Happy Spring, everyone! In this 222nd Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I am going to discuss attending my first Beekeeper Conference called Beek Meet 2024 and 5 Lessons Learned from Beekeepers at the conference. While I am not a beekeeper, I found the conference incredibly interesting, educational and entertaining. I also met some really great folks at the conference, and I had a chance to connect with some really good friends from Ohio. Find all the links and show notes at smallscalelife.com (https://smallscalelife.com)! A direct link to the article is found here: https://www.smallscalelife.com/5-lessons-learned-from-beekeepers-at-beek-meet-2024/ To sign up for the Whole30 Challenge, go to the Small Scale Life Website. An email sign up form is on the main page of the website and under the Wellness tab.

In this 221st Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I am going to look back at our experiences with the Whole30 Challenge in 2019, 2020 and 2024. I will discuss some of the lessons learned and “non-scale wins,” and I will finish by talking about Next Steps including a new Whole30 Challenge on April 1, 2024! For show notes and links, head over to smallscalelife.com (https://smallscalelife.com).

It's a Leap Year Episode Small Scale Life Podcast! Episode 220 was recorded at 2:22 PM on 2/29/2024 (look at all those 2's), so you know this was a special, foundational show. In this episode, your Host Tom introduces the Whole30 Challenge and summarizes the basic rules of this elimination diet. There are plenty of do's and don'ts, but do not let the rules stop you. By doing the Whole30 Challenge, you will come away understanding what your body reacts to (dairy, gluten, legumes, processed foods, sugar), and that will lead you to success as you focus on healing your mind, body and soul. We have some links and resources for you at smallscalelife.com (https://smallscalelife.com), so you’ll want to head over there to learn more. Also, to join the Small Scale Life Wellness Club on Facebook, please use the following link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallscalelifewellnessclub/

Happy New Year, friends! Welcome to 2024! The Small Scale Life Podcast has been silent since April 26, 2023. At that point, we had just announced that we were selling Driftless Oaks Farm, which was our little 10-acre hobby farm in Western Wisconsin. We had a lot of discussions, a lot of soul searching and a lot of work leading up to that point, and what happened afterward was nothing short of a miracle. We had some great offers on the farm, selected an offer, found a new place, got our offer selected and then began the moving process (packing and loading up). At the same time, we kicked off a blitz of projects at the new house. With real life kicking and a busy job calling, there was no capacity or bandwidth to record, edit, and keep the Small Scale Life Podcast and videos flowing to the audence. Something had to give, and I decided to put this project on a shelf and do the work. It is a new year, and a new cycle is starting for all of us. Julie has a new business called Willow River Yoga (https://www.willowriveryoga.com/), my son Ryan has things happening and I have charted a new course for Small Scale Life (which really is getting back to my roots of this show if you look back to the first couple blog posts). For more information about us and links, please head over to the Small Scale Life website (https://www.smallscalelife.com/). You can sign up for free resources including the 24 Hour Plan, Seed Saving Guide and Budget Bundles on the FREE RESOURCES page. Also, I discuss the Small Scale Life Wellness Club on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/7012219482195543), please head over there for the 24 Hour Plan and to join the conversation.

Are we really selling Driftless Oaks Farm? Julie and I just bought and moved to the farm almost two years ago and got everything we ever wanted...or did we? Tune in to Episode 218 of the Small Scale Life Podcast to find out who, what, when, where and why!

In this 217th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I talk about Tipping Points and Getting Back to Basics. We have seen bank collapses before, and it didn't go well for us in 2008. It is a reminder to get back to Small Scale Living and growing/canning our own food. I have to tell you: the bank closures and bank runs remind me so much of the Lehman Brothers collapse of 2008. It made me pause as it reminded me of the anger, despair and hopelessness of the time. Fortunately, this time is different. I recognized 2008 for what it was: a major life changing event that forever changed my mindset and direction of my life. That collapse set me on a course to where we are today: our jobs, our home in Western Wisconsin and even how I grow vegetables in my garden. For more information and links, head over to Small Scale Life! (https://smallscalelife.com)

In this 216th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I continue the conversation with my friend Adam Rapier from Colorado. We are going to discuss Starting a Beekeeping Business including different small business niches in the Beekeeping world. Now, I know many of you are not beekeepers and will never be beekeepers, but I hope you hold on and stay tuned to this episode. Like walking through a garden, each small business story can inspire you to start something of your own or teach you something new. After all, every gardener or homesteader might have an abundance of tomatoes, green beans, zucchini, eggs or milk that you can give the surplus away or sell to a local customer base. For more about Adam, check out Small Scale Life Podcast Episodes 214 and 215 where we talk about his homesteading journety, gardening and taking care of animals (rabbits, quail, chickens and ducks). To connect Adam, see the show notes for Episode 216 at https://smallscalelife.com!

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 command of the show by telling us How to Set Your 2023 Guiding Words and providing some examples of Guiding Words. Maybe one of those words will resonate with you! Please head over to https://smallscalelife.com to see links to Maria's website and social media, as well as links to other times Maria has been a guest on the Small Scale Life Podcast.

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-land-movement-with-mr-tactical-jay/) Join the Back to the Land Movement in the country, the suburbs or the urban space. How you start this journey is up to you, and you can start right where you are. How can you do this? Grow some vegetables in your space Preserve foraged, grown or purchased vegetables or fruits Build community of like-minded souls As Jay and I discuss, you don't need 3, 5, 10 or 100 acres. You can start right where you are!

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 forward; this is the way. Join us as Jay and I talk about the Modern Day Back to the Land Movement through our own eyes, experiences and homesteads. For more links to podcast episodes featuring Mr. Tactical Jay, head over to smallscalelife.com (https://smallscalelife.com)to see show notes and links.

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.