I’m a 75-year-old grandma who loves this podcast. I’ve never farmed a day in my life, but was around my grandparents who did many many decades ago. I’ve followed Ben Since they left California. I followed Jason since he was working on a bus for Justin Rhodes. Now I fallen in love with Al’s channel and look forward to seeing him early every morning. Thank you guys. I wish you all the best. My prayers go out to each of you.
Al from Lumnah Acres is an outstanding podcast. We discovered Lumnah, acres when Al & Gina purchased “Hope”. We fell in Love with the Lumnah’s and all their animals. We mourn the death of CWC and cried over the loss of Figaro, the cat. 😢😢
Lol. May be boring at times for you guys, Jason, but never a second of boring for us out here! You guys are a huge plethora of great advice & teaching! Keep ',em coming! All three of you!
You guys all mentioned this but no one identified it and that there is a third factor. You have long and short term goals but you also have the immediate…things you have to do. As an example both Ben and Al you needed a place to live and that had to be your immediate goal. I watched as each of you took a totally different approach to the need. Al built from scratch and Ben took what he had and made it livable. Jason needed a place that was fertile for growing things so he began by running chickens all over his property and now his soil is improving. You will reach a place where most of your long and short term goals have been realized and all you will have to deal with is the immediate. As an example I have lived where I am since 1987. My landscaping is mature and the house is paid for. What I have to do now is the immediate. Eg paint the house /mow the lawns /trim the shrubs. But even then things come up. This year some tree roots were lifting some sidewalks and so I had them taken out. But I was left with sidewalks to bust up and replace and new landscaping to put in where I took the trees out. I am just finishing up today replacing a section of sidewalk. The plants are bought to do the landscaping over. But in a few days the lawns will need mowing again ( I live in a warm place where grass grows year round ). I want to compliment all three of you. You all have taken your properties and made them better. You all work incredibly hard. I think you all struggle with the immediate getting in the way of accomplishing your goals. Keep eating that elephant one bite at a time and you will eventually accomplish what you want. 🙂
The best gift God gave me was my parents who worked hard, saved for the future and loved their girls unconditionally! The best gift my parents gave me was the land they worked so hard for and sacrificed for! I never thought I’d live in the country but here I am, 66 years old and living on 100 acres and enjoying living very close …same property… to my daughter and her family! My husband teaching his grandsons how to work cattle and care for the land that will be theirs one day!
LOVE to hear this!!! I have just the opposite of you. I have parents that didn't love us unconditionally. I am now taking care of them and loving THEM unconditionally. I grew up in the city....I now live in the country very rural on 5 acre homestead. I grow my own food and have chickens and turkeys and my fur baby dogs. I put up my own fencing, tend to my lawn and clean out the barn/coop. It cost me $30 for a years worth of produce for my garden. I can meat and veggies, I freeze corn and beans. I make my own Catsup, tomato juice and spagetti and pizza sauce. I can my own grape juice from my own grapes. I planted two apple tree's and am starting to get a small harvest from them. I am a 66 year old female and I am going to keep doing this until I can't anymore. I planted the seeds with my daughters. They are gardeners and love to see me doing what I love to do.
Ben, I always enjoy watching your classes and it was fun seeing Becky out there! And for all of you, I am never bored watching your building projects, never... ❤
Al's pocket gate was the best idea I've seen. Actually, we are planning on building a building for our dog kennels, and his idea will be incorporated into our plans.
I am a 63 real woman who is a country girl at heart. I owned a 5 acre lot outside of Lubbock, Tx but moved to Austin to take care of my mother. I am now disabled and don’t have much of a life so watching all three of y’all makes my boring life a little easier and I can reminisce of the years raising my boys on my land. Keep up with covering what you think may be boring because it’s not to some of us. I now live in a smaller town outside of San Antonio but I miss owning our own land.
don't worry guys, it may seem repetitive but we love to follow the progress. Please film the trouble shooting the door design. That would be fun to watch.
Al’s building his long term plans right now. Jason is at work on future plans (fencing and greenhouse) and is waiting for something else to pop up to sustain his family for the future. And Ben doesn’t need to worry about filming videos, just video whatever you need to do and we’ll watch it. It’s all good. 🤩
This was one of your best discussions yet! Love how frank you are about the struggle. Please remember, all good things take time. And, Ben, you have made huge progress and have been successful making family your long-term goal! (Really, all of you have, it's just that Ben mentioned not getting things done.) You've made deeper, more meaningful strides. Then there's all those videos that document your families' growth to cherish. Love how you all really strive for what really matters in your lives, though one may need to look beyond any bright shiny thing. "All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost."
As an older woman I love listening to you figure stuff out. Chewing the fat. I clean for others or wash/prepare eggs for the farm store so this chatting keeps me concentrated on my job but learning stuff along the way.
I agree with the others. Your content is never boring. I have watched it every time you put one up for several years, when I first found out about You tube. And I’m also a 75 yr old grandma, who lives on a “used to be” farm. Brings back a lot of good memories.
Even my chickens like to be outside in the rain and snow (as long as I put down a straw path to under the wild bird feeder). People don't know much about animals they haven't been around. I learn a bunch from you guys, love this pod cast!!
Great time guys. Can't explain for you why so many of us grandmas love listening and following you three, but we do. I followed my dad everywhere he went and wanted to help with anything he did. Such a patient man. You guys are doing great and bringing hope for a future generation.
Loving this podcast. Every time I watch this podcast i think about ancestors who were farmers getting together after Sunday church having dinner and discussing topics just like this.
Okay guy's that's one of the things about y'all that I'm amazed by ,how scary it would be to pack up and leave,jobs,homes,family's, friends, what you have always known as security. That is so 💖💖💖💖💖💖 incredible. I'm just so proud of you 3.
