Featured posts
I cannot wait to see everyone this April at the LFTN Spring Workshop! We are going to have so much fun.
If you missed your chance to get a ticket, this is how you sign up for the waiting list – fill out this form. If someone needs to cancel, we will contact you about taking their spot.
There are few delights more complete than homemade bread. You feel it get silky as you knead. You take delight in the magic of little yeasties turning a lump of dough into a taut risen bubble ready to shape into loaves. You enjoy its yeasty odors, different while rising than while baking. At last, four hours later, you wait for a pat of butter to melt before crunching through crispy crust into the melting insides fresh-baked bread.
The first few times a person does anything are daunting, right? With bread, you’ll soon find an easy rhythm to weave among other activities during an at-home afternoon.
Today’s recipe aims to de-mystify the process of baking bread so you can join the legion of “I made it” bread mavens. Before long, you’ll create your own mixes, shapes, and tastes in home-baked bread. Read more
Join us at 9:30m Central for a live discussion of managing the homestead alone, mud season, life without the grocery store, seed starting and more.
Featured Event: Sequatchie School Trapping Class, $125
Date: February 24, 2024
Location: Spencer, TN
Sign up: sequatchieschool@gmail.com
Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com
Sponsor 2: DiscountMylarBags.com
Careful what you pray for – Snow turns to rain turns to mud city
Update on the truck key situation
Freezer Probe Problems –Â
Guest form is off until April 1, 2024
Forage
- AP update: Plants lived and it did not freeze with a stock tank heater so we have watercress and swiss chard
- Brussels sprouts is still alive
- Rosemary is still alive
- Good time to trim the fodder trees
Livestock
- Rabbit poop problem
- Coop Cleanout Problem
- Miles keeps getting out – wherever there is no electric fence – floppy fence problem
- Need hay
- Know your animals
- No eggs – coldÂ
Grow
- Time to start brassicas, peppers, lettuce
- Round 1 of pea seeding
- Indoor peppers are still alive
- Longevity spinachÂ
Homestead Meals
- Hamburger pizza
- Eating while NIcole is Away – an update
Holler Neighbors/Community
- Mini Split Installation
- 3 Seats left for the LFTN Spring Workshop
Infrastructure
- Operation eyesore next 2 weeks
- Overall freeze resilience feedback
Finances
- No trips to the store yet
- Firewood vs electricity for heat
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!
Community
- Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
- Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
- Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b
Advisory Board
- The Booze Whisperer
- The Tactical Redneck
- Chef Brett
- Samantha the Savings Ninja
Resources
Today I talk about building your brand, remaining positive, the Ruckus and more with Bear Independent and John Willis.
Show Resources
Main content of the show
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.Â
Community
- FreeSteading Group: https://freesteading.com/groups/living-free-in-tennessee/
- Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
- Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
- Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b
- Twitter: @nicolesauce
- IG: @nicolesauce
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivingFreeInTNÂ
Resources
Everything that has gone well for me in building a business has started with the first step: deciding to take the risk. Today we will talk about that as well as our usual Monday segments.
Featured Event: BEE KEEPING BASICS
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27
10 AM – 12:30 PM
THE WAR ROOM
3519 BLUE SPRINGS ROAD
STRAWBERRY PLAINS, TN 37871
It’s open to the public here’s the Facebook link for the event.Â
https://www.facebook.com/share/zxnVqt7kxw8k2WTC/?mibextid=9l3rBW
Sponsor 1: John Pugliano and the Wealthsteading Podcast, InvestableWealth.com
Sponsor 2: Homestead Apprentice, https://homesteadapprentice.com/Â
1 Million Satoshi Highlight Episode
3D Printing WIth Brad and Leslie Ferrier
https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/2020/12/04/3d-printing-with-brad-and-leslie-ferrier/Â
Submit Your Favorite Here!
https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/2023/08/14/one-million-downloads-celebration/Â
Livestream Schedule
Monday, 2pm, Take That Risk, Make It Work, Prerecorded But Live – A Test
Tuesday, 12:30pm, Live with Nick Ferguson and John Willis
Friday, 9:30am, Homestead Happenings with The Tactical Redneck
Tales from the Prepper Pantry
- Pantry Challenge is Almost Through and I have Lost Four Pounds Just By Not Eating Out
- Restocking: TP, Sauces and Spices, Medical Supplies, Onions, Cheese
- Adopting the Sunday Freezer Meal Planning Method
- Use It Up Curry
Weekly Shopping Report
- Join our Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftnÂ
Frugality Tip
- Odds and Ends for Bone Broth
Operation Independence
- Out This Week Working on #My3Things Marketing Plans and Book Edits (LFTN Spring Workshop Attendees will get a pre-release copy of the book!!)
Main topic of the Show: Take That Risk, Make It Work
I want to but what if I get too many orders and cannot fulfill them? The economy is looking really sketchy, what if people can’t afford my product? I may look stupid if I try that and it doesn’t work.
What if no one cares? What if I cant do it? What if I cant make enough money to pay for amy family? What if I move and real estate crashes and I end up upside down in my mortgage?
What if we go to war? What if the economy crashes? What if I am not good enough.
What if I am not good enough?
WHAT IF IM NOT GOOD ENOUGH?
Ever single thing that has moved me ahead in life. Every business that has succeeded. Every event that has sold out. Every big name speaker I’ve booked. Every time I have attempted to grow. And every time I have not gone as far as I wished, has involved taking a risk. An action. A decision. And lots of focus and work.
Nothing has come easy but imagin how things would be different if I had gone the more steady, conservative path?Â
In the late 90s, I would have become a school teacher, despite the fact I could see the schools systems are broken training grounds for generations of kids to NOT learn the skills they will need in our modern future. Impossible to change from within.
<Executive training, but first, side hustles (Mad Science)>
In the early aughts, what if I hadn’t quit my relatively low paying job at a software and training start up? What if I handn’t jumped at the chance to have that mortgaged home and rent out rooms to make ends meet? (Rental business, side hustles painting and cleaning, website development, coaching, Public Policy Career).
In 2016, what if I had stayed with my secure income, not started this podcast, not sold my roasted beans at the farmers market for too little money? (Rentals added some stability, newspaper, egg sales, facilitation, story coaching, websites, speaking engagements)
In 2017, what if I hadn’t taken my last $400 to go to Jack Spirko’s? (Kickstarter Holler Roast, membership, facilitation, processing classes, rentals)
And 2018, the leap of faith into the LFTN Spring Workshop when my land wasn’t ready? (Workshop 7 will be sold out this week if it isn’t already)
2019: HELP THE REDNECK
2020: BUY THE BEANS, UNLOOSE THE GOOSE
2021: SRF
2022: UPGRADE THE ROASTER ON SPEC
2023: GET OUT TO EVENTS, SELL THE COFFEE, LAUNCH WEBINAR CENTER
All of this has taken risk and then making it work. Some of if has been more successful than others. None of it abject failure. And we learned a few things along the way.
On risk taking:
- Spreadsheets dont lie – go in with open eyes, know your best and worst cases. The truth usually falls in the middle
- If you are passionate about making it happen, FOR REALSIES, your risk is lower than it looks
- Community and Underground Communities matter the most, this is why there are networking groups of all kinds
- Only YOUR opinion really matters when weighing if you should or should not do something
- The Small Daily Decisions Matter Most
On Making It Work
- Things often look different than you thought
- Most people think they are not good enough, the ones who succeed don’t let that voice win – it is a choice
- It is OK to stop doing things that dont work for you for any reason (EGGS)
- Your World, Your Rules, Your Results
- Forgiveness
The true question: What do you really want? Are you talking about the latest unstarted idea with worry an anxiety to have something to talk about, or do you really want to do it?
Do you want to have success, or a story about what could have been?
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.Â
Community
- Follow me on Nostr: npub1u2vu695j5wfnxsxpwpth2jnzwxx5fat7vc63eth07dez9arnrezsdeafsv
- Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
- Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
- Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b
Resources
April 25-27
Location: Lancaster, TN
Deposit: $200
Ready to gather at LFTN HQ (The Holler Homestead) this year for our seventh annual Spring Workshop? I cannot express how excited I am to get some quality time with y’all on the homestead!
This year we are going back to the basics with a focus on sone fun heritage skills like developing water on your land when there isn’t any, as well as business basics, and more.
The LFTN Spring Workshop melds homesteading skills with small business/start up learning AND adds a dash of guidance to build the life you most want. But the best part? The best part is the people you will get to meet while here. People who become true friends. People who have your back. People who can help you no matter what your journey brings.
