Today we will talk about how we did with our family strategic plan this year, begin diving into a book I’ve been reading about home-scale permaculture, and talk a bit about where I hope to see this show go in the coming months.

Big news my friends - we have made it to Stitcher! We are on iTunes too!

Today is Monday, December 26, 2016 and this is episode 17 of Living Free in Tennessee. We are on a week off here at the Holler Homestead. For years, the week between Christmas and New Year’s has been our time to rest up, think about the past, plan for the future, clean out and reset ourselves.

What mother nature is providing

• Mushrooms
• Fingers crossed: Stinging Nettle
• Watercress

Tales from the Prepper Pantry

• The weekly squash - week 3: Butternut Squash Soup
• Apples are getting soft - so it is time to make applesauce - and begin to eat the canned fruits.
• Incoming cow means reorganizing the Pantry because of how the onions are stored.

Lessons learned from Toby Hemenway

Gaia's Garden: http://amzn.to/2ikwnrE

• Are you interested in joining me in this journey? Well, get yourself a copy of his book and we will read a section per week and talk about what we learned. Check your library, friends houses, or buy it on Amazon (above).
• First up - P1-20
• Next week: P 21-35

What next year may bring

• A marketing cleanup - sis you know I am a marketing expert? How would you? This show is a mess!
• Monetizing strategy - we need one
  • Focus on building the audience first
  • Find ways to add value for listeners so that we can cover our own costs
• Build in the Holler Homestead project - more on that in the future
• Our first youtube video series: Learn to can food at home in 5, 6, 8 videos (Outline is not done so I am not sure how many)
• Seasonal eating in Tennessee book

Want to ask a question or give me feedback on the show? I would love to hear from you! Email nicolesauce@gmail.com or leave a comment over at the website at nicolesauce.com. And if you are an iTunes listener…..

The week between Christmas and New Years is a great time to reassess if you are lucky enough to be able to make some time. Freedom ain't hard - and our little adventure into producing more for ourselves from what we have here as been a freeing time - giving us a bit of flexibility, and the ability to help those around us. So go out there, and make it a great week!

Listed to a reading of The Night Before Christmas - both the traditional version and one from down under.

Merry Christmas all!

Today is Monday, December 19, 2016 and this is episode 16 of Living Free in Tennessee.

12/20 Update: re-recorded the first 5 minutes due to unpleasant audio.

What mother nature is providing

• Cabbage
• Persimmons
• Mo’ Mushrooms
• The watercress is still here!

Using the Prepper Pantry

• Venison Braised Cabbage
• Recipe on crack: Venison Braised Cabbage Bierock
• The weekly squash - week 2: Spaghetti spaghetti squash

Stories from the Holler

• A postoffice story
• Neighborhood Break In
• Maybe a new neighbor?
• Kittens

Interview with Samantha Comfort

• First steps to getting your finances ready to save more money
• Three tips to save money now: Store Rewards Programs, Get smart on using credit card rewards programs, Find ways to get cash back.
• Ibotta
• upromise.com
• Zello Channel...

Christmas Dinner from the pantry

• Roemertopf
• Chestnut Dressing
• Potato pancakes
• Cabbage salad with Watercress
• Persimmon Chutney
• Home baked rolls
• Green bean casserole with wild mushroom sauce and homemade “funions”
• Holler roast coffee
• Christmas Cookies and goodies for dessert

Which reminds me of my grandma’s story from the depression (Pig heart).

On Dec 24, we will have the reading of the Night Before Christmas for anyone interested!

Winter is coming and so are the holidays this week at the Holler Homestead.  Today we will go over this week’s pantry tip, talk about winterizing the homestead and I’ll share 5 country gift ideas.

What mother nature is providing

• Cabbage
• Venison - bacon wrapped loin
• Mushrooms

Using the Prepper Pantry

• Why is it called the prepper pantry?
• Potato soup (Bacon)
• Protection from freezing
• Honey Extraction
• The weekly squash - week 1: Roasted butternut squash
  • Tip on how to cube it without losing a finger tip

Winter is coming

Five Country Gift Ideas: Look around - what do you have or what can you make that would be special?

1.Chestnuts with a pretty instructions sheet

2. Fancied up preserves, canned goods, or other homemade items like vanilla extract

3. Sachets
Lavendar on Amazon....

4. Repurposed country items: horse hames, horseshoes, etched bottles

5. Meal in a jar (Take any recipe, put the dried parts in the jar. Write fancy instructions to make the meal by adding the non-dry items.

Lentil soup example...

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil (NO)
• 2 cups chopped onions (YES)
• 2 cups chopped carrots (YES)
• 4 cloves garlic, minced (YES)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin (YES)
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander ((YES)
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric (YES)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (YES)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper (YES)
• 6 cups vegetable broth or reduced-sodium chicken broth (NO)
• 2 cups water (NO)
• 3 cups chopped cauliflower (about 1/2 medium) (NO)
• 1 3/4 cups lentils (YES)
• 28-ounce can diced tomatoes (NO)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste (YES)
• 4 cups chopped fresh spinach or one (YES)
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (YES)
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice (NO)

Cook on low until done - salt to taste.

Pro-prepper resource for this: http://rainydayfoodstorage.blogspot.com/p/meals-in-jar-recipes.html

Song: Grandpa's Song by Sauce

Holler Homestead living is the topic of the day. Today is Monday, December 5, 2016 and this is episode 14 of Living Free in Tennessee. With the production of the Center Hill Sun absorbing the whole weekend, I thought it would be a good day to talk about what day to day life is looking like in December.

Show Sponsor: The Genesis House

http://www.genesishouseinc.com/

What mother nature is providing

• Watercress
• Mushrooms
• The super kale plant

Stories from the prepper pantry

• Easy pantry management - load from the back, take from the front!
• The Survival Podcast Recommended Episode: http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/1759-food-storage, FOOD STORAGE FOR MODERN SURVIVALISM
• First thing’s first: Soft potatoes, potatoes with eyes, squash that looks at me wrong, soft onions
• The last week of Watercress -time to freeze it for winter stews
• Using up the canned goods from 2015 - by pulling them out

Stories from the Holler

• The fires in the Smokies - 13 people dead so far
• New Chestnut Recipe
• The WOODSTOVE
• Tennessee Food Summit - Joel Salatin and Jeff Poppin
• Update on the new duck and chicken hoop coop

TN Food Summit --- Joel Salatin
Inform better
Create Loyalty
Become storytellers and teachers: Or food coaches

Three things you can do to start taking control of your food

1. Establish a regular family meal 
2. Build your pantry
3. Find risk points: In the next two months, are there times that will be very busy? Where are they, how can you prepare something now to deal with that.

Yes winter is nigh,  go out and make it a great week!