Homesteaders of America

The family milk cow has been making its comeback… for good reason!  In this episode, Shawn and Beth Dougherty share practical wisdom every beginner needs to hear on choosing the right homestead dairy cow, managing excess milk,, and building a low-input farm that works with nature instead of against it.  We also dive into dual-purpose dairy genetics, the value of multi-generational homesteading, and why home-centered living is about far more than simply producing food.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why the family milk cow has long been considered the heart of every homestead
- Honest questions to ask before bringing home a milk cow for your family
- The reality of managing excess milk and why many new cow owners feel overwhelmed
- Unexpected ways surplus milk can fuel the rest of the homestead instead of going to waste
- What experienced homesteaders are looking for now in practical, low-input dairy genetics
- Why multi-generational and community-centered homesteading makes dairy ownership far more sustainable
- Encouragement to stop overthinking the good work in front of you and simply begin
- The deeper cultural and spiritual restoration happening through home-centered living
View full show notes and transcript on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you to our sponsors!
KubotaUSA.com | Providing the right equipment to keep us moving, shaping, and growing America's farms, fields, and construction
McMurrayHatchery.com | A wide selection of poultry breeds and supplies to assist you with raising your flock
NewCountryOrganics.com | A trusted source for certified organic, soy-free animal feed and minerals designed to support your entire farm ecosystem
ShareHealthcare.com | A Christian-based, health-sharing community where members come together to cover medical needs
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Grab your copy of Shawn and Beth’s newest book, One-Cow Revolution: Achieving Food Independence with a Grass-Fed Family Cow
CONNECT
Shawn & Beth Dougherty | Website
Homesteaders of America | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest

Hazel shares her story of an unstable childhood, raising six kids (including triplets) on her own, and how those experiences shaped the way she views home and family today.  We talk about why so many people feel pulled toward homesteading right now— not just for land or animals, but for a more hands-on, intentional way of living.  This conversation is a reminder that homesteading is less about having the perfect setup and more about building a life centered around home, faith, family, practical skills, and what matters most to you.
In this episode, we cover:
- Hazel’s story of growing up in instability, leaving home young, and raising six children largely on her own
- How early experiences with gardening, canning, and livestock planted a lifelong love for self-sufficiency
- A homesteading dream that never fully materialized into a farm but is still lived out through everyday skills and mindset
- Why so many feel “something is missing” in modern life and how homesteading speaks to that gap
- The idea that homesteading isn’t just land, but it’s a way of life rooted in purpose and responsibility
- A return to God’s timeless design: family first, meaningful work, skills, and intentional rhythms 
- How the Industrial Revolution shifted families away from the home, pulling fathers off the land and reshaping the family unit
- Encouragement for single moms: stand on faith, know your strengths, build community
- A reminder that purpose, fulfillment, and calling aren’t “out there”, but are often already in your hands
View full show notes and transcript on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you to our sponsors!
NutriMill.com | High-quality small kitchen appliance products that function well, are easy to use, and promote healthy eating
MittySupply.com | Portable milking machines designed for small and medium-sized farms to save you time and simplify your daily routine
Earthley.com | Clean, natural, and affordable herbal remedies and body care that support health and wellness naturally 
HarvestHousePublishers.com | Trusted, biblically grounded resources and homesteading books to help you navigate real life with real faith
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Become an HOA member for instant access to monthly private live streams with your favorite speakers, an exclusive library of conference videos, ebooks, member-only discounts, and more!
CONNECT
Hazel Nieves | Website | Instagram | Facebook | X
Homesteaders of America | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest

Life as missionaries in the Congo has given Sherrill and her family an up-close look at the faithfulness of God.  In this conversation, we talk about how the gospel weaves itself into Sherrill’s everyday moments: shared meals, long travels, homeschooling, ministering, and more. She shares how the Farming God’s Way curriculum is helping transform not just land, but hearts, as locals learn to release superstition and trust God for provision. From stories of healing and answered prayer to a peek at living in true gospel community, this episode offers a glimpse into a calling that is both stretching and full of abundance!
In this episode, we cover:
Sherrill shares what daily life looks like as a missionary family with three young sons serving in the Congo

Their work focuses on discipling local people to carry the gospel into their own communities

Farming God’s Way curriculum teaches how agriculture and faith are deeply connected, as modeled in the Bible

Many communities tie farming to spirituality, so learning to turn from witchcraft and trust God with the land is part of discipleship

Examples of how Scripture speaks to restoration in every area of life, including food production and the fruitfulness of the land

The beauty of ministry unfolding in everyday moments: traveling, eating together, and visiting remote villages

How daily life on their team models true gospel community: living in close proximity, sharing meals, prayer, and everyday moments together

The contrast between American independence and the reliance on God that is required in impoverished communities

Miraculous stories of people witnessing God’s provision through physical healing, rain, and daily needs being met

How the team honors leadership structures in the Congo and focuses on reaching local leaders in order to open the door for entire villages to receive the gospel

A look at raising and homeschooling children within mission life as they integrate family and calling 

The importance of simple, relational discipleship that multiplies from one person to the next

View full show notes and transcript on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you to our sponsors!
McMurrayHatchery.com | A wide selection of poultry breeds and supplies to assist you with raising your flock
Nutrimill.com | High-quality small kitchen appliance products that function well, are easy to use, and promote healthy eating
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Learn more about Farming God’s Way and upcoming training events at farming-gods-way.org
Visit Overland Missions to support Sherrill and her family's ministry
CONNECT
Sherrill Kaonga of Overland Missions | Website | Instagram
Homesteaders of America | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest

In this episode, physician and scientist Dr. Robert Malone—known for his early work in mRNA vaccine technology—shares the story behind his journey into homesteading. From early farm work to rebuilding a farm in rural Virginia after significant financial setbacks, he reflects on how life on the land has shaped his perspective. Join us for this episode to hear more about his story, his farm today, and why homesteading remains central to his life even alongside a demanding public career. 
In this episode, we cover:
- Robert shares the story behind his homesteading life: early years working on farms and learning practical skills long before his scientific career
- The financial setbacks that impacted him along the way, including major losses during the Great Recession and the decision to start over again
- Finding their current farm in rural Virginia and slowly rebuilding the property from raw hay land
- What life looked like in the early days: living in a construction trailer with no power or water while restoring old farm buildings
- A look at Robert’s current farm today, including horse breeding, orchards, poultry, and a growing collection of livestock
- Why homesteading remains central to his life despite a demanding public career and frequent travel
- How the farm provides perspective and a mental reset from high-pressure work
- Reflections on the values behind homesteading, stewardship of the land, and building a life with intention
View full show notes and transcript on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you to our sponsors!
KubotaUSA.com | Providing the right equipment to keep us moving, shaping, and growing America's farms, fields, and construction
Premier1Supplies.com | Your one-stop shop for a variety of homesteading supplies and expert advice
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Explore Dr. Robert Malone’s website
Check out his books:
- PsyWar: Enforcing the New World Order
- Lies My Gov't Told Me: And the Better Future Coming
- Novel Coronavirus: A Practical Guide for Preparation and Protection
Follow his latest work on Substack
CONNECT
Dr. Robert Malone | Website | X | Media 
Homesteaders of America | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest

The homesteading movement is awakening something deeper than a desire for fresh food or self-sufficiency.  In this episode, I sit down with Lucas Mack of Kubota to talk about the spiritual pull drawing people back to the land and back to God.  We explore how working with soil, seed, and stewardship quiets the noise and brings clarity about truth, responsibility, and purpose.  This conversation is a reminder that homesteading is not just a health and lifestyle choice.  It is a return to order, meaning, and building a life according to God’s design.
In this episode, we cover:
- The surprising ways that Kubota’s mission and heart extends far beyond tractors
- How Kubota supports food production, clean water, and land stewardship around the world
- Lucas’s early wake-up call about food security after seeing firsthand how fragile grocery supply chains can be
- How small steps like gardening, foraging, and growing food begin to shift mindset and priorities
- How returning to the land naturally leads people to deeper questions about truth, responsibility, and faith
- Why working with the land forces honesty— things either grow or they don’t, and the reasons matter
- Why modern systems distract us from these questions, while homesteading brings clarity and purpose
- The strong biblical connection between land, stewardship, seed, and human responsibility
- The difference between dirt and living soil, and why healthy soil is central to real regeneration
- A hopeful vision for rebuilding local food systems and stronger communities
- Encouragement to choose life, cultivate hope, and build where God has planted you
View full show notes and transcript on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you to our sponsors!
McMurrayHatchery.com | A wide selection of poultry breeds and supplies to assist you with raising your flock
Nutrimill.com | High-quality small kitchen appliance products that function well, are easy to use, and promote healthy eating
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Visit Kubota’s website
Follow Kubota’s instagram
CONNECT
Lucas Mack of Kubota | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | X
Homesteaders of America | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest