In this episode, we'll discuss what to say when someone asks "why are your farm products so expensive?"To master farm marketing, join the Small Farm Nation Academy whenever you're ready.							GET STARTED

In this episode, we'll discuss what to say when someone asks "why are your farm products so expensive?" To master farm marketing, join the Small Farm Nation Academy whenever you're ready. 			 				GET STARTED

How to respond to “why are your farm products so expensive?”

smallfarmnation.com So it’s December and we’re winding down the farm season. While that means we have fewer chores to do, we still have farm chores, right? Frozen water troughs, hay that’s gotta be dished out, pigs still need to be fed and so on.  But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.  But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.  In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.

<a href="http://smallfarmnation.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">smallfarmnation.com</a> So it’s December and we’re winding down the farm season. While that means we have fewer chores to do, we still have farm chores, right? Frozen water troughs, hay that’s gotta be dished out, pigs still need to be fed and so on. But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars. But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing. In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.

Should you partner with other farmers?

Email vs Social Media. What’s best for your farm?

How to grow your farm’s email list

Should you worry about email unsubscribes?

How to get more traffic to your farm website

When to use storytelling with farm marketing

How to differentiate your farm from look-alike competitors

Is the customer REALLY the hero of your story?

Should You Outsource Any Farm Marketing

Farming | Farm Life | Homesteading | Self-Reliance

Tim, thank you for imparting you’re knowledge and selflessly providing so many valuable resources. You have given me a firm kick in the butt as I embark on my dream of opting out of the rat race and producing my own, natural, whole food, straight from the Earth.

#1 In Value

Great podcast, interesting information, really well produced.

Really well produced.

Small Farm Nation

Serving the local food community and reconnecting heritage breed animals to neglected farmland was, and is, a worthy pursuit, and it's one that a growing number of people are drawn to.If you're one of those people, that's awesome, and I encourage you to follow your dream.

Serving the local food community and reconnecting heritage breed animals to neglected farmland was, and is, a worthy pursuit, and it's one that a growing number of people are drawn to. If you're one of those people, that's awesome, and I encourage you to follow your dream.

11 Farm Business Rules

Justin Rhodes

Whatta ya get when you combine a drunken homeless man, a deer tick and the Internet? Today, you’ll find out how those three ingredients, along with a determined entrepreneur, add up to Abundant Permaculture.Listen to the PodcastSUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNESWelcome to Episode 11! This is a story about Justin Rhodes. A fellow who didn’t opt out of the rat race, because he never even opted in.Justin has taken a winding journey from western North Carolina to Honduras and even Australia before landing back near Asheville to start his online homesteading business, Abundant Permaculture. Along the way Justin encountered a homeless man who prophesied his homesteading future, faced financial crisis that threw his family onto food stamps and even battled Lyme Disease that forced him to abandon market farming and find other sources of self-sufficient income.But Justin is a determined, resilient man and an outstanding example of modern homesteading. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Justin launched Abundant Permaculture and a wildly popular YouTube channel and has figured out how to make money homesteading with online courses, blogging, selling homestead videos and via his YouTube channel.If you're interested in figuring out how to get out of the rat race and earn a self-sufficient income living off the land, grab some coffee and pull up a chair!Subscribe to the Self-Sufficient Life PodcastMake it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode:Thanks for Listening!Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post.Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it!Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates!Read the TranscriptYou can read a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here.Resources Relevant to This Episode 	Abundant Permaculture 	Permaculture Chickens Film 	The Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris 	Launch! An Internet Millionaire's Secret Formula To Sell Almost Anything Online, Build A Business You Love, And Live The Life Of Your Dreams by Jeff Walker 	How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young 	Start Prepping by Tim Young 	The Accidental Farmers by Tim YoungProduction Credits 	Story written by Tim YoungMusic Credits 	Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young 	Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas &amp; Audionautix

Whatta ya get when you combine a drunken homeless man, a deer tick and the Internet? Today, you’ll find out how those three ingredients, along with a determined entrepreneur, add up to Abundant Permaculture. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 11! This is a story about Justin Rhodes. A fellow who didn’t opt out of the rat race, because he never even opted in. Justin has taken a winding journey from western North Carolina to Honduras and even Australia before landing back near Asheville to start his online homesteading business, Abundant Permaculture. Along the way Justin encountered a homeless man who prophesied his homesteading future, faced financial crisis that threw his family onto food stamps and even battled Lyme Disease that forced him to abandon market farming and find other sources of self-sufficient income. But Justin is a determined, resilient man and an outstanding example of modern homesteading. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Justin launched Abundant Permaculture and a wildly popular YouTube channel and has figured out how to make money homesteading with online courses, blogging, selling homestead videos and via his YouTube channel. If you're interested in figuring out how to get out of the rat race and earn a self-sufficient income living off the land, grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Subscribe to the Self-Sufficient Life Podcast Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode: Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates! Read the Transcript You can read a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here. Resources Relevant to This Episode 	Abundant Permaculture 	Permaculture Chickens Film 	The Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris 	Launch! An Internet Millionaire's Secret Formula To Sell Almost Anything Online, Build A Business You Love, And Live The Life Of Your Dreams by Jeff Walker 	How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young 	Start Prepping by Tim Young 	The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Production Credits 	Story written by Tim Young Music Credits 	Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young 	Other royalty-free music by <a href="http://www.bensound.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bensound.com</a>, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas &amp; Audionautix

Abundant Permaculture with Justin Rhodes| Backyard Chickens | Homesteading

What can you do if you have a business but you’re not a natural entrepreneur? In this farm podcast, I’m gonna show you how to stop working ON your business rather than being a slave to it so you can avoid burnout and realize your entrepreneurial dreams. And I've got a special, awesome download to help you do just that.

