Ep. 40 Do We Need Small Farmers and Ranchers to Feed US

This week Al, Ben and Jason talk about their week and today's topic of Does the future of feeding the U.S. NEED small farmers and ranchers?
Sow the Land: / @sowtheland
Lumnah Acres: / @lumnahacres
Hollar Homestead: / @thehollarhomestead
Homestead Shop Talk is a weekly audio podcast hosted by Jason Contreras (@sowtheland), Ben Hollar (@thehollarhomestead) and Al Lumnah (@lumnahacres). Three dudes with different homesteads talking about homestead life, content creation, growing a homestead and building a life worth living for. Thanks for listening! #homesteadshoptalkpodcast

[@lynnhavili5332]

14 yrs cancer free awesome Jason !

[@jbane2003]

Yes, we need small farms and a community of people helping each other sustain themselves, all with our eyes wide open about what is going on around us. I better not get on my soapbox about that! lol

[@karynbrown7519]

I'm following you because I follow Ben from Hollar Homestead. They are amazing!

[@gingin21jr]

Thanks again for one hour with my favourite homesteaders

[@1202_is_your_Fren]

Congrats on the milestone, Jason!

[@brokenmeats5928]

I love ALL Homestead Shop Talk Podcast videos!

[@portialancaster3442]

Bring the ladies on for a Mother's Day show. Plan on running over time. lol.

[@jacquiesuper2200]

Support local farmers is the way to go. Txs for another great show

[@ladysmith3988]

Oooh, awesome idea!! Have one special episode of just the ladies! And maybe they can start their own version of this!! I really love these podcasts, keep up the great work, guys!

[@lindenhardy9021]

South African?

[@miephoex]

They are busy cooking dinner, cleaning, canning, planting, and Meghan is having a baby.

[@harwoodc98]

Yes, small farmers are needed - grew up on a small farm- it not only fed us but our livestock and others.

[@denisewilson8367]

Me too. Our homestead was 100plus acres.

[@artsmith4669]

Here in Arizona, we finally stoped a Saudi company Almaria from uncontrolled pumping of ground water to grow alfalfa to ship overseas for there dairy farms. They had to shut down and forfeit operations totally. 👍👍👍

[@miephoex]

It’s time to forbid any foreign entities from buying American soil! The property already sold needs to be bought back at cost!

[@amandar7719]

Well done! Using ground water for alfalfa should be banned worldwide.

[@joannmahaffey1068]

Yes we need small farms,ranchers and back yard gardens. Al you nailed it There need to be more mobile meat processors. Some of us know how to grow it but I am not capable of butchering and don't want to. I don't want to take it to a local butcher shop as they are notorious for not returning your meat to you.

[@rcjo2]

Yes for small farmers. Agree with Ben about astronomical feed costs. I started keeping poultry about 15 years ago. At my local feed store, the price of a bag of locally milled layer feed was $8.99. Now it's nearly 20 bucks. Another great discussion, you guys!

[@ChickenFarmer-ep2bp]

I believe that bringing back food supplies to the communities is the answer. I myself and a few friends do this now. Between animals and gardens, we don't buy too many things from the store anymore.

[@denisewilson8367]

This is what we need to return to.

[@leannekenyoung]

Totally agree this is the way it should be.

[@davidgetchell3633]

Good day guys, I think you hit the nail on the head today. We need more small farms and gardens and do some bartering with each other. I remember my parents trading eggs for milk & butter.

[@skippyvsamy6768]

Joel Salatin has been advocating for the small farm to sell its meat without FDA inspection. We really need more advocates like him. Hugs. Love all your channels

[@datdude212]

thanks guys. we're all thinking alike.

[@pennyponders]

Great subject matter! Yes, more small farms and ranches needed. Love this podcast!

[@debrezo58]

I have so much hope for our future generations because of fine hard working men like you guys and your awesome wives! Like minds👍 I can't agree with all of you more. Love you all so much💖

[@mgtmoffat8411]

Never a dull moment. Yes we need small farmers! Not just for meat but for diversity in the vegetables. When everyone keeps their own seed you get so many variations. 💕💕🌻🌻

[@laurel7704]

I remember when I was younger the grocery stores always had sides of beef hanging in back.