You are all raising wonderful families and that takes families most of their time. Your families are along side your farm and learning tasks skills most adults don't know Ben you have 20 or more years just to bring the new baby to 20 so you are doing a fine job and got plenty more days to perfect your skills. If you bring up children that are self sufficient and productive and good patriots to our country huge accomplishments. AND to me the most precious accomplishment is knowing the Lord not only this life but the life to come. I had 8 children of those two are gone both accepted the Lord one walked with God the other I am not sure. Prayerfully you are very great people . A viewer.
Ben and Jason, I have been watching your channels from the beginning. I moved from the Los Angeles area in the late 70's to the country up in Oregon and can relate to you guys. I was really amazed of the risk you both took. I was single when I made a move like that. My situation was much easier because I had less responsibility than you guys. I'm really impressed what both of you guys have accomplished. I watched you survive at first but now I see you thriving. Great job to all of you guys. Al, I'm also very impressed at the homestead that you are developing. I really enjoy watching all three of your homestead channels. Thank you for the pleasure.
GUYS: On your second podcast, you asked the viewers to give suggestions on topics that we would like you to discuss when talking at conferences. I'd like to hear a thorough breakdown on all of the different infrastructures that are needed for each of the more popular animals on your farms. As an example, from fencing to feeders to medical supplies (also barrels to hold the feed). I've been powering through your podcasts (I just found them) and I'm enjoying them a lot....even though I've watched each of your other channels for years.
Just a note. Years ago family used newspaper and cardboard to insulate their homes mostly as a wind/cold break. It's a cheap way to temporary insulate a barn. Cardboard is free!
Hi guys ..enjoying this shop talk ..congrats to Meg and Ben on the new baby to come… Also Portland Oregon.. was cool to see that Becky from Acre Homestead was at your butchering BEN .., it’s cool when other homesteaders RUclipsr can join one another. I know. Lots of people recognize her…👍🏼 Y’all guys are doing great on the barn and Ben on the butchering and JASON on the gate repair and I think everybody had a good year, right .. here in Houston we had that three day freeze. It was horrible we’re not used to that we did have a small busted pipe. My husband was determined to fix it and he did and we’re back to normal. I’m actually gonna have a plumber come out next week after more rain and reroute my plumbing and new pipes it’s not a big part just a little part new pipes insulation and I’ll probably put some of that heat tape around everything
I think as an intermediate goal Ben and Jason need to get with Al to see what can be worked out with Grid Down for setting up a solar system on their properties. It would be nice not to be dependent on the utility company or gas delivery man.
I am loving these podcasts. they have become part of my Friday routine. We are here in south-africa on a farm/homestead, and loving it! Keep'em coming!
It’s always nice to listen to you three. Our kids are using the skills they learned from us in their adult lives but they have all moved 4 states away from us in different directions. The dream of having your kids close or using our property and running our business hasn’t happened for us yet. So we have to accept life as it unfolds. Or doesn’t. Goals are just guidelines but can be very fluid. Just realistically adjust and don’t beat yourself up over wise adjustments.
Maybe the long term goals are a place to start, but as time passes and your dreams morph into other dreams that make more sense 1 or 2 or5 years down the line, your long term goals change, too. You've learned things about your land and community that change your long term goals. And you ALL have done so much in the various times you've been on your homesteads. Plus everything takes longer than you think it's going to! Great podcast, as usual.
Jason you look so much healthier than you did. And your attitude is more self-sufficient. You have changed alot. Please stay grateful for your health 🙏💞
I always get something out of every podcast. But THIS one! There were so many awesome jewels you all dropped I'm going to have to watch again and take notes this time. I'm almost 65 and on a super tiny scale compared to all of you but I found so many things I could relate to in trying to build up my small plot and not being where I thought I would be by now. Thank you gentlemen. Well done!
So good for you 3 guys feed off each others progress and projects. So good information for newbys out there. You learn so much from each channels but even better when you come together
The reason no one came up with pocket doors in a barn is because experienced farmers, that have cows even just part time in the barn know how much pee and poo they sling. Your pocket gate will become one more chore. Trying to keep the track clean so it slides or doesn't freeze when a cow sticks her butt against the wall and pees and it runs underneath will become difficult in the winter. We live in MN and are milking 3 cows. I'm not sitting on the couch coaching you. Even my main sliding barn door gets stuck in Jan the first time a cow poops in the doorway at -14. It's stuck until we get above freezing. We have a metal quonset barn, open on the south end sliding door on the North. Best of luck
LOL. I just watched Becky's video today about flying across the country to a hog butchering class in North Carolina. I chuckled and thought it would have been funny if she was going to Ben and Meg's homestead. Yup! That girl has sooooo much energy. I have to take a nap after watching her videos. She had a great time.
Here is some unsolicited advice (I am sure you all never get that) periodically have either you guys and the wife's episode or maybe a wife's only episode. Either way I will keep watching/listening. Thank you!!!
So I have one of those fancy wrought iron gates, that the wheel just slides on that little track and it’s very large. It was custom built by a friend of ours that used to weld barges. So he did this for me on the side as a side project and charge me nothing literally I have a very big gate that goes all the way around my house and I think he only charged me $1800. This was pre-Covid. Now I don’t have a motor on it to close it. We get out to open and close it. My daughter-in-law said wouldn’t you get a motor? I said we will but right now I feel that that’s some good exercise for us to get out and manually open and close it Now we’re much older and probably can’t be harder than I’m put motor on it but we’re good about opening it now like I said, we all need the exercise. 💪🏽
Your 3 wives need to do a channel/podcast like this. It would be interesting to see their points of view. When you did the farm tools they could do their favourite gardening and kitchen tools. They could do the same subjects as you guys but from a female point of view. I think it would be really interesting.
@@miephoex they all run homesteads, all 3 have husbands they run businesses with. They all have kids, they all garden, they all cook from scratch and they all can the food they grow and buy. I just thought it would be a good idea to get the wives of these 3 (who's channels I watch) to get their perspective. They have plenty in common.