Learn to become a farm entrepreneur

Daisy Luther

If you want to change the way people think, sometimes you just gotta get right up in their grill and tell ‘em what you think. Today, I’ll share the story of Daisy Luther. A freedom fighting, gun-toting, homeschooling mother who’s inspiring a nation of Organic Preppers.Listen to the PodcastSUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNESWelcome to Episode 7!  This is the fascinating story of Daisy Luther from the blogs The Organic Prepper and DaisyLuther.com. I think you'll really enjoy the story of the winding path that led Daisy to homesteading and outspoken preparedness.A series of family tragedies, job losses and hardships drove her deep into the wilderness to homeschool her children, and learn that homesteading isn't as easy as it first seems.Her experiences reignited the skeptical, always questioning persona of her youth and inspired her to take up writing. She wrote books and multiple blogs centered on prepping, preparedness and delivering the truth in an unabashed way that you never see in mainstream media.Daisy shares her thoughts on homeschooling, homesteading, online courses, self-sufficient income, prepping, preparedness and much more. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair!Subscribe to the Self-Sufficient Life PodcastMake it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode:Thanks for Listening!Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post.Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it!Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates!Resources Relevant to This Episode 	The Organic Prepper 	DaisyLuther.com 	Prepper's University 	How to Be Invisible by JJ Luna 	Start Prepping by Tim Young 	How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young 	The Accidental Farmers by Tim YoungProduction Credits 	Story written by Tim YoungMusic Credits 	Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young 	Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas &amp; Audionautix

If you want to change the way people think, sometimes you just gotta get right up in their grill and tell ‘em what you think. Today, I’ll share the story of Daisy Luther. A freedom fighting, gun-toting, homeschooling mother who’s inspiring a nation of Organic Preppers. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 7!  This is the fascinating story of Daisy Luther from the blogs The Organic Prepper and <a href="http://DaisyLuther.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DaisyLuther.com</a>. I think you'll really enjoy the story of the winding path that led Daisy to homesteading and outspoken preparedness. A series of family tragedies, job losses and hardships drove her deep into the wilderness to homeschool her children, and learn that homesteading isn't as easy as it first seems. Her experiences reignited the skeptical, always questioning persona of her youth and inspired her to take up writing. She wrote books and multiple blogs centered on prepping, preparedness and delivering the truth in an unabashed way that you never see in mainstream media. Daisy shares her thoughts on homeschooling, homesteading, online courses, self-sufficient income, prepping, preparedness and much more. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Subscribe to the Self-Sufficient Life Podcast Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode: Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates! Resources Relevant to This Episode 	The Organic Prepper 	<a href="http://DaisyLuther.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DaisyLuther.com</a> 	Prepper's University 	How to Be Invisible by JJ Luna 	Start Prepping by Tim Young 	How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young 	The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Production Credits 	Story written by Tim Young Music Credits 	Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young 	Other royalty-free music by <a href="http://www.bensound.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bensound.com</a>, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas &amp; Audionautix

Daisy Luther | The Organic Prepper | Survival Mom | Homesteading

Small businesses routinely fail in every industry segment, but what   causes small farms to fail? In this episode I share 7 reasons why small farms fail, so you learn what not to do so that your farm thrives.I'll walk you through seven reasons why small farms fail.

Small businesses routinely fail in every industry segment, but what   causes small farms to fail? In this episode I share 7 reasons why small farms fail, so you learn what not to do so that your farm thrives. I'll walk you through seven reasons why small farms fail.

7 Reason Why Small Farms Fail

Okay, so it’s strategy week here on the Small Farm Nation podcast. And nothing says “strategy” more than business planning, so that’s the focus this week. Now, the first thing you're told to do when starting a business is to write a business plan. But should you? Do traditional business plans help? Or is there a better way.Yes, there is a better way, and in this episode I'll walk you through how to create an actionable one-page business plan.

Okay, so it’s strategy week here on the Small Farm Nation podcast. And nothing says “strategy” more than business planning, so that’s the focus this week. Now, the first thing you're told to do when starting a business is to write a business plan. But should you? Do traditional business plans help? Or is there a better way. Yes, there is a better way, and in this episode I'll walk you through how to create an actionable one-page business plan.

One-Page Farm Business Plan

Greg Judy

Greg Judy went from having $8 in his pocket after a long divorce to now farming over 1,600 acres. In this episode, Greg and I recap how he got started, mistakes he’s made and what he looks for in terms of farm properties. He shares his best tips on negotiating leases, what fencing tools to use and even what type of cattle to raise.

