Strategies to Grow an ENTIRE YEAR’S Worth of Food on a Small Homestead

[@theJustinRhodesShow]

Way to smoothify guys. I like the going after the annoying chores tactics.

[@morethanfarmers]

Hey Justin! We’ve definitely done things the hard way, but we keep workin to get things more and more efficient. Thanks for takin the time to watch and drop a comment. Made my day 😊 I really dig what you’re doing for the homesteading community. Happy Father’s Day!

[@truthxposed8975]

50/50 milk and water in a spray bottle destroys powdery mildew. Harmless on your plants..get underneath the leaves as well, be generous with it...make sure you do it in the evening.

[@farmerswithoutborders]

Happy to see the farmer are really working hard

[@5GreenAcres]

Justin...you just watched future "lilly" and the boys!!!!

[@mcriser]

Hey Guys, get black chickens such as Australorps. Birds of prey are naturally scared of crows and ravens which they are mistaken for, the have worked great for me. 2 years later and not a lost bird yet

[@morethanfarmers]

Thanks for the tip!.. I did put Black Australorp roosters in with em and it didn't do a bit of good 😒 I've also raised Black Australorps as laying hens, but they just didn't lay nearly as well as my other chickens. I also didn't really have hawk problems for like 6 years. Last year all the sudden they just started coming all the time.

[@Ephesians6twelve]

I caught a hawk eating one of my black chickens the other day. Granted, it was a bantam. But otherwise yes I agree normal sized black chickens do seem to not be Hawk victims

[@knesa20911001018849]

Get geese. They are natural grazers, good eating, and the hawks avoid landing anywhere near something that large.

[@Ephesians6twelve]

@@knesa20911001018849 I have many geese. The hawk seems to have figured out they don’t put up much of a fight 😂

[@JS-jh4cy]

Smart😊

[@JustAnotherDisappointedHuman]

When your freezer isn't full it's less efficient and runs more often. Fill gallon jugs with water to take up the unused space. It keeps your freezer working better and provides another source of backup water.

[@morethanfarmers]

I never thought of that, but that makes sense! Thanks!

[@tinagale7840]

There are several reasons that my husband and i have been homesteading for the past 34 years (even before it was popular). One: the food we grow on our own tastes sooooo much better than what we get in the store (meat and veggies), two: why would I want to give big business my business, three: it's sooo much healthier to grow our own food.

[@morethanfarmers]

All truth!

[@austinhowland7221]

Hello Tina how are you doing today?

[@rockygrindstaff7312]

Not just another home steading channel. Great channel. Realistic, honest, informative, and very well done.

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you soo much!!

[@tinaholbrook9719]

I am beginning my 8th year of homesteading. I started selling food at our local farmer's market about three or four years after I started farming. I did that for 4 years, eventually transitioning into a flower farmer in my last year. I will tell you what...I totally burned out. Here's what I learned...I care too much about what I do to go pedal to the metal and run myself into the ground. It is more important for me to grow enough food for my own family than it is for me to make money off of my farm. It's a nice idea, but I would rather enjoy what I'm doing and create an environment that my children can enjoy and make beautiful memories than earn an income from it. At the end of the day, I want my children to love this lifestyle. Don't get me wrong, there's still a TON of work that we just have to buckle down and do even when we don't feel like it, but this year, I feel so much more at ease doing it, and we are all enjoying our time working together much more. So many farmers get excited and focus on outward ventures when they start their farms. Maybe some can make a farm business work, but it didn't work for us. So we scaled back. Still growing in the same amount of space, just not selling anything. I'm so glad that I made this decision. Now I have more time and energy to put into preserving food just for us (there were years that I didn't can a single item for us because of how busy I was selling at the market, restaurants and florists), and my children are making beautiful memories, not just watching me stress over everything I have to do. In the end, I decided that to do this for the long haul, I had to slow down in order to go further. I'm learning how to be sustainably self sustainable.

[@morethanfarmers]

You're story is so much like ours! And I'm sure it was hard to end some of the endeavors that you sank so much time and effort into. At least that's how it was for us. It is just hard to make a ton of money on a small farm. We fought that reality so hard. There's 100% people who do it...but it takes incredible grit and hard work. Like you, we burned out but are now thriving again living this life for our own benefit. We havent ruled out the idea of selling farm goods again sometime in the future, but with young kids, it has to wait! Best wishes to you guys!

[@tinaholbrook9719]

@@morethanfarmers Yes, it was hard to end the endeavors I started. I worked very hard to create great relationships with the florists and restaurants in our community. I miss them. I really just need to take some flowers to my florists just to pop in and say hi and catch up. The relationships I created with them were wonderful. It was hard to walk away from that. But I know it had to be done. You're so right that while raising kids, that comes before anything else! I'm super passionate about being a stay at home, homeschooling, farming mama. In my opinion, there's nothing more important in the world than raising kids. It feels good to be prioritizing the things that really matter to me. Good for you all realizing these things too! I know you work just as hard as you did when you had your business, but on your home and family instead now. Even more worth while endeavors! May God bless your family.

[@Simbatalks422]

@@tinaholbrook9719is ur homestead in canada? Do u think buying farmland is a great investment?

