Pioneering Today (Leisure)

Learn how to design a cottage garden or pull elements of one into your own yard. Melissa interviews Carolyn Thomas of Homesteading Family for a close up look of creating a cottage garden with plants that have forgotten medicinal and edible properties. Learn how hollyhock can be used medicinally and some older plants that have wonderful properties to them. List of favorite plants, how to use them, as well as elements you should consider. Grab the lists and full blog post at https://melissaknorris.com/186

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20186.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 8:01am PDT

Learn how to store you home canned foods safely, what the official sources actually say about storing jars with the canning rings (bands) on or off and what you need to know about jar stacking. Which practices Melissa uses on her canning of 600+ jars a year. What it means if you remove the bands and your lose your seal and more. Get resources and links at https://melissaknorris.com/185 Make sure you're signed up for Melissa's free Home Food Preservation Video series at https://melissaknorris.com/food-preservation-video-series/ The Pioneering Today Academy is your one stop place for step-by-step videos and download guides on how to preserve your food and build up a real food pantry filled with fermented, dehydrated and home canned food https://melissaknorris.com/pioneeringtodayacademy/

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20185.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 4:19pm PDT

Use these pro tips for home food preservation so you know which foods are ready seasonally by the month and the best ways to handle and preserve them so you aren't overwhelmed with all the summer produce coming on, either from your garden or purchased from u-picks or farmer's markets. Armed with this info you won't miss a crop either. Melissa shares her summer preserving plan and how to use the same steps to customize YOUR home food preservation. Sign up for her FREE Home Food Preservation Workshop with step-by-step tutorials on dehydrating, canning and fermenting here https://melissaknorris.com/food-preservation-video-series/ get all the resources and show notes for this episode at https://melissaknorris.com/184

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20184.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 12:24pm PDT

What it's really like to live off grid, tips you can take and use now, even if you're not off grid, and if you're planning to go that way, what you need to know before starting. Melissa interviews Doug & Stacy, a couple of self-proclaimed city slickers, who moved completely off-grid eight years ago. What the transition has been like, what they've learned (and wouldn't do again) and more! Check out the resources for fermenting tutorials/recipe, pressure canning, monthly seasonal garden planting guide and more in the full blog post here https://melissaknorris.com/183 

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20183.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 1:15pm PDT

Learn how to use and grow these 8 medicinal herbs and their uses for an easy herbal tea garden. Harvesting tips, medicinal uses and preparations, cautions to be aware of and best growing tips. Know which do best in containers, location, and growing habits. Melissa shares her favorite herbs for hormonal balance, cooking, anxiety and calming help, digestion, and of course, immune boosting power. Hear part of the herb charts and info from Melissa's book Hand Made . See pictures, video tour of Melissa's herb garden and more at https://melissaknorris.com/182 

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20182.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 12:03pm PDT

Use these 5 tips to maximize your garden yield (aka more vegetables) & beat overwhelm. How to ensure you have a continual harvest of fresh vegetables rather than a huge glut all at once for your non-preserving crops, how to make sure you don't miss crucial planting times, and how to increase the harvest of your existing plants so you don't have to plant as many. Plus, use my garden weeding tip to help you stay on top of it without wanting to pull your hair out. Grab all the links & resources, including my FREE monthly seasonal planting guide at https://melissaknorris.com/181

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20181.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 9:38am PDT

In this podcast, Melissa shares 10 tomato growing tips from planting, what your leaves are telling you your tomato plants are low on, how to avoid blight and blossom end rot, crop rotation, if indeterminate or determinate tomato varieties are best for you, trellising, and more. Learn these secrets to disease free tomatoes and a large harvest! Grab the FREE Tomato Growing Guide bonus and other resources at https://melissaknorris.com/180

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20180.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 4:29pm PDT

Learn how to start beekeeping with in depth guide on choosing the right place for your hives, types of hives, where to buy bees, how to choose the best bees based on your climate, what supplies you must have to get started (and some frugal options), what to look for when performing hive checks, how much  honey to expect, and how much setting up a backyard hive costs. Get the full blog post and resources for this episode at https://melissaknorris.com/179

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20179.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 11:05am PDT

In this episode Melissa and guest Shaye Elliot from the Elliot Homestead share their tips for natural weed control at planting time so you can spend less time weeding and more time enjoying your garden, especially with the addition of heirloom flowers. You'll learn how to create a cottage style heirloom garden that provides you with beauty through every season with less work, best flowers, how to plan it, resources and more! This special episode will have you weeding less (and with a weeding plan to take away overwhelm) and putting in heirloom flowers to life long enjoyment. Go to the blog post here for resources and Melissa's Instagram to win a copy of both her book and Shaye's!