Greg Judy: Leasing Farm Land

Everyone wants to be a millionaire, but where do you turn when you strike it rich then lose it all in a real estate meltdown? In this episode I share the story of a hot dog who rescued a couple of corporate drop-outs who lost everything in the Great Recession. Listen to the PodcastSUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNESWelcome to Episode 10! This is the story of Laurie Charpentier, who accomplished something we all dream of--becoming a millionaire. Then, in the blink of an eye she lost it all, including her house, before a dachshund came into her life and changed everything.After dropping out of high school, Laurie earned her GED, then a college degree and climbed the corporate ladder, first as an accountant and then as director of human resources. Her employee-loving boss appreciated her, so much that he rewarded her with a six-figure income and an annual bonus. But when the boss sold the company, the new buyer had a very different perspective on how to treat employees.Laurie lost her job, but thanks to the stock options she had been rewarded, she had some time to chart a new course. So she became a life coach, only to find out that you actually have to sell to get new clients. Laurie's introverted personality prevented that, so she and her husband, Mark, decided to focus on generating passive income by investing the millions they had made from the company sale.They invested every penny in the real estate market. In 2008.Of course, they lost everything, including the house they lived in.So Laurie got another job in HR. Again, she was valued so much that her new boss doubled her salary within the first six months.And shortly thereafter, with no warning--he fired her.With her life out of control and with no security, Laurie didn't know where to turn. She was dependent on others for income and her identity in life.That's when a little dog named Max entered into her life and changed everything. Max allowed Laurie to think, not of what had gone wrong, but of what was still possible.Laurie and Mark soon found a way to start a small farm. After analyzing other farm enterprises--milking goats, market gardening, etc.--she decided to start a lavender farm in Rhode Island.And Max decided to start an apothecary for dogs.This is really a powerful story that winds through the highs and lows of life, and ends up on a small farm. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair!Subscribe to the Small Farm Nation PodcastMake it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode:Thanks for Listening!Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post.Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it!Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates!Read the TranscriptYou can read a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here.Resources Relevant to This Episode 	Max's Herb Farm 	Start Prepping by Tim Young 	How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young 	The Accidental Farmers by Tim YoungProduction Credits 	Story written by Tim YoungMusic Credits 	Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young 	Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas &amp; Audionautix

Everyone wants to be a millionaire, but where do you turn when you strike it rich then lose it all in a real estate meltdown? In this episode I share the story of a hot dog who rescued a couple of corporate drop-outs who lost everything in the Great Recession. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Welcome to Episode 10! This is the story of Laurie Charpentier, who accomplished something we all dream of--becoming a millionaire. Then, in the blink of an eye she lost it all, including her house, before a dachshund came into her life and changed everything. After dropping out of high school, Laurie earned her GED, then a college degree and climbed the corporate ladder, first as an accountant and then as director of human resources. Her employee-loving boss appreciated her, so much that he rewarded her with a six-figure income and an annual bonus. But when the boss sold the company, the new buyer had a very different perspective on how to treat employees. Laurie lost her job, but thanks to the stock options she had been rewarded, she had some time to chart a new course. So she became a life coach, only to find out that you actually have to sell to get new clients. Laurie's introverted personality prevented that, so she and her husband, Mark, decided to focus on generating passive income by investing the millions they had made from the company sale. They invested every penny in the real estate market. In 2008. Of course, they lost everything, including the house they lived in. So Laurie got another job in HR. Again, she was valued so much that her new boss doubled her salary within the first six months. And shortly thereafter, with no warning--he fired her. With her life out of control and with no security, Laurie didn't know where to turn. She was dependent on others for income and her identity in life. That's when a little dog named Max entered into her life and changed everything. Max allowed Laurie to think, not of what had gone wrong, but of what was still possible. Laurie and Mark soon found a way to start a small farm. After analyzing other farm enterprises--milking goats, market gardening, etc.--she decided to start a lavender farm in Rhode Island. And Max decided to start an apothecary for dogs. This is really a powerful story that winds through the highs and lows of life, and ends up on a small farm. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Subscribe to the Small Farm Nation Podcast Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode: Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates! Read the Transcript You can read a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here. Resources Relevant to This Episode 	Max's Herb Farm 	Start Prepping by Tim Young 	How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young 	The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Production Credits 	Story written by Tim Young Music Credits 	Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young 	Other royalty-free music by <a href="http://www.bensound.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bensound.com</a>, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas &amp; Audionautix

The Hot Dog Who Started a Lavender Farm After His Owner Lost Everything | Homesteading

Want to know How to Start a Farm Business? Here are 11 rules that will guide you so that your farm business is profitable, sustainable and enjoyable!

