What happens when you leave city life behind in search of a more meaningful connection to your food, your land, and your community? Mary sits down with Tim and Sophia Eng of Call to Farms in Tennessee to catch up on everything that has changed since their last conversation in 2024.

Tim and Sophia share their journey from California to Tennessee, including the unexpected experiences that led them to a growing homestead, dairy farming, and a wonderful community of like-minded neighbors. They talk about the realities of homesteading, the importance of learning from others, raising children with practical skills, and finding a balance between hard work and enjoying the lifestyle.

Sophia also shares the inspiration behind her books, including The Nourishing Asian Homestead, and explains how traditional Asian farming and food practices can help us reduce waste, make better use of what we have, and grow nourishing food for our families.

We also talk about the importance of passing knowledge to the next generation, the realities of farm life that social media doesn't always show, and why finding your people can make all the difference.

Tim and Sophia have created Call to Farms as a place for homesteaders, aspiring homesteaders, and anyone interested in a more connected way of living to find information, encouragement, and community.

In this episode:

• Tim and Sophia's move from California to Tennessee

• Finding community and building relationships with neighbors

• Growing from a small homestead into a larger farming operation

• Raising children with responsibility, resilience, and practical skills

• The inspiration behind The Nourishing Asian Homestead

• Korean natural farming, composting, and making the most of what you have

• Food as nourishment, healing, and love

• The realities of farm life, including the difficult days

• Creating a community where homesteaders can learn and connect

Find Tim and Sophia:

• Website and community: Call to Farms

• Books: Available through Call to Farms and Chelsea Green Publishing

• Homesteading real estate: Homesteading Agent

• Family blog: Sprinkle with Soil

Sometimes the best thing we can grow on a homestead isn't food. It's community, relationships, and a willingness to learn from one another.

This episode is sponsored by Greenbush Twins & Company.

https://www.homesteadliving.com/subscribe/ref/41/

https://homesteadliving.com/the-old-fashioned-on-purpose-planner/ref/41/

www.patreon.com/atinyhomestead

If you'd like to support me in growing this podcast, like, share, subscribe or leave a comment.

Or just buy me a coffee

https://buymeacoffee.com/lewismaryes

What does it really mean to be prepared, and why are so many people suddenly talking about emergency preparedness? Mary sits down with Jason of Kentucky Sustainable Living for a practical, down-to-earth conversation about preparing for uncertain times without giving in to fear.

Jason shares how he got started in homesteading and preparedness, the development of Kentucky Sustainable Living, and the classes and consultations he offers to help people become more self-sufficient.

Together, Mary and Jason discuss building a sensible food and water supply, planning for power outages, learning traditional skills, emergency communications, and why buying a bunch of supplies without a plan isn't really preparedness.

They also talk about the importance of knowing how to start a fire, cook without electricity, navigate with a map and compass, and develop skills that many of us have lost in our increasingly convenient world.

The biggest takeaway? Don't panic. Make a plan, start where you are, and learn to take care of yourself before an emergency happens.

Find Jason and learn more about his classes, consultations, training, and preparedness resources at:

Kentucky Sustainable Living

You can also find Kentucky Sustainable Living on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

Visit Mary at A Tiny Homestead.

This episode is sponsored by Greenbush Twins & Company.

https://www.homesteadliving.com/subscribe/ref/41/

https://homesteadliving.com/the-old-fashioned-on-purpose-planner/ref/41/

www.patreon.com/atinyhomestead

If you'd like to support me in growing this podcast, like, share, subscribe or leave a comment.

Or just buy me a coffee

https://buymeacoffee.com/lewismaryes

Mary welcomes back Sidney Greenbush of Greenbush Twins and Company for another wonderful conversation about community, creativity, history, and the importance of human connection.

Sidney shares how her year has unfolded in California, including the ongoing challenges of drought and wildfires. She also talks about her children's book series, Seven Sisters: Lantern of Humanity, and the thought and craftsmanship behind creating a beautiful, durable book that encourages kindness, empathy, and cooperation.

We talk about Sidney's summer travels through Little House on the Prairie country, including visits to Walnut Grove, Mansfield, and Independence, Kansas. Along the way, she shares fascinating discoveries about the real Ingalls family, especially the remarkable women whose contributions to journalism, literature, and their communities deserve more recognition.

You'll also hear about a special historical discovery in Independence: the recovery of Dr. George Tan's original medical bag and the efforts to preserve it for future generations.

And, of course, Mary and Sidney revisit their Minnesota adventures, including a stop at Minnesota's Biggest Candy Store!

It's a conversation filled with laughter, history, wonderful stories, and reminders that the things we create, the people we connect with, and the stories we preserve really do matter.

In this episode:

• Sidney's children's book and the values behind the Seven Sisters series

• Why handmade, thoughtfully created products matter

• Building community and encouraging meaningful human connections

• Sidney's summer Little House on the Prairie travels

• The often overlooked accomplishments of Carrie, Grace, Rose, and the Ingalls women

• The fascinating story behind the discovery of Dr. Tan's medical bag

• A visit to Minnesota's Biggest Candy Store

• Upcoming events and ways to connect with Sidney

Find Sydney:

Website: https://greenbushtwins.com

You can also find Sidney on Facebook and Instagram and sign up for her newsletter through her website.

Upcoming events mentioned:

• Cowgirl Christmas at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas, December 5.

• Plum Creek Christmas Afternoon Tea Party in the Fort Worth area, December 6.

Thank you to Sidney for coming back to the show and for the wonderful work she does to keep history, creativity, and community alive!

This episode is sponsored by Greenbush Twins & Company.

https://www.homesteadliving.com/subscribe/ref/41/

https://homesteadliving.com/the-old-fashioned-on-purpose-planner/ref/41/

www.patreon.com/atinyhomestead

If you'd like to support me in growing this podcast, like, share, subscribe or leave a comment.

Or just buy me a coffee

https://buymeacoffee.com/lewismaryes