[@MarianneMedlin-dz4dz]

I really appreciate that you guys didn’t just share what you were doing, you also shared your mindset on why you do things. ❤

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you so much!! High compliment:)

[@SamanthaTwist]

YES

[@freepeople3528]

I love this for so many reasons! I feel more people are turning back to the way God extended us to live! I never thought I would find my self in this lifestyle but it brings so much peace and it’s absolutely 💯 more healthier than anything else you can do! Thank you for sharing ❤

[@morethanfarmers]

You’re so right! I never saw myself here either.. but i love it! Glad you found us 😊

[@Bennysnamehere]

Most people do not realize the absolute dedication and hard work it takes to live "off the grid". This was a great video and man oh man, our ancestors really had to go thru the grind to server.

[@morethanfarmers]

So right! It takes a lot of work to be a modern homesteader.. but we got it easy compared to what they had!

[@racebiketuner]

My family were among those that emigrated from Europe to homestead in Minnesota in the late 1800s. They didn't document their trials, but I've read accounts of others and they were truly harrowing.

[@melissaoleary8196]

Awesome video! A tip I tried that worked: I planted a bed of potatoes last fall. They overwintered in the ground and sprouted in the spring. The plants are now twice as big as the potatoes I planted in spring. From now on, I will always plant potatoes in the fall! Plant full potato, cover with plenty of mulch. Zone 5, here.

[@morethanfarmers]

Wow! That's interesting! Thanks for the tip:)

[@avidhossanmansur9830]

Really loved your philosophy in the end just like my physics professor once said," There are no perfect solutions, only trade-offs"

[@morethanfarmers]

Amen!:)

[@stephj4940]

A suggestion. We put our chickens with our goats to free range same 1 acre pasture. They help keep the worm load down for the goats, and we haven't lost a single chicken to a hawk in the last 5 years. Before we were easily losing 5 or more a year when we had them alone and free ranging in their individual pen. I also agree, the motivations behind what and why was a very helpful conversation. Also talking about pain points in self sustainability is hugely helpful too. Thanks for saying what you did wrong and how you fixed the situations. You are helping us all save money and time with our homesteads. Much appreciated!

[@morethanfarmers]

Thanks so much for the kind words...and the helpful suggestions! We will definitely consider them!

[@alannalujan]

If you struggle with powdery mildew, I highly recommend Seminole pumpkins. They’re resistant to virtually all diseases and pests, heat tolerant, drought resistant, don’t need a lot of fertilizer… thrive on neglect basically. And they’re delicious! Can be used as a pie pumpkin or sautéed in stir fries, used in soups etc.

[@morethanfarmers]

OK cool, good to know! We will definitely have to look into those. I miss growing pumpkins 😊

[@gypsygem9395]

I watch Charles Dowding on his No Dig channel. He is a very experienced market gardener here in the UK. He says powdery mildew is nothing to worry about, it happens towards the end of the plant's life. Do check him out! I don't know if you mean you get powdery mildew from the get-go, but I do hope you give other squashes and pumpkins another try!

[@noname-nq5zn]

Butternut I would take two raised beds Bend over cattle panel Run the butternut squash plants up The panel Allows the birds to attack the bugs better Put bird bath under the trolus To attract birds

[@paganmom2022]

Moved out to rural KS and just had a baby on top of work, online school, and a toddler. It's been hard, but we know this is the life we want and want to give to our kids! No garden this year because pregnancy and grad school + toddler = no energy. We have our laying hens and rooster and got great pyr puppies that have guarded them well. Next year we plan to have a real go at a garden and adding broiler chickens and turkeys. The goal is to work towards complete self-sufficency over the next 10 years and be fully off-grid. Wish us luck!

[@morethanfarmers]

Take it a step at a time! No shame on starting slow.. you’ll be better off in the long run.

[@dkaudio1983]

Great editing on these videos guys. Great cuts, transitions, black and white when going to the past, and cutting straight to the next clip. No unnecessary scenes in the editing. Very well done and appreciated! Keep up the great, hard work on the homestead as well as the videos!

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you very much!

I agree! Great style for filming and editing. The walking and moving throughout also keeps the pace nicely.

[@bjquilts29]

Great video. It is so great to see young people getting into homesteading and self sufficiently.

[@robertelliott5644]

Great video , you can store carrots in damp sand. Uses large tote drill small holes on bottom and in the lid. Put a layer of damp sand down then a layer of carrots. Repeat this process and keep on cool dark area. This way gives you extended time on but carrots.Oh and they taste great . Just like you pulled them out of the ground.

[@morethanfarmers]

Yeah, I’ve heard of that, but never tried it. Thanks for the tip!

[@FARMERMOMMA]

Hey girl, me and my husband been on the burn out lately... I'm still planting my seeds but doin the water and feed gig has gotten frustrating as all heck. We got 4 lil babes of our own and it is SO great seeing you another young mom doing the homestead hustle with me. I'm sure you know the challenges... Muddy kids from the garden, late dinner some nights, and the dishes on the counter the next day... It can be allot huh?! Aha thank you for the motivation ❤️ I sent my husband a link to your video... I'm subscribing. Definitely cool as heck seeing a young family like ours out there workin a homestead 😊😊💯

[@morethanfarmers]

Thanks for the kind words...and YES! We understand. This channel and a lot of our beliefs surrounding our homestead have come out of a season of depression and severe burnout. We're past that now...and wanted to share that growing wholesome food for our family is totally possible...but without the burnout and mental health issues.

[@FARMERMOMMA]

@@morethanfarmers I pray that we find our footing around here. Once you loose your footing on a farm with so much going on it's just a landslide after that! I wish I knew more young homestead mother's out there to relate to and share stories, experience and preservation recipes with.

