Call To Farms

Latest Episodes:

Episode 93: Why Serious Homestead Buyers Should Not Sit Out This Market May 19, 2026

Show notes

In this May housing market and homestead update, Tim and Sophie share reflections from their trip to the Prairie Roots Homesteading Summit in North Dakota, where they keynoted alongside Justin and Rebekah Rhodes and spoke with their children about entrepreneurship on the homestead. They also recap family highlights from visiting Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park before returning home to spring garden work, fencing, and new Korean Natural Farming test plots.

Then they dive into what buyers and sellers need to know right now: interest rates are creeping back up, buyer hesitation is increasing, and the window for serious homestead buyers may actually be opening. Tim explains why now is the time to do recon, understand your target area, and be prepared to move when the right property appears. They also discuss why lowball offers can backfire, especially in Tennessee and other Southern markets where trust, honor, and seller relationships matter.

For sellers, Tim and Sophie talk about the importance of professional marketing, quality photos, strong listing descriptions, and working with an agent who understands acreage, land, and homestead properties. Whether you are buying, selling, or simply preparing for the future, this episode will help you think strategically about the current market and build the right team before you make your next move.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looking for property? Download ⁠⁠my free Dealbreaker Checklist⁠.⁠ It's a compilation of what I look for.

Have questions on buying or selling real estate? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reach out to Tim directly here!

Secure your copy of our forthcoming book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Nourishing Asian Homestead⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want some more resources to jumpstart your homestead? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Call to Farms Community.⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Your Tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to the Modern Homesteading Conference in Coeur d'Alene, ID on June 26-27.

Join Tim and Sophia at the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chelsea Green Food & Farming Convergence⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at Polyface Farms on September 25-26, 2026.

Episode 92: What Every Veteran Should Know About the VA Loan May 12, 2026

Show notes

If you served our country, you earned this benefit, and it may be one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available to veterans today.

In this episode of the Call to Farms Podcast, Tim and Sophia Eng break down the truth about the VA loan, why it is often misunderstood, and how veterans can use it to purchase a home with 0% down, lower interest rates, no PMI, and even build on land using the VA One-Time Close Construction Loan.

As a veteran, REALTOR®, and military family, Tim and Sophia share real stories from helping veterans purchase homes in some of the most competitive markets in the country, from the San Francisco Bay Area to rural homesteads across America.

They cover:
• Common myths about VA loans
• How veterans can compete against cash offers
• VA loan benefits most people do not know about
• Using your VA entitlement more than once
• Buying multi-unit properties with a VA loan
• VA assumable loans
• VA IRRRL refinance options
• VA construction loans for land and home builds
• Why choosing the right lender and realtor matters
• How military families can build long-term stability and cash flow through real estate

Whether you are active duty, transitioning out of the military, retired, or a disabled veteran, this episode is designed to help you better understand the benefits you earned through your service.

This conversation is about more than mortgages. It is about legacy, freedom, stability, and bringing families home.

If this episode helped you, please share it with a veteran or military family who needs to hear it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looking for property? Download ⁠⁠my free Dealbreaker Checklist⁠.⁠ It's a compilation of what I look for.

Have questions on buying or selling real estate? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reach out to Tim directly here!

Secure your copy of our forthcoming book, ⁠⁠⁠The Nourishing Asian Homestead⁠⁠⁠.

Want some more resources to jumpstart your homestead? ⁠⁠⁠Join our Call to Farms Community.⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to the Prairie Roots Homesteading Summit held on May 15-16 in Watford City, ND.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Your Early Bird Tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to the Modern Homesteading Conference in Coeur d'Alene, ID on June 26-27.

Join Tim and Sophia at the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chelsea Green Food & Farming Convergence⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at Polyface Farms on September 25-26, 2026.

Join our waitlist for our 2026 Homesteaders United Conference, which will be hosted on our property in East Tennessee. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign Up Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 91: The Art of Clabber with Katya Luniova May 06, 2026

Show notes

What if milk was never the problem?In this episode of the Call to Farms Podcast, Sophia sits down with Katya Luniova to explore a forgotten tradition that challenges everything we’ve been taught about dairy.Most of us grew up hearing that milk is hard to digest, inflammatory, or even harmful. But Katya offers a radically different perspective. The issue isn’t milk itself—it’s what we’ve done to it.Together, they dive into the ancient practice of clabbering: simply allowing raw milk to ferment naturally on the counter. No additives. No special tools. Just time. What results is a deeply nourishing, probiotic-rich food that traditional cultures relied on for generations.In this conversation, you’ll discover:- What clabber actually is and why it’s considered the “original” fermented dairy- Why so many people today struggle with dairy—and how fermentation changes everything- The connection between clabber, yogurt, kefir, and other cultured foods- How ancestral cultures (from Eastern Europe to Asia) viewed food as something sacred, not disposable- Practical ways to use every part of milk—from cream to whey—in a sustainable, nourishing waySophia also shares her own journey from avoiding dairy to running a micro-dairy on her Tennessee homestead—and how fermentation has transformed the way her family nourishes themselves.This episode is an invitation to rethink modern food systems, reconnect with ancestral wisdom, and rediscover how simple practices can radically improve gut health and resilience.If you’ve ever questioned what’s really happening to your food—or you’re ready to bring your kitchen back to life—this conversation will open a door you didn’t know existed.

If you purchase a Slavic Beauty cream separator and use the code: CALLTOFARMS, you receive a free book!

Looking for property? Download ⁠⁠my free Dealbreaker Checklist⁠.⁠ It's a compilation of what I look for.

Have questions on buying or selling real estate? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reach out to Tim directly here!

Secure your copy of our forthcoming book, ⁠⁠The Nourishing Asian Homestead⁠⁠.

Want some more resources to jumpstart your homestead? ⁠⁠Join our Call to Farms Community.⁠⁠

Episode 90: What You May Not Know About Soil, Health and Food with David Stelzer of Azure Standard Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

What if the food you trust the most is not actually nourishing you?Not because it is fake, but because something essential has been lost long before it ever reaches your table.In this episode of Call to Farms, we sit down with David Stelzer of Azure Standard, one of the largest independent distributors of organic and regenerative foods in the country, to talk about what is really happening behind the labels.We go beyond the surface conversation of “organic” and into the deeper questions many families are starting to ask.Can you truly trust the modern food system, even when it is labeled clean?What does it take to source food with integrity at scale?How do soil health, farming practices, and distribution decisions impact your family’s health?What does it actually look like to rebuild a parallel food system rooted in stewardship instead of profit?This conversation is not just about food. It is about responsibility, systems, and reclaiming your role in how your family eats and lives.If you have ever stood in a grocery aisle wondering if organic is enough, this episode will challenge how you think about nourishment from the ground up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be sure to check out Azure Standard to see if there is a drop near you! Click Here

Looking for property? Download ⁠⁠my free Dealbreaker Checklist⁠.⁠ It's a compilation of what I look for.

Have questions on buying or selling real estate? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reach out to Tim directly here!

Secure your copy of our forthcoming book, ⁠The Nourishing Asian Homestead⁠.

Want some more resources to jumpstart your homestead? ⁠Join our Call to Farms Community.⁠

Episode 89: The Spring Shift in Housing, Fuel, and Food Right Now Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

After 8 weeks off the mic, we’re back and a lot has changed.

This episode was recorded just a week and a half ago and already the landscape is shifting again. Mortgage rates have started to improve. The Strait of Hormuz opened, then closed again. Fuel prices, fertilizer, and food systems are all moving fast.

In this conversation, we break down what we are seeing in real time across real estate, lending, and on the ground with families making moves across the country.

We talk about:

What is actually happening in the housing market right now and why this spring feels different
Why global events like the Strait of Hormuz matter more than people realize
The ripple effect on fertilizer, food supply, and what that means later this year
What we have been doing on our own homestead after stepping back for the past 8 weeks
What you should be doing right now if you are buying, holding, or preparing

We are not sharing this from theory. We are seeing it play out across clients in all 50 states and on our own land.

If you have been waiting, this episode will give you clarity on what is changing and what to pay attention to next.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looking for property? Download ⁠⁠my free Dealbreaker Checklist⁠.⁠ It's a compilation of what I look for.

Have questions on buying or selling real estate? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reach out to Tim directly here!

Secure your copy of our forthcoming book, The Nourishing Asian Homestead.

Want some more resources to jumpstart your homestead? Join our Call to Farms Community.

Episode 88: Beef vs Dairy Cows with Janelle Anderson Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

There is a difference between liking the idea of homesteading and living a life where animals depend on you every single day.

In this episode of Call to Farms, Sophia Eng sits down with Janelle Anderson of Haven Farmstead for an honest conversation about what livestock stewardship truly requires beyond the highlight reel.

Janelle shares her experience moving from beef cattle to dairy cows and explains why feeding animals well is a daily responsibility, not a convenience. They discuss how nutrition affects milk quality, why soil health matters, and the most common mistakes new homesteaders make when bringing home a family milk cow.

This conversation also explores mentorship, why online advice can be misleading, and how caring for animals builds discipline, consistency, and humility in the farmer.

Answering the call to farms is not a one-time decision. It is something you recommit to season after season.

If you have ever wondered what this life actually asks of you, this episode offers practical insight, quiet wisdom, and a realistic look at farm life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be sure to follow Janelle!

Janelle Anderson Instagram

Janelle Anderson FaceBook

The Haven Farmstead Website

Looking for property? Download ⁠⁠my free Dealbreaker Checklist⁠.⁠ It's a compilation of what I look for.

Have questions on buying or selling real estate? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reach out to Tim directly here!

Check out our Call to Farms Community where you have access to farm and cooking courses along with direct access to us as you build out your homestead! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 87: You Don’t Have to Wait for Retirement to Start Homesteading Feb 10, 2026

Show notes

What if you did not have to wait until retirement to live the life you want. What if homesteading did not mean quitting your job, going off grid, or putting your dreams on hold until your kids are grown.

In this episode of the Call to Farms Podcast, Tim and Sophia share how they are building a meaningful life now through modern homesteading, homeschooling, entrepreneurship, and shared family responsibility. They talk honestly about why waiting for “someday” is a myth, how the events of 2020 reshaped their priorities, and why small, intentional steps matter more than perfect timing.

You will hear how homesteading can start anywhere, from a condo to a quarter acre, how to involve children as capable contributors rather than burdens, and why modern homesteading is not about suffering or doing everything yourself. They break down what hybrid living really looks like, balancing career, income, technology, land, and resilience without burnout.

This episode also dives into building community from scratch, especially for introverts, redefining education as preparation for real life, and giving yourself permission to start before everything feels ready.

If you have been quietly dreaming of a different way of living but feel stuck by finances, age, family stage, or fear of getting it wrong, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to take the next step right where you are.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looking for property? Download ⁠⁠my free Dealbreaker Checklist⁠.⁠ It's a compilation of what I look for.

Have questions on buying or selling real estate? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reach out to Tim directly here!

Check out our Call to Farms Community where you have access to farm and cooking courses along with direct access to us as you build out your homestead! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Here⁠⁠⁠⁠

Don't miss out on another off-market listing! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Be sure to sign up here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 86: Winter Storms, Interest Rates, and the 2026 Housing Market Update Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

Winter storms, market shifts, and major decisions all collided at once, and this episode is a reminder that homesteading is about preparation, adaptability, and stewardship when life feels uncertain.

In this episode of the Call to Farms Podcast, Tim and Sophia Eng share how they prepared their homestead for extreme cold, ice storms, and a bomb cyclone, along with lessons learned after moving from California to Tennessee. They also break down what is happening in the housing market, including interest rates, the Federal Reserve’s latest decisions, and what recent leadership changes could mean for homeowners, buyers, and land seekers.

You will hear practical insight on homestead readiness, land and buyer activity, using home equity wisely, and why physical assets like land continue to matter. The episode also includes updates on upcoming books, workshops, and speaking events.

If you are navigating uncertainty or considering your next move toward land or homeownership, this conversation offers clarity and perspective.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looking for property? Download ⁠⁠my free Dealbreaker Checklist⁠.⁠ It's a compilation of what I look for.

Have questions on buying or selling real estate? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reach out to Tim directly here!

Check out our Call to Farms Community where you have access to farm and cooking courses along with direct access to us as you build out your homestead! ⁠⁠⁠Join Here⁠⁠⁠

Don't miss out on another off-market listing! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Be sure to sign up here.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 85: Regenerative Homesteading in North Dakota with Daniel Stenberg Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

Most people assume regenerative farming and homesteading cannot work in places where winter lasts half the year and conventional agriculture dominates the landscape.

In this episode of The Call to Farms Podcast, Tim and Sophia Eng sit down with Daniel Stenberg, founder of the Prairie Roots Homesteading Summit, to challenge that assumption and explore what is actually happening on the ground in North Dakota and the Northern Great Plains.

Daniel grew up on land originally homesteaded by his great grandparents in the early 1900s, one of the last regions settled under the Homestead Act due to its harsh conditions. After spending years away, he returned home with a renewed vision of reconnecting people to land, food, and community in a place most have written off as too hard.

This conversation explores:

The real tension between conventional agriculture and regenerative practices in the Dakotas
Why farmers markets became the spark for a larger homesteading movement
What homesteading looks like with a 100 day growing season
How newcomers, young families, and returning locals are reshaping rural communities
The role of grit, adaptation, and knowing when to pivot
Why local, regional events matter for resilient food systems
The vision behind launching the first Prairie Roots Homesteading Summit in North Dakota

Rather than selling a lifestyle fantasy, this episode focuses on reality. Short growing seasons, challenging soil, and the deep fulfillment that comes from producing food, stewarding land, and rebuilding local networks anyway.

If you have ever wondered whether regenerative homesteading can work anywhere, especially in hard places, this conversation will expand your perspective.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Click Here to the Prairie Roots Homesteading Summit, early bird tickets, and event details.

Looking for property? Download ⁠⁠my free Dealbreaker Checklist⁠.⁠ It's a compilation of what I look for.

Have questions on buying or selling real estate? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reach out to Tim directly here!

Check out our Call to Farms Community where you have access to farm and cooking courses along with direct access to us as you build out your homestead! ⁠⁠Join Here⁠⁠

Are you a veteran or active duty service member looking to make a move? Join our live VA Home Buying workshop to understand how to make the most of your VA loan. ⁠⁠Register Here⁠⁠

Don't miss out on another off-market listing! ⁠⁠⁠Be sure to sign up here.⁠⁠⁠

Get your copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Becoming Your Own Banker⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be sure to bring your questions to our live workshop!

Episode 84: Securing Your Homestead with Infinite Banking and Cash-Flow Strategy with Kurt Berry Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

What does it really mean to secure your home, your homestead, and your family’s future?

In this special episode of The Call to Farms Podcast, Tim and Sophia Eng sit down with their trusted financial advisor and friend, Kurt Berry of Stillwater Financial, to unpack the Infinite Banking Concept and why it has become a cornerstone of true financial resilience for families who want control, clarity, and long-term security.

Tim was first introduced to the idea more than a decade ago through Becoming Your Own Banker by R. Nelson Nash. While the concept made sense on paper, it wasn’t until meeting Kurt, someone who lives it with integrity, patience, and real-world experience, that the strategy fully clicked. Together, Tim, Sophia, and Kurt move beyond theory and into practical application.

In this conversation, they cover:

What the Infinite Banking Concept actually is (and what it is not)
Common misconceptions about whole life insurance
Why cash flow matters more than income
The difference between “or” assets and “and” assets
How families can build a parallel financial system they control
Why financial preparedness is a critical part of homestead security
How this strategy works alongside real estate, mortgages, HELOCs, and long-term planning

Kurt also shares his personal journey from city life to homesteading in Tennessee, how Infinite Banking transformed his own financial approach, and why this strategy has quietly been used by the wealthiest families and institutions for generations.

This episode is for anyone who:

Feels uneasy relying solely on traditional banks
Wants to build generational wealth with intention
Is planning ahead for a stronger, more resilient 2026
Believes financial literacy is a form of stewardship

If this episode sparks questions, Tim and Sophia will be hosting free live workshops with Kurt to walk through the concept step by step and answer questions openly.

Links to the workshop, the book Becoming Your Own Banker, and additional resources are below.

This episode isn’t about selling products. It’s about restoring clarity, ownership, and confidence around money so families can protect what they’re building and pass on a lasting legacy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Get your copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Becoming Your Own Banker⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be sure to bring your questions to our live workshop!

Looking for property? Download ⁠⁠my free Dealbreaker Checklist⁠.⁠ It's a compilation of what I look for.

Have questions on buying or selling real estate? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reach out to Tim directly here!

Don't miss out on another off-market listing! ⁠⁠⁠Be sure to sign up here.⁠⁠

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected