33 Comments
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Janice & Gerald's avatar

My husband and I love listening to your podcasts whilst sipping our morning coffees. Today we especially enjoyed hearing Troy speak as well as your beautiful laughter. You have a great laugh. We are living a parallel life to yours on the west coast of Canada. We are of a similar age, have similar infrastructure, have a similar connection to our community ... and so much more. Thanks so much for sharing your lives, passions and processes with us. We are grateful.

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Tara's avatar

I loved reading this and imaging another couple, similar to us listening in. A virtual conversation of sorts, never as good as the real thing, but still I nice thing to think about. Thank you, Janice and Gerald.

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Janice & Gerald's avatar

I should tell you that the conversation may have been virtual - but we often stop the audio and chat about what you're saying and then continue on. So, technically, even though you weren't aware that you were in a conversation ... you were! :D

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Amanda's avatar

This is so inspiring! I am going to start giving my husband electrolytes in his water. I’m curious what your diet/routines looked like when your kids were young. I have a 3 year old and 18 m twins that I’m still nursing. We have an off grid farmstead in alaska and I’m up at 5 milking and chores etc. I’m used to lifting weights/ hard workouts 4-5 times a week too and I have not been able to keep up with that which has me discouraged. I’ve been struggling to balance my energy and tried so many things. Am I just pushing myself too hard? Is it just hormones? I can’t figure it out. I’m curious what your life looked like in the season of littles/ nursing. Maybe you have a post on this already. Thank you for the inspiration and motivation!

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Tara's avatar

Be kind and tender with yourself, Amanda. Nursing two little ones is no small feat. I know, it sounds easier said than done, but you will have all the time in the world to workout soon enough. I always had a tough time working out when I was nursing. I tried to spend more time just being active and doing slow exercises like gentle yoga and the like. I walked a lot, did some body weight exercises when I had oomph, and let it go when I didn't. Sometimes I got frustrated with myself, pushed myself too hard, and then paid for it. Also, wondering if you have had your vitamin d tested at all? That's a big one for me every winter.

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Amanda's avatar

I need to have some things tested for sure! I haven’t gotten my cycle back yet and so I’m holding out hope that thing shift back to normal after that. Thank you so much for that. I know I need to be kinder to myself. And it is encouraging to hear that you experienced the same. I need to let it go when I don’t have the energy and not worry about it. I do pay for it when I push myself. I’ll have a good week and go hard and then be down for a week or more following that. Working on finding a balance… thank you

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Christina Suarez's avatar

There is so much to take away from this conversation, but mostly I am so impressed & inspired by the communication skills between the two of you! It's really beautiful to witness & listen to.

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Tara's avatar

Aw shucks, thank you. I like that guy a lot. :)

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Tania's avatar

Perfect timing! Lying in bed absolutely pole axed with exhaustion thanks to Covid. This has cheered me up.

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Tara's avatar

I'm glad! Sending you some good, healing vibes.

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Småvollan Homestead's avatar

I always find it so educational and inspiring all that you share. Such a great value for young people, I wish it would be common to still hear these kind of stories everywhere. That is why I also find it so great that you are joining the confessions of nourished women! It would be so interesting and amazing to learn from that. That is why I am truly sorry not to be able to afford it now. Life has gotten so expensive especially when a starter income is so low. It would be so educational for our future. Sure am sad to miss out on such a great opportunity! But so good of you all to share your wisdom with other people.

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Tara's avatar

Thank you so much, Jozina! I think it will be wonderful, too. I understand the restraints of finances. We were so poor when our kids were small. I'm sure what you need will find you if you remain open to the abundance of what does come. That's how I dealt with it, anyway. If I could gift the sessions I would, but it's not mine to give. Thank you for your kind comment. :)

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Småvollan Homestead's avatar

I have only learned about this abundance mindset for a couple months now. I am definitely determined to implement that. Now every morning I wake up and give thanks for certain things. It does make me feel much better! I understand that! Thank you for wanting;) I just hope I might still get access to it for this price in a year or so. I hope we will be in a better place then!

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Andrew Joseph Yip's avatar

Oh my, I was proud, honoured and actually kind of giddy to be mentioned in this podcast… and while I only listened to it today, it was 2 weeks ago, about the time it was recorded, I ran out of LMnT that I put pink Himalayan salt in my hockey water bottle. This seem to have given my another gear in the third period… but we’ll just keep this between the three of us, take the advantage to this years Bowmen competition;) ❤️🙏🏼

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Tara's avatar

Ummm well yeah, wait 'til you see what you do on a salt load. The "boizzz" won't know what that maniacal blur in the woods is!

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Sydney K's avatar

This was so fun! I have two questions! You mentioned storing squash all winter but not having a root cellar just yet. How do you store your squash for now?

Also, would you caution against switching to carnivore (or MOSTLY carnivore) while nursing? I would love to try it, simply to see what happens. But of course the response is typically that my body needs the carbs and I may dry up if I switched. Any experience to weigh in on?

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Tara's avatar

Hopefully answered this in today's Q&As, Sydney :)

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Kacey Oak's avatar

Hi Tara! Just started following along and i LOVE your writing, its been a huge inspiration for me lately as my family aims to start our homesteading journey in Colorado. I'm also starting to shift our diet and eat more seasonally aligned. Did you say that you dont get eggs until spring/summer and then you preserve them for winter? And same with milk/butter, the cows produce in late spring and you make butter and such for use throughout cold months when the cows stop producing. Is that to give the animals a break and/or because that is their natural rhythm? Thank you!

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Tara's avatar

Hi Kacey, we get little eggs throughout the winter, maybe a couple a day. We don't use artificial lighting and other ways to push our animals into producing out of season. We will have a few salted yolks set aside but mostly, we do without. It's part of seasonal eating and moving away from eating the same foods all year round. The questions on dairy can be found in these essays. https://www.slowdownfarmstead.com/p/on-hallowed-ground-4f4?s=w

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Pam Voss's avatar

Loved this! Thanks to both of you. Was wondering if you spray your fruit trees? I just bought a peach and a plum tree, have some pears (think the squirrels gorge on them), and a cherry. Everyone says you HAVE to spray them. I’ll only do organic. Wondering if you have any quick suggestions? Also, do you mind sharing what type of vinegar you use in your pickled eggs? I know it’s one you make, but was just curious. Thanks for all your time doing these podcasts and essays. So appreciated.

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Tara's avatar

Hi Pam, I change the vinegar to shake up the flavours a bit. But it's usually a fruit based one like ACV. I think I used crabapple vinegar in these ones. We don't spray our fruit trees. I think there are some sulphur based sprays and other non-chemical types you can use. We use the approach of building the healthiest trees possible and trust that they will have what it takes to survive. That can be a costly proposition though. If a tree succumbs to disease, we let it die. Using this approach, out of many trees, you may be lucky to find the one or two that have what it takes so it's definitely not for the faint of heart. We feed our trees with composted manure.

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Chelsie “thegrazinglife”'s avatar

I’m pretty sure my toddler just deleted my original comment. 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ I just came here to say that I enjoyed listening to this very much and couldn’t help but tell you how similar I feel you guys and us are. As far as a couple and the values you hold. I get giddy hearing couples interact similarly and choose each other above all else. I am team hubs first then children as well. Not a concept many I know in my circle grasp. We have a lot to learn and build within our farm and kitchen compared to where you are, but it’s exciting to listen and read in on what feels like our future selves. Everything by from the EMF work to be done on our hole to the clothes we wear and the foods we eat. We have been walking in this same path for years and it’s lovely to know there are others like us out there, who have achieved where we want to be. We are lone wolves in much of this journey in real life and it’s just so amazing to get to connect with and hear from others that are similar. Thank you for putting yourselves out there for us to continue to be inspired in our paths towards a more fulfilling life.

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Chelsie “thegrazinglife”'s avatar

Oh gosh, home not hole. 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

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Tara's avatar

That's so nice to read, Chelsie. I agree, it feels good to connect with other like-minded people. It's crazy how hard we have to work just to get some smidge back of what has always been since the dawn of civilization. Makes us look like the oddballs in a time where abnormal reigns supreme. Glad you're out there doing the good work you guys are doing. :)

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Julieanne's avatar

I always come away from your talks and writings with great tidbits to ponder and incorporate in my life and my families. I too enjoyed your talk with your hubby and his perspective. That was interesting how he felt his use of electrolytes has been really helpful for him and you. I think I will get back on LMNT , just wasn’t sure with the stevia. We also have hard hard well water, and I usually filter it with berkey, but lately I have been thinking that maybe I am missing out on some of the important minerals 🤔 and how you said you do a pinch of salt in yours and it feels better in your body. I have done that off and on but will try again and see how I feel.

I appreciated your encouragement to not work yourself to the bone thinking you have to do everything on your farm but to slow down and take priority and enjoy the process.

This spring I too am putting in berries and hopefully a couple fruit trees, and making sure we get it fenced off so I can let who I want in there😏

I know this was not in this audio but In your IG reels.. I have been super curious to find someone close who works with flower essences too. I saw the snippet you put from someone in Idaho saying they worked with one, I am in Idaho and very curious who that is! I have tried searching for someone in that field and am not having success, any suggestions?

Thank you for a great listen with you two.

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Tara's avatar

Thank you, Julieanne. It's nice to hear what resonates with people. Yeah, I don't drink sweetened electrolytes because I don't like sweet drinks. I make mine (I posted the recipe in the comments of the "food on the go" essay awhile back. https://www.slowdownfarmstead.com/p/food-on-the-go?s=w

You could try looking one up via the Flower Essence Society's listing of practitioners.

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Karla's avatar

Thanks you guys! I love hearing what you’re up to.

I’ve been asking for a root cellar for awhile too, and we also have so many things that have to come first. So. many. projects. A perimeter fence would only happen in my dreams but oh how nice that would be!

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Tara's avatar

Haha! Yes, Karla, who would have thought that when you were little Karla, your dreams would include perimeter fencing :)

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Guy's avatar

One question: I think I know what electrolytes you use, but are you able to confirm?

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Tara's avatar

He uses LMNT, I make my own because I like how I make it better. I posted the recipe I use in the Food on the Go essay in the comments :). https://www.slowdownfarmstead.com/p/food-on-the-go?s=w

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Guy's avatar

My sincere thank you to Troy for his outstanding participation, and to you Tara as well for getting him there. I am about to workout in my home gym, also in our garage, but I had to listen to this first. I wanted to see if Troy’s fitness plan could give me some new ideas. It did! All in all it was a lovely conversation with some interesting things discussed - questions answered that many here probably had. 😁

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Tara's avatar

So great to hear, thank you Guy! :)

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Apr 2, 2022
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Tara's avatar

Thank you, Alara!

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