How to Start a Farm Business: Farming Podcast

Moving to the country means you still make money, so how do you decide what business ideas to pursue? Listen to the PodcastSubscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneInWelcome to Episode 20! This week Liz and I address a caller’s question about how to research and decide the best way to make money homesteading. Listen in as we discuss the many ways to make money farming or with modern homesteading:First, find your PASSION Why exactly do you want to homestead or farm?  	What excites you and what do you want to do?  	Do you long to grow the best tomatoes and sell directly to leading chefs?  	Do you simply want to feed your family?  	Do you want to be the next Joel Salatin and have a farm of chicken tractors, eggmobiles and salad bar beef? 	Do you want to live freely in the country but still make a lot of money?Three Revenue Categories to Profitable HomesteadingHow to Make money homesteading using your land 	Large livestock -raising cows, selling calves or animals (registered or not). After all, we bought our pigs and Dexters from somewhere :-) 	Small livestock - chickens, rabbits, etc. (heritage/rare breeds) 	Farm Stays, events, wedding, private parties 	Boarding animalsHow to Make money homesteading with your skills 	Locally or Physical  	Teaching classes (preparedness, permaculture, edible landscapes, medicinal herbs, etc.) (we’ve taught classes on cheese, butchering, etc.) 	Organize and market classes and events on topics you can’t teach (we’ve marketed many classes we couldn’t teach) 	wilderness survival 	foraging 	butchering classesStart a business helping farmers 	Guided fishing or hunting service 	Woodcraft business (Patrice Lewis)Online or Virtual 	Monetized Blogging (Jill Winger, Lisa Steele, Daisy Luther and others) 	Monetized Podcasting (EO Fire, etc.) 	Copywriting or editing 	Authoring (Mark Goodwin and others) 	Illustrating for authors, web designers, etc. 	Become a virtual assistant 	Web or graphic design 	Voice oversMake money homesteading selling products from your land 	Farmstead meats (grassfed beef, pastured poultry/pork, etc.) 	artisan meats (charcuterie)Raw milk 	Farmstead or artisanal cheese 	Eggs 	Become a grower (vegetables, cut flowers, pick your own, transplants, etc.)  	Artisan soap (Little Seed Farm)It was a insightful discussion and I hope you enjoy it and find that it gives you a lot to think about as you prepare for your self-sufficient life.So grab some coffee and pull up a chair!Subscribe to the Self-Sufficient Life PodcastMake it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode:Thanks for Listening!Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post.Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW for Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it!Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates!Resources Relevant to This Episode 	How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young 	Start Prepping by Tim Young 	The Accidental Farmers by Tim YoungProduction Credits 	Story written by Tim YoungMusic Credits 	Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young 	Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas &amp; Audionautix

Moving to the country means you still make money, so how do you decide what business ideas to pursue? Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Welcome to Episode 20! This week Liz and I address a caller’s question about how to research and decide the best way to make money homesteading. Listen in as we discuss the many ways to make money farming or with modern homesteading: First, find your PASSION Why exactly do you want to homestead or farm? 	What excites you and what do you want to do? 	Do you long to grow the best tomatoes and sell directly to leading chefs? 	Do you simply want to feed your family? 	Do you want to be the next Joel Salatin and have a farm of chicken tractors, eggmobiles and salad bar beef? 	Do you want to live freely in the country but still make a lot of money? Three Revenue Categories to Profitable Homesteading How to Make money homesteading using your land 	Large livestock -raising cows, selling calves or animals (registered or not). After all, we bought our pigs and Dexters from somewhere :-) 	Small livestock - chickens, rabbits, etc. (heritage/rare breeds) 	Farm Stays, events, wedding, private parties 	Boarding animals How to Make money homesteading with your skills 	Locally or Physical 	Teaching classes (preparedness, permaculture, edible landscapes, medicinal herbs, etc.) (we’ve taught classes on cheese, butchering, etc.) 	Organize and market classes and events on topics you can’t teach (we’ve marketed many classes we couldn’t teach) 	wilderness survival 	foraging 	butchering classes Start a business helping farmers 	Guided fishing or hunting service 	Woodcraft business (Patrice Lewis) Online or Virtual 	Monetized Blogging (Jill Winger, Lisa Steele, Daisy Luther and others) 	Monetized Podcasting (EO Fire, etc.) 	Copywriting or editing 	Authoring (Mark Goodwin and others) 	Illustrating for authors, web designers, etc. 	Become a virtual assistant 	Web or graphic design 	Voice overs Make money homesteading selling products from your land 	Farmstead meats (grassfed beef, pastured poultry/pork, etc.) 	artisan meats (charcuterie) Raw milk 	Farmstead or artisanal cheese 	Eggs 	Become a grower (vegetables, cut flowers, pick your own, transplants, etc.) 	Artisan soap (Little Seed Farm) It was a insightful discussion and I hope you enjoy it and find that it gives you a lot to think about as you prepare for your self-sufficient life. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Subscribe to the Self-Sufficient Life Podcast Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode: Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW for Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates! Resources Relevant to This Episode 	How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young 	Start Prepping by Tim Young 	The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young Production Credits 	Story written by Tim Young Music Credits 	Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young 	Other royalty-free music by <a href="http://www.bensound.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bensound.com</a>, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas &amp; Audionautix

