In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we open up about cultivating contentment in every season of our homestead life. It's easy to feel grateful when everything is going smoothly, but true contentment is often built in the hard moments.

Today, we talk about choosing gratitude, navigating overwhelm, balancing the desire to grow with the ability to rest, and finding joy in whatever season you are in.

✅ For more information, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/cultivating-contentment-on-the-homestead/
✅ Get all our favorite sausage recipes here: https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/pl/2148622418
✅ Learn how to render lard here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/rendering-lard-or-tallow/
✅ Thank you to ForJars for sponsoring today's podcast. Check out their full line of tools at their website and use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY10" for ten percent off your purchase: https://homesteadingfamily.com/forjars

TIME STAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction
2:55 - Chit Chat
11:11 - ForJars
12:35 - Main Topic

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MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are the Homesteading Family, where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4-video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4-video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me! Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop

Every single month we send out a physical magazine to over 10,000 people! It's filled with seasonal recipes, fresh inspiration for your kitchen, and practical homesteading tips from seasoned homesteaders. Just like the Everyday Homesteading podcast, the magazine equips and empowers you to thrive on your homestead. Sign up now for just $9/month.

If you’ve ever wondered how to rehydrate dehydrated food so it actually tastes good, this episode is for you! Join me with guest Darcy Baldwin from The Purposeful Pantry as we share our best tips for dehydrating and rehydrating food for everyday use, not just for emergencies.

You’ll learn:
✅ How to rehydrate vegetables, fruits, and meats for soups, casseroles, and skillet meals
✅ Why dehydrating is one of the easiest, most affordable long-term food storage methods
✅ When to blanch vegetables before dehydrating
✅ How to use green powders and veggie powders to boost everyday nutrition
✅ Pantry organization systems that save you time and money

Whether you’re building a working pantry, stocking up for winter, or learning how to use dehydrated food in real meals, this episode will show you how to make every jar on your shelf a tool for convenience and nourishment.

✨ Learn more in the accompanying blog post: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-rehydrate-dehydrated-food/
✨ Take Darcy’s full class inside the School of Traditional Skills: https://homesteadingfamily.com/STS_Member_n
✨ Learn more from Darcy at The Purposeful Pantry: https://www.thepurposefulpantry.com/
✨ Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring this podcast. Be sure to use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY" for 20% off your purchase here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/s-american-blossom-linens

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Introduction
1:36 - American Blossom Linens
3:32 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me! Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop

Every single month we send out a physical magazine to over 10,000 people! It's filled with seasonal recipes, fresh inspiration for your kitchen, and practical homesteading tips from seasoned homesteaders. Just like the Everyday Homesteading podcast, the magazine equips and empowers you to thrive on your homestead. Sign up now for just $9/month.

We’re in that cozy shoulder season where the garden is winding down, the last jars are cooling on the counter, and the big question creeps in, did we do enough?

In this episode, we're talking about how our family prioritizes filling the pantry without burning out. We cover the calm power of buying staples in bulk, simple preservation that fits your real life, and the secret weapon that gets us through winter even without a root cellar, think potatoes, squash, onions, apples, all stored smart. We also share the weekly rhythms that keep the pantry peaceful, like shopping your shelves first and tracking what your family actually eats.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to “do it all,” this one will help you breathe, simplify, and still feel prepared.

Read the full companion post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/building-up-your-long-term-food-storage-supply/

And learn more about our Homestead Kitchen Membership here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-MEMBERSHIP

Thanks to Azure Standard for sponsoring this podcast. If you're a first-time Azure customer, be sure to use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15" at checkout to receive 15% off your first order of $100 or more: https://homesteadingfamily.com/main-azure-standard-b

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me! Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop

Every single month we send out a physical magazine to over 10,000 people! It's filled with seasonal recipes, fresh inspiration for your kitchen, and practical homesteading tips from seasoned homesteaders. Just like the Everyday Homesteading podcast, the magazine equips and empowers you to thrive on your homestead. Sign up now for just $9/month.