[@margaretbedwell3211]

I remember that too. I also remember my mom would call ahead to the local market and ask the butcher for ribs or pork chops, ground beef or specific type of beef roast, and it would be ready for her when we went to get the groceries.

[@terithibault6717]

I'm an old lady living in a small town. I'm not going to raise a cow, but I never buy a steak. I buy a roast and cut it into steaks. My grandpa was a butcher and I watched him cutting meat by the hours. If whole chicken is on sale I buy and cut, but often the frozen breasts are cheaper per serving. I don't figure on price per pound I go buy price per serving.

[@tinatippin5705]

Oh, you guys, haha. Don't let them trick you. Priceless. Great podcast. Yes, we need the small farms and ranches. Desperately.

[@carolynspaulding6322]

Small farmers are desperately needed for the health of the American family Your children are taken mostly from thee sick society we have allowed to spin out of control and are learning and doing and thriving. So impressed by all your children that speaks volumes for your three families.

[@shirleybewley6646]

Ben, as I watched Megs cooking video I was being impressed that she doesn't seem to have 'pregnant brain'...your comment about not in the right mental space...maybe you got it! lolol

[@kkeenan536]

AMEN Al on the chemtrails 😡 when I was still in NORcal, I regularly saw a grid pattern with at least 25 trails on a regular basis, (not to mention all the other random ones). I’m in TN now (thank God) and the state is trying to stop the planes over us.

[@mountainsidewithkenandamy]

Great talk today. Chem trails, unjust laws and black market food system. Sounds like a normal day conversation here in WNC.

[@gagirl180]

The next 8 will go by faster !!! My grandmother use to tell me slow down because the older you get the faster time goes by. I never understood that then, I do now.

[@grandperesdream3183]

I'm now in my eighties. As I age, time does seem to pass by faster. Except, of course, when I am in the Dentist's chair...

[@darlenemurphy4968]

Yes, definitely, the farmers and ranchers are needed!!

[@johnkoelliker8480]

I'm still saying that "the ladies " need a show of their own. Great job guys I never miss any of your videos

[@patriceg1100]

Yes we do, I go to a local rancher for beef, pork & chicken. I go to a local farm for vegetables and preserve what I can. It is March and I cannot wait until the new harvest starts coming in. One price, pick your own. Mind you, I live in the Garden State of New Jersey. I am willing to go the distance to support local farms.

[@engineermeg8844]

Al and Ben are absolutely correct about chem trails! This is not commercial airlines out there making the turns that they do and leaving those big streaks that spreads out and eventually covers the sun. Commercial airlines have contrails and those disappear, what we are seeing is not that. And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know this. Great show guys. I believe in local farmers and wish we got back to how America use to operate that way. Have a blessed week and crossing fingers for Jason's new arrivals.

[@fleurettewoods6080]

I agree, we need small farmers to keep the diversity in our food system as well as producing enough for everyone. My friends who don't have enough space can use space on my place. We help each other out.

[@Jojo1957]

I am not a homesteader. I'm disabled in a wheelchair, but I love the topic of Homesteading, and I follow all 3 of you. I love listening to you. I feel like I could be your mother or sister. I just love you all. I love your way of life. Jojo from Mississauga Ontario Canada.

[@dr3406]

💕💗💕🙏🙏🙏 great podcast Al, Ben, and Jason! Have a blessed week everyone.🌱🌱🌱

[@marcialittle7893]

Congratulations Jason on the callouses, and the anniversary

[@trudyschaaf9917]

I hope you all keep growing your channel! Al, I thought NH has a law to stop releasing of Chemtrails. Is that still in place?

[@johnthomas5806]

Al is the reason I found this vlog...thanks

[@mattmertz]

The days are slow but the years are fast.

[@jesseatthreelittlegoatshom9681]

Not to get all tin foil hat, but the way that things are going, small farms will probably be the only answer in the future. We've seen it throughout history with Victory Gardens and such. Now with the creation of synthetic meat and questionable vaccines, do we really want to take a chance? Thank you for another great episode!

[@wtfacts1088]

You guys are everywhere! Love your channel!

[@margaretkerns4979]

I look forward to watching you guys on Friday

[@LB-gr7gu]

That feeling of time flies even for younger people now has a name it's Called the Quickening .. I feel it .. great show!!! ❤

[@carolyamato6710]

Love you all-- and watch u all.