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20178.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 9:50am PDT

In this episode Melissa shares about traditional fire ciderâ„¢ including it's medicinal benefits, recipe, and the controversy involving trademarks of old time herbal remedies and recipes. Melissa brings on Rosemary Gladstar, one of the founders of the fire cider recipe made popular with home herbalists to share its rich history, how to know if it's right for you, uses, keeping herbal medicine open to everyone, and getting started with growing and making natural medicine in your kitchen. For the recipe, resources, and more go to https://melissaknorris.com/177

Direct download: Episode201772028INTERVIEW29.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 9:35am PDT

Learn how to homestead in small spaces for self-sustainability with both a garden and your own meat practicing urban homesteading. How to evaluate your space for maximum crops, what to raise instead of chickens if they're against the law where you live, how you can homestead and produce a good portion of your own food on less than 1/10th of an acre. Harold shares how he recovered from cancer, started urban homesteading, and does all of this on 1/10th of an acre while still working a full time day job. Read the full post here https://melissaknorris.com/176

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20176.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 12:22pm PDT

Learn some easy tips to germinate your seeds, aka, get the seeds to sprout and grow faster. Because the faster your seeds sprout the sooner you get to harvest. Plus, how to gauge the weather for the fastest growth of your seeds. For all the links and resources Melissa shares in this episode go to https://melissaknorris.com/175 Plus, for this week only the Pioneering Today Academy doors are open!

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20175.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 10:47am PDT

Learn how much time it really takes to raise a year's worth of food, can you really raise a large vegetable garden and fruit with just 2 hours of work per week? Melissa breaks down the amount of hands on time they spend on their fruit plants and vegetable garden for a family of four that provides them with over 50% of their produce for a year. Grab the resources and links (cuz there's some good ones) here at the blog post https://melissaknorris.com/174

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20174.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 10:15am PDT

Get real life tips on how to get homemade traditional foods on the table every day when you're busy, plus, some confessions on what it really looks like in a homesteader's kitchen and how cooking like Ma Ingalls meets real life. Join Melissa and Jill from the Prairie Homestead as they share their best tips for traditional cooking while being busy as well as the importance of mindset. Tips for grass fed roast turning out melt-in-your mouth tender, easy planning, and more! Grab the full blog post and resources links here https://melissaknorris.com/173

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20173.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 4:05pm PDT

These easy spring gardening tips with help increase your harvest yield and the amount of fruit and vegetables you bring in this summer. Do these now during early spring to set yourself up for an exceptional growing season. Learn how to apply these tips to your property and garden. Get show notes and resources at https://melissaknorris.com/172 
Melissa shares what's worked in their homestead and how to avoid some of the common mistakes they made early on. 

Direct download: 28FINISHED2920Episode20172.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 6:48pm PDT

Learn why every garden should have heirloom vegetables growing in it and some of our favorite 10 unique heirloom vegetables to grow in your garden and homestead this year. Why heirloom seeds are the true homesteading garden seed and what makes them so special in every garden and table, hint: it has to do with flavor! Grab each variety in the blog post w/ photos here https://melissaknorris.com/171 and find out how to get some of Melissa's family strain of heirloom Tarheel green bean seed as a FREE bonus coming up very soon!

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20171.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 1:19pm PDT

How to prepare for a snow storm or any extreme weather emergency on your homestead without running to the stores or heading out into the weather. Melissa shares the exact steps she goes through when a storm is on the way, including livestock prep. Get the blog post and full show notes for this episode at https://melissaknorris.com/170

Direct download: 28FINISHED2920Episode170.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 2:18pm PDT

Starting an orchard with the correct fruit trees and berry plants for your climate is crucial to getting a harvest. Choose the correct variety and pollination type for your area with these tips. Melissa walks you through the best fruit types for small areas, larger areas, pollination (cross pollination vs. self-pollination), growing berries, chill hours, adding in new varieties, increasing your harvest. Snag the full written show notes at https://melissaknorris.com/169

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20169.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 12:10pm PDT

Learn how to use herbs and natural remedies, how to build your own natural medicine cabinet using plants that you can either grow at home or get fairly easily, and when to use home remedies and when to turn to modern medicine. All this and more as Melissa chats with Marjory Wildcraft on learning the traditional and age old use of herbs in your natural medicine cabinet. Get the full blog post at https://melissaknorris.com/168 as well as the link to the FREE 4 part herbal video series to take you even deeper.

