Ep. 53 Picking Up Rocks and Sharing Stories

Ep. 53 Picking Up Rocks and Sharing Stories

Author: Jason Contreras June 28, 2024 Duration: 53:54
In today’s episode Al wears a sweatshirt while the other guys are dying in the heat. Jason and Ben deal with the June drought on the Homestead. Al’s first ever tornado warning. Ben continues to wait for parts for his mini split while the heat wave heats up. Jason shares that he sold two Kune kune piglets. The guys talk about pig breeding schedules. Jason shares about a new side project to help prevent break-ins. He prepares to leave for Iowa. He is still working on his PowerPoint and talk for the event. He’s been busy getting the farm ready to leave for the event. Al braves the heat this week and gets the waterlines done. Ben tells a story of building a waterfall with boulders and it reminds Jason and Al of similar stories from their past. Ben weighs in on all his produce harvest. He is stoked with the results. He has his pigs in the forest on a single wire. He Smoked a delicious rack of ribs this last week.  The guys talk about why it’s so hard to sit still. See below for links! Sow the Land: https://www.youtube.com/@SowtheLand Lumnah Acres: https://www.youtube.com/@LumnahAcres Hollar Homestead: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHollarHomestead  

Grab a cup of coffee and pull up a stool. Homestead Shop Talk feels less like a formal broadcast and more like the weekly conversation happening in a well-used workshop, hosted by Jason Contreras, Ben Hollar, and Al Lumnah. Each brings the distinct perspective of running their own homestead, meaning topics swing naturally from the deeply practical to the broadly philosophical. You’ll hear them troubleshoot a failed crop, debate the best tools for a barn repair, and share hard-won lessons on balancing this demanding lifestyle with family and creative pursuits. The discussion often veers into the realities of content creation, as each host documents their journey online, but the heart of this podcast is about building something tangible and meaningful with your own hands. It’s for anyone who dreams of greater self-sufficiency, whether on acres of land or in a suburban backyard, offering camaraderie and unvarnished advice instead of glossy perfection. Tune in for honest talk about soil, structures, and the slow, rewarding work of crafting a life deeply connected to what you value most.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Homestead Shop Talk
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 77 Tools, Learning and Formed Meats [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:28
Al, Ben and Jason discuss their Christmas tree traditions, the impact of recent weather changes, innovations in snow removal with a new snowblower, and the challenges of managing livestock, particularly pigs. They share…
EP. 76 It's Part of Country Living [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:34
Jason, Al, and Ben share their Thanksgiving experiences, discussing the various dishes they prepared and enjoyed. They reflect on the evolution of Black Friday shopping, reminiscing about camping out for deals in the pas…
EP. 75 Thanksgiving Traditions or NOT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:24
Jason, Al, and Ben share their Thanksgiving traditions, culinary adventures, and the challenges of cooking a whole pig for Friendsgiving. They discuss their experiences with family gatherings, the joys of cooking, and th…
Ep. 74 It's butchering season, not holiday season [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:58
Jason, Al, and Ben discuss the seasonal changes in their homesteading activities, focusing on butchering workshops, the quality of pork, DIY projects, and the challenges of content creation during the winter months. They…
Ep. 73 Impact of Upcoming Changes on Farm Food [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:27
Jason, Al, and Ben discuss their recent activities in homesteading, including weather conditions, pig farming experiments, and butchering classes. Ben shares insights from his pig butchering class, highlighting the camar…
Ep. 72 This Week on the Homestead with Al, Ben and Jason [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:28
Jason, Al, and Ben discuss various topics related to homesteading, including upcoming workshops, a bizarre discovery of a dead moose in Al’s pond, the confirmation of a pregnant cow, and the ongoing development of infras…
Ep. 71 Fences, Lard and Chainsaws [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:43
Jason, Al, and Ben discuss their favorite movies, delve into Al's recent fencing project, and share experiences about the changing weather as winter approaches. They explore the challenges of working on a homestead, incl…
Ep. 70 Will Helene Get More People into Homesteading [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:04
Jason, Al, and Ben share their experiences from the past week, including breakfast routines, busy homesteading activities, and a successful butchering class. They discuss community engagement, unexpected opportunities wi…
Ep. 69 Coffee Milk vs. Hush Puppy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:53
Jason, Al, and Ben discuss the recent weather challenges they faced, including high winds and impending frost. They share experiences from their homesteads, including preparations for winter and the impact of a recent fl…
Ep. 68 Cleanup After the Hurricane [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:27
In this episode Jason, Al, and Ben discuss the aftermath of a recent hurricane that impacted their homesteads and the surrounding community. They reflect on the challenges faced by those affected, share personal experien…