I always enjoy these videos but there were a couple things about this one that made this one of my favorites. Let's start with the videographer who was following mom around as she milked the cow, fertilized trees and wrangled run away bees. What a pro, always keeping mom in the shot and never letting the camera shake even when the bees weren't cooperating. Nice work buddy. But what really touched me was Michelle mentioning that she sometimes compares herself to other homesteaders who might have more starts going etc., and wondering if she's doing enough. I know I speak for the thousands who watch this channel when I say Michelle you're a superstar. Pat yourself on the back hold your head up and rest assured you're an inspiration to so many. Great video guys, see you next week
This was fun to watch. You should feel proud of your accomplishments. The advice you impart is always so intelligent beyond your years, and obviously comes from your heart.
if your bees are swarming its because theyre growing too large for the hive, you have to add more room. eventually you have to get another queen and split the hive into two.
Michelle, you are so right, there is more than one way to be right! I have to keep reminding myself that too...the internet can be so influential at times. And I don't know how you or your fellow RU-vidrs handle such negative criticism all the time. I have a homestead in northern Ontario and was thinking about starting a channel myself but have since changed my mind just because of that! Just love your content and endurance for the "good life". Thank you.
I love that you said “there’s more than one way to be right.” I so often see gardening advice “this is the best way” when the reality is there are 10 perfectly fine ways to do it, and ultimately whatever works or is convenient is best for the individual.
I agree 💯💯💯. I also have caught myself in this "trap" if that's what you want to call it. I have been a gardener since I was 9 years old and I am learning so many things that I had never known. Blessings to you Michelle for being so open and honest with us all.❤❤
One of our daughters is married with two little girls;a toddler and an infant. Her husband left two weeks ago to take a job with a traveling alpacca shearing company. The goal is ..he will be able to make as much in ten weeks away as working 40 hours a week at his year round job. They are making the sacrifice so they can ultimately have much more time together, get out of the city, build a little homestead and teach their children together. She. Like you, is managing alone for these months..and doing beautifully. I really admire these young, Christian couples like you who are supporting one another and carrying extra heavy loads so you can build your marriages. What a gift to your children. Hang in their. The reward will be great!
Don’t ever feel like you aren’t up to other creators standards! Girl, I skip 90% of them and watch your channel. You and Cody are REAL. That’s what matters.
You did a fantastic job Michelle! 👏 Stepping out of your comfort zone every now and then is good for ya! The kids have a GREAT MOM! Codi's best catch is you! Glad he got some "him" time in, good or bad, still a good time! 😊 👍
I watch a lot of other content creators, and I can honestly say that your channel is my favorite. My husband and I are fledgling homesteaders, and your channel has given us the courage to try more things. Thank you for being so informative and raw in your videos. Your family is a joy to watch ❤
I love all of your videos, but this one particularly delights my heart. It's so great that you have your young cameraman by your side, dear Michelle. Taking vacations apart every now and then is wonderful for the relationship, I've always appreciated it. Thank you Michelle for your time and the great video. Kind regards, Claudia
That was very brave, you were super fabulous! Never be concerned about what people say, you are s smart and practical and do everything so well. Keep it up!
Ive learned that when the family is "starving" I need something quick and easy to feed them. So pick a day and make a huge batch of pancakes or waffles, feed half of them to the family and freeze the rest. Then when you need a quick breakfast, pull them out and use your toaster or oven to reheat them. Wallah. Quick and easy. Same thing for lunch. Fry big batch of hamburgers and warm them up when needed. Michelle did you know a scene on a video about 10 thing the gov is trying to stop preppers has you in it?
You are an amazing mom. I am 61 yo now, and worked my whole life in medicine, and a hair salon. My body aches with arthritis from repetitive motion and standing. But I now look forward to home gardening. Yes, there are experts, and several ways of doing the same thing. I love You Tube for all it has to offer. I always cook, and am looking forward to home gardening. Your channel is amazing, so just keep up what you are doing.
