One of our most requested topics: CHICKS!

Brandi and Sharon go over the basics of buying and owning chicks - what you'll need to bring home your chicks and keep them safe (and alive!), care tips and some thoughts on breeds! We're focusing on raising chicks for egg-laying in this episode.

Brandi highly recommends this book:

The Chicken Whisperer's Guide to Keeping Chickens

(Amazon affiliate link ^^^ - may earn a commission if you click and purchase)

(and, Sharon is gonna buy it because #influenced)

Have questions, feedback or experiences to share? Please follow us on Instagram to join the conversation!

https://www.instagram.com/rooted.and.free_podcast/

You've bought your seeds - now what?

Plant them!

You will either start seeds indoors (and transplant to their final growing destination later), or you will direct sow your seeds where they will grow.

But when?

Brandi and Sharon take you through their processes of how they determine when to put those seeds in dirt.

You will want to know your grow zone - find that here:

https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov

Then, you'll need to know your average last and first frost dates, which you can find here:

https://www.almanac.com/gardening/frostdates

And, we recommend having a notebook, calendar and pen - then it's, as Brandi says, "Plant Math"

Our BIGGEST tip: write it all down! Keep a journal for your seeds, planting, gardening, results, notes, thoughts...etc.!

*If you haven't listened to Season 1, Episode 2 - it's all about buying seeds.

In this episode, Brandi and Sharon chat about preparedness: what it is and the areas in which to begin your journey.

We will be going further in depth with each of these areas in future episodes.

Being prepared to us means that you and your family are able to survive in the event of a natural or orchestrated disaster, and/or if you're cut off from sources you rely on to live (food, water, etc.).

Areas:

• Food & Water

  • sources, purification, storage, stocking up

• Health & Wellness

  • Medications

  • Supplements

  • First-Aid

• Shelter

  • from elements

  • alternate power/fuel, cooking, heat sources

• Protection

  • firearms, knives, taser (need to be able to charge), etc.

  • consider training in how to safely/effectively use your protection of choice

• Money/Currency

  • Tangible "currency" (items with which to barter/trade)

• Community

  • develop ahead of time ways to communicate with your community

Make sure you're following us on Instagram - we welcome your feedback, questions and comments!

This is not medical advice

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rooted.and.free_podcast/

Some of these links are affiliate links, which means Brandi and/or Sharon may receive compensation if you click & purchase. No additional cost to you & we only share what we use/trust ourselves.

With limited space, we're sharing links for what we talk about in the episode.

Essential Oils: my.doterra.com/brandilynnwhite

Earthley: https://earthley.com/ref/sharon.beedle/ (code newtoearthley to save)

• elderberry (also found at https://www.russellhomesteadllc.com/store)

• good night lotion

• cough-b-gone

HB Naturals: https://hbnaturals.com/150899

• Black Seed Oil

Theon Global: https://www.theonglobal.com/sharon

• AlphaBios (fulvic/humic)

• AE17 (turmeric)

Briotech: https://briotechusa.shop/?rfsn=7088201.24f573&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=7088201.24f573 (code FAITHFULLYFREELIVING to save)

• SOS

• Topical Skin Spray

• Surface & Air

Perfect Supplements: https://www.perfectsupplements.com/?Click=63c97645412ab (code FFLiving to save)

• Acerola (vit c)

• Smidge Morning Magnesium

• Mushroom Immunity

• Bone Broth

Beekeepers Naturals: http://rwrd.io/uzqoi39?c (link saves you $10)

• Throat Spray

• Propolis Honey

• Liposomal Vitamin C

• Lozenges

• Cough Syrup

Nebulizer: https://amzn.to/41monvy

Boiron: boironusa.com

Silver: https://sovereignsilver.com/collections/bio-active-silver-hydrosol

Wishgarden Herbs

Traditional Medicinals Teas

Master Mineral Drink

Redmond - ReLyte

Hydrate Boost: https://bellame.com/sharonbeedle/hydrate-boost

Brandi & Sharon are chatting ALL about seeds! January is the ideal time to start planning your garden and what you're going to grow. Get your seeds before they're sold out for the year.

What we look for: Non-GMO, organic, heirloom

Our favorite brands:

www.botanicalinterests.com

www.rareseeds.com

www.seedsavers.org

www.seedsofchange.com (check packaging for Non-GMO)

www.tradewindsfruit.com

www.dixondalefarms.com (onion & shallot starts)

Check your USDA growing zone here: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov

Check out Roots and Refuge here: https://www.youtube.com/@RootsandRefugeFarm

When determining what seeds to buy:

• write down what you want to grow

• sketch/map out your garden so you know what you can grow from your list

• what do you eat the most of?

• easy to grow: greens (lettuces, spinach, kales), zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes

• look into different gardening methods: in ground, containers, raised beds, window sill, tower gardens, vertical gardening

• consider your environment: HOA/covenants, sun, water, etc.

• research companion planting

• one-time planting vs. succession planting

• cool season vs. warm season plants

Consider garlic and potatoes, too!

Follow us on Instagram and be a part of the community! https://www.instagram.com/rooted.and.free_podcast/

Meet Brandi and Sharon, your co-hosts of the newly launched Rooted & Free podcast!

We're sharing our hearts and vision for this podcast, what you can expect and giving you a brief look into our lives and who we are!

Connect with Sharon here: bio.site/sharon.beedle

Connect with Brandi here: bio.site/brandilynnwhite

Please share this podcast!