The Homestead Education Podcast

How to Turn Tree Sap into Syrup | Homesteading, Food Systems & Self-Sufficiency

Sugaring isn’t just for the Northeast anymore. And the truth is — there are opportunities for food, resources, and self-sufficiency sitting right in our own backyards… if we’re willing to look a little closer.
In this episode of The Homestead Education Podcast, Kody Hanner sits down with David Knudson of Montana Maple Works to talk about the surprising world of tapping trees for syrup in the Western U.S. — and what it really takes to turn sap into something usable, valuable, and even profitable.
From tapping city trees to navigating regulations, building a business from scratch, and teaching others along the way — David shares how curiosity turned into a full-blown maple syrup operation, and what that means for homesteaders and families looking to learn new skills.
From understanding tree types and sap flow to the reality of how much work goes into a single gallon of syrup — this episode breaks down both the science and the practicality behind it all.
This isn’t just about maple syrup.It’s about recognizing the resources around you — and learning how to use them.
If you care about:
Learning practical, real-life homesteading skills
Alternative ways to source sugar and natural resources
Small-scale production and turning skills into income
Understanding trees, seasons, and natural systems
Building resilience and self-sufficiency at home
This episode will open your eyes to what’s possible — even in places you might not expect.
In This Episode, We Cover:
How maple syrup production works — from sap to finished product
Why the West hasn’t traditionally tapped trees (and why that’s changing)
What types of trees can be tapped beyond sugar maples
The realities of sap-to-syrup ratios and production time
How David built a business from a simple idea
The challenges of regulations and accessing trees
Why learning skills like this matters for long-term self-sufficiency
🤝 Support Our Guest — David Knudson
If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to connect with David and learn more about tapping trees and syrup production.
🌐 Visit: Montana Maple Works
Resources & Links
Homestead Education Curriculum:https://thehomesteadeducation.com
Shop Books & Resources:https://thehomesteadeducation.com/shop
Join the Email List for Resources & Updates:https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/subscribe
Follow Along
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/homestead_education
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/thehomesteadeducation
TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/thehomesteadeducation
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@homesteadeducation
🔥 Final Thought
Sometimes the resources we’re looking for aren’t far away — they’re just unfamiliar.
The more we learn to see what’s around us, the more capable we become of providing for ourselves — one skill at a time.

How Farmers Can Make Direct-to-Consumer Work | Agriculture, Marketing & Modern Farming

Food systems are shifting. Farming is shifting. And the reality is — making a living in agriculture today looks nothing like it used to.
In this episode of The Homestead Education Podcast, Kody Hanner sits down with Lexi Wright of the Farming on Purpose podcast for a real conversation about what it actually takes to make farming work in today’s economy — from direct-to-consumer sales to managing multiple income streams and navigating the challenges modern farmers are facing.
From the disconnect between consumers and their food to the growing pressure on farmers to become marketers, educators, and business owners all at once — this episode breaks down what’s really happening behind the scenes.
This isn’t about going back to the “old way” of farming.It’s about building something that actually works today.
If you care about:
Direct-to-consumer farming and selling your products
The reality of farm income and multiple revenue streams
Marketing and building relationships with customers
Small-scale farming, homesteading, and sustainability
Understanding where your food comes from
This episode will challenge how you think about agriculture — and what it takes to make it work.
In This Episode, We Cover:
What it really takes to make money in farming today
Why direct-to-consumer is becoming essential for farmers
The challenges of marketing, education, and selling your products
How farmers are balancing multiple income streams
The disconnect between consumers and real food systems
What’s changing in agriculture — and what it means for the future
🤝 Support Our Guest — Lexi Wright
If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to connect with Lexi Wright from Farming on Purpose and support the work she’s doing to help farmers and rural businesses grow.
🎙 Listen to her podcast: Farming on Purpose📲 Follow on Facebook
📲 Follow on Instagram
Resources & Links
Homestead Education Curriculum:https://thehomesteadeducation.com
Shop Books & Resources:https://thehomesteadeducation.com/shop
Join the Email List for Resources & Updates:https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/subscribe
Follow Along
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/homestead_education
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/thehomesteadeducation
TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/thehomesteadeducation
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@homesteadeducation
⭐️ Support the Show
If this episode challenged or inspired you:
✔️ Follow the podcast so new episodes show up automatically✔️ Leave a review — it helps more families find this message✔️ Share this episode with someone who cares about food, farming, or self-sufficiency
🔥 Final Thought
Farming today isn’t just about raising animals or growing crops.It’s about building relationships, creating value, and finding a way to make it all work — even when the system doesn’t.

