Living Free in Tennessee - Nicole Sauce

Homestead happenings   Today I am joined by the Tactical Redneck to discuss the latest from the Holler Homestead: It''s HEEERE, Sheep Hammock, Preparing for SRF, more. Featured Event: Self Reliance Festival.  Get Tickets Here https://selfreliancefestival.com/ Sponsor 1: The Wealthsteading Podcast: https://wealthsteading.com/  Sponsor 2:  DiscountMylarBags.com: Https://DiscountMylarBags.com  Topics: Canned Food Book Shelf Mini Skid Is Here! Fair is wrapped up Mint taking over swim spa area Home to Homestead Audit Beginning Wood Stove Matters Good News About Duplex Foundation - I side will be for rent Starting Sept 1 Farm To Table Small Group Make it a great week!

Today we're talking about what it really looks like to go from a home to a homestead, and I get to answer a question I've been asked for years in real time: If I had it all to do over again, what would I do differently?   LFTN Stocking Exchange Reminder that the LFTN Stocking Exchange is coming up. Get it on your radar!   Featured Event: Soil Microscopy Class Soil and Microscopy Intensive Learn to look at what is actually happening in your soil and better understand the biology that makes healthy soil work. LivingFreeInTennessee.com   Sponsors Above Phone AbovePhone.com Strong Roots Resources StrongRootsResources.com   Tales from the Prepper Pantry Building new shelves Consolidating freezer fat Meatloaf is the big project of the week Processed all peppers for salsa futures   Frugality Tip: 100% Cotton Throws Buy a cotton blanket at Aldi for $15 Sew it in half and you get two throws for the price of one No unnatural plastic yuck in your throws   Operation Independence SRF sponsorship has really come through! Holler Roast is up 20% since the weeks of the fair Thanks, y'all!   Main Topic: From Home To Homestead One of the questions I get when on panels and suck is "If you had it to do all over again, how would you build your homestead?" Or "What are the 2 or 3 biggest mistakes you made early on in building your homestead?" As homestead advising types we tend to tell people to build things one at a time and go slowly so that you can get your systems working. Or we say get a permaculture plan in place first. Or we have more practical advice like infrastructure before livestock, get your zone 0 in place before you do anything else, etc All these things are true and not true at the same time What is homesteading? The eternal question, more controversial than what is off grid? (Reminds me of the how libertarian are you arguments) Homestead Where You Are Is land required? Mindset change Ongoing learning Then came the question: If you had it all to fro over again Holler Hub being developed for a year with Basecamp Lodge as the event center Fighting a type one error at the Holler Homestead where I live Acceleration of the challenges this year, remediation, health impacts, processing past grief and letting things go that hold you back (Resentment episode) So if I had it to do all over again, how would I build my homestead differently? That is a question you can't really answer unless you are doing it The opportunity The reality: move, brought almost nothing with me, sourcing all new personal items as well as transforming basecamp into a homestead that can accommodate events AND serve as a live learning model for others who want an immersive experience in growing food and health living Pros: I own the property and home Its got good bones I have the experience and connections to do this right We are already set up with a basement classroom and open concept kitchen that works great for teaching I have income streams developed I am really good at "If I cannot do x then what CAN I do? Cons: this is a normal house not a home set up to accommodate pantry, power outages, processing animals and food, gardening, etc. (Now fuel efficient) I come to this without the funds to do it in my personal checking account I am still encumbered by past messes (although fewer) that I have made for. Myself This will be very much like when I was younger on the homestead and was just starting out, only I am not, in fact younger :D Plastics So how will we start? The assessment is this week. What have we got? What do we need? How will we navigate what to do first? This may become the constant topic of the podcast or a segment - I don't really know, But it is the BUILDING of the Holler Hub in real time and I am excited to finally answer the question for real - what would you do if you had it all to do over again? I guess we will find out. But one thing is true - the one most important part of homesteading that you can never let languish - BE FEARLESS.

Homestead happenings   Today I am joined by the Tactical Redneck to discuss the latest from the Holler Homestead: Finances, big moves, broken 4 wheelers and more.   Featured Event: September 19 Farm to Table Dinner - Email me for sponsorship.  Get Tickets Here https://livingfreeintennessee.com/event/farm-to-table/   Spponsor 1: https://abovephone.com/?above=104 AbovePhone.com Code: LiveFreeTN   Sponsor 2:  AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Topics: Mini Skin Steer Is Not Here 4 Wheeler Situation Some weeks it is hard to get lots done on the homestead: State Fair update, Duplex update BIG MOVES- Basecamp Financial Tracking Upgrade      

Today, I will cover our usual segments as well as Last week, a listener asked a question that led us on an adventure about how to let go of the clutter in your life that are things you may not be things you LOVE but you love the person or memory that they trigger discuss what to do when all your green beans get ripe at the same time. Spoiler: You handle too many green beans much differently than too many tomatoes. Featured Event:Farm to Table Experience on September 19th at 1pm at the Holler Homestead in Lancaster, TN. $115 https://livingfreeintennessee.com/event/farm-to-table/ Sponsor 1: The Wealthsteading Podcast https://wealthsteading.com/ Sponsor 2: Strong Roots Resources: https://strongrootsresources.com/ Tales From The Prepper Pantry Green bean update 53 Smoked butts Schnitzel Saves the Day Shelving Idea for Basecamp Classroom Frugality Tip Most of us have tile somewhere in our house, and I have tried all kinds of things to get the grout lines clean. I personally have spent lots of money on a variety of cleaners. Well here you go: grab some peroxide and a toothbrush and prepare to be as amazed as I was. The grout looks brand new. So stop trying all of these weird chemicals that don't actually clean anything and go back to the basics.  Operation Independence Duplex Update Summer Time brings me memories of lazy days at the family pool, mom in the kitchen processing food or in the garden tending things. Picking strawberries at 4 in the morning, then getting home by 3 or 4 to shower and do it all over again. It was lazy but not lazy. There was always a sense of go with the flow in the summer where I grew up. And back then, a kid could still earn pocket money in the fields. Sometimes I miss that life, but it was also work. And perhaps that is why I find it fun to do the garden work or the canning work. Once again, I got the call every homesteader wants to get: Hey do you want all the green beans in one of my rows? I have too many. And it was hot, I had just spent 2 days painting and only had a single day to prepare for a Saturday event here. So I said. YES PLEASE! Last week we talked about how to process an abundance of tomatoes by basically NOT processing them. This week it is beans. Ways to preserve green beans Pickled Blanched and frozen Blanched and freeze dried Blanched and dehydrated Canned Timeline Canning and pickling Blanching and Freezing or drying Compost   Pre-freezing green beans for canning still means you need to blanch them so - why bother? My Secret to processing so many beans in just 24 hours - it was either a bushel and a half or 2 bushels. Presto electric canner Tapping into the in-between times One Last Batch at night How the supplies are organized Cleanup in between batches so I could also cook meals In sum: Hard work but not really that hard Recipes with green beans Steamed or boiled, drained, butter and spiced Pan seared Roasted Green Bean Salads Green bean eggy saute Make it a great week.  

Today I am joined by the Tactical redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead. Nuking the house, gardening for future you, sometimes you just get peed on, Mini Skid Incoming and Tactical CANT WAIT.   Featured Event: Self Reliance Festival MWPP Takeover on September 10.   Sponsor 1: TheWealthsteadingpodcast.com Sponsor 2: AbovePhone.com   Topics: Mini Skid Steer What its like without T - and how we have set it up for success Planning for SRF, being gone Nuking my house Getting Peed On Gardening for future you (compost) Presto Electric Canner and real life Ducks to bed working better State Fair Meal Planning Fencing Class Update, and webinar ,October 12

Today we talk about purging the sentimental stuff, from ball gowns and family heirlooms to someday projects that never seem to get done. How do you decide what stays, what goes, and how do you let go of things that carry memories without feeling guilty about it? Featured Event Homemade Condiments: The Secret Is in the Sauce Holler Homestead • $75 Learn how to make mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup and homemade salad dressing from scratch, including what I've learned from failing mayonnaise, mushroom ketchup, and how to build your own salad dressing flavor profiles. LivingFreeInTennessee.com/event/condiments Sponsors Strong Roots Resources StrongRootsResources.com Agorist Tax Advice AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Tales from the Prepper Pantry 49 jars of green beans put up, with four more jars worth coming out of the garden Using the Presto electric pressure canner alongside the regular pressure canner to get more done Purging old food from the pantry that we simply don't eat anymore Cooking with what we grow: squash, pork, homemade tomato sauce, herbs, garlic and onions What regenerative soil does for the flavor and nutrition of the food we grow Getting a "second flush" of cream by letting the raw milk sit longer before skimming Frugality Tip It's clearance season for gardening and summer supplies Look for deals on hoses, sprinklers, connectors, grills, pools and plants Back-to-school season also means deals on office supplies Stocking up on good journals while prices are low Operation Independence Picking a huge batch of green beans from Trippy Acres Main Topic: Purging the Sentimental How sentimental stuff quietly turns your home into storage for decisions you don't want to make Why grief can turn us into repositories for family heirlooms nobody else wants to deal with Stuff begets more stuff: once you're the person who says yes, everyone knows where to send the family heirlooms The ball gowns I loved, wore, no longer fit into and finally decided to let go Giving the original giver the right of refusal when something may still matter to them Being grateful for a gift does not mean you have to store it forever Letting go of useful things that are no longer the right things Why keeping the old thing until you replace it can leave you surrounded by worn-out shoes, furniture and other junk Getting rid of something can force you to finally find the solution you actually want Looking at what you want to do in a space before deciding what deserves to stay there Why boxes of old technology, cables and unused cameras are keeping me from having my sewing table If something can easily be replaced for $20–$50 and you haven't used it, consider letting it go Trusting that you can get what you need when you actually need it Keeping things because Grandpa or Grandma made them, even when you don't particularly like them Taking a picture when you want to preserve the memory without preserving the object Choosing the sentimental things you genuinely love instead of keeping every sentimental thing Keeping Grandpa's ironwood roadrunner instead of every object he made Vintage clothing, family glassware, quilts and other inherited things that carry emotional weight If another relative will be upset when you get rid of something, give them the opportunity to take it Don't transfer your guilt by forcing sentimental things onto someone else How physical clutter, financial clutter, paper clutter and mental clutter feed one another Clearing things out has created more than physical space—it has created space in my brain and in my day Making room for the things I actually want to do: swimming, singing, playing piano and writing songs Getting rid of the someday projects The broken chair you're someday going to repair The supplies you bought for a project six months ago and still haven't used Buying supplies for the project you're actually going to do now instead of the one you might someday do The emotionally difficult someday projects, including an embroidered pillow cover my grandmother intended for a baby I never had Either do the thing or make a decision about the thing—don't let it live forever in a someday pile Why centering your identity in old memorabilia can keep you looking backward instead of building your future You can appreciate the memories without allowing the objects attached to them to control your space It's okay to be ruthless Keep the things that genuinely matter. Preserve a picture when that's enough. Give things to people who actually want them. Then move forward. Reference Links Living Free in Tennessee LivingFreeInTennessee.com Holler Roast Coffee HollerRoast.com Make It A Great Week!

Today I am joined by Tori the Mom to talk about the wildfires that came within a mile of her home in Spokane, what it was like to watch evacuation zones move toward her neighborhood, and what she learned when preparedness suddenly became real. We talk about evacuation plans, knowing more than one way out, preparing kids and animals, cash, gas, communications, technology that helped her stay ahead of the fire, and the things she plans to do differently next time. Featured Event The Art of Containment: How to Contain Small Ruminants with Fencing Saturday at 10 AM We will cover how electric fencing works, running stranded wire for small ruminants, rechargeable systems when you don't have power nearby, and our "graveyard of shame" of fencing ideas that didn't work. LivingFreeInTennessee.com Sponsors The Wealthsteading Podcast with John Pugliano InvestableWealth.com Strong Roots Resources StrongRootsResources.com Topics Covered Meet Tori the Mom and how she became part of the LFTN community Tori and her sister's 20 acres of raw land near Loon Lake, Washington Her plans to build a retreat for wives and ex-wives of alcoholics Why making the big, hard-to-reverse decisions on raw land is different from cutting trails and experimenting Watching the Spokane wildfires go from "that's way over there" to evacuation zones within about a mile of Tori's house How high winds, dry conditions and flying embers allowed the fire to jump the river and move rapidly toward town What happened when Watch Duty and county emergency alerts suddenly started going off Knowing when it is time to stop watching and start packing Why camping is excellent practice for evacuation Teaching kids what to pack and identifying the few irreplaceable things you actually want to grab Keeping identification, important documents, cash and small irreplaceable items ready to go Why knowing multiple ways out of your neighborhood matters Practicing driving without GPS and learning how to navigate when familiar landmarks or street signs are gone How Tori's habit of taking different routes around Spokane gave her more options when evacuation traffic became a problem Planning meetup locations in multiple directions when family members may be separated Why your relatives living nearby doesn't necessarily give you somewhere to evacuate Gas, cash and snacks: three simple preps Tori realized she needed to have ready before an emergency Starting with some emergency cash instead of getting stuck because you can't immediately set aside the "perfect" amount Why Tori needs to practice actually loading her dogs and cats into the cars Having enough animal carriers and figuring out what will actually fit in your vehicle before you need it Desensitizing yourself to stressed, noisy animals so their reaction doesn't derail you during an emergency How Tori turned emergency practice into the "zombies" game when her kids were young—and why they still remembered it when the wildfire came Debriefing with kids after an emergency and giving teenagers responsibility for part of the family's preparedness Why practicing your plans matters more than simply thinking through them How community helped Tori stay calmer, troubleshoot problems and know that people were watching out for her The value of having community outside your immediate geographic area when everyone near you may be dealing with the same emergency Watch Duty, regional emergency alerts, weather forecasts, FlightRadar, Facebook groups and a police scanner as sources Tori used to follow the fire Using wind direction and future wind predictions to decide whether it was safe to sleep or whether conditions might change overnight Watching firefighting aircraft and listening to scanner traffic to understand what was actually happening Ember guards for attic vents as something to investigate for homes in wildfire country Knowing the specific risks where you live and building your preparedness around them Why Tori's biggest takeaway is simple: practice packing, practice loading the car and know what absolutely has to go with you Reference Links The Wealthsteading Podcast InvestableWealth.com Strong Roots Resources StrongRootsResources.com Living Free in Tennessee LivingFreeInTennessee.com Watch Duty FlightRadar HipCamp Tori's Property Shielstra Braehaven on HipCamp 20 acres of raw, forested land near Loon Lake, Washington Holler Roast Coffee HollerRoast.com Make It A Great Week!

Today I am joined by the Tactical Redneck for our weekly update from Holler Homestead. We catch up on what's been happening around the farm, share an upcoming class at Basecamp Lodge, answer listener questions, and spend most of the episode talking about fencing. We cover the pressure-tested fencing supplies we've come to trust, the lessons we've learned after building miles of fence in rocky Tennessee soil, and the skills that actually make someone an asset when it's time to build infrastructure on the homestead. Featured Event Homemade Condiments Class Friday, August 22 • Holler Homestead Learn to make your own mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, salad dressings, and more. You'll taste a variety of recipes and head home with a homemade dressing you make in class. $75 https://livingfreeintennessee.com/event/condiments/  Sponsors Strong Roots Resources https://StrongRootsResources.com The Wealthsteading Podcast https://InvestableWealth.com Topics Covered Updates from Holler Homestead Nashville duplex project and staging it for sale Announcing the Homemade Condiments Class at Basecamp Lodge: https://livingfreeintennessee.com/event/condiments/  Combining FAMACHA scoring with routine flock maintenance Why rotational grazing becomes more challenging with four flocks A deep dive into electric fencing on rocky and hilly Tennessee ground Lessons learned from building and rebuilding fence The pressure-tested fencing products and brands we've come to trust Where it's worth spending money on fencing supplies The tools that make fencing faster and more reliable The skills that make someone genuinely valuable on a fencing crew Why careful planning saves far more time than hard work alone Building better homestead systems instead of repeating the same mistakes Reference Links Strong Roots Resources https://StrongRootsResources.com The Wealthsteading Podcast https://InvestableWealth.com Holler Roast Coffee https://HollerRoast.com THE FENCING SUPPLIES LIST FROM TACTICAL Recommend Companies   American Grazing Lands https://www.americangrazinglands.com   Farm Fence Solutions https://www.shopfarmfencesolutions.com   Power Flex Fence https://powerflexfence.com   Premier 1 https://www.premier1supplies.com       Geared Reels O'Briens https://powerflexfence.com/collections/reels/products/ogr-obrien-gear-reel   Speedrite https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/speedrite-geared-reel?cat_id=49   Strainrite https://www.shopfarmfencesolutions.com/31-geared-wheel-27897645.html   Taragate https://www.americangrazinglands.com/collections/portable-fencing-supplies/products/taragate-geared-reel   Gallagher https://powerflexfence.com/collections/reels/products/gallagher-reel-standard-1320       Wire and Jumper Wire Poly Wire Powerflex Fence - 1/2 Mile - 2640ft Super 9 PolyBraid https://www.americangrazinglands.com/collections/portable-fencing-supplies/products/polybraid-mixed-metals-6-stainless-3-tin-copper-strands-2640   Jumper Wire https://www.americangrazinglands.com/collections/portable-fencing-supplies/products/jumper-lead       Step In Post Strainrite - Multi Wire Tread In Post https://www.shopfarmfencesolutions.com/multi-wire-tread-in-post-pk-10.html   Steel Post, Multiwire Tread In https://www.shopfarmfencesolutions.com/steel-post-multiwire-tread-in-pk-10.html   O'Brien Tredaline Post - White https://powerflexfence.com/collections/fence-posts/products/obtp-white-obrien-tredaline-post-white   FenceGard Tread -In Post, White https://powerflexfence.com/collections/fence-posts/products/powertredin-post-white-box-50       Fence Charger 110 - Cyclops Super, 12 Joule, 110V AC Powered Energizer https://cyclopsfence.com/collections/ac-mains-powered-energizers/products/cyclops-super-12-joule-110v-ac-powered-energizer   12V - Cyclops Super, 12 Joule, DC Battery Powered Energizer https://cyclopsfence.com/collections/battery-powered-energizers/products/cyclops-super-12-joule-200-acre-12v-dc-battery-powered-energizer   Fence Tester Speedrite Digital Fault Finder ST100 https://cyclopsfence.com/collections/fence-testers/products/speedrite-digital-fault-finder-st100-free-usa-shipping       Insolaters 2" Offset Screw-In Ring Insulator (Pack of 25) https://www.americangrazinglands.com/collections/insulators/products/2-offset-screw-in-ring-insulator   6" Offset Screw-In Ring Insulator https://www.americangrazinglands.com/collections/insulators/products/6-offset-screw-in-ring-insulator XL Ring Offset Insulator 6" https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/xl-ring-offset-insulator?cat_id=46 Make It A Great Week!

What a month! My AUDIO Host cut off the end of this episode. When I replaced the file, the podcastchers did not update. TRY TWO for those of you who did not listen to it on Youtube by now! Today, I want to talk to you about navigating homestead abundance when it feels like everything is happening at once: planting for fall, processing an abundant tomato harvest, livestock needing extra support in the heat, and personal things ramping up in the background. But mostly, today is about 120 pounds of tomatoes that appeared here yesterday during a week when I won't be around. We will also cover our usual Tuesday segments. Featured Event The Art of Containment: Practical Livestock Fencing, August 8th at 10am at the Holler Homestead in Lancaster, TN. Tickets ar $50, grab yours here All Holler Homestead Events: https://livingfreeintennessee.com/events/  Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Tales From The Prepper Pantry 120 Pounds of Tomatoes Peaches: Final Harvest  ¼ bushel of green beans off 5 plants Time to plant the fall garden if you have not - for real, it is time! Moving from paper goods to washables where it makes sense Frugality Tip Say yes, but lean on community Operation Independence Seeking Farm Sponsors for our Farm To Table Dinner in September - how that works. Tomatoes All At Once Geraldines Story from A is For Cod-Wada: https://www.amazon.com/coda-wada-Geraldine-Duncann/dp/B0006YH9M2 THE MOMENT EVERY HOMESTEADER WAITS FOR: Michelle from Trippy Acres has too many tomatoes this is the day EVERY homesteader waits for - the moment someone says, can you take all this (WHATEVER) off my hands - and that whatever is a thing you love. Adjusted Monday schedule to harvest Admitted I wasnt processing last night to maintain health, but kept them all cool where? In my livingroom on a fold out table Processed them today - 120 pounds or so of tomatoes. A FAMILIAR RHYTHM: SORT - CUT - FREEZE - REPEAT GOAL is not homestead processing perfection, it is food spoilage stabilization. Works well post freezer: canned sauce, ketchup, salsa, stewed, freeze dried Must happen from fresh: Sundried, fresh Partial processing now helps future winter canning flow well Core and cut smaller to make it easier to process later as sauce Skins come off easily after freezing for stewed but before thawing, so store tomatoes you plan to skin as a single layer and only cored, not sliced smaller Dice the tomatoes you want for salsa in salsa batch sizes so that you can pull tomatoes for salsa straight from the freezer into the salsa pot Reducing sauce without heat by freezing and canned tomato water Keep Heat Outside Dehydrate and crockpot reduce sauces outside under cover (assuming you don't have a bear problem) to save adding heat inside Freezing for winter canning lets you heat the house int he winter while processing your tomatoes - win-win Prioritize ripest tomatoes first and set aside underripe ones to ripen as you go Favorite Tomato recipes Canned Salsa (Scaled for how many peppers I have) Fresh tomato Basil Soup (Make it and freeze for winter) Tomato Cucumber Salad Fresh Tomato and Meat Sauce Sliced Tomato with, salt and pepper, basil and a balsamic reduction Dried tomato in olive oil and garlic Freeze dried tomato powder Canned tomato sauce Canned stewed tomatoes if I am in a hurry Tomato cheese fry pies One of the things that can be hard to communicate to people about living a homesteaders lifestyle is that you will have times where everything seems to be happening at once.  Like for me right now: I need to be in Nashville for a few days managing my rental property, my mobility is coming back so I am working on a backlog from my injury and also setting a foundation for a fall garden, the livestock does best when they are handled daily even though they can sort of go on auto pilot. We just finished a large peach harvest, there are saturday farmers markets to do, our events are happing every other week or so, and then, 120 pounds of tomatoes appeared.  You build the skills over years on a homestead to tap into something like this and run with it.  I used to drop everything for days to do projects like this and that is how I learned a better way. One that preserves the food while preserving the reason I am on the homestead: to live in concert with nature, build abundance from the land, and enjoy the beauty of this place. So if you are new to homesteading, it may feel like lots of pressure at this time of year with the pest pressure, the weeds and the harvest, but it doesn't have to be. And being frantic all the time isn't why you are doing this, is it? Make It A Great Week

Today, I want to talk to you about navigating homestead abundance when it feels like everything is happening at once: planting for fall, processing an abundant tomato harvest, livestock needing extra support in the heat, and personal things ramping up in the background. But mostly, today is about 120 pounds of tomatoes that appeared here yesterday during a week when I won't be around. We will also cover our usual Tuesday segments. Featured Event The Art of Containment: Practical Livestock Fencing, August 8th at 10am at the Holler Homestead in Lancaster, TN. Tickets ar $50, grab yours here All Holler Homestead Events: https://livingfreeintennessee.com/events/  Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Tales From The Prepper Pantry 120 Pounds of Tomatoes Peaches: Final Harvest  ¼ bushel of green beans off 5 plants Time to plant the fall garden if you have not - for real, it is time! Moving from paper goods to washables where it makes sense Frugality Tip Say yes, but lean on community Operation Independence Seeking Farm Sponsors for our Farm To Table Dinner in September - how that works. Tomatoes All At Once Geraldines Story from A is For Cod-Wada: https://www.amazon.com/coda-wada-Geraldine-Duncann/dp/B0006YH9M2 THE MOMENT EVERY HOMESTEADER WAITS FOR: Michelle from Trippy Acres has too many tomatoes this is the day EVERY homesteader waits for - the moment someone says, can you take all this (WHATEVER) off my hands - and that whatever is a thing you love. Adjusted Monday schedule to harvest Admitted I wasnt processing last night to maintain health, but kept them all cool where? In my livingroom on a fold out table Processed them today - 120 pounds or so of tomatoes. A FAMILIAR RHYTHM: SORT - CUT - FREEZE - REPEAT GOAL is not homestead processing perfection, it is food spoilage stabilization. Works well post freezer: canned sauce, ketchup, salsa, stewed, freeze dried Must happen from fresh: Sundried, fresh Partial processing now helps future winter canning flow well Core and cut smaller to make it easier to process later as sauce Skins come off easily after freezing for stewed but before thawing, so store tomatoes you plan to skin as a single layer and only cored, not sliced smaller Dice the tomatoes you want for salsa in salsa batch sizes so that you can pull tomatoes for salsa straight from the freezer into the salsa pot Reducing sauce without heat by freezing and canned tomato water Keep Heat Outside Dehydrate and crockpot reduce sauces outside under cover (assuming you don't have a bear problem) to save adding heat inside Freezing for winter canning lets you heat the house int he winter while processing your tomatoes - win-win Prioritize ripest tomatoes first and set aside underripe ones to ripen as you go Favorite Tomato recipes Canned Salsa (Scaled for how many peppers I have) Fresh tomato Basil Soup (Make it and freeze for winter) Tomato Cucumber Salad Fresh Tomato and Meat Sauce Sliced Tomato with, salt and pepper, basil and a balsamic reduction Dried tomato in olive oil and garlic Freeze dried tomato powder Canned tomato sauce Canned stewed tomatoes if I am in a hurry Tomato cheese fry pies One of the things that can be hard to communicate to people about living a homesteaders lifestyle is that you will have times where everything seems to be happening at once.  Like for me right now: I need to be in Nashville for a few days managing my rental property, my mobility is coming back so I am working on a backlog from my injury and also setting a foundation for a fall garden, the livestock does best when they are handled daily even though they can sort of go on auto pilot. We just finished a large peach harvest, there are saturday farmers markets to do, our events are happing every other week or so, and then, 120 pounds of tomatoes appeared.  You build the skills over years on a homestead to tap into something like this and run with it.  I used to drop everything for days to do projects like this and that is how I learned a better way. One that preserves the food while preserving the reason I am on the homestead: to live in concert with nature, build abundance from the land, and enjoy the beauty of this place. So if you are new to homesteading, it may feel like lots of pressure at this time of year with the pest pressure, the weeds and the harvest, but it doesn't have to be. And being frantic all the time isn't why you are doing this, is it? Make It A Great Week