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode2016820With20Marjorie20Wildcraft.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 6:18pm PDT

8 medicinal plants you need to add to your garden this year, not only are these some of my favorite power house medicines on the homestead, but they're beautiful to grow just for appearances. Learn their medicinal properties, best growing practices, and how we use them in our natural medicine cabinet. Grab resources, links, and full blog post at https://melissaknorris.com/167

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20167.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 2:44pm PDT

Learn why sourdough is so amazing for your health and how to get started with making your own sourdough starter. Grab my FREE 4 part sourdough video series walking you through each step, start to finish, of making a sourdough starter, including using gluten-free grains, fresh ground wheat, ancient grains, and regular flour from the store. Hurry, it's only up for a short time, grab the link here https://melissaknorris.com/sourdough/

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20166.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 7:07pm PDT

Use these 8 easy tips on how to meal plan from scratch healthy whole food meals for your family with less stress and time. Tips for putting your pantry staples to use for you. Sample meal plan and items from our homestead kitchen and my favorite time saving tips when it comes to getting food on the table. Visit the show notes here for the meal planning bundle and my upcoming free sourdough series https://melissaknorris.com/165

Direct download: 28FINISHED2920Pioneering20Today20Episode20165.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 3:45pm PDT

Learn how to use these 14 tips to plan out your homestead for your most productive and STRESS FREE homestead year. When it comes to gardening, livestock, fruit trees, preserving, cooking from scratch, and being able to afford our homestead, planning now will help things run smoothly and ensure you don't miss an important step. Plus, planning really does help you save money and time. Snag the free download planning chart, links and resources here https://melissaknorris.com/164

Direct download: 28FINISHED2920Pioneering20Today20Episode20164.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 1:17pm PDT

Learn my 3 tips for decluttering during the holidays done up homestead style so your house is organized and simplified before the busyness of growing and gardening season. The guidelines and tips I use so you don't have bags of things piling up for a some day use while still being frugal and reusing things when decluttering your home and closet. Use these tips now to help you plan out your holiday shopping, decorating, and clean up time come the first of the year. Get my exact plan and tips for a simplified and clutter free homestead and grab the full blog post and links at https://melissaknorris.com/163

Direct download: 28FINISHED2920Pioneering20Today20Episode20163.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 10:58am PDT

These 12 baking substitutions will save you time and money and are something every homestead kitchen needs to know. Learn how to easily swap out common baking and cooking ingredients with other items in your pantry without sacrificing results. Never forsake a recipe or run to the store because you're out of an ingredient with these easy baking hacks. Grab the full article at https://melissaknorris.com/162

Direct download: 28FINISHED2920Pioneering20Today20Episode201622028SOLO29.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 8:50am PDT

Learn how to choose the best flour for baking in this home baker's flour guide, the properties in regards to baking with all-purpose flour, bread and cake flour. Plus how to choose the best wheat berries and grains when making fresh ground flour at home. The difference between hard and soft wheat, red and white wheat, ancient grains Spelt and Einkorn and how each performs, so you can chose the right flour every time in your kitchen and homestead. For resources and full blog post go to https://melissaknorris.com/161

Direct download: 28FINISHED2920Pioneering20Today20Episode20161.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 6:33pm PDT

Learn these 5 secrets to creating a stress free handmade Christmas, including my free templates and downloads to help you customize your strategy and handmade gifts, including eliminating two of the biggest stress components, time and money. Grab the templates, downloads, and resources at https://melissaknorris.com/160 so you have the best handmade and homestead Christmas season yet.

Direct download: 28FINISHED2920Pioneering20Today20Episode20160.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 3:29pm PDT

Learn the biggest mistakes we've made over our decades of homesteading and how you can avoid them on your own journey. Learn not only the tactical and practical steps to avoid these costly mistakes in raising your own food and in your garden, but also the critical mindset mistakes so you can do this homesteading and self-sufficiency. For full show notes and resources go to https://melissaknorris.com/159

Direct download: 28FINISHED2920Pioneering20Today20Episode20159.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 11:28am PDT

Learn how to grow more food by using these easy 5 fall gardening tips now to improve soil, put the garden to rest, and create a custom plan for you and your family by evaluating this year's crop and garden for next year's. Know what to look for, what to take notes on, and what to do now. Grab the links and blog post at https://melissaknorris.com/158

Direct download: 28FINISHED2920Pioneering20Today20Episode.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 4:34pm PDT

Use these 8 tips for seasonal living as we move into fall to help you save time and efficiently preserve the harvest customized to you and your family's needs. Learn how to put the harvest to use in your natural medicine cabinet so you have remedies on hand as we move into cold and flu season. Today's episode is brought to you by the Pioneering Today Academy.
For links & resources go to https://melissaknorris.com/157

Direct download: 28FINISHED2920Pioneering20Today20Episode20157.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 11:19am PDT

Learn the best care and cleaning tips of your cast iron to keep that seasoning non-stick. Our favorite and must have tools for cooking with cast iron over an open fire, what you need and what's just nice to have. Plus, how to use a tripod for cooking over a wood fire with your cast iron Dutch oven and safety tips. Learn why baking with your cast iron Dutch oven outdoors is a skill everyone should learn and how to get started. For resources, links and tons of photos go to melissaknorris.com/156 Plus, check out our new e-course inside the Pioneering Today Academy Cast Iron & Dutch Oven Outdoor Cooking! 

