Small Scale Life

In this 215th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I continue the conversation with my friend Adam Rapier from Colorado. We are going to dive into gardening and beekeeping in this episode. We discuss some fantastic garden beds they built at Adam's parent's house, and we discuss the start of their beekeeping journey. If you want to find The Rapier Ranch or High Desert Hives, there are links to Adam and Kathleen's social media and website in the show notes on https://smallscalelife.com. Also, I have some photos of those awesome gardens too, so check them out!

In Small Scale Life Podcast Episode 214, I talk with my friend Adam about his family's journey to starting High Desert Hives and Homestead in Colorado. How does a successful guy decide to walk away from the hustle and bustle of city life and a fast paced corporate job and move to the country to start a garden, grow a thriving beekeeping business and raise boys in a world of freedom and wonder? Listen to Small Scale Life Episode 214 to listen and be inspired by Adam's story. You can find all the show notes at https;//smallscalelife.com.

In this 213th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I am talking with my friend Maria the Intuitive Energy Healer about How to Set Your 2023 Guiding Words and Mantras. This is building on last week's Small Scale Life Podcast where I discussed 10 Goal Setting and Self Inventory Questions to Start 2023 (https://www.smallscalelife.com/10-self-inventory-questions/), so if you haven't listened to that one, you should (it's not required, but you should). Working with these questions lays the foundation for setting your 2023 Guiding Word and Mantras. By work I mean thinking hard about your answers and being honest with where you have been, where you are, and where you would like to be. Pressing Forward! This week's guest is Maria the Intuitive Energy Healer, and we are talking about How to Set Your 2023 Guiding Words and Mantras. We will discuss our Guiding Words from last year and how they served us and how things worked out. Then, we will dive into our 2023 Guiding Words and Mantras. Finally, Maria takes co

In this 212th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast (and first episode of 2023), I am talking about 10 Goal Setting and Self Inventory Questions to Start 2023. From my own work while on vacation and after my birthday, I am starting the 2023 Project Me Initiative. As part of the New Year self inventory and goal setting exercise, I have 10 questions that I have asked myself (and one bonus question). As I thought about where I have been, where I am currently at and where I want to go, I developed the 2023 Project Me Initiative. What is that? Well, you'll have to go listen to the Small Scale Life Podcast to find out! Also, for more links and show notes, head to https://smallscalelife.com.

The last Small Scale Life Podcast Episode was posted on September 9, 2022. This was two days before Danny passed away, and after a long road, we are back to say Merry Christmas and begin to shine our light once again. In this episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, your host Tom talks about the past three months including losing Danny and the long road since September 11, 2022. Tom reads a beautiful Christmas letter written by Julie. At the end of the episode, Tom discusses future episodes and closes with the Small Scale Life offering. Remember, friends, during this Christmas season, put down the phone, be present, gather with your family and friends, remember those who crossed over the bridge ahead of us, and enjoy the moment. We love you, and we thank you for your continued support, love, hugs and messages. We continue to be reminded of the love and goodness out there in this world. As always, for the show notes including text of the letter and links, please head over to smallscalelife.com.

Host Tommy Cakes provides a garden and homestead update here at Driftless Oaks Farm in this 210th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast. During the show, Tommy talks about the following topics: Change is in the Air - Fall and Winter are Coming! The Orchard - Criss Cross Apple Sauce The Land Provides - Sweet Corn and Wild Grapes Canning * Four Tips for Successful Canning * Corn Relish and Cowboy Candy Relish How does my Garden Grow? Project Updates * The BIG To Do List * Operation WW - Drainage Project, Front Gardens, Planting Grass * Removing Fence, Moving the Woodpile and Moving Poop Mountain #1 * Push before the Rains Fall and Snow Flies! Gatherings - Family and Friends at the Farm Connect to the Land - Animal Updates * Flying Young Eagle * Running Skunk * Watching and Counting Down - Oriole and Hummingbird Departures Future Shows and What's Coming Up Next! For show notes, links and photos, go to https://smallscalelife.com!