The Morgans (from Outdoors with the Morgans) installed a new gate last summer across their driveway, and it's motorized... activated remotely like a garage door opener. As you, Al, were building your pocket gate, I was wondering why you didn't go the way of the driveway type gate because the whole middle of your barn is like a covered driveway... lol. Okay, guys, so this is the first time I watched your podcast... and I'm not a homesteader (I'm old and retired now), but I always wanted to be. Every time I told someone of my plans, they just said something like "THAT is a whole lot of work... you don't want to do all that!" and I have regretted not following through on that for most of my life. So for now I'm living vicariously thru you guys. Thanks for sharing so much of your lives with us... it just reinforces how incredibly rewarding that sort of life would have been, contrary to the "advice" of friends and family.
So I got to only watch half of y’all, so I’m watching the other half now. It’s been a crazy day but y’all guys and a lot. The other homesteaders are my Me time 🌱🌱
Ben you have 4 boys that can be doing all of the chores which will free you up to video other things such as building things. None of you mentioned the money issues. It takes money to build things. I’m sure if you had the money to build you’d be doing much more of it.. good luck to all of you with your long term goals.😊
You'll touched on several big themes including inclusion or your kids in the future, ways to make that happen, and the difficulties surrounding selling and shipping your food products. I've never had beef to butcher but the area I live in has several organic farms. One farm that I patronize sells it live cows to a certified (under Pennsylvania law) butcher who does the kill, all cuts, the packaging, the freeze drying, the customized labels, and the distribution either by customer pickup or mailing the product, everything but grow the cow, deer, sheep, hog, goat, whatever. The farmer and this small processing plant work very closely and I suspect, but never asked, that they are related. I buy a quarter beef at a time, and I bless my stars this is available to me. To be able to buy organic pasture raised beef cheaper than the grocery store's poisoned, factory beef? Fist Pump! Oh yea. Ben, your two oldest are learning butchering. I think that is an excellent skill to have, it doesn't need be a year-round job, the organic community needs butchers, and a person could make a decent wage doing seasonal work. You guys are doing a valuable service for the community. Remember, no matter how much rain or snow we get, no man is an island.
When it's just you and your family it's scary. It's the uknown. Your all doingfine and you now have this friendship with men who understand. Oh ya, you have faith.
Time and doubt are the greatest adversaries. All of you have, what this armchair critic thinks, have made great strides but more importantly made real lives for yourselves and your children. I have mad respect for all of you. Ben you could raise enough of those piglets to offer classes where the participants get to take the meat home. You could make good money doing that, possibly.
Al, is it too late to put a couple of drains in the barn for cleaning purposes? I was just thinking about washing out urine. I enjoyed listening to y’all talk about how to build barn doors. Each of you have skills to share.😊❤
Life can be overwhelming. I think we all have them big goals. I’m a thinker I like to write things down. But there’s always gonna be something that you wanna do or you wanna accomplish never stop never
Hey Gang 👋 Allways nice to see the Three Musketeers, BRRRRR COLD, God's Good Blessings to you and your beautiful family's keep up the great work love U guys XOXOXO
Consider hanging sliding doors/gates. You can google the parts. At a major food processing plant the warehouse had a huge sliding door. It'll also keep the bottom mechanisms out of ice/snow. l
Omg Al hemlock canwarp like crazy. This is not boring. Again, great podcast. Ben it seems to me that the boys are older now and I would like to think they would jump on the chance to learn how to build a house this year. With that help you could get your addition done in record time and they would gain skills and knowledge that are extremely valuable. All of you have accomplished great things in a short time. Give yourselves credit and do not beat yourselves up.
Al make a frame out of 2" or square tubing and like Ben suggested angle iron on the inside to mount the fill wood on. If the door is too large add some intermediate 2" tubing pieces. For a lighter weight door skin it in you same barn metal siding instead of wood. Wood grained T-111 hardboard panels also work well and looks nice. I used this on my 13' x 6' driveway gate using construction adhesive to attach the hardboard to the frame. Works well but don't recommend using adhesive, it fixes the edges of the panels too well. The panels can't move with the temp and humidity changes causing them to oil can a bit.
Well I'm going to tell y'all some great news,we all as your social media friends/family keep coming back because of the coolest stuff you do,and how strange is it in reality we are all strangers, but yes guys there is a but,we all watched all three channels before the pod cast seriously dudes that is cool each one of you teach me something every time we see each other,and even though I will never build a high tunnel,or build a barn,or butcher a cow/pig teaching class.I love all of it that's why I come back,so y'all just take your time teaching use because a world of people do use your knowledge in the trades you share.Thank y'all. And yes I will keep swiping the button for you.and I've seen all your wives cook,you 3 are so lucky.🤗
I had Tractor Supply price match on all the gates I bought. I saved hundreds! If you read their price match guarantee there are very few exceptions. They said that our Rural King was too far but there is nothing in their policy about distance.
I think pocket gates are good idea but just take 1 cow to lean on the gate 1 time to bend it and wont slide in any more. Thats my thoughts on it anyhow.
Jason hang the gate, if the track is on the ground, outside you'll always have debris to deal with, be a pain. Put it in conjunction with your xbrace posts. You have good ideas, try it, make a fun video. Cheers.
Bhahaha that’s me on several projects.. But when you’re a homesteader or a homeowner, you always have something to do home upkeep never stops I’m not sure if I mentioned, but I really butchered my pear tree. I’m so pleased with the big outcome of it. I’m just hoping and crossing my fingers that I get some pairs this year it may be a year that it skips. We do get a good amount about 200 pounds of pears .
So all my apps for my smart TV are all premium channels no commercials even y’all RUclips I play premium I don’t like commercials so when the Grammys came on Sunday I missed it so I went back and looked it up on one of my premium channels and it was awesome Tracy Chapman is somebody that I was following from the beginning and so was very touching to see that I didn’t know the young country singer but I know who he is now, but it was really good. I saw the whole thing commercial Free loved it. I’m the youngest of three and I’m the only girl I have nothing but brothers so I grew up with all the 60,70s classic rock and then I like alternative rock and I even of course I was in that era of disco so I like some disco I do some disco dancing with my grandbabies love that music too. My brother says I’m destroying her 🎶 mind with disco lol.
