Pioneering Today Podcast - Homesteading in a Modern World

Today I'm sharing a throwback of one of the most popular coaching calls from inside my Pioneering Today Academy: "How to Get It All Done on the Homestead." I wanted to bring this one back because figuring out how to manage your time and energy on the homestead is something we all struggle with.

In this episode, I'll show you how to break down big projects like canning peaches or putting up the harvest into...

In this episode of the Pioneering Today Podcast, I'm sharing why I'm pressing pause on new episodes for the rest of 2025 and what that really means for the future of the show. 

After years of teaching and encouraging others to live simply and seasonally, I've found myself needing to take my own advice. I've been dealing with some physical burnout and learning, once again, that rest isn't quitting, it'...

Seed saving is one of the most valuable skills a gardener can learn, and in this episode I'm joined by Don Tipping of Siskiyou Seeds to dive deep into the why and how of saving your own garden seed. We'll cover the difference between open-pollinated, heirloom, and hybrid varieties, which crops are best for beginners, how to prevent cross-pollination, and tips for harvesting, drying, and storing seeds so they last for y...

Think you need a traditional root cellar to keep your harvest fresh through the winter? Think again. In this episode of the Pioneering Today Podcast, Melissa K. Norris sits down with Sam Knapp of Off Beet Farm in Alaska to talk about practical, no-fuss ways to store root vegetables without a root cellar.

You'll learn the three keys to long-lasting storage—temperature, humidity, and airflow—as well as simpl...

Think from-scratch cooking is hard or takes too much time? The truth is, with a stocked pantry, a few simple substitutions, and some foundational kitchen skills, you can make healthy, homemade meals in less time than it takes to run to the store.

In this podcast, we're busting the top myths about from-scratch cooking and showing you how to: 

✅ Swap ingredients with easy substitutions (no last-minute store runs!)

✅ Make boxed f...

Looking for healthy and refreshing summer drinks that aren't soda? In this podcast, we're sharing our favorite homemade beverages to help you stay cool and hydrated on hot summer days.

In this special episode, I sat down with my dear friend Carolyn Thomas from Homesteading Family, right in her Idaho home! We're pulling back the curtain on what life looks like on a mature homestead. 

After over two decades each of growing food, raising animals, and running busy households, we're sharing what we've let go of, what we're leaning into, and how we're building homesteads that truly work f...

This episode is near and dear to my heart. With one child officially out of the house and my daughter quickly approaching adulthood, I've found myself feeling all the feelings this summer: nostalgic, grateful, and more intentional than ever. I gathered a few dear homesteading friends for a heartfelt kitchen roundtable where we shared our favorite summer memories, the simple things that stuck with us from childhood, and...

If the idea of parasites gives you the creepy-crawlies, you're not alone, but chances are, you've already got a few living in your body right now. In this episode, I'm joined again by Dr. Torrie Thompson, a functional medicine doctor who walks us through how common parasites actually are, the surprising symptoms they can cause, and how we can support our bodies in safely removing them.

We're talking about ...

In this episode of the Pioneering Today Podcast, I'm sharing all about my experience as a mentor and homesteading expert on the new show Back to the Frontier. It was such a privilege to help guide modern families as they learned old-fashioned skills and stepped into a simpler, more self-sufficient way of life. 

I'm giving you a behind-the-scenes look at what it was really like on set—the challenges, t...

What does it really take to live off the land in today's world—and could you do it under pressure? In this special episode, I sit down with Stacey Loper, one of the brave contestants from the brand-new TV series Back to the Frontier, where modern families are challenged to survive like the pioneers. 

I share my behind-the-scenes experience giving advice to the show's cast, while Stacey opens up about ...

Join me for this podcast with Will Harris from White Oak Pastures and Taylor Henry from Acres USA as we discuss what's going on with fertilizer companies and immunity for their products. 

For more information and any links mentioned in today's podcast, visit https://melissaknorris.com/472

Grab your tickets to the Modern Homesteading Conference here and use coupon code MKN15 for 15% off: h...

So you want to go on vacation or you need to leave town for a few days... but you have a homestead. Feel like you're stuck? Listen to today's podcast with four fellow homesteading moms as we share our tips and tricks for how we prepare to leave our homesteads. Plus, the commonly forgotten tasks! 

For more information and any links mentioned in today's podcast, visit https://melissaknorris.com/471

Join me with Don Tipping from Siskiyou Seeds as we discuss direct sowing methods for seeds. You'll also want to catch his tips on how to keep weeds out of the garden, and his brilliant hack for using a flamethrower without ruining your seedlings.

For more information and any links mentioned in today's podcast, visit https://melissaknorris.com/469

Grab your Modern Homesteading Conference t...

If you're looking to get a farm dog, you may be wondering which farm dog breeds are best. This can vary based on many factors, from your needs, your property and your time commitment to training the dog. Listen to this podcast interview with Jordyn Kelly from Working Aussies Homestead. For more information and any links mentioned in today's podcast, visit https://melissaknorris.com/467

This podcast is spon...

Join us for this month's Homestead Kitchen Round Table as we talk about our favorite preservation methods and tips for getting our fresh produce preserved for the year while minimizing the stress. For more information and any links mentioned in today's podcast, visit https://melissaknorris.com/466

Be sure to sign up for the upcoming Homestead Kitchen Crash Course. During this FREE 5-day workshop you'll lea...

We're continuing the conversation of from-scratch cooking today with RuthAnn Zimmerman. Both of us agree that cooking from scratch does not mean you're slaving away in the kitchen all day long, nor does it mean everything you eat has to be made from scratch. Listen to today's podcast on implementing Mennonite traditions to create simple meals and stronger families. For more information and any links mentioned in today'...