Direct download: Cast_Iron__Dutch_Oven_Campfire_Cooking.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 10:44am PDT

Struggle to find the time to get homemade and wholesome meals on the table? Use these 12 time saving tips for homemade meals with real food using the best of batch and freeze cooking to make the most of your time. Plus, get our freezer & batch cooking recipe sampler for FREE with step by step instructions on how to prepare them on your batch cooking day and the cooking instructions from frozen as well as fresh (because sometimes it's so good one simply cannot wait). Use these tips with your home canned food and as you continue to preserve up the harvest for your winter meals. Grab all the resources mentioned at https://melissaknorris.com/155 

Direct download: FreezerBatchCooking155.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 11:55am PDT

Learn the 3 main things to consider when purchasing a homestead property. Even if you're already on  your forever homestead, there's some important clues to look for that may be signaling you it's time for a change or you need to do things differently. Plus, learn some major things to consider if you're planning on purchasing a homestead or looking to move to a new piece of land. Get the resources and full blog post for this episode at https://melissaknorris.com/154

Direct download: Episode_154_What_to_Look_when_Purchasing_a_Homestead.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 1:20pm PDT

How do you now if a canning recipe is safe and what do you do when someone isn't following canning safety? How can you make sure your canning recipe is up to date? Learn what you need to know about canning safety and recipes and how to handle those who aren't practicing up to date safe practices. Get the full blog post and resource links at https://melissaknorris.com/153

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20153.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 2:21pm PDT

In this episode learn the 6 tips to help you create a successful homestead business so you set yourself up for growth and with a strong foundation. This is Part 2 of the Making Money Homesteading Series and goes into practical but important steps to take to get your homestead business going without getting into debt and for long term growth and sustainability, including the things you should do, but also, mistakes to avoid. Grab the show notes and links at the website at https://melissaknorris.com/152

Direct download: 28Finished2920Pioneering20Today20Episode20152.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 12:31pm PDT

Learn how to make money homesteading with 12 ways to earn a homestead income and real cash from your farm, even if you only own a small amount of land. Melissa share's real ways they've used to earn income from their homestead as well as how family and friends take their skills and land to earn them money and how you can too. For resources and links go to https://melissaknorris.com/151

Direct download: 28FINISHED2920Pioneering20Today20Episode20151.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 5:43pm PDT

When summer heat blasts and you still need to get the harvest in without air conditioning or a pool, how do you keep a body cool? Here's how to stay cool in summer naturally without electricity using old-fashioned methods and tricks. Grab the resources and the full written post here https://melissaknorris.com/150

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20150.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 12:01am PDT

Learn how to decide which method of home food preservation is best for your crops based on the time and storage you have, pro's and con's of each, and two homesteaders favorite recipes and methods, plus safety tips to make sure the method you're using is the best and safest for your family. For the free recipe and full blog post go to https://melissaknorris.com/149

Direct download: Episode_149_Pioneering_Today_with_Carolyn_Thomas.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 6:16pm PDT

How to keep your house cool in summer without electricity, especially during the hot months when you need to have your canner and stove going. I share 8 old-fashioned pioneer tips that still work and don't require electricity as well as a few modern ways that are worth it to help keep the homestead cool. Explore outdoor cooking & canning options, get links, resources and full articles at https://melissaknorris.com/148

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20148.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 5:40pm PDT

Feel pressed for time but you don't want any food to go to waste? Then put these 8 tips to come up with your customized preserving plan for a year's worth of food, including our FREE preserving plan charts you can use year after year to put your plan into place to make sure you have the items most important to your family preserved for the year. Learn which foods can be saved to preserve until later (and why I actually prefer this route) and how to determine which ones you need to get on pronto, and my work around for day jobs and not being able to do everything all in one stretch. Grab the show notes, links and resources at https://melissaknorris.com/147

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20147.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 8:47pm PDT

Get these tips to help you save time, increase the health of your plants- healthier plants equal larger harvests, and cut back on disease. Learn my best tips for your tomatoes and my 4 tips to save time and how to deal with the plague of almost every gardener, weeds. For the resources, links and full blog post go to https://melissaknorris.com/146

Direct download: Time_Saving_Gardening_Tips_Pioneering_Today_Podcast.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 10:57am PDT

Fermentation for health benefits and food preservation. Learn how the process of fermentation changes food for increased health benefits. What you need to know about storing your fermented foods, when fermented foods have gone bad, the best recipes and foods to start with and tips for getting your family and kids to enjoy and eat fermented foods. Get the resources, links and full blog post at https://melissaknorris.com/145