[@darienneflint9354]

Ben you are correct.

[@savedsole3848]

Small farmers and ranchers are needed….❤

[@katherinedinwiddie4526]

YES! Most definitely!! My son owns a cattle ranch in Idaho called 6 fold. Its hard but he loves it. My grandparents lived from the land. I grew up farming chickens, cows, sheep, ducks etc. We needed very little from the local stores. I miss that life. Fencing.... cut cedar stretched barbed wire and dug more holes than I can recall. Farming for self sufficient living should come back.

[@bileefaulkner403]

Congratulations Jason!! I, too, have been cancer free since January 6, 2010, my last radiation treatment.

[@kayrabey1344]

My Dad was a butcher and he did that at night for the next day and he worked at a sawmill during the day. We also grew some vegetables, had chickens and Ginny hens roosting out in the pasture. We raised a calf and put that in the freezer. That was in southern Arkansas.

[@mlm7598]

You guys rock it every week. Love the input and yes, a lot to visit about and subjects to think about. Hang in there and thanks what you bring to the table. Blessings and keep doing what you are doing.........love to hear each experience , similar but yet different. Great Show!

[@geraldinesisk2702]

I got my tinfoil hat ready! Lol

[@michelledavis4676]

I think this was the best episode yet.

[@livefreefarmstead]

LOL AL was saved from being probed! Luck is on your side!

[@rebeccakf77]

Can you do a wife takeover podcast it would be cool you see your partners talk

[@papabearoreilly8967]

Great one today! Finally know we are on the same page on some things😊. Suspected but wasn't sure.

[@elainefarr3155]

We lived in western Colorado for years, and had local dairy we could buy milk- not for human consumption, lol. We also had a meat locker plant that would butcher and cut both farm animals, deer and elk. There's still a honey business, but the others are long gone. We raised pigs and could have them butchered and cut for about 50$, back in the 90's. Then the locker plant burned down and the family decided not to rebuild. So sad to see the loss of such important businesses.

[@TerrieAllred2023]

Great subject of discussion! We grow our own pork and chicken, but we buy our beef from a farmer down the road. He has been a true blessing! I would love to see a part 2, with the ladies included. Jason, hope all goes well with Elvira!

[@TXNLaurenMcN]

Oooh, now you're speaking my language! I watched a video this week of the new law Oregon has so that they are closing down -- without notice -- small farms and family gardens to conserve the ground water. WHAT? They closed down a woman who milked THREE cows and she had customers she supplied weekly. They told her she had to pay for the same license the big conglomerates had to have or to close up shop. No wonder the people of certain counties voted to leave Oregon and join Idaho!

[@shirleyj5885]

Small and local farmers are the answer. Plus home gardens.

[@sixbanga9524]

1st hey guys hoping all is going well

[@osmadchlo]

Very good topic today! Yes, get the ladies on...

[@debrezo58]

Yep!! Nesting! Meg is most definitely in the mode/ mood. 😘 She's getting ready.💖

[@margaretbedwell3211]

Thanks for a very thought provoking podcast. I totally agree you should diversify farming. Just like we are told as far as finances go, don't put all your eggs in one basket. So shouldn't food be the same? With the cost y'all have to pay to feed your chickens, I can understand the price per pound that has to be charged so you can make a living. However, as an mid 80's widow, there is no way on this earth I could afford $10.00 per pound for chicken. As it is I eat less and less meat. Thanks for sharing your week with us, I love these podcasts. Y'all have a Blessed day and Happy Easter everyone.

[@nolagirlhomestead]

I'm with you, Al, I avoided a colonoscopy for the last 20 years. Was overjoyed when 'specimen' testing was approved for those with no family history or symptoms. Love functional medicine!!

[@doylerabjohn3435]

Yes, 💯 agreed.....We definitely need small farmers. I am working on being in that number.

[@miketremblay3825]

Why wouldn’t we want to eat from fresh farm produce and meat? lol I buy local produce eggs 🥚 I wish I could produce my own but in the city ..I also in season grow most of my fresh veggies 🥗 or purchase locally grown 🇨🇦👍 congrats on the 8 years retirement Jason ❤️🇨🇦 Ben just watched the video of “picked eggs 👍” Al Brutus is listening very well ❤love the new episode of the “fence” great job fellas 🇨🇦👍Windsor on 🇨🇦 here

[@cathymorasch4164]

Yes, we absolutely need them, Oregon is sadly trying to squash the small farms and farmers. I pray they don’t get away with it.

