The Redeeming the Dirt Podcast

Noah Sanders
  • 5.0 (31)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Biweekly

Do you love Jesus and love farming? Then this is the podcast for you! The host, Noah Sanders, is the author of Born-Again Dirt, Farming to the Glory of God. On this show he shares how we can connect faith and farming so that we can find purpose in glorifying God and serving others while excelling in land stewardship. As a market gardener and homesteader Noah shares stories from his own journey as well as interviews of other Christian Agrarians. Join us as we seek to Redeem the Dirt!

  1. Jul 14

    Homeschooling On The Homestead

    Send us Fan Mail What does it look like to educate your children well when you're also milking cows, fixing tractors, and butchering chickens? In this episode, Noah sits down with Todd Smith — a former teacher and school administrator turned homeschooling, homesteading dad — to talk about integrating education and farm life instead of letting them compete. Todd shares the vision of "domestic monasticism" that led three families to co-own an 86-acre farm in East Tennessee, and why a life shaped by prayer, study, and labor forms children who are thoughtful, compassionate, and hardworking. In this episode: Why education is more formation than information — and what that frees you fromStarting with the end in mind: defining who you want your children to become before deciding what curriculum to useWriting a family vision statement (and why keeping the whole list in front of you is a recipe for discouragement)Charlotte Mason's simple daily framework: something to know, someone to love, something to doOral narration, commonplace notebooks, and copying Scripture — low-cost tools that actually build readers and writersA day in the life on St. Mary's FarmWhen the pigs get out and the tractor breaks: treating "distractions" as the curriculum, not interruptions to itAn honest conversation about family roles, complementarianism, and how Todd and his wife divide farm, income, and educationPractical first steps: choose one book, read it together, and make your child the resident expert on one part of the farmResources mentioned: Todd's packet of planning questions and skill lists for homesteading families The Monkhood of All Believers by Greg PetersThe Benedict Option and Live Not by Lies by Rod DreherCharlotte Mason's educational philosophyThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienConnect with Todd: Instagram: St. Mary's Farm TennesseeEmail: tsmith@fcsva.comUntil next time — be faithful, be humble, and keep redeeming the dirt. Support the show

  2. Jul 1

    Faith, Farming, And The Real Cost Of Freedom

    Send us Fan Mail Freedom gets talked about like it’s a feeling, but it’s really a foundation, and foundations can crack. With the 250th anniversary of America’s independence on our minds, we slow down and look at what liberty actually costs, what keeps it strong, and what happens when a culture starts trading it away piece by piece. I share why I’m deeply grateful to live in the United States, not as blind optimism, but as a sober appreciation for a heritage built through sacrifice and shaped by faith.  We go to Scripture, especially Galatians 5, to separate real Christian freedom from the cheap version that means “do whatever I want.” Christ sets us free so we can live free, and that freedom is meant to produce self-control and love of neighbor, not indulgence. From there, we talk about self-governance, the role of government in restraining evil, and why a moral code matters if you want a society where free speech, private property, and true religious liberty can survive. I also tell a story from Africa that challenged me to see America’s Christian heritage with fresh eyes.  Then we get practical through the lens of faith and farming. Economic independence and local production helped early Americans resist tyranny, and the same principle applies today when consumerism, debt, and dependency quietly limit our choices. If we want to keep living out a biblical worldview in our work, our homes, and our land, we need the courage to sacrifice comfort for freedom. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with one takeaway you want to live out this week. Buy a copy of Henry and the Great Society from our friends at https://homeward.press/ Support the show

  3. Jun 26

    Is Your Farm Producing Fruit that Will Last?

    Send us Fan Mail Your garden can look amazing while your life quietly runs on empty, and that’s exactly why we wanted to hit pause and talk about “fruit that lasts.”  I’m Noah Sanders, and this is a catch-up from our family, our farm, and the work God keeps pressing on my heart: stop chasing what looks impressive and rebuild life from the roots up. If you care about Christian homesteading, faith-based farming, and land stewardship that actually holds together over time, this one is a needed reset. In this episode I share highlights from the Homestead Conference in Texas, including what I taught on thermal composting and why gardening in the Deep South feels like relearning everything. Pests, heat, red-clay soil, and year-round growth change the game for Alabama and the southeastern United States, and that’s part of why I’m working on a new book with my friend David the Good, focused on dependable Deep South survival gardening.  I also give an update on the Well-Watered Garden Project, a simple 20 foot by 20 foot training garden built on Foundations for Farming principles, designed to help Christians grow food while practicing humility, unselfishness, and faithfulness. Then we go deeper. John 15 doesn’t leave room for fake fruit: Jesus is the vine, we’re the branches, and real growth comes from abiding in Christ. We talk about pruning, limits, and why the smallest daily moments often reveal the truest state of our discipleship. If you feel stretched thin, this will help you rethink what obedience looks like right now. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who’s carrying too much, and leave a review so more homesteaders can find the show. What’s one commitment you need to prune this season? If you like this show, we have a new way you can support the cost of hosting and production through our new monthly support page. The Redeeming the Dirt Podcast (The Redeeming the Dirt Podcast Support) Thanks for being a part of the team! Support the show