Direct download: PioneerinTodayEpisode145.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 9:11am PDT

Everything you need to know about keeping a family milk cow, how to avoid milking twice a day, how much milk you'll get, how to use up all the milk and more. Join myself and Jill, one of the presenters in this year's 2018  Modern Homesteading Summit, make sure you go to the blog post here to snag the link to sign up for the Summit and get all the links at https://melissaknorris.com/144

Direct download: Pioneering_Today_Episode_with_Jill_Winger.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 4:16pm PDT

Learn how one family is using solar power to live off grid in a one room cabin without running water or a refrigerator, just like the pioneer families of old, and what tips you can glean from them when it comes to food preservation and creating your dream homestead.
Full blog post at https://melissaknorris.com/143

Direct download: Pioneering_Today_Episode_with_Terri_Page.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 11:27am PDT

Learn how to use these edible & medicinal weeds growing in your backyard. How to harvest, prepare and use them in multiple dishes to lower your food bill (+ recipes) plus how to use these common weeds for natural medicine treatments. You'll never look at these "weeds" again, instead turn them into delicious meals and treats. For recipe links, resources and show notes go to https://melissaknorris.com/142

Direct download: Pioneering_Today_Episode_with_Kathie_L.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 3:39pm PDT

Learn how use these 14 tips homestead kitchen tips to get your kid's helping in the kitchen for stress free meal times, or as close to stress free as you can get. No matter if your kids are toddlers or teenagers, these basic kitchen skills and meal prep tips will help them (or any adult) make the most of their time in the kitchen providing healthy and whole food recipes for themselves and their family. We even break down age appropriate skills for kids. For links and resources go to https://melissaknorris.com/141

Direct download: Pioneering_Today_with_Katie_Kimball.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 2:30pm PDT

Learn how to overcome challenges in the land and weather you have to grow your own food. Melissa and Laurie Neverman from Common Sense Home share 13 tips for combating extremely cold springs, high winds, excessive rain, and drought conditions so nothing stops you from growing a productive vegetable garden on your homestead, with these easy and very actionable tips you'll be growing your own food no matter what Mother Nature throws at you. 
Grab links and resources at the full blog post here https://melissaknorris.com/140

Direct download: 13_Tips_to_Work_with_the_Land__Weather_You_Have_to_Grow_Your_Own_Food.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Using chickens in your garden is the perfect way to get the most use out of your livestock and your crops, but there's 13 things you need to know for the safety of your chickens and to ensure you get the fruits and vegetables, and not the chickens, or worse yet, they destroy the plants. For the all the resources and show notes go to https://melissaknorris.com/139

Direct download: UsingChickensEpisode139.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 2:18pm PDT

Learn these 12 tips that help you declutter and organize your homestead kitchen. How I've went from getting things in order and then finding it a total mess again within just a few days (or hours) to keeping it tidy. Learn how I took the wisdom from 100 years ago to make it work for the modern homestead kitchen, laundry, and cleaning so we can spend less time cleaning and doing more of those homestead projects we love with our family. Get all the tips and resources for this episode at https://melissaknorris.com/138

 

Direct download: Episdoe138.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 2:11pm PDT

Grab my spring cleaning tips & hacks on how to spring clean your homestead (aka house) pioneer style. My favorite homemade cleaning recipes, room guide, and when I do purchase cleaning things from the store, my favorites. Tips and inspiration for having a sparkling house done homestead style. For show notes, recipes, and links go here melissaknorris.com/137

Direct download: SpringCleaningTipsPTEpisode137.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 5:28pm PDT

Learn the 5 most common myths in regards to growing a vegetable garden, but especially in regards to raising a years worth of food. I share the exact size of our vegetable garden, how much hands on time we spend in the garden, and how we manage everything in the business of harvest and growing time in the  middle of summer. 
Get the resources and links at https://melissaknorris.com/136

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20136.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 9:59pm PDT

Learn how and why it's important to test your soil ph when looking to grow healthy plants that give you the biggest harvest (because that's what healthy plant do). Methods for soil testing, what the tests mean, which plants grow best in acidic and alkaline soil, and how to amend your soil, when you should and what you need to know to keep your soil in tip top shape (aka what mistakes to avoid) when creating the best soil you can for your pasture, garden, fruit trees and bushes. 

For full blog post and notes go to MelissaKNorris.com/135

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20135.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 8:40pm PDT

6 natural ways to test and fertilize your garden soil now, so it's in the best shape it can be for healthier plants and larger harvests. What you need to know about soil amendments and which is best for your soil.

