I have a homestead, with milk cows, pigs and chicken. I can, freeze dry etc. I don't prepare for dooms day, I prepare for job lose, sickness, to help others. We eat in season and what I have in abundance I share and can, dehydrate & freeze dry the rest. We eat from what I preserve.
We bought food in bulk for years. You break up the meat packs into smaller bags and stuff in the freezer. I even got a vacuum sealer to use. I buy 50 lbs. of flour and keep in the freezer along with extra butter, hams (on sale), bulk packages of yeast, and sugar. I'm in my late 50's, grew up a latch key kid with single mom for most of my childhood, not much in the cupboards in those days. I'll never let the closet/pantry get short on food if I can help it. Love the podcast, just discussing life!
Hi guys it made me almost cry when Ben said “it’s sad to think that people don’t understand the buying enough ground beef for a year”! What happened to being a good steward of what you have been blessed with? I guess it’s the credit card mentality! I am not a prepper but I do live in the northeast where weather can keep you off the roads for days at a time! I grew up as a child of Depression Era parents and a large family who always lived on a tight budget! Even before Covid we did have a well stocked pantry but we shopped weekly as well. Now because of the uncertainty of availability and prices I grow and preserve enough to shop monthly, just for bargains to replenish and some fresh produce. There is no fear involved just stewardship and practicality! I do live rurally, I love the idea of a tool library and will have to see if such a thing exists in my area! Good conversation as always, plenty to think on until next week! Peace and blessings! 👍🏼
Hi guys, 80 year old woman here. In my whole life I think I have almost always bought our meat when it was on sale. Why not? I buy my beef from a local farmer by the 1/4. He takes it to the processor and I pick it up when done. I buy Tp and paper towels in the biggest packages. I buy the big cans of dehydrated fruits . It is a permanent part of my life.😁
Hey guys. We had a tool library in Eugene, OR in our Friendly neighborhood. I donated some stuff to them before moving back east. It’s a great community concept.
I think you can be a homesteader and a prepare. We don't live in fear b/c we DO have our own homegrown food, water sources etc. We have been "homesteading" since 1978. Several years ago, we started putting things way for long term storage. We are intentional about preserving for our family b/c we know what is in our food. We are pretty self sufficient and when Covid hit, we were sitting great when the grocery shelves were absolutely empty around here. We live out in the middle of nowhere and now, the way things are in the big cities and the burbs around them, we are so thankful we live where we do. We are totally debt free which is a huge burden off your shoulders. We live 100 mile round trip to big shopping so when we DO go, we stock up and like Al says, we buy things on sale big time that we don't grow and depending on what it is, we freeze dry or put things in the food buckets. Our kids are all grown and married w/kids now and two of the three go to the grocery once a week. Our youngest son is like us. Lives out in the middle of nowhere and they do the same things we do. We don't can/freeze or freeze dry things that we don't ever use. My Dad was a butcher and Al is so correct. They don't "butcher" anymore. The grocery stores get boxed beef now. My Dad actually cut sides of beef and hogs up into cuts that are recognizable. The Mom and Pop stores get their meat from local farmers. We butcher our own meat b/c our local locker plant did a horrific job on a steer we took a few years ago. It was all cut up on a band saw and it was horrible. We have been doing all our own beef, pork, and chickens ever since. We have a walk in cooler and a room in our Morton building that we have a butcher shop set up. Our kids all come and help and it works well. Great discussion guys.
Whats the chuckle around preppers? All of our grandparents prepped and it was just a way of life.... Been prepping in all aspects of life since I was 8 and my personal accomplishments show that. Remember its better to be 10 years to early than 10 minutes to late!!!
I think the chuckle is for the "doomsday" part. Preparing for the ups and downs of life is a good idea. Stacking years' worth of MREs and a small city's worth of radiation tabs is, erm, not.
Really appreciated Ben's comment at the 30:28 mark where he noted that with homesteading, prepping one of them just doesn't have the fear attached to it. Maybe being a woman of faith, I also appreciate seeing your families praying and working together. Your wives also remind me of the Proverbs 31 woman which is so encouraging. ♥ Am reminded in Proverbs 6 where the ant is noted 'Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.'. And seeing each of your families working together I am also reminded of Ecclesiastes 11 where it notes planting seeds in and keeping busy all afternoon, for one doesn't know if profit will come from one activity or another or maybe both. Which reminded me of my parents and when I was growing up in the 50's-60's and how they as two working professionals still fished/hunted, had chickens, grew a big vegetable garden, had fruit trees/bushes, and how they shared that during the Great Depression and WW2 they and their friends did fine. Because they simply did as much for themselves as they could. Simply because being prepared with foods they had put up, and knowing how to sew, cook, do vehicle and basic home repair, saved money, and come winter when one could be snowed in for a week or more, knowing they had food, wood for heat, Coleman lanterns for light etc they would do fine. They also talked about community and how they and their friends helped each other as well as the elderly and disabled in their small community. Watching each of your channels I see such wise people, great role models, and constant encouragement for the rest of us. 🙂 In 1907, Baden-Powell, an English soldier, who created the Boy Scouts devised the Scout motto: Be Prepared he noted that to Be Prepared means 'you are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your duty.'
I was talking to someone how I took over the dining room area for my pantry storage. She turned to me and asked “Aren’t there only the two of you?” Yeah… but garden… and storing up many things for a year’s worth….. and going to town only once or twice a month.
To Jason’s point of people who shop frequently. I don’t have a homestead but I do put in a small summer garden and enjoy the heck out of fresh produce for a time. I have to go to a farmers market when that is available, and grocery store too. The only way to get fresh produce and quality meat you have to shop often . Living in a small space, preserving a ton of food for the year isn’t possible. Just doing the best you can to eat as well as you can in your circumstance🫶. Love the podcast and all of your UA-cam channels while I dream of a homesteading lifestyle. Hopefully one day🫶
I like to think of homesteaders as preservers and peppers as preparers. I've had years of preserves put up and I'm still using them. I've also done my diligence preparing for a catastrophic event. It's not about fear. It's about thriving. A large bag of potatoes instead of small is preparing for a bigger bowl of mashed potatoes. Good shop talk.
Great job guys! - Prepers vs Homesteaders: The question is: If you did not have internet, could you feed your family for 1 to 2 years and protect your supplies? Can you keep your food safe if the utilities do not function for long periods? What do you have to barter? There is 2 of us, and I am 73yo, so it's much easier. I am selling our 25 acres in south Louisiana, after 60 years of being in the family, and have plans to move to a smaller place. Going to rabbit and quail. Have a GREAT Day and best of luck to everyone!
We're starting our farm as a non profit with the goal of getting families out with nature and learning some lost arts. My husband has been gathering broken garden tools to repair do that he can give them to families that want to garden but can't even afford some of the basic tools.
@@evalinawarne1337 Idaho. Thank you, I didn't realize his plan for the broken tools until he recently told me, I was beginning to think he was becoming a broken shovel hoarder.
Whether you’re a homesteader or prepper or yes, both- you need to prepare for no electricity! That’s the biggest threat we have. Water source is your next resource that you need to know where to get.
Food preservation (canning, drying, freeze drying, etc.) are skills that used to be pretty common 50 or 60 years ago that have now become kind of hard to find outside of county folks' communities. In my view, it is critical that you can produce your own shelf-stable foods with which to carry yourself through lean times. Water security is also critically important. You need to be able to provide water beyond the mindset of keeping a couple of 55-gallon drums under the house. If you don't have a private well, you need to be able to catch, store and purify rainwater, or even make use of creek or river water. If you do have a private well, you need to be able to draw water from it without electricity. Solar is attractive for running a pump in a grid-down situation -- but what are you going to do if your pump fails? A bailer bucket is a simple and inexpensive device to construct. Finally, we need to be prepared to protect what is ours from those who would do us harm to steal from us. It is VERY difficult to survive lean times as an island. Community is important. Get to know your neighbors so you can identify who you can trust and who you must guard against. The time to prepare for an emergency is before the emergency strikes. Once the 'S' hits the fan, it's too late to start getting ready. Take care and God Bless.
I agree…and of course water..I have a gravity fed spring and it makes me feel very secure in water..but electricity is definitely something my family is addressing by investing in a solar back up systems..we are finding it expensive!
Being prepared for the worst and expect the best is just good sense. Being able to help yourself and your neighbour if things go south is good stewardship. Placing your trust in God does not mean you sit on your duff. He put you here to get the job done.
We have a year around market here. The hydroponic farmer is awesome. The apples, eggs and raw honey are always awesome. But get there before 8am or you have to park in the next county! 😄😉
My belief is that being a homesteader and being more self sufficient is in fact part of being a doomsday prepare! Self sufficiency is the goal and basis of both!
Thanks for the tip on "tool library". I just looked one up and there is one in the Detroit area. The fee is based on your income. Less than 25,000 income per year was only $25. It is a great idea to help home gardeners begin. Shovels, spades etc. are expensive and this could be a big help for someone starting out.
So our local butcher here has told me several times that he would sell me half account, but he never comes through But at least I have my son helping me out and whenever the chickens are on sale and there’s no limit, I will buy quite a few and throw them in my freezer chicken is my favorite. My husband is the beef. 🐔 🥩
Preparing for hard times. I'm 68 and Preparing keeps me busy. It's no different to me as it was when I was a child. Eight kids daddy was a farmer and a construction worker. We had to prepare for the leaner winters. Daddy was usually laid off during the Michigan winter. Farming and homesteading is the same in my eyes. I don't like to buy process foods. Therefore I make mine from scratch 😊 I enjoy all of your videos and shop talk too.
Thank you Al for your positive feedback about life. Living daily preparing for life as we know it to end has to be the most tragic way to live. 😢 Remember people, that no one gets out of here alive! God will get you when He wants you. All the “prepping” in the world is not going to save you. So be smart, grateful for your bounty and enjoy life. 😊
You and Ben live close enough together and your friend Mike, another idea is to figure out what tool is missing in your group and you get that, and you guys swap out when you need to do stuff, because you dont always need the same thing at the same time. like the auger, etc.
Another great chat guys, love to listen to you. I'm over in the UK and my local Merton Council libraries run a Library of Things. Not so much farming equipment as it's in the suburbs, more household items, from vacuum cleaners, paint strippers to drills etc, but I don't see why it couldn't work for a larger idea. You might like to contact London Borough of Merton and ask them details, just thought I'd mention it!*! ❤
The thing that amuses me with the Preppers is where they think they would get clean water to rehydrate their dehydrated food and what do they do when their supply runs out. Homesteading is more sensible.
We have four sourses for our water that is not connected to any other water system like a town or county water set up. We have a Berkey water filter and those work. Talk to someone that has one. You do a dye test on it and nothing gets through those filters except clean water. We are so lucky b/c we have 3 continuous running springs and a spring fed well here. Water is a huge concern for most people, but peppers do a lot to make sure they have several safe sources. Most homesteaders I know (and there are many) have food preserved and freeze dried, put away, whatever to last a very long time. They are also self sustainable. Eating food in season, canning skills and healthy animal husbandry is a huge key. Not hard to do but takes a lot of planning on the front end. Organization is a huge key. Knowing what you have and what you have to work with is also key.
I think that's what's the main difference between a prepper and a homesteader. A prepper is focusing on storing up food and getting himself ready whereas a homesteader like you guys share videos you talk about stores that rent out tools grocery stores where you can buy things in bulk and help people out it's a community, they're trying to benefit the community.
Man, I absolutely LOVE this channel! Y'all really have something terrific going here. But, I have a couple of comments. 1. Grocery shopping. I'm 76 and retired from university professor stuff...and have done a ton of consulting around the world. My wife has dementia. So, I'm just doing woodworking, mostly, these days here at home. But, due to our current style of life, I often go to the Walmart grocery every day...or every 2-3 days. (I'd love to make one of my luxury lazy susans for each of your families, but I don't know where to send it. Hmmm.) 2. Tool Library. Maybe it's a second cousin to the popular MakerSpaces that are continuing to pop up all over. Even locally, we have a really nice MakerSpace. So, for a reasonable annual fee, I don't have to own a honkin' big planer or wide jointer, because I can use one in the MakerSpace. Same with 3D printers, laser engravers, and CNC machines. Some folks using these MakerSpaces just need a soldering station or a MIG welder. Voila! The annual fee more than pays for itself with the savings (cost and space) from having to own one of everything. Plus, the social aspect of the MakerSpace means that, even if I'm not 100% sure of the best way to cut acrylic on a table saw, some other member probably has the exact wisdom I need to achieve success. 3. Prepper vs Homesteader: For me, I delineate these two, thusly. I consider y'all as homesteaders because you chose this "lifestyle" (nod to Ben) to provide food and freedom for your families. Thus, you are prepping for the welfare of your entire families. Conversely, a real prepper is one who has decided to create a "bunker" mentality (nod to Al) so they can hide away in case the zombies come after them. And, they can remain hidden for long periods of time. But, what if the zombie attack doesn't last forever and the prepper eventually has to venture out of hiding? Hmmm. They might be done for by then, because they didn't follow the path laid down by the homesteaders. I have more thoughts, but this comment has grown well beyond your capacity or interest. However, as a long-time teacher/professor, I talk a lot. And, I've written several books, so I just figure that folks want to read my verbal meanderings. Ha! Basically, thanks for what y'all do, both individually and collectively. Keep it up, guys! ~Dr. Larry S. Anderson • Tupelo, MS (birthplace of Elvis)
I have a homestead, I have meat chickens and egg layers, and I have a high tunnel and grow a lot of veggies in 20x60. Not a prepper but I can, I freeze dry and I freeze a lot of things. But my shelves of canned food are very much like a grocery store. I seldom leave the house. I also have Azure standard, and have been known to order ten pounds of organic carrots to refill my canned food shelves. I also have a lot of older neighbors and often take a sick neighbor six or eight jars of canned soups.
Jason, this business enterprise would be called a General Store...back in the olden days...may include the post office, too. Perfect addition to the notary service! 😊
Good morning Homesteaders. From sunny Barbados. ..look forward every week for this podcast... Are you all going Homesteaders Conference?? Benn tell Meg hello for us plz . Look forward to seeing the new addition (baby and room). Will another room be included for the older boys? Or are they going to have the farm house once renovated??
My neighbors and I have been considering not only a "Tool Library" but a "Hardware Library". We would all pool random tools/hardware and then use/replenish as needed. There have been a lot of times where a neighbor has helped another out by having some random pipe fitting or something similar.
I live in the suburbs of a major city (for reference). If I want to buy a large piece of meat, I go to the local small market. If they don't have what I want, they will just order it in for me. The one I go to the most even has package deals on meat. And, a lot of it is already cut up - parted out. Maybe not as refined as a regular grocery store like Kroger but not so much work. And, it's a pretty good deal. I just bring it home and repackage it the way I want it. So, it's available, we just have to look around.
Wow, this podcast just flew by! It seemed like it was a few minutes long😂! Never a dull moment with you guys. Always so interesting and love just listening to you talk about whatever you want to talk about, never boring!
Al, my dog runs through the NH woods every weekend and she wears an orange vest with reflective trim. We also have the GPS tracker installed in a pocket on the vest. The tracker has programed travel limits programmed to tell her when she needs to return home.
lol .. I buy bulk always… I have enough food to last us about 6 months as well we have 2 freezer ., 1big coffin size and a smaller., We don’t go but once a month.. I buy bulk and everything Costco’s, but I haven’t had to buy any meat lately, because I’m buying so much when I go plus, my son works for a restaurant supply he’s been bringing me the meat in bulk, and there are meat at the restaurant. SUPPLY is great almost every other week he brings me something and I have to separate it in Ziploc bags, freezer bags and store it but it’s been good. He’s doing that to all of our family. My other sons and my brother he’s been a great help doing that.. 🥩
It took me weeks to shovel 30 yards of compost by hand and a lot of body pain pushing through. Lol I’m suggesting get or rent a machine to move it I feel like I’m still recovering a year later. 😂
Why does everyone correlate preppers with always being doomsday prepper? I am a prepper but I don't have a bunker. I prep for emergencies. My husband lost his job and it took months to get a job. Luckily because we were prepped with enough food, and toiletries and I had enough cash to keep the lights on and the mortgage paid. Doesn't mean I am prepared for doomsday. I am prepped for weather conditions, job loss etc...Another part of being a prepper is also just knowing how to do stuff. Your all three preppers you just don't know it. Cause I guarantee you if stuff hits the fan you guys will be okay.
I so enjoy listening to you all banter and catch up on whats happening in the homestead arena. Three awesome fellows and their experiences. Very enjoyable. I have watched you all from the begging of your channels it seems and it's fun to watch the progression you all have gone through...........awesome team and thanks for sharing.
I hope you know how everyone is so attentive to these talks like having weekly company and go where you might is so interesting. New Hampshire getting our winter weather cold up here this am 24 degrees
Back in the day when I was small they used to be a lot of entrepreneurs in their own vehicles. We had a guy that would go on a bicycle and go around and he would DO sharpen knives for the local mom and pop Restaurants and my mom had RESTURANT for Year’s, so she always uses this man to sharpen her knives. Then we also had these little local guys doing farmers market off their truck. I remember when I was little my mom to buy the sugarcane, and we would all sit outside on the porch, eating eating, sugarcane, she would get the brown eggs from him. She would get all kinds of fruits and vegetables from him. I sure missed those days we had a guy that was a woodworker, and he would go around honking and he would sell these outdoor benches that he made ,arounded by the dozen load them up on his truck and go and sell them for pretty cheap. I think it was like for $75 for the set of three. I don’t see that anymore. It’s so much changing. I miss all those Mom and pop businesses even if they were just you know, I felt like they did what they had to do feed their family. It would upset me as I got older when I saw things because here I was legit and I had to pay state city taxes, federal taxes, sales taxes, and I hated it when people were just doing things without paying taxes but I understand now, I don’t have my ice cream shop… LIFE ….
