Homesteaders of America Homesteaders of America

Any homesteader who has a dairy animal or two knows the importance of finding a use for all of that milk.  Making cheese at home is not only a great way to provide nourishing food for your family, it is also an excellent method of preserving milk.  Robyn began her cheesemaking journey by using her dairy cow’s milk to make cheese for her family, and she quickly realized there was a need for cheesemaking education specifically for the homesteader.  In this conversation, Robyn answers the most common questions about getting started making cheese from scratch.  If learning how to make cheese is on your list of skills to master, give this episode a listen!

In this episode, we cover:


From the start of Robyn’s cheesemaking endeavors to her successful online education business


An ideal time of year to make cheese


What to look for when choosing a homestead dairy animal for cheesemaking


The best types of cheeses to start making if you are new


How long does it take to make cheese and what is the process?


Choosing and working with the bacteria and acid necessary for cheesemaking


What is a clabber culture and how can you create one?


Deciding what kind of rennet is right for your cheesemaking


Do I need a lot of special equipment to get started making cheese?


An overview of the process of making and aging hard cheeses


Contamination concerns and how to avoid them



View full show notes and transcript on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you to our sponsor!

Premier 1 Supplies is your one-stop shop for all things homesteading!  Visit Premier1Supplies.com to browse their catalog.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

The Christmas Cheeseboard ebook

The Milkmaid Society

The Art of Natural Cheesemaking by David Asher

Inkbird

CONNECT

Robyn Jackson of Cheese from Scratch | Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook

Homesteaders of America | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest

As homesteaders and farmers, local and federal regulations around food production and property rights impact us more than we might like to admit.  Nick Freitas joins us today to break down what it looks like for average citizens to get involved in the legislative process and make a difference in their communities.  Homesteaders, it is more important than ever to stay informed and make our voices heard! 

In this episode, we cover:


How to find out what is happening legislatively in the food freedom realm


Easy ways that anyone can get involved in local policy


Examining some specific food guidelines in the state of Virginia


The importance of building a relationship with your delegates and senators


Ways you can start advocating for change even if you don’t like politics


The biggest impact you can make for the homesteading community may not be what you think



View full show notes and transcript on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you to our sponsor!

McMurray Hatchery offers a wide selection of poultry breeds and supplies to assist you with raising your flock. Find what you need at McMurrayHatchery.com!

RESOURCES MENTIONED

VDACS

VICFA

PRIME Act

Virginia’s Legislative Information Services

Rogue Food Conference

Institute for Justice

CONNECT

Nick Freitas | Website | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | FacebookHomesteaders of America | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest

Jill Winger is one of the original homestead bloggers to start sharing her homesteading journey online.  She has been living this lifestyle for well over a decade, and she has gained insight and perspective over those years that she loves to share with others in the homesteading community.  In this conversation, we dive into comparison, money mindsets, community enrichment, and more.  Whether you are a new homesteader or have been living this lifestyle for years, may Jill’s encouragement meet you right where you are.

In this episode, we cover:


Jill’s early start in homesteading


Bringing a realistic perspective to what homesteading looks like in real life vs. online


Examining money mindsets in the homestead world


Keeping in mind the full picture when we are tempted to envy someone else’s success


What it looks like to begin reaping the benefits of years of hard, unseen work and sacrifice


Discerning when it is time to scale back in your homestead or business


How old-fashioned living can benefit you no matter where you live


Extending the gifts of homesteading beyond the borders of your own property



View full show notes and transcript on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you to our sponsor!

Premier 1 Supplies is your one-stop shop for all things homesteading!  Visit Premier1Supplies.com to browse their catalog.

ABOUT JILL

Jill is the founder of The Prairie Homestead, one of the foremost homesteading websites since 2010. She is dedicated to helping others learn how to grow their own food and live a more fulfilling, old-fashioned life. 

