Pioneering Today With Melissa K. Norris

When it comes to preserving food, we all run out of freezer space first! So how do we preserve items like eggs, cheese, milk and meat where the product is shelf-stable and we’re creating more space in our freezers? Come listen in to today’s podcast where I’m discussing the various preservation methods for these foods, plus what the best methods are for each. For more information, links and shownotes visit melissaknorris.com/314.

Growing fruit trees in pots is a fantastic solution if you want to produce fruit for your family, but you may not be in your forever home, or don't have the acreage for a full orchard. Learn the tips for success from Christy of Gardenerd as she shares which fruit trees grow best in pots, how to take advantage of microclimates, which containers are best, plus tips to make sure your trees grow and produce fruit for years to come. For more information, links and shownotes visit melissaknorris.com/313.

This week’s podcast is very special to me as it includes my dad and me taking a trip down memory lane as we visit the old “Homestead” where he grew up. This is actually the audio taken from a YouTube video I published a couple weeks back, so if you’d like to watch the video along with the podcast, visit melissaknorris.com/312 and some of the conversations we’re having may make more sense when you can see it. He’s a wealth of information on living through hard times and the hardest working man I know.

There are many ways to grow food in the garden, but if you're short on space, using grow bags is a fantastic option to not only gain more space but grow food without having to build a permanent gardening option. Join me for this podcast episode with Kevin Espiritu from Epic Gardening as he shares his epic wisdom on using grow bags in the garden. For more information, visit melissaknorris.com/311

Many people recommend artificial lighting to keep up egg production during the winter months, but this is hard on hens. Alternatively, I work with the seasons to allow the hens to produce eggs in their natural cycles. As a result, our homestead has high egg production in the spring, with low production in the winter. A critical homesteading skill is to learn which foods are seasonal, and some may be surprised to learn that eggs are seasonal too! For more information, visit melissaknorris.com/310.

If you’re an entrepreneur or a homesteader looking to make an income from your time, skills, or physical products, this podcast is for you! Join me and Anne Briggs (from Anne of All Trades) as we discuss the realities behind owning your own business, and how to properly price products to make a profit. For more information and related links from this episode, visit melissaknorris.com/309.

Sit down with Joel Salatin and me as we discuss methods for increasing the profits from your homestead, different methods for earning a living from your homestead, and ways to increase production (even on a small homestead). We also discuss the best animals and practices for regenerative agriculture and improving the land WITH your animals for both the health of the animal and the land. For more information, visit melissaknorris.com/308.

There are several different methods for food preservation, and in this episode of the Pioneering Today Podcast, we are going to cover what mechanisms are at play for nine of these methods. Not all forms of food preservation are appropriate for every food, so it’s important to have a good understanding of what is happening during food preservation in order to know which method to use. For more information, visit melissaknorris.com/307.

When we’re dreaming of an ideal homestead, it’s true that many of us picture acreage with a beautiful log cabin tucked in the treeline, or a huge farmhouse with every upgrade imaginable. But does that mean without those things you can’t homestead? Absolutely not! I’m dispelling the most commonly believed homesteading myths in today’s podcast. To read them all and to grab the show notes and links mentioned, visit melissaknorris.com/306.

We’re talking about how to grow food year-round using covers. Most often, people think of growing under cover for colder climates, but this method actually works for helping grow your garden in the heat of summer, too. Niki Jabbour, author of Year Round Gardening: Growing Under Cover and SavvyGardener.com and I are discussing all things gardening and chatting about methods for extending your growing season to all four seasons. Grab the show notes and links mentioned at melissaknorris.com/305.

In today's episode, I'm talking with Jessica Soward from Roots & Refuge Farm and we're discussing foolproof methods that you need to build into your gardening plan. When gardening overwhelm sets in, having these methods available means there's less stress to be had! Grab the show notes and links mentioned at melissaknorris.com/304.

If you’re considering buying land and starting a homestead, or even moving an existing homestead to a new property, this podcast is one you'll want to tune into to learn what to look for and things to be aware of BEFORE you buy. Today's episode is with Cathy Paine, who I interviewed all about raising American Guinea Hogs, and she's chatting with me, sharing all her insight into what you need to know when buying a homestead.  For more information and shownotes visit melissaknorris.com/303.

In today’s Pioneering Today Podcast (episode #302), did you struggle with diseased plants in your garden last year? Want to expand the garden but need to make sure you're maximizing your efforts? I’m talking with Christine, a homesteader in Northern Michigan who is looking for gardening advice as she and her husband expand their garden, add structures like high tunnels and trellises, and learn how to protect their garden from common diseases. For more information and show notes visit melissaknorris.com/302

Today’s Pioneering Today Podcast (episode #301), I'm talking with Andrea from VW Family Farms. She and her family live on 700-acres where they homeschool their children and raise over 100 head of cattle, 40 pigs, 200 chickens, 15 beehives, and many more. They have 22,000 feet of garden space and grow their own food utilizing greenhouses and aquaponics. Their system also allows them to raise their own tilapia! For more information and shownotes visit melissaknorris.com/301.

Today I’m answering YOUR questions! I took a poll on Instagram asking what you wanted to know about gardening - any question on any gardening topic. The results were so many! In today’s podcast, I’m answering as many questions as possible, to the best of my ability based on my own experiences and knowledge. For a full list of the questions and answers, shownotes and any links mentioned, visit melissaknorris.com/300.

Did you know you could add nitrogen and feed the soil by using specific companion plants? Today's episode shares which companion plants can ADD nitrogen to the soil, when to plant them, and what you need to do in order to do it successfully (and avoid having crops take over) all with no-till methods. For more information and shownotes visit melissaknorris.com/299.

Living the pioneer or modern homesteader lifestyle is something that many of us are drawn to, but there are times in a family where only one person is on board. What can be done to encourage the rest of the family to take part in this self-sustainable way of life that gets them excited instead of dreading it? Join me for today’s podcast where I’m helping Stephanie, a member of the Pioneering Today Academy, with just that! For more information and show notes visit melissaknorris.com/298.

Keeping backyard egg-laying chickens is a wonderful way to offset your food costs. It’s also great to know you’re getting healthy eggs from hens that have been fed non-GMO food and had plenty of access to fresh greens, bugs and worms. But there are some specifics you’ll want to know before bringing your chickens home for the best success. Check out today’s podcast for everything you need to know to raise backyard chickens. For more information and shownotes visit melissaknorris.com/297.

Today we’re learning how we can grow MORE food with LESS work by using “food forests”. Daron, the founder of Growing With Nature, a website aimed at allowing our living world to come alive with abundance for people, plants and wildlife, is sharing his knowledge for growing food forests, why they’re important, and how to do it no matter what growing zone you're in or where you are in your gardening journey. Grab all the resources mentioned in today’s episode on the blog: melissaknorris.com/296.

In this episode, we’re talking about fermented dairy, the health benefits, the history and why you should absolutely be consuming fermented dairy on a regular basis. Not just fermented dairy, but HOMEMADE fermented dairy and why it’s so much better for you! Also, sign up for the Pioneering Today Academy waitlist here: melissaknorris.com/PTA. For more information and show notes visit melissaknorris.com/295.