Frugality used to be a trait that was revered. Now if you practice being frugal and preparing, it's looked at suspiciously. Even my girlfriend shops for a few days, and doesn't care if something is on sale or not, if she wants it, she buys it. I encourage her to have a working pantry of stable foods, and stock a good amount of the foods she likes to cook, so she doesn't have to run to the grocery store every other minute. The first tool library I ever heard of was one organized by my dad when he was a professor at the University of Tennessee in the 1950's. I don't know if it's still active or not.
I’m not a homesteader or a doomsday prepper ,however I have lived most of my life in Florida and an active duty military wife for 20 years. I learned to stock up on can goods and other items twice a month and bought in bulk. I still rotate out those can items and such, way in advance of hurricane season. That way I don’t have to fight with the last minute hurricane preppers.
It shouldnt be so hard and isnt a bad thong to see / realise that Homesteaders are Preppers - even a Homesteader , with any moral fortitude , sees the need to DEFEND and PROTECT what he built, grew and raised, not to mention his family - to roll the eyes at Doomsday Preppers gives an outsider the feeling he's among San Fran's hippy - peace , love and my sister Ralph crowd
If the groceries didn't carry processed junk people would save a bundle by cooking their own meals. Of course you would need to learn about washing, peeling, etc. Before my Mom passed we found her area had what was called The Nurses Closet. It was a "library" for medical equipment. Canes, crutches, walkers, commodes (minus the bucket), inflatable pressure easing mattresses, lifts etc. You returned the items after you no longer needed them, and often people donated additional equipment to the "closet" as well. There was no charge.
You guys 🤣 the notary in a bloody white lab coat getting your mail and some hardware… oh and renting ya a chicken plucker all at the same place 🤔I’d go there !!!
A prepper (being prepared) has been around for many generations. It’s how our ancestors survived through adverse weather when growing crops. Same thing during the depression. What you’re referring to is a survivalist. That is going to an extreme when food storage is for 20 years plus buying all the protection you can lay your hands on. Anyone who raises their own food, processes it and preserves it is just plain smart and it’s being a good Stewart according to Gods law. I admire anyone who puts the work in by taking good care of the land and the livestock. I don’t like the word ‘prepper’. I prefer no label we just all do the best we can to provide for our families. If God lays it on your heart to lay back what you can then I would follow his lead.. you and your families are awesome and I love watching you all..❤️
Some people go to the grocery store as often as Al goes to Lowe's and Home Depot 😅
I wonder what the record is??? Ours was 4 trips to H.D. in ONE day.😅 It got embarrassing 😳
This doesn't work when the nearest one is 100 miles away !@@faithrada
A homesteader is a prepper without the angst.
I have a homestead, with milk cows, pigs and chicken. I can, freeze dry etc. I don't prepare for dooms day, I prepare for job lose, sickness, to help others. We eat in season and what I have in abundance I share and can, dehydrate & freeze dry the rest. We eat from what I preserve.
We bought food in bulk for years. You break up the meat packs into smaller bags and stuff in the freezer. I even got a vacuum sealer to use. I buy 50 lbs. of flour and keep in the freezer along with extra butter, hams (on sale), bulk packages of yeast, and sugar. I'm in my late 50's, grew up a latch key kid with single mom for most of my childhood, not much in the cupboards in those days. I'll never let the closet/pantry get short on food if I can help it. Love the podcast, just discussing life!
You cannot be a homesteader who is prepared to meet the future, as long as you are not producing your own hay and grain.
Hi guys it made me almost cry when Ben said “it’s sad to think that people don’t understand the buying enough ground beef for a year”! What happened to being a good steward of what you have been blessed with? I guess it’s the credit card mentality! I am not a prepper but I do live in the northeast where weather can keep you off the roads for days at a time! I grew up as a child of Depression Era parents and a large family who always lived on a tight budget! Even before Covid we did have a well stocked pantry but we shopped weekly as well. Now because of the uncertainty of availability and prices I grow and preserve enough to shop monthly, just for bargains to replenish and some fresh produce. There is no fear involved just stewardship and practicality! I do live rurally, I love the idea of a tool library and will have to see if such a thing exists in my area! Good conversation as always, plenty to think on until next week! Peace and blessings! 👍🏼
Exactly!
❤Costco business center is the best. We shop for our pie company there. Excellent prices, and hanging meat. We are buying lamb for Easter
Hi guys, 80 year old woman here. In my whole life I think I have almost always bought our meat when it was on sale. Why not? I buy my beef from a local farmer by the 1/4. He takes it to the processor and I pick it up when done. I buy Tp and paper towels in the biggest packages. I buy the big cans of dehydrated fruits . It is a permanent part of my life.😁
I love ALL Homestead Shop Talk Podcast videos!
Please tell BEN that he’s allowed to chip in now and again 😅 Thanks for the chat 👍🏻
Last week when he talked a guy said he monopolized the conversation and wanted the other two’s opinion! They can’t win!😅
Hey guys. We had a tool library in Eugene, OR in our Friendly neighborhood. I donated some stuff to them before moving back east. It’s a great community concept.
