Why Family Farms Are Disappearing with Brian Reisinger
Got a question or thought to share? 🤔💬 Head over to the blog post -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/family-farms/ -- and drop it in the comments—we’d love to hear what you think and we’ll be sure to reply! DescriptionIn this episode Deborah Niemann is joined by Brian Reisinger, journalist and author of Land Rich, Cash Poor, to talk about a subject close to both their hearts: the alarming disappearance of family farms in the United States.Brian grew up on a multi-generational Wisconsin farm and brings a unique perspective as both a writer and someone with deep roots in agriculture. Drawing from his family’s story and extensive research, Brian explains the historical, economic, political, and technological forces that have shaped—and in many cases, harmed—family farming for over a century.What You’ll Learn:Why family farms have been disappearing for over 100 yearsThe ripple effect of labor, policy, and market changes on farm viabilityThe critical role of government research and how its decline hurts innovationWhy private companies should care about saving small farms, tooWhat we can do to protect the 2 million farms still standing today📘 Featured BookLand Rich, Cash Poor by Brian ReisingerBuy on AmazonBuy on BookshopLove This Episode?Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your sustainability-minded friends. Find all episodes and transcripts at:🔗 thriftyhomesteader.com/bookchat
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Building a Pantry from Scratch with Kris Bordessa
Got a question or thought to share? 🤔💬 Head over to the blog post -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/building-a-pantry-from-scratch/ -- and drop it in the comments—we’d love to hear what you think and we’ll be sure to reply! Description In this episode, Deborah Niemann welcomes Kris Bordessa, author of Attainable Sustainable and the new follow-up, Attainable Sustainable Pantry. Kris shares her inspiration behind writing a book focused entirely on pantry staples and kitchen self-reliance, especially after the overwhelming response to her first book. Whether you’re a complete beginner or already comfortable in the kitchen, this conversation is packed with practical tips, money-saving ideas, and sustainability-minded advice for taking control of your food.What You’ll LearnWhy Kris’s second book is a deep dive into pantry-focused self-relianceHow to replace boxed foods like pancake mix and instant oatmeal with homemade versionsWhat to do when you run out of ingredients like brown sugar or oat flourKitchen tools that make homemade cooking more accessible (hint: stand mixer wins!)Tips for using up food instead of throwing it away (like turning failed bread into croutons)Easy ways to start preserving food without a pressure canner, including:Quick picklingDehydratingFreezing in oilUnexpected DIY recipes like crystallized ginger, red wine vinegar, and garlic powderKris’s favorite pantry snack: homemade cheese crackers (goodbye, Cheez-Its!)Why this book is especially timely for anyone struggling with rising grocery costsResources Mentioned📘 Attainable Sustainable Pantry by Kris BordessaBuy on AmazonBuy on Bookshop📘 Attainable Sustainable: The Lost Art of Self-Reliant LivingBuy on AmazonBuy on Bookshop🧂 National Center for Home Food Preservation (used for vetting preservation recipes)Connect with Kris Bordessa🌐 Website: attainablesustainable.net📱 Social: @AttainableSustainable on Facebook, Instagram, and moreLove This Episode?Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your sustainability-minded friends. Find all episodes and transcripts at:🔗 thriftyhomesteader.com/bookchat
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Diane Sorensen: The Tales of Mr. Ken Rooster and the Six Sassy Hens
Whether you're a chicken keeper or someone who simply gets annoyed when reading children's books that are filled with misinformation about animals, Diane Sorenson's, The Tales of Mr. Ken Rooster and the Six Sassy Hens, is a fun little gem that's sure to delight young children, as well as the adults reading the book to them.The book includes short stories about the seven chickens in the author's backyard, and many of the stories, such as the ones about the fox and the raccoon, are based on true events.In today's episode, we are talking to Diane about her chicken-keeping journey and her inspiration for the book.Full show notes here -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/backyard-chickens-in-childrens-book/To see the most recent episodes, visit ThriftyHomesteader.com/BookChat
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Chris McLaughlin: Growing a Good Garden Naturally
If you want to grow a garden that is in sync with nature, then you need to check out Chris McLaughlin's ninth and newest book, The Good Garden: How to Nurture Pollinators, Soil, Native Wildlife, and Healthy Food — All in Your Own Backyard.In this episode, Chris and I are talking about several of The Good Garden concepts presented in her book, starting with knowing your ecosystem. We talk about how pollinators and wildlife are your partners in the garden, how to control weeds naturally, and how to keep bad bugs at bay. Then we talk about enlisting the help of domestic critters in your garden, and Chris give examples from her own life with rabbits, chickens, and goats.Full show notes here -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/growing-a-good-garden/To see the most recent episodes, visit ThriftyHomesteader.com/BookChat
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Lisa Kivirist: Homemade for Sale
It only seems natural that after you perfect a homemade delicacy for your family and friends, the next step is to start selling it. Until recently this was financially impossible in many states due to regulations that meant you would have to invest big bucks in infrastructure to start a business. However, now that all 50 states have cottage food laws, you can start selling food directly from your home kitchen. But before you start baking and selling, be sure to listen to this episode with Lisa Kivirist, co-author of Homemade for Sale: How to Set Up and Market a Food Business from Your Home Kitchen. There are still some things you need to do to stay legal, but it is now so much easier than it was before the cottage food laws were passed. In this episode we are talking about exactly what you can and cannot sell from your kitchen, as well as where you can sell your products. We talk about the difference between hazardous and non-hazardous foods, and we even get into what needs to be included on your product labels. Not sure how to price your products? We talk about that too. Full show notes here -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/how-to-start-food-business-from-home/To see the most recent episodes, visit Sustainability Book Chat Podcast.
Whether you live in a suburban condo or on an off-grid farm, you can live a greener lifestyle. In the Sustainability Book Chat we talk to authors who can help you reach your goals to achieve a more self-reliant lifestyle, whether that means starting a container garden on your balcony or having chickens in your backyard or making greener transportation choices.
Netherlands