Pantry Chat - Homesteading Family

In this episode of the Pantry Chat, I sit down with my friend Rory Groves from  @thegrovestead [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC6rhGEdlWqeZke_XSQBHIsw] to talk about his family’s journey from a tech career in the city to raising six kids on a homestead in Minnesota. Rory’s story will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt the tug to get out of the rat race and build something lasting with their family. What started with a single tomato plant on a city balcony turned into a thriving homestead of gardens, orchards, and livestock. But more than that, it turned into a way of life intentionally built around faith, family, and meaningful work. Rory is the author of Durable Trades and The Family Economy (links below), books that have encouraged thousands to think differently about how we live, work, and raise our children. In this conversation we dive into: - The slow, steady steps Rory and Becca took toward self-sufficiency - Why it’s vital to build rhythms of joy into the homestead for our kids - What “durable trades” really mean and why they matter today - Rory’s thoughts on AI, technology, and the need to preserve skills that last - Why homesteading isn’t about escaping the world, but preserving something worth passing on Check out the blog post for links and more information here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/preserving-a-way-of-life-with-rory-groves/ [https://homesteadingfamily.com/preserving-a-way-of-life-with-rory-groves/] Durable Trades: https://homesteadingfamily.com/durable-trades [https://homesteadingfamily.com/durable-trades] The Family Economy: https://homesteadingfamily.com/the-family-economy [https://homesteadingfamily.com/the-family-economy] This is about more than food or farming—it’s about preserving culture, family, and faith for generations to come. Time Stamps: 0:00 - Introduction 0:49 - Lehman's 1:50 - Main Topic ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MORE ABOUT US! WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo [http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo%20] Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us! Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com [https://www.homesteadingfamily.com/] Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily [https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily] Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily [https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily] Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily [https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily] A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!! Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt [https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt] Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop [https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop] Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!  Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop [https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop] FREE PDF DOWNLOADS: Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video [https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-canning] series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love.

Do you ever wonder how to safely use herbal medicine at home? Whether it’s tinctures, teas, powders, or capsules, figuring out the right dose can feel a little overwhelming, especially if you’re just starting out.  In this week’s Pantry Chat, I’m joined by Dr. Patrick Jones from HomegrownHerbalist.net to break it all down in a simple, practical way. We’re covering: 🌿 The pros and cons of different herbal preparations (tinctures, teas, capsules, powders, and salves) 🌿 How to safely dose herbs for adults, children, and even animals 🌿 The three big safety checks every herbalist (and mom!) needs to know before giving herbs 🌿 Which herbs are safe for daily, long-term use, and which ones should only be used short-term 🌿 Real-life stories from both the clinic and the homestead on how herbs can make a big difference in emergencies and everyday health Herbal medicine doesn’t have to feel intimidating. With a little know-how, you can confidently use herbs to support your family’s health, without second-guessing if you’re “doing it wrong.” 📌 Resources & Links: - Elderberry Syrup Recipe: https://homesteadingfamily.com/homemade-elderberry-syrup-immune-boosting-recipe/ - Learn more from Dr. Patrick Jones: HomegrownHerbalist.net - More herbal medicine tips from our homestead: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-use-herb-medicine-safely-at-home  Time Stamps: 0:00 Introduction 2:48 - Lehmans 4:13 - Main Topic 22:03 - Dosing Herbal Remedies ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MORE ABOUT US! WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo [http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo%20] Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us! Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com [https://www.homesteadingfamily.com/] Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily [https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily] Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily [https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily] Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily [https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily] A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!! Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt [https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt] Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop [https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop] Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!  Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop [https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop] FREE PDF DOWNLOADS: - Homesteading Family's Favorite Holiday Recipes - Grab all of our family’s favorite holiday recipes. https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-holiday-recipes [https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-holiday-recipes] - 5 Steps to a More Self-Sufficient Life - Simple steps anyone can take wherever they are to start a more self-sufficient lifestyle. https://homesteadingfamily.com/5StepsYT [https://homesteadingfamily.com/5StepsYT] Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video [https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-canning] series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love.

