Old timers who think we are a wusses for caring. Or those who have belittled us for taking animals to be processed and not doing it ourselves. I have also seen others who maybe lost an animal to mistake or disease or something else be taken to the woodshed as they wrestled with trying to figure out what went wrong and what they a could do differently. Certainly none of that is helpful when dealing with death on the homestead. So, today's episode is a (hopefully) judgement free zone on how I deal with death on the homestead. Hopefully, this will help you as well. 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 heading into that time of the year when the days are short and the nights are long. It can be cold and snowy and dreary. My guess is that if I were to do a poll of homesteaders, for many, their least favorite season would be winter. On this episode, we talk about embracing the suck; how maybe a difference in perspective can help with the winter blues on the homestead. I also bring you up to speed on what we've been doing on 3B Farm and Homestead this week. Enjoy!! Brian Don't forget about our giveaways this month. We will be giving away some HJP Merch, including some mugs from http://www.creekroadpottery.com as well as some T-shirts from our new TeeSpring shop. You can enter to win by doing the following: Enter to win by sharing The Homestead Journey Podcast on social media using #TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast By leaving us a review on your preferred podcasting platform and emailing me @ Brian@TheHomesteadJourney.net By going to http://giveaway.thehomesteadjourney.net/birthday and signing up. 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 Happy Birthday Song / Happy, Background (No Copyright Music) Video Link: https://youtu.be/2lyz4q-Zrpk

I am sure that none of us thought 2020 would turn out to to be like this. Quite frankly, it has sucked. But, on this episode, we talk about the things that I am thankful for, even in the middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic. I count my blessings. What blessing do you have? Don't forget about our giveaways this month. We will be giving away some HJP Merch, including some mugs from http://www.creekroadpottery.com as well as some T-shirts from our new TeeSpring shop. You can enter to win by doing the following: Enter to win by sharing The Homestead Journey Podcast on social media using #TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast By leaving us a review on your preferred podcasting platform and emailing me @ Brian@TheHomesteadJourney.net By going to http://giveaway.thehomesteadjourney.net/birthday and signing up. 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/ Happy Birthday Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laPhvAZ_2m4 Website: https://www.luckysevenswing.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuckySevenSwing music by audionautix.com

On this week's episode I give you an update on this year's experiment with the Ruth Stout gardening method; what went well, what didn't go so well and what we plan on doing different next year. Don't forget about our giveaways this month. We will be giving away some HJP Merch, including some mugs from http://www.creekroadpottery.com as well as some T-shirts from our new TeeSpring shop. You can enter to win by doing the following: Enter to win by sharing The Homestead Journey Podcast on social media using #TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast By leaving us a review on your preferred podcasting platform and emailing me @ Brian@TheHomesteadJourney.net By going to http://giveaway.thehomesteadjourney.net/birthday and signing up. 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

On this week's episode I am joined by my two favorite homesteaders in the entire world, my mom and dad, Rod and Cora Wells. We talk about our family history, what they are doing on their 1 acre homestead as well as what homesteading means to them. On this episode I also talk about the geese and ducks we processed this weekend. Here are the links to the recipes we used. https://www.almanac.com/recipe/roast-goose https://www.marthastewart.com/907162/roast-duck-101 Don't forget about our giveaways this month. We will be giving away some HJP Merch, including some mugs from http://www.creekroadpottery.com as well as some T-shirts from our new TeeSpring shop. You can enter to win by doing the following: Enter to win by sharing The Homestead Journey Podcast on social media using #TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast By leaving us a review on your preferred podcasting platform and emailing me @ Brian@TheHomesteadJourney.net By going to http://giveaway.thehomesteadjourney.net/birthday and signing up. 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