What would it really take to feed your family if the grocery stores closed tomorrow? In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, Josh talks with survival expert and herbalist Sam Coffman, author of Survival Gardening: Grow Your Own Emergency Food Supply, about how to build a garden that truly sustains life.

Learn how to choose calorie-dense crops, build living soil, and use every layer of your garden for maximum yield. Sam shares practical steps to start small (whether you’re growing in a backyard, raised bed, or apartment balcony) and explains why community resilience is just as important as self-sufficiency.

This conversation is a call to preparedness, not panic. You’ll come away ready to grow smarter, store longer, and feed your family well in any season.

Listen now and discover how to grow a survival garden that thrives when it matters most, or visit the blog post to watch this interview: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-grow-a-survival-garden/

Thanks to Lehman's for sponsoring this podcast. Visit their store to check out all their great offerings at Lehmans.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me! Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop

Every single month we send out a physical magazine to over 10,000 people! It's filled with seasonal recipes, fresh inspiration for your kitchen, and practical homesteading tips from seasoned homesteaders. Just like the Everyday Homesteading podcast, the magazine equips and empowers you to thrive on your homestead. Sign up now for just $9/month.

As the seasons change, our bodies need a little extra care to stay balanced and healthy. In this episode, I’m sharing how our family supports our immune systems with simple, time-tested rhythms instead of quick fixes.

From bone broth and fermented foods to elderberry syrup and herbal teas, these are the habits that keep us thriving through fall and winter.

You’ll learn how to build a natural wellness routine that fits into your daily life, not one that adds more overwhelm. I’ll also share my favorite seasonal herbs, tips for clean indoor air, and how emotional rest ties directly into physical health.

For more information (and links), visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-boost-your-immune-system-naturally/

👉 Download your Free Fall & Winter Wellness Checklist at https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-wellnesschecklist

Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring this podcast. Be sure to check them out and use code "homesteadingfamily". 🎧 Offer: 20% off your order for Homesteading Family listeners here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/s-american-blossom-linens

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me! Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop

Every single month we send out a physical magazine to over 10,000 people! It's filled with seasonal recipes, fresh inspiration for your kitchen, and practical homesteading tips from seasoned homesteaders. Just like the Everyday Homesteading podcast, the magazine equips and empowers you to thrive on your homestead. Sign up now for just $9/month.

Five “weeds,” tons of medicine. In today’s Everyday Homesteading episode, Carolyn sits down with herbalist Dr. Patrick Jones to unpack practical, safe uses for five common wild herbs: mallow/marshmallow/hollyhock (roots), plantain (leaf), burdock (root), stinging nettle (leaf/seed/root), and mullein (leaf/flower/root).

What you’ll learn:

• Mallow family roots for soothing mucous membranes and calming “die lines” in stubborn wounds
• Plantain for punctures, drawing out toxins, and gentle gut support
• Burdock root for liver, skin, and daily prebiotic benefits
• Stinging nettle leaf for allergies, seed for kidneys, root for male urinary support
• Mullein to quiet dry coughs, make simple ear oil, and support back/bladder with the root
• Best times to harvest roots of biennials, how to slice before drying, and what to stock in a starter herbal kit

Resources:

- For more information, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/healing-herbs-and-plants/
- Check out Doc Jones' book here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-docjonesweeds
- Thanks to Lehman's for sponsoring this podcast. Be sure to check them out, and don't forget to request a FREE catalog at https://lehmans.com
- Check out Dr. Patrick Jones and everything he has to offer over at https://homegrownherbalist.net

Time Stamps:
- 0:00 - Introduction
- 2:29 - Lehmans
- 4:04 - How You Can Help!
- 5:14 - Main Topic

If you enjoy the show, please rate, review, and follow. Then, download the first five episodes of season 6 to help more homesteaders find us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me! Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop

Every single month we send out a physical magazine to over 10,000 people! It's filled with seasonal recipes, fresh inspiration for your kitchen, and practical homesteading tips from seasoned homesteaders. Just like the Everyday Homesteading podcast, the magazine equips and empowers you to thrive on your homestead. Sign up now for just $9/month.

