Call To Farms

Latest Episodes:

Episode 103: Impactful Life Lessons After Nearly 30 Years, with Rick Shinn Oct 26, 2026

Show notes

Nearly 30 years ago, Sophia walked into Rick Shinn’s 9th grade Honors English class at Independence High School in San Jose, her first honors class ever, and within a few weeks he was her favorite teacher. Six months in, he told the class he was leaving to become a school counselor, and she was devastated, right up until she spent the next three years slipping into his counseling office whenever things got hard at home, then walking back to class with a note he’d written for her.

On a trip back to the Bay Area, Tim and Sophia sat down at Rick’s dining room table, after a sukiyaki dinner he and his wife Christine made for them, to talk about 39 years of teaching and counseling. He’s newly retired now and studying to become a pastor, and he still remembers the phone call Sophia made to him on 9/11, a couple of weeks into her freshman year at George Washington University, asking whether she should take her camera over to the Pentagon (she went anyway).

Rick tells the story of a student who slammed her books down on test day and swore at him, and what he learned when he asked her what was wrong instead of writing a referral. He also tells about the bowl of pho he bought a freshman for pulling an F up to a C. He talks openly about growing up Chinese American with a dad who told everyone else he was proud of Rick but never said it to Rick, and how that changed the way he raised his own daughter. Sophia went on to study clinical psychology partly because of him, and in this episode she finally gets to say thank you.

They also get into ChatGPT in the classroom, and Rick’s advice for young people who’ve been told to “find your passion” and can’t pick just one: start with what you’re good at.

Tim and Sophia recorded this one partly for their daughters, so they could meet the man who looked out for their mom when she was the same age their oldest is now.

If a teacher ever showed up for you the way Mr. Shinn showed up for Sophia, we’d love to hear about them. Come tell us their name in the free Call To Farms community at calltofarms.com, and if you can, call that teacher and tell them too, because as Rick says in this episode, teachers almost never get to hear it.

Until next time, stay healthy.

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Our book, published by Chelsea Green was just released this week! 📖 ⁠⁠⁠Order The Nourishing Asian Homestead⁠⁠⁠

🌱 ⁠⁠⁠Join the free Call To Farms community⁠⁠⁠

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

Thinking of purchasing your first home? Join Tim and Sophia at our next Free Home Buyer's Workshop on Oct 29th at 4pm PST / 7pm EST. ⁠⁠⁠Save Your Seat Here!

Episode 102: How Do You Keep Homesteading Without Burning Out? Justin and Rebekah Rhodes Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

Justin Rhodes told us, about ten minutes into this conversation, that after 20 years of homesteading they’re burnt out, then admitted it depends on the day, since every other day they’re selling the farm.

We recorded this one at the Rhodes farm after 6:30 a.m. chores with both of our families, pulling bush beans and hanging a pole bean trellis before breakfast, and then sat down in the barn Justin’s grandpa built without power tools. Justin talks about the ten years he lived with Lyme disease, the 28-day water fast he credits with healing it, and the strange place he landed afterward, 47 years old and not sure who he was without the illness he’d built his life around. Someone once asked Joel Salatin about burnout in that same barn, and his answer wasn’t more sleep or a smaller operation, it was to find a bigger why, which is the thing Justin keeps coming back to.

Rebekah is just as honest that her hardest stretch wasn’t really about the homestead. A remodel ran double on everything, Hurricane Helene hit, and she lost her mom, and last year she gave herself permission to walk away from the tomatoes while they were still ripening on the vine.

We also get into how Justin uses AI to plan amendments for a 20-acre hay field, and why Rebekah is wary of it. Justin explains his four levels of responsibility for kids on a homestead, and why Lily, still wants her dad to tuck her in after years of milking cows beside him, mostly in silence. They talk about why they both tear up when they harvest a bull they moved every day for seven years, and about the question they get asked more than any other, how do you get your spouse on board. Rebekah answers it in two words: you don’t.

