I enjoy watching your videos. I miss the time when my husband and I lived on a homestead. My daughter was in FFA and she raised pigs. My stepdaughter raised cows. We had a dairy barn and my husband made me a summer kitchen in one of the rooms. I kept all of my canning equipment in there. When I was finished I would clean up with a garden hose and washed everything down the drain that was in the floor. We raised pigs, cows, chickens, ducks, turkeys, rabbits and at one time goats. So your homestead brings so many wonderful memories back to me. I lost my husband 3 years ago and I now live in AZ. Our homestead was in CO. God bless you and your family.

Regarding fruit flies... at least its a reminder that the vegetables have no pesticides on them! That's what I like to remind myself especially when i get some slug eaten cabbage!

Yesterday is history Tomorrow is a mystery Now is the present 🎁 And that is a gift

Wow. You guys have done so well. Great planning from the beginning. Very smart! Lots of wisdom in being happy today! Jesus said it :) Husband and I had this dream of homesteading. We were fans of Mother Earth News and did many projects right where we were and still are on less than 1/2 acre. Here, we learned how to garden organically in our (6) 4' x 4' raised beds and one 2' x 10' bed. We've had berry bushes and nut trees to harvest from and apples from a neighboring vacant field. I learned how to preserve our food many ways and what we couldn't grow ourselves we bought (still do) from local farms. We raise chickens and would have loved to have had a couple goats but they need more room than what we have for them. I make as much as I can from scratch like apple cider vinegar and many herbal remedies and our meals. We built a green house and stole your center cold frame idea which is brilliant, but of course ours is smaller and we're considering building a couple of hoop houses over the raised beds. The land and animals and huge garden never happened for us. I'm 64 and husband 68. The decisions we had to make over the years just didn't allow that to happen. I guess my point is, even if the big dream doesn't happen for you, you can still have a large part of the lifestyle. We're keeping it simple and enjoyable. We'll improve on what we have when necessary. We have a full pantry and eat well. No debt or unnecessary bills. We also have 8 grandchildren that we need to spend time with which accounts for much of our happiness.

About the canning/fruit flies- we do our canning outside on a camp chef stove. We have a canopy that we leave up most of the summer where everything is set up. Works wonderfully. No mess or flies in the house!

@vixxcottage

4 жыл бұрын

That is such a great idea! Thanks.

@Beepbopboop19

4 жыл бұрын

🤯👍thank you!

These folks are a beautiful and humble family, true Americans.

Sarah & Kevin, I would like to convey to you my appreciation for all the information and instructional videos. You both present a real portrayal of the homesteading way of life. In short, you both are "real" in everything that you present to your subscribers. Being a person of faith and working my way to a similar lifestyle, you both give me hope on days when it seems the most difficult. I wanted to convey my appreciation as well when you discuss your commitment to your marriage and relationship together. Many of us laugh and cry with you at different times when watching the videos. God Bless, Rob Schroeder (Rockford MI)

Always enjoy your family. So glad you shared both the good times and not so good times.

This one hit home again folks...I suffer from the "still gotta get 'er done" syndrome. As soon as you said it my daughter said "Mom that is so you"...And she is right .... People stop often to inform me of how wonderful the progress has been.... You see our Homestead was the old unofficial "Dump" for a couple decades before my family purchased the place a few decades ago...I inherited it in 2000 and have steadily removed all the old debris and contaminated soils ... It has been a very, very long road and I really, really need to just take a step back to ADMIRE what I have accomplished..... I can't wait for the next season of progress... Love and Light to yall

Lovely to see your smiling eyes again, Sarah. You guys lift me up x

@orscrub3161

4 жыл бұрын

UK Homesteading ...........her dimples are too cute!! 😬

@margezimmer1771

3 жыл бұрын

Amen. Think you're good medicine for all of us watching. Admire your courage to make the change from corporate life to homesteading. One imperative point I want to say to those thinking of having a homestead. A couple must have same work ethics, life goals & agree on how they handle money. God Bless.

You both are a breath of fresh air!! Thank you for another excellent video. God bless!!😊

What can I say. You guys are the best. I look forward to every video. I have learned so much from Living Traditions Homestead. Many blessing to your family.

