This episode is a little different: instead of a sit-down podcast, I join Justin Rhodes for a live tour around his North Carolina farm. When you think of homesteaders, Justin Rhodes is the first person you think of. With over a million followers on YouTube and multiple successful books, Justin and his family have paved the way for new homesteaders through documenting their journey. A fourth-generation steward of his family’s land in North Carolina, Justin and his wife Rebecca raise their five children on it. What we cover: How rotational grazing restores pastures without seed or fertilizer The challenges and realities of homesteading versus farming for profit Balancing family life, children, and farm responsibilities Why many new homesteaders burn out and how to avoid it The generational legacy of farming the same land and what it means for the future Timestamps: 00:01:30 — The breeds of cows on the farm and how milk is shared 00:03:00 — Family land history and what the farm cost in the 1930s 00:05:00 — Rotational grazing explained and why clover survives 00:09:00 — Homesteading vs farming: growing food for yourself or for sale 00:13:00 — Why most new homesteaders burn out and how to prepare 00:17:30 — Finding a deeper reason beyond money to keep farming 00:19:00 — Involving children in farm life and family teamwork 00:21:00 — The multi-generational connection to land and legacy 00:23:00 — Raw milk, safety, and family traditions 00:25:00 — Industrial milk history, swill dairies, and why pasteurization began Justin's YouTube channel Instagram Farm Website