How We Can Do Better for Agriculture in 2026 | Food, Education & the Future

Food systems are shifting. Education is shifting. And in 2026, the question isn’t if things need to change — it’s how we do better moving forward.
In this Season 7 kickoff episode of The Homestead Education Podcast, Kody Hanner takes a hard look at the current state of agriculture, the rise of AI and digital influence, and the growing disconnect between people and their food.
From the dilution of farming practices under trending labels to the increasing reliance on broken education systems, this episode breaks down what’s actually happening — and what families, educators, and communities can do about it.
This isn’t about turning everyone into a farmer.It’s about raising a generation that understands food, land, and responsibility.
If you care about:
Food security and self-sufficiency
Agriculture education for kids and families
Homesteading, small-scale farming, and real-life skills
The impact of AI and media on learning and culture
This episode will challenge the way you think — and give you a path forward.
In This Episode, We Cover:
What’s really happening in agriculture in 2026
How AI and online content are shaping (and distorting) education
The problem with “trendy” farming movements losing their roots
Why traditional systems are failing to prepare capable adults
How small-scale agriculture education can rebuild stronger communities
Practical ways families can start taking back control of their food and learning
Resources & Links
Homestead Education Curriculum:https://thehomesteadeducation.com
Shop Books & Resources:https://thehomesteadeducation.com/shop
Join the Email List for Resources & Updates:https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/subscribe
Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/homestead_education
Follow on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thehomesteadeducation
Follow on TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/thehomesteadeducation
Subscribe on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@homesteadeducation
⭐️ Support the Show
If this episode challenged or inspired you:
✔️ Follow the podcast so new episodes show up automatically✔️ Leave a review — it helps more families find this message✔️ Share this episode with someone who cares about food, education, or self-sufficiency
🔥 Final Thought
We don’t need more noise.We need more people who actually know what they’re doing — and are willing to teach it.

Season 7 Trailer - How to make the changes we want to see for agriculture in 2026?

Food and agriculture have never been louder — and clarity has never been harder to find.
As we move into 2026, grocery prices are rising, agricultural education is being shaped by broken systems, and AI is changing how information spreads. So how do we actually do better?
Season 7 of The Homestead Education Podcast is focused on rebuilding agricultural education at a human scale — not to turn everyone into farmers, but to raise people who understand food, land, and responsibility.
If you care about food security, agriculture, or strengthening families and communities, this season is for you.
👉Follow the show now so you don’t miss the full Season 7 kickoff episode next week. The conversation is just getting started.
Connect with Kody!
Instagram: homestead_education
Submit a question to be answered
Book Kody to Speak
Sponsorship / Partnership Inquiries

How to Build Executive Functioning on the Homestead

In this episode, I share an update on Ranger, our Great Pyrenees livestock guardian who is still missing, and how our family is moving forward while holding onto hope. I also talk about our plan to bring home a new working male dog, what we’re looking for in a ranch-ready name, and how we’re navigating the emotions of change while keeping the homestead running.
Then I dive into my annual New Year reflection, including my word-of-the-year approach (reemerge, redefine, and bringing it home), what’s shifting in our family and business, and why executive functioning matters for both kids and adults. I explain how homesteading naturally builds real-life skills through purpose, cause and effect, and responsibility, share details about my free Executive Functioning for Homestead Kids download, and give an update on our student planners—plus the launch of the new Junior Homestead Student Planner.
Episode Links
Homestead Student Planners: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/student-planner/
Grab your freebie here!
Kody Links
Website: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/
Shop Curriculum: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/shop
Speaking Events: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/events
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehomesteadeducation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homestead_education
Watch episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@homesteadeducation

What People Need to Know About Raising Working Dogs

In this episode, I’m talking about working dogs—and what happens when one goes missing. After a brief life update, I share the story of our livestock guardian dog, Ranger, and the events leading up to his disappearance. From late-night disturbances to injuries on multiple dogs, this episode explores the reality of relying on a guardian dog to protect a farm and the emotional weight of not knowing what happened.
I also address common misconceptions about working dogs, especially livestock guardian breeds like Great Pyrenees—how they’re raised, why they live differently than house pets, and why pet standards don’t always apply to working roles. Drawing from my background with hunting, herding, and farm dogs, I explain the difference between livestock guardians and farm guardians and invite listeners to think critically about breed-specific needs, farm protection, and respectful support during hard seasons.
Episode Links
Homestead Education Shop: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/shop/
Hanner Homestead: https://hannerhomestead.com/shop/
Porthill Printing: https://porthillprinting.com/
Livestock Guardian: https://amzn.to/4j08Riq
Herding Dogs: https://amzn.to/3L3Vkts
Herding Dogs on the Homestead: https://amzn.to/48FctTn 
 
Kody Links
Website: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/
Shop Curriculum: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/shop
Speaking Events: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/events
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehomesteadeducation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homestead_education
Watch episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@homesteadeducation

How to Prep Without the Tinfoil Hat: Practical Emergency Readiness with Lindy Bryant

In this episode, Kody sits down with Lindy Bryant of Northwoods of Idaho—Air Force veteran, disaster response specialist, and creator of the Grab and Go Binder and Survival in a Bottle kits.
They break down real-life preparedness for normal people: families, single parents, seniors, urban dwellers, and rural homesteaders who want to be ready for power outages, job loss, medical emergencies, and everyday “mini disasters” long before a comet hits the earth.
From emergency binders and car kits to bartering, community support, and skill-based prepping, this conversation will help you rethink preparedness as a practical, affordable, and deeply caring way to protect your family.
Episode Links
Website: https://www.northwoodsofidaho.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthWoodsOfIdaho
Get it on Amazon: Do It Yourself: Grab-N-Go Binder
Lindy's Book: The Single Person's Guide to Preparedness: Prepping for One!
Kody Links
Website: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/
Shop Curriculum: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/shop
Speaking Events: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/events
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehomesteadeducation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homestead_education
Watch episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@homesteadeducation

How to Sell Farm-Raised Meat Online (and Actually Make a Profit)

In this episode, Kody chats with Katie Olthoff, co-founder of Chop Local and Chop Local University, about helping farmers sell meat directly to consumers in today’s market. Katie shares how she transitioned from teaching elementary school in rural Iowa to building an online farmers' market that connects producers with buyers nationwide. Together, they unpack the difference between custom-exempt and retail meat sales, how inspection laws affect shipping, and why clear pricing and education are key to building trust with customers. Katie also shares insights on simplifying online sales, using email marketing instead of relying on social media, and creative strategies for selling the lesser-known cuts that often sit in farmers’ freezers.
Episode Links
Chop Local Website: https://choplocal.com/
Chop Local University: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/choplocalmeat
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@choplocal
Podcast: Meat Success
Kody Links
Website: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/
Shop Curriculum: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/shop
Speaking Events: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/events
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehomesteadeducation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homestead_education
Watch episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@homesteadeducation

Are Americans Losing Food Freedom? How to Reclaim Control from the System

In this episode, Kody tackles one of the most complex and often misunderstood topics in America: the food stamp system and its impact on personal responsibility, nutrition, and self-sufficiency. She traces its origins from FDR’s 1939 program to today’s SNAP, uncovering how a system designed to feed the hungry gradually created a culture of dependency. Drawing from her own experience as a single mother who once relied on food assistance, Kody offers a compassionate yet challenging perspective on how modern policies, education gaps, and processed food industries have eroded our connection to real food and the skills to provide it.
She reminds listeners that if those in power control the food, they control the people. Through history, statistics, and personal reflection, Kody urges families to reclaim their independence by learning to cook, grow, and nourish themselves. She calls for a return of home economics and small-scale agriculture to schools, stronger nutrition education, and support for farmers—the very people who sustain our nation. This thought-provoking conversation challenges the idea that aid alone can solve hunger and points toward a future where resilience, knowledge, and self-reliance take the lead.
Episode Links
Brand new student planner: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/product/homestead-student-planner/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/160411704
Porthill Printing website: www.porthillprinting.com 
Porthill Printing social media: @porthillprinting
Book Links:
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
Omnivores Dilemma
 
Kody Links
Website: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/
Shop Curriculum: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/shop
Speaking Events: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/events
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehomesteadeducation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homestead_education
Watch episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@homesteadeducation

From Farm to Neighbor: Strengthening Local Food Systems with Steader

In this episode, Kody sits down with Greg and Kristen Leininger, founders of Steader, to share how their own homesteading challenges sparked the idea for a faith-led, community-driven app built to reconnect local food systems. They open up about turning that vision into a working platform that helps neighbors buy, sell, and trade. From their family’s journey toward a simpler, purpose-filled life to their mission of helping others live closer to God’s design for food, land, and fellowship, Greg and Kristen show how technology can actually bring homesteaders back together—one trade, seed, or story at a time.
Episode Links
Website: https://www.steader.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steaderapp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steaderapp/
Kody Links
Website: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/
Shop Curriculum: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/shop
Speaking Events: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/events
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehomesteadeducation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homestead_education
Watch episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@homesteadeducation