Farm Fresh Homestead | Homesteading, Organic Gardening & Living Off the Land
Mary Boyd welcomes you to Farm Fresh Homestead — the ultimate podcast for anyone passionate about homesteading, sustainable living, organic gardening, and small-scale farming. Whether you live in the suburbs, countryside, or a city apartment with a small backyard, this how-to podcast offers practical advice to help you grow your own food, raise animals ethically, and live a more self-sufficient life.Each episode dives into step-by-step guidance on urban homesteading, backyard farming, and building your own thriving mini-farm using eco-friendly, 100% organic methods. From composting and soil preparation to natural pest control and year-round harvesting strategies, you'll gain the skills to make yo...
Homemade Herbalism — A Backyard Apothecary That Heals More Than the Body
Most people don’t realize their backyard is a pharmacy waiting to be rediscovered. From bitter cerasee vines to sleep-inducing soursop leaves, the Caribbean is rich with healing plants—and ancestral knowledge that’s slowly being forgotten. This episode walks you step-by-step through how to grow, harvest, and use 7 powerful herbs—fever grass, thyme, guinea hen weed, turmeric, aloe, and more—while teaching you how to build your own home apothecary. But this isn’t just a how-to guide. It’s a return to rhythm, resistance, and the sacred act of self-care.Could you care for your family during a storm with j...
Compost, Worms & Waste — How to Turn Scraps Into Living Soil
 Most people flush and forget. But in this radical homesteading guide, we explore how composting — from banana peels to human waste — can completely transform your soil, your garden, and your mindset. From building compost bins using recycled Caribbean materials, to raising a worm army in your kitchen, to the controversial but life-changing practice of humanure composting — this episode doesn’t flinch.Why are we still treating waste as a problem when it’s nature’s greatest gift to the soil?
What secrets did our Caribbean elders already know about managing waste before toilets and trash cans took over?
And what...
Fire & Fuel: Off-Grid Cooking the Caribbean Way
Most people think off-grid cooking is a survival tactic — but in the Caribbean, it’s a living art form.
From keyhole fire pits to solar ovens, ash bread to smoky saltfish, this episode takes you deep into the rituals, recipes, and resilience of ancestral Caribbean cooking.
We’re not just boiling water here — we’re roasting breadfruit over coals, reducing coconut milk under the stars, and reclaiming flavor from fire.
What can bush tea and ash bread teach us about freedom?
Why are so many homesteaders turning back to charcoal, wood, and the sun?
And how do...
Rain Is Gold — How to Harvest, Store, and Cook with Rainwater the Caribbean Way
Most people think rainwater is just backup for dry days — but in the Caribbean, it’s been the heart of cooking, cleansing, and survival for generations. This episode takes you beyond barrels and tanks into the cultural, legal, and spiritual reality of water harvesting in island life. You’ll learn how to build your own rain catchment system, what’s safe and legal depending on your island, and how to use every drop in the kitchen — from rice and peas to herbal baths.Why did our elders wash with the first rainfall of the season?
Why do some kitchens b...
Coop to Cuisine — Butchering, Eggs, and Cooking Tips
Most people never learn what it really means to raise and eat your own chicken. But in this intimate homestead guide, we go beyond backyard basics into the raw, respectful truth of what it takes to turn your coop into a complete food source. From ethical butchering and age-old egg preservation methods to Caribbean cooking techniques that honor every edible part — this episode offers the tools, mindset, and ancestral knowledge to feed your family without waste or shame.What part of the chicken do you use that most people throw away?
And which tradition do you believe should ne...
Cluck, Lay, Repeat — Raising Chickens the Right Way
Think raising chickens is as easy as tossing out some corn and waiting for eggs? Think again. In this hands-on Caribbean homesteading guide, we break down everything from coop construction and predator-proofing to brooding chicks, egg-laying cycles, and ethical meat harvesting. Learn the hard truths about broilers, the hidden wisdom of yard fowl, and the age-old traditions that still shape island life today.
Whether you're starting with six hens or planning a full backyard operation, this episode teaches you how to do it right—from your first feather to your final pot of chicken foot soup.
What br...
Next Steps Raising Chickens for Eggs & Meat
You’ve grown your garden, harvested your meals, and now you’re ready for the next chapter—chickens. This final episode of Season 1 is your complete beginner’s guide to raising chickens in a Caribbean setting. Learn how to choose the right breeds, build a predator-proof coop, feed your flock on a budget, and keep them healthy using traditional bush remedies and modern care. We also explore the ethics of raising birds for eggs and meat, share insights into Caribbean practices, and offer a path to expanding your backyard ecosystem with ducks, quail, or goats. Whether you're on a balcony in Kings...
Caribbean Gardening Traditions What the Elders Know
Caribbean Gardening Traditions — What the Elders Know Before soil tests and garden apps, Caribbean elders relied on inherited wisdom—planting by the moon, brewing herbal medicine from backyard leaves, and using proverbs to guide the rhythm of the land. This episode is a journey back to the roots: a soulful exploration of how gardening traditions carried healing, memory, and spiritual protection through generations. We’ll unpack bush remedies, lunar planting, companion planting, garden blessings, and the oral storytelling that made every harvest more than food—it made it family. Whether you're starting a small plot or honoring your lineage, this guide is...
Common Mistakes And How to Grow From Them
Everyone makes mistakes in the garden—but not everyone grows from them. In this honest and empowering episode, we uncover the most common beginner errors in Caribbean gardening: overwatering, poor drainage, overcrowding, pest mismanagement, bad soil, mistimed planting, and chemical overreliance. Learn practical fixes, mindset shifts, and ancestral wisdom that will help you keep going even when your garden seems to fail. Whether you're working with buckets or beds, this guide will help you start again with confidence—and grow wiser with every season.
From Plot to Pot: Harvesting & Cooking What You Grow
A true Caribbean meal begins with the soil beneath your feet. In this episode of Farm Fresh: Caribbean Homesteading Chronicles, we walk you through the full journey from harvest to kitchen. Learn how to recognize when your crops are ready, how to harvest them gently, and what to do next—from storage to the stovetop.You’ll also get easy, authentic Caribbean recipes like callaloo coconut stew, pepperpot, and thyme-infused vegetable sautés—all made with ingredients from your backyard. Whether you're cooking in a rural yard, balcony garden, or urban homestead, this episode teaches you how to honor your ha...
Water is Wisdom: Collecting, Conserving, and Watering Right
In this episode of Farm Fresh: Caribbean Homesteading Chronicles, we dive deep into the heartbeat of every thriving garden—water. Whether you're working with a single bucket, a rain barrel, or a rooftop setup, water management can make or break your harvest.Learn practical, step-by-step techniques to collect rainwater, build DIY drip systems, and create personalized watering schedules that match your local Caribbean climate. Discover how to read plant signals, improve your soil’s water-holding capacity, and prepare your garden for drought without stress. This isn’t theory—it’s survival.Perfect for island gardeners, beginners, and backyard farmers looking to...
The First Seeds — What to Plant and When in the Caribbean
In Episode 4 of Farm Fresh: Caribbean Homesteading Chronicles, we explore the foundation of homesteading, organic gardening, and resilient living through the lens of the Caribbean climate. This episode is your practical how-to guide for starting a food-sovereign garden — no matter your space or skill level. Whether you’re working with a balcony bucket or a full backyard farming setup, we walk you through what to plant, when to plant it, and how to choose the right seeds for your growing zone.
Learn how to time your crops for success, explore the benefits of heirloom seeds vs. hybrids, understand Cari...
Why Homesteading Matters: Soil is Soul Preparing Your Ground for Life
Explore the foundations of homesteading and organic gardening in this soil-focused episode of Farm Fresh Homestead. Healthy soil is the beating heart of every thriving garden and backyard farm. Whether you’re practicing urban homesteading on a balcony or growing crops in a rural plot, we guide you through the principles of sustainable living and natural land care.
This episode teaches you how to build, test, and regenerate soil using methods like composting, natural fertilization, mulching, crop rotation, and companion planting. Discover how organic farming practices support self-sufficiency, reduce synthetic inputs, and nourish the earth beneath your food. We...
Why Homesteading Matters: Start Where You Are: Backyard, Balcony, or Bucket Micro-Gardens
Discover how to become a homesteader regardless of your living space! This episode of Farm Fresh Homestead dives into micro-gardening using recycled containers — a perfect solution for urban homesteading, small-space farming, and anyone pursuing sustainable living. Learn how to assess your home environment, improve your soil quality, and choose the best organic gardening crops for tight areas like balconies, porches, and windowsills.
We’ll share actionable tips on composting, vertical gardening, and avoiding common mistakes many beginner gardeners face. Whether you're new to homesteading or just want to live more self-sufficiently, this guide helps you start growing your own...
Why Homesteading Matters: Embracing Sustainable Living Today
In this gripping episode