In this 209th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, your Wandering Gardener Host Tom talks with his friend Mr. Tactical Jay about the modern back to the land movement, setting big goals and creating a Jay's massive garden on the side of a mountain. This is Part 2 of an earlier conversation about the Modern Day Back to the Land Movement that has been happening in the United States as society seems to be unwinding due to the global pandemic, increasing crime in urban area and unwraveling social structures in the United States. These issues coupled with shortages (fuel, food and other goods and services) and incredible inflation are pushing people Back to the Land and to start developing skills like growing food, preserving the harvest and having animals and livestock. For Part 1 of this conversation, you have to go back to Small Scale Life Podcast Episode 204 titled "Modern Day Back to the Land Movement" which you can listen to by clicking this link. (https://www.smallscalelife.com/modern-day-back-to-the-la

In this 208th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I am looking back in time to June 2022 where I was talking about projects and efforts at our Driftless Oaks Farm. The projects featured in this episode are: Removing Fence from the Blue and White Pens Cutting Box Elder Trees Building Wicking Beds out of 55 Gallon Food Grade Barrels Working on Operation WW Prepping to Plant Potatoes My Farm Journal posts, videos and podcast episodes document our progress and our observations of life at our little Driftless Oaks Farm. For more links and show notes, please head over to smallscalelife.com! (https://smallscalelife.com)

In this 207th episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I introduce the Drifting to Driftless Series by focusing on my recent Adventure in Cedar Rapids, Mount Vernon and Decorah, IA. The Drifting to Driftless Series is where I share my adventures and wandering. It will be a regular feature on Small Scale Life. For pictures, videos and links from this "Drift," head on over to smallscalelife.com. (https://smallscalelife.com)

In this 206th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I am introducing two new efforts here at our Driftless Oaks Farm and on the Small Scale Life Podcast: My Farm Journal Operation WW My Farm Journal posts, videos and podcast episodes will document our progress and our observations of life at our little Driftless Oaks Farm. Operation WW is focused on cleaning up the Weeds and Woods at Driftless Oaks Farm, starting with the overgrown flower gardens that surround our Little Farmhouse in the Big Woods. For more links and show notes, please head over to smallscalelife.com! (https://smallscalelife.com)

In this 205th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I have my good friend Mr. Tactical Jay back on the show to talk about the Modern Day Back to the Land Movement including gardening, homesteading and being more self-reliant. I have known Jay for over 10 years, and he and his wonderful wife are experiencing their own Back to the Land Movement as they develop their garden and create a homestead somewhere on the East Coast of the United States. At the time of this recording, Jay and his wife were on the eve of a massive gardening project. The next morning, they were going to clear and build their dream garden. What is more remarkable is that this garden, like their home, is on the side of a mountain. We are all trying to live a little like Laura Ingalls Wilder in a confusing, chaotic and rapidly changing world. A path is before us, but it is punctuated by a lot of hard work and on-the-job learning. The path won’t be easy, but it will be worth it in the end. This is what we are doing. This is the path

After a long hiatus this Spring, Host Tom resturns to Restart Our Small Scale Life. This is a 10 minute episode that covers the following topics: Host Tom introduces himself to the audience Where the Small Scale Life Podcast has been over the past 6 years and where it is going in the future Driftless Oaks Farm's projects and opportunities For links and show notes, head over to smallscalelife.com (https://smallscalelife.com)!

In this 203rd Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I have a Chicken Chat with my good friend Amy Dingmann. Julie and I are chicken newbs, so we wanted to learn from someone who has done all things chicken! Amy Dingmann is from A Farmish Kind of Life (https://afarmishkindoflife.com/) where she talks about her life on a little 5-acre farm in Central Minnesota. Amy is a writer, podcaster, blogger, YouTuber, and also has a snail mail paper newsletter (called The Farmish Papers). During this episode, we discuss what is happening on our farms, all things chicken the chicken chat), gardening and her platform and plans at A Farmish Kind of Life. You can find more links and information at smallscalelife.com (https://smallscalelife.com). Chicken stock photo by freeimages.com/cholin. Free Image used according to use agrement.

On this 202nd Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, Julie and Maria the Intuitive Energy Healer are back on the Small Scale Life Podcast to talk about How to Start a Small Business. Both Maria and Julie have owned their own businesses: Maria owns and operates a dog grooming business and her intuitive energy healing business in Lake City, Minnesota. Julie operated her own wedding floral design business in Minnesota and Illinois. We discuss a number of topics including the following: How to prepare to start the small business and side hustle Where do you start? What should you focus on? Mindset and narratives that hold you back Teamwork makes the dreams work Small business ideas (Hell Yeah's vs. Hell No's) What do you wish you had during the busiest times of your life? Hear more of our interviews with Maria and get show notes at smallscalelife.com (https://smallscalelife.com)!

