Call To Farms

Latest Episodes:

Episode 73: Why Families Are Turning to Fermented Cod Liver Oil Again Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever wondered why fermented cod liver oil has been called one of the most powerful ancestral foods for families?

In this episode of Call to Farms, we sit down with Addie Bartlett, CEO of Green Pasture Products, to uncover the story behind this age-old superfood and why it’s making a modern comeback.

Addie shares her personal journey into the world of nutrient-dense foods, the inspiration behind Green Pasture, and how fermentation preserves the vital vitamins that support gut health, immunity, and overall vitality. We also explore the balance of science and tradition, sustainable sourcing, and the role fermented foods can play in your family’s wellness journey.

Whether you’re a homesteader, a parent trying to feed your family real food, or simply curious about ancestral nutrition, this conversation is packed with insights, practical tips, and stories that will inspire you to rethink the way you nourish your body from the soil to the kitchen table.

Tune in to discover:

The fascinating history and process behind fermented cod liver oil

Practical tips for incorporating nutrient-dense foods into family meals
Common myths about cod liver oil and fermented foods—and what’s actually true
Ways homesteaders and small-scale families can connect with ancestral nutrition today

Don’t miss this episode if you want to bring tradition, nutrition, and real food back to your table!

🎧 Listen now and nourish your family the ancestral way!

Episode 72: Downsizing Gone Wrong! Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

What happens when downsizing your herd turns into upsizing your farm family? In this episode of the Call to Farms podcast, Tim (The Homesteading Agent) and Sophie (author of The Nourishing Asian Kitchen) share their August homesteading update—complete with surprise dairy cows, lessons learned from raising meat birds in Tennessee, and the challenges (and blessings) of saying “yes” to unexpected opportunities.

We also dive deep into:

Why downsizing doesn’t always mean doing less—and how to choose what’s truly worth your time and energy on the homestead.
The hard realities of small farms closing, and what it means for the future of food and community.
Our first pottery firings (and the girls’ new business at JoyandJolie.com).
How our new venture, The Growth School, is equipping the next generation with entrepreneurial and AI-ready skills.
The latest housing market shifts: interest rates, buyers on the move, and why now may be the time to secure your homestead property.

This episode is equal parts practical, heartfelt, and eye-opening—perfect for anyone navigating the balance of homesteading, family, and the housing market.

👉 Hit subscribe, share with a friend, and let us know what resonated most.

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We invite you to join us at the upcoming Homesteaders United Jamboree in Concord, NC on August 28-30, 2025. ⁠⁠Get Tickets Here!⁠⁠

Save 15% on Redmond Products by using our discount code: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GOODSOIL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 71: From Bay Area to 70 Acres: Why We’re All-In on Land, Legacy & Local Food (July 2025 Housing Market Update) Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

In this jam-packed milestone episode, Tim (The Homesteading Agent) and Sophia (The Homesteading Lender) share their July housing market update and a deeply personal behind-the-scenes look at how they went from a Bay Area quarter-acre to managing over 70 acres of regenerative land in East Tennessee.

You’ll hear:
🌾 Why now is the time to buy — especially for homesteaders and first-time buyers
📉 What’s really going on with interest rates, inflation, and the Fed
🏠 The true story behind pocket listings, family compounds, and off-market land deals
🛠️ A powerful story about saying yes to hard things and helping your neighbors
🌎 How clients from around the country are waking up and making bold moves toward food security
💡 The quiet revolution (that’s not so quiet anymore) — and how you can join in

This episode also includes exciting announcements for what’s ahead — including new lending changes that benefit off-grid homesteaders, the launch of The Growth School, and your invite to upcoming events 👇

🔐 TONIGHT (7/25 @ 4PM PT / 7PM ET):
Homestead Security Webinar with Tim, The Homesteading Agent

Learn how to protect your livestock, land, and loved ones using the SAFE Method, developed from Tim’s combat experience and homestead life.

👉 Register: https://streamyard.com/watch/yC9PWXDrcpiC

🎓 The Growth School is OPEN for Founding Members
Sophia's new online community for homeschool families & youth to master entrepreneurship, AI, and future-ready skills — with challenges, coaching, and real results.
Enrollment closes July 31.
👉 https://www.thegrowthschool.com

🏡 Homebuying 101: August Workshop
Want to own land or your first home, but don’t know where to start? Learn how to go from dreamer to buyer in this no-fluff workshop.
👉https://streamyard.com/watch/sYSmwfgDNsCR

🎪 Homesteaders United Jamboree – Concord, NC (Labor Day Weekend)
Hands-on workshops, harvesting, bone broth cooking, and intimate time with fellow homesteaders like Tim, Sophia, and Mike & Lacey Dixon (The Fit Farmer).
👉 https://www.homesteadersunited.com

🙏 If this episode inspired you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Episode 70: From Dairy to Dirt to Divine Skincare with Charles Mayfield Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we sit down with Charles Mayfield — father, bestselling author, regenerative farmer, and founder of Farrow Skincare — to trace his journey from Mayfield Dairy roots to launching a land-based skincare company built on lard and healing.

Charles shares how his upbringing on the family dairy instilled a powerful work ethic and how his hands-on experience at Polyface Farms with Joel Salatin sparked his passion for regenerative agriculture. He went on to found Mayfield Pastures, raising high-quality, pasture-based meats, and ultimately, Farrow, a skincare line crafted from the very animals he stewards.

We dive into why your skin is your largest organ—and how it’s been overlooked in the health and wellness world. Charles explains why lard is not just an ancestral fat, but a nutrient-dense powerhouse for healing sun-damaged and sensitive skin, and how the key to vibrant health may lie in reconnecting with land, animals, and traditional wisdom.

Whether you're a homesteader, health seeker, or skincare skeptic, this episode will challenge what you think you know about health, beauty, and sustainability.

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Save 15% on your first Farrow purchase by using code: COMETOFARMS

Be sure to Follow Farrow on Instagram!

We invite you to join us at the upcoming Homesteaders United Jamboree in Concord, NC on August 28-30, 2025. ⁠Get Tickets Here!⁠

Save 15% on Redmond Products by using our discount code: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GOODSOIL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 69: June Housing Market SHOCK and What It Means for You Jun 20, 2025

Show notes

In this power-packed episode of the Call to Farms podcast, Tim Eng—aka The Homesteading Agent—and his wife Sophie, author of The Nourishing Asian Kitchen, break down the state of the U.S. housing market as of June 2025—and what it means for homesteaders and families alike.

📈 Is the market cooling… or just on pause?
🏡 What’s really happening with home prices, mortgage rates, and why aren’t buyers moving?
🌱 How does homestead-ready land compare to residential real estate right now?

We dive into:

Why there are 500,000 more sellers than buyers—but not in the places you think.
What’s different in Florida, Texas, Arizona vs. rural homesteading areas.
Mortgage rates, new 1% down programs, and what it means for first-time and homestead buyers.
Price drops, seller concessions, and the hidden cost of waiting.
Political and economic tensions (Flag Day, the Fed, California unrest, Trump vs. Newsom) and how it’s shaking buyer confidence.
Tim’s upcoming talk at the Modern Homesteading Conference on homestead security and The SAFE Method.
Our personal homestead updates, homeschooling with high-agency digital skills, and exciting news about the Homesteaders United Jamboree 2025—including chicken butchering, knife sharpening, and hands-on workshops for families.

Whether you're buying, selling, or dreaming about land, this episode gives you the real talk, not the Realtor pitch. 👣

Stay rooted. Stay ready. Stay free.

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Last Chance! Join us in person at the 2025 Modern Homesteading Conference in Coeur d’Alene, ID on June 27th and 28th, 2025! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get tickets here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SAVE 10% on General Admission with code: SPRINKLE10

We invite you to join us at the upcoming Homesteaders United Jamboree in Concord, NC on August 28-30, 2025. Get Tickets Here!

Save 15% on Redmond Products by using our discount code: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GOODSOIL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 68: Too late or just in time? May Housing Market Update & What You Need to Know May 30, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Call to Farms, join Sophie and Tim as they break down the housing market for May — both in their East Tennessee region and across the country. There's been an uptick in buyers looking to homestead, but it's a tale of two camps: those who sat on the sidelines too long and are now feeling priced out, and those who have the funds but little preparation, looking to homesteading as a fast-track solution to growing economic uncertainty.

We unpack what this means for sellers, what buyers need to be aware of, and how to navigate today’s real estate climate with clarity and purpose.

Plus, we share exciting details about our upcoming Homesteaders United Jamboree in Concord, NC, where we’ve partnered with Mike The Fit Farmer to bring you a hands-on experience. We’ll be hosting Homesteading 2.0 workshops to help you uplevel your skills. Because it’s one thing to watch... but another to do.

Whether you’re just starting to dream or you're already deep into the lifestyle and ready to go further, this episode — and this event — is for you.

🎧 Tune in and take the next step toward your self-sufficient future.

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We invite you to join us at the upcoming Homesteaders United Jamboree in Concord, NC on August 28-30, 2025. Save when you use the code: EARLYBIRD2025

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Join us in person at the 2025 Modern Homesteading Conference in Coeur d’Alene, ID on June 27th and 28th, 2025! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get tickets here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SAVE 10% on General Admission with code: SPRINKLE10

Episode 67: From Silicon Valley to Southern Soil May 09, 2025

Show notes

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of the Call to Farms Podcast, we sit down with our good friend Ilia Jackson of Mini Mint Farms to hear her incredible journey from fast-paced Silicon Valley life to full-time trailer living—and ultimately settling into a thriving homestead in Middle Tennessee.

Ilia shares how she and her family navigated the search for the right land, built a beautiful barndominium from the ground up, and dove headfirst into raising mini Jersey cows. As a true Jill-of-all-trades, Ilia juggles homesteading, homeschooling, and homemaking while her husband continues to work full-time in tech as an entrepreneur.

We talk about what it really takes to make the transition to self-sufficient living, how they balance family responsibilities, and why her story is a powerful example for anyone dreaming of growing their own food and finding freedom through homesteading.

Whether you're just starting to dream or deep in the dirt, this episode will encourage and equip you to take the next step.

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You've got to try freeze-dried candy. Kids and adults love them!

Mini Mint Farm Candy

Want to learn more about Ilia's Mini Jerseys and Raw Milk?

Mini Mint Farm Instagram

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Join us in person at the 2025 Modern Homesteading Conference in Coeur d’Alene, ID on June 27th and 28th, 2025! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get tickets here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SAVE 10% on General Admission with code: SPRINKLE10

Episode 66: Melissa K. Norris on Living Handmade May 03, 2025

Show notes

In this inspiring episode of the Call to Farms Podcast, we sit down with Melissa K. Norris—homesteader, author, and beloved voice in the homesteading community—to talk about her brand-new book Home and Handmade. Melissa shares the heart behind her latest work, her personal journey from generational homesteader to modern-day teacher and mentor, and even answers a fun listener question about her favorite homesteading chore (you might be surprised!).

Whether you're just getting started or have been homesteading for years, Melissa offers practical tips and resources to help you keep learning, growing, and building community. This episode is packed with encouragement, wisdom, and the kind of real-talk every homesteader needs.

Tune in and be inspired to take the next step in your own homestead journey—with heart, purpose, and a little handmade grit.

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Pre-Order Your Copy of Home and Handmade!

Join Melissa this coming week from 5/5-5/9 as she hosts a free, five-day Kitchen Crash Course on Preserving the Harvest and Stocking the Pantry. Be Sure to Secure Your Spot Here!

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Join us in person at the 2025 Modern Homesteading Conference in Coeur d’Alene, ID on June 27th and 28th, 2025! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get tickets here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SAVE 10% on General Admission with code: SPRINKLE10

Episode 65: Grief, Gratitude, and the Journey to Homestead Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

This week’s episode is a little different, and deeply personal.

While traveling back to Cali for the funeral of her favorite uncle, Sophie recorded this solo episode to honor his memory and share the powerful influence he had on her life. From childhood moments that shaped her resilience to the values that led her and Tim to pursue homesteading, Sophie opens up in a way that’s raw, heartfelt, and full of gratitude.

And to answer your question before it even comes up - no, Tim did not smuggle a gun in for him! 😂 That would definitely be illegal.

This one isn’t about real estate or farm updates. It’s about legacy, love, and the people who shape our path. If you’ve ever wondered about the “why” behind our lifestyle, or just need a gentle reminder to appreciate the ones who got you here, this is the episode to listen to.

Pull up a chair, pour a cup of something warm, and join Sophie in this special tribute.

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Join us in person at the 2025 Modern Homesteading Conference in Coeur d’Alene, ID on June 27th and 28th, 2025! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get tickets here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SAVE 10% on General Admission with code: SPRINKLE10

Episode 64: Make This Your Sign, The Housing Market Just Shifted Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

Hey Friends, welcome back to Call to Farms. In today’s episode, we’re diving into a major shift we’ve seen in just the last month in the housing market—and how it’s being shaped by global events and national economic turbulence.

Tariffs just rocked the economy. The stock market’s been swinging like crazy. And if you’ve been feeling that uncertainty in your gut—whether you’re a buyer, seller, or homesteader—you’re not alone.

What we cover in this episode:

What changed in the housing market from March to April—and why it matters
How tariffs and stock volatility are influencing buyer behavior and investor confidence
What we're doing to stay ahead by recession-proofing our lives
Why this shift could be your sign to finally jump off the fence and into the world of homesteading

Whether you’re looking to buy land, build a homestead, or just want more freedom and options for your family, now is the time to act intentionally.
We want to inspire you to take action—not out of fear, but out of purpose. You can design a life that’s secure, abundant, and rooted in community. And you don’t have to do it alone.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to start your homesteading journey, let this be your sign. There is no “perfect” time—only the time you choose to step forward.

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