  4. Feb 24

    Why A Family Farm Needs A Mission To Thrive

    Send us Fan Mail What if the real power of a homestead isn’t the lifestyle but the launchpad it creates for mission, discipleship, and community? We sit down with Brayden Waller to explore how a family can move from “getting the farm in order” to setting sail with a clear, others-first purpose—without losing the heart of home along the way. Brayden shares his family’s unexpected path: leaving a high-hour job for presence, homeschooling for formation, and relocating into an Amish community for simplicity and togetherness. He explains how refusing control while welcoming outside testimonies built trust, conviction, and unity on the big decisions. From there, the story widens. The Wallers served Jewish farmers in Israel and later launched Love and Purity, a ministry focused on worship and whole-life holiness. Out of that came Harp and Farm, an immersive program where young adults learn music, work the soil, and form daily patterns of prayer, responsibility, and teamwork. We dig into practical rhythms that make faith tangible: using farm work as a living classroom, handling conflict as a path to growth, and building a crew mentality that prepares a family to actually leave the harbor. Brayden offers a powerful testimony of a student who traded screens for strings and soil, rediscovered purpose, and experienced a 180-degree life change. We also talk about raising kids by their gifts—celebrating the evangelist, the musician, and the cow-milker—and why meaningful roles beat passive entertainment every time. This conversation is for homesteaders, ministry leaders, and anyone who wants their daily work to carry kingdom weight. If you’ve felt stuck perfecting the ship but never setting sail, you’ll find courage to aim beyond the fence line: farmers markets as ministry touchpoints, visiting the weak, building a local fellowship, and learning when to pause for repairs and when to catch the wind.  To learn more about the Waller's ministry and apply for their internship visit https://www.loveandpurity.com/harpandfarminternship Support the show

  5. 11/18/2025

    Is Jesus Knocking on the Door of our Church?

    Send us Fan Mail A quiet country church. A knock on the side door. And a question that won’t leave us alone: what if Jesus is outside, patiently waiting to be invited in?  In this episode I share something a bit different; a guest sermon I gave at our church a few weeks ago to help fill in for our pastor. After a brief farm and family update, we will listen to my sermon on Revelation 3:14–22, the letter to Laodicea, to explore the uneasy distance between liking Jesus and actually following him. We unpack why Scripture calls lukewarm faith nauseating and why hot and cold are both images of usefulness—healing warmth and refreshing cool—while room temperature blends into its surroundings. With Laodicea’s banking, textiles, and eye salve as backdrop, we trace Jesus’ piercing diagnosis of self-satisfied religion and his generous prescription: gold refined by fire, white garments of righteousness, and salve for true sight. Along the way, we talk about real-life patterns that pull us toward comfort—people-pleasing, hurry, and performative faith—and simple, costly habits that reverse the drift: unhurried Scripture, honest prayer, confession, reconciling conversations, generous service, and witness that changes the room. The heart of the message is not shame but invitation. Those Jesus loves, he disciplines. He stands at the door and knocks, not with a battering ram, but with patient mercy, promising table fellowship to any who open, even if the whole room isn’t ready. We offer practical next steps to move from thermometer to thermostat, including one action this week that costs something and proves what we value. If you’ve felt “fine” yet fruitless, this conversation will help you trade comfort for a living, useful faith that leaves a holy mark on your family, church, and community. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend, and tell us: what door will you open to Jesus this week? Your story might encourage someone else to turn the knob. Send your thoughts and questions to noah@redeemingthedirt.com Support the show

  6. 10/08/2025

    Rethinking Success: Family, Freedom, and the Durable Trades

    Send us Fan Mail What if the most “successful” version of your life is the one that brings your faith and family back to the center? We sit down with author and homesteader Rory Groves to rethink success through the lens of calling, freedom, and the family economy. Rory shares how moving from a tech career to a 10-acre homestead reshaped his metrics—from income and scale to presence, purpose, and work his kids can inherit. We unpack insights from Durable Trades, the research behind family-centered vocations that have endured for centuries, and why chasing scale can quietly cost the very life we set out to build. The heart of the conversation is culture-making at home. We talk about forming a clear family vision, choosing vocations that fit that vision, and placing wise boundaries around technologies that promise convenience but often tax relationships. That sets the stage for Rory’s new season: launching a publishing house under Gather and Grow Ministries to get more accessible, story-driven resources into the world. First up is a revival of Henry and the Great Society, a short novel that follows a mid-century farming family as “progress” unravels their community. It’s a moving, practical tool—complete with an updated afterword and discussion guide—to help families and churches ask hard questions, draw lines with conviction, and take first steps toward a resilient, home-centered life. If you’ve wondered how to prepare your teens for meaningful work without debt, how to resist fragile, consumption-driven living, or how to bring your household into shared labor that forms character, this conversation is your map and motivation. Support the all-or-nothing Kickstarter for Henry and the Great Society (ends November 6), start a group discussion, and share this episode with a friend who needs a hopeful reset. If this resonates, follow, rate, and leave a review to help more families find their footing—and tell us: what does success look like for your home? Henry and The Great Society by Gather & Grow — Kickstarter Video Version of the Podcast Support the show

