Homesteaders of America

• E44: Homestead Beekeeping the Natural and Organic Way | Adam Martin of Bee Kept

  As a homesteader who values organic and sustainable farming practices, Adam looked around and wondered why he couldn’t find these same principles applied to the production of honey.  He made it his mission to learn everything he could about raising honeybees with the most natural methods possible.  Today, he writes and teaches homesteaders how to start their own honeybee farms.  In this conversation, we chat about selecting and building a hive, keeping bees through the winter, the adaptability of naturally-raised bees, and more.  We hope this episode leaves you feeling empowered to start on your own beekeeping endeavor!In this episode, we cover: What makes Adam’s natural and organic beekeeping methods different from conventional practices Tips for maintaining healthy bees through the cold winter months Making an argument for why horizontal hives are better than vertical hives for the backyard beekeeper A few options for those who want to create their own DIY horizontal bee hive Adam’s encouragement for those who dream of starting or growing their homesteadView full show notes and transcript on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.Thank you to our sponsors!McMurrayHatchery.com | A wide selection of poultry breeds and supplies to assist you with raising your flockNutrimill.com | High-quality small kitchen appliance products that function well, are easy to use, and promote healthy eatingABOUT ADAMBee Kept is located in Middle Tennessee and is founded by Adam and Leslie Martin. Their bee adventure started using all of the traditional methods taught and promoted by beekeepers and bee clubs all over the western world. After failing miserably in their first season of beekeeping, they used these failures as opportunities to learn outside-of-the-bee-box thinking with their beekeeping methods. They learned God’s Creative Intelligent Design for honey bees and more natural and sustainable beekeeping practices. The rest is history! Since then their bees have enjoyed great success in overwintering without feeding sugar water or treating for pests, and they have naturally begun to share what they have learned with others.  Adam loves teaching others about bees almost as much as he loves the bees.  If you have tried keeping bees and failed, or if you are just learning and wanting to get into it, Adam will inspire you to get going!   Adam teaches that anyone can learn how to trap feral bees, keep them in a low to no maintenance system, and manage the colonies in horizontal hives that are better for the bees and the beekeeper!RESOURCES MENTIONEDCheck out Adam’s new book,Bee Kept With Wild And Free Honey Bees by Adam MartinFree plans to build the Langstroth Long HiveCome see Adam in May at our Learn to Homestead in a Weekend eventCONNECTAdam Martin of Bee Kept | Website | Instagram | FacebookHomesteaders of America | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest

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• E43: Feed Your Family and Earn an Income on Only FOUR Acres | Jill Ragan of Whispering Willow Farm

  If you have had the privilege of hearing Jill speak at one of our events in the past, you know what a powerhouse she is when it comes to all things homesteading.  Not only is she an expert in a variety of homestead pursuits – market gardening, cut flower gardening, sourdough, and more – she is a very creative and intentional businesswoman.  And she does it all on only four acres!  If you have a desire to use your small acreage to provide both food AND income for your family, don’t miss this episode.  We cover a lot of ground in this episode, so buckle up! In this episode, we cover: How Jill is maximizing her four-acre farm to provide food for her family year-round and to produce a full-time income Building a strategic business from your homestead that allows you to leave the 9-5 The one time management strategy that allows Jill to balance business, motherhood, homeschooling, homesteading, and more Why Jill almost gave up on baking sourdough and how she made the process work for her busy life The heart behind Jill’s online marketplace for homesteaders and gardeners What tools Jill actually uses in her garden and the ones she can do without Tips for planning out your high tunnel garden Why cut flower gardening turned out to be a highly profitable business endeavor for Jill’s farm Encouragement for the small-scale homesteader View full show notes and transcript on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you to our sponsors! Earthley.com | Clean, natural, and affordable herbal remedies and body care that support health and wellness naturally  Nutrimill.com | High-quality small kitchen appliance products that function well, are easy to use, and promote healthy eating ABOUT JILL Jill Ragan is a small farmer and online educator, balancing life as a wife and mother of four beautiful children, three girls and one boy. Her journey into growing food began when she saw a largely unmet need in our society; with broken food systems, unfortunate waste, and an overall lack of connection to our Earth. She started growing food for her family instead of sourcing it from the grocery store, reducing waste as much as possible, and learning how to compost. Shortly thereafter, Jill began teaching others how important it is to do the same for themselves. She started documenting the simple changes she was implementing to contribute to the health of our planet and has since grown an extensive following on YouTube’s Whispering Willow Farm channel.  Jill now grows food full time on a much larger scale on her family’s tiny but mighty home farm. She teaches others daily and takes advantage of any opportunity to demonstrate how even the smallest environmental action can make a significant impact. With passion and personality, Jill is committed to sharing her hard-earned knowledge with anyone and everyone she can. RESOURCES MENTIONED Join us at our annual Homesteaders of America event in October 2025 CONNECT Jill Ragan of Whispering Willow Farm | Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook Homesteaders of America | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest

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• E42: The Importance of Salt for Humans and Livestock | Darryl Bosshardt of Redmond Incorporated