Direct download: Pioneering20Today20Episode20134.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 4:57pm PDT

My favorite sources for the best deals on real food and food storage when you're not able to grow it yourself. How I shop without coupons to build our food storage up with real food items we use on a daily basis, when I can't get it from farmers market or local source. Includes full lists of each item and how you can steal my strategies to save you time and money!

Grab the lists and links at Episode #133 Best Real Food & Food Storage Deals from Unlikely Sources

 

Direct download: 28FINISHED2920Episode20133.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 10:49am PDT

Learn how to incorporate perennial plants for less hands on time food production on your homestead. What you need to know about planting perennials, their yearly care, using them for permaculture, pruning, fertilization, and how to grow them even if you don't have any acreage or yard space of your own. Plus, how to get a jump start on your home orchard and berries even if you're renting or not in your permanent home yet. Also, what you need to know about the first years of your perennial plant's life to set up for a healthy plant and bigger harvests for decades. All in today's episode, for show notes, links and resource visit 

Direct download: Episode132PerennialPlantsforFood.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 11:58am PDT

Why you shouldn't wait for the perfect time to start your homesteading dreams and goals. How to work with what you have right now. Even if you're in the city, how to begin homesteading now and how to transition from the city to your homestead. Learn why having a community is so important and how to move past discouragement. 

Direct download: HomesteadingforBeginnersEpisode131.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 8:50am PDT

Everything you need to know about starting seeds at home, when to start them for your area, which seeds to start indoors and which ones you shouldn't. Plus get our FREE seed starting blueprint and chart.

Includes 5 mistakes homesteaders and gardeners make when seed starting and how to avoid them, plus my favorite resources to use with seed starting.

Find out how to get a free packet of my families heirloom Tarheel green pole beans. All of the show notes, resources, and freebies are at Episode #130 on the website here 

Direct download: MasterUltimateSeedStartingEpisode130.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 12:37pm PDT

Learn how to organize your kitchen once and how that will help you build up your food storage and maximize your time and money. Why an organized kitchen is vital to a well run homestead and the exact steps and criteria to make sure it's working for you and your family, because it's all about customizing things to work for us. 

Direct download: Episode2012920Pioneering20Today.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 12:28pm PDT

Learn what happens to your body when you eat healthy and cut out sugar following a keto diet and how a keto diet follows ancestral eating patterns of eating food when it's in season and from what you can hunt, gather, forage and provide for yourself.

Learn how your genetics play into what foods work for your body. Plus all your answers from Dr. Hillary Lampers answered on going keto, if it's safe for certain diseases or conditions, and what's going to be best for you. 

Direct download: Episode_128_Pioneering_Today.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 7:18pm PDT

Discovering what your trigger foods are and how they affect your health is life changing. You might not even realize you're having a reaction to foods and think these symptoms are normal. If you have any of these signs, you may have a food sensitivity.

I share how to find which foods are bothering your system, three ways to test, what I'm eating after finding out my results, and if the Ketogenic diet is right for you.

Direct download: 28Finished2920Episode2012720Pioneering20Today.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 7:46am PDT

How I was able to heal my stomach naturally from acid reflux and ulcers and get off of prescription medications I was taking up to 6 times a day. The exact steps and process I used to bring about healing and how you can do the exact same thing. 

Direct download: Episode2012620Pioneering20Today.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 4:57pm PDT

Learn how to make your own homemade maple syrup from tapping your own trees (and when to know conditions are right for tapping), boiling the sap to make syrup, how much sap it takes to make syrup, the health benefits of maple syrup you might not have known, and our baking guide on how to alter your current recipes to use all natural maple syrup as the sweetener.

 

Direct download: 28FINISHED2920Episode2012520Pioneering20Today.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 12:09pm PDT

How we determine which crops we plant each year and how to make sure we plant enough to provide us with a full year of that food. I take you step by step through our process, even if you've never grown your garden before and don't have an inventory of home preserved food to guide you.

Get my FREE harvest and garden planning inventory sheet to help you create your best garden and harvest ever with a full years worth of food.

Direct download: 28Finished2920Episode2012420Pioneering20Today.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 6:51pm PDT

Learn how to feed a family of 4 on just $82.50 a week (or $330 a month) with organic meats, fresh produce and real food sides, without coupons! This includes 3 meals a day and snacks.

We share how to do it month in and month out, how to get started with our FREE Cheat Sheet, 8 tips to get your grocery budget back on track NOW.

Get a sample meal plan, how to make it work without feeling like a slave to a specific plan and be flexible. 

Direct download: 123HowtoFeedaFamilyof4on82.50aWeekOrganiChickenRealFoodSides.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 2:03pm PDT

These are my favorite 6 tools that help save me time and money in our homestead kitchen where we're making almost all of our food from scratch. 

They're the things that if they broke, I'd go out and pay full price for them again, and that is saying something, am I right?