One of the most common questions I am seeing in the Facebook groups and, homesteading forums goes like this. "Help. I just closed on my new homestead. Where do I start?" Now. Let me first start by saying this. It is natural and normal to feel a bit overwhelmed at this point. You've had these dreams of having a homestead and these dreams are starting to become realized, and reality sets in. And quite frankly, I don't think it matters whether or not you're brand new to homesteading or you're an experienced homesteader, relocating to another piece of property, starting a homestead from scratch can be overwhelming. My first piece of advice is simply this. Take a deep breath. Homesteading is a marathon. It is not a sprint. And the temptation is going to be there. To try to do too much. You want to raise all the things you want to grow, all the things you want to do, all the things. But take a deep breath. Physically and figuratively, but take a deep breath. Do not try to do too much. But, after that, every homestead journey is going to look different. There is no cookie cutter 5 steps to starting a homestead plan. So, on this episode we talk about some of the reasons why there is no such thing but also some of the things that maybe every homesteader should think about when getting started. 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 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

A couple of months ago, I ran across this post on the artofmanliness.com website. https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/sunday-firesides-resisting-the-auto-suggested-life/ I immediately thought about how what they were saying could apply to homesteading. If we are not careful, we can homestead not based on our plans or our desires, but based on what everyone else is doing or what everyone else thinks we should be doing. SO, on this episode, I give you some of the strategies that I used to do my best to avoid the auto-suggested homestead. On this episode I also talk about some of the things we are doing to celebrate the 1 year anniversary of the show. We will be giving away some HJP Merch, including some mugs from http://www.creekroadpottery.com as well as some T-shirts from our new TeeSpring shop. You can enter to win by doing the following: Enter to win by sharing The Homestead Journey Podcast on social media using #TheHomesteadJourneyPodcast By leaving us a review on your preferred podcasting platform and emailing me @ Brian@TheHomesteadJourney.net By going to http://giveaway.thehomesteadjourney.net/birthday and signing up. 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

A couple of weeks ago, I had a listener reach out to me and ask what we did for watering during the winter. Watering animals during the winter when you live in an area where it gets cold and stays cold for a long period of time is a challenge. How do we deal with the winter watering woes here on the homestead? On this episode, I share with you some of the things we have tried so far on our homestead to deal with the WWW and what we will be trying this coming year. And, if you have any better solutions to the problem, I'd be happy to share them with the world and give you all the credit. Here is a link to the video from the MIndful Homestead that I talked about. 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 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

There is no question that we currently live in a very polarized society. We are polarized politically and culturally. Throw in the COVID-19 pandemic and a contentious presidential election and it feels like things are almost at a boiling point. Relationships with both friends and family are being fractured as a result. On Friday afternoon, I witnessed a motorcycle accident as I was getting ready to pull out of my driveway, returning to work after my lunch break. What I witnessed in the aftermath is that none of that stuff mattered. People didn't care whether or not the rider was Democrat or Republican or Libertarian or Independent. People didn't care whether he was pro-Trump or pro-Biden. No one cared about his positions on hot button topics such as abortion, guns, drugs, or war. None of that mattered. People saw a human being in need and rallied to fight for his life. These are my reflections as I have been processing this over the weekend. I also share with you the exciting trip we took to pickup our newest boar, Boris. Trust me when I tell you that getting him loaded into the trailer was a ADVENTURE. 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 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

The old adage is that good fences make good neighbors. There perhaps isn't an animal with the exception of goats where that rings truer than with pigs. On today's episode we talk about some of the things you should take into consideration with regards to fencing as well as different fencing strategies. As always, 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 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

This week I had a listener contact me on our Facebook page and ask me about the types of shelters we use for our pigs here on 3B Farm and Homestead. So, I decided to shoot some video with this week's episode and not only tell you about the types of shelters we use, but also show you the shelters we use. But, before we jump into that, we talk about some of the things you should consider before building a pig shelter; * type of pigs * quantity of pigs * environmental considerations * mobility needs. 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 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