  7. 07/29/2025

    Stepping Out in Faith to Train Others: Interview with Amanda Nelson

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when biblical stewardship principles meet challenging southern clay soil? Amanda Nelson's journey from reluctant teenage gardener to community trainer offers a compelling answer. Amanda's path began with a simple question: how would her family survive if grocery stores became unavailable? This prompted her first gardening attempts, which quickly led to frustration as north Georgia's notoriously difficult soil—clay mixed with nearly impenetrable chert rock—seemed determined to resist her efforts. Just when she was ready to quit, an unexpected introduction to mulch gardening and later, Foundations for Farming principles, transformed not only her agricultural practices but her understanding of creation care as ministry. The transformation wasn't immediate. For two years, Amanda battled erosion as southern downpours washed away her carefully applied mulch and compost. Yet through faithful application of stewardship principles, she witnessed her once-eroding plots begin to absorb torrential rainfall faster than it could run off. Her initial devastating aphid problems disappeared entirely, and thriving crops emerged from soil others had deemed hopeless. What makes Amanda's story particularly powerful is her transition from learner to teacher. Despite initial fears about public speaking, she recognized that hoarding her knowledge would represent unfaithful stewardship. Beginning with tiny classes (sometimes just her sister and a neighbor), she gradually expanded her training efforts, discovering that inviting people to physically see her garden created the most powerful discipleship opportunities. The visible beauty of straight rows, healthy plants, and abundant harvests sparked conversations that pamphlets or lectures never could. Her experiences offer valuable wisdom for southern gardeners battling continuous growing seasons and potential burnout. Start small. Maintain excellence in limited spaces rather than mediocrity across too much area. Recognize different life seasons may require pruning certain activities to focus on others. Most importantly, approach cultivation with prayer, asking God to reveal ways you can serve family and community through the humble work of tending soil. Support the show

  8. 05/01/2025

    The Untapped Potential of Agriculture in Global Missions

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when churches embrace agriculture as ministry? Frank Sindler, Executive Director of Equipping Farmers International, reveals how biblical farming principles are transforming both landscapes and lives across the Global South. The numbers tell a striking story: approximately 70-80% of Christians in developing nations are farmers, yet for decades, mission efforts have overlooked this crucial aspect of discipleship. While churches planted throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America continue growing rapidly, many struggle with chronic food insecurity and dependence on Western funding. This disconnect between faith and farming has limited the church's ability to demonstrate Christ's redemptive power in tangible ways. Frank shares remarkable stories of transformation from multiple countries where EFI works. Farmers implementing conservation agriculture principles consistently see four to five-fold yield increases in their very first growing season—without expensive inputs. These dramatic improvements enable families to pay for education and healthcare while empowering local churches to fund their own ministry initiatives. In Liberia, one church network is already on track to replace half its outside funding with local agricultural revenue. Perhaps most surprising is the evangelistic impact. Without explicit proselytizing, these farming programs consistently lead to conversions among Muslims, Hindus, and adherents of traditional religions. As Frank explains, "Creation is like a doorway into God's heart." When people witness barren soil transformed into abundance through principles that honor the Creator's design, they naturally encounter the God behind those principles. Even an 85-year-old lifelong Christian described the training as "life-changing." The implications for global mission strategy are profound. As tens of millions come to faith in previously unreached regions, agricultural discipleship offers a sustainable pathway forward, unlocking local resources that far exceed what external support could provide. It challenges our compartmentalized thinking that separates "sacred" from "secular" activities, demonstrating that Christ's redemption extends to our relationship with creation itself. Ready to get involved? Visit www.efi-intl.org to learn about training opportunities, internships, and how your financial support can equip farmers to feed both bodies and souls. https://www.efi-intl.org/giving/ https://www.efi-intl.org/get-involved/ Support the show

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5
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About

Do you love Jesus and love farming? Then this is the podcast for you! The host, Noah Sanders, is the author of Born-Again Dirt, Farming to the Glory of God. On this show he shares how we can connect faith and farming so that we can find purpose in glorifying God and serving others while excelling in land stewardship. As a market gardener and homesteader Noah shares stories from his own journey as well as interviews of other Christian Agrarians. Join us as we seek to Redeem the Dirt!

Information

  • Creator
    Noah Sanders
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Redeeming the Dirt Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Redeeming the Dirt Podcast

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