Talking about all the prosciutto is making me hungry. Thank you Ben and Jason for not getting Good Chop or Butcher Box. I saw the video where Jason made bacon, looks delicious.
Al you always bring a calm,perspective to life🫶🏼life is life, whether your homesteading or working! It’s not easy, but it’s fun so always I guess remember that! Not everything in life goes our way, becuz truth be known we are the ones who put the most stress on ourselves. We Homestead and work outside the home and it’s not easy, but life sure has been fun✨
Okay last idea would still be a hanging door outside but to keep it lined you would have liked tongue and groove on the outside of the barn and on the inside surface of the door so that it can't pull away from the exterior. Gosh I can't wait to try all these things myself. Your conversations are so helpful guys❤ thank you
Another great video.....each one better....the give and take between you guys is neat. Regards from very cold Ozarks.,,,,,BTW, today must be older viewer day....l'm 86, my sister is 87 and we are big time fans of you guys.....wonder what the average age of your viewers is...
Well gentlemen may your days be blessed. To me that right now your all doing foundational things right now. What I see is you all in five years will be when you will have a better idea of long term goals.
I would love to have you guys talk about chicken pluckers. Which ones are good one's and which to stay away from. Jason I think it was you that tried one of the plastic one's? How did that work out? Ben I think you made yours? Al not sure what you use?
Good day, AL, Ben and Jason. I am curious to know what your greatest obstacles are in building, developing, and maintaining your homesteading lifestyle and how you go about overcoming these challenges.
If it's not to personal, can I ask how you cover health insurance for your family? also would the women consider doing the podcast one week? Keep up the good work.
Justin has a good idea. To eliminate each year a few more things you won’t need a grocery store for. Fruit, veggies, herbs, spices, ‘meats’😅 He’s been doing this longer and is ahead of all of you. And with Joel Saladin as a mentor, you all have an idea of how to be’ self sustaining’ as a future
Commercial dairy farm around the corner have cows in a stall with feed outside their stall. I have never seen them out in the pasture. I grew up in farm country. My dad never locked the dairy cows up in the barn. They were able to come and go to the pasture or shed for the cows in Michigan weather. Its not healthy to have cows indoors 24/7. I think of the milk that comes from cows that never leave the barn. 😮 we drank the milk of our pasture raised cows. 😊
I'm wondering if you can actually put a hole in this pocket door / sliding door situation.. put an axle through it and attach a wheel on either side? Yes they would still move back and forth in a straight line. Yes it would be four small wheels. They could be tires without an inner tube. The only thing you would need to tuck the doors completely away would be an opening/groove in the building to be able to accommodate the wheel assembly to stow it away in the building. Or NOT. It wouldn't have to go all the way into the building, right? At first I thought about a sunken trench almost with like a railroad type of rail or something similar to a roller coaster but then I realized it was going to get all dirty down in there, that's when I thought about the tire idea! Thoughts?? Or even BETTER yet ... the doors could just be hanging straight down and the wheels could be inside the building pocket, on either side just to guide the door so it wouldn't hang loosely goosey! Last idea would be to still hang the door outside of the building on a rail and instead of building an extra Pocket wall with wheels, sink/concrete a pole down in the ground on the outside of the door and attach a wheel to that that would still be against the door and rolling against the door to keep it lined. I don't know I just got all these different plans in my mind. It's a good thing I'm getting a Homestead this year so I can try all this stuff!!
Hey Ben, how about turning some of that stuff to your boys? I mean, besides the knife building, which is amazingly great. Do any of the boys seem interested in learning about filming? Are there more chores that could possibly be turned over into an interest they might have? I'm sure you've thought of this before. But growing up on a ranch ehen I was younger, the kids on my family ended up learning how to round up the cattle for branding & vaccinations, maybe you & Meg could even take a break once in awhile on them getting together & having a day that they cook? All kinds of stuff could happen. Maybe even influence them into wanting to develop more long-term goals for them? I know they do a lot & help out already anyway , but a good long conversation with them involved might give you some insights? Idk, you probably already do this, you & Meg are really great parents, but with prayers ahead for discernment - maybe kind of look at it in a different way of starting to hand over more responsibility they might enjoy?
What my Father said once you turned 17. Boy or girl. Get to school, get a fulltime job and help out or get out. Choices! No hanging out in the house while dad works and mom cooks. Love Bens youngest son. Hard worker! 😊
I’m a 75-year-old grandma who loves this podcast. I’ve never farmed a day in my life, but was around my grandparents who did many many decades ago. I’ve followed Ben Since they left California. I followed Jason since he was working on a bus for Justin Rhodes. Now I fallen in love with Al’s channel and look forward to seeing him early every morning. Thank you guys. I wish you all the best. My prayers go out to each of you.
Al from Lumnah Acres is an outstanding podcast. We discovered Lumnah, acres when Al & Gina purchased “Hope”.
We fell in Love with the Lumnah’s and all their animals. We mourn the death of CWC and cried over the loss of Figaro, the cat. 😢😢
Lol. May be boring at times for you guys, Jason, but never a second of boring for us out here! You guys are a huge plethora of great advice & teaching! Keep ',em coming! All three of you!
You guys all mentioned this but no one identified it and that there is a third factor. You have long and short term goals but you also have the immediate…things you have to do. As an example both Ben and Al you needed a place to live and that had to be your immediate goal. I watched as each of you took a totally different approach to the need. Al built from scratch and Ben took what he had and made it livable. Jason needed a place that was fertile for growing things so he began by running chickens all over his property and now his soil is improving. You will reach a place where most of your long and short term goals have been realized and all you will have to deal with is the immediate. As an example I have lived where I am since 1987. My landscaping is mature and the house is paid for. What I have to do now is the immediate. Eg paint the house /mow the lawns /trim the shrubs. But even then things come up. This year some tree roots were lifting some sidewalks and so I had them taken out. But I was left with sidewalks to bust up and replace and new landscaping to put in where I took the trees out. I am just finishing up today replacing a section of sidewalk. The plants are bought to do the landscaping over. But in a few days the lawns will need mowing again ( I live in a warm place where grass grows year round ). I want to compliment all three of you. You all have taken your properties and made them better. You all work incredibly hard. I think you all struggle with the immediate getting in the way of accomplishing your goals. Keep eating that elephant one bite at a time and you will eventually accomplish what you want. 🙂
I'm a 76 year old grandma who loves these podcasts! Very relaxing to listen to the problem solving.
The best gift God gave me was my parents who worked hard, saved for the future and loved their girls unconditionally! The best gift my parents gave me was the land they worked so hard for and sacrificed for! I never thought I’d live in the country but here I am, 66 years old and living on 100 acres and enjoying living very close …same property… to my daughter and her family! My husband teaching his grandsons how to work cattle and care for the land that will be theirs one day!
LOVE to hear this!!! I have just the opposite of you. I have parents that didn't love us unconditionally. I am now taking care of them and loving THEM unconditionally. I grew up in the city....I now live in the country very rural on 5 acre homestead. I grow my own food and have chickens and turkeys and my fur baby dogs. I put up my own fencing, tend to my lawn and clean out the barn/coop. It cost me $30 for a years worth of produce for my garden. I can meat and veggies, I freeze corn and beans. I make my own Catsup, tomato juice and spagetti and pizza sauce. I can my own grape juice from my own grapes. I planted two apple tree's and am starting to get a small harvest from them. I am a 66 year old female and I am going to keep doing this until I can't anymore. I planted the seeds with my daughters. They are gardeners and love to see me doing what I love to do.
When you're "spinning your tires", you're actually living the life. Savor and enjoy the journey.
Ben, I always enjoy watching your classes and it was fun seeing Becky out there! And for all of you, I am never bored watching your building projects, never... ❤
Al's pocket gate was the best idea I've seen. Actually, we are planning on building a building for our dog kennels, and his idea will be incorporated into our plans.
you could build the gate so you can have a whelping bed for the mamma dog hugssss
I am a 63 real woman who is a country girl at heart. I owned a 5 acre lot outside of Lubbock, Tx but moved to Austin to take care of my mother. I am now disabled and don’t have much of a life so watching all three of y’all makes my boring life a little easier and I can reminisce of the years raising my boys on my land. Keep up with covering what you think may be boring because it’s not to some of us. I now live in a smaller town outside of San Antonio but I miss owning our own land.
don't worry guys, it may seem repetitive but we love to follow the progress. Please film the trouble shooting the door design. That would be fun to watch.
Ben, you should get a map for garage and people can pin where they travelled from.
Al’s building his long term plans right now. Jason is at work on future plans (fencing and greenhouse) and is waiting for something else to pop up to sustain his family for the future. And Ben doesn’t need to worry about filming videos, just video whatever you need to do and we’ll watch it. It’s all good. 🤩
This was one of your best discussions yet! Love how frank you are about the struggle. Please remember, all good things take time. And, Ben, you have made huge progress and have been successful making family your long-term goal! (Really, all of you have, it's just that Ben mentioned not getting things done.) You've made deeper, more meaningful strides. Then there's all those videos that document your families' growth to cherish. Love how you all really strive for what really matters in your lives, though one may need to look beyond any bright shiny thing.
"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost."
As an older woman I love listening to you figure stuff out. Chewing the fat. I clean for others or wash/prepare eggs for the farm store so this chatting keeps me concentrated on my job but learning stuff along the way.
I agree with the others. Your content is never boring. I have watched it every time you put one up for several years, when I first found out about You tube. And I’m also a 75 yr old grandma, who lives on a “used to be” farm. Brings back a lot of good memories.
Even my chickens like to be outside in the rain and snow (as long as I put down a straw path to under the wild bird feeder). People don't know much about animals they haven't been around. I learn a bunch from you guys, love this pod cast!!
You guys should have your wives do their own podcast together!! As a woman who watches your podcast, I would love to hear their side of homesteading.
None of it is boring! None of it!
Great time guys. Can't explain for you why so many of us grandmas love listening and following you three, but we do. I followed my dad everywhere he went and wanted to help with anything he did. Such a patient man. You guys are doing great and bringing hope for a future generation.
Loving this podcast. Every time I watch this podcast i think about ancestors who were farmers getting together after Sunday church having dinner and discussing topics just like this.
Okay guy's that's one of the things about y'all that I'm amazed by ,how scary it would be to pack up and leave,jobs,homes,family's, friends, what you have always known as security. That is so 💖💖💖💖💖💖 incredible. I'm just so proud of you 3.
Come on Ben! Jason and Al are doing growth while filming!
Jason disappeared and Ben build away i would watch it , Al you did all you can, now plant time hugsssss
You are all raising wonderful families and that takes families most of their time. Your families are along side your farm and learning tasks skills most adults don't know Ben you have 20 or more years just to bring the new baby to 20 so you are doing a fine job and got plenty more days to perfect your skills. If you bring up children that are self sufficient and productive and good patriots to our country huge accomplishments. AND to me the most precious accomplishment is knowing the Lord not only this life but the life to come. I had 8 children of those two are gone both accepted the Lord one walked with God the other I am not sure. Prayerfully you are very great people . A viewer.
Ben and Jason, I have been watching your channels from the beginning. I moved from the Los Angeles area in the late 70's to the country up in Oregon and can relate to you guys. I was really amazed of the risk you both took. I was single when I made a move like that. My situation was much easier because I had less responsibility than you guys. I'm really impressed what both of you guys have accomplished. I watched you survive at first but now I see you thriving. Great job to all of you guys. Al, I'm also very impressed at the homestead that you are developing. I really enjoy watching all three of your homestead channels. Thank you for the pleasure.
13:29 y’all would love Cog Hill’s barn doors. Two huge sliding doors that meet in the middle. Built by contractors.
