Join hosts Harold Thornbro and Rachel Jamison on The Modern Homesteading Podcast as they talk about all things homesteading! They discuss things like gardening, livestock, permaculture, food preservation, foraging, hunting, fishing, and the know-how and skills that will help you in your homesteading journey, and occasionally they have guests and we get to hear about what others are doing on their homesteads.

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The Modern Homesteading Podcast

Permaculture Fences: Creating Boundaries with Purpose and Functionality

Fences serve many roles on a homestead—keeping livestock in, keeping predators out, marking property boundaries, and providing privacy. However, in permaculture, we strive to make everything serve multiple functions. Well-designed permaculture fences can do much more than just create a barrier; it can become an integral part of the ecosystem, enhancing biodiversity, microclimates, and soil…

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March 31, 2025

The Modern Homesteading Podcast

Tips For Starting And Operating A Homestead On A Small Budget

Embarking on the journey of starting a homestead from scratch can feel overwhelming, especially when considering the possible costs involved. However, it’s possible to live the homesteading lifestyle with a small budget. These tips will guide you through the top lessons I've learned from starting and operating a homestead on a small budget and helped…

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March 24, 2025

The Modern Homesteading Podcast

Designing & Implementing Permaculture / Regenerative Systems with Takota Coen

Everyone dreams of a thriving homestead—a place where fresh food is just steps away and animals live in harmony with the land. Permaculture offers a way to design that dream and help it grow over time. In this podcast episode guest Takota Coen—who has spent years learning, experimenting, and helping others—gives us advice on things…

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March 14, 2025

The Modern Homesteading Podcast

Planning A Holistic Garden: A Sustainable Approach to Feeding People, Livestock, Pollinators, and Soil

A well-planned garden can provide more than just food for people—it can support livestock, pollinators, and soil health all at once. A Four-Fold Holistic Food Garden integrates these elements, creating a balanced ecosystem that maximizes productivity and sustainability. By focusing on these four key areas, you can build a garden that works in harmony with…

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March 7, 2025

The Modern Homesteading Podcast

Leaves With Surprising Uses (Besides Food) for Your Homestead

When we think of leaves, we often picture them as the green parts of plants that we compost or occasionally toss into the cooking pot. However, many leaves offer a wealth of unique benefits beyond simple culinary uses. They can help improve soil health, provide natural pest control, serve as crafting materials, and even support…

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February 27, 2025

The Modern Homesteading Podcast

Exploring Seed Starting Soil and Tray Options

https://youtube.com/live/d0zQkORwvbk?feature=share Starting seeds indoors can be a rewarding step in gardening. It allows you to get a head start on the growing season, select the best plant varieties, and save money compared to buying seedlings. However, success depends on a few key factors, two of which are the right soil mix and the proper seed…

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February 19, 2025

The Modern Homesteading Podcast

The Homesteader’s Guide to Grow Lights

https://youtube.com/live/GJr9JVHa6xs?feature=share Homesteaders are always looking for ways to extend the growing season, start seeds indoors, and even grow food year-round. Grow lights are a game-changer when it comes to providing the right light conditions for plants when natural sunlight isn’t sufficient. Whether you’re starting vegetable seedlings for your garden or cultivating herbs and leafy greens…

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February 12, 2025

The Modern Homesteading Podcast

The Homestead Workshop: Why You Need One and How to Set It Up

https://youtube.com/live/wwsiHq3KgvE A well-organized workshop is the heart of any homestead. Whether you're fixing broken tools, building new projects, or maintaining equipment, a dedicated workspace makes all the difference. Having a homestead shop saves time, money, and frustration by keeping everything organized, and ready when you need it. In this podcast episode, we’ll cover why every…

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February 5, 2025

The Modern Homesteading Podcast

Back To Basics: Getting Started With Trees and Bushes

On this podcast episode, Harold and Rachel continue the series on getting back to basics with getting started with trees and bushes. They discuss the benefits, selection, planting, and care of trees and bushes. Modern Homesteading Podcast Episode 270 Listen To The Podcast Trees and bushes are integral to creating a healthy, productive, and visually…

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January 30, 2025

The Modern Homesteading Podcast

Back to Basics: Getting Started with Small Livestock

On this podcast episode, Harold and Rachel continue the series on getting back to basics with getting started with small livestock. They discuss a variety of livestock like chickens, rabbits, quail, ducks, and more. Modern Homesteading Podcast Episode 269 Listen To The Podcast Have you ever dreamed of stepping into your backyard and gathering fresh…

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January 22, 2025

The Modern Homesteading Podcast

Back To Basics: Getting Started Gardening

On this podcast episode, Harold and Rachel begin a series on getting back to basics beginning with getting started gardening. They discuss everything you need to know to start growing your own homegrown vegetables. Modern Homesteading Podcast Episode 268 Listen To The Podcast Gardening can seem overwhelming when you’re first starting out, but it doesn’t…

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January 9, 2025

The Modern Homesteading Podcast

Processing and Preparing Wild Game Meat

On this podcast episode, Harold and Rachel are joined by Jonah Curtis to discuss processing and preparing wild game meat of all kinds. From field dressing to cooking and everything in between, Get hungry and maybe a little inspired to make wild game meat part of your homestead. Modern Homesteading Podcast Episode 267 Listen To…

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December 18, 2024

Harold Thornbro on When You’re Forced to Slow Down
Thank You for the encouragement! Glad you're enjoying them.
Richard Duhl on Improving Soil Health in the Winter Time
very good information, make a lot of sense
Joy on When You’re Forced to Slow Down
Enjoying your homestead devotions. Thank you!
Harold Thornbro on 27 Movies For Homesteading Inspiration (And Why You Should Watch Them!)
I will have to look that one up. Thanks for the recommendation!
Rachelle Phipps on 27 Movies For Homesteading Inspiration (And Why You Should Watch Them!)
You’ve missed one of the best homesteading movies: Heartland (not the tv show) starring Rip Torn and Conchata Ferrell. This…

Rusted But Restored

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."
— Psalm 51:10 (ESV)

Today on the homestead, I found something I hadn’t even realized I’d lost—an old pair of hand pruners. They’d been left out through weeks of winter weather, buried in snow and forgotten in the rush of chores and changing seasons. When I picked them up, they were rusted, stiff, and hard to close. What once had been a reliable tool was now nearly useless without some serious care.

As I held those weathered pruners in my hand, I couldn’t help but think—that’s how my soul feels sometimes.
Neglected. Worn. A bit frozen in place.

I don’t set out to let my heart grow distant from God. But in the daily busyness of homesteading and life, I sometimes forget to tend my spirit like I tend my soil. Before I know it, I’m feeling stiff and dull—slow to respond, not as useful as I once was.

But then I remember the words of Psalm 51:10:
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

David prayed those words after a season of failure and neglect. He didn’t just want forgiveness—he wanted renewal. And I do too.

The beauty of grace is that God doesn’t throw us away when we’re rusty. He restores. He sharpens. He renews what we’ve left unattended.

So today, as I clean up those pruners and bring them back to life, I’m asking the Lord to do the same with me. To remove the rust. To soften the stiffness. To make me useful again in His hands.

My Prayer:

Lord, I confess I’ve let some things go—especially in my heart. Thank You for not giving up on me. Clean me up. Sharpen me. Restore me to usefulness in Your work. Just like those old pruners, I want to be put back to purpose in Your hands. Amen.