Making a living on your homestead? | Pantry Chat

There are a lot of people who want to start a homestead business. Learning how to make money from your homestead and living off your homestead are two very different things. In this series, we'll discuss the three different homestead businesses that provide income to make money or live from your homestead.

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Intro/Chit Chat
9:30 ish - Lehmans
11:00 - Apple Cider Vinegar
13:38 - Starting a Homestead Business

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[tommyheard]

"Butter on My Mind"
Verse 1:
Woke up this morning, sun shining bright,
Got my coffee brewing, feeling just right.
But there's something sweet I can't leave behind,
Golden and smooth, yeah, it's butter on my mind.

Pre-Chorus:
Spread it thick, melt it slow,
On my toast, watch it glow.
It's the little things, baby, that I find,
Can't shake the taste, it's butter on my mind.

Chorus:
Butter on my mind, like a dream so sweet,
Soft and smooth, every bite's a treat.
From the first taste, I was hooked for life,
Butter on my mind, it's my heart's delight.

Verse 2:
From pancakes to popcorn, it's always there,
On everything I love, with a tender care.
It's golden magic, with every bite,
Butter in the morning, butter late at night.

Pre-Chorus:
Spread it thick, melt it slow,
On my toast, watch it glow.
It’s the little joys that are hard to find,
But I know for sure, it’s butter on my mind.

Chorus:
Butter on my mind, like a dream so sweet,
Soft and smooth, every bite's a treat.
From the first taste, I was hooked for life,
Butter on my mind, it’s my heart’s delight.

Bridge:
Ooh, it’s golden sunshine on my plate,
No need for fancy, just something great.
From dawn till dusk, it’s always the same,
Butter’s the love I can’t explain.

Chorus:
Butter on my mind, like a dream so sweet,
Soft and smooth, every bite's a treat.
From the first taste, I was hooked for life,
Butter on my mind, it’s my heart’s delight.

Outro:
Yeah, it’s butter on my mind,
And I’m feeling fine.
Every little moment, every little time,
I’ve got butter, butter on my mind.

[nellieblighhill]

Yep, has been 22 years for us and we are still figuring out better ways of doing things. It takes time, perseverance and a lot of sacrifice. For all you young ones out there, it is all worth it. The sense of peace you get from watering a carrot can save you thousands in therapy bills. Also having beautiful spots where you can defuse. That can save your relationship. Just bend like a reed and when life gives you too much input...water a carrot.

[annadavis]

Feeling incredibly thankful this harvest season! Five deer and forty two chickens in the freezer! And over 100 quarts of fall green beans!

[Kazwellian]

Our biggest reasoning for starting a homestead was to get out of debt and learn how to "do more" for ourselves. We are past our prime (seniors with health issues) so we knew we needed to get in a better position for our retirement years. I was too young to learn much from my Grandparents, but the were share croppers and worked hard at being able to provide for their family. Never wealthy monetarily, but overflowing with wisdom and usable knowledge. Now I have some of that knowledge to pass on to my kids & Grandkids.

[bettypearson]

I grew up on a subsistence style farm years ago. We used an outhouse with the sears roebuck catalog and a tarpaper shack. The house was built on a bit of a slope which provided space to create shelves between the support posts for our canned food once enclosed. At the entrance on the south side was enough space for us kids to easily walk which transitioned into crawl space.

It was a fairly drafty home. As we could afford it we got pieces of linoleum to put on the floor to help reduce the draft since the floor consisted of floorboards with small gaps more similar to what you would have on a deck with gaps than an interior floor. In our bedroom for instance we had linoleum on our floor to cut draft but not on the floor of our closet since we could shut the curtain to the closet and it slowed the flow of cool air.

One night we were busy elbowing each other to get better viewing of our 13" television when we smelled a skunk under the house which meant one of us kids hadn't shut the door under the house when getting some veggies for dinner.

Mom told my oldest brother to get down there and shoot that skunk because she was sure it was the pregnant one she'd seen around lately. My brother grabbed a 22 rifle and went outside to do what he'd been told and very quickly dispatched it. Specifically he chased it to the crawl space under our closet and yes, it emptied it's scent sac when killed.

It would have been unrealistic at that time to replace 3 girls clothing. We began washing that night which didn't help a lot. It seemed like forever before anyone at school would play with us because of that smell.

Definitely don't want your skunk hanging around any buildings.

[denisemusicnut]

The song that ran through my head was “You Were Always on My Mind.” as recorded by Willie Nelson.

[sarahburke]

This conversation was very edifying; I look forward to the next installment!

[CedarSpokeFarmstead]

I always enjoy your videos! I found you quite a few years ago when I did a search on how to water glass eggs. I've been doing it ever since And so many people are amazed that that's a thing! So thankful for you guys 🧡

[shannonjensen]

Love the pantry talks! Would you do a pantry, fridge and freezer tour? I always learn and add so much to my pantry when you share yours!

[rosehavenfarm]

Thank you, Carolyn, for mentioning the legality of selling stuff from the homestead. There are state and county regulations, and perhaps city regs if you are in the city limits.

We wanted to potentially sell vegetable seedlings in the sping. Our county actually has a reg that the plant nursery must be inspected yearly. We put the seedling idea on the back burner for a couple of reasons. One, we're very private people. Two, we practice a high level of biosecurity, because we don't want just anyone walking on our property with shoes and boots that have gone who knows where. We are almost retired, so we are revisiting the seedling idea (and other ideas) to prepare.

Another thing to think about: if you want to sell produce, at what venue? You want a stand at the farmer's market? Most markets require a commitment to be there every day it's open, which typically means at least the full weekend, and maybe a weekday. If you are a church or synagogue goer, that's a non-starter.

More food for thought.

[jenniferrawles]

Love the pantry chats! We had a good winter squash as well, the most this suburban homesteader has grown, 22. Thank you for all the content you have we learn so much.

[laurabenway]

One thing I have noticed with watching Josh and Carolyn and some the other homesteaders is that most topics is about food in some way...
Old days they did do a lot of their own clothes making, quilts/afghans, yarn if had sheep(wool spinning), weaving, etc, . But i love watching you all and with being close to home (Eastern Washington).

[carlynsykes]

I work remotely from home while I’m starting my homestead and the biggest issue I’ve found is reliable power and reliable internet. Satellite internet is generally not reliable enough plus even with regular internet if power goes out to your area then the internet goes out even if you still have power because the substation might be out.

[savvydirtfarmer]

A great "homesteading" business is growing and selling edible plants... blackberries, blueberries, fruit trees, etc. HUGE demand.

[karenheider]

I live with no power like the Amish. The first thing I had to buy was a pressure canner and jars for storing my food without refrigeration.

[carolynparker]

Great video. Puts everything in perspective. You are right were it's consumed consumed consumed! People spend more than they make, then blame it all on economy rather than them not wanting to save up for something.

[karynellinger]

Skunks and k9s...
Dawn dish soap with baking soda make a thick paste. Rub EVERYWHERE on dry pet. Using a squirt bottle spray hydrogen peroxide to JUST suds a LITTLE. Continue to wash adding H²O² as needed. rinse WELL! This is very drying to skin (H²O²) but works VERY WELL!

[countrylivin]

thank you for more information. we will be working on being able to supply 75% of our food on our property and maybe some to sell as a side gig

[bhavens]

ACV - refrigerator pickles, like my red onion pickle that I always keep going for salads, tacos, etc. I use ACV in that because its tasty. also for the odds and ends pickle jar.

[marthasundquist]

Acidity meters are cheap and reusable, but ph paper is cheaper...bet you can test your vinegar or tomatoe sauces, canning stuff, etc. if you are concerned about it. I have that on my Christmas wish list...the electronic version. I already have ph paper straps, but want those as a backup. They are harder to read in higher colored products like spaghetti sauce.