GUYS: On your second podcast, you asked the viewers to give suggestions on topics that we would like you to discuss when talking at conferences. I'd like to hear a thorough breakdown on all of the different infrastructures that are needed for each of the more popular animals on your farms. As an example, from fencing to feeders to medical supplies (also barrels to hold the feed). I've been powering through your podcasts (I just found them) and I'm enjoying them a lot....even though I've watched each of your other channels for years.
Just a note. Years ago family used newspaper and cardboard to insulate their homes mostly as a wind/cold break. It's a cheap way to temporary insulate a barn. Cardboard is free!
Hi guys ..enjoying this shop talk ..congrats to Meg and Ben on the new baby to come…
Also Portland Oregon.. was cool to see that Becky from Acre Homestead was at your butchering BEN .., it’s cool when other homesteaders RUclipsr can join one another. I know. Lots of people recognize her…👍🏼
Y’all guys are doing great on the barn and Ben on the butchering and JASON on the gate repair and I think everybody had a good year, right .. here in Houston we had that three day freeze. It was horrible we’re not used to that we did have a small busted pipe. My husband was determined to fix it and he did and we’re back to normal. I’m actually gonna have a plumber come out next week after more rain and reroute my plumbing and new pipes it’s not a big part just a little part new pipes insulation and I’ll probably put some of that heat tape around everything
Sounds like Ben needs to fly up to New England for a weekend door building workshop with Al
Be great if Jason can join you too!!!🤓🤓🤓
I think as an intermediate goal Ben and Jason need to get with Al to see what can be worked out with Grid Down for setting up a solar system on their properties. It would be nice not to be dependent on the utility company or gas delivery man.
I am loving these podcasts. they have become part of my Friday routine. We are here in south-africa on a farm/homestead, and loving it! Keep'em coming!
That is awesome!
It’s always nice to listen to you three.
Our kids are using the skills they learned from us in their adult lives but they have all moved 4 states away from us in different directions.
The dream of having your kids close or using our property and running our business hasn’t happened for us yet. So we have to accept life as it unfolds. Or doesn’t.
Goals are just guidelines but can be very fluid.
Just realistically adjust and don’t beat yourself up over wise adjustments.
You guys need to let the ladies come on and talk about how they prepare meals from food from the farm 😊❤
Maybe the long term goals are a place to start, but as time passes and your dreams morph into other dreams that make more sense 1 or 2 or5 years down the line, your long term goals change, too. You've learned things about your land and community that change your long term goals. And you ALL have done so much in the various times you've been on your homesteads. Plus everything takes longer than you think it's going to! Great podcast, as usual.
Jason you look so much healthier than you did. And your attitude is more self-sufficient. You have changed alot. Please stay grateful for your health 🙏💞
I always get something out of every podcast. But THIS one! There were so many awesome jewels you all dropped I'm going to have to watch again and take notes this time. I'm almost 65 and on a super tiny scale compared to all of you but I found so many things I could relate to in trying to build up my small plot and not being where I thought I would be by now. Thank you gentlemen. Well done!
Sounds like Ben could do a video on barn door builds - I'd sure want to watch that!
So good for you 3 guys feed off each others progress and projects. So good information for newbys out there. You learn so much from each channels but even better when you come together
I watch all three channels but I get so excited to watch the podcast! I've learned so much from each.
The reason no one came up with pocket doors in a barn is because experienced farmers, that have cows even just part time in the barn know how much pee and poo they sling. Your pocket gate will become one more chore. Trying to keep the track clean so it slides or doesn't freeze when a cow sticks her butt against the wall and pees and it runs underneath will become difficult in the winter. We live in MN and are milking 3 cows. I'm not sitting on the couch coaching you. Even my main sliding barn door gets stuck in Jan the first time a cow poops in the doorway at -14. It's stuck until we get above freezing. We have a metal quonset barn, open on the south end sliding door on the North. Best of luck
LOL. I just watched Becky's video today about flying across the country to a hog butchering class in North Carolina. I chuckled and thought it would have been funny if she was going to Ben and Meg's homestead. Yup! That girl has sooooo much energy. I have to take a nap after watching her videos. She had a great time.
Here is some unsolicited advice (I am sure you all never get that) periodically have either you guys and the wife's episode or maybe a wife's only episode. Either way I will keep watching/listening. Thank you!!!
Gooood afternoon, Gentlemen.
I got a kick out of Jason with his "Shiney Objects" LOL.. I just knew Al would get him focused! LOL
So I have one of those fancy wrought iron gates, that the wheel just slides on that little track and it’s very large. It was custom built by a friend of ours that used to weld barges.
So he did this for me on the side as a side project and charge me nothing literally I have a very big gate that goes all the way around my house and I think he only charged me $1800. This was pre-Covid.
Now I don’t have a motor on it to close it. We get out to open and close it. My daughter-in-law said wouldn’t you get a motor? I said we will but right now I feel that that’s some good exercise for us to get out and manually open and close it Now we’re much older and probably can’t be harder than I’m put motor on it but we’re good about opening it now like I said, we all need the exercise. 💪🏽
Your 3 wives need to do a channel/podcast like this. It would be interesting to see their points of view. When you did the farm tools they could do their favourite gardening and kitchen tools. They could do the same subjects as you guys but from a female point of view. I think it would be really interesting.
Just because the guys have common interest doesn’t mean the gals have a connection!
@@miephoex they all run homesteads, all 3 have husbands they run businesses with. They all have kids, they all garden, they all cook from scratch and they all can the food they grow and buy. I just thought it would be a good idea to get the wives of these 3 (who's channels I watch) to get their perspective. They have plenty in common.
I didn’t know this channel existed I’ve been watching all of you all’s channels since the beginning. Nice!!