Just an idea...use should grow microgreens.8 to 10 days.5 to 6 inches high.its got 40 percent more vitamins and minerals than full grown plants.look into moringa trees also. I love your videos.keep up the awsome vids.god bless.
Michelle, you did an awesome job. I am so glad I found your channel. You and Cody do an amazing job, and I love your content. I will definitely be getting that egg gadget. You looked fabulous in that bee suit and did a great job trying to catch the swarm.❤
I'll be purchasing my first home pretty soon and we're looking to start our homestead life. Love learning from your videos, they give me the confidence that I can do it too🩷
Comparing ourselves to others is one of the biggest problems with our society. Individual ideas and actions can look different and still effective for each individual.
I am so thankful that you talked about the seedlings and the garden. I'm new to gardening and feel ridiculous planting 2 tomato plants when - well, others have hundreds of seedlings. Thank you for 'giving us permission' to not go large scale or plant nothing. I needed to hear that my few plants are just as much of an accomplishment for me as hundreds of plants are for more seasoned gardeners. I do what I can and I learn on the way.
I was in my kitchen cleaning and I was thinking about you and Cody. You don’t know me but I just want to tell you how in awe and how proud I am of you two. Young people taking care of their family and each other, no debt, and super hard workers. You are part of what makes America great. ❤❤❤
That was great advice for both new and established gardeners and homesteaders. I love how honest you always are. It is sometimes tough to watch some content creators when everything they do seems to go perfectly and is backed by what seems to be an endless supply of cash. Especially if the viewer is struggling to get it all done or find the cash to do things. But I always tell myself that there is often a disconnect between "camera ready" and reality when we watch some channels. Video creating is often like dating in that the desire is there to show your best self. You keep it real, and your viewers appreciate that, (and your sound advice).
Congrats Michelle for trying with the bees as well as doing everything else solo. Guess it's your turn to have a short break next? All you need to do to beat Codi's is not puke :P J/k being seasick is no fun :(
Whoever is doing the camera work while Cody is away is doing a great job, my guess is one of your older kiddos…. Also I’d like to say this,, I LIVE YOU GUYS and ALL that you stand for and believe in…
Yes you can do it, just means up earlier and done later, I have to hold mine down alone all the time it’s hard no joke and I fall into bed dead tired hoping my hubby will stop the OTR trucking and get something local but the $ is his driving force to stay out 90 days and home 5. I stopped OTR when I paid off our place but he has 2 motorcycles he is trying to get paid off 🙄 I say sell one but nope won’t do it.
Proud of you, Brave girl Michelle. I'm so allergic to bees and grew up on a farm with bees. Not fun but you were so brave to try. Glad you were able to do all the farm things so Cody could go have some away time.
You guys are cool, your content is always great, and I'll say the things I love most about you and your channel is that you're just genuine, very practical, and friendly people; you're not far-out conspiracy theorists (that's a big one lol); but most of all, you're not preachy. I love your whole approach of, "This is what we do because it works best for us. You can give it a shot if you like but you may need to explore to find what's best for you. Individual results may vary." Keep it up!
Poor Cody🤮...you did great by yourself, though!🥳 One thing I love about this channel is that you"re truly a great team & you guys do things in your own way instead of fitting in: you never know...you might discover something that becomes the NEW standard everyone else follows. Btw, you probably already do it, but I wonder if you've tried companion planting things that squash beetles hate (and plants for natural predators) around your cucumber and squash plants?
I love your honesty and transparency. The pitfall of overwhelm is real! I feel like irrigation is the one piece I’m missing but the task of set up is so very daunting and paralyzing. It’s a fear I try to conquer everyday!!! You guys do a fantastic job! 💜🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
I absolutely love your content. It is NORMAL, gives me a feel of something achievable by common mortal and even if mistakes occur, you are true about it. "There’s more than one way to be right.” I applaud that! Well, not even some unknown people, but probably my own parents would definitely lived my life differently, managed my home and kids in other ways etc, but it is my life, so... 😉 We are here to see you and your ways.
I Love watching your vids! Thanks for sharing! I'm wondering if you guys do any cover for your Squash and Cucumbers? Tulle works Great, but we are in Southern Oregon and have different bugs.
Why do you milk the cow before her baby gets fed? (I ask because we're doing research on getting a milk cow or goat and I'm curious about why it's done that way.) When I was nursing my babies, I didn't pump then feed them, so I'm basing my knowledge of nursing off that. Hahahahaha! ❤❤❤
Totally appreciate your candidness. My pastor has really been doubling down in 2024 on eliminating approval addiction from our lives....all that stress from comparing ourselves to others. It's such a hard habit to break, but we certainly make it a goal !!!
I love how you and Codi balance each other out. What you are doing is tremendously good for not only your family, but for this world. We need more clean and positive influences like you folks! God Bless!
Catching up on 20+ videos of yours today. Kept thinking you could possibly try mushrooms growing as well? I always see people making holes in a log and growing them that way. The wooded area on your property would work great for it since it is damp and shadowed maybe? They can just be put in the freezer.
Love your station! It's just my husband and myself cooking all meals and we too produce a ton of dishes! I consider it a badge of honor!! As for some youtube videos where people have literally hundreds and hundreds of seedlings....I guarantee they have a lot of help behind the scenes. Keep on doing what you're doing. We're in our late 60's and we still haven't found perfect ways of doing anything.
Michelle, for the pizza crust, did you just use straight sourdough starter? I always thought it had to be mixed with other ingredients to make a dough. Loved the video!!
Michelle, have you ever planted lemon squash? I have virtually NO squash bugs with these plants. We live in the south and squash bugs kill my squash plants as soon as they really start producing. With lemon squash, I can have squash all summer. The plants are compact and the squash look just like a lemon. They taste exactly like yellow crookneck squash. I usually save my seeds each year but I think Baker Creek Seeds sell them.
Thank you for validating our dish scenario 😅😅 we don’t have animals, but we do garden much of our food and cook from scratch. 1.5-2 dish loads a day average for our family of 6 is par for the course, sometimes 3.
Squash bugs die very fast if you spray them with soap heavy water. Ajax seems to work better than Dawn. I use a 2 gallon pump sprayer with lots of soap and spray right on the bugs and they die in like 10 seconds.
For your squash beetle problem: Buckwheat brings in pest predators, which reduce insect pests. Nasturtiums protect against pumpkin and squash beetles. Oregano provides general pest protection. Calendula deters beetles and root nematodes.
I have compassion for your struggle with comparison, but I want to let you know I am very grateful for your content. CLEARLY, we garden different because in ZONE 9 in a semi arid climate we cannot grow the same produce. I do appreciate your recipes and supplement recommendations. Your platform is very helpful.
I had a black egg shelter. Wished the eggs rolled down better. My sister and law got me a plastic egg contraption for the same purpose. Using it. Still wish the eggs rolled down better. Like the color of yours.
Hello, I love to watch your videos. It gives me courage. I noticed your comments about cucumbers. Have you tried Ajur? It is like a cucumbers and tolerant to bugs
Since you and your family are farmers, I wonder if your kids might benefit from learning about climate change. I personally feel like it would be a good bit of knowledge for their future.
If you have never tried Armenian yard long cucumbers, do your self a favor. They are delicious and get quite large. They grow great here in Oklahoma heat so they should do good your way
Idk if it's just our area because we're in the deep southeast or what, but do y'all struggle with fungus gnats or flies with your plants or seedlings in the house?
I would love to know what kind of evergreen trees you have planted. We are looking for something similar to plant along one of our property lines to provide privacy to our land as well as block the things that are being sprayed on the corn field next door
Please remind people they need to wash the eggs before cracking them open. We were told they can last a couple weeks from the coop, but then they have to be washed.
I think we get in the mindset of the public school system that there is only one right way, in real life, there are multiple, as long as you get the result you want!
You are so inspiring as a homesteading wife and mother! We are starting a homestead, and every time I watch you and listen to you... just wow! You're an amazing woman and you always make me feel at ease when I think that I'm not doing enough! Bless you!
I agree with so much of what you said. I dont have squash beetles but I do have bugs, I started planting onions in between most of my plants, Its seems to decrease the insects. Give it a try. Onions are cheap. Only 10 tomatoes would be thin for me. I chose 30 incase the crop doesnt do well. I always plant 50% more than a think I need. People will always take excess. I keep trying to get down to 8 or 10 crops, Ones that we can store and put up. Its fun to have a little of everything but hard to manage. You are doing a great job
You guys do such a great job with these videos! I just love watching you! The filming, the editing, all of it! I need your secrets?! Like… who films you? If it’s a kiddo, they have a bright future in film 😅 *you can tell I have a content creator mind 😅❤
16:30 OMG....I'm just remembering. I'm 64 and grew up way different. I walked 3-4 blocks to the convenient store with my younger sisters as the chaperon" in the 60s, we 3 got one quarter each. twenty five cents each to buy what ever we wanted. WOW! a whole $ and drove there?! I just sub'd to you guys, I think you are doing great. Just to amend....later in the 70s my sisters and I would ride bikes over 4 miles to the town by ourselves and back for fifty cent treats. We were transplanted from divorce. City is not "Country" life. But still, so many miss out on the freedom my sisters and I enjoyed. The "All Day Murders"...I'm sure thats not right for who, maybe Alday, 70s, Georgia, guys broke in, killed...before that we didn't lock doors at night. One last edit. 19:10 Cinnamon Sugar! I think that was creative and wish I was a kid in your home.
Aawww great video! Michelle you are a brave woman with those bees! YIKES..... loved all your chores, food for the kids, glad Cody had a good time (?--bummer on flight and sick on boat) from born & raised in OH! 💗💚💛💙
14:30 Thank you!😘 Not a content creator, but feeling in the same boat... I just feel overwhelmed and doubting about a lot of things about gardening because people around me don't share same vision, most of them just compare, judge, criticize, make you feel inadequate with your methods... I like seeing people like you, I just wish I could have this type of neighbors and friends with whom I can share the same vision, have trust, talk to, learn from....Anyway I like your channel and the way you express yourself. From Romania with ❤
No way! We're from Venice and Nokomis. Looked like Snake Island in one of your video shots? it's perfect there. Great job holding down the homestead. We live in Shelby County, KY and homestead. Its a weird swarm season for sure. Flighty queens that don't want to stay after they've been put into a hive. Our kids love watching your channel, great job.
Mondays are a little different now that you’ve switched your posting days. I really look forward to them!! I have been watching your channel for a hot minute now. It is my #1 favorite by far!! Thank you for sharing! Wonderful topics, the quality is excellent, and your family seems wonderful! God bless! -Whitney
As a Master Gardener, I can tell you that one hundred gardeners will give you 150 answers to the same question. 😅 Just chew up the meat and throw out the bones. 😉 You're doing GREAT!!!!
Love love your videos!!! You're so much fun & entertaining! "I jumped off the lawn mower and it kept going" haha I'm dying 😂 Looking forward to seeing the new animal in the next video! BTW Michelle....I always start my cucumbers from seed indoors. We have cut worms that will chew the tender seedlings. But if they're a bit grown up, they tend to leave them alone, since they're tougher to chew I guess. I also start the seeds in newspaper pots, so I don't have to disturb the roots! I just kind of pull apart the bottom and plant it as is!
Quite brave to go and try to get the swarm in!! I would never dare to do that!! ... and a far as your issue with comparing with others and following the best way... your own way is the best way! As they say: Many roads lead to Rome!!! And Rome wasn't built in day!!! Be happy & healthy!!🙏🍀🙋♂