Today I am joined by the Tactical Redneck for our weekly update from Holler Homestead. We talk about wrapping up peach season, putting food by before it goes to waste, building a backlog of freezer meals, improving the duck pond, and the latest fencing adventures. We also share what we've been learning from this year's garden, experiments with coffee-dyed aprons for upcoming classes, and why choosing to cultivate steady progress instead of chasing perfection is making a real difference around the homestead. Featured Event The Activation Tour with Derrick Broze Franklin, TN https://ActivationTour.org Sponsors The Wealthsteading Podcast https://InvestableWealth.com Discount Mylar Bags https://DiscountMylarBags.com Topics Covered Wrapping up the peach harvest Making peach pie filling and preserving the abundance Building a freezer meal backlog for busy seasons Duck pond improvements and better water flow Fencing successes, mistakes, and lessons learned Rotational grazing and sheep management updates Saving a 140-year-old family tomato seed line What worked—and didn't—in this year's garden Coffee-dyed aprons for upcoming homestead classes Preparing for future events at Basecamp Lodge Balancing farm projects with the Nashville duplex sale Living out this year's word: Cultivate Reference Links Living Free in Tennessee https://LivingFreeInTennessee.com The Activation Tour https://ActivationTour.org Discount Mylar Bags https://DiscountMylarBags.com The Wealthsteading Podcast https://InvestableWealth.com Holler Roast Coffee https://HollerRoast.com Make It A Great Week!

iTUNES was running audio as empty so I am reposting this for folks on iTunes and iTunes connected podcatchers. XOXO Today we will discuss my personal ways of letting go of resentment, a question posed by one of our long-time community members toward the end of the show I did with Joel Ryals. That question is a longer answer than something flip like, "I go for a run."  In addition to this topic, we will cover my usual weekly segments. Featured Event: FENCING CLASS YO - The Art of Containment: Practical Livestock Fencing, August  - get tickets here. Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Sponsor 2: StrongRootsResources.com LFTN Stocking Exchange Announcement https://livingfreeintennessee.com/2026/07/21/lftn-stocking-exchange/ Tales From The Prepper Pantry Seeking Green Beans For Canning Meal Planning With Visitors Peach Pie Filling And Sliced Peaches Simplification Is Working Well Drying and Putting Up Herbs Freeze Dryer/ Temperature Matters Frugality Tip Why Be Frugal and What Does That Mean FD Hiker Meal (Meatballs) Operation Independence Farmers Market Update and the Network Effect Main Topic of Today's Show: Letting Go Of Resentment Make it a Great Week!

Today we will discuss my personal ways of letting go of resentment, a question posed by one of our long-time community members toward the end of the show I did with Joel Ryals. That question is a longer answer than something flip like, "I go for a run."  In addition to this topic, we will cover my usual weekly segments. Featured Event: FENCING CLASS YO - The Art of Containment: Practical Livestock Fencing, August  - get tickets here. Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Sponsor 2: StrongRootsResources.com LFTN Stocking Exchange Announcement https://livingfreeintennessee.com/2026/07/21/lftn-stocking-exchange/ Tales From The Prepper Pantry Seeking Green Beans For Canning Meal Planning With Visitors Peach Pie Filling And Sliced Peaches Simplification Is Working Well Drying and Putting Up Herbs Freeze Dryer/ Temperature Matters Frugality Tip Why Be Frugal and What Does That Mean FD Hiker Meal (Meatballs) Operation Independence Farmers Market Update and the Network Effect Main Topic of Today's Show: Letting Go Of Resentment Make it a Great Week!

Today, I am joined by the Tactical Redneck to discuss updateds from the Holler Homestead: mud, ducks, peaches, homemade laundry detergent, electric fencing, freezer meals, and a few lessons learned the hard way.  Featured Event The Activation Tour with Derrick Broze Friday, July 24 • Franklin, TN An evening focused on freedom, independence, exiting broken systems, and building something better. Sponsors Agorist Tax Advice Strategic tax planning and preparation for entrepreneurs and freedom-minded business owners. https://AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Discount Mylar Bags DiscountMylarBags.com Why Tactical has been covered in mud every day lately Duck adventures and other animal updates Peach harvest is in full swing—and the freezer is filling up Processing abundance before it goes to waste Homemade laundry detergent experiments using Fels-Naptha and washing soda Why handmade bath soap isn't necessarily the same as laundry soap Thoughts on fabric softeners, vinegar, and simplifying laundry Tactical's favorite lasagna recipe and freezer meal planning New fencing class now open for registration: https://livingfreeintennessee.com/event/fencing/ Holler Roast Coffee https://HollerRoast.com Make it a Great Week!

Today I am joined by the Tactical Redneck for our weekly update from the Holler Homestead: managing MORE injuries and Airbnb turnovers, infrastructure improvements, upcoming events, and lessons learned from trying to build a sustainable homestead and community at the same time. Sponsors InvestablyWealth.com – The Wealthsteading Podcast with John Pugliano StrongRootsResources.com SHOUT OUT OrchardHouseCreamery.com   Both Tactical and I are dealing with injuries and learning to adjust how we work. Getting Basecamp Lodge turned over for Airbnb guests while staying on top of the homestead. The "Peeping Tom Ladder" story. Why cleaning up after events and projects has become a bigger priority. Using Airbnb income to help support Basecamp while building out the broader Holler Homestead vision. Working toward systems that require less emergency effort. Updates on peaches and what's happening around the orchard. Upcoming fencing class, farm tours, and other events. Improvements underway around the pond and property. Why finishing projects completely matters more than starting new ones Building systems that are sustainable when life happens. What injuries reveal about weak spots in your homestead systems. Why relying on heroics eventually catches up with you. Learning to prioritize infrastructure over constant reaction. Creating processes that continue to work even when you're not at 100%. The importance of finishing one project before creating three more. Growing community while also protecting your own capacity. Make It A Great Week!  

Featured Sponsors AgoristTaxAdvice.com.LFTN DiscountMylarBags.com Donate to the fundraisre for John Davis' Wife: https://www.givesendgo.com/honoring-johns-legacy Connect With Todays Hosts TheSurvivalPodcast.com SOETacticalGear.com LivingFreeinTennessee.com

Today I am joined by Joel Ryals from FortressK9 to discuss AI, protection dogs and dog training, cast iron cookware, homestead gatherings, and Joel's brand-new book. The conversation takes a few unexpected turns, not unusual for Joel. Today's Sponsors DiscountMylarBags.com StrongRootsResources.com Show References FortressK9.com Topics covered The latest at the Ryals Homestead and Fortressk9 How to use AI in your business and why you should A special announcement about something you probably hadn't heard yet What makes a protection dog different from police, military, and sport dogs The process of self-publishing and getting a book ready for Amazon Homestead updates and upcoming community gatherings. A discussion about caring for cast iron cookware, seasoning, and restoring rusty pans.

