Small Farm Nation: Farming | Marketing | Homesteading

A lot of folks have asked me if they can make money farming or homesteading, but is that even the right question to ask? This week, Liz and I will share why it may not be and what we’ve learned about the financial side of a self-sufficient lifestyle. Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn   Welcome to Episode 25! So, we can't count the number of times someone has asked us over the years, "can you make money farming or homesteading?" Usually the question is more revealing than any answer I could provide, for it fails to consider one of the most obvious benefits of homesteading: saving money. Because, the truth is that homesteaders have far more opportunities to eliminate or reduce expenses than most people do. In this episode we list dozens of ways we found to save money WHILE enjoying a more fulfilling, free lifestyle. Some of the areas we cover include: the importance of house size the value of buying cheap (infertile) land and restorin

Myself and many others on this podcast use the phrase modern homesteading, but what does that really mean in this digital age? Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn   Welcome to Episode 24! So, here's a question for you: What do you visualize when you hear the phrase homesteading, self-sufficient or self-reliance? I’m willing to bet that many of you visualize a natural setting. Perhaps a loving family working hard together. Listen to The Accidental Farmers on Audible. Something between Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons, for those of you old enough to know those television shows. We often picture a family living off the land, tending to crops and animals while being…well…self-sufficient. But...this ain't the 1800s. This is the digital age. In this episode I'll define what modern homesteading really is, and dispel some myths surrounding the notion of homesteading. I also share why I walked away from big-time corporate America, t

Many modern homesteaders made a choice to opt-out and provide for themselves, but what impact does that choice have on their children? This week, we’ll begin a series of discussing the real life ups and downs of homeschooling children. Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn   Welcome to Episode 23! This week, Liz and I discuss how we arrived at the difficult choice of homeschooling our daughter. Now, since we've embraced modern homesteading, it's natural that people would assume that we would homeschool. But Liz has a Masters in Special Education and is a former public school teacher. Homeschooling her own child is something she would have never embraced...in our old life. Back before we "opted out" of the rat race. In this episode we share intimate details about: what led us to decide that homeschooling was right for our daughter and our family the unschooling process that Liz has had to go through as a former teacher the fears and w

I’ve shared many stories of people who have opted out of the rat race, but some of them had saved money to do so? But what if you haven’t? Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn   Welcome to Episode 22! Today, I’ll deal with a caller’s frustration on how to start a homestead or farm with no money. So, I got this call in from a listener a while back and haven’t had a chance to center an episode around it yet. In the call, you can really hear his pain and heartfelt desire to live freely in the country. But, while he has really enjoyed the stories I've shared of others who have "opted out," his perception is that they (and I) made enough money in the corporate world to afford to do so. What he wants to know is how can people with no money afford to live freely in the country. It's a struggle I hear all the time, and today I provide as much help and as many ideas as I can, including the six macro categorical options, at least as I see them. H

Moving to the country means you still make money, so how do you decide what business ideas to pursue? Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn   Welcome to Episode 20! This week Liz and I address a caller’s question about how to research and decide the best way to make money homesteading. Listen in as we discuss the many ways to make money farming or with modern homesteading: First, find your PASSION Why exactly do you want to homestead or farm? What excites you and what do you want to do? Do you long to grow the best tomatoes and sell directly to leading chefs? Do you simply want to feed your family? Do you want to be the next Joel Salatin and have a farm of chicken tractors, eggmobiles and salad bar beef? Do you want to live freely in the country but still make a lot of money? Three Revenue Categories to Profitable Homesteading How to Make money homesteading using your land Large livestock -raising cows, selling calves or anim

Moving to a new homestead you get to start with a clean slate. So how do you decide what you need? This week, Liz and I share what animals and infrastructure we settled on for our new homestead. Listen Now! Subscribe to Small Farm Nation on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Welcome to Episode 19! This week Liz and I candidly discuss how we settled on what we needed on our homestead. Listen in as we discuss our animal and food choices: What breed of pigs we settled on, and why Cows, both dual purpose and specific breeds for beef and milk Meat chickens Hens German Shepherds versus Anatolian or Great Pyrenees Top bar hives and bees Garden area requirements We also cover all the infrastructure and building we've done in the past year, including: Raised bed Hugelkultur garden (click here for pics) Building a tall fence to keep deer out of the orchard/garden Integrating a play area into the garden space (click here for pics) Creating a medicinal herb garden Adding a metal building works

Welcome to Episode 18!  So, if you’re the daughter of a famous homesteader, you’re destined to live off the land yourself, right? Today, you’ll find out what falls from the sky when a teenager rebels against the mother of modern homesteading. Listen Now! Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn So, imagine your mother wrote the book on Country Living. I mean—literally. In addition to bearing seven children in the 70s, Carla Emery also found time to write The Encyclopedia of Country Living. That’s the first book that many wannabe homesteaders place on their mantles. It’s a million word tome that’s on my bookshelf, and I’ve thumbed the pages of my copy until they’ve frayed. But this isn't a story about Carla. It's the story of Esther Emery, Carla's youngest daughter. Carla was 30 when her first child was born in 1970, 40 by the time Esther, her seventh, arrived. In a “back-to-the-land” era when it seemed everyone wanted to know how to make it in the country,The Encyc

How can a modern homesteader expect to achieve personal privacy in the digital age? This week, Liz and I discuss the homestead we settled on and the steps we have taken to live a private, self-sufficient life. Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Welcome to Episode 17! This week Liz and I tell describe the homestead property we settled on, and share what concessions we had to make since there is no "perfect" property. Here's what we discuss about the property: How much acreage we settled on Woods vs pasture/open land House size/configuration Well vs gravity water Streams/water features Southern exposure Fruit trees Garden space and outbuildings To heat or not to heat with wood Proximity to populated areas Homeschooling/homesteading culture We also discuss our overall objectives for homesteading. Those include: Living as freely as possible maximize free time having a property that requires low maintenance time to develop sk

If you had an opportunity to opt out of the rat race and set up a modern homestead, how would you go about it? This week you’ll hear my wife Liz and I share our step-by-step process for choosing our new homestead location. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 16! This week’s episode is a little different in that it doesn’t profile another homesteader or farmer. Instead, it begins the process of profiling us. By that I mean my wife, Liz, and myself, and the life of modern homesteading that we’re enjoying. Now, many of you have followed our journey since we left the rat race, back in 2006. You read the farm blog we maintained years ago. And bout a quarter million of you listened to our podcasts from 2010-2012, many from all corners of the world. And tens of thousands more have read my books, most notably The Accidental Farmers and How to Make Money Homesteading. Still, many of you are unacquainted with our story. In a nutshell, we lived in suburban Atlanta in 2006, on a golf

Welcome to Episode 15! So, what can happen when an active youth pastor gets the results from his life insurance physical? Today, you’ll hear how those results and what the doctor ordered drove the youth pastor to become the beginning farmer. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Ethan Book dreamed of being a farmer when he was a kid, but life's necessities steered him in a different direction. After having children, his practical wife insisted he procure life insurance. But that required a physical exam, which revealed Ethan had very high cholesterol. The two options for treatment included a lifetime of medicine, which Ethan wanted to avoid, or a drastic diet change centered on grassfed beef. Ethan opted for the latter approach, but there was a problem. Grass fed beef was expensive, and Ethan didn't earn too much as a youth minister. So, he did the only thing he could do--he bought land, and became a farmer. Today, Ethan blogs at thebeginningfarmer.com, and has an excellent podcast called T

In this episode you'll hear the story of how an investment banker and a fashion designer traded the glamour of Manhattan for goats and brambles in Tennessee. Imagine being a young couple living the good life in New York. One's an investment banker, the other's a fashion designer and both are on their way to the top. Then, they get this wild idea--"Hey, let's quit our jobs and move to the country to milk cows and make artisan cheese." Only when they find their farm, it's not what they imagined. This is the story of starting an artisan goat soap business. Actually, the dream was to start an artisan farmstead cheese business, but one obstacle led to another and forced James and Eileen Ray down a different path as they struggled to give birth to Little Seed Farm. If you're into modern homesteading, self-reliance, preparedness or self-sufficiency, grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Many people dream of opting out of the rat race, but most don't act on the

So, what can happen when a suburban couple living on a golf course decides to take a horseback riding trip? Turns out they decide to chuck the house, buy 100 acres in the country and become the accidental farmers. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 13! This is a story about...well...it's my story. Or more accurately, the story of how my wife, Liz, and I found ourselves out here in the country when we used to be in there (corporate America). Liz was a teacher with a Masters degree. I (Tim) was an entrepreneur, running marketing-type businesses. We were both successful, but not over the top successful. Just...typical suburban people living the typical suburban life. I'd like to say we planned our escape out of the rat race, but we never even contemplated it. We just took a horseback riding trip for Liz's birthday and fell in love with the notion of rural living. Then, after reading books such as The Omnivore's Dilemma and Slaughterhouse, we immediately became aware of a

So, what happens when a Harvard educated lawyer trades in the bright lights of the city for rural farm life? Well, when he stops bringing home the bacon he learns to actually make award-winning bacon and sausage. That's what! Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 12!  This week you’ll hear the real-life Green Acres story of how a lawyer learned what it really means to bring home the bacon. In the 1960’s fictional television series, Green Acres, Eddie Albert played the character Oliver Douglas. Oliver was a Harvard-educated lawyer who traded city life for a farm in Hooterville, deep in rural America. Likewise, James Faison is a Harvard-educated lawyer who, after the death of his grandparents, traded in fancy dinners and big paychecks to restore his grandfather's farm to health. But after taking a few farming classes, James the lawyer quickly learned, as he says, that he "couldn't grow a blade of grass!" Undeterred, James found a better way to make an impact in the local fa

Whatta ya get when you combine a drunken homeless man, a deer tick and the Internet? Today, you’ll find out how those three ingredients, along with a determined entrepreneur, add up to Abundant Permaculture. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 11! This is a story about Justin Rhodes. A fellow who didn’t opt out of the rat race, because he never even opted in. Justin has taken a winding journey from western North Carolina to Honduras and even Australia before landing back near Asheville to start his online homesteading business, Abundant Permaculture. Along the way Justin encountered a homeless man who prophesied his homesteading future, faced financial crisis that threw his family onto food stamps and even battled Lyme Disease that forced him to abandon market farming and find other sources of self-sufficient income. But Justin is a determined, resilient man and an outstanding example of modern homesteading. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Justin launched Abunda

Everyone wants to be a millionaire, but where do you turn when you strike it rich then lose it all in a real estate meltdown? In this episode I share the story of a hot dog who rescued a couple of corporate drop-outs who lost everything in the Great Recession. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 10! This is the story of Laurie Charpentier, who accomplished something we all dream of--becoming a millionaire. Then, in the blink of an eye she lost it all, including her house, before a dachshund came into her life and changed everything. After dropping out of high school, Laurie earned her GED, then a college degree and climbed the corporate ladder, first as an accountant and then as director of human resources. Her employee-loving boss appreciated her, so much that he rewarded her with a six-figure income and an annual bonus. But when the boss sold the company, the new buyer had a very different perspective on how to treat employees. Laurie lost her job, but thanks to the

So what would cause a trained scientist and big pharma executive to sell everything he owns and move to the country? Well, find out as I share the story of, not a mad scientist, but a scientist who got mad when he discovered we’re on a Crash Course with economic collapse. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 9! This is the story of Chris Martenson, who isn't your average scientist. Or corporate executive, for that matter. While he was "nature boy" as a child, Chris loved science and data, and continued his formal education until he was almost 30. He wanted to teach at the secondary level, but found himself forced to purse a career in business. His passion for science landed him in "big pharma," where he pulled down big bucks and played the game just the way it was supposed to be played. But when a market "correction" wiped out 40{f08661e966cfbba2afdc219076bf0ce6e15467ec087bdfb769bbeccdbc1c77ea} of his portfolio, the scientist in Chris became mad. So he began to investig

If you think it’s tough trying to raise a kid, try raising 185 hungry kids. Today, I’ll share the story of a New York lawyer and a high-end builder who decided to ditch their demanding clients so they could herd goats and make artisan cheese. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 8! Kathryn Spann grew up in the farm country of Durham, NC, but she quickly fled to become a high-flying New York lawyer. But things go full circle in life, and when she met a high-end builder, Dave Krabbe, who had as much stress in his work as she did, they decided to opt-out of the rat race. They bought land, fell in love with goats and became farmstead artisan cheese makers at Prodigal Farm. In no time, their goats were giving birth to almost 200 kids a year, meaning Kathryn and Dave had to quickly learn every aspect of sustainable farming. Milking, breeding, marketing, cheese making, pasture management--the skills and chores seem endless, and Kathryn and Dave work more hours for less money tha

If you want to change the way people think, sometimes you just gotta get right up in their grill and tell ‘em what you think. Today, I’ll share the story of Daisy Luther. A freedom fighting, gun-toting, homeschooling mother who’s inspiring a nation of Organic Preppers. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 7!  This is the fascinating story of Daisy Luther from the blogs The Organic Prepper and DaisyLuther.com. I think you'll really enjoy the story of the winding path that led Daisy to homesteading and outspoken preparedness. A series of family tragedies, job losses and hardships drove her deep into the wilderness to homeschool her children, and learn that homesteading isn't as easy as it first seems. Her experiences reignited the skeptical, always questioning persona of her youth and inspired her to take up writing. She wrote books and multiple blogs centered on prepping, preparedness and delivering the truth in an unabashed way that you never see in mainstream media. Da

We all love our children, but what do you do when that cute little girl of yours grows up to be a defiant teenage trouble maker? Today, I’ll share the story of how a rebellious teenager in a gang-infested neighborhood escaped to develop a new life on a homestead. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 6! Raising a teenager is challenging—always has been. But imagine you’re raising one in a busy California coastal town—say—Santa Barbara. It’s 1996 and the city is besieged by violence. The police have their hands full with over 800 gang members, creating a steady stream of mischief. And there’s been an increasing trend in real violence. Drive-by shootings, gang rapes, brawls, stabbings, And here you are, a single mom trying to raise a 15-year old by yourself. So, what do you do with your rebellious daughter? You stick her on a plane and sentence her to a new life on a homestead. This is the inspiring story of Kendra Lynne from the blog New Life on a Homestead. Grab some cof

Some men get trapped in the purple haze of life, only to see the light when God himself answers their prayers from the county jail. This week, I share the story of one such man. A man who kicked his drug addiction to become a prepper and bestselling author of post-apocalyptic Christian novels. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 5. Kentucky is the bourbon capital of the world. It's also where Mark Goodwin grew up and where he learned practical preparedness from the best--The Boy Scouts. But he wasn't prepared for life's temptations after he got out of school. He made great money working bars and restaurants, but spent every nickel on partying. He may still be doing that today, but he received two loud and clear messages from above that forever changed his path in life. Today, Mark is the host of the Prepper Recon podcast, and is a bestselling author of post-apocalyptic Christian novels. We discuss everything from prepping, preparedness and overcoming addiction to making