Let’s talk about starting homesteading when money is tight and time is even tighter. In this Everyday Homesteading episode, we show you how to begin right where you are, in the kitchen, and build skills that naturally grow into gardens, livestock, and a well-stocked pantry. No acreage required, no 40 extra hours a week, no influencer-level gear.

In this episode:
• Why every homestead should start in the kitchen
• Budget homesteading 101, price-per-unit, and ingredient-based shopping
• Farmers markets, seconds boxes, and CSAs for nutrient-dense food on the cheap
• Preservation you can begin this week, from freezing and dehydrating to simple water bath canning and fermentation
• Seasonal rhythms on our North Idaho homestead, including winter squash, deep bedding, seed saving, and salt-curing pork

Sponsor:
Azure Standard is our go-to for healthy ingredients and bulk buys. Get 15% off your first order over $100 with code homesteadingfamily15 at https://homesteadingfamily.com/main-azure-standard-b

Links:
• Homestead Kitchen Magazine, delivered right to your door (U.S. only): https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-magazine

⦁ For more information, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/homesteading-skills-to-learn-now/

If you enjoyed this conversation, would you take a minute to rate and review the show? Then, download a few episodes so more families can discover Everyday Homesteading. Thank you for helping spread real, doable homestead skills. Because you CAN do this.

TIME STAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction
2:46 - Chit Chat
8:03 - We Need YOUR Help!
9:35 - Azure Standard
10:54 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Every single month we send out a physical magazine to over 10,000 people! It's filled with seasonal recipes, fresh inspiration for your kitchen, and practical homesteading tips from seasoned homesteaders. Just like the Everyday Homesteading podcast, the magazine equips and empowers you to thrive on your homestead. Sign up now for just $9/month.

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we're taking the fear out of canning and putting confidence back in your kitchen. If you’ve ever thought, “I’ve tried so many tutorials and still don’t feel like I actually know what I’m doing,” or “I’m terrified I’ll waste good food or make my family sick,” this one is for you. I'm breaking canning safety down into simple, step-by-step principles so you can stock your shelves with jars you trust.

What we cover

• Why a sealed lid alone does not equal safe food, and what actually makes a jar shelf-stable.
• The pH "line in the sand" at 4.6, why it matters, and how it guides every canning decision.
• Exactly when boiling water bath canning is safe, and when you must pressure can.
• How heat, thickness, and circulation inside the jar impact safety.
• Common myths that lead to botulism risk, and the simple habits that keep you safe.
• Using approved recipes, what “acidifying” means for tomatoes and borderline foods.
• Reliable sources for tested recipes, so you’re not stuck in conflicting advice.

Key takeaways

• High-acid foods can be safely water bath canned because molds and yeast are easy to kill at boiling temperatures.
• Low-acid foods like meats, vegetables, and most full-meal recipes require pressure canning to reliably reach about 250°F.
• Approved recipes exist to control pH, density, and processing time so you can stop guessing and start knowing.
• If you can follow a cake recipe, you will be able to can safely at home.

Resources mentioned

• Check out all our canning resources, and to watch this podcast episode, on the website here:
• Free Canning Safety Training for visual learners: https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-canning
• Trusted recipe sources: Ball Blue Book, the National Center for Home Food Preservation, and Homestead Kitchen Magazine’s master-preserver approved recipes

Sponsor
A big thank you to Azure Standard for making bulk, vetted pantry staples affordable. New customers get 15% off a first order of 100 dollars or more with code HomesteadingFamily15.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: http

Every single month we send out a physical magazine to over 10,000 people! It's filled with seasonal recipes, fresh inspiration for your kitchen, and practical homesteading tips from seasoned homesteaders. Just like the Everyday Homesteading podcast, the magazine equips and empowers you to thrive on your homestead. Sign up now for just $9/month.