[@timwest8318]

Hi

[@richardstone5241]

I have some suggestions for you: 1. I had a hawk problem until I switched to Black Chickens (Hawks think they are Crows and leave them alone). 2. Kunekune pigs are smaller and easy to care for and their meat tastes amazing. Easy to raise and sell for top dollar! 3. Pumpkins can be grown in raised beds and you set the pumpkins on two or three inches of straw to eliminate mildew.

[@morethanfarmers]

Thanks for the tips!

[@audreyhutchison3308]

All I can think to say is WOW! I just found your homestead. What a lovely garden and the the hard work and wealth of knowledge gained from experience is obvious. The Lord has shined on your hard work and your right minded philosophy of family and self sufficiency.

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you so much! Glad you’re here and are enjoying the videos.

[@leorbuis9024]

I've said it before but I'll say it again, I'm very impressed without confident and relaxed you both appear on screen, it's almost as if your background is in theater or acting. Also, how watchable your videos are. You're editing is spot on. This takes an enormous amount of time I'm sure, so I just wanted to let you know it wasn't going unnoticed! On one final note, succinct observation on your part about the importance of efficiency, as a builder with over 40 years of experience I'm constantly dumbfounded by how inefficient some of my subcontractors. I'll watch them handle a given material four or five times before they finally put it to use. If they would cut that down to once or twice they could reduce their time and labor to complete a job by 50% without any additional costs or equipment. Hopefully some of your other subscribers will take the point! Thanks for taking the time to do these videos, you're providing a really valuable service.

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you so much for all the kind words! Really appreciate it.

[@lomont6786]

I like how they focus on fixing issues by taking a sober look at the problem.

[@5GreenAcres]

You two are really growing as a couple!!!! At first watching your earlier video's it seemed that your wife wasn't as "on board" as what you were. Now I am seeing a huge transformation. What a lovely couple. Many young couples will learn a great deal from you two. Blessings!!!!

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you. She’s always loved the homestead.. just didn’t like being on camera 😏

[@2L82Sk8Bye]

First time viewer here. I love that you are looking carefully at what works, what doesn’t work and whether the time and effort is worthwhile vs what else you could be doing that would be worth more to you in time and energy. I enjoyed this very much liked and subscribed. 👍🌻

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you so much! Glad you're enjoying it!

[@nancyobrien7994]

Changing your mind about something is just that....changing your mind. Your plans in life will evolve; that's natural. Hey, I'm trying new ways of planting some of my veggies this year and that's after over thirty years of gardening. I love learning new things, and trying out new ways. Hence, watching channels like yours. :) Then I just celebrate my successes or kick to the curb those things that didn't work for whatever reason! Life is too short to stress....I like your attitudes! Keep up the good work!

[@morethanfarmers]

Love it! Thank you!

[@EarthyPoetGrrl]

Oh, you two are so brilliant! All blessings to you! Have been embracing self sufficiency since the 90's. Back then,. all we had was Countryside Magazine, Carla Emery and Alicia Bay Laurel's books

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you! That’s so awesome.

[@austinhowland7221]

Hello my friend how are you doing today?

[@londabaca7457]

Potatoes and sweet potatoes grow above the seed tubers. Always heap up the dirt around them after planting. That’s why they do better in the raised beds cuz there is more dirt above them. A little too I learned over the years.

[@stacyberry6097]

Great pep talk. Things will always change year to year when trying to be self sufficient. Sometimes you even go back to the way you use to do things nothing wrong with that.

[@austinhowland7221]

Hello Stacy how are you doing today 😊❤

[@aduhmbased]

I’ve now dedicated my life to agriculture starting with gardening the past two years. Absolutely my favorite skill in life. So necessary, underestimated and all that matters. This was incredible! ❤

[@morethanfarmers]

That is awesome! Amen to all that you said!

[@helenlazoga1487]

I absolutely love your attitude towards home steading, you're a beautiful family. I truly hope your every dream comes true. Thankyou for a lovely video. Greetings from Greece!!

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you so much 😊 Cool to hear from so far away!

[@KevinT13952]

If your potatoes are having fungus issues, you can dust them with sulfur powder before planting them. It will help prevent fungus. And if you haven't looked into KNF or JADAM farming methods, you really need to look into it

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you for the advice! Will definitely look into that!

[@davidsto9064]

My thoughts on you changing your plan with the chickens is…. A homestead is about self reliance, and that means being tenacious and versatile …. You may have to change your direction. But that doesn’t mean you are less self reliant. Changes can hurt, but they can make you grow. Love the video.

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you! Great advice:)

[@linalitafarm]

Great video! Sometimes you can be so busy reacting to challenges that emerge on the farm that you don't realize that your design is working against you. It's great to see that you are focusing on efficiency. I was inspired by this video and plan to implement some new efficiency changes on our farm this year. Thanks!

