Podcast
The Gorham Homestead Podcast: Keepin’ it Real with Dawn Gorham
Hosted by Dawn Gorham · EN
This is where we talk about real life on the homestead, real food and real natural medicine. We talk about homesteading, building community, prepping and survival from a homemaker's perspective. We do our best to provide real and practical, old-fashioned solutions to modern everyday problems with a positive outlook on the future.
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
750 Mason Jars: The Year I Tried to Do It All
3d ago00:38:40Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailSupport the showTheGorhamHomestead.com
Transcribe →Ep. 26- Sunset Market & 3 Things You Can Do From Scratch Today
1w ago00:31:56Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailA two-week break turns into a full-on homestead sprint, and we’re laying it all on the table, what’s working, what’s late, and what we’re learning the hard way. I share the real rhythm behind farm life in Tennessee right now: chicken processing with our first batch of birds, rabbits and breeding decisions, and why genetics can be both practical and weirdly exciting when you’re trying to build a healthier, more productive herd over time.Then I tell you about the wild commitment I made after saying I’d “take the year off”: a Thursday night sunset farmers market on our working farm for eight straight weeks. The goal isn’t profit, it’s community. We’ve got 22 vendors, food trucks, music, and weekly educational demonstrations like a biochar demo focused on regenerative farming, soil health, and orchard care. If you’ve ever wished farmers markets felt more connected and less political, this idea is for you.We also hit a big dairy surprise: an unexpected calving and the scramble to make sure the calf gets what she needs, including colostrum and a simple mineral support protocol. I talk through A2A2, disease-free goals, “gallons per hoof,” and why I’m adding a proven Jersey Guernsey cross producer to improve output without turning this place into a commercial dairy. To close, I give you an easy path into from-scratch cooking with quick wins like immersion blender mayo, Instant Pot drinkable yogurt, and DIY spice blends, plus what I’m learning from an entrepreneur-focused ChatGPT class.Subscribe for more real-food, natural living, and homestead systems, then share this with a friend and leave a review. What’s the one skill you’ll start this week?My Mayonnaise Recipe:🌿 Dawn's Homemade Mayonnaise (Liquid Coconut Oil Version)Ingredients 1 egg 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon white vinegar 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon salt Tiny pinch paprika ¼ teaspoon onion powder ¼ teaspoon garlic powder 1 cup liquid coconut oil Directions Add the egg, vinegars, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder to a wide-mouth mason jar or mixing container. Pour the liquid coconut oil on top. Place an immersion blender on the bottom of the jar. Blend without moving the blender for about 15–20 seconds until the mixture begins to emulsify. Slowly raise the blender to incorporate the remaining oil. Blend until thick and creamy. Refrigerate. Notes The coconut oil should be liquid but not hot. Because it contains coconut oil, it will firm up more in the refrigerator than mayonnaise made with seed oils. The flavor is mild, especially with refined liquid coconut oil. Keeps about 1 week in the refrigerator. Would you like the version scaled up for a quart-sized batch for your farm kitchen, or do you prefer keeping it in the single-cup-oil batch?Yogurt:Make 1 gallon of Bulgarian Yogurt in the InstaPot by adding 1 gallon of skim or whole milk and 1/4 cup of yogurt culture. Come back after 24 hours.Drinkable Yogurt:Add 1 cup raw organic sugar, 1 T. vanilla extract, 1 cup frozen organic fruit, and the rest of the blender fill with yogurt. Blend on smoothie setting. 🌮 Simple Taco Seasoning 2 tablespoons chili powder 1 tablespoon cumin 1 tablespoon paprika 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon onion powder 1 teaspoon oregano 1 teaspoon sea salt ½ teaspoon black pepper ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) DirectionsMix together and store in an airtight spice jar.Use Approximately 2 tablespoons per pound of ground meat.Support the showTheGorhamHomestead.com
Transcribe →Homestead Chaos & The Sunset Market
4w ago00:36:55Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailA Tennessee homestead can feel like Little House on the Prairie one minute and a high-tech control room the next, and today I’m giving you the honest, boots-on-the-ground update from the middle of it all. It’s Mother’s Day, I’m planting the garden and packaging chickens, and I’m trying to keep my head on straight while contractors come and go and the farm keeps moving.I walk through the new idea I’m launching in June: a Sunset Farmers Market on our farm. Think string lights, food trucks, and live music, built for one reason, community. I’m not charging vendors and I’m not trying to make a profit. I want a welcoming place for neighbors to gather, support local makers, and slow down in real life, especially when so many people feel disconnected.Then we get practical with homesteading systems: tomatoes and peppers going in, weed barrier and hilled rows, and an eight-foot deer fence to protect the garden. I share what’s working with chickens, including processing updates and why I had to fence in free-ranging birds to keep the milking area clean. We also talk rotational grazing basics, resting pasture, building soil fertility with chicken tractors, and the long-game mindset it takes to improve land.On the preparedness side, I break down the Flojak hand-crank well pump install, plus a solar generator setup that can keep my milk chill tank cold during outages. I also address the pushback I got for using AI to make a flyer, why I’m taking a ChatGPT class for streamlining my small farm business, and a quick personal health update as I ease into menopause.If you enjoy real talk about homesteading, preparedness, natural living, and building community, subscribe, share this with a friend, and PLEASE leave a review so more folks can find us.Support the showTheGorhamHomestead.com
Transcribe →Ep. 25 Homestead Update & Government Fishing Expedition
May 400:31:01Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailA government agency showed up on my property without a warrant, without consent, and without an order and I can’t just shrug that off. After a week packed with normal homestead chaos, that moment is the one still sitting heavy on my chest, because property rights and boundaries are not optional out here, especially for small farms and raw milk herd shares. Before we get to the serious part, I’m also sharing the real day-to-day: why I’m investing in learning ChatGPT as a tool for my farm business, how I’m trying to build better systems instead of living off sticky notes, and why I’d rather support a friend’s small business than click a couple buttons at a big box store. We talk chicken processing and what it teaches you about stewardship, the difference between a kitchen garden and a preservation garden, and why May means strawberry preserving season with jam, freeze-dried strawberries, and a kitchen that’s about to get very sticky. Then we dig into resilience, especially water security. I’m installing a FloJak manual well pump because water is non-negotiable for the household, the dairy, the cows, the chickens, and the garden. And I share my perspective on the line between lawful oversight and government overreach, why knowing your rights matters, and how food freedom connects to the future of local farms. If you value real food and practical self-reliance, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more folks can find the show.Support the showTheGorhamHomestead.com
Transcribe →Episode 24- From Stuck To Fired Up
Apr 2700:25:28Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailYou can work hard, wake up early, and still feel like your homestead business has hit a ceiling. After Nicole Sauce’s spring workshop, we came home with that rare kind of clarity that only happens when you spend real time with doers: people building businesses, tightening systems, and taking action even when life is messy. We talk honestly about what flipped for us, from how we start our mornings to how we’re thinking about the next season on our Tennessee homestead.We dig into the practical side of productivity for farm life and entrepreneurship: why “getting up early” is not the same as protecting your best hours, how journaling and reflection can beat instant task mode, and why positive self talk and words of affirmation change what you actually do. We also share the tension of perfectionism, especially in a raw milk dairy where safety and sanitation are non-negotiable, and how we’re learning to keep “best” from becoming “stuck.”Then we zoom out to business growth and regenerative agriculture. With the dairy maxed out on pasture, we’re building smarter income streams through pastured poultry, beehives and honey, organic glyphosate-free baked goods, eggs, and other local farm products. The heart of it, though, is teaching: our homestead renaissance camp for teenage girls, real food skills like sourdough and herbal remedies, and the mindset shift that happens when young people finally understand local food versus convenience food.If you’re building something and feel stuck, this one will light a fire. Subscribe for more real-food homesteading and natural living, share this with a friend who needs momentum, and leave a review with the one habit you’re changing this week.Support the showTheGorhamHomestead.com
Transcribe →Ep 23. I Didn't Quit- I just needed to live it
Apr 2000:10:47Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailI disappeared for two years, and I didn’t mean to. Life just hit hard, fast, and nonstop and I needed to live it before I could tell it with any honesty. When I logged into my podcast host and saw people were still downloading the show every week, it stopped me cold. That’s when I knew this story matters, and that I needed to come back and say thank you. The last two years have been a crash course in homestead life and small business reality. I’ve been building our Tennessee dairy from the ground up, learning through mistakes, small wins, and a few proud moments that only come after a lot of grit. At the same time, my mom was diagnosed with MS and went through a major crisis that left her unable to walk or care for herself. She lived with me for almost a year while we worked toward rehab and getting her back to living independently, and I was trying to care for her while keeping the farm and the dairy moving forward. I also share why this podcast isn’t about “building a podcast business” for me. It’s an audio record of real food, raw milk work, natural living, and the choices we make out here, in my own voice, so my kids and grandkids can someday understand what these seasons felt like. Coming up, I’ll unpack the unannounced Department of Agriculture visit, the safety protocols we use to produce safe raw milk, how we streamline and automate farm tasks, and what it looks like to bring on a trusted helper who now lives on the farm. If you’re walking through your own hard season, hit subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find Keeping It Real.Support the showTheGorhamHomestead.com
Transcribe →Ep. 22 - Tee & Me - Homestead Challenges & Winter Preparation
Oct 24, 202400:39:02Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat happens when life throws a series of unexpected events your way, and how do you adapt to maintain stability on a homestead? We share our personal journey through family milestones, particularly a recent wedding, while simultaneously navigating the challenges of my mother's health as she transitions to living with us. Amidst these personal shifts, the homestead faced a severe drought, forcing us to feed hay earlier than anticipated. However, the rains have finally come, offering relief and hope as we work to restore our routine and prepare for the colder months ahead.Our commitment to sustaining our homestead's productivity is more crucial than ever, pushing us to diversify our ventures and support community projects. Join us as we explore the excitement and trials of raising 130 Jumbo Cornish X-Rocks meat birds with neighbors and the joy of discovering the deliciousness of Jumbo Pekin Ducks. We're also planning for expansion, with the addition of American Bresse chickens and the prospect of Emden geese, all while gearing up for Thanksgiving and the changes to the Self-Reliance Festival in 2025. In the spirit of resilience, we delve into winter preparations and the wisdom of sustainable living, inspired by a vibrant 95-year-old's unconventional health philosophy. Our journey includes participating in events like the Kentucky Sustainable Living gathering, where we share insights on topics like family milk cows. The recent catastrophic weather events have humbled us and reminded us of our purpose. Our focus remains on community support and readiness. As we continue to grow and adapt, we're reminded of our humble beginnings and the ongoing journey toward a self-reliant and fulfilling life on the homestead.Today's sponsor: Hamilton Gorham & Duncan, PLLCLocated in Bellevue, TN at 161 Belle Forest Circle. 615-467-3200. Go see attorneys, Tee Gorham or Jad Duncan for all your family's legal needs. Tell them you heard about them on this podcast!Support the showTheGorhamHomestead.com
Transcribe →Ep. 21 - Farmers vs. Homesteaders - Unpacking the Unspoken Rivalry with Stephanie Tallent
Aug 15, 202400:55:54Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailEver wondered about the real dynamics between traditional farmers and modern homesteaders? Join me, Dawn Gorham, along with my special guest Stephanie Tallent, as we uncover the deep-seated tensions and profound shifts within the world of agriculture. We promise you'll gain valuable insights into how corporate influence has shaped contemporary farming practices, and how homesteaders are pushing back with a holistic, self-sufficient approach. We also discuss how homesteaders might want to check our attitudes at the door. Stephanie and I also dive into the fascinating yet contentious world of raw milk farming. You'll hear personal stories that highlight the evolving perceptions of raw milk, the contrasting realities between small-scale and industrial dairy operations, and the unique regulatory challenges faced by farmers. We discuss the growing direct-to-consumer demand for raw milk and the philosophical shift towards a more personalized approach to food and healthcare.Lastly, we explore the diverse ideologies within the homesteading community, touching on everything from natural and herbal methodologies to more conventional practices. We talk about the critical importance of learning from experienced farmers, the need for preparedness in emergency situations, and share exciting updates from our own farms. This episode is packed with real-life experiences, practical tips, and heartfelt reflections that you won't want to miss!Support the showTheGorhamHomestead.com
Transcribe →Ep. 20 Resilient Living - Preparing for the Unpredictable
Aug 8, 202400:32:54Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailHave you ever wondered what it takes to ensure the safety of raw milk on a homestead? Join me on Keepin' it Real as I share my journey of learning to draw blood from our cows for regular disease testing, and our excitement as we await the A2 status results. You'll also get a close look at the challenges of managing maturing turkeys and a tough encounter with a steer and a permanent weaning ring. This episode is packed with valuable insights on resilient living and the practical steps you can take to prepare for unpredictable times.Building a new farm community can be daunting, but I've discovered the importance of a strong support network and financial resilience. I recount my personal experience of moving to a new area and the immediate need to connect with neighbors. Together, we formed a tight-knit community with diverse skills that offer emotional and practical support. Additionally, I delve into the necessity of having an emergency fund, diversifying income streams, and possessing barterable goods. By fostering these relationships and financial strategies, we create a more secure environment for ourselves and our loved ones.Our health and preparedness become even more crucial as we age. In this episode, I explore how strength training and daily stretching can prevent muscle loss and injuries, especially for those over 50. Drawing from my experience managing thoracic outlet syndrome, I offer stretching and stress management techniques. We also discuss the importance of emergency planning, food security through a well-stocked pantry, and the peace of mind that comes from being prepared. Finally, I share a heartfelt story about my southern upbringing, emphasizing the values of love, faith, and pride that shape a resilient and grateful lifestyle.Support the showTheGorhamHomestead.com
Transcribe →The Turnkey Life vs The Fixer Upper
Jul 25, 202400:30:34Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailEver wondered why the fixer-upper life could be your ticket to a fulfilling and resilient partnership? Join us on this episode of the Gorham Homestead podcast. First I share our latest homesteading adventures, from grappling with a major PVC pipe leak to celebrating a bumper crop of tomatoes. While we battle pests threatening our cucumbers and squash, we're also planning a special live cooking session with Nicole, featuring unique preparations of cow tongue. Plus, our barnyard is buzzing with an unexpected 17 ducks, and I outline our plans for processing some of our Muscovy ducks while preserving a few as breeding pairs and lovable pets.We also delve into the invaluable life lessons that come from embracing the fixer-upper journey, particularly for young couples just starting out. There's a stark contrast between the immediate, ready-made lives many young people envision and the reality of what their parents built over decades. I emphasize the growth, problem-solving skills, and sense of accomplishment that come from working toward goals together from scratch. Whether it's about fixing a leak or harvesting your crops, the journey is rich with rewards. With perseverance and determination, you'll find that everything falls into place, making the hard work worthwhile. Don't forget to connect with us on social media and check out our website for more insights and resources.Keep it real and remember the journey is usually more important than the destination.Sponsor for today:Hamilton, Gorham & Duncan PLLC Your full service family law firm. Visit HGDLegal.com Support the showTheGorhamHomestead.com
Transcribe →