How to Make Money Homesteading | Homesteading

When you search for rural land you’ll find all sorts of places that look promising. But how do you know if you’ve found your dream property? Today, I’ll share what we’ve learned and cover the 23 questions you should answer before buying that rural property. Listen to the PodcastSubscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneInSo, Liz and I have bought rural property twice now. It’s both an exciting and exhausting time, Before you plunk down that deposit on the first rural property that screams your name, consider this: you are planning to make a move there for life.A new life, a better life and, perhaps, not only the rest of your life but a homestead that future generations will cherish. So, yeah, it’s appropriate to take time and weigh the decision against criteria that are important to you and your family.With that in mind, I’ve come up with a list of 23 important questions you should ask and answer when looking for rural property. But, really, these 23 questions are more like 23 categories.As you’ll hear, each question…or category…has many sub-questions, so it’s way more than 23 questions.So, having said that, let’s get going on our list of 23 questions to ask when looking for rural property.1. How much land do you really need? This gets to the issue of land lust, as we all seem to want more land and more privacy. But the question you’ll need to answer is how much land do you actually need to achieve your goals or dream?I mean, if you simply want to have a garden and some chickens you can certainly homestead on less than an acre.  Many people do. But what if you want livestock, such as cows and horses?  How about orchards? Do you want to be able to hunt on your own land…do you want a lake or pond for recreation and fishing?The risk here is that you, like us, will say…yeah, I want all that, and more.But of course all that comes at a cost, both financially and in terms of upkeep.So you have to be clear on your goals, because keeping chickens and rabbits require very little land, sheep and goats require a little more and cows require, at a minimum, one or two acres of dedicated pasture each… and that is IF you are in good pasture/rainfall areas typical of the eastern United States. In much of the western parts of the U.S. more land is usually required, often much more. And if you are thinking about having horses, get far more rural property—10 acres per horse (in the east) in addition to your house, driveway, garden, etc.Okay, moving on.Question # 2. Can you COMFORTABLY afford the land? Only you know how much you can afford for the home and land. Can you purchase your rural property and be debt-free?  You’ve heard me talk about this before so you know I think this is a really important milestone to achieve.But, if you’re not there yet, can you comfortably afford the down payment with plenty of financial reserves left over to deal with the unexpected? And I mean plenty, because there’s always a need for money out here.For instance, how much will any improvements to the land or buildings cost?Then there’s the cost for livestock, trees and garden beds and so on.So make sure your purchase leaves you with financial reserves.# 3. How is the water? Does the land have excellent water? (I encourage you to make this a very high priority.) Does the water come from a natural spring or has a well been drilled? If it is a spring, is it located above the elevation of the house and garden so you can use gravity for water distribution? If the water is from a well, how many gallons per minute does it produce AND what is the static water depth? For example, on our last farm, we had two wells, each 300 feet deep that produced over 45 gallons per minute, but the static water depth is less than 40 feet. On my current homestead we only have one well that produces about 5 gallons per minute, but that’s plenty. Besides,

When you search for rural land you’ll find all sorts of places that look promising. But how do you know if you’ve found your dream property? Today, I’ll share what we’ve learned and cover the 23 questions you should answer before buying that rural property. Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn So, Liz and I have bought rural property twice now. It’s both an exciting and exhausting time, Before you plunk down that deposit on the first rural property that screams your name, consider this: you are planning to make a move there for life. A new life, a better life and, perhaps, not only the rest of your life but a homestead that future generations will cherish. So, yeah, it’s appropriate to take time and weigh the decision against criteria that are important to you and your family. With that in mind, I’ve come up with a list of 23 important questions you should ask and answer when looking for rural property. But, really, these 23 questions are more like 23 categories. As you’ll hear, each question…or category…has many sub-questions, so it’s way more than 23 questions. So, having said that, let’s get going on our list of 23 questions to ask when looking for rural property. 1. How much land do you really need? This gets to the issue of land lust, as we all seem to want more land and more privacy. But the question you’ll need to answer is how much land do you actually need to achieve your goals or dream? I mean, if you simply want to have a garden and some chickens you can certainly homestead on less than an acre.  Many people do. But what if you want livestock, such as cows and horses?  How about orchards? Do you want to be able to hunt on your own land…do you want a lake or pond for recreation and fishing? The risk here is that you, like us, will say…yeah, I want all that, and more. But of course all that comes at a cost, both financially and in terms of upkeep. So you have to be clear on your goals, because keeping chickens and rabbits require very little land, sheep and goats require a little more and cows require, at a minimum, one or two acres of dedicated pasture each… and that is IF you are in good pasture/rainfall areas typical of the eastern United States. In much of the western parts of the U.S. more land is usually required, often much more. And if you are thinking about having horses, get far more rural property—10 acres per horse (in the east) in addition to your house, driveway, garden, etc. Okay, moving on. Question # 2. Can you COMFORTABLY afford the land? Only you know how much you can afford for the home and land. Can you purchase your rural property and be debt-free?  You’ve heard me talk about this before so you know I think this is a really important milestone to achieve. But, if you’re not there yet, can you comfortably afford the down payment with plenty of financial reserves left over to deal with the unexpected? And I mean plenty, because there’s always a need for money out here. For instance, how much will any improvements to the land or buildings cost? Then there’s the cost for livestock, trees and garden beds and so on. So make sure your purchase leaves you with financial reserves. # 3. How is the water? Does the land have excellent water? (I encourage you to make this a very high priority.) Does the water come from a natural spring or has a well been drilled? If it is a spring, is it located above the elevation of the house and garden so you can use gravity for water distribution? If the water is from a well, how many gallons per minute does it produce AND what is the static water depth? For example, on our last farm, we had two wells, each 300 feet deep that produced over 45 gallons per minute, but the static water depth is less than 40 feet. On my current homestead we only have one well that produces about 5 gallons per minute, but that’s plenty. Besides,