Direct download: 28Finished2920Episode2012220Pioneering20Today.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 4:50pm PDT

Learn which foods were served in 1621 and how they've changed to what we typically serve now. Plus, how to use some of these traditions in your holiday meal prep from the food you've grown and harvested, along with  my families favorite traditional Thanksgiving recipes. 
You'll be surprised by the list of foods served back then, and maybe more so by the foods not served at the first Thanksgiving. 

Direct download: 28Finished2920Episode2012120Pioneering20Today.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 3:02pm PDT

What you never knew about flour from the store, even organic and whole wheat, and how to bring back the lost art of home milling. Different flours, including gluten free options. Plus, using a home mill to grind up your own dehydrated vegetables and spices. 

Learn about the special offer on the new stone burr mill, including how to get my fresh flour baking mini e-course and baking guide with favorite recipes! 

Direct download: HomesteadersGuidetoHomeMillingandBeyond.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 6:34pm PDT

Learn why store bought soap is a poor alternative, why homemade soap is better, the actual chemical process of making soap, the 3 methods or types of soap making, and how to choose which is the best method for you.

Grab our soap making resource page including our chart on the properties of oils to choose when making your soap. 

Direct download: 28Finished2920Podcast23119.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 3:03pm PDT

Learn these easy time saving tips that help keep the grocery budget down (and your energy bill) when serving up from scratch foods to your family. Shared from the Great Depression and my homestead kitchen to yours.

How we avoid cold cereal without cooking breakfast every morning, in fact, I usually only do this twice a month! 

Direct download: 28FINISHED2920Podcast118.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 7:28pm PDT

I share the exact steps we take to get our home and homestead ready for winter, from livestock, to the garden, inside and more. 

Direct download: 28FINISHED2920Podcast23117.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 5:17pm PDT

Learn the tips we used to cut our debt and enable me to quit my day job 

Direct download: 28FINISHED2920Podcast23116.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 11:35am PDT

Learn these 5 tips to take your harvest further, how to create your own natural medicine items, and putting all parts of the harvest to work in multiple ways.

Direct download: FINISHED_Podcast115Notedited.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 10:50am PDT

Are homesteaders truly self-reliant? Looking at the myth of self-reliance in a modern age and back through history. 

In answer to Forbes article on Homesteading and Self-Reliance is a Delusion from a generational homesteader.

Direct download: Finished_response_to_delusion_article.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 12:19pm PDT

Learn the benefits of homemade soap, how to source natural fats, and using natural colorants to create vibrant colors that are nourishing with herbs and spices. 

Direct download: Podcast113NaturalSoapMaking.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 11:16am PDT

Direct download: Podcast112SafeJamJelly.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 5:15pm PDT

Learn about ancient grains, how they differ from modern wheat, and the health benefits to Einkorn. Plus, tips to altering your recipes and baking with Einkorn to ensure delicious meals for you and your family, without the flops!

Direct download: Podcast111Einkorn.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 9:28pm PDT

In this episode I share why the truth about essential oils and how to stay safe when using them. The story of how I got started with essential oils, why I stopped using them for a time, and how I now use them but with safety factors in place. 

Direct download: Podcast110EssentialOilSafety.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 9:03pm PDT

My favorite 7 Natural Remedies I immediately put into practice to help treat coughs and colds. 

Direct download: 7NaturalRemediesforCoughandCold109.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 1:19pm PDT

Learn how to use insect repelling herbs and essential oils safely to create your own homemade bug block. 

Direct download: 28EDITED2920MKNPodcast108EssentialOilsBugRepellent.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 9:25pm PDT

A pioneer kitchen consisted of basic tools to help them provide food for their family. These tools were found in kitchens a 100 years ago or more, but should still be used in every home and kitchen today. These are my favorites as well as the ones we use the most, on a daily or weekly basis. Grab our FREE guide how to cook outdoors with Cast Iron Dutch Ovens here

Direct download: 107PioneerKitchen.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 9:43am PDT

Learn how to care for your baby chicks to set them up for a successful life span and providing you with fresh healthy food, that doesn't come from the grocery store. Our guide for the first 6 weeks. 

We take you out to the coop and brooder box, visit the show notes and the live video at Raising Baby Chicks- Complete Care Guide for the First 6 Weeks Episode #106

Direct download: Podcast106RaisingBabyChicks.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 12:56pm PDT

Growing herbs for the kitchen is a great way to stock both your spice and natural medicine cabinet without having to buy them from the store. I share our 5 favorite best herbs to grow in pots when creating your kitchen herb garden. 

Plus, 2 bonus early spring time wild edibles you can forage for both food and medicinal purposes!