[@miketremblay3825]

Al..you have very rocky lands..and a natural spring 😊 may wanna check some of them running creeks for gold? Just a thought 💭 lol I’m not Disclaimer:::: lol responsible for his gold fever Gina lol 😂

[@eagles107]

I am 70 years old and the first time I had a rectal exam it was done by my family doctor, a gorgeous woman. I never thought I'd get this exam like this, usually when you talk about gorgeous women you don't think about prostate exam.

[@amandar7719]

You must be male. The last (and I MEAN last) time I had to have my tits squashed in a crushing vice to check for possible breast cancer….(Men have ultrasound for testicular cancer), it was by the largest man I’d ever seen). Smiling he was. I’m actually shocked that crunching sound didn’t actually cause a rapidly developing carcinoma! Btw, a lot of men I know who were physically checked for possible prostrate cancer also had blood tests for the Big Pharma researchers to use. May I also suggest men refrain from sticking stuff up their areas so that UK NHS staff don’t have to poke around in the same area to “make it fair” when discounting NHS A&E tick boxes should a woman need immediate attention for abdominal pain that has NOTHING TO DO with their arse!!! Hamsters, toothpaste and a jockstrap extension included! 😂

[@dareil2000]

Thanks Guys

[@robertharshbarger9368]

Good discussion

[@patience1226]

Great show today guys!

[@Scipiogirl]

Ben, our tractor did something similar when it acted up. We had a dirt dobber stuck in the fuel line. No idea how he even got in there, but once we cleared the lines, we drained the tank to ensure there weren’t any other bug parts floating around.

[@AZJH8374]

82 million chickens perished during bird flu in 2022! Yikes! Or rather Yolks!!! 😢❤❤❤

[@robertschroeder1978]

Hi gentlemen, the local stores will most likely not process their own meat for many many reasons. Employee Cost, Food Handling Regulations, Food Storage Regulations & etc.

[@bjchris8979]

Back in the 70 & early 80's you had a lot of small farms and grocery store did a lot of local foods, a small amount of food were trucked in. Then you had all these big farms that bought out the little guy, so they could get bigger and make more money. At this point I don't think you could get small farms back because they are not making enough money. I grew up with butcher shops, where you could get good meat, or large quantities. It would be wonderful to bring our foods back to local. People will have to learn how to cook again. Also with having farms around us we would buy fruits and vegetables every fall. And have canning and preserving parties, my mom, a friend and myself. You talk about some fun. Many hands make light work.

[@kevingilbert6242]

Come June it will be ten years that we left California as well. But we only went as far as North Central Texas. Yes, time flys by! Thanks to folks like you guys we have learned to become more self sufficient. Have eight raised beds growing veggies, we've processed now four cows, raise dairy goats for milk, cheese and soap, chickens for eggs and meat. We may keep a buckling this spring band him and harvest the meat. Thank you Boys once again, from Pegasus Place -Scurry Texas.

[@deltorres2100]

Hi guys 👋..I have been so busy in my OWN garden .plus my husband got sick and did a week in the hospital.. Life So I feel like I missed a lot of y’all, Local, KZbin Vlogs I mean I’m catching up but it’s just been crazy this Friday, so happy Friday maybe blessings to y’all and the family ✝️🙏🏽🐣 I just wanna do so much ..trying to reshape my garden 🪴…lots of Work 🌱🌱🌱🌱

[@AZJH8374]

Al, it's Livestock Guardian Dog. LGD! Not GLD. Have a Blessed Easter. Many prayers 🙏🏻 for you all 🙏🏻 💙 ❤️ l love the podcast! Good job, guys. Nurse Judi in Scottsdale AZ and Eucharistic Minister 🙏🏻 ❤

[@clarencewiles963]

Good tinfoil discussion Thumbs up 👍

[@shirleybewley6646]

I like to watch here and listen again on spotify while I'm working :)

[@patriciabenavidez-munoz8078]

Wow Jason 8 yrs you left California seems like yesterday but we definitely need farmers love what all of you guys are doing and your podcast ❤❤

[@NTon13]

It's a relief to hear that I'm not the only one who murdered all of the peppers. Mine was because the "greenhouse" doesn't hold as much heat as it needs to. My fault for buying the cheapo greenhouse.