In this episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, Julie and I talk with Maria the Intuitive Energy Healer about the Full Moon Energies, the importance of community, and our 2022 Guiding Words. Who is Maria the Intuitive Energy Healer? Maria the Intuitive Energy Healer has been practicing over 6 years and helps people heal naturally and coaches people to achieve their goals and live their best life. Julie and I have been meeting with Maria since the Fall of 2020, and she has helped us work through decisions and issues. In a way, Maria helped us see beyond Eagles Ridge and what was possible. Opening our eyes lead us to Driftless Oaks Farm...and we have been truly blessed for that decision. For all of the links described in the show and show notes, please go to smallscalelife.com. (https://smallscalelife.com)

For our 200th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, Julie and I talk about the Top 10 Surprises Moving to the Country from the City/Suburbs. For links to the recent appearances and to learn more about Driftless Oaks Farm, head over to smallscalelife.com (https://smallscalelife.com). As a reminder, you can now buy high quality grass fed meat (raised using Regenerative Agriculture protocols and principles) at the following site: https://www.amodernfrontier.com/ (https://www.amodernfrontier.com/) Use code SMALL (in all caps) and you will get $25 off and beef, pork or chicken box. That’s right, use code SMALL (in all caps) and get $25 off! You can chat with Adam on the site if you have any questions, or you can email him at amodernfrontier@gmail.com. For full disclosure: this is not an affiliate for me or Small Scale Life. I want to help a friend get this business going. I receive no payments or percentages from any sales; I am just helping a friend out.

In this 199th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, Adam Rick and I are talking about Creating Heritage Meals and Deep Roots in Central Wisconsin. I like to call this episode “All Roads Lead to Oxford, Wisconsin.” For links and show notes, head on over to smallscalelife.com As I mentioned in this Small Scale Life Podcast, you can now buy quality grass fed meat at the following site: https://www.amodernfrontier.com/ Use code SMALL (in all caps) and you will get $25 off and beef, pork or chicken box. That’s right, use code SMALL (in all caps) and get $25 off! Please note: I get no payments or affiliate income from any purchases or clicks; I am just helping my friend start his business. Special Guest: Adam Rick.

I talk with Adam Rick about his Grass Fed Farm Business in Wisconsin. Adam is a partner in and salesman for an Amish co-op. This co-op is beyond a grass fed farm: they are focusing on using principles and protocols of Regenerative Agriculture to raise chickens, pork and cows. Adam and his Amish partners are building soil on tired, played out farm fields one animal at a time, and this Small Scale Life Podcast episode is all about meeting your farmer! You can now buy quality grass fed meat (raised using Regenerative Agriculture protocols and principles) at the following site: https://www.amodernfrontier.com/ Use code SMALL (in all caps) and you will get $25 off and beef, pork or chicken box. That’s right, use code SMALL (in all caps) and get $25 off! You can chat with Adam on the site if you have any questions, or you can email him at amodernfrontier@gmail.com. For full disclosure: this is not an affiliate for me or Small Scale Life. I want to help a friend get this business going. I receive no payments

My guest on the Small Scale Life Podcast this week is Brian Aleksivich from the LOTS Project and our Fireside Freedom Podcast! We are talking about monetizing your homestead (making some money because….hey, we like money)! Brian started a lot of different business ventures since starting his Happy Hills Homestead 7 years ago, and I wanted to find out what worked, what didn’t and what other lessons he learned along the way. Check out the Episode 197 of the Small Scale Life Podcast! Available at smallscalelife.com or on streaming apps everywhere!

In our first Small Scale Life Podcast of 2022, Julie and I discuss our journey to Driftless Oaks Farm. We discuss Eagles Ridge, why we started looking for property again and finding Driftless Oaks Farm. Of course, it is also a special birthday episode for the Small Scale Life Podcast (7 years) and your humble host Tom! For more information and links, please head over to smallscalelife.com!