Sustainability Book Chat

Deborah Niemann
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Whether you live in a suburban condo or on an off-grid farm, you can live a greener lifestyle. In the Sustainability Book Chat we talk to authors who can help you reach your goals to achieve a more self-reliant lifestyle, whether that means starting a container garden on your balcony or having chickens in your backyard or making greener transportation choices.

  1. 10/09/2025

    Making Sauerkraut

    Got a question? 🤔  Head over to --  https://thriftyhomesteader.com/making-sauerkraut/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply!  Description Did you know that sauerkraut can do more than just top your hot dog? In this episode, fermentation expert Holly Howe joins us to share how this simple fermented food can transform your gut health and bring your meals to life. Holly is the founder of MakeSauerkraut and the author of a comprehensive guide to making sauerkraut and kimchi right in your own kitchen. We talk about: The difference between pickling and fermentingHow Holly got started with fermentation after discovering Nourishing TraditionsWhy salt (and the right amount of it) is key to successful fermentationCommon mistakes beginners make and how to avoid themHow to eat sauerkraut daily—and why you might want toWhy fermented food is safe, and how to handle moldThe 10K Jar Challenge and how you can participate!Whether you're curious about sauerkraut and kimchi, looking to support your digestion naturally, or just want to preserve your garden harvest, this episode will give you the confidence to get started. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, which help keep the lights on here at Thrifty Homesteader so we can continue to provide hundreds of free articles. Featured Book Mouthwatering Sauerkraut Fermentation Made Easy! Buy on AmazonBuy on BookshopOther Resources Mentioned Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon Buy on AmazonBuy on BookshopWild Fermentation by Sandor Katz Buy on AmazonBuy on Bookshop10K Jar Challenge 💜 Love what you hear? Buy us a coffee! Your support helps keep the conversations going. And if you found this episode helpful, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with your sustainability-minded friends. Every little bit helps us grow!

    34 min

  2. 27/08/2025

    Mastering the Art of Preserving Vegetables with Angi Schneider

    Got a question? 🤔  Head over to --  https://thriftyhomesteader.com/preserving-vegetables/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply!  Description In this episode, Deborah Niemann is joined by author, blogger, and homesteader Angi Schneider to talk about the many ways you can preserve your garden bounty—without wasting money or time.  Angi shares practical tips from her book, The Ultimate Guide to Preserving Vegetables, covering everything from equipment basics to smart preservation strategies that help avoid common pitfalls. Whether you grow your own produce, buy in bulk at the farmer’s market, or barter with neighbors, this episode will help you make the most of every harvest without overdoing it. What You’ll Learn Why pickling opens up canning possibilities without pressure cannersWhich vegetables ferment best—and the simple tools that make it easyCreative ways to preserve potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, and herbsHow to avoid wasting time and money on food your family won’t eatThe importance of following science-based safety guidelines in preservationAs an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, which help keep the lights on here at Thrifty Homesteader so we can continue to provide hundreds of free articles. Angi Schneider's Books The Ultimate Guide to Preserving VegetablesBuy on AmazonBuy on BookshopPressure Canning for Beginners and BeyondBuy on AmazonBuy on Bookshop💜 Love what you hear? Buy us a coffee! Your support helps keep the conversations going. And if you found this episode helpful, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with your sustainability-minded friends. Every little bit helps us grow!

    36 min

  3. 05/06/2025

    Why Family Farms Are Disappearing with Brian Reisinger

    Got a question or thought to share? 🤔💬  Head over to the blog post -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/family-farms/ -- and drop it in the comments—we’d love to hear what you think and we’ll be sure to reply!  Description In this episode Deborah Niemann is joined by Brian Reisinger, journalist and author of Land Rich, Cash Poor, to talk about a subject close to both their hearts: the alarming disappearance of family farms in the United States. Brian grew up on a multi-generational Wisconsin farm and brings a unique perspective as both a writer and someone with deep roots in agriculture. Drawing from his family’s story and extensive research, Brian explains the historical, economic, political, and technological forces that have shaped—and in many cases, harmed—family farming for over a century. What You’ll Learn: Why family farms have been disappearing for over 100 yearsThe ripple effect of labor, policy, and market changes on farm viabilityThe critical role of government research and how its decline hurts innovationWhy private companies should care about saving small farms, tooWhat we can do to protect the 2 million farms still standing today📘 Featured Book Land Rich, Cash Poor by Brian ReisingerBuy on AmazonBuy on BookshopLove This Episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your sustainability-minded friends.  Find all episodes and transcripts at: 🔗 thriftyhomesteader.com/bookchat 💜 Love what you hear? Buy us a coffee! Your support helps keep the conversations going. And if you found this episode helpful, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with your sustainability-minded friends. Every little bit helps us grow!