Sarah, it is good to see the happy lights in your eyes again and that beautiful smile is gorgeous! Kevin you are looking so relaxed and happy too . God Bless! Patricia Huff, Kernersville, NC

Thank you both so very much. ❄️

I'm a new and very pleased subscriber. You are a beautiful couple, even you Kevin, beautiful, with a beautiful family. May you continue sharing for as long as you wish and may you do so in the best of health.

Prayers in evening .Musical instruments for after dinner evenings. Reading, puzzle building knitting, crocheting, needle point, woodworking...

You've accomplished so much! You're a beautiful family and just great good genuine hard working people. It's a privilege to belong to your KZread family .I rejoice with you when there are good news and get deeply sadden when something is wrong, because you are family.. May you continue to thrive and may you receive continued blessings. All my love and best wishes.

Great video folks, enjoying the ride along with you all !! Thanks for sharing with us.

May God bless you and hold you in his loving arms yes we have to live while we are living smell the roses look at the trees AMEN

@amandahenry5371

4 жыл бұрын

Tammy Smith I could not have said it any better that is the best way to say it

You guys give so much good information and help. Sarah glad to see that smile back again.

Sarah, I love what Brittany said to you about - "You're stilling the joy out of today by worrying /thinking about tomorrow". Thanks for sharing that inspiring/comforting thought.

@JB-mf1zc

4 жыл бұрын

There is a church hymn that we use to sing, why worry when you can pray trust Jesus He will lead the way...……………….

Y'all have done it exactly as it needs to be done. Your financial breakdown is spot on. Missouri is amazing when you don't have to work on top of start up costs. Folks can start small and work up to it, even if they can diminish their grocery bill they should take pride in that. For me I was dirt broke and exhausted because of the high taxes and high cost of living in Colorado. The plus of that issue? My farm there sold for an outrageous amount(at least in my opinion) But that meant I had the financial means to purchase a larger place (3/2 bath home, on 80 acres established hay and cattle, massive shop, hay barn, small run in barn, loafing shed, chicken coop, spring fed pond etc). It meant I could use that money from the house sale to pay for animal transport and household moving. It meant I could pick up a nice camper to live in on the property before actually moving into the house(giving the other folks time to get into their place, as they too had animals and farm equipment) It meant I could buy several things from the seller(larger tractor, baler, hay equipment, air compressor, some cows, and such). This was a very planned move. I researched all over the US. I researched weather and hardiness zones, cost of living, right to farm regulations, AG areas , etc. Do not beat yourself up if it takes you years to get into a piece of your own Heaven on Earth. Reach out to like minded folks for support. Because you truly need to know that if you break down crying in the garden or bathtub? You are not alone, that you are not a failure. You do not need to have the college education in AG fields or some pedigree. With the right motivation and hard work your dreams can come true.

I sooo needed to hear that today! Homesteading as a single female can certainly turn into constant working! Wise words to take some time to admire what you've accomplished. Thank You! Love your content.

@Rosethatwantstomove

4 жыл бұрын

I'm trying it myself while driving a semi 🚛 for a living. My goal is April or early May be off the road for various reasons

Thanks for answering some questions, it's very true what you said about I see unfinished work but others see the work I've done, I will try to make time to smell the roses more

Y’all are very inspirational. I’m glad I found your channel.

You guys are a wonderful model for success on many levels.

Well said! Those living/rural traditions are a mindset that can carry a person far, regarding quality of life. I was fortunate to have my maternal grandmother, her brother and sister-in-law in my life at an early age, to teach me the 1930 rural New Hampshire OLD WAYS. My mother chose to be a nurse and live a suburban lifestyle. She was a "Mrs. Cunningham" ... from Happy Days! So I had both the 1950s post war lifestyle AND the down home Americana traditions. I chose to live the simple country life. It is a personal choice of the heart & soul...

Regarding your answers to the last question, I was reminded me of the best advice I received and I wish I'd followed it immediately. It was before you buy ANY more equipment, buy a hammock and set it up in the most beautiful place on your property and lay in it for 15 minutes every day. It will keep things in perspective and remind you why you moved out here. Whether it's to allow you to be closer to God or just a beautiful place to unwind or both it will help you. Sounds silly but it keeps me going. Great show!

You both are such inspiration to me

Hey, I was a home health nurse for a long time, and often times I came in contact with a lot of the elderly who still lived in this fashion in Northeast rural Alabama. I learned a lot about the way the y canned, and preserved food. If they didn't have time to can everything when picking, they would out all they picked in a cellar, dirt floor cellar, it kept everything cool, and the flies away. My dad even put potatoes under our modern house and they would keep for the whole year down there. You should consider building an underground cellar and, I have been in some during the summer that felt like a refrigerator! They also would build one or two board thick shelves for canned goods and supplies etc that ran the length of the cellar from floor to ceiling.... Just a thought

When you said you set your goals to high, that totally hit home. I do the same thing, and I work all the time and never set time aside to enjoy what we have. I know exactly where you are coming from.

There's that smile Sarah. Sending love. I am so happy for you and your sweet family.

Thanks for being so honest!!

Love to see you guys so happy ❤️

You 2 are lucky to have found your best friend and love of your life in each other. May your homesteading lives continue to grow and flourish

Love you guys more than you know. The vid that Sarah made a few days ago took me to my knees

Sarah you look 10yrs younger, since your last vlog! No joking you do! I hope and pray that you feel that way too. Much Love and God bless.

I can't love this enough. I have been so hard on myself about not getting so many things done and not meeting some lofty goals I've set for myself, but I also had a surprise surgery this fall, we had a surprise expense with replacing a well pump and 220 feet of well pipe, along with other random happenings sidetracking us, that meeting my lofty goals and getting every single thing done was just extremely unrealistic. But stepping back and looking at all I've accomplished despite setbacks, and seeing where we are now compared to a year ago on a tight budget, we have actually made a LOT of progress for that one year! And we've also learned a lot that will help make next year even more successful. Again, I can't say enough how much I love you guys and how honest you are about this lifestyle, and how it's not this perfect, roses and rainbows life with everything going as planned. And you are a lot more honest about how much work goes into a successful homestead than some other homesteaders on KZread who are constantly traveling for events and making it seem like they do it all themselves... when the reality is that behind the scenes, they have a LOT of help running their homestead even when they are home, but especially so they can travel constantly to promote their channels, their websites, their classes they charge people for..... and make lots of money on Homesteading newbies. You guys are not at all the events all across the country and have been honest with why, and you have a lot more respect from me for that honesty about your homestead and the work you put into it.

Thanks for the road map to homestead success, tried to make the jump this year but the sale of our current home fell through. God is good and he will provide what we need. Thank you for a good game plan for our future success. God bless your family.

So nice to see you smiling again, Sarah. Hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas. 🎄🎁🎄🎁🎄. God is good…………all the time. Take care and God Bless. 🙏🏻💓🙏🏻

I discovered a large wolf spider living in my kitchen and that thing feasted on the fruit flies. At first I was a little alarmed as I'm not a real big fan of spiders, but then I realized I had NO fruit flies. So, I won't be too quick to get rid of the spiders since they helped me out in that area. Incidentally, it only comes out at night and I've only seen it once. Thanks for the updates. Y'all have a happy Christmas and stay blessed!

@andreamortimer2610

4 жыл бұрын

When I was a kid, my Dad would always get onto us for trying to kill spiders; he'd say that "if there are spiders in the house, you know that your house is not poisoned with chemicals plus you won't have to worry about an invasion of insects!" Should have listened more to my Dad! Just a few weeks ago my hubby told me that he had seen a spider in the kitchen feasting on flies and that he wanted me to stop chasing after the spiders and their webs. We also hardly ever see them during daytime. I had problems with moths, but after I stopped going after the spiders, the moth problem seems to have disappeared. I still don't like the idea of sharing my kitchen with spiders, but I'll be darned ... they seem to be hard at work for me!

Having grown up in rural Iowa, I fully understand the challenges of overwintering in a place that really gets it hard at times. Now, living in Denver, the winters are very easy usually, but this year, we have already had over 2 feet, it is a nice change. I am so very happy that all of the health concerns have turned out to be benign. I am living my farm/rural/simple life vicariously through your channel. Please keep up the good work.

Thoroughly enjoyed the video. Relaxed me, overjoyed me, made me thankful for all that we all have. God Bless!

I’m so glad to hear Hope is doing well and even has some goat friends! Or should I say siblings? Lol. You guys are amazing that you made sure you were debt free, planned so well and made your dream happen. You give great advice.

Thank you so much for putting yourself out there. I know money and figures is your personal business but it really helps people to understand what it actually takes. Sarah is m so glad your health scare is gone now. God bless.

KEVIN: Your comments on planning reminded me of these scriptures. You must have read them as well. Matthew 6:33-34 (NASB) 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. 34 "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Romans 8:28-29 (NASB) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. James 4:13-15 (NASB) 13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that." God Bless You All.

Good to see you smiling again, Sarah

Thank you and God Bless. Still thanking God for the good news from you Sarah.

Love your cheerful faces.❤ We we're blessed with a Full Jersey heifer last week...such a Homestead Blessing.

So happy to see that beautiful smile again god bless!!!

you two are sooooo cute! i get so excited when i’m notified of a new video! have a wonderful holiday season!

Sorry to be off-topic and I'm sure you've read comments like that before but I'm really jealous of your beautiful thick hair Sarah!

I always enjoy your Q&A sessions. Good info. And I like seeing you smile again Sarah! 😊

For combating fruit flies, try putting sprigs of Basil in/on with the veggies while you are storing them. It does help to repel them and smells good too! Win win lol 🙂

@winkieandleah

4 жыл бұрын

Good to know!

Thanks for sharing your life with the world! Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!!

This was very helpful and interesting. I learned a lot. Thank you for your carefully prepared content and honesty. :)

Excellent. This put a smile on my face, and made me reflect a bit. May your new year be a successful one, bring you plenty of good reasons to laugh, and be the stuff of good memories. Best to you and yours.

Kevin, thank you for sharing what someone shared with you about - seeing the things we still haven't done but others see the things we have done. That is awesome. I will keep that in mind. TFS

Love our morning chats while I have my coffee. God Bless.

Always love your channel!!!!! Have a great week.

you are two of the hardest worker's I have ever seen and truly enjoy what you do. leaving corporate america was an excellent choice.

The best thing I've found to combat gnats is a bowl with 2oz or so of AC vinegar combined with a few drops of blue Dawn dish washing liquid in it, cover the bowl snuggly with cling rap and poke a few holes in it. The vinegar draws the gnats to it and the Dawn kills them.

Love how real u both r and it does help others to know it does get over whelming to keep up with harvest and canning....for years I did think I was doing it wrong that I found it hard to keep up. Now I realize that is part of it and not let it bother me so much. Thanks!

@davelawson2564

4 жыл бұрын

There's a old saying - If you dirty your hands you'll have curd in your mouth ! ....or have clean hands and nothing in your mouth !

Love your work. Love your word. Take care you two.

Take some time to enjoy all the blessings that God has given us...what wonderful words! Love you two!

The financial information is right on time. Having enough to carry your farm fore at least two yours is a general rule fore starting a small buisness. Even then, things can happen thatll drain your resources. I think society is brainwashed on constantly eating out all the time ,and buying name brand cloths . Love wTching your videos as usual . Keep up the good work (-:

This was just great. Thank you. Love you all.

I've learned to just love you guys … your Godly hearts speak for you. I'm too old to start homesteading, but your principles concerning food have greatly impacted me. I've learned to can and dehydrate things and leave the processed stuff alone. Thank you for your willingness to teach others how to have a healthier lifestyle. This is one old girl who appreciations you!

Great video. I really enjoyed you guys sharing your experiences.

I love your channel, I love your family and I especially enjoy watching the ends and outs of your life. Every year teaches us new lessons and new experiences.

Thank you guys...I really needed to hear your advice today about living in the moment. And also what Kevin said about how we look at what we still need to do and others see what we have done. I am really hard on myself always thinking there is more I need to do, but what I really need to do it sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor. I so enjoy all your videos and look forward to when you put new ones out. I hope you all have a very Blessed Christmas and New Years.

You two are such a lovely 💓 couple. Thank you for being you

You guys are great!! God Bless you & your family!! 🙌🏻🦋💜

Thank you for the wise advice. Often I see my unfinished list, but I need to see my accomplishments. Merry Christmas to you all!

Enjoying today is the best gift. But you can't wait til July to plant the beans

loved your responses to what you have learned

Great advice on living in the moment. I think we all need to be reminded of that. I enjoy y’all’s videos very much. Sarah’s smile is a great thing to see too.

What I've found to be helpful combating flies in the house is those long ribbon sticky tape you put around your milk barn, etc. and hang several out of the way, specially areas known to draw flies (trash bins, etc.), the flies are drawn to the tape and become stuck, they are really effective and a non-poisonous way at eliminating flying bugs. Placing sticky pads in out of the way recesses also greatly helps with the crawlies, specially when they move indoors in the winter.

Thank you both for a wonderful video full of information and inspiration.

Love your videos, I’ve watched you two for awhile, you’re truly inspiring!!! Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge!!

You guys are such an inspiration. You are doing such a great job on your homestead! I am very very new to homesteading and still trying to even get started really. I have learned so much from you and can't wait to continue my journey.

Love your channel and the info u have to offer. Such GENUINE folks!! Ty!

Watching you guys all the time. Very inspiring. Great info.

Good morning! Thank you for sharing and teaching us. Merry Christmas to you and family. ❤️🙏🏼❤️❄️🎄☮️

Thanks for a wonderful year of advice, tips and encouragement! May God bless your family with a wonderful holiday and happy, healthy productive new year!!

A great Q&A, love you'lls straightforwardness. Good luck with HOPE,

We heat our home with a wood stove as well. We’ve been watching your journey with your cow. We are thinking about getting a cow. Great video! God bless

As much as we all may want to just walk onto a patch of land and need nothing else I appreciate you sharing the amount of planning and saving that you guys did in order to have the best chance at success living this way. Have a blessed day!

You guys are great! God bless you all!

May I suggest that when you have a male calf that you leave it a bull. It will gain weight faster than a steer. You will butcher it before it becomes a problem. Also what we did was we took enough milk for our wants and let the calf have the rest. We didn't even have to grain him. It was the best meat I ever had.also I am not being notified when new videos come out. Don't know why. Love you guys your always in our prayers

@teresaperry4726

3 жыл бұрын

Wayne Burks if you go up to the ‘subscribed’ word...go on to the bell and put the curser on ‘All’ that way you get the notifications.

Good, practical advice! Thanks for sharing.

Love,love you two and have learned so much from you ❤️! Sara, so happy for you with your health scare, I’ve been through it also! Thanks again for this video Kevin and Sara, hugs to you both and the girls! 🤗😘

Thanks so much for all the information and answering questions. This was very good. You too are such a role model. Not just to your children but to your followers as well. I/we, appreciate Y'all. God bless!

One solution for canning is an outdoor kitchen makes a big difference. Good advice in starting your homestead with having a two year plan for living expenses. Blessings to all. 😊🇺🇸

@raynonabohrer5624

4 жыл бұрын

Yes a second outdoor kitchen it's the best idea not only that you don't heat up the house.

Thank you for all your insights. God bless

Thank Yall for a great Q&A. As My husband and I said on our 10 question colab, you guys work well as a team, and it shows by volume in your videos. Blessings Yall, and Merry Christmas

Thank you for all of your information. I like your down to earth perspectives. And I like the how to videos.

You are both Great! Really inspirational and so homesteading enigmatic! Thank you for sharing! Happy Holidays!

Hello homesteaders, one thing we used to do for fruit fly intrusion, like you say its gonna happen but before we took our produce inside was we would lay it out on a table made of horsewire and spray with a mild biodegradeable soap under a shaded pop up canopy thingy and let it set with the soap on it for a few minutes or so rinse it off and then take it in, thanks for the tips and for sharing what works for you, take care.!!

Loved the saying about enjoying the present.. thanks for sharing your life with us!👍👍👍