In this episode of the Pantry Chat, I sit down with my friend Rory Groves from @thegrovestead to talk about his family’s journey from a tech career in the city to raising six kids on a homestead in Minnesota.
Rory’s story will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt the tug to get out of the rat race and build something lasting with their family. What started with a single tomato plant on a city balcony turned into a thriving homestead of gardens, orchards, and livestock. But more than that, it turned into a way of life intentionally built around faith, family, and meaningful work.
Rory is the author of Durable Trades and The Family Economy (links below), books that have encouraged thousands to think differently about how we live, work, and raise our children.
In this conversation we dive into:
- The slow, steady steps Rory and Becca took toward self-sufficiency
- Why it’s vital to build rhythms of joy into the homestead for our kids
- What “durable trades” really mean and why they matter today
- Rory’s thoughts on AI, technology, and the need to preserve skills that last
- Why homesteading isn’t about escaping the world, but preserving something worth passing on
Check out the blog post for links and more information here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/preserving-a-way-of-life-with-rory-groves/
Durable Trades: https://homesteadingfamily.com/durable-trades
The Family Economy: https://homesteadingfamily.com/the-family-economy
This is about more than food or farming—it’s about preserving culture, family, and faith for generations to come.
Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
0:49 - Lehman's
1:50 - Main Topic
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MORE ABOUT US!
WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo
Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
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Meals on Your Shelf – Can along with me!
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