This week I share a little about saying goodbye to Cycy, who spent 14 years bringing joy, laughter, and companionship to life here at the Holler Homestead. It's never easy to lose a longtime friend, and I wanted to take a few minutes to remember her. We also catch up on what's happening around the homestead as summer settles in and the season's priorities become much clearer. Featured Sponsors OrchardHouseCreamery.com The Wealthsteading Podcast InvestablyWealth.com In this episode we discuss: Remembering Cycy and the legacy she leaves behind How focusing on what this season requires has changed the rhythm of the homestead Baby duck hijinks and the latest adventures around the farm Upcoming events at Basecamp Lodge Sheep blood draws and why we're doing them Returning to the DeKalb Farmers Market with Holler Homestead Make it a great week!

What happens when a commitment to growing food, caring for livestock, and building a life closer to the land becomes part of your daily routine? In this episode, I sit down with Mary Davis of Laughlin Highlands Farm to discuss the connection between homesteading and health. Mary shares her experiences building a farm-based lifestyle, the lessons learned along the way, and how working with the land has influenced her physical health, mental outlook, and overall quality of life. We also explore the realities of homestead living, the challenges that come with it, and why more people are looking for practical ways to take ownership of their food, health, and future. SPONSORS Agorist Tax Advice Save money, stay compliant, and get strategic tax guidance designed for entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and freedom-minded business owners. https://agoristtaxadvice.com/LFTN Strong Roots Resources Practical resources and preparedness products for people building greater self-reliance. https://strongrootsresources.com In This Episode Mary's journey into homesteading How farm life has impacted her health and well-being The physical and mental benefits of working with the land Challenges and rewards of raising food and livestock Building resilience through practical skills Creating a lifestyle that supports long-term health Lessons learned from years of homestead experience Advice for people who want to get started Resources Laughlin Highlands Farm: https://www.laughlinhighlandsfarm.com/ Mary Davis on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@laughlinhighlandsfarm Living Free in Tennessee: https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/ Holler Roast Coffee: https://www.hollerroast.com/ Support the Show If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a review. Every share helps more people discover practical ways to build a life they choose. Make It A Great Week.

Today, I am joined by the Tactical Redneck for a homestead happenings show. Featured Event: Combat Midwife Training: https://combatmidwife.com/products/the-combat-midwife%E2%84%A2-workshop Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Sponsor 2: DiscountMylarBags.com

Today, we are discussing a cultural observation from my recent trip to Europe and what it revealed about entitlement, helplessness, and personal responsibility. We'll explore the difference between advocating for yourself and expecting the world to meet your expectations, why victim mentality may be a bigger threat than politics or technology, and how taking ownership of your happiness is the first step toward building the life you want. If you've ever found yourself frustrated by what other people won't do, this episode is a reminder that your future is still yours to shape. Featured Event - Last Chance on the Combat Midwife Training this Saturday: CombatMidwife.com Sponsor 1: StrongRootsReources.com Sponsor 2: The Wealthsteading Podcast: https://wealthsteading.com/ Tales From The Prepper Pantry Freezer and fridge setup has truly helped with processing sheep this week Borrowed Meat Grinder Broccoli and Cauliflower score - seeking more Herb Drying Push Weekend Menu Frugality Tip From Charles Remember that almost everything now is digital. If it doesn't work reboot it. Unplug it (circuit breaker) and let it sit, then plug it back in. Sometimes that is all that is needed. 3-year old GE Monogram Dishwasher errored and wouldn't drain. Manual said clean the filters and the air vent. Did the process, no luck. Removed the bottom panel looking for clues. Nothing In my mind it was time to call the repair guys, but instead I went to the circuit breaker panel and powered it down. When I powered it back up, error had cleared and we ran the DW. Still working!!!! Operation Independence This weekend's class - and the airbnb for the summer. Main topic: The Rise of Helplessness Cultural observations from Crete and Germany People solving problems and building lives Entitlement vs. personal responsibility Complaining versus adapting Advocacy versus expecting special treatment Helplessness is the real threat More dangerous than politics, AI, or economic uncertainty If someone else controls your happiness, you have no power Culture shapes perspective Values matter Who you spend time with matters Hard question Are you demanding what you're owed? Or building the life you want? Nobody owes you happiness The good news: you don't need anyone's permission either Give others more grace Take more responsibility for yourself Make It a Great Week!

Today, I am joined by the Tactical Redneck for a homestead happenings show. Our sheep have a virus that cannot be cured, so we have sad days ahead. Featured Event: Combat Midwife Training: https://combatmidwife.com/products/the-combat-midwife%E2%84%A2-workshop Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Sponsor 2: DiscountMylarBags.com

Join us at 9:30am CT for our monthly coffee chat. Jack Spirko is out of town so he will be out this month. Connect With Us: SOETacticalGear.com LivingaFreeinTennessee.com

  Rise & Restore Event (June 26 – Bowling Green, KY): Sponsors: Agorist Tax Advice [Strong Roots Resources](https://strongrootsresources.com) Today we talk about how Tactical and I stepped away from the Holler Homestead for a full day and applied the #My3Things framework to the bigger Holler Hub/Holler Homestead vision. We've been staring at this massive dream for a while now: regenerative systems, community spaces, rentable stays, owner stewards, events, classes, nutrient-dense food, healing, connection. People who experience it often change for the better. But the idea is also so massive, that it is crushing. So we took a hard pause. We borrowed a quiet place from friends, sat down with whiteboards, notebooks, and all the accumulated ideas floating around in our heads, and forced ourselves to narrow the focus. What came out of that process was clarity and clearer priorities. Tales From The Prepper Pantry Prepped the homestead for two weeks away by organizing freezer meals, emergency food, and making a walkthrough video for Tactical Garlic scapes are harvested and garlic harvest is right around the corner Herb drying season is officially underway with oregano, thyme, sage, raspberry leaves, lemon balm, and more Discussion about properly cooking lean cuts like tri-tip roast without drying them out Why local pork producers struggle when customers only want bacon and sausage Thoughts on cooking whole-animal cuts like pork shoulder, roasts, and pork steaks Updates on pantry usage, freezer rotation, and feeding more people through workshops and community dinners Operation Independence Looking seriously at scaling Holler Roast Coffee with a larger roaster Discussing the realities of expanding into a more formal production facility Why coffee continues to fuel nearly everything happening at the Holler Homestead Considering reopening consulting calls to help people navigate personal and business crossroads Egg sales may officially become a thing because the chickens are dramatically overachieving Reflections on how community support has helped stabilize the homestead through injuries, growth, and transition Using the #My3Things framework to simplify the larger Holler Hub vision into actionable priorities The heart of today's episode, though, is this: sometimes the vision gets so big that you stop moving. The answer isn't abandoning the dream. The answer is getting brutally honest about what matters right now. That's what #My3Things helped us do. I think this process may have saved us from building ourselves straight into burnout. Make it a Great Week

  Today, I am joined by the Tactical Redneck for a homestead happenings show! Featured Event: Wild Edible Walk this Sunday! Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Sponsor 2: HollerRoast.com

Today, I am joined by the Tactical Redneck for a homestead happenings show!