23 Questions to Ask Before Buying Rural Land | Homesteading | Farming

I’ve shared many stories of people who have opted out of the rat race, but some of them had saved money to do so? But what if you haven’t?Listen to the PodcastSubscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneInWelcome to Episode 22! Today, I’ll deal with a caller’s frustration on how to start a homestead or farm with no money.So, I got this call in from a listener a while back and haven’t had a chance to center an episode around it yet. In the call, you can really hear his pain and heartfelt desire to live freely in the country. But, while he has really enjoyed the stories I've shared of others who have "opted out," his perception is that they (and I) made enough money in the corporate world to afford to do so.What he wants to know is how can people with no money afford to live freely in the country.It's a struggle I hear all the time, and today I provide as much help and as many ideas as I can, including the six macro categorical options, at least as I see them.Have savings 	Inherit land or money 	Pay as you go 	Borrow money 	Raise money 	Get someone to give you moneyI dive deep into the ways to get money, from conventional bank and USDA loans to crowdfunding, venture capital, government grants and more.If you're looking for ways to find money so you can start your farm or homestead, you won't want to miss this. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair!Thanks for Listening!Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post.Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW for Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it!Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneInResources Relevant to This Episode 	How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young 	Start Prepping by Tim Young 	The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young 	No Risk Ranching by Greg Judy 	New Farmers USDA Grants 	List of all USDA Grant Winners in 2016 	SARE Grants 	ATTRA Grants Calendar 	Get the Free eBook: The Self-Sufficient Road MapProduction Credits 	Story written by Tim YoungMusic Credits 	Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young 	Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas &amp; Audionautix

I’ve shared many stories of people who have opted out of the rat race, but some of them had saved money to do so? But what if you haven’t? Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Welcome to Episode 22! Today, I’ll deal with a caller’s frustration on how to start a homestead or farm with no money. So, I got this call in from a listener a while back and haven’t had a chance to center an episode around it yet. In the call, you can really hear his pain and heartfelt desire to live freely in the country. But, while he has really enjoyed the stories I've shared of others who have "opted out," his perception is that they (and I) made enough money in the corporate world to afford to do so. What he wants to know is how can people with no money afford to live freely in the country. It's a struggle I hear all the time, and today I provide as much help and as many ideas as I can, including the six macro categorical options, at least as I see them. Have savings 	Inherit land or money 	Pay as you go 	Borrow money 	Raise money 	Get someone to give you money I dive deep into the ways to get money, from conventional bank and USDA loans to crowdfunding, venture capital, government grants and more. If you're looking for ways to find money so you can start your farm or homestead, you won't want to miss this. So grab some coffee and pull up a chair! Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW for Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Resources Relevant to This Episode 	How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young 	Start Prepping by Tim Young 	The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young 	No Risk Ranching by Greg Judy 	New Farmers USDA Grants 	List of all USDA Grant Winners in 2016 	SARE Grants 	ATTRA Grants Calendar 	Get the Free eBook: The Self-Sufficient Road Map Production Credits 	Story written by Tim Young Music Credits 	Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young 	Other royalty-free music by <a href="http://www.bensound.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bensound.com</a>, Kevin MacLeod, Nicolai Heidlas &amp; Audionautix

How to Start a Farm or Homestead With No Money | Homesteading

A lot of people dream of starting a family farm and selling directly to customers, but how do you protect yourself from getting sued? In this episode, join me and the Food Lawyer as we discuss farm law, liability and how to protect your personal assets.

A lot of people dream of starting a family farm and selling directly to customers, but how do you protect yourself from getting sued? In this episode, join me and the Food Lawyer as we discuss farm law, liability and how to protect your personal assets.