Direct download: Podcast105KitchenHerbGarden.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 12:24pm PDT

Permaculture Gardening- Beginners Guide with 9 easy tips to implement in your garden today. Learn exactly what permaculture  means, how to begin adding permaculture design to your garden, with both your regular vegetable garden and your perennial and landscape. 

Direct download: Permaculturepodcast.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 11:14am PDT

I share what we've been struggling with and the criteria we use to decide what crops are worth it to grow at home and what ones we purchase from the store. And a little bit about why you haven't heard from me lately. 

Direct download: Podcast103.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 11:43am PDT

Learn the best seed starting container choices, reusing items in your home already, and how to choose which is best for which type of plant. Tips for starting your seeds and germination and special invite at the end.

Direct download: Podcast102SeedStartingContainers.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 1:42pm PDT

Feel like you have way more to do than hours in a day or week? You're not alone. These are 5 tips to help you find more time in your days and weeks so you can focus on the things that are important to you and getting them done. 

These are 5 tips for time management that actually work. 

Direct download: Podcast1015TipstoGetMoreHoursinYourWeek.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 9:59am PDT

Look at the real cost of putting in a vegetable garden, from raised beds to in the ground gardening, with case studies from other gardeners, and how much money we save by growing our own vegetables to see if raising your own vegetables really saves money.

Direct download: podcast100.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 9:53pm PDT

Get these 8 tips for cutting out sugar for long term success and health. Why cutting out sugar actually has its feet in the days of the pioneers and a look at our current food system. 

Direct download: Podcast998TipsforCuttingoutsugar.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 8:47am PDT

Learn what our ancestors served at Christmas and the history and necessity behind the recipes. Old-fashioned tips and recipes, plus tips to serve up some of these foods for your family in homesteading and pioneer style. Both the stories and their self-sufficiency were the base for many of these traditional Christmas foods. 

Direct download: Podcast985HistoricalChristmasFoodsfrom100Yearsago.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 10:07am PDT

Learn how to make these easy DIY 5 frugal and homemade gifts for Christmas or anytime. 

Direct download: Podcast975HomesteadFrugalGifts.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 2:42pm PDT

Learn how to make an old-fashioned evergreen wreath and decorations like the pioneers, using items already growing on your homestead and land or in your home. How to repurpose and reuse them for your homemade holiday decor.

Direct download: Podcast96HowtoMakeOldFashionedEvergreenWreathDecorations.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 7:23am PDT

Grab these tips to put into place now to have an old-fashioned, frugal, and homemade Christmas homestead style. These will not only save you money but also keep Christmas simple so you're not overwhelmed. 

Direct download: Podcast955FrugalHomemadeChristmasTips.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 4:51pm PDT

Learn how to make homemade extracts with tips on saving time, best sources of ingredients to avoid GMO's, best flavors, and recipes for making over 6 different homemade extracts. 

Direct download: Podcast94HomemadeVanillaExtracts.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 12:15pm PDT

We share over 5 tips today that will help you save money and cultivate a new mindset on your homesteading journey. I think my favorites are tip #4 and #6, how about you?

Direct download: Podcast935HomesteadingTipsthatWillSaveYouMoney.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 9:13pm PDT

Learn how to make old-fashioned saltwater brine pickles, aka fermented, pickles. The best type of salt, water, temperatures, and tips for success. Plus, how long to ferment and storage requirements. 

Make pickles like the pioneers and your great-grandmother did with just 3 ingredients!

Direct download: Podcast92SaltwaterBrineFermentedPickles.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 6:15pm PDT

How to Make Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar

Learn how to make easy homemade apple cider vinegar with troubleshooting tips to make sure it turns out and uses for apple cider vinegar for a natural homestead and home health remedies. 

For full show notes, pictures, and video on how to make apple cider vinegar go to 

Direct download: Podcast91AppleCiderVinegarandTips.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 10:28am PDT

We dive into what the ingredients on your skin and body care products really mean and how to know which ones are benefiting your skin and which ones aren't. We share how to help your skin if you're suffering from acne, eczema, and other skin irritations and how to make sure you're not paying for filler ingredients that don't benefit the skin. 

Direct download: Podcast905HiddenIngredients.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 7:33am PDT

Tips for getting it all done when you're swamped, from a full time homesteader with a day job. 

Direct download: Podcast89TipsforTimeManagement.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 8:20pm PDT

We discuss the cost breakdown of canning at home compared to store bought, plus other health and convenience concerns to consider when comparing. How much does that jar of home canned food actually cost? 

Direct download: Podcast88CostofHomeCanning.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 11:29am PDT

Learn the plain living tips and lessons from the Amish and Mennonites, what makes them different, and clear up some common misconceptions about the groups. 

Direct download: Podcast87LessonsfromAmishandMennonites.mp3
Category:Leisure -- posted at: 1:39pm PDT