Agenda (subject to change based on weather: we sometimes shift a session or two around)
THURSDAY
>>>Solar Build All Day<<<
Nicole Sauce – Change Your Life With #my3things
Porterhouse: Developing Water Where There Is None
Jenni Hill: Choose the Life You Want Despite the Odds
Patrick Roehrman – Forging
Hogeye – SKIP Program
Kerry Brown: Wild Edible Walk
Tactical Redneck: Property Tours
FRIDAY
>>>AQUAPONICS BUILD ALL DAY<<<
Patricia – Get Your Ducks – Or Geese – In a Row in Your Business
Porterhouse – Build you brand on Youtube
Toolman Tim Cook: Failure is NOT an Option
Matthew Sercely: It’s Not Too Late To Start In Real Estate
John Pugliano – Acquiring Old Tech Skills (FOR FREE)
Sarah Whittekind: Breadmaking
Tactical Redneck: Property Tours
Barter Blanket
SATURDAY
>>>FINALIZE SOLAR BUILD<<<
Shawn Mills – Rehabilitating your Homestead
Donald Young: Back to the basics on self care and mental health
Sarah Whittekind: Hot process Soap
Camping and Food
The LFTN Spring Workshop has a long-standing reputation for fantastic food.
We care about practicing what we preach by serving food that we have grown on the homestead, or sourced locally. This year we will feature locally-cured meats, the ever-popular Salisbury Steaks from last year, pot roast, ferments, and more.
Breakfast is usually eggs and bacon with hashbrowns or biscuits. The other two meals tend to feature one red meat and one poultry or fish, with sides. None of our meals have nuts of any kind due to a staff allergy and we have gluten free and dairy free sides to choose from (So if you are allergic to wheat or dairy, you can eat something but not all the things. If ou are allergic to red meat or cannot eat pork, we’ve got you).
Your ticket includes Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Thurs>Fri>Sat, as well as on site camping.
We have composting outhouses and a spectacular outdoor shower with plenty of hot water. There is room to roam in the Holler so that you do not have to pitch your tent or hammock right next to the evening festivities.
If you prefer to grab a room nearby, Edgar Evins State Park has condos that share well and there are many airbnbs nearby. Campers do best at Long Branch Campground which has heated bathrooms with showers.
The event classes are in a basement classroom, and most of the meals and hangout happens outdoors under a covered area affectionately called “Tajmaholler.”
We were able to keep tickets at $500 despite inflation because our speakers have so kindly worked with us.
I look forward to seeing you there!
One good reason to make your own washing compound is that you control its ingredients. Another, equally satisfying justification, is money: you save by buying ingredients in bulk and you store in reusable containers.
There are many laundry soap formulations that work in old and new top-loader and side-loader washing machines. Here’s one we like, courtesy of my favorite librarian via the Duggan family. Read more
Tickets go on sale tomorrow and here is who got added to the speaker lineup
Sponsor 1: Discount Mylar Bags
Sponsor 2: Permies.com
Maine is colder but this sucks more because it is rare here.
Forage
- You CAN dig down…
Livestock
- Missing Dog In the Snow
- Watering the chickens
- Sheep are grazing through the snow today
- Ducks in the pond
Grow
- Longevity spinach and sweet potato slips
Holler Neighbors/Community
- Game night tonight
- Using KH’s Internet
Infrastructure
- Frozen cabin pipes (Het guns are awesome)
- The Mud Room
- Panic mode – rabbit waterer – still had water
- AP update: we dropped to -4 and here is what happened
- What it was like heating with wood in the hollerÂ
- Firewood for a week for this is great – and what that means you should always have it
Finances
- Eating electricity because I took apart the rocket mass heater – needs to be redone
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!
Community
- Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
- Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
- Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b
Advisory Board
- The Booze Whisperer
- The Tactical Redneck
- Chef Brett
- Samantha the Savings Ninja
Resources
Join us for a roundtable discussion with Kerry Brown, Ryan Steva, Jake Reed and Lettie Lou.
Featured Event: LFTN Spring Workshop: https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/spring-workshop-2024/
Sponsor 1: The Wealthsteading Podcast
Sponsor 2: Emp Shield, Code LFTN
Show Resources:
Lettie Lou, Backwoods Consulting
Jake Reed: Arsenal of Freedom
Ryan Steva: The Homestead ConsultantÂ
Kerry Brown: Strong Roots Resources
Make it a great week
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.Â
Community
- Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
- Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
- Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b
Advisory Board
- The Booze Whisperer
- The Tactical Redneck
- Chef Brett
- Samantha the Savings Ninja
Resources