  Get ready for a deep dive into the world of all things salt!  Darryl of Redmond Real Salt brings his expertise to our most important questions: what is wrong with modern day salt?  What should you look for in a good quality salt?  How much salt do our bodies need?  And more!  Whether looking for the best salt for maintaining livestock, cooking from scratch, food preservation, everyday use, or mineral balance, this educational conversation will equip you with the information you need to make intentional food choices. In this episode, we cover: Where does salt actually come from? An explanation of salt’s importance to the body How Redmond is answering the demand for a diversity of salt products Why our bodies need electrolytes and how salt meets that need The power of tuning into our cravings in meeting our nutritional needs A look at how our ancestors consumed salt  The problem with salt on the grocery store shelves today Questions to ask when you are looking for a quality salt View full show notes and transcript on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you to the sponsors that make this show possible! Earthley.com | Clean, natural, and affordable herbal remedies and body care that support health and wellness naturally  Nutrimill.com | High-quality small kitchen appliance products that function well, are easy to use, and promote healthy eating ABOUT DARRYL Darryl Bosshardt is passionate about healthy living, healthy eating and life-long learning. Darryl grew up working for the family mineral business in Redmond, UT and then earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Southern Utah University followed by an MBA at Western Governor's University. RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out all of the Redmond products mentioned here! CONNECT Darryl Bosshardt of Redmond Incorporated | Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok Homesteaders of America | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest

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• E41: Impact Your Community Through Homesteading | Samantha Armel of Frederick County Homesteaders

  We get questions all the time about how to find local community with a shared mindset around homesteading.  After asking the same question in her community, Samantha decided to make the first move and create the network she was looking for.  Not only has she grown a thriving local homesteading community in her area, she teaches people all across the country to do the same.  This episode will inspire you with a reminder about why camaraderie is so important and will equip you with the practical steps to build a network of your own. In this episode, we cover: How Samantha started a movement in her county to connect homesteaders Why building strong in-person community is vital in our current day What is a farm crawl and why is it beneficial to a community? Overview of what kind of team it takes to create and run a local homesteading organization The personal growth that takes place as the leader of a community organization What does it take to start a homestead collective in your own community? View full show notes and transcript on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. ABOUT SAMANTHA Samantha is passionate about helping local homesteaders in her area tap into the tools and resources that they need in order to build stranger, more self-sufficient, and resilient communities that can’t be overrun by government regulations and restrictions.  Samantha is committed to pointing families towards food freedom and creating opportunities to cultivate deeper connections through the work she does at Frederick County Homesteaders. ABOUT FREDERICK COUNTY HOMESTEADERS Frederick County Homesteaders proudly serves our homesteading and farming community by connecting farmer to farmer and farmer to consumer. Our mission is to revitalize agriculture within the Valley through community interdependence, education, and good clean fun! RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out the Frederick County Farm Crawl CONNECT Frederick County Homesteaders | Website | Instagram | Facebook Homesteaders of America | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest

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• E40: Navigating Emergency Situations on the Homestead | Jake of Drumm Emergency Solutions

  Preparedness is an important aspect of most homesteads, but it can be an overwhelming topic due to its multifaceted nature.  Many of us have some level of food storage for our families, but what about things like safety and emergency medical care?  Jake Drumm of Drumm Emergency Solutions has a passion for helping families prepare for a wide spectrum of crisis situations.  He has a special word for homesteaders today to get you started in preparing for both short and long term medical crisis situations.   In this episode, we cover: Why emergency preparedness is important for homesteaders The most important supplies to have in your first aid kit on a homestead Moving beyond first responder skills and considering long-term emergencies Why and how to store information offline in case of internet outages Tackling one of the most common health crises: sepsis Addressing the issue of medical supplies and medications in dire times Using wisdom in learning from various experts Encouragement if you are feeling overwhelmed or fearful View full show notes and transcript on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. ABOUT JAKE Jake Drumm is a career paramedic with a passion for preparedness, homesteading, and education.  He has worked in all areas of emergency services medicine during his career.  The past 15 years have been spent in the delivery of emergency medicine education, spanning the spectrum from graduate medical education to U.S. Special Operations medicine.  He continues to practice medicine as a paramedic in rural East Tennessee, as well as working to actively spread his message of medical preparedness and austere lifesaving through Drumm Emergency Solutions, LLC, a family company.  Jake is also heavily involved in ongoing wilderness medicine, permaculture, and homesteading projects on several properties in East Tennessee.   RESOURCES Medical planning and preparedness: Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) Medical Beginner's Resource List Guerilla Medicine: An introduction to the concepts of austere medicine in asymmetric conflicts Ditch Medicine: Advanced Field Procedures for Emergencies by Hugh Coffee Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook Improvised Medicine: Providing Care in Extreme Environments, 2nd edition Tourniquet Conversion A Recommended Approach in the Prolonged Field Care Setting Preparing for Operations in a Resource-Depleted and/or Extended Evacuation Environment 10 Essential PFC Capabilities Skills for non-medical team members CONNECT Jake Drumm of Drumm Emergency Solutions | Website | YouTube | Facebook | X | Pinterest Homesteaders of America | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest

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