Farm Law, Liability & How to Protect Your Assets

When people think of retirement, they often think of golf or travel. But what about homesteading or farming as a retirement strategy? In this final episode of season 1, I’ll share with you how we and many other farmsteaders are thinking very old-school about retirement. Listen to the PodcastSubscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneInSeveral years ago as we prepared to transition from sprawling urban life to our rural farmstead, Liz and I were filled with excitement about growing our own food and being immersed in nature. Yet, during that period of intense change and learning we also spent many hours discussing, of all things, retirement. At the time the idea of retirement was many years away for us, but in our “former” lives we at least understood what the plan was, so we rarely thought about it. The plan back then was simply to keep working until we were, I don’t know, 62 or so and then let a 401K or pension plan fund the rest of our lives, perhaps with a little help from social security. But moving to the farm meant that there may be no pension plan and for many people it means converting a 401K or other savings into hard assets such as land. And then, just as we were moving to the farm the “great recession” of 2008 hit. Just like you, we witnessed the economic hardship forced onto so many people as a result of reckless  lending and investments by major lending institutions and equally reckless government spending, which required government bail-outs and central banks intervention to prop up global markets. After that experience, our confidence that pension fund obligations would ever be met had eroded anyway, so we began to consider thinking of retirement planning, and homesteading, in a new way.                        See, the thing is that this whole concept of retirement is a relatively new one. I mean, not so long ago, when we all lived in a more agrarian based society, few people ever retired. Their daily duties just changed. As we grew up we would take over running the farm, until one day when stepped back to let our kids do the same. But that didn’t mean we stopped working.Perhaps we would take over maintenance of the equipment or something less physically demanding, but something that required our knowledge and experience. Or maybe we would help out more inside the home with cooking or childcare. But flat-out retirement to travel or play golf all day was the domain of the ultra rich. And even then, most tycoons were still wheeling and dealing well into their 60s and beyond.And that was when live expectancies were barely 60, so even the rich worked until the end.Nowadays with retirement plans tanking and pension funds bleeding out, we may find ourselves without the ability to retire once again. However, this time, we will not have the farm to feed us and the multi-generational home to keep us occupied and close to our loved ones. For many, if they’re very fortunate they may be able to find a spot in a retirement home and sell their current homes to pay for it.But this whole notion of retirement is flawed, as many people are starting to realize.Even the Harvard Business Review wrote a recent article titled, Why Retirement is a Flawed Concept.The whole notion of retirement as we understand it was invented by the Germans in 1889, when German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck invented the idea of retirement with the Old Age and Disability Insurance Law of 1889, which established the concept for the rest of us. “Those who are disabled from work by age and invalidity have a well-grounded claim to care from the state,” he said at the time. What he wanted was to address high youth unemployment by paying those 70 and older to leave the workforce. Made sense to many, so other countries followed suit with retirement ages around 65 or 70.And those are the ages we’ve all grown up with thinking of as retirement age.But,

When people think of retirement, they often think of golf or travel. But what about homesteading or farming as a retirement strategy? In this final episode of season 1, I’ll share with you how we and many other farmsteaders are thinking very old-school about retirement. Listen to the Podcast Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Several years ago as we prepared to transition from sprawling urban life to our rural farmstead, Liz and I were filled with excitement about growing our own food and being immersed in nature. Yet, during that period of intense change and learning we also spent many hours discussing, of all things, retirement. At the time the idea of retirement was many years away for us, but in our “former” lives we at least understood what the plan was, so we rarely thought about it. The plan back then was simply to keep working until we were, I don’t know, 62 or so and then let a 401K or pension plan fund the rest of our lives, perhaps with a little help from social security. But moving to the farm meant that there may be no pension plan and for many people it means converting a 401K or other savings into hard assets such as land. And then, just as we were moving to the farm the “great recession” of 2008 hit. Just like you, we witnessed the economic hardship forced onto so many people as a result of reckless  lending and investments by major lending institutions and equally reckless government spending, which required government bail-outs and central banks intervention to prop up global markets. After that experience, our confidence that pension fund obligations would ever be met had eroded anyway, so we began to consider thinking of retirement planning, and homesteading, in a new way.                         See, the thing is that this whole concept of retirement is a relatively new one. I mean, not so long ago, when we all lived in a more agrarian based society, few people ever retired. Their daily duties just changed. As we grew up we would take over running the farm, until one day when stepped back to let our kids do the same. But that didn’t mean we stopped working. Perhaps we would take over maintenance of the equipment or something less physically demanding, but something that required our knowledge and experience. Or maybe we would help out more inside the home with cooking or childcare. But flat-out retirement to travel or play golf all day was the domain of the ultra rich. And even then, most tycoons were still wheeling and dealing well into their 60s and beyond. And that was when live expectancies were barely 60, so even the rich worked until the end. Nowadays with retirement plans tanking and pension funds bleeding out, we may find ourselves without the ability to retire once again. However, this time, we will not have the farm to feed us and the multi-generational home to keep us occupied and close to our loved ones. For many, if they’re very fortunate they may be able to find a spot in a retirement home and sell their current homes to pay for it. But this whole notion of retirement is flawed, as many people are starting to realize. Even the Harvard Business Review wrote a recent article titled, Why Retirement is a Flawed Concept. The whole notion of retirement as we understand it was invented by the Germans in 1889, when German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck invented the idea of retirement with the Old Age and Disability Insurance Law of 1889, which established the concept for the rest of us. “Those who are disabled from work by age and invalidity have a well-grounded claim to care from the state,” he said at the time. What he wanted was to address high youth unemployment by paying those 70 and older to leave the workforce. Made sense to many, so other countries followed suit with retirement ages around 65 or 70. And those are the ages we’ve all grown up with thinking of as retirement age. But,

Farming/Homesteading as a Retirement Strategy | Homesteading | Farming

So what’s the secret to marketing farm and local food products? Today, I’ll tell you, and set you on a solid foundation for marketing your farm and/or food products. Because, if we produce great food and farm products and there’s no one to buy it, what’s the point?

7 Habits of Successful Farm Marketers

Welcome to Episode 15! So, what can happen when an active youth pastor gets the results from his life insurance physical? Today, you’ll hear how those results and what the doctor ordered drove the youth pastor to become the beginning farmer.Listen to the PodcastSUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNESEthan Book dreamed of being a farmer when he was a kid, but life's necessities steered him in a different direction.After having children, his practical wife insisted he procure life insurance. But that required a physical exam, which revealed Ethan had very high cholesterol.The two options for treatment included a lifetime of medicine, which Ethan wanted to avoid, or a drastic diet change centered on grassfed beef.Ethan opted for the latter approach, but there was a problem. Grass fed beef was expensive, and Ethan didn't earn too much as a youth minister. So, he did the only thing he could do--he bought land, and became a farmer.Today, Ethan blogs at thebeginningfarmer.com, and has an excellent podcast called The Beginning Farmer Show.Listen in to how Ethan and his wife feed their family of seven on less than $150/month at the grocery store, while producing excellent pasture raised pork, beef and lamb for local customers in Iowa.SubscribeMake it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode of Self-Sufficient Life:Thanks for Listening!Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post.Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it!Read the TranscriptYou can read a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here.Resources Relevant to This Episode 	The Beginning Farmer Blog 	You Can Farm by Joel Salatin 	How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young 	The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young 	Start Prepping by Tim YoungProduction Credits 	Story written by Tim YoungMusic Credits 	Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young 	Other royalty-free music by www.bensound.com, Kevin MacLeod &amp; Audionautix

Welcome to Episode 15! So, what can happen when an active youth pastor gets the results from his life insurance physical? Today, you’ll hear how those results and what the doctor ordered drove the youth pastor to become the beginning farmer. Listen to the Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST IN ITUNES Ethan Book dreamed of being a farmer when he was a kid, but life's necessities steered him in a different direction. After having children, his practical wife insisted he procure life insurance. But that required a physical exam, which revealed Ethan had very high cholesterol. The two options for treatment included a lifetime of medicine, which Ethan wanted to avoid, or a drastic diet change centered on grassfed beef. Ethan opted for the latter approach, but there was a problem. Grass fed beef was expensive, and Ethan didn't earn too much as a youth minister. So, he did the only thing he could do--he bought land, and became a farmer. Today, Ethan blogs at <a href="http://thebeginningfarmer.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thebeginningfarmer.com</a>, and has an excellent podcast called The Beginning Farmer Show. Listen in to how Ethan and his wife feed their family of seven on less than $150/month at the grocery store, while producing excellent pasture raised pork, beef and lamb for local customers in Iowa. Subscribe Make it easy on yourself and subscribe to the show, and you’ll never miss an episode of Self-Sufficient Life: Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me this week for Self-Sufficient Life. If you enjoyed this episode, please SHARE it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Read the Transcript You can read a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here. Resources Relevant to This Episode 	The Beginning Farmer Blog 	You Can Farm by Joel Salatin 	How to Make Money Homesteading by Tim Young 	The Accidental Farmers by Tim Young 	Start Prepping by Tim Young Production Credits 	Story written by Tim Young Music Credits 	Theme Song - Opting Out Today - Lyrics by Tim Young 	Other royalty-free music by <a href="http://www.bensound.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bensound.com</a>, Kevin MacLeod &amp; Audionautix

The Beginning Farmer

If you’re planning to start a farm—or any small business—when should you start marketing it? In this episode I explain why you should start marketing your farm BEFORE you even open for business.

Why You Must Start Marketing Before You Start Farming

We’ve all heard the term corporate branding, but what is a personal brand, and do farmers need one? In this episode, I’m going to tell you why you need to develop your own personal farm brand, and how to do it. Because, from a marketing perspective, a sustainable farm business is quite unique in the scheme of business models.

How to Build Your Personal Farm Brand

Today I’m speaking with Callene and Eric Rapp of Rare Hare Barn in Kansas. I love this topic of raising rabbits for meat because, in general, our society has become very disconnected from our food—and what food is, right?  Nowhere in the meat world is that more evidenced than with rabbits. We discuss many fascinating aspects of running a rabbit enterprise on a small farm. Whether you’re a consumer, chef, homesteader or farmer, this is a thoroughly interesting discussion about the life (and death) of rabbits.

Meat Rabbits

Okay, so it’s Marketing week here on the podcast. And it’s an important episode, and if you’re a farmer, this is gonna really resonate with you. I want to talk about why small farms struggle so much to sell their products. If you’re a small, family farmer, you know what I mean. I've created a list of ten reasons why small farms struggle to sell their products. Listen in and see what you think.

10 Reasons Farms Struggle Selling Product

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Best Episodes on Science, Humans & The World

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