That is an awesome idea. 👍
I think you can be a homesteader and a prepare. We don't live in fear b/c we DO have our own homegrown food, water sources etc. We have been "homesteading" since 1978. Several years ago, we started putting things way for long term storage. We are intentional about preserving for our family b/c we know what is in our food. We are pretty self sufficient and when Covid hit, we were sitting great when the grocery shelves were absolutely empty around here. We live out in the middle of nowhere and now, the way things are in the big cities and the burbs around them, we are so thankful we live where we do. We are totally debt free which is a huge burden off your shoulders. We live 100 mile round trip to big shopping so when we DO go, we stock up and like Al says, we buy things on sale big time that we don't grow and depending on what it is, we freeze dry or put things in the food buckets. Our kids are all grown and married w/kids now and two of the three go to the grocery once a week. Our youngest son is like us. Lives out in the middle of nowhere and they do the same things we do. We don't can/freeze or freeze dry things that we don't ever use. My Dad was a butcher and Al is so correct. They don't "butcher" anymore. The grocery stores get boxed beef now. My Dad actually cut sides of beef and hogs up into cuts that are recognizable. The Mom and Pop stores get their meat from local farmers. We butcher our own meat b/c our local locker plant did a horrific job on a steer we took a few years ago. It was all cut up on a band saw and it was horrible. We have been doing all our own beef, pork, and chickens ever since. We have a walk in cooler and a room in our Morton building that we have a butcher shop set up. Our kids all come and help and it works well.
Great discussion guys.
Whats the chuckle around preppers? All of our grandparents prepped and it was just a way of life.... Been prepping in all aspects of life since I was 8 and my personal accomplishments show that. Remember its better to be 10 years to early than 10 minutes to late!!!
I think the chuckle is for the "doomsday" part. Preparing for the ups and downs of life is a good idea. Stacking years' worth of MREs and a small city's worth of radiation tabs is, erm, not.
@@NTon13radiation tablets?....meh!
Now, if you're talking multi thousands of 556. Hell yes!
Zombie ready!
Yep. Ammo never goes bad, and I can use it even if TEOTWAWKI doesn't come.
The TV show doomsday preppers, made people that prep seem like we/they are all crazy. Now yes I am crazy but not because I'm a prepper.
Really appreciated Ben's comment at the 30:28 mark where he noted that with homesteading, prepping one of them just doesn't have the fear attached to it. Maybe being a woman of faith, I also appreciate seeing your families praying and working together. Your wives also remind me of the Proverbs 31 woman which is so encouraging. ♥
Am reminded in Proverbs 6 where the ant is noted 'Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.'. And seeing each of your families working together I am also reminded of Ecclesiastes 11 where it notes planting seeds in and keeping busy all afternoon, for one doesn't know if profit will come from one activity or another or maybe both.
Which reminded me of my parents and when I was growing up in the 50's-60's and how they as two working professionals still fished/hunted, had chickens, grew a big vegetable garden, had fruit trees/bushes, and how they shared that during the Great Depression and WW2 they and their friends did fine. Because they simply did as much for themselves as they could.
Simply because being prepared with foods they had put up, and knowing how to sew, cook, do vehicle and basic home repair, saved money, and come winter when one could be snowed in for a week or more, knowing they had food, wood for heat, Coleman lanterns for light etc they would do fine. They also talked about community and how they and their friends helped each other as well as the elderly and disabled in their small community.
Watching each of your channels I see such wise people, great role models, and constant encouragement for the rest of us. 🙂
In 1907, Baden-Powell, an English soldier, who created the Boy Scouts devised the Scout motto: Be Prepared he noted that to Be Prepared means 'you are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your duty.'
I don’t think you can be a hardcore prepper without being a homesteader.
I was talking to someone how I took over the dining room area for my pantry storage. She turned to me and asked “Aren’t there only the two of you?”
Yeah… but garden… and storing up many things for a year’s worth….. and going to town only once or twice a month.
To Jason’s point of people who shop frequently. I don’t have a homestead but I do put in a small summer garden and enjoy the heck out of fresh produce for a time. I have to go to a farmers market when that is available, and grocery store too. The only way to get fresh produce and quality meat you have to shop often . Living in a small space, preserving a ton of food for the year isn’t possible. Just doing the best you can to eat as well as you can in your circumstance🫶. Love the podcast and all of your UA-cam channels while I dream of a homesteading lifestyle. Hopefully one day🫶
In Europe, they shop every 2 or 3 days to pick fresh food.
(Germany France)
Keep on keeping on ❤❤❤
My husband calls it leaning. Three guys leaning at the fence chatting. 😊
I like to think of homesteaders as preservers and peppers as preparers. I've had years of preserves put up and I'm still using them. I've also done my diligence preparing for a catastrophic event. It's not about fear. It's about thriving. A large bag of potatoes instead of small is preparing for a bigger bowl of mashed potatoes. Good shop talk.
Great job guys! - Prepers vs Homesteaders: The question is: If you did not have internet, could you feed your family for 1 to 2 years and protect your supplies? Can you keep your food safe if the utilities do not function for long periods? What do you have to barter? There is 2 of us, and I am 73yo, so it's much easier. I am selling our 25 acres in south Louisiana, after 60 years of being in the family, and have plans to move to a smaller place. Going to rabbit and quail. Have a GREAT Day and best of luck to everyone!
We're starting our farm as a non profit with the goal of getting families out with nature and learning some lost arts. My husband has been gathering broken garden tools to repair do that he can give them to families that want to garden but can't even afford some of the basic tools.
I'm in Michigan. Which state are you in?
Only if you want to share.
That is a blessing. Thank you.
@@evalinawarne1337 Idaho. Thank you, I didn't realize his plan for the broken tools until he recently told me, I was beginning to think he was becoming a broken shovel hoarder.
Good morning gentlemen! Another great podcast 👍
Cows, al spilled the beans already
Absolutely! Long term prepping IS farming/ homesteading!
Whether you’re a homesteader or prepper or yes, both- you need to prepare for no electricity! That’s the biggest threat we have. Water source is your next resource that you need to know where to get.
Agree that electricity loss is a major problem but so is protecting your supplies from theft.
Food preservation (canning, drying, freeze drying, etc.) are skills that used to be pretty common 50 or 60 years ago that have now become kind of hard to find outside of county folks' communities. In my view, it is critical that you can produce your own shelf-stable foods with which to carry yourself through lean times.
Water security is also critically important. You need to be able to provide water beyond the mindset of keeping a couple of 55-gallon drums under the house. If you don't have a private well, you need to be able to catch, store and purify rainwater, or even make use of creek or river water. If you do have a private well, you need to be able to draw water from it without electricity. Solar is attractive for running a pump in a grid-down situation -- but what are you going to do if your pump fails? A bailer bucket is a simple and inexpensive device to construct.
Finally, we need to be prepared to protect what is ours from those who would do us harm to steal from us. It is VERY difficult to survive lean times as an island. Community is important. Get to know your neighbors so you can identify who you can trust and who you must guard against.
The time to prepare for an emergency is before the emergency strikes. Once the 'S' hits the fan, it's too late to start getting ready.
Take care and God Bless.
I agree…and of course water..I have a gravity fed spring and it makes me feel very secure in water..but electricity is definitely something my family is addressing by investing in a solar back up systems..we are finding it expensive!
You guys are so funny...! I hope you never get tired of doing the podcast...♥♥♥
Being prepared for the worst and expect the best is just good sense. Being able to help yourself and your neighbour if things go south is good stewardship. Placing your trust in God does not mean you sit on your duff. He put you here to get the job done.
We have a year around market here. The hydroponic farmer is awesome. The apples, eggs and raw honey are always awesome. But get there before 8am or you have to park in the next county! 😄😉
Jason you can make sheep butter, yogurt and cheese, ice cream and is healthier than cows milk.
You guys had a busy week. All great things. 39 weeks of episodes already. Never a dull week between you three.
My belief is that being a homesteader and being more self sufficient is in fact part of being a doomsday prepare!
Self sufficiency is the goal and basis of both!
Great podcast again. I got a lot of chuckles from this one. Y'all made my day. Thanks and have a Blessed day.
Loving your Shop Talk. Keep them coming.
Thanks for the tip on "tool library". I just looked one up and there is one in the Detroit area. The fee is based on your income. Less than 25,000 income per year was only $25. It is a great idea to help home gardeners begin. Shovels, spades etc. are expensive and this could be a big help for someone starting out.
So our local butcher here has told me several times that he would sell me half account, but he never comes through
But at least I have my son helping me out and whenever the chickens are on sale and there’s no limit, I will buy quite a few and throw them in my freezer chicken is my favorite. My husband is the beef. 🐔 🥩
Good afternoon from South Africa
Preparing for hard times. I'm 68 and Preparing keeps me busy. It's no different to me as it was when I was a child. Eight kids daddy was a farmer and a construction worker. We had to prepare for the leaner winters. Daddy was usually laid off during the Michigan winter. Farming and homesteading is the same in my eyes. I don't like to buy process foods. Therefore I make mine from scratch 😊
I enjoy all of your videos and shop talk too.
Enjoyed the video and the conversation. 👏👏👏
Good morning guys from a very chilly Philadelphia, currently 32° bright sun and very windy. Have a great day 😎👍
I am praying for Amos Miller family and all in JESUS'S NAME AMEN.
20° "snowing for 12 hours
today, it's a lighter snow 3"
GOD BLESS YOU
Some farmers/ranchers will sell some beef of the carcus (sp). They'll sell 1/2 or whole. Some will even go down as much as a 1/4.
Thank you Al for your positive feedback about life. Living daily preparing for life as we know it to end has to be the most tragic way to live. 😢 Remember people, that no one gets out of here alive! God will get you when He wants you. All the “prepping” in the world is not going to save you. So be smart, grateful for your bounty and enjoy life. 😊
You and Ben live close enough together and your friend Mike, another idea is to figure out what tool is missing in your group and you get that, and you guys swap out when you need to do stuff, because you dont always need the same thing at the same time. like the auger, etc.
Another fun podcast today! Reminds me of when I was a kid and all my uncles sitting around cutting up! Thanks!
I love this show! A tool library... what a great idea.
We love you all! Happy & Joyous Lenton season! Many prayers 🙏🏻 for you all 💙 🙏🏻 ❤️ Nurse Judi in Scottsdale AZ and Eucharistic Minister 🙏🏻 ❤️ 💙
Al asked a weird question. A homesteader IS a prepper. I can't believe he even has to question it
Another great chat guys, love to listen to you. I'm over in the UK and my local Merton Council libraries run a Library of Things. Not so much farming equipment as it's in the suburbs, more household items, from vacuum cleaners, paint strippers to drills etc, but I don't see why it couldn't work for a larger idea. You might like to contact London Borough of Merton and ask them details, just thought I'd mention it!*! ❤
The thing that amuses me with the Preppers is where they think they would get clean water to rehydrate their dehydrated food and what do they do when their supply runs out. Homesteading is more sensible.
WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF WATER TOO, LOLOL WE PROMISE NOT TO LAUGH AT YOU, WE'LL JUST SHAKE OUR HEADS! GOD BLESS
We have four sourses for our water that is not connected to any other water system like a town or county water set up. We have a Berkey water filter and those work. Talk to someone that has one. You do a dye test on it and nothing gets through those filters except clean water. We are so lucky b/c we have 3 continuous running springs and a spring fed well here. Water is a huge concern for most people, but peppers do a lot to make sure they have several safe sources. Most homesteaders I know (and there are many) have food preserved and freeze dried, put away, whatever to last a very long time. They are also self sustainable. Eating food in season, canning skills and healthy animal husbandry is a huge key. Not hard to do but takes a lot of planning on the front end. Organization is a huge key. Knowing what you have and what you have to work with is also key.
I think that's what's the main difference between a prepper and a homesteader. A prepper is focusing on storing up food and getting himself ready whereas a homesteader like you guys share videos you talk about stores that rent out tools grocery stores where you can buy things in bulk and help people out it's a community, they're trying to benefit the community.
Man, I absolutely LOVE this channel! Y'all really have something terrific going here. But, I have a couple of comments.
1. Grocery shopping. I'm 76 and retired from university professor stuff...and have done a ton of consulting around the world. My wife has dementia. So, I'm just doing woodworking, mostly, these days here at home. But, due to our current style of life, I often go to the Walmart grocery every day...or every 2-3 days. (I'd love to make one of my luxury lazy susans for each of your families, but I don't know where to send it. Hmmm.)
2. Tool Library. Maybe it's a second cousin to the popular MakerSpaces that are continuing to pop up all over. Even locally, we have a really nice MakerSpace. So, for a reasonable annual fee, I don't have to own a honkin' big planer or wide jointer, because I can use one in the MakerSpace. Same with 3D printers, laser engravers, and CNC machines. Some folks using these MakerSpaces just need a soldering station or a MIG welder. Voila! The annual fee more than pays for itself with the savings (cost and space) from having to own one of everything. Plus, the social aspect of the MakerSpace means that, even if I'm not 100% sure of the best way to cut acrylic on a table saw, some other member probably has the exact wisdom I need to achieve success.
3. Prepper vs Homesteader: For me, I delineate these two, thusly. I consider y'all as homesteaders because you chose this "lifestyle" (nod to Ben) to provide food and freedom for your families. Thus, you are prepping for the welfare of your entire families. Conversely, a real prepper is one who has decided to create a "bunker" mentality (nod to Al) so they can hide away in case the zombies come after them. And, they can remain hidden for long periods of time. But, what if the zombie attack doesn't last forever and the prepper eventually has to venture out of hiding? Hmmm. They might be done for by then, because they didn't follow the path laid down by the homesteaders.
I have more thoughts, but this comment has grown well beyond your capacity or interest. However, as a long-time teacher/professor, I talk a lot. And, I've written several books, so I just figure that folks want to read my verbal meanderings. Ha!
Basically, thanks for what y'all do, both individually and collectively. Keep it up, guys!
~Dr. Larry S. Anderson • Tupelo, MS (birthplace of Elvis)
I have a homestead, I have meat chickens and egg layers, and I have a high tunnel and grow a lot of veggies in 20x60. Not a prepper but I can, I freeze dry and I freeze a lot of things. But my shelves of canned food are very much like a grocery store. I seldom leave the house. I also have Azure standard, and have been known to order ten pounds of organic carrots to refill my canned food shelves. I also have a lot of older neighbors and often take a sick neighbor six or eight jars of canned soups.
Jason, this business enterprise would be called a General Store...back in the olden days...may include the post office, too. Perfect addition to the notary service! 😊
Yes, there are lots of resources for grant writers! I used to write grants for both a small local business & local school system.
Great podcast, you guys are informative and entertaining, relaxed and I love watching....not a homesteader 😊
I think that Jess and Miah said they plan to have a tool rental, such as a chicken plucker, etc.
The local Dutch Markets in our area, in Central Maryland, offer that. They butcher it while you are in the store.
That is how everything started, someone wondered and talked about. 💕💕🌻🌻
Good morning Homesteaders. From sunny Barbados. ..look forward every week for this podcast... Are you all going Homesteaders Conference?? Benn tell Meg hello for us plz . Look forward to seeing the new addition (baby and room). Will another room be included for the older boys? Or are they going to have the farm house once renovated??
My neighbors and I have been considering not only a "Tool Library" but a "Hardware Library". We would all pool random tools/hardware and then use/replenish as needed. There have been a lot of times where a neighbor has helped another out by having some random pipe fitting or something similar.
Thanks for the entertainment
I live in the suburbs of a major city (for reference). If I want to buy a large piece of meat, I go to the local small market. If they don't have what I want, they will just order it in for me. The one I go to the most even has package deals on meat. And, a lot of it is already cut up - parted out. Maybe not as refined as a regular grocery store like Kroger but not so much work. And, it's a pretty good deal. I just bring it home and repackage it the way I want it. So, it's available, we just have to look around.
Wow, this podcast just flew by! It seemed like it was a few minutes long😂! Never a dull moment with you guys. Always so interesting and love just listening to you talk about whatever you want to talk about, never boring!
Keep on keeping on ❤❤❤
Al, my dog runs through the NH woods every weekend and she wears an orange vest with reflective trim. We also have the GPS tracker installed in a pocket on the vest. The tracker has programed travel limits programmed to tell her when she needs to return home.
LOL @ Meat Pole!! Have me laughing hard!!!
They tried not to smile too much. No expressions as we laugh.
Last week Ben,
had me laughing so hard over the small male pig and mamma pigs.
lol ..
I buy bulk always…
I have enough food to last us about 6 months as well we have 2 freezer ., 1big coffin size and a smaller.,
We don’t go but once a month.. I buy bulk and everything Costco’s, but I haven’t had to buy any meat lately, because I’m buying so much when I go plus, my son works for a restaurant supply he’s been bringing me the meat in bulk, and there are meat at the restaurant. SUPPLY is great almost every other week he brings me something and I have to separate it in Ziploc bags, freezer bags and store it but it’s been good. He’s doing that to all of our family. My other sons and my brother he’s been a great help doing that.. 🥩
The only thing with these meats is, you have no idear how it was raised or what it was fed !
If I remember correctly, George Washington got a Camel at Mount Vernon for Christmas in 1787.
We need to do exactly that. Everything we do should move towards being prepared for the inevitable
My sheep have more cream than our cows. A lot of Italian cheese is sheep milk.
Jason, I thought I heard her say that the sheep’s milk was naturally homogenized.
My Dad bought a hind quarter of beef a couple of times. We put it in the freezer and it would last a year for a family of 4.
Jason will be borrowing Bens’ tractor!
It took me weeks to shovel 30 yards of compost by hand and a lot of body pain pushing through. Lol I’m suggesting get or rent a machine to move it I feel like I’m still recovering a year later. 😂
Why does everyone correlate preppers with always being doomsday prepper? I am a prepper but I don't have a bunker. I prep for emergencies. My husband lost his job and it took months to get a job. Luckily because we were prepped with enough food, and toiletries and I had enough cash to keep the lights on and the mortgage paid. Doesn't mean I am prepared for doomsday. I am prepped for weather conditions, job loss etc...Another part of being a prepper is also just knowing how to do stuff. Your all three preppers you just don't know it. Cause I guarantee you if stuff hits the fan you guys will be okay.
One of my favourite episodes 🥦🥦🥦
💕💗💕🙏🙏🙏 Interesting show as always. May The Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you all!!!
As usual....GREAT PODCAST.
Here in Mid Ohio, we have several shops we can buy halves and whole carcasses.
I so enjoy listening to you all banter and catch up on whats happening in the homestead arena. Three awesome fellows and their experiences. Very enjoyable. I have watched you all from the begging of your channels it seems and it's fun to watch the progression you all have gone through...........awesome team and thanks for sharing.
Awesome job guys , keep them coming !!!!!
I hope you know how everyone is so attentive to these talks like having weekly company and go where you might is so interesting. New Hampshire getting our winter weather cold up here this am 24 degrees
Michigan, too and snowing, all day 3" now.
Winter was warmer. L.o.L.
Back in the day when I was small they used to be a lot of entrepreneurs in their own vehicles. We had a guy that would go on a bicycle and go around and he would DO sharpen knives for the local mom and pop Restaurants and my mom had RESTURANT for Year’s, so she always uses this man to sharpen her knives. Then we also had these little local guys doing farmers market off their truck. I remember when I was little my mom to buy the sugarcane, and we would all sit outside on the porch, eating eating, sugarcane, she would get the brown eggs from him. She would get all kinds of fruits and vegetables from him. I sure missed those days we had a guy that was a woodworker, and he would go around honking and he would sell these outdoor benches that he made ,arounded by the dozen load them up on his truck and go and sell them for pretty cheap. I think it was like for $75 for the set of three. I don’t see that anymore. It’s so much changing. I miss all those Mom and pop businesses even if they were just you know, I felt like they did what they had to do feed their family. It would upset me as I got older when I saw things because here I was legit and I had to pay state city taxes, federal taxes, sales taxes, and I hated it when people were just doing things without paying taxes but I understand now, I don’t have my ice cream shop… LIFE ….
I remember those were the days, my friend.
Jodi Mitchell song.
Milkman, and all the others.
Oh man....dang! Sorry about those peppers!! 😮💨😱I would b mortified!! I don't live in region that gives me time to replant....
Guess he will have to trust someone's plants
Frugality used to be a trait that was revered. Now if you practice being frugal and preparing, it's looked at suspiciously. Even my girlfriend shops for a few days, and doesn't care if something is on sale or not, if she wants it, she buys it. I encourage her to have a working pantry of stable foods, and stock a good amount of the foods she likes to cook, so she doesn't have to run to the grocery store every other minute. The first tool library I ever heard of was one organized by my dad when he was a professor at the University of Tennessee in the 1950's. I don't know if it's still active or not.
I’m not a homesteader or a doomsday prepper ,however I have lived most of my life in Florida and an active duty military wife for 20 years. I learned to stock up on can goods and other items twice a month and bought in bulk. I still rotate out those can items and such, way in advance of hurricane season. That way I don’t have to fight with the last minute hurricane preppers.
It shouldnt be so hard and isnt a bad thong to see / realise that Homesteaders are Preppers - even a Homesteader , with any moral fortitude , sees the need to DEFEND and PROTECT what he built, grew and raised, not to mention his family - to roll the eyes at Doomsday Preppers gives an outsider the feeling he's among San Fran's hippy - peace , love and my sister Ralph crowd
In the regular Costco I have seen sheep carcuses. Just a lil ole lady here. I cut up chickens 😄, but I can dream 😅
The Zombies are here already if you live in the city, they are everywhere.
If the groceries didn't carry processed junk people would save a bundle by cooking their own meals. Of course you would need to learn about washing, peeling, etc.
Before my Mom passed we found her area had what was called The Nurses Closet. It was a "library" for medical equipment. Canes, crutches, walkers, commodes (minus the bucket), inflatable pressure easing mattresses, lifts etc. You returned the items after you no longer needed them, and often people donated additional equipment to the "closet" as well. There was no charge.
I can sew a 'Green Acres' scene. The library is hosted by retirees who manage and repair while sitting out front hanging out together.
I enjoy the shop talk
I don’t know of a tool library, but our local community library lends out different shaped cake pans!
You guys 🤣 the notary in a bloody white lab coat getting your mail and some hardware… oh and renting ya a chicken plucker all at the same place 🤔I’d go there !!!
A prepper (being prepared) has been around for many generations. It’s how our ancestors survived through adverse weather when growing crops. Same thing during the depression. What you’re referring to is a survivalist. That is going to an extreme when food storage is for 20 years plus buying all the protection you can lay your hands on. Anyone who raises their own food, processes it and preserves it is just plain smart and it’s being a good Stewart according to Gods law. I admire anyone who puts the work in by taking good care of the land and the livestock. I don’t like the word ‘prepper’. I prefer no label we just all do the best we can to provide for our families. If God lays it on your heart to lay back what you can then I would follow his lead.. you and your families are awesome and I love watching you all..❤️
Our local grocery store still cuts and packages the meat they sell. Our oldest son worked there for a few years after graduation.
Al, check out Halo collars. We have them for our 2 Beagles. You set their parameters on your phone. We love them. 👍👍🐕🦺🦮🐕
Great videos you three...love everyone!
Hello Amigos!! Happy first week of spring. Big snow and rain crap show here in southern Maine this weekend. (spring hahah)
You would never know that it was spring here !!
Michigan is too snowing 20°
HAPPY SPRING
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
There are no more butcher's in supermarket's.
I was just checking out Jason's beard. Love the zebra stripe you have going on there, Jason. Very distinctive
I noticed that too. All of the guys beards have grown quite a bit over the winter.
WE'VE BEEN PREPARING FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. FOR WHAT? WHO CARES, FOR WHATEVER COMES OUR WAY IN THESE CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY TIMES.
Love you guys. Always so interesting
Albany NY. The Tool Library is open every Wednesday from 3-6 pm and every Saturday from 9-12 pm at 89 Lexington Avenue Albany NY 12206.