    31 min

  4. 27/05/2025

    Building a Pantry from Scratch with Kris Bordessa

    Got a question or thought to share? 🤔💬  Head over to the blog post -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/building-a-pantry-from-scratch/ -- and drop it in the comments—we’d love to hear what you think and we’ll be sure to reply!  Description  In this episode, Deborah Niemann welcomes Kris Bordessa, author of Attainable Sustainable and the new follow-up, Attainable Sustainable Pantry. Kris shares her inspiration behind writing a book focused entirely on pantry staples and kitchen self-reliance, especially after the overwhelming response to her first book.  Whether you’re a complete beginner or already comfortable in the kitchen, this conversation is packed with practical tips, money-saving ideas, and sustainability-minded advice for taking control of your food. What You’ll Learn Why Kris’s second book is a deep dive into pantry-focused self-relianceHow to replace boxed foods like pancake mix and instant oatmeal with homemade versionsWhat to do when you run out of ingredients like brown sugar or oat flourKitchen tools that make homemade cooking more accessible (hint: stand mixer wins!)Tips for using up food instead of throwing it away (like turning failed bread into croutons)Easy ways to start preserving food without a pressure canner, including:Quick picklingDehydratingFreezing in oilUnexpected DIY recipes like crystallized ginger, red wine vinegar, and garlic powderKris’s favorite pantry snack: homemade cheese crackers (goodbye, Cheez-Its!)Why this book is especially timely for anyone struggling with rising grocery costsResources Mentioned 📘 Attainable Sustainable Pantry by Kris BordessaBuy on AmazonBuy on Bookshop📘 Attainable Sustainable: The Lost Art of Self-Reliant LivingBuy on AmazonBuy on Bookshop🧂 National Center for Home Food Preservation (used for vetting preservation recipes)Connect with Kris Bordessa 🌐 Website: attainablesustainable.net📱 Social: @AttainableSustainable on Facebook, Instagram, and moreLove This Episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your sustainability-minded friends. Find all episodes and transcripts at: 🔗 thriftyhomesteader.com/bookchat 💜 Love what you hear? Buy us a coffee! Your support helps keep the conversations going. And if you found this episode helpful, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with your sustainability-minded friends. Every little bit helps us grow!

    26 min

  5. 02/05/2023

    Diane Sorensen: The Tales of Mr. Ken Rooster and the Six Sassy Hens

    Whether you're a chicken keeper or someone who simply gets annoyed when reading children's books that are filled with misinformation about animals, Diane Sorenson's, The Tales of Mr. Ken Rooster and the Six Sassy Hens, is a fun little gem that's sure to delight young children, as well as the adults reading the book to them. The book includes short stories about the seven chickens in the author's backyard, and many of the stories, such as the ones about the fox and the raccoon, are based on true events. In today's episode, we are talking to Diane about her chicken-keeping journey and her inspiration for the book. Full show notes here --  https://thriftyhomesteader.com/backyard-chickens-in-childrens-book/ To see the most recent episodes, visit  ThriftyHomesteader.com/BookChat 💜 Love what you hear? Buy us a coffee! Your support helps keep the conversations going. And if you found this episode helpful, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with your sustainability-minded friends. Every little bit helps us grow!

    18 min

  6. 31/01/2023

    Chris McLaughlin: Growing a Good Garden Naturally

    If you want to grow a garden that is in sync with nature, then you need to check out Chris McLaughlin's ninth and newest book, The Good Garden: How to Nurture Pollinators, Soil, Native Wildlife, and Healthy Food — All in Your Own Backyard. In this episode, Chris and I are talking about several of The Good Garden concepts presented in her book, starting with knowing your ecosystem. We talk about how pollinators and wildlife are your partners in the garden, how to control weeds naturally, and how to keep bad bugs at bay. Then we talk about enlisting the help of domestic critters in your garden, and Chris give examples from her own life with rabbits, chickens, and goats. Full show notes here --  https://thriftyhomesteader.com/growing-a-good-garden/ To see the most recent episodes, visit  ThriftyHomesteader.com/BookChat 💜 Love what you hear? Buy us a coffee! Your support helps keep the conversations going. And if you found this episode helpful, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with your sustainability-minded friends. Every little bit helps us grow!

    29 min

  7. 24/01/2023

    Lisa Kivirist: Homemade for Sale

    It only seems natural that after you perfect a homemade delicacy for your family and friends, the next step is to start selling it. Until recently this was financially impossible in many states due to regulations that meant you would have to invest big bucks in infrastructure to start a business. However, now that all 50 states have cottage food laws, you can start selling food directly from your home kitchen.  But before you start baking and selling, be sure to listen to this episode with Lisa Kivirist, co-author of Homemade for Sale: How to Set Up and Market a Food Business from Your Home Kitchen. There are still some things you need to do to stay legal, but it is now so much easier than it was before the cottage food laws were passed. In this episode we are talking about exactly what you can and cannot sell from your kitchen, as well as where you can sell your products. We talk about the difference between hazardous and non-hazardous foods, and we even get into what needs to be included on your product labels. Not sure how to price your products? We talk about that too. Full show notes here --  https://thriftyhomesteader.com/how-to-start-food-business-from-home/ To see the most recent episodes, visit Sustainability Book Chat Podcast. 💜 Love what you hear? Buy us a coffee! Your support helps keep the conversations going. And if you found this episode helpful, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with your sustainability-minded friends. Every little bit helps us grow!

    35 min

  8. 14/06/2022

    Tasha Greer: Weed-Free Gardening

    When talking about weeds, people use words like enemy, battle, and war. No one wants weeds in their garden, right? Well, it depends! In this episode, author and gardener Tasha Greer talks about why we can't win the "war on weeds," and why we don't really need to. In fact, it's entirely possible to make peace with weeds in our garden. Tasha goes way beyond the usual suggestions for mulching and pulling weeds. In fact, she tells us why pulling weeds is actually a bad idea. And mulching can even cause problems when used with the wrong weeds. Instead, she talks about what we can learn from our weeds and how weeds can actually help us. Full show notes here -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/weed-free-garden/ To see the most recent episodes, visit  ThriftyHomesteader.com/BookChat 💜 Love what you hear? Buy us a coffee! Your support helps keep the conversations going. And if you found this episode helpful, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with your sustainability-minded friends. Every little bit helps us grow!

    26 min
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About

Whether you live in a suburban condo or on an off-grid farm, you can live a greener lifestyle. In the Sustainability Book Chat we talk to authors who can help you reach your goals to achieve a more self-reliant lifestyle, whether that means starting a container garden on your balcony or having chickens in your backyard or making greener transportation choices.

Information

  • Creator
    Deborah Niemann
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Sustainability Book Chat
  • Show Website
    Sustainability Book Chat