Learning New Skills on the Homestead | Melissa K. Norris

When you look around the homesteading world and see other people doing all the things, it can be overwhelming to know how to get started. In this episode, Melissa K. Norris, a homesteader for over 20 years, joins me to talk about where to start when you want to learn new homesteading skills. She reminds us not to be afraid of starting small and learning as you go. She also provides many tangible tips for getting started. Whether you have been homesteading your whole life or are still contemplating jumping into this lifestyle, there will always be more to learn, so these tips on self-education are for you!
In this episode, we cover:
- One prerequisite for becoming a homesteader
- Deciding what to start with on your homestead
- How to start researching a new skill or endeavor
- What made Melissa decide to get a dairy cow
- Questions to consider when adding livestock to your homestead
- What Melissa’s 20-year homesteading journey has looked like
- The mindset shift that makes homesteading accessible to anyone
Thank you to our sponsor! Toups and Co Organics uses nourishing, organic ingredients to create simple and safe skincare products. Toups and Co is offering my listeners 10% off any one purchase with the code FARMHOUSE. Visit toupsandco.com/ to order today.
Check out some of my current favorite products:
Frankincense face balm: toupsandco.com/products/tallo...,
Seabuckthorn cleansing oil: toupsandco.com/products/seabu...
Reparative serum: toupsandco.com/products/repar...
Activated charcoal face bar: toupsandco.com/products/activ...
CONNECT
Melissa K. Norris
Website: melissaknorris.com/
KZbin: / @melissaknorris
Podcast: melissaknorris.com/podcast/
Instagram: / melissaknorris
Facebook: / melissaknorris
Pinterest: / melissaknorris
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone
Blog: www.farmhouseonboone.com/
KZbin: / farmhouseonboone
Instagram: / farmhouseonboone
TikTok: / farmhouseonboone
Facebook: / farmhouseonboone
Pinterest: / _created
Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community: / 748012922264552
GET MORE FROM THIS EPISODE
Listen to this podcast episode: anchor.fm/simple-farmhouse-li...
View full show notes and transcript on the blog: simplefarmhouselifepodcast.co...

[@sabl6381]

Homesteading Family is a FANTASTIC resource.

[@rosalindaperez2243]

Two of my favorites. Happy you did a podcast together. The L & M knowledge and wisdom episode. 🤗

[@victoriajohnson3034]

Love that last 10 minutes of this. Wish more utubers where talk to this. Support and encourage us who are struggling to keep going with all the world's craziness.

[@ThymeandSageHomestead]

Super excited about this podcast! I love waking up and just throwing these on and learning as I get all of my kids ready for their day. My dream is to have our own homestead to pass down to our children and their children and live off of the land we’ve helped bring life through, and eat the meat we’ve raised, etc. my kids and I have certain food allergies that’s super hard to avoid in things from the store, and also hard to avoid things with those “bad for you” ingredients. This is so encouraging for someone who comes from no knowledge of how to homestead and had no foundation in the homesteading world. My mom always had a pot garden but as a single mother with very little income we never owned enough land to truly have a large garden where you till you the soil and put things in the ground with your bare hands. I started a garden last year with my four kids (due with #5 in July❤️) and they truly loved it as much as I did and I can’t wait to expand in my garden, preserving/canning, getting some chickens, goats, and eventually a dairy cow. These podcasts help me believe that it’s possible no matter what stage of life you’re in and no matter what background you have. If you have the heart of a learner and the determination to do it, you can. ❤️

[@marcidevries5515]

Homesteading Family has sooooo many great videos for building a foundation, including gardening, canning, and a video where they recommend their favorite books and materials. Watch both of these knowledgeable women, but add HF to your watch list!

[@holisticheritagehomestead]

This was great. Happy to have found it. Melissa is very knowledgeable. My wife and I love her videos. Lots of good things here for folks to think about.

[@stephanieritz9165]

I saw this when I woke up this AM, and I'm so excited to hear this podcast. Melissa is so informative being a multi-generational homesteader. I've learned so much from her. I'm glad you got to bump into her.

[@taylors3547]

I felt the same way when I saw this!

[@shannonz9211]

Me too!

[@MelissaKNorris]

So glad you enjoyed this Stephanie!

[@shannonz9211]

@@MelissaKNorris r u glad @Taylors and I enjoyed it? Haha just kidding.

[@MelissaKNorris]

@@shannonz9211 yes, sorry, I only had a few minutes to comment and didn't meant to slight anyone, definitely you and @Taylors too

[@marge3157]

So interesting! I grew up in Issaquah WA moved to Moses Lake WA got married in mid 90's and moved to 65,000 acre cattle ranch in Central Oregon when we got married. Then 2 years ago started "homesteading" Bought a jersey milk cow (husband was soooo not happy lol) Next up chickens and garden. Started canning. I guess a 46 year old empty nest is a good time to start.

[@sabl6381]

Issaquah is a nice area. I lived out in Enumclaw for a few years.

[@rachellebrooke4614]

I have paid $16 a gallon for raw milk here in ca. Currently I’m paying $11 so I’m so happy! We live in our RV so we can’t do homesteading currently, but praying for a home so we can.

[@Lmr6789s]

Love this video currently working a lot with sourdough and just cooking more and more from scratch. But so true we will always be learning!

[@aprilyeno1919]

So encouraging!!! Thank you. I am on a 40x100 property which my house is on….so I’m working with a “tiny” but highly productive garden. Listening to you over time has really had me reach out beyond my expectations and grow more food and look at my home as my “city” homestead. A dream of waiting until we can move from this area has changed to….let’s get started and make it happen!!! Thank you!!! See you soon!!❤️🙏🏻

[@clairetitus6904]

Very interesting discussion. Thanks for sharing.

[@gardengirl1191]

So interesting to see how you've connected. I know you wonderful ladies separately and so glad to hear you share your ideas together!

[@karenhummel49]

Very interesting video! If we find acreage in New Hampshire I'm really hoping to plant a garden and maybe have some chickens. Have much to learn. For now I'm able to buy raw milk 20 minutes from me. I'm pretty sure raw milk is legal in New Hampshire too. So a milk cow wouldn't be necessary especially with one child at home. Just the 3 of us. Thanks always looking for informative videos on how to get started in Homesteading.

[@shervin6711]

Love both of you! Just wish this conversation was longer! Hope you both meet up again!

[@kayleighduran3858]

Love Melissa’s videos. Glad you had her on.

[@tammyi363]

Two of my faves!!!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@lindastuckey3131]

💕💕💕

[@celianewman4809]

$20 gallon in South Eastern NC right now 😅

[@Simplefarmhouselife]

wow!!

[@blessedacres2562]

Poor Lisa, she looks so bored… lol