There’s part of me that feels guilty that I’m not a four season gardener. Honestly, I’m not sure that I’m anything more than a summer gardener. But, I’m starting to be ok with that. This year I started feeling the pressure to be a multi season gardener. In part, I think it was the pandemic. I had this incredible urge to grow as much food as possible. To grow as if our lives depended on it. Because, well, maybe they did. I also felt pressure to be a multi-season gardener because I saw a lot of other people doing it. People planting spring gardens and then summer gardens and then fall gardens. But, as the frost hit this weekend, instead of feeling sadness, I honestly felt a sense of relief. I realized something; I’m ready for gardening to be over. I’m done with shutting off canners at 2 AM. I’m sick of having a table of semi-ripe tomatoes in the back window. I’m done with tripping over canners and rings and such. I’m done. Until the spring. Maybe you feel the same way. It's ok. Enjoy the pep talk in this week's podcast!! 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 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

One of the positive things from COVID is that people are waking up to the fact that the system is broken. Now, some of us have been waking up to that fact for awhile. That certainly doesn’t make us smarter/wiser/etc. All of us come from different backgrounds with different life experiences and perspectives. The fact is, sometimes you cannot see a problem until you are directly impacted. And this year, for the first time ever, many people were confronted by the brokenness of the system. So, why do I say that is a good thing? Well, the old adage is "The first step to solving a problem is to acknowledging that there IS a problem." In 2020, many of us have taken that first step to admit that there is a problem; the system is broken. On this episode we talk about ways the system is broken and how that relates to homesteading. And we talk about steps that we can take as homesteaders to be a part of the solution. I also give you a dose of sheer honesty: this week, I struggled with motivation here on the homestead. I was (and maybe still am) in a funk. But, we got through it and I share with you what I was able to get accomplished on the homestead. Here are the two links I promised. https://roguefoodconference.com Living Traditions Homestead Tomato Video 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

On this episode I chat with Jack and Jackie from The Mindful Homestead Youtube channel about their journey into homesteading. They recently made a HUGE step in the journey as Jack changed careers as a result of having a better quality of life that is more conducive to homesteading. They raise meat birds, layers, and forest raised pigs as well as have a garden. Along with their two year old Emma, they live on 10 acres in southern New Hampshire. I hope you enjoy listening to their story as much as I did talking to them. Mindful Homestead Youtube Channel Mindful Homestead on Instagram Mindful Homestead Tee Shirts https://www.mindfulhomestead.com/ Here is a link to the t-shirt I mentioned. 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

Sometimes we get so focused on the tasks at hand; weeding, harvesting, preserving or we are so focused on planning for the next season, that we neglect to note the things that have gone well or haven’t gone well, the lessons that we have learned so that we can set ourselves up for success the following year’s season. And, if we aren’t careful, we will find ourselves repeating the same mistakes over and over again. On today's episode we talk about 10 areas of observation I think can help us be even more successful as gardeners. Now, I'll admit, this is a growing edge for me. I am not someone who ever has had much luck keeping a journal or a diary. But, I am finding some success with Google's Keep Notes. If you've struggled with journaling like I have, I'd recommend you download the app and give it a try. 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 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

This week I had a friend offer me some roosters for processing. The only thing that he asked for in return when I butchered them were the feet...... and the combs. Now, I was familiar with using chicken feet in cooking. In fact, a few weeks ago, I tried making some stock with the chicken feet. (As you may recall, I botched the attempt.) However, I had never heard of using cockscombs in cooking. Well, it's a thing. Now, we often talk about nose to tail cooking; trying to use as much of pigs and cows as possible. But, sometimes we overlook applying that same approach to chickens. So, I've called today's episode, "From Beak To Butt: Using the WHOLE Chicken". We talk about using everything from the necks to the testicles and pretty much everything in between. Hopefully you find this episode interesting; maybe even inspiring. And hopefully, less of your chicken will go to waste as a result. Enjoy! Brian 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 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

This coming week would have been our county fair. Like so many county fairs across the country, it has been cancelled due to COVID-19. You have no idea how bummed that makes me feel. I absolutely LOVE our fair. I love the sights, the sounds, the smells, the exhibits, the shows, the demolition derby, and of course, the food!!! Alas, this year, it's not to be. But, on this episode I share with you some of the reasons why we participate in our fair and why I think you might want to consider participating in yours, even if it's not going to be until 2021. Some of the reasons I think homesteaders should consider taking part are: Good for kids: responsibility, affirmation, learn more about their animals, etc. Great way to connect with other like minded people Great way to introduce others to the lifestyle (or at least components of the lifestyle) and educate people on why raising your own food is a good thing Validation Fun Great way to advertise if you are selling meat, veggies, etc. 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 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

All Episodes Delete Edit S1E44 The Tools I Have Found Most Useful On The Homestead August 17, 2020 Brian Wells Description As I was thinking about this episode, I took a step back and started asking myself; what constitutes a tool? Is my tractor a tool? Are 5 gallon buckets tools? Are my All American Canners Tools? What about shovels, rakes and pitchforks? How about wheelbarrows and wagons? What is a tool? What I decided to do was focus on hand and power tools that I have found to be the most helpful here on our homestead. These are tools I find myself reaching for over and over and over again. And, in many cases I have found uses for them way beyond what I first bought them for. In some cases, I resisted buying them for awhile simply because I am a cheapskate. Finally, I tried to focus on tools that I think almost every homestead will find useful. Now, I skipped over kind of obvious things like screwdrivers, hammers, shovels, rakes, etc. I actually did consider putting a snow shovel on this list because we actually have found that to be the most effective tool for cleaning out our chicken coop. But, I resisted the temptation. Now, I am sure that after I put this episode out, I am going to think about tools that I should have put on this list. And so maybe in the not too distant future, there will be a part two to this. And I would LOVE to hear from you as to the tools you have found invaluable on your homestead. Below are affiliate links to some of the tools I mention on the podcast. DEWALT 20V MAX Combo Kit, Compact 4-Tool (DCK420D2) DEWALT 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw with Electric Brake, 15-Amp (DWE575SB) DEWALT DCS354B ATOMIC 20V Max Brushless Cordless Oscillating Multi-Tool (tool only) Dewalt DCG412B 20V MAX* Lithium Ion 4-1/2” grinder (Tool Only) IRWIN Tin Snip, Flat Blade, 12-inch (22012) IRWIN VISE-GRIP GrooveLock Pliers, V-Jaw, 12", 2078112 MTB Fence Post Driver with Handle, 18LB Grey Waxed Canvas Apron (Brown) I also talk on this episode about making corn cob jelly. Here is the link to the recipe. https://www.simplycanning.com/corn-cob-jelly.html 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 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

When it comes to our homestead journey, I don’t have a lot of regrets. That’s not to say that things have always been easy or have gone according to plan. That’s certainly not the case. There have been a lot of failures along the way. Or, actually, I like to look at them as Thomas Edison did when he was accused of failing 10,000 times before inventing the light bulb. He said, “No, I didn’t fail. I just learned 10,000 ways it doesn’t work.” If you haven’t gathered this by now, that is really how I approach homesteading in general. It is all a big experiment. What works for others may not work for me. And what works for me may not work for others. Generally speaking, whether in homesteading or life in general, I look at failures as learning opportunities. What can I take away from this so I don’t make the same mistake in the future? For me, generally it’s not a matter of, “I wish I could go back and do things differently….” Those flaws, those mistakes, those things that haven’t gone according to plan are what have made me who I am today and are building blocks for the future. But, there are a handful of things that come to my mind that I really do wish I could go back and do over. They are lessons I’ve learned, but there’s really not much I can do with those lessons other than share them with other people in the hopes that they won’t make the same mistakes that I have. And so I share with you 6 of my biggest regrets so far in our homesteading journey. Enjoy! Brian NEW: 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 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