  Today we have our first Tuesday Coffee Chat with John Willis of SOE Tactical Gear and Nicole Sauce of Living Free in Tennessee. These discussions are always a wildcard and can go anywhere. We usually hit on some current events of course. We also tend to talk about things like entrepreneurship, homesteading and a ton more. In general we try to inspire you a bit, make you laugh a few times, entertain you and teach you a thing or two along the way. Sponsors Today: Wealthsteading.com DiscountMylarBags.com

Today we talk about how to stop feeding fear, survive beginner discomfort, and build confidence through action. We'll also cover our usual Monday segments. Sponsors Sponsor 1: HollerRoast.com, small-batch coffee roasted in a Tennessee holler for people who get things done. Sponsor 2: StrongRootsResources.com
Practical preparedness gear for uncertain times. Tales from the Prepper Pantry * Spring Workshop wrapped up strong * Lots of hands-on learning in the kitchen * Reminder that skill comes from repetition, not podcasts * Homestead season is now fully underway * Time to plant, preserve, repair, and move Operation Independence Every real skill you build gives you more options. Cooking from scratch. Growing food. Preserving harvests. Fixing gear. Building side income. Leading community. Main Topic of the Day: Less Talking, More Doing This Is Not About Sauerkraut

Today, I am joined by the Tactical Redneck for a discussion of life on a homestead. Sponsor 1: StrongRootsResources.com Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN

Today, I am joined by Sandy Eplett to to talk about setting up systems that fit the season of your life to create your generational homestead. Featured event: The Homestead Event - April 24 & 25 in the Knoxville area. Sponsor 1: The Wealthsteading Podcast Sponsor 2: DiscountMylarBags.com  

Today, we discuss those cool, simple garden planning memes and why they don't actually work - and what to do about it. Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com Sponsor 2: The Wealthsteading Podcast, InvestableWealth.com

Today, I am joined by multiple folks in the holler for a discussion of life on a homestead. Sponsor 1: StrongRootsResources.com Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN

Today we have our first Tuesday Coffee Chat with John Willis of SOE Tactical Gear and Nicole Sauce of Living Free in Tennessee. These discussions are always a wildcard and can go anywhere. We usually hit on some current events of course. We also tend to talk about things like entrepreneurship, homesteading and a ton more. In general we try to inspire you a bit, make you laugh a few times, entertain you and teach you a thing or two along the way. Sponsors Today: Wealthsteading.com DiscountMylarBags.com

Today, I am joined by the Tactical Redneck for a discussion of life on a homestead. Sponsor 1: StrongRootsResources.com Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN

Today, we discuss story and how in strongly influences our success or failure. Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com Sponsor 2: The Wealthsteading Podcast, InvestableWealth.com

Join us for an update on the sheep, all the sheep, milking sheep, bottle babies, sleep deprivation. Featured Event: Foraging on the Farm at Blueberry Hill Farm in Knoxville, March 22 Sponsor 1: Wealthsteading.com Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN

Today, we talk about lessons learned after four (or five?) seasons of birthing lambs at the Holler Homestead. We will also cover all our usual Tuesday segments like Tales from the Prepper Pantry, Seasonal Forage and more. Featured Event: Refuge Ruckus is this weekend! ONLY 50 TICKETS LEFT! https://www.refugeruckus.com/ Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Sponsor 2: AbovePhone.com: https://abovephone.com/?above=104 Coupon Code LiveFreeTN Tales from the Prepper Pantry Used up beef from the been canning webinar of 2022 (Beef stew) Will be harvesting the first lettuces soon from the outside gardens Giving all storage here a big facelift with the help of Opalyn Cutting up 3 Eyes of Round RIP Claire the Fridge (The freezer/fridge combo) Frugality Tip From Nicole Freeze dried meals with a thermos, OR lunch pail thermos Operation Independence 3 Beef Rounds for the workshop Main topic: Lessons learned from 5 birthing seasons Make a management decision >rotation vs single pasture and medications >Interventions vs survival of the fittest >Hair vs wool Finding strong Stock Pasture Birthing Bag >gloves >Lube >thermometer >towels >Alcohol or other sterilizer (Basiic first aid is already at the pasture) Home Lamb Support Kit >Colostrum >Bottles >Milk Replacer >Pee pads from Sam's club >Dog crate >Diapers if you will go this route >Lamb-dedicated towels >Hair dryer or heat lamp >Temperature probes >Heating box >Sous Vide >Mason jars >Funnel >thermometer >more gloves >lamb probiotics Things to prepare for in birthing >Stuck lamb >Breach Lamb >Sideways lamb >Cold Lamb >Dopey lamb >Low milk production from mom >Lamb not breathing >prolapse Great resources >All Creatures Great and Small, etc >Laura Lawson Lamb Problems another references >get a sheep mentor BACON CLASS

  Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: Looking for lamb births, getting rapid forward progress on the homestead, and more. Featured Event: March 14 Makin' Bacon from 10am-12pm - LivingFreeinTennessee.com Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com Sponsor 2: TheWealthsteadingPodcast.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!   Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link  

  Want to come to the Holler Homestead and learn to make bacon? Makin' Bacon is March 14th at 10 am and space is limited. Join us for a First Tuesday Coffee with John Willis of Special Operations Equipment, Nicole Sauce of The Living Free in Tennessee Podcast, and Jack Spirko of The Survival Podcast. Connect with us! SOETacticalGear.com LivingFreeinTennessee.com TheSurvivalPodcast.com

We are going to talk today about what happens when your project, your homestead, your business — whatever you are building — hits the point where it can't grow unless you step into leadership. Not louder. Not bossier. Just clearer. And what it costs when you avoid that moment. We'll also cover our usual Monday segments. Featured Event Monthly Meetup at Basecamp Lodge Saturday, 12pm–3pm Potluck + Seed Exchange (bring seeds if you've got them) RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1246004124202741 Bring a dish. Bring seeds. Bring yourself. Sponsors Sponsor 1: StrongRootsResources.com Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com Tales from the Prepper Pantry Considering a community lard pig buy – Kune Kunes available Breaking the bad habit of buying vegetables at the store — diving back into freezer and canned goods Seeking wet cat food by the pallet — anyone? Gardens getting up and running Recipe Favorite: Dutch Oven Chicken Root Bake Forage Update Watercress Dandelion Stinging Nettle Dead Nettle Chickweed Comfrey Everything is waking up. Frugality Tip Buying at the right time of year makes a big difference. Before the Super Bowl: buy a TV on sale. After the Super Bowl: buy the returned open-box TVs on clearance. Last year we snagged a small smart TV originally priced at $125 for $37. Brand new. Open box. Check your local clearance sections for open-box returns. Often brand new. Happy savings, y'all. Operation Independence Turkey Tail season is upon us. There may be real opportunity there. We're going to find out. Main Topic of the Day From Personality-Driven to Framework-Driven Yesterday I sat down and drilled into every project and business I run. Income-generating. Money-costing. Even things like helping when someone in the community is ill — and yes, we should mention the Jeffrey Dheeres fundraiser. Everything fit into three buckets: Nicole Sauce centered Holler Homestead centered Weird outliers The outliers go on the chopping block first. But the bigger realization was this: I have been avoiding a leadership vacuum. I kept waiting for consensus. Waiting for another leader to step forward. Waiting for clarity to magically appear. And while I waited, I tried to just do more myself. That cost me peace. It led to burnout. It stalled momentum. Here's the lesson: If I don't accept my role as leader — meaning I walk in front instead of pushing from behind — we stay in one place. Not because people aren't good. Not because they don't care. Because without structure, everything becomes personality-driven. And personality-driven systems stall when the personality gets tired. What we're building now at Holler Homestead is a framework. Basecamp Lodge is functional. Classes are being scheduled (like the March 14 bacon class). The basement classroom is moving forward. Homestead systems are being documented. The buying club is poised for its first test. We're looking at additional acreage. Long-term vision: Expanded land. Commons effort. Cabins for temporary stays. People coming to experience regenerative community, food, skill-building, and reset. Membership options for non-residents. Not a massive intentional community. An example. Something that can be learned from and replicated elsewhere. And here's the key: Structure allows generosity. When more people in the community have needs, chaos doesn't scale — structure does. If you don't build framework, your generosity burns you out. If you build framework, your generosity becomes sustainable. So here's the question for you: Where are you avoiding stepping into leadership? Where are you burning out because you won't build structure? Is your project personality-driven when it needs to become framework-driven? Sometimes growth doesn't require more effort. It requires clarity. And someone willing to walk in front.

Today, we will explore the concept of building community, but not from a pure numbers standpoint. Many people measure community in numbers, not quality. We will discuss a better way to create community around you that makes the whole network mightier. Featured Event: Spence MAG Meetup: This Sunday. Contact Brad for information. sequatchieschool@protonmail.com Sponsor One: RarePlantStore.com Sponsor Two: https://abovephone.com/?above=104 (This is an affiliate link) Tales From The Prepper Pantry >11 years ago, crepe night for Fat Tuesday and we were snowed in >Rebuilding the pantry system after working through the "stuff" this winter (Why I did this) >Scaling from 2 to 5 - growing pains >Audit your canning supplies >German Food Day Frugality Tip From Margo I have a friend up North whose library has passes you can check out for discounted admission to museums.  So check out your local library and see what they have to offer. Operation Independence Barrels for sale, grocery club update Main Topic We talk about community all the time with some of you saying there is no one around you, and others seeking to start your own community. Often, communities fail because they have the wrong goal. How do you know your community is successful? >number of people >length of community >etc I like to think about the goals differently: How many surface relationships do we house versus inner circle trust. >>explain this

Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: The season has become warmer but we are not out of the winter woods yet! Learn what we are doing to get ready for growing season. Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Sponsor 2: TheWealthsteadingPodcast.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!   Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

  Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: Friends, spring, and what we are experimenting with on the homestead. Featured Event: Farm Freedom Summit, February 7 Sponsor 1: StrongRootsResources.com Sponsor 2: DiscountMylarBags.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!   Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link  

Join us for a First Tuesday Coffee with John Willis of Special Operations Equipment, Nicole Sauce of The Living Free in Tennessee Podcast, and Jack Spirko of The Survival Podcast. Connect with us! SOETacticalGear.com LivingFreeinTennessee.com TheSurvivalPodcast.com

  Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: 10 Weird Things That Happen To Homesteaders That We Think Are Normal. Featured Event: LFTN Spring Workshop April 23-25 - Tickets go on sale on January 31 at 9am central! Sponsor 1: The Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com Sponsor 2: DisvountMylarBags.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!   Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link  

Anxiety often shows up when our capability isn't being used in the real world. Building skills, systems, and doing meaningful work creates calm, stability, and a steadier life in 2026. Jan 31st, 9am Central, tickets go on sale for the LFTN Spring Workshop! Sponsor: StrongRootsResources.com Sponsor: AgoristTaxAdvice.com Opening Thought Who has felt anxious in the last few weeks?? Stop trying to feel better Build a life that steadies you Anxiety = unused capability Holler Hub: people working together Being useful calms people Idaho skiing Weather, terrain, attention Know when to push, when not to Preparedness without panic Winter storm came through Systems absorbed stress Humans stayed calm That's what preparedness is for Choose what grows Skills, systems, people Pull what destabilizes you Spring Workshop Hands-on Calm isn't something you wait for Calm is something you build 2026 = steady people

  Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: Ice preps, Squeaks updates, and more Featured Event: LFTN Spring Workshop April 23-25 - Tickets go on sale on January 31 at 9am central! Sponsor 1: The Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!   Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link  

Today, I am joined by Jessica Arno, The Combat Midwife, to discuss keeping women and children alive when you can't just drive to the hospital. More that that, we will discuss how building these skills is a foundation for improving health even if you CAN drive to the hospital.  Sponsors AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN DiscountMylarBags.com Resources https://combatmidwife.com/ https://livingfreeintennessee.com/

Today, I am joined by Kerry Brown from Strong Roots Resources to talk through the new approach we are taking with the LFTN food forest and how he is using mother nature to progress the system through to maturity one season at a time. Tapping into what we know about the soil and conditions here, native plants, what the people in our community want to eat, and working toward a system that does not require many hours to maintain. When you work with nature, you develop systems that you can help along rather than battle with constantly. Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com Sponsor 2: StrongRootsResources.com Featured Event: March 7 Combat Midwife Training

Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: Rabbits, Domestic Day, Helpers and more! Featured Event: PickTN Products Conference - Jan 15-17. Holler Roast featured Jan 15 in the morning. Homestead Panel at lunch on Jan 16. Come support small food! https://www.picktnconference.com/ Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com Sponsor 2: The Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com Make it a great week! GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!   Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link  

Let's Get Ready For 2026 Today we discuss how to apply the SWOT method to your own life plan, cover our usual Monday segments on pantry management and financial progress, and cover a question from a listener about erosion.