Honey is so much more than a sweetener... It’s medicine. In this episode of the Pantry Chat, I sit down with beekeeper and herbalist Kaylee Richardson from The Honeystead to explore how combining bee products like honey, propolis, and beeswax with herbs can take your natural remedies to the next level. We’ll cover: 🌿 Why bees are the “original herbalists” 🍯 How honey makes herbal medicine more effective (and better tasting!) 🛡️ Using propolis as a powerful antimicrobial for throat sprays and salves 🧴 Beeswax’s role in healing salves and skin protection 🥄 Simple herbal honey remedies you can make at home today 👉 For more information and any links mentioned, visit the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/the-beekeepers-apothecary/ [https://homesteadingfamily.com/the-beekeepers-apothecary/] 📖 Learn more in Kaylee’s new book The Beekeeper’s Apothecary – pre-order for bonuses here: https://amzn.to/4mEnbht [https://amzn.to/4mEnbht] 🛒 Shop quality honey, bulk herbs, and pantry staples at Azure Standard. New customers get 15% off orders of $100+ with code HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15 at https://homesteadingfamily.com/main-azure-standard-b [https://homesteadingfamily.com/main-azure-standard-b]  Time Stamps: 0:00 - Introduction 3:04 - Azure Standard 4:45 - Main Topic ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MORE ABOUT US! WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo [http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo%20] Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us! Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com [https://www.homesteadingfamily.com/] Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily [https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily] Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily [https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily] Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily [https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily] A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!! Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt [https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt] Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop [https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop] Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!  Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop [https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop] FREE PDF DOWNLOADS: - Homesteading Family's Favorite Holiday Recipes - Grab all of our family’s favorite holiday recipes. https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-holiday-recipes [https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-holiday-recipes] - 5 Steps to a More Self-Sufficient Life - Simple steps anyone can take wherever they are to start a more self-sufficient lifestyle. https://homesteadingfamily.com/5StepsYT [https://homesteadingfamily.com/5StepsYT] - Thrive Wellness Checklist - A simple guide for healthy living: https://homesteadingfamily.com/TWC_YT [https://homesteadingfamily.com/TWC_YT] - Permaculture for Your Homestead- An introducti Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video [https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-canning] series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love.

It’s midsummer here on the homestead, and that means the harvest is rolling in, the to-do list is growing, and the kitchen floor is… sticky. In this Pantry Chat, we're talking about: 🌱 What to plant now for a winter harvest (and why August is the perfect time) 🐛 How to deal with grasshopper invasions when you can’t keep chickens 🥬 The easiest way to grow lettuce without spending forever washing it 💛 Why gratitude changes everything when homestead life feels overwhelming 🌳 Lessons from our fruit trees about control—and learning to let go Whether you’re in the thick of canning season or planning your fall garden, this chat will inspire you to tackle your homesteading season with fresh perspective and renewed joy. 📌 Related links: - Thanks to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring today's podcast. Grab anything form their website and get 20% off with coupon code "HomesteadingFamily" at checkout: https://americanblossomlinens.com [https://americanblossomlinens.com] - How to Grow Cut-and-Come-Again Lettuce: https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-grow-lettuce-the-easy-way/ [https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-grow-lettuce-the-easy-way/] - How to Plant a Fall & Winter Garden: https://homesteadingfamily.com/20-vegetables-to-plant-in-late-summer/ [https://homesteadingfamily.com/20-vegetables-to-plant-in-late-summer/] - Organic Garden Pest Control Without Chemicals: https://homesteadingfamily.com/garden-pest-control/ [https://homesteadingfamily.com/garden-pest-control/] - Our Favorite Garden Tools: https://homesteadingfamily.com/best-tools-for-the-garden/ [https://homesteadingfamily.com/best-tools-for-the-garden/] Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video [https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-canning] series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love.

Want to preserve the fresh flavors of summer herbs to use all year long? In this video, I’m showing you how to make herbal oils and herbal vinegars, a simple, beginner-friendly way to infuse all that goodness into your pantry staples. We’ll talk about how to safely make flavored oils (yes, there are safety concerns!), and how herbal vinegars are a perfect, safe project for kids and beginners. These make amazing salad dressings, cooking ingredients, and even homemade gifts! 🌿 In this video: - When to use vinegar vs. oil - Why you should never use fresh herbs in oil (unless you follow this method!) - How to infuse vinegar with herbs, fruits, and spices - Shelf-stable vs. refrigerator-only oils - Creative herbal flavor combinations 📌 Learn more and get the step-by-step blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/herbal-oil-recipe [https://homesteadingfamily.com/herbal-oil-recipe] Thanks to ForJars for sponsoring this video! Use the code “HomesteadingFamily10” for 10% off your first order at ForJars: https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-forjars [https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-forjars] Time Stamps: 0:00 - Introduction 2:42 - Chit Chat 6:29 - Storing Winter Squash 8:01 - ForJars 9:38 - Main Topic ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MORE ABOUT US! WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo [http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo%20] Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us! Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com [https://www.homesteadingfamily.com/] Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily [https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily] Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily [https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily] Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily [https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily] A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!! Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt [https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt] Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop [https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop] Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!  Learn to can and put jars of a delicious meal on your pantry shelf with this FREE video series: https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop [https://homesteadingfamily.com/MOYS-free-workshop] Become a master canner in just a few days with my FREE video [https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-canning] series where together we are going to stock your shelves with amazing food the whole family will love.