Taking vacations can be complicated in and of themselves. Deciding where you are going, where you are staying, who is going (and sometimes who is NOT going) can all be stressful. But, adding a homestead to the equation makes things that much more difficult. Depending on the size of your homestead and the season, it can be very tricky to get away. This episode is being released the Sunday after we have returned from our vacation. And so I thought it would be helpful to share with you some of the things we do and maybe you should do to prepare your homestead for vacation. 1. When? Timing is everything. Try to avoid time away during the busiest of seasons. 2. Who? Do you need someone to cover your chores and look after your garden? If so, who? 3. What? What needs to be done? Have a detailed plan. 4. How? How can you simplify things to make things as easy as possible? 5. Feed. Make sure you have enough on hand. And not just enough; have extra. 6. Fences. If you've got animals, check your infrastructure. You don't want to have your neighbors upset at you or your farm sitters chasing your animals all over God's creation. 7. Contingency plans. Have a first aid kit ready and the number to your vet handy. Hopefully these tips will help you take a vacation that is rejuvenating and relaxing. And if you have any other great tips, I'd love to hear them Enjoy!! Brian 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 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

On this episode I am joined by Adam and Michelle from Farm Life Outfitters. They are a family that is homesteading in North Carolina. You may know them from their YouTube channel as well as their graphic T-shirt business. We talk about their journey into homesteading, some of the things that have worked and some of the things that haven't worked. They also share with us their vision for the future with their homestead. I really enjoyed talking with them and I hope you find this episode encouraging. You can find them here: https://www.farmlifeoutfitters.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPbpTkU2l8uv0JuR6pQOW8g https://www.instagram.com/farmlifeoutfitters/ Enjoy!! Brian 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 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

Nothing fancy. Just some video of our ducks enjoying a nice bath.

Just like we have seen an interest in people gardening and raising their own meat, lately there has been an increase in the number of people wanting to learn how to can. But, some people find this to be a daunting task. In fact, I know several people who have a pressure canner sitting in a closet because they are too afraid to try it. So, if you’re one of those people (new to canning or too afraid to try), my goal is to help you get started. I’ve said I’m not an expert in many things. And maybe I'm not an expert here either. But, this is an area where I do have quite a bit of experience. I’ve been doing this for 14 years and have literally canned thousands of jars of food. So. on this episode we talk about the two different methods of canning that are approved for home food preservation; water bath canning and pressure canning. We talk about how they are the same and how they are different. We discuss the ways that you would apply the two methods. We also delve into some of the reasons why I think people avoid pressure canning in favor of hot water bath canning. And I share why I think they are wrong. We also talk quite a bit about botulism; what it is, how it multiplies and what you can do to avoid having it in your canned goods. Much of that information comes from this website. Finally, we talk about some common sense things people can do to ensure that they are canning safely. Here is a link to the National Center for Home Food Preservation Here is a link to the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving (affiliate link) Here is a link to the Presto Canner I mention. Enjoy! Brian 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 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

For many people, when they think about preserving meat, the first thing that comes to mind (and the only thing that comes to mind, is freezing.) And while that is certainly a good option and it is a relatively cheap and fool proof option, it is just that, an option. What many people don’t realize is that there are many other ways that you can safely preserve meat on your homestead without the use of a freezer. On this episode we talk about the various options that exist (I am certain this is not a comprehensive list) for preserving meat on your homestead. On this episode we discuss: Curing/Salting - Country Ham/Prosciutto/Salt Cod/Bacon/Coppa/Sausage Brining (liquid vs. dry) - Corned Beef / hams Larding Canning Dehydrating (Solar/Machine) - Fish/Jerky Freeze Drying On The Hoof I also talk about smoking meat and give my thoughts on whether or not it is a method of meat preservation or not. Let me emphasize that not following the correct methods can result in spoiled meat and/or unsafe/deadly foods. So, make sure you are following KNOWN expert advice, not just Joe Blow from Idaho who has a blog. If you have any questions about this or would like get my thoughts with regards to next steps with regards to any of these methods, feel free to reach out to me via email or our social media accounts, and I'll be glad to point you in the right direction. Enjoy! Brian 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 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