You can find Justin and Rebekah under Justin Rhodes on every social platform and at Abundance Plus. If you want to keep talking about this with other families working out their own homesteads, come find us in the free Call To Farms community at calltofarms.com.

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Be sure to follow and subscribe to The Justin Rhodes Show to stay up to date.

The Justin Rhodes Show on YouTube

Justin Rhodes Instagram

Rebekah Rhodes instagram

Abundance Plus

Our book, published by Chelsea Green was just released this week! 📖 ⁠⁠Order The Nourishing Asian Homestead⁠⁠

🌱 ⁠⁠Join the free Call To Farms community⁠⁠

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

Thinking of purchasing your first home? Join Tim and Sophia at our next Free Home Buyer's Workshop on Oct 29th at 4pm PST / 7pm EST. ⁠⁠Save Your Seat Here!

Episode 101: What Bees Can Teach Us About Health, Soil and Homesteading with Kaylee Richardson Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

What if some of the most useful plants for your family's home apothecary are already growing in your backyard?

In this episode of the Call To Farms Podcast, Sophia sits down with Kaylee Richardson of The Honeystead, beekeeper, herbalist, homesteader, and author of The Beekeeper's Apothecary, to explore the forgotten skills of herbal medicine, beekeeping, and nourishing your family from the land.

Kaylee spent years working in hospitals, from CNA to surgical first assistant, before stepping away from the operating room and returning to her Appalachian roots.

Today, she's helping families rediscover the value of medicinal plants, raw honey, and the remarkable connection between bees, healthy soil, livestock, and our food.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Why Kaylee left her medical career to pursue homesteading and herbalism
How to start a home apothecary, even if you're a complete beginner
Why dandelions and other common backyard plants deserve a second look
Practical ways to use raw honey, beeswax, propolis, and herbs
How bees contribute to a healthier, more resilient homestead
Simple herbal preparations, from teas and salves to honey ferments and oxymels
Why traditional food knowledge matters for the next generation
What Kaylee would do first if she were given one acre of land

You don't need a large farm or years of herbal training to begin. Sometimes the first step is learning to recognize the abundance that's already around you.

Connect with Kaylee Richardson:
The Honeystead | The Beekeeper's Apothecary | Sweet Medicine Course

📖 ⁠Pre-order The Nourishing Asian Homestead⁠ (out October 20):

🌱 ⁠Join the free Call To Farms community⁠

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

Thinking of purchasing your first home? Join Tim and Sophia at our next Free Home Buyer's Workshop on Oct 29th at 4pm PST / 7pm EST. ⁠Save Your Seat Here!

Episode 100: From California to Tennessee and Our New Book! Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

A huge Thank You to our Listeners!! =) We reached a major milestone with you with Episode 100.

This podcast grew up right alongside our move from California to East Tennessee. In our 100th episode we look back at how the show changed as we settled in and found our people, from the neighbor who showed up with a chicken tractor to the friends who sat with us after we lost our first cow, and why community has been at the heart of every step of homesteading for us.

We also announce our new book, The Nourishing Asian Homestead, which comes out October 20, and talk about what's ahead for the next 100 episodes.

If you don't have neighbors like ours down the road yet, come find them in our free Call To Farms online community.

We want to hear from you! Send us your questions and comments, and tell us which topics and guests you'd like to hear on the show.

📖 Pre-order The Nourishing Asian Homestead (out October 20):

🌱 Join the free Call To Farms community

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

Thinking of purchasing your first home? Join Tim and Sophia at our next Free Home Buyer's Workshop on Oct 29th at 4pm PST / 7pm EST. Save Your Seat Here!

Episode 99: We Adopted Our High School Teacher & Counselor as Our Parents | A Story of Mentorship, Service & Chosen Family Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." — Henry Adams

Some people come into your life as a teacher and never leave. In this deeply personal episode of The Call to Farms, Tim and Sophia sit down in Gilroy, California with Jonathan and Debi Kerrick, Tim's former US History teacher and high school counselor at Independence High School in San Jose, who became so much more. Jonathan has been there for every milestone: high school graduation, pinning on Tim's second lieutenant bars, West Point graduation, deployment, the wedding, and now as "Lolo" and "Ba-Nana" to Tim and Sophia's children.

Jonathan shares his journey from a draft lottery number of six during Vietnam, to serving as an armor officer and psyops intelligence officer with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, to building a 34-year teaching career shaped by a simple philosophy: see every kid heart to heart, eye to eye. Debi opens up about her own path from special education teacher to guidance counselor and the challenge of getting every student across that graduation stage.

Together they talk about what's changed in education, why technology is outpacing our sociology, and the secret to raising kids who actually want to come back and spend time with you: listen, don't judge, and trust them to think. Jonathan also shares his battle with an aggressive lymphoma the doctors called "stage death," walking 167 miles on the Camino de Santiago, and why every day on the right side of the dirt is a good one.

This one's for anyone who's had a teacher, mentor, or chosen family member who changed the trajectory of their life.

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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.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Need to build a fence on your homestead? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Build it once by using Gallagher⁠⁠⁠⁠! Use code: HOMESTEAD to save 10%

Episode 98: Return to Ancestral Nutrition w/ Julia Mitchell at Ancestral Supplements Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

What if the nutritional value of your food begins long before it reaches your plate?

In this episode of the Call to Farms podcast, Tim and Sophia sit down with Julia Mitchell, lead educator at Ancestral Supplements, clinical nutritionist, and grass-fed bison rancher, to explore the connection between healthy soil, healthy animals, and healthy people.

Julia shares her family’s journey into bison ranching and explains why the plants animals graze, the diversity of the soil beneath them, and the way they are raised can directly influence the nutrient density of the meat we eat.

Together, they discuss why organ meats were once prized by traditional cultures, how liver compares with conventional multivitamins, and why nose-to-tail eating may help restore nutrients that are often missing from the modern diet. They also examine the realities of food labeling, grass-fed sourcing, animal welfare, declining soil fertility, and the growing need to rebuild local food systems.

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Try it for yourself and Save 15% on your order with Ancestral Supplements use code: CALLTOFARMS

Need to build a fence on your homestead? ⁠⁠Build it once by using Gallagher⁠⁠! Use code: HOMESTEAD to save 10%

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 97: How to Build Community When You Move to the Country Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Everyone says they want a village—but are we willing to become villagers?

In this episode of the Call to Farms podcast, Tim and Sophia share how they built a trusted community after moving across the country from California to rural East Tennessee, where they initially knew almost no one.

They discuss why community should be one of your highest priorities when choosing where to live, especially if you are pursuing homesteading, food security, homeschooling, preparedness, or a more self-sufficient lifestyle. They also share what it was like to enter an established rural community as Asian American transplants, why shared values can matter more than shared backgrounds, and how trust is earned through consistency, contribution, humility, and showing up.

You’ll hear practical strategies for researching a community before moving, finding the people who may not be visible online, starting meaningful conversations as an introvert, and identifying the skills you can offer—even when you are still learning.

Tim and Sophia also share real-life examples of community in action: trading raw dairy products for hay during a drought, learning to raise dairy cows alongside experienced neighbors, stewarding additional pastureland, teaching chicken processing and fermentation workshops, and growing a small game night into a gathering of dozens of local families.

Because true preparedness is not simply having enough supplies. It is knowing who you can call—and becoming someone others can call too.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why community is one of the most valuable forms of insurance
• How to find like-minded people before relocating
• Why rural trust cannot be rushed
• How introverts can build meaningful local relationships
• What newcomers often misunderstand about country communities
• Why giving more than you take opens unexpected doors
• How to turn your knowledge, interests, and skills into community leadership
• Why everyone wants a village, but few people are willing to become villagers

Whether you are planning a move, starting a homestead, feeling isolated where you currently live, or realizing that the community you need does not yet exist, this episode will challenge you to stop waiting for an invitation—and begin building the relationships you hope to find.

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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.

Need to build a fence on your homestead? Build it once, go with Gallagher! Use code: HOMESTEAD to save 10%

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

Episode 96: Homesteading in 2026 - Land, Water, AI, and Community Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

After speaking at the Modern Homesteading Conference in Idaho, Tim and Sophie sit down to reflect on the biggest questions they heard from future homesteaders, young families, retirees, and land buyers across the country.

In this episode, they discuss why water security, natural springs, wells, rainwater collection, data centers, AI, and land due diligence are becoming major concerns for anyone searching for homestead property. They also talk about creative ways to afford a homestead, including owner financing and thinking beyond the traditional lending path.

Tim and Sophie also share why community is one of the most important forms of security on the homestead. From bartering milk, butter, hay, honey, and skills to hosting game nights and building trust through food, they explain what it really means to stop just wanting a village and start becoming a villager.

They also share highlights from watching their daughters sell handmade pottery and earrings at the conference while learning real-life entrepreneurship, pricing, marketing, and customer service.

If you are dreaming of homesteading but feel stuck, this episode will help you think through your next step.

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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 95: Real Food for Busy Families with Corey Dunn Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

Sophia sits down with Corey Dunn of For Nutrient’s Sake for an honest, encouraging conversation about making real food doable for everyday families. As fellow Weston A. Price chapter leaders, Sophia and Corey talk about the gap between ideal ancestral nutrition and the reality of busy schedules, picky eaters, tight budgets, and overwhelmed moms.Corey shares her own journey from growing up with real food and a “’90s butter mom” to rediscovering nourishing traditions after her daughter struggled with severe eczema. Together, Sophia and Corey discuss what it looks like to feed a family well without perfectionism, from cutting out seed oils and simplifying home-cooked meals to handling picky eating with trust instead of pressure and rethinking the modern snack culture that often sabotages family meals.This conversation is full of grace for the mom who wants to do better but does not know where to start. You will walk away with practical ideas, encouragement, and permission to make real food simple again.In this episode, Sophia and Corey talk about:* Corey’s journey into real food and ancestral nutrition* How food played a role in her daughter’s eczema healing journey* Why “doable real food” looks different in every season of motherhood* The first food swaps that make the biggest difference* Why cutting out seed oils is a powerful place to begin* How to approach picky eating without hiding food or creating distrust* The “division of responsibility” at the dinner table* Why snacks may be sabotaging meals* Simple ways to make burgers, tacos, pizza, and family favorites more nourishing* Corey’s cookbooks, podcast, and work through For Nutrient’s SakeFor the mom who feels overwhelmed, Corey leaves listeners with a simple place to start this week: get enough sleep, go outside in the morning, read something enjoyable with your kids, and make one meal you truly love using the best ingredients you can manage.

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 94: What Memorial Day Taught Me About Homesteading, Family, and Freedom May 26, 2026

Show notes

This week, Tim shares a solo episode reflecting on Memorial Day, a recent family trip to North Dakota, and the inspiring people he met at the Prairie Roots Homesteading Conference.

From visiting Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the Badlands, and Mount Rushmore to watching families build businesses together and teach practical skills to the next generation, this episode explores the values that continue to shape strong communities across America.

Tim shares personal reflections as a West Point graduate, stories of veterans who impacted his life, and why he remains optimistic about the future despite the challenges facing families today.

In this episode:

Memorial Day reflections and the meaning of service
Lessons from Theodore Roosevelt and the American frontier
Highlights from the Prairie Roots Homesteading Conference
Why family entrepreneurship matters
What gives Tim hope for the future of homesteading
The real mission behind Call to Farms

Whether you're building a homestead, growing a business, raising a family, or simply looking for encouragement, this episode is a reminder that there are still plenty of good people building good things.

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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.

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