The Morgans (from Outdoors with the Morgans) installed a new gate last summer across their driveway, and it's motorized... activated remotely like a garage door opener. As you, Al, were building your pocket gate, I was wondering why you didn't go the way of the driveway type gate because the whole middle of your barn is like a covered driveway... lol. Okay, guys, so this is the first time I watched your podcast... and I'm not a homesteader (I'm old and retired now), but I always wanted to be. Every time I told someone of my plans, they just said something like "THAT is a whole lot of work... you don't want to do all that!" and I have regretted not following through on that for most of my life. So for now I'm living vicariously thru you guys. Thanks for sharing so much of your lives with us... it just reinforces how incredibly rewarding that sort of life would have been, contrary to the "advice" of friends and family.
It was great seeing Becky
So I got to only watch half of y’all, so I’m watching the other half now. It’s been a crazy day but y’all guys and a lot. The other homesteaders are my Me time 🌱🌱
Ben you have 4 boys that can be doing all of the chores which will free you up to video other things such as building things. None of you mentioned the money issues. It takes money to build things. I’m sure if you had the money to build you’d be doing much more of it.. good luck to all of you with your long term goals.😊
You'll touched on several big themes including inclusion or your kids in the future, ways to make that happen, and the difficulties surrounding selling and shipping your food products. I've never had beef to butcher but the area I live in has several organic farms. One farm that I patronize sells it live cows to a certified (under Pennsylvania law) butcher who does the kill, all cuts, the packaging, the freeze drying, the customized labels, and the distribution either by customer pickup or mailing the product, everything but grow the cow, deer, sheep, hog, goat, whatever. The farmer and this small processing plant work very closely and I suspect, but never asked, that they are related. I buy a quarter beef at a time, and I bless my stars this is available to me. To be able to buy organic pasture raised beef cheaper than the grocery store's poisoned, factory beef? Fist Pump! Oh yea.
Ben, your two oldest are learning butchering. I think that is an excellent skill to have, it doesn't need be a year-round job, the organic community needs butchers, and a person could make a decent wage doing seasonal work.
You guys are doing a valuable service for the community. Remember, no matter how much rain or snow we get, no man is an island.
When it's just you and your family it's scary. It's the uknown. Your all doingfine and you now have this friendship with men who understand.
Oh ya, you have faith.
Time and doubt are the greatest adversaries. All of you have, what this armchair critic thinks, have made great strides but more importantly made real lives for yourselves and your children. I have mad respect for all of you. Ben you could raise enough of those piglets to offer classes where the participants get to take the meat home. You could make good money doing that, possibly.
Al, is it too late to put a couple of drains in the barn for cleaning purposes? I was just thinking about washing out urine. I enjoyed listening to y’all talk about how to build barn doors. Each of you have skills to share.😊❤
Life can be overwhelming. I think we all have them big goals. I’m a thinker I like to write things down.
But there’s always gonna be something that you wanna do or you wanna accomplish never stop never
Hey Gang 👋 Allways nice to see the Three Musketeers, BRRRRR COLD,
God's Good Blessings to you and your beautiful family's keep up the great work love U guys XOXOXO
Consider hanging sliding doors/gates. You can google the parts. At a major food processing plant the warehouse had a huge sliding door. It'll also keep the bottom mechanisms out of ice/snow. l
Omg
Al hemlock canwarp like crazy. This is not boring. Again, great podcast. Ben it seems to me that the boys are older now and I would like to think they would jump on the chance to learn how to build a house this year. With that help you could get your addition done in record time and they would gain skills and knowledge that are extremely valuable. All of you have accomplished great things in a short time. Give yourselves credit and do not beat yourselves up.
Al make a frame out of 2" or square tubing and like Ben suggested angle iron on the inside to mount the fill wood on. If the door is too large add some intermediate 2" tubing pieces. For a lighter weight door skin it in you same barn metal siding instead of wood. Wood grained T-111 hardboard panels also work well and looks nice. I used this on my 13' x 6' driveway gate using construction adhesive to attach the hardboard to the frame. Works well but don't recommend using adhesive, it fixes the edges of the panels too well. The panels can't move with the temp and humidity changes causing them to oil can a bit.
Well I'm going to tell y'all some great news,we all as your social media friends/family keep coming back because of the coolest stuff you do,and how strange is it in reality we are all strangers, but yes guys there is a but,we all watched all three channels before the pod cast seriously dudes that is cool each one of you teach me something every time we see each other,and even though I will never build a high tunnel,or build a barn,or butcher a cow/pig teaching class.I love all of it that's why I come back,so y'all just take your time teaching use because a world of people do use your knowledge in the trades you share.Thank y'all. And yes I will keep swiping the button for you.and I've seen all your wives cook,you 3 are so lucky.🤗
I dont know what causes the great difference in everyone's podcast set up but in the thumbnail Ben looks like he's in a police lineup. 😎
I had Tractor Supply price match on all the gates I bought. I saved hundreds! If you read their price match guarantee there are very few exceptions. They said that our Rural King was too far but there is nothing in their policy about distance.
Einstein x 3...love to watch the wheels turning!
GOOD JOB I LEARN SOMETHING EVERY TIME THANKS FOR SHARING
Glad to hear it
Thankyou 😊
Ben, I'd like to hear how the 2 different types of pigs compare meat-wise, but also with the lard.
I think pocket gates are good idea but just take 1 cow to lean on the gate 1 time to bend it and wont slide in any more. Thats my thoughts on it anyhow.
and I was thinking a cow leaning or kicking on the panel will do a very good reconstruction
Jason hang the gate, if the track is on the ground, outside you'll always have debris to deal with, be a pain. Put it in conjunction with your xbrace posts. You have good ideas, try it, make a fun video. Cheers.
I agree. I have seen some cantilever gates that tip up from one corner that work well in the open
Bhahaha that’s me on several projects..
But when you’re a homesteader or a homeowner, you always have something to do home upkeep never stops
I’m not sure if I mentioned, but I really butchered my pear tree. I’m so pleased with the big outcome of it. I’m just hoping and crossing my fingers that I get some pairs this year it may be a year that it skips. We do get a good amount about 200 pounds of pears .
I got plowed out every weekend in 1992. It was NH. I moved south
So all my apps for my smart TV are all premium channels no commercials even y’all RUclips I play premium I don’t like commercials so when the Grammys came on Sunday I missed it so I went back and looked it up on one of my premium channels and it was awesome Tracy Chapman is somebody that I was following from the beginning and so was very touching to see that I didn’t know the young country singer but I know who he is now, but it was really good. I saw the whole thing commercial Free loved it.
I’m the youngest of three and I’m the only girl I have nothing but brothers so I grew up with all the 60,70s classic rock and then I like alternative rock and I even of course I was in that era of disco so I like some disco
I do some disco dancing with my grandbabies love that music too. My brother says I’m destroying her 🎶 mind with disco lol.
Regarding sliding gates. Outdoors instead of wheels on the ground a track on the top? That way the path won’t be apt to get filled with debris.
I was thinking the same idea, let the doors hang on wheels (pulley design kind of wheels) and slide
Talking about all the prosciutto is making me hungry. Thank you Ben and Jason for not getting Good Chop or Butcher Box. I saw the video where Jason made bacon, looks delicious.
❤
Ben you could put a pocket door on Buggie s new room ,
hey have you guys thought of having a some episodes where the wives get together and show their side of the homesteading
Al you always bring a calm,perspective to life🫶🏼life is life, whether your homesteading or working! It’s not easy, but it’s fun so always I guess remember that! Not everything in life goes our way, becuz truth be known we are the ones who put the most stress on ourselves. We Homestead and work outside the home and it’s not easy, but life sure has been fun✨
Okay last idea would still be a hanging door outside but to keep it lined you would have liked tongue and groove on the outside of the barn and on the inside surface of the door so that it can't pull away from the exterior. Gosh I can't wait to try all these things myself. Your conversations are so helpful guys❤ thank you
Great episode fellas. I'm a retired school teacher and am curious to know what you all do to help your children socialize with their peers.
Hey!!! I found you
The Lumnah family sent me
Subscribed and liked 😎👍
That’s my problem I can’t just stay on one thing but I guess I need to
Super cool podcast y'all stay safe and keep warm. Tell all your ladies hello from Michigan.
Another great video.....each one better....the give and take between you guys is neat. Regards from very cold Ozarks.,,,,,BTW, today must be older viewer day....l'm 86, my sister is 87 and we are big time fans of you guys.....wonder what the average age of your viewers is...
Well gentlemen may your days be blessed.
To me that right now your all doing foundational things right now.
What I see is you all in five years will be when you will have a better idea of long term goals.
Much appreciated always interesting
Goodmorning everyone.
Interesting podcast guys.
I would love to have you guys talk about chicken pluckers. Which ones are good one's and which to stay away from. Jason I think it was you that tried one of the plastic one's? How did that work out? Ben I think you made yours? Al not sure what you use?
Good day, AL, Ben and Jason. I am curious to know what your greatest obstacles are in building, developing, and maintaining your homesteading lifestyle and how you go about overcoming these challenges.
Always enjoy the videos guys. Keep up the good work.
Thanks 👍
If it's not to personal, can I ask how you cover health insurance for your family? also would the women consider doing the podcast one week? Keep up the good work.
Justin has a good idea. To eliminate each year a few more things you won’t need a grocery store for. Fruit, veggies, herbs, spices, ‘meats’😅 He’s been doing this longer and is ahead of all of you. And with Joel Saladin as a mentor, you all have an idea of how to be’ self sustaining’ as a future
So your saying the baby is a boy, Ben???😁💕💕💕Just teasing😉
Commercial dairy farm around the corner have cows in a stall with feed outside their stall. I have never seen them out in the pasture.
I grew up in farm country. My dad never locked the dairy cows up in the barn. They were able to come and go to the pasture or shed for the cows in Michigan weather.
Its not healthy to have cows indoors 24/7. I think of the milk that comes from cows that never leave the barn. 😮 we drank the milk of our pasture raised cows. 😊
Good morning!
Morning!
I'm wondering if you can actually put a hole in this pocket door / sliding door situation.. put an axle through it and attach a wheel on either side? Yes they would still move back and forth in a straight line. Yes it would be four small wheels. They could be tires without an inner tube. The only thing you would need to tuck the doors completely away would be an opening/groove in the building to be able to accommodate the wheel assembly to stow it away in the building. Or NOT. It wouldn't have to go all the way into the building, right?
At first I thought about a sunken trench almost with like a railroad type of rail or something similar to a roller coaster but then I realized it was going to get all dirty down in there, that's when I thought about the tire idea! Thoughts??
Or even BETTER yet ... the doors could just be hanging straight down and the wheels could be inside the building pocket, on either side just to guide the door so it wouldn't hang loosely goosey!
Last idea would be to still hang the door outside of the building on a rail and instead of building an extra Pocket wall with wheels, sink/concrete a pole down in the ground on the outside of the door and attach a wheel to that that would still be against the door and rolling against the door to keep it lined. I don't know I just got all these different plans in my mind. It's a good thing I'm getting a Homestead this year so I can try all this stuff!!
Hey Ben, how about turning some of that stuff to your boys? I mean, besides the knife building, which is amazingly great. Do any of the boys seem interested in learning about filming? Are there more chores that could possibly be turned over into an interest they might have? I'm sure you've thought of this before. But growing up on a ranch ehen I was younger, the kids on my family ended up learning how to round up the cattle for branding & vaccinations, maybe you & Meg could even take a break once in awhile on them getting together & having a day that they cook? All kinds of stuff could happen. Maybe even influence them into wanting to develop more long-term goals for them? I know they do a lot & help out already anyway , but a good long conversation with them involved might give you some insights? Idk, you probably already do this, you & Meg are really great parents, but with prayers ahead for discernment - maybe kind of look at it in a different way of starting to hand over more responsibility they might enjoy?
What my Father said once you turned 17. Boy or girl. Get to school, get a fulltime job and help out or get out. Choices! No hanging out in the house while dad works and mom cooks. Love Bens youngest son. Hard worker! 😊
Long term goal would be to be financially stable and independent.