[@peggsargent132]

Great job 👏 keep it coming

[@AZJH8374]

Guys, watch The Rancher and The Wife. Excellent channel! You'll love them!❤❤

[@nancybladsacker5357]

People will have to be hungry to learn the process.

[@tamarakroog8392]

Al went to the police academy? That's the first time I've heard him mention that! Very cool!

[@mikelee4847]

need to pair vitamin d with magnesium

[@glengillis7775]

Jason i thought your goood news was a sponsored tractor. Come on Al put a good word in to TYM for a tractor. Great show guys. We all need options and small farms is one for sure

[@hidawayhomestead524]

Hey Al, Maine got 2 feet in places and other places (where I am) got 3 inches of snow followed by half to three quarters of an inch of ice and lots of power outages.

[@Greens5511]

Happy Easter!

[@patriciadesserud9402]

I would love to hear what your wives have to say, since they are the ones that have to deal with actually using the food and animals you all grow so very carefully. They are well versed in the process of using every edible bit of produce or meat and nothing ever goes to waste. If something can’t feed the family, it feeds the chickens, livestock or makes new soil. They deal with the prospect of feast or famine seasonally. It would be fascinating to listen to their opinions.

[@ginnysulya9805]

What is even scarier is what is happening in Oregon with small farms and water rights! I just found out about the vapor trail thing a week ago! I think I am ready for my tinfoil hat!

[@anciskold541]

Guys, I think you should look in to tree hay! A way to use your resources (trees) to feed your livestock as the price of hay is rising.

[@josephpedone2004]

I have two farms not far from me and I enjoy the drive to support them. All the different pork products, lamb chops are a bonus. Veggies, eggs and all canned fruits. Have a happy Easter 😎👍 Guys, sorry for the edit I also have a daughter, I never thought of myself as a tough guy until she came home with a boyfriend. He thought he was tough because he plays hockey. Trust me, I’m tougher and I didn’t have a grey hair until I had a daughter.

[@gloriatwiggs467]

I plant in my back yard guys. You have much more land so Ben plant lots of pumpkin up on that new acre. Plant water melons, squash, cucumbers etc. Chickens and Pigs will love it. Al with all your property I would love to see BISON on your farm, Jason and Al need to look into being a foster dad to some boys. I have a neighbor on the corner and asked him for the three bags of grass at his curb. Now each week of the Summer he brings the 3 or 4 bags down and drops them over the gate for the old folks. After7 years decided to try using some in the beautiful black soil in my garden beds, I usually just by 30, bags of top soil from Home D and also some with Compost. I wonder if elderberries grow in the NC area or even in New Hampshire. I had them reach 10 feet last year so cut the way back and have been careful to keep pinching out the tips to make them branch out as my old Mr. Honey age 80 did not like using a ladder to harvest the berries. #PressOnRegardless guys. Sending hugs from south Louisiana.

[@harrietmartens742]

Love your videos.

[@shirleybewley6646]

Yes we need small farmers! Some states are trying to make it illegal to grow food for yourself and to sell. Yikes!

[@pathoward5721]

What States!!????

[@jenniferr2057]

Please share where you are finding this I formation!

[@denisewilson8367]

I've heard this too. I know our stupid Governor here in Michigan banned garden seed sales during the virus problem. Even though they were on the shelves in the store, you just couldn't buy them.

[@amandar7719]

Been like that in the UK for years. Not just selling either. If one is not registered with local authorities (which means one has to pay - something… dunno what amount - and abide by the bio security rules/laws), one is not even allowed to GIVE AWAY excess home grown produce on “a regular basis” other than to direct family. The regs state that “regular” can mean every Tuesday, say, weekly, monthly or even annually. As long as it’s “regularly”. The bio regs include how to manage with e-coli” (know exactly where one’s manure/fertilizer comes from), pest control, husbandry… etc. left over from EU regs. I would imagine US Ag trade agreements need to be aligned in the states…. Don’t know. Even UK foodbanks don’t accept fresh produce of any kind because they have to follow similar guidelines and most can’t be A’d. Really pissed me off during lockdown when Boris had his photo taken to promote how well communities were coming together in front of upstart fresh produce set up by Asian/Middle East leaders’ food banks where fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products were on display. The rest of us had to follow the rules or face thousands in fines. The non-Asian foodbanks still had to follow the regulations. I grew so much extra food and verbally advertised that “it could all be stolen”….. cos the police were too busy arresting old ladies taking a break on a bench to bother EVER responding to a theft. 😂 Anyway, I follow talks by Joel Salatin. He knows ways how to grow food that abides by the various state regulations. We have the same farm shop and top restaurant type regulations here. I think it’s actually global now which is why so many American homesteaders are shocked that they can’t just set up a stall and sell to the public. Maybe restaurants in some of your states don’t have to write down and report/track where they get the ingredients from to prepare food. In Europe whether EU or not, everything has to be tracked so the authorities can easily recall produce or close down restaurants or their suppliers if people get sick. I’m actually surprised people who want to give away or sell their produce don’t know about the health safety issues. I think some do in the states, either they sell animals through government certified (like Salebarn) and regulated processors, or register as farms with authorities to keep up with the bio security regulations for fruit and vegetables. To bypass the veg/fruit regulations, I see that homesteaders can sell plants for others to grow themselves rather than sell the actual food. Like Living Traditions Homestead does. I wouldn’t worry too much about growing food for your own family. It’s when folk think they can bypass other regulated farmers by selling or giving away excess produce. Whether at the same time ”organic” prices, more competitively, or giving it away. Even regulated farmers in the UK (mostly contract farmers these days because farms can’t afford to keep up with new regulations let alone the EU ones) burn produce that doesn’t conform. I see US farmers/processors prefer the insurance claim route these days. Understandable. Mad I know. Especially as we now have rivers and streams and an aquifer here in the UK contaminated with spiked proteins and cocaine…. And don’t have the same mindset as a great POTUS once said in reply to “climate crisis”…. Clean air and clean water. Tbh, I agree. If everyone thought about how they managed their land and water for generations (in a thousand years) to come, none of us would be in this mess. However, whatever we do or abide by…. I think Ben and Meg have realised none of it matters when our skies/weather are being manipulated by the slave managers. For humanity. Perhaps Ben might research when the word “humanity” was introduced into our culture. It certainly wasn’t by Shakespeare. 😉

[@glengillis7775]

Seen on you tube also. Oregon and Maine I seen videos.

[@marcialittle7893]

I live alone, and grow my food in a 20x60 high tunnel, and I have 26 egg layers, and I have a chicken tractor. Thinking about a steer to eat down the grasses and to butcher.

[@lilianrhodes-heatley6443]

You also have to remember in England regular households/people don't have and can't have guns... not even rifles or shotguns. Farmers and game keepers yes with a licence. Also to shoot deer you have to pay a fortune and go to a special place that's licenced to shoot within the property. For example my uncle and cousin were game wardens years ago on a price property (huge manor house estate) and they'd be party of a group that honour and hunt as what you all guides in the US and here in Canada. They do the same for hunting partridge and pheasants. I was born and raised in Hampshire, England and moved to Canada in my early 30's in 1999. It's a totally different way of life. I grew up around my Nan's farm. Here I built up my own farm and had a big (well loved) farmshop where I sold all our veggies and fruit plus beef, pork, lamb, goat, turkey, duck, chicken and eggs 😁 Small local farms are great! There should be more of them.

[@ktmt2008]

Great Podcast guys! Very important, especially seeing what's happening in Oregon. Maybe good idea to keep an eye on that....

[@johnrogers1794]

I'm older now, but.... gardening helps.... I tought my kids, and they taught their kids, and we all have gardens. Do the timple things with kids... Remember how to "plant" the bottom of romaine, and it becomes "A PLANT"... and we eat ir over and over again... All of us have trees that started the easy way... Eat an avacado, plant the "seed", and it becomes a tree, and again, you can eat... All of the kids started with tomato & pepper "upside down plants. (cut off the bottom of a 2 liter bottle, hang it on cord, shake the dirt off a plant, open the top of the bottle and thread it into the top of the bottle, fill it of soil, and you have a garden.