Her practical and authentic style of teaching and storytelling has won the hearts of hundreds of thousands of homesteaders across social media and through the top-ranked Old Fashioned on Purpose podcast and best-selling The Prairie Homestead Cookbook.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Old-Fashioned On Purpose by Jill Winger

CONNECT

Jill Winger of The Prairie Homestead | Website | Podcast | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | PinterestHomesteaders of America | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest

You might recognize today’s guest from her successful years-long career in Christian music, but you may not know that Francesca Battistelli is part of the homesteading world as well.  What began as a nudge to leave behind the busy pace of a traveling musician and spend more time at home with her children has turned into a full-blown homesteading, homeschooling, homemaking, home-loving life.  Join us as Francesca shares her homesteading story: how it all got started, where they are now, and what they hope and dream for the future.  Along the way, Francesca points out so many of the beautiful reasons that the homesteading lifestyle has captured so many of our hearts here in the HOA community.

In this episode, we cover:


What led Francesca from a music career on the road to the slower pace of homestead life


How kids participate in the homestead and what they gain from this lifestyle


Family relationships and changes in community when embarking on a homesteading journey


What homesteading endeavors Francesca has taken on in her first few years of homesteading


Thinking through the long-term goal of your homestead


What homeschooling looks like for Francesca and her six children


How homesteading lends itself to a life of continual learning


Noticing the everyday beauty around the homestead



View full show notes and transcript on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you to our sponsor!

McMurray Hatchery offers a wide selection of poultry breeds and supplies to assist you with raising your flock. Find what you need at McMurrayHatchery.com!

RESOURCES MENTIONED

HOA podcast episode with Joel Salatin

CONNECT

Francesca Battistelli | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Pandora

Homesteaders of America | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest

For dairy cow owners who find themselves overwhelmed with an abundance of milk or an abundance of friends and neighbors asking for milk, a herdshare could be a great option for you!  Additionally, if you live in a state where it is illegal to sell raw milk, starting a herdshare is a wonderful way to provide milk to your community without legal issues.  Whether you are looking to join a herdshare in your area or start one from your own homestead, this episode is a great starting place to get your questions answered.  Michelle and Adam have been running their herdshare for a couple of years now, and they are generously sharing their insight into this process from start to finish!

In this episode, we cover:


How the Barringers got started with dairy cows and eventually started their herdshare


Various ways the children get involved in the family herdshare endeavor


Walking through the setup and routine of a small home dairy


The many factors to consider when deciding how to feed your dairy cow


What are the health benefits of drinking raw milk?


Navigating the legalities of raw milk sales and herdshares in your state


An overview of the supplies and equipment you need to start a herdshare


How to start marketing your herdshare to find members



View full show notes and transcript on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you to our sponsor! 

McMurray Hatchery offers a wide selection of poultry breeds and supplies to assist you with raising your flock. Find what you need at McMurrayHatchery.com!

RESOURCES MENTIONED

RealMilk.com

Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund

Visit Michelle & Adam’s website for more information about their farm and herdshare

Check out Michelle’s podcast, Biscuits and Gravy, and follow along on Instagram

CONNECT

Michelle & Adam Barringer | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeHomesteaders of America | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest

Anyone who has tried to fence in livestock knows that there are many variables to consider.  Will electric fencing work for every animal?  Why might my livestock be escaping?  Do I need an additional perimeter fence?  In this episode, fencing expert Joe Putnam of Premier 1 Supplies answers many of the most common questions about livestock fencing and shares the variety of resources Premier 1 has to offer homesteaders of all kinds.  Join us!

In this episode, we cover:


How Premier 1 got its start and what makes it a unique homestead supplier


A description of exactly how electric fencing works


An overview of other fencing options besides electric netting


What is the appropriate amount of space between fence posts?


Exploring the reasons your livestock might be escaping their fencing


Can electric fencing serve as your perimeter fence?


What Premier 1 offers beyond livestock fencing


The personalized customer support you’ll get from Premier 1



View full show notes and transcript on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you to our sponsor!

Premier 1 Supplies is your one-stop shop for all things homesteading!  Visit Premier1Supplies.com to browse their catalog.

ABOUT JOE

Joe Putnam works as a marketing copywriter for Premier 1 Supplies. He frequently appears in Premier’s instructional how-to videos on YouTube. Putnam can be found at farm industry events, where his gentle, hands-on approach makes even the most complex farming topics simple. When not at work, Putnam spends time on his family’s 40-acre farmstead in southeast Iowa. There the family raises cattle, sheep, poultry, multiple gardens, corn, hay, and oats.

CONNECT

Joe Putnam of Premier 1 Supplies | Website

Homesteaders of America | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest