134 Comments
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Angela's avatar

Hi, Tara! No question, I just wanted to thank you for being part of my life. Since I began following your IG account, I've been inspired to improve my life so much. My joint, hair, skin, cardiac, and gut health have improved drastically. My finances have improved because I've gotten into the habit of spending more frugally and with intention. I read more, I spend less time looking at a screen, and I go through life more joyfully and intentionally. I'm in a wonderful, stable, healthy relationship and we listen to your podcasts together! So from the bottom of my healthier heart, thank you.

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Tara's avatar

I just wanted to come back here and thank you for your comment, Angela. It's so meaningful to get feedback like this. It makes me feel grateful to have what I've shared be a positive force in your life. This warms me down to the cockles of my heart ❤️

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Angela's avatar

Thank you, and you're most welcome.

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Elizabeth M's avatar

Any suggestions for clean, natural fiber, and comfortable bras and underwear? I am struggling to find ones that check all of the boxes....I’ve listened to all of your q&a’s and don’t think you’ve touched on this yet :) Thanks in advance.

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Emily Maze's avatar

I have a silk bra from Eco Intimates and I love it! It is not a nursing bra but it’s help up nicely for almost a year of alllll the size fluctuations and baby feedings!

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Jenelle's avatar

I do know she recommended cottonique in the past. I have a bra and a few underwear. My friend buys organic fabric and sees underwear for me and I like them better. I haven’t found a great bra for a large breasted person. https://www.cottonique.com/en-ca

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Kris's avatar

I too would love to know if anyone has found bra options in natural fibers for large chests. I’m a 38J, so not wearing a bra is not an option.

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Nichole's avatar

I like my sports bra from menique. The underwear are still a bit too itchy for the lady bits.

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Melissa's avatar

Hi Tara, I’m interested to hear your thoughts about the emotional causes of disease. I’ve been reading books like “When the Body Says No,” by Gabor Mate, “The Body Keeps the Score,” by Bessel Van der Kolk, and diving into German New Medicine. Despite living on our dream farm in the middle of nowhere with no debt, raising a large portion of our own food, and doing all the “healthy” things, I am experiencing some of the worst health of my life. I feel like I’m on some sort of wellness hamster wheel, where I’m endlessly chasing one possible culprit after the next- is it the water, the blue screens, the coffee, the clothing I’m wearing? Digging into the unresolved conflicts in my life is helping, slowly. While I find the people in the German New Medicine sphere quite dogmatic, I find the overall idea quite compelling. Anyway, I’d love to hear your thoughts on how much this piece of the puzzle affects our overall health.

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Brittany's avatar

Hey Melissa, I was just mulling over what you wrote here. I am curious about what your symptoms are, because in GNM, symptoms are expressions of the healing. It sounds, however, like they've been maybe going on for a while, and they're more like a hanging healing. I wonder if there's some unresolved conflicts that keep getting triggered so your healing is not completing.

Just some thoughts!

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Melissa's avatar

Hi Brittany, I’ve been making my way through the German New Medicine stories podcast and it’s helping me a lot to understand what to DO about the issues. When I first found GNM, it was through Dr. Melissa Sell and the 5 biological laws resonated, but I was still left feeling like I didn’t have the information about what to do. My symptoms are related to my menstrual cycle (maybe it’s endometriosis, maybe it’s VERY early periomenopause at age 35!) but yes, I definitely think I’m in a hanging healing and I’m trying to dig through what might have triggered the initial problem and why it is continuing now. I’ve actually been considering booking an appointment with Freya. Of the online GNM folk, she gives practical applications of how to actually resolve.

I also saw your above comment on the dental post. Substack doesn’t allow us to message each other, but if you’d like to email me to chat all things GNM, you’re more than welcome to. My email address is melissa.bunfill@gmail.com.

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Brittany's avatar

I don't have answers, but I'm also really interested in GNM and the like. I hear you about the hamster wheel. I don't feel like I'm on a hamster wheel, but I see a lot of people expressing those kinds of sentiments. It just makes no sense that our bodies would go into deep unwellness from something as small as our water not being perfect or drinking the wrong coffee.

Have you heard any of Freya Kellet's German New Medicine Stories podcast? A lot of those stories are helping me understand mentally how to make sense of conflict shocks and resolving them.

I hear you about the dogma and it rubs me the wrong way and makes me a little skeptical, but I also agree that the biological laws are compelling.

Anyway, just basically wanted to say me too!

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Ancient Traditions's avatar

Hello Tara,

I am wondering what you would do if you were in my situation?

I am full time sole parenting my six year old daughter and home schooling. Currently we are supported by the government to do this.

I am living as closely to 'my dream' of homesteading/farm steading/homeschooling as I can but one thing that isn't ideal is the financial support from the government that I have received for three years now. Of course I am grateful and this has allowed me many wonderful opportunities for example, to have these precious early years with my daughter, to leave an abusive marriage, to be at home on the farm.

There is just an unease that comes up every now and then. Receiving money from 'them'.

The questions arise, what will happen if I get cut off financially, the changing world is pushing me closer and closer to the homestead life. Which means of course I grow food. What if I can not afford to run the car without this support. Everything is government funded.

What would you do Tara in this situation? We live rurally without many other humans.

How would you transition to creating finances from home as a isolated single mother while homeschooling?

My daughter and I are thriving from our choices of living like we do. Yet I am 'holding' a lot right now and cannot imagine how to add work in.

Should I just be grateful and carry on?

How to move forward?

What would you do?

I would love so much to hear your thoughts.

With love, Danielle.

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Caitlyn Carr's avatar

Hello! Thank you for opening this up, I’ve wanted to ask about cows for a while. Can you speak to the dairy and beef cattle breeds you’ve had and worked with over the years? If someone is starting out do you have preferences on breeds they would be best to get? Any sage wisdom to share about being in relationship with these creatures would also be lovely. Thank you ❤️

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Emily Maze's avatar

Yes!! We got our first cow recently (Honey!!). She’s certified A2/A2 jersey, pregnant with an angus. I’m so excited! My question is all things dairy-related 😂 like, I want to make all the things (cheese!) but all the tools are made of plastic. I hate buying plastic, especially for food, but the one thing I found in stainless steel was like 10 times the price of the plastic option.

What do you use for dairy supplies? Do you have sources you recommend? Do you have to have all this ‘stuff’ to do this stuff?

Also I’d love to know you guys do things. I know you do calf-sharing for the milk. Electric fencing? I’m currently reading Salad Bar Beef by Joel Salatin - some of its over my head (for now lol) but it’s got me so excited about prospects!!

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Megan's avatar

We are bringing beef cattle on to our property for the first time this spring too. Very excited. We were getting beef from an organic cattle rancher up the road and they are willing to walk us through whatever we need to know but Tara's keen wit is what I'm looking for :) Any beginners tips!

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Open Road Ranch's avatar

I'm so glad to see this question. We are getting our first cows in the spring and I would love to hear Tara's wisdom on welcoming these creatures into our lives.

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Marilyn Lambert's avatar

Tara I so look forward to you Q&A’s - and would listen as long as you’re answering questions from your well of wisdom! How to ask this without sounding redundant.. Despite being on a carnivore diet, having a lifestyle in line with all of your recent bootcamp topics, and have for a few years now, I’m still struggling so with my health. Mainly fatigue, brain fog and pain. To the point of not keeping up with responsibilities. I’ve delved deep into the mind body connection, read many books on the topic and feel that this is such a huge key - but I’m just not seeing the needle move much. You’ve written so much on this topic of health, are there pieces I may be missing? Or especially with the mind body work does it just take time? Much gratitude for your shared wisdom, life and skills with us!

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Modesta's avatar

I just wanted to send you hugs and prayers and support for not being able to solve health issues.. it is frustrating when you doing much , for long enough and getting low results. I have some non stop issues myself. What has helped me immenselly psychologically after enough time on strict measures and some symptoms still lingering - just relaxing a bit and living “together”with my symptom as a part of me. I understand this cant go forever and it might become my identity, but I can say this part helped me most.

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Marilyn Lambert's avatar

Thank you for your kind and encouraging words. One of my favorite Amy Carmichael quotes, “In acceptance lieth peace.”

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Caylee Wiyanna's avatar

Have you looked into CIRS? It has to do with mold exposure. Judy Cho has so much great information on this when carnivore and other healthy lifestyle changes just aren’t “moving the needle”. I wish you answers on your journey to feeling better.

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Marilyn Lambert's avatar

Thank you Carlee, this is a good suggestion! Yes, I’ve been addressing mold toxicity and CIRS for about 6 years now.

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Caylee Wiyanna's avatar

Blessings on your journey Marilyn ♥️

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Jenelle's avatar

Hey Marilyn I’m not in your position but having just read the Iodine book your story sounds like a lot of the testimonies. Do you take Iodine?

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Marilyn Lambert's avatar

Thank you Janelle, the iodine book is excellent! Yes, I’ve taken iodine for years but haven’t noticed a difference. I think it’s necessary for sure, but it hasn’t made an improvement for me.

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Jenelle's avatar

Shoot! Hopefully Tara will have other suggestions! Wishing you health!

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Julieanne's avatar

OK now that I’ve learned about Redmond salt and how it is horrible with heavy metals, I am switching my salt , but now I’m concerned about what my cows eating since I feed them the same Redmond salt. I also give the conditioner which seems so contradictive if they are high in heavy metals. Have you found a brand of salt that’s better to give Livestock?

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Emily Maze's avatar

What?!... oh no!! Not the Redmonds 🙈

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Jenelle's avatar

I haven’t researched in a few years but I had thought I had found Redmond was quite good. I’m pretty sure Tara gives Redmond to her animals.

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Grace M's avatar

Hello Tara,

I would love to hear more about how you milk your cows with the seasons. How do you so? Do you make sure that are all bred around the same time and do you dry them up when winter comes? I’ve heard you mention you don’t milk in the winter and you use milk as a seasonal food, I’d love to hear more details about how you do that.

Also random but have you ever owned milk goats? Your honest opinions on them?

Also if anybody else reads this comment and has any opinions or advice on milk goats it’d be very much appreciated! We own milk cows but are thinking about trying some goats too to introduce some goat milk to our daughter.

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Nichole's avatar

Do you like goat milk? Many don't. Goats are the hardest animals to keep in fences. They need solid fence or really hot hot fence. I have had horses, sheep, goats, pigs, beef and dairy cows and goats are the hardest to keep in. Even when they have food and everything they may need they still would rather get out and jump on something or destroy your garden or your young fruit trees. LOL!

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Melissa's avatar

I second this! I have owned and milked goats and they destroyed our fences and were an overall pain in the behind. Definitely not worth the small amount of milk we got. I now have a beautiful Jersey/Holstein mix dairy cow and she is an absolute breeze compared with the goats.

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rachel's avatar

We have 2 goats that we thought we be a good introductory dairy animal for our daughter (she's 11) and I have thought about goat jerky for the past two years now because they are a pain in the arse! they want to be IN THE HOUSE or pooping and peeing on the patio furniture and they can always find ways to get out of our janky fencing (with hot wire) because we use what we have. Rotational grazing doesn't work for us because all they want to do is escape and eat my garden, my small trees or my yard--NOT the 40 acres of lush grass and forest they are surrounded by. also, we live very rurally and no one else has a buck of their breed so we haven't even bred them yet! Perhaps that's a blessing because we wouldn't be great candidates for a bunch of baby goats!! its been a a learning experience to say the least and i'm glad my daughter has had the responsibility of them but she can't build fence or shelter or get them back in the fence when they are being rowdy so its been a family affair. when she says the word, they will be jerky.

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Kate Weschler's avatar

Hello! Would love to learn more about your thoughts and advice for dental hygiene. There don't seem to be holistic practitioners around me (will dig deeper), but what do I look or ask for when finding a dentist? How often do you go to the dentist? Outside of that care, what does your daily routine entail? I brush with Rupam's One Drop Toothpaste or Dr. Bronners when I travel, floss when I remember, and use a tongue scraper every morning. I do also sleep with a nightguard due to teeth grinding .. I don't have any major cavities (I'm almost 34) and consume sugar and such when I choose to. I do notice some gingivitis and gum recession; dentists have always told me I have great teeth lol - I've grown up eating the whole gamut, so don't if that's due to genetics, diet, regular care, or what. I used to visit the dentist every 6 months as a child and up through adulthood, though have not visited one in the past year or so due to both issues with insurance, booking availability, and desire to find a more holistic route (whatever that means!). Thanks for any insights - sending a toothy smile :)

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Melissa's avatar

Are you familiar with German New Medicine? I’m personally so over ‘experts,’ even the holistic ones. I recently went to a biological dentist for tooth pain and receding gums. $400 later, he couldn’t tell me why my tooth hurt or how to stop my gums from receding. He also recommended a nighttime mouth guard for teeth clenching. Acrylic in my mouth for 8 hours a night? No, thank you. I decided to look up the issue on http://learninggnm.com and BAM! The conflict was spot-on for the dental problems I was having. Since working on the related emotional issues, my tooth pain has gone.

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Brittany's avatar

I'd love to hear more about your process if you'd be open to sharing! I have had dental issues (cavities, etc) that my husband does not and we pretty much eat the same things. I have a red line on my gums around my front tooth and the one next to it, only on the right side. I know there's stuff here (bite conflicts) but I haven't really given it time yet.

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Megan's avatar

I would love to know if/when you introduced your dsughterd to a dental practice. Did they have cavities? What did you do in that regard.

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Elise J's avatar

Hi Kate, there was a book recommended by Tara a few q and a’s ago that I bought called cure tooth decay. It has a lot of really good information

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Kenn Pan's avatar

I would love to second this! Would love to know any suggestions, thoughts and resources around oral health. I’ve started using an Ayuerverdic herb-based toothpaste and herb gum rinse tincture and I’ve felt my teeth and gums get healthier. Also, if there are any thoughts around wisdom tooth removal - I have been hanging onto mine but I’m being suggested to get them removed as they’re starting to develop cavities and will continue to do so as they’re so far back and obstructing brushing.

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Taylor's avatar

Hi, Tara! For the record, I’d listen to all 4 hours of your responses! I appreciate you taking the time to answer our questions. Thank you! I am beginning the learning process of canning/pickling and am wondering if you could provide some tips and words of encouragement. Like everything, there are contradicting opinions about how to go about canning, but I value your opinions and would love if you could share your techniques! Also, I’m wondering what food you feed your cats? I want to get a cat, but don’t want to feed it kibble and am always overwhelmed by the information on the internet.

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Claire Scherf's avatar

Hi Taylor! Heard your question in the Q&A and just wanted to pop in to recommend checking out Paws of Prey on youtube, she also has website. I just recently adopted two kittens and had similar concerns about feeding them (and being overwhelmed) but her resources clarified a lot of questions about raw feeding and cat nutrition in general.

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Taylor's avatar

Thank you so much! I will definitely check it out :)

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sylphie's avatar

hi Tara <3 I know you are a walking wealth of wisdom on the subject of marriage...I listen to all of your TnT talks! i just got married a month ago and was wondering if you could shoot off some advice specifically for newlyweds, even if just a simple adage or affirmation. we are both 25! I've been following you since you were just on instagram, and i cant count all of the times i have referred to your content/experience in situations of deliberation and principle-forming. may God bless you and your beautiful family abundantly in 2024!

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Ashley's avatar

Could you speak to the pro-metabolic/Ray Peat approach? I know that you mentioned it coming back around like trends often do. I see so many on the internet sharing healing stories around fertility, metabolism, etc. and it’s so confusing to sort through the claims and approaches. I’ve read most of what you’ve shared and listened to and read a bit of Dr. Jack Kruse’s work...and of course there’s your boot camp challenge to stop eating several hours before bed. I tried more of a pro-metabolic approach for a while and got my appetite back and improved some other symptoms, but I also had high blood sugars during my last pregnancy that I’ve never experienced before. I think I went a little overboard on the grains and carbs, though. Eating and drinking out of season fruit in our northern climate just doesn’t make sense to me either. Anyway...both approaches seem to be helpful for different folks and I suppose it will just come down to me experimenting and seeing how I feel. Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thank you for these Q&As--I love listening!

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Sydney K's avatar

Also wanted to say been thinking of you and the health issue you alluded to. The tone seems quite serious. You’re in my prayers, whatever it may be.

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Michelle's avatar

Tara--

Are you still using your Berkey as your water filter? I’ve seen a lot of companies imitating it. I also saw a berkey Instagram handle stating that they’ve been shut down and cannot sell their filters, while their third party sellers can, and they suggested buying from them in the meant time. Something has started to feel fishy about them. But maybe it’s truly just the fact that there’s so many trying to scam.

Also, I know they filter a hell of a lot. But do they also filter minerals? I have been getting random PVCs (I’m a nurse and have witnessed it on the EKG monitor at work) and it seems to go away if I take magnesium. I’m wondering if that’s getting depleted due to the Berkey filtering minerals, as well? If not, I will explore other options for reasons for mineral depletion.

Thank you!

Michelle

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Barbara's avatar

I’m also interested in hearing you speak about Berkeys situation and replacement filter options. Furthermore, if able, could you also discuss water testing in general? I recall in the past you mentioned Mercola offered a test kit ~ it appears they have discontinued it. We have well water. I’m interested in what specifically you recommend we test for, and/or any other legit companies you may be able to recommend. Thank you.

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Jenelle's avatar

I want to attest to the immense value there is in previous Q&As. Never a lack of something to listen to and I glean something new each time! I am wondering about watering in the winter. What do you do for all your different animals? We don’t have electricity to our barn and the largest animal so far is pigs. Hauling water repeatedly in the winter is tough. We’d really like cows but don’t have any type of water beyond hauling. It’s preventing me from taking the leap. My dad recalls a cattle waterer that had a stove in the middle and they would start a fire that would thaw the ice !

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Emily Maze's avatar

I’m reading Salad Bar Beef by Joel Salatin and he has done really good/cost-efficient ideas to get water around your farm.

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Jenelle's avatar

Thanks I’ll have to check it out! Mostly worried about very cold winter though.

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Kris's avatar

Hi Tara.

I only have a small space for a garden, what are your top 5 to 10 herbs would you grow for use in teas and salves throughout the year. I live in a similar climate to you. Also, what do you do for hair wash? I saw you mention egg yolks and honey. How do you use that? Hair care is the only thing I haven’t switched to homemade versions because I have not had success with it.

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Karen's avatar

I’m very interested in your thoughts on hair care. At 72 my short hair has thinned considerably and is lifeless. I need styling product to give it life. It’s hard to find anything commercially that I can feel good about. Thanks 😊

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Caylee Wiyanna's avatar

In a previous Q&A Tara shared a hair care resource her daughter found inspiration from. It’s on YouTube and the woman’s name is Katherine Sewing. She draws from historical hair care routines and hasn’t used shampoo in 7 years. It’s a great channel. She has a moisturizing hair mask recipe that uses egg, honey and jojoba. I’m going to try it tomorrow : )

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Karen's avatar

Thank you, Caylee! That sounds very interesting. I’ll look her up on YouTube. Also Tara talked on her answers about mixing egg yolk or honey with warm water. I may try it but honestly don’t have much hope that it will work for my fine thinning hair. I hope you have good results 😊

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Moni's avatar

i dont know what to use either, my hair is very long and "no-poo" seems unrealistic though i wash less often than i used to. i make my own tallow lotion with essential oils for a nice scent and put a little in my hair mostly the ends for moisture.

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