[@morethanfarmers]

Yes! Good luck 😊

[@denisefaust6408]

Composting really helps keep the weeds down in my raised beds. I mixed up my own container mix since to buy it in the bags just way too expensive. Then adding in my composted stuff keeps weeds down. I’m like you too busy to spend time weeding! I can’t believe how much my time is eliminated in weeding! Love it! This container mix is so good I really don’t use garden tools but just use my hands in this soil and the great thing is it will last 7-10 yrs but mine will last longer since I compost to amend my soil in all my beds! YAY! I had strawberry plant that were 2 1/2’ tall with big leaves( planted it last yr) and I really didn’t expect much this first yr but wow we got lots of berries and were very flavorful. My rhubarb was planted last yr too and it grew great and produced so much this first yr also for several months, it didn’t go to seed but only on 1 plant but kept producing after I removed the 😅seed pod. It amazed me coz the leaves were bigger than leaves on my elephant ear plants. Some of both rhubarb & strawberries have to be moved since they’ve outgrown this bed and it wasn’t a small bed either. This was a wooden bed my hubby made. The only regret on the bed I have is that we didn’t line it with small gauge fencing to keep chipmunks out. We did finally fix that problem with that fencing on the sides and netting over hoops AND we sat out live traps. Since the berries were so tall we could still reach the fruits. I love my raised beds and we just purchased 4 new galvanized beds this yr that I really love. They are 8’Lx4’Wx3’T. We are both seniors and love not bending over! Lol. the bed-soil has been very fertile and I use composted cow manure in the mix I make. I work as hard in composting as I do growing my foods. I compost all yr long in a tumbler which once it’s completed I store it in a burning trash receptacle with a lid until I need it. I like using this trash bin since it has air holes in the body of it. I’m still perfecting my potato crop. Each yr it’s getting better so maybe next yr it will be worth talking about? Lol You guys are so hard working and you deserve to be successful. I just found your site and will learn so much from you both with your sharing of products you like etc. Last yr I switched to Redmond Real Salt and we like it. I especially like your sharing of the Organic items and where to get them. I’d love to be able to make my own butter but it’s just not possible as we live in the city. God Bless❤

[@morethanfarmers]

That's awesome! Compost really is black gold. If you wanna make your own butter for the sake of making it, you can make it with heavy whipping cream 😊

[@This_Holy_Chaos]

I love you guys showing the learning curves you’ve experienced in trying some things and then saying “no, this part isn’t for me.” We hope to get land in the next few years and this is a great reminder ❤️❤️

[@austinhowland7221]

Hello Julie how are you doing today 😊❤

[@austinhowland7221]

Hi Julie how are you doing today 😊

[@Nosnohja68]

One thing that changed my whole perspective on squashes is thinking of them more as a green, and then harvesting the actual squashes(fruit) when they were ready. Most of the leaves and hollow stems are edible and EXTREMELY nutritious. One late spring- early summer we existed on our duck eggs, early early potatoes, and squash leaves. It was tiresome after a bit, but we were fed until other produce, and meat were ready. Regularly prune off those squash leaves , allowing air flow and sunlight to minimize aoreliminate powdery mildew. Ducks and chickens love chopped squash leaves; we put leaves in low water troughs for ducks - they need the watery greens!

[@jessewatson8005]

Hi ya all , a great suggestion,do canning and pressure canning for your meals and perserve your garden food.

[@5points7019]

I've seen an uptick in no till gardening, bcs it doesn't disturb the micro ecology like tilling does. Also I'm learning more about the native bees that actually pollinate better than honey bees and that honey bees aren't a native species and are not in danger like the native bees. Keep up the good work, we need to go back to the basics.

[@doityourselflivinggardenin7986]

Limited-tilling can work well and actually improve the soil biome if you pay attention to your organics going in. No-till is simply another option that can work for some people who like that style of gardening. Though if tilling, it is best to pair it with sub-soiling and cultivating (or if small, a broadfork). Those two keep the biome in their proper locations, while eliminating compaction caused by tilling. Tilling is useful in bringing your green cover crop into the soil. As long as you feed and care for your soil, it will respond fine. I agree with your perspective regarding honeybees. The native bees are certainly endangered. Honeybees do not pollinate my gardens well and they don't pollinate my pear trees at all. I've lived at my present location for over three decades and there are 90% less native bees. Really scary.

[@athenaferguson910]

So glad I found your channel, I love your mindset and I love how you and your family are all working together to create a better, more sustainable life for one another.

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you! Glad you enjoy 😊

[@andreamortimer2610]

When you find that something doesn't work for you, just remember the following quote: “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” - Thomas A. Edison. You guys are doing an amazing job and it's totally fine to stop and reevaluate whether it might be better to take a different approach!

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you for your support!

[@aipalapala]

Great video. Suggestion on the asparagus (unless you need the land) instead of taking 1/2 of them out, leave them in but don't maintain them. Let them grow with the weeds and just continue to harvest them. They won't be as productive but they will still produce 50% plus, with no labor input.

[@morethanfarmers]

Yeah that wouldn't be such a bad idea, but with the growing kids we're needing the garden space 😊 Really cramming stuff in this year! Thanks for the tip!

[@michelleotts6236]

I love your attitude on change and how it is not a failure.

[@morethanfarmers]

That's the only way to keep going!

[@nomir4065]

That was an excellent video. It made me think about the things I'm doing and what my motivation is... I'm excited to see how you feel about these changes at the end of the growing season. You two seem to have a lot of wisdom for such a young couple.

[@morethanfarmers]

Yes, we’ll have to do an update this fall 😊 I dunno how much wisdom is there, but we have learned a lot by making a lot of mistakes 😉

[@allon33]

Video has smooth movement from one part to the next, correct distance from the camera, nice background music, well scripted. Damn, are you guys from Hollywood?

[@RedWigglersFarmCom-jc5oy]

Yeah. I enjoyed the video as well.

[@curtiswilkerson5295]

I really enjoy your videos. I've just recently "discovered " your channel and I'll have to bing watch them on the next rainy day. My wife and 7 kids try and grow what we can and it's nice to see others doing the same. Central Texas says hello and keep up the good work. 🌱🌱🌱

[@morethanfarmers]

That's great, thanks so much! I'm glad you're here, and it's nice to hear of others on the journey. If you've got any particular type of video you'd like to see, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

[@jessicaduffield1899]

New sub!

[@morethanfarmers]

@@jessicaduffield1899 Awesome, glad to have you join us!

[@rik80280]

Turnips (hakurei are my favorite) are a great way to stretch out your potatoes. You can replace 1/4 of your potatoes with turnips in mashed potatoes without even noticing the difference. They store months in the fridge and also grow really fast in spring and fall. They last great in the ground over winter under a row cover too and get even tastier.

[@rik80280]

Rutabagas work for the same purpose

[@morethanfarmers]

Great tip!

[@mariamaria-mq9il]

Turnips also are keto friendly, no potato though.

[@nancyseery2213]

I have clay that compacts on me, so digging sweet potatoes is always hard. I went to two to three slips in 55 gallon barrels cut in half. It is so much easier to harvest, but they don't seem to produce as well. I still get enough for the two of us with half the work (less weeds, digging and rabbit damage). God bless y'all and keep growing.

[@morethanfarmers]

Good stuff! Definitely think I'd prefer getting a bit less of a harvest than digging clay soil. We've definitely been there.

[@r.b.l.5841]

Great to see the next generation picking this up. good on you two! never ever give up! just take any set backs as a learning process and pull ya self up and do better next year, you will get this. our homestead we don't raise cows, we just trade with a neighbour that does that work. Can be a good deal for both families! keep the young kids involved and they will no only help you guys they will learn a valuable set of skills. Thanks for posting the vid, wishing you well.

[@morethanfarmers]

Thanks! 😊😁😁

[@76TALENA]

I have Dexters and love them. They have very nice temperaments and easy to take care of.

[@morethanfarmers]

Nice! Definitely gonna look into em some more.

[@austinhowland7221]

Hello my friend 😊how are you doing today?

[@Lynn-f4g]

I admire and respect this family so much,this is my dream and to see others have the same dream and have accomplished it makes me so happy ❤

[@jeffreydweeks]

For beef Dexter's will require 22 months on grass. When you add in 9 months of pregnancy that is a long time. You will need a lot of cattle to keep up that rotation. Mini Hertfords will be the same time frame. You can get away with 1 AU per 3 acres without supplementing. You would need I would think 5 AC of pasture for the whole process. A calf doesn't count as a full AU until the last few months. If you add some irrigation that bumps your grass production.

[@EarthyPoetGrrl]

r.e. Self sufficiency: For me, it's not so much that I would look for some kind of shtf scenario; it is about having REAL food packed with nutrition. our food is our best medicine. I do truly believe that what is available to most folks as food is actually a slow form of warfare. Esp. against the poor! I am rejoicing that your beautiful young family has a thought for what is real, sustainable, wholesome and good. I hope you get 80 million subscribers :) because I know---you are going to help and encourage so many people!

[@morethanfarmers]

Amen! And thank you 😊

[@austinhowland7221]

Hello my friend how are you doing today 😊❤

[@valerieforsyth8278]

Excellent points. As a person with German blood, I highly value hard work and efficiency to capitalize on results for all the effort that is being put in.

[@morethanfarmers]

Amen!

[@tworebelsoffgrid]

Raised beds are so much easier to weed because you can sit versus having to squat! I’ve found as I age, the raised beds are a lot easier! Your raised beds look great and looking forward to seeing how your grapes do!

[@morethanfarmers]

That’s for sure! Thanks!

[@Seriouslydave]

Its easier to weed because the commercial soil is "sterile" and fluffier than natural compact ground soil.

[@searose6192]

Just a recommendation, if you haven’t tried it, try growing *buttercup squash.* I grew some this past year and the plants were really productive, and they were loaded with mature squash 3 weeks before the powdery mildew kicked in….and we get it really bad where I live. But the best part was *it is so delicious!* serious, the tastiest winter squash I have ever had. Even a single plant would be worth it, to have some at the holidays.

[@morethanfarmers]

Sweet, thanks for the tip!

[@shellyrouse9970]

I live in Barbados the Caribbean, my husband is looking for property to buy the both of us is getting into homesteading, mostly me cause he is a cop so all the work is left up to me to run I can't wait growing our own food, milking cows I can't wait thanks to both of you ❤😊

[@morethanfarmers]

Awesome! Good luck!

[@georgehosea139]

Hello iam impressed with your farming e to efforts, you eat healthy foods,sell the excess,breath fresh air,drink clean water and you are surrounded by greenry that is stress relieving,not to mention that farming is hard work,so you are fit and healthy, good work,i admire you.

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you 😊

[@champagnemommy]

You guys just have the best attitude, and you really know how to pivot when things don’t work out

[@PanamaLiveGoodonaFarm]

I really enjoyed your mindset and setting goals for yourself. It's just me on my permaculture farm with local help and I get overwhelmed so your reminder of being efficient and having goals is useful.

[@kramitdreams]

Grapes can be a survival food if you dry raisins and can juice (to drink, ferment, or jelly for later use)😉

[@morethanfarmers]

Good point! Can’t wait to try makin that stuff 😊

[@freepeople3528]

That’s actually a great idea I was wonder a few weeks ago “why did I plant all those grapes” but this was my reason I was just overwhelmed and didn’t remember! Thank you 😊

[@Veemack21]

That’s great to really think about year after year that’s knowledge that come with years of experience.

[@morethanfarmers]

No better teacher than experience!

[@FranLu-qs2xv]

I've watched a few other videos that have the "asthetic" going on BUT I love your alls videos because I prefer your recipes and foods and I love how you show the gardening. I'm trying to make my way through your videos to see the how-to on making teas (I will try chocolate mint this year and see if it fits my mild taste buds) and I want to see if you show how to grow yukon gold potatos. I've been unsure how/where to get the starter ones and exact steps. *Let me say good job you two! When I was newly married we wanted to homestead, but it was so long ago, there wasn't internet, there was 1 mail-order catalog and just luck of the person to find help etc. We weren't able to do it, but I love watching you all in my older years and trying to do part urban homesteady things. THANK YOU! Take care, Fran

[@morethanfarmers]

Hi Fran! Glad you're here 😊 Even with the internet available we didn't use it much when we started.. We read books and talked to people with years of experience. I'm glad we did! But I'm also glad we can pass on some of that wisdom now. Never too late to learn!

[@bassmanjr100]

We raised two Dexter steer and enjoyed it. Put one in our freezer and sold the other. We now have two heifers. I think we will AI when the time comes.

[@morethanfarmers]

Nice!

[@baddogcreative]

You guys this video is amazing! Well scripted, filmed and produced. Congrats on the explosive channel growth! You deserve it!!!

[@morethanfarmers]

Thanks man! We’re super pumped! Finally feels like we’re getting somewhere 😊

[@jacobdachauer4377]

Your family looks amazing. I love the work you put into your homestead. I'm very early in mine with my family, but I'm going to love watching your videos to help me with mine!

[@physicsteacher6633]

Great commendations to you two. Excellent all round!!! I especially applaud your problem solving approach. Wishing you continued success.

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you so much!

[@barbarabrand190]

I have half Jersey/ half Panda and Holstien cross cows and a bull. I have raised them for 12 years, mixed the breeds myself. My bull throws beautifulmeaty calves. The milk is rich and creamy, Jersey milk. I do have a Brahmastien that produces 2 gallons of milk after her first freshening. I make a lot of cheese, so volume was important. My 46-inch tall Panda girls are producing 1-2 gallons of milk a day. The bulls put 350 to 425 pounds of meat in the freezer. I have one heifer that if she doesn't sell, I will breed to a mini Longhorn for a beef baby. Their dispositions are gentle, boys and girls. I like the half Jersey for the cream and all the butter I can put away. Your channel is great. I live in Nevada, on the dessert. Its nice to see green!

[@morethanfarmers]

Wow! Sounds like we could learn a ton from you! Thanks for all the info and the best of luck to you in the dessert!

[@austinhowland7221]

Hello Barbara how are you doing today 😊❤

[@lindseyhepner9018]

We have raised Dexters for beef for around 9yrs now. We love them! Super sweet, the kids love giving them apples as a treat. They also taste great as grass fed beef.

[@morethanfarmers]

You're tempting me:)

[@sharongullikson2121]

What a great video. I have never seen any of them before (there was a link in a homesteading email), and I loved hearing about your thought processes, and how you are learning and changing. GREAT JOB! I love your attitudes, too.

[@suepollington5236]

I too am homesteading and we have dexters for milk and meat and are at 95% for meeting our food needs. At this point the only thing we don t produce is grains. You will make it.

[@pamelacooley6457]

Where do y’all live. I live in Georgia. I lost a few colonies of bees to. But I had wild bees move into one of my empty hives…..it is huge .We have a suburban farm. We raise chickens ,ducks,quail….that has been a rough time… they are way messier than I realized….poop so very much. I have a few pheasants. I have a big garden. I’m still learning every year something new and things I don’t want to do again.Love y’all’s honesty ❤️look forward to following your page this summer.

[@morethanfarmers]

Sounds good! We are in Ohio. Ducks for sure are really messy 🥴

[@russellwood8750]

A couple of ideas and comments I’m not sure I would’ve gotten rid of all the rhubarb. As you can use it, not only in your baking, but as a cleaner, it is absolutely fantastic at cleaning pots and pans and other stainless steel items learned that from my grandmother. I would also considered weed barrier in your garden and on your raised beds. This will really cut back on the work in your garden. First of all it will prevent weeds from coming up the barrier will allow water penetration and air flow. However, it will protect your topsoil from the sun. Which means you won’t be as watering as much. I was sceptical about these weed barriers. However, I’ve used them for the last five years and absolutely love it. .

[@morethanfarmers]

Thats neat about the rhubarb! We just really needed the space for growing the staples. We do use weed barrier where it makes sense to.. in the asparagus, strawberries, and grapes. I have mixed feelings about it too 😊 but it does save a lot of work!

[@rachelhadad6215]

Do you cover the entirety of the space with weed barrier then top with soil to plant, or do you cut through it just where you plant? Maybe I don't have the right weed barrier, but it seems like it would be a lot more work, depending on how big the garden is, to cut through for every planting. But I'm only just starting to garden!

[@russellwood8750]

@@rachelhadad6215 there are a few different types of weed barriers. You have one which you put underground to prevent weeds from coming up in areas like patios and shrub beds. But you also have ones that go on the surface and they're the ones I'm talking about. Sunlight will penetrate it but at less intensity so the ground doesn't dry out and you don't have wind blowing your good topsoil away. Water will pass through it easily. But it will keep the weeds out. So what you do is you prepare your garden as normal rotivated add your fertilizer and compost. Then you cover the entire garden and using staple pins fasten all the sheets down. Once you've done that you then decide what you're planting and measure out all the appropriate spaces and market with some spray paint. You then go along with a small tiger torch and just burn little circular holes where all your plants are going to be. Then you take your plant starts or your seeds plant them all in your nice new rows measured out appropriately. You can even fasten in some t-posts and cattle panels to support stuff like your tomatoes peas beans cucumbers. All supported nicely and kept off the ground. Strawberries pumpkin squash will be sitting on the weed barrier instead of the ground. No need for straw to protect them. Set up a water drip system and a large part of the work involved in your gardening is done. No weeding soil protected from the sun and wind will keep down pests, easy to clean up do your little trimming and just sweep it up. There are videos all over KZbin of people doing this. I used to do it because my grandfather used to use old rolls of Hessian but now they have much more durable and better products. You can use this material again and again. Write down at the end of each rows what you planted so next year you know what each row was. wrap it up and put it away for the next year. Rotavate compost and fertilize your garden roll out that weed fabric again all your rows marked and measured out and you're good to go again. Sorry for the long response I tend to ramble lol.

[@rachelhadad6215]

@@russellwood8750 thank you for the detailed response!!

[@nathanbyrnes2189]

Rabbit, sheep, goats, and geese are great supplements to your beef. they’re smaller like your looking for to get more consistent meat, plus they do well on grass as well unlike chickens and pigs.

[@Allymountain]

My butternut squash got taken out from square bugs last year, skipped this year will try again next year. Love you channel. Thank you !

[@QueenGomez1111]

This is my first time watching, and the message was well received.🥰 Thank you and your family.

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you! and welcome aboard!

[@TheTrock121]

We certainly aren't trying to grow all our own food, but the best thing we've done is to put in more and more perennial beds. We also have tree surgeons that are happy to give us wood chips which we use everywhere.

[@morethanfarmers]

That's awesome!

[@virginiapurnell1664]

Dexters are a great versatile breed (meat and milk). And get a goose, just 1, that stays with your chickens, and it will protect them from the air preditors.

[@malaramnarine1489]

Hi guys it's my first time looking at your video I love how you guys are so young & you stay together & you plant so many crops that's amazing to see you reap the crops you have nice land as well keep it up, God bless.

[@kprairiesun]

I used to buy Guernsey milk from a neighbor and it is the absolute best tasting milk and cream and their cows were gigantic!

[@searose6192]

I haven’t homesteader on a scale where I have run a business off of it, but my hunch is that high value items like asparagus, mushrooms, quail eggs, saffron aged cheeses etc is likely the better route that high volume/low profit items like eggs. The amount of work needed to get to a large enough scale on a low profit item seems like it would simply be too much for a family, unless that was the ONLY thing their homestead focused on. When we expand to a full scale homestead next year, my plan is to focus exclusively on self sufficiency first, and then after a few years add in some very high value crops that we can sell locally that are value able enough in small amounts to only add a small amount of work to our load.

[@morethanfarmers]

That's a good plan! We tried focusing on selling stuff too early. Best to get more experience first. We did make money on the eggs, just not enough. It's also a really good way to get in the door. We did really well on asparagus!

[@searose6192]

@@morethanfarmers That's really good to hear/ I am equally excited and very nervous about expanding beyond our mini homestead. We are moving to a new state to be able to afford property and it's going to take at least a few years to adjust to grading in a new climate. Anyway, love your channel, just discovered you guys but I am binge watching my way through your videos now :)

[@eliinthewolverinestate6729]

I have a list of how many plants each person needs for a year. And roughly need a 12x20 space to store it all. So you planted potatoes in spring and not in the fall to over winter? Our first crop of potatoes are harvested and second are in the ground. Your soil looks compacted. We grow our onions in the potatoes bed. We have 12 tomatoes plants per person because we have pasta once a week. Rhubarb should be by the bee hives. The oxalic acid helps the bees. Raspberries, blueberries, and asparagus make us the most money. We replace ferns with asparagus. We have a mature food forest with 12 kinds of wild berries.

[@johnowens5342]

You guys just came up on my feed. Your farm is incredible. I have a 3 acre permaculture site so not doing large meat like you guys but your gardening and setup is great and I look forward to seeing your videos. I just subscribed and liked. Thanks for the content.

[@morethanfarmers]

Hey thanks so much! I hope you continue to enjoy 😊

[@jacquelineallan9550]

Thank you guys for your content! I love when your daughter says I love my puppy so cute. Have a great day! From NH

[@morethanfarmers]

You’re so welcome! Glad you enjoy.

[@91hiace]

Nothing better than working smart, makes all the hard work seem easier. Btw. for the milldew problem with squash, cucumbers etc. a milk and water mix sprayed just before it starts. There is lots of info on the net about the best mix ratio….. but it works Cheers from b.c. Canada.😊

[@morethanfarmers]

Thanks for the tips! We've been watering with milk but not spraying. Very interesting:) Will look into it!

[@philliparutter7671]

I love your energy and determination. Good luck. I'm sure you are going to find your own way of succeeding.

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you so much!

[@sacredmommyhood]

I'm a new subscriber and I'm really enjoying your channel. We homestead in central Arkansas. We have cows, chickens, bees, and a large garden. We had goats for a while, but realized we just weren't goat people (though we did love them!). Our Jersey cow just freshened last Saturday, so it's exciting to be in milk again. Thanks for sharing your strategies and your goals to make your homestead more efficient!

[@morethanfarmers]

You’re very welcome! We’re glad you’re here and are enjoying! I have family that live in Arkansas, and I absolutely love that area. It’s too flat here 🥴 My absolute favorite thing on the Homestead is brand new baby calves 😁 Blessings on your continued homesteading journey!

[@sacredmommyhood]

@@morethanfarmers Thank you! Yes, there's nothing more exciting than a new calf. The kids are in heaven! Blessing to y'all as well. :)

[@voss_homestead.oh.chapter]

Your video came across as a suggested video. Great video! You all do so much! I have gardened for years, but this last year we went more homesteading and would love to do more!! Also, I know that ice cream shop. My grandmother was part owner in a beauty shop a few doors down :) Small world!

[@morethanfarmers]

That is awesome! Happy Homesteading!

[@ktm8488]

I'm no expert on gardening, and live in a different country, I plant Tromboncino, they are similar to butternut pumpkin at maturity, and you can pick them smaller, and they are zucchini, thought I would share, thanks.

[@benburns5995]

Hi Codi, great video about expanding your Homestead. With having a good milk producing cow like Maddie you could get money selling her milk and have just one animal to worry about as opposed to a lot of egg laying chickens. Hope Izzy still sells his eggs as it is a good way to make some money being so young. It will be interesting watching your garden develop over the summer. It is great that your wife likes gardening so much.

[@morethanfarmers]

Yeah at this point Izzy has basically taken over our flock.. I’m paying him a little to do that, but I’d like for him to have a way to feel like it’s more his own. It’s a work in progress! 😊 I’m glad that she likes the gardening too.. i couldn’t do it all without her 😉

[@OurFruitfulFamily]

Hey Ben! 😊

[@benburns5995]

@@OurFruitfulFamily Hi Cody and Jessie

[@mallorymeadows4354]

How do you keep veggies fresh all year long? I’m so new to gardening but trying my hardest and plan to get better each year.

[@morethanfarmers]

@@mallorymeadows4354 We have a root cellar where we keep potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, squash, and garlic. We have an extra refrigerator in the basement that we keep the carrots in. Other stuff gets canned or frozen 😊

[@mandyberson4868]

Hi I’m new to your channel. I really enjoy your video style. Informational and fun to watch. I’m very new to homesteading. Started with a chickens and a small garden. Not sure how big I’ll get, with limited space. For me it’s learning to be more self sufficient and cooking/ preserving what I grow. It’s been fun. I work full time and so does my husband. The goal is to learn and experiment with what works so when I decide not to work any longer this is what I will do.

[@morethanfarmers]

That's awesome! Glad you're here, and I hope we can be helpful for you. Take it a step at a time and enjoy the journey 😊

[@HomeIsWhereYourHoneyIs]

Thanks for sharing! You all live very different life than we do and it's great to get to see a glimpse of it! Binge watched three or four videos tonight 😁

[@morethanfarmers]

That’s awesome 😊 Glad you’re here!

[@cladeanwood4012]

Hey guys, love your farm. keep doing what you're doing. Nice family!

[@morethanfarmers]

Thanks for the encouraging words!!

[@sixfigurebookkeeper7588]

This is really great content. Thank you for sharing what you learned/experienced and your plans to improve things for this year.

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed 😊

[@parfaitamour1304]

This is my dream. Self sustain and have a peaceful life

[@morethanfarmers]

It's worth working for.

[@scotserve]

I must say since i first found you both you make a lovely couple good luck to both of you.

[@LeydiExplorer]

Love your channel and seeing how you work so efficiently together. Very interesting sweet potato information. That is my favorite.

[@timmmmmmmmmmy1]

The wife came across you 2 and y'all get 2 thumbs up. Y'all are doing well, my advice as an elder is to make darn sure you have books, hard printed matter .. lots of them. Prepper books, canning books, herbal books, the jadam books, Ruth stout, lost times, etc etc. I'll not be a downer and say where the world is heading. Just get prepared to take care of yourselves and I'll say it appears ya'll are going a bang up job so far. Books, an abundance of needled hands tools, I just bought a scythe myself.. lots and lots of canning jars and the kitchen goods that little women needs to secure your belly needs.. God bless ..😊

[@morethanfarmers]

Thanks for the encouragement:)

[@Jdoggity]

Good, cool video. I would add some fruit trees! In the Northwest it's easy to grow apples and pears. Apricots even too..

[@morethanfarmers]

We actually have several apple trees, 2 pear trees, a cherry tree, and a few nut trees 😊 We just havent gotten much out of em yet.. looks like they might bear this year though!

[@Kaartdijinnoongar]

Powdery mildew usually only shows up when the soil itself is missing some certain mineral or ingredient. Other than that it's very rare that that actually happens on a general basis on a private little farm like yours. Do you have a farm extension near you. Take a soil sample to them for free they will check it out and tell you what's lacking in your soil to stop that problem. I hope that helps

[@ericacaba6602]

Wow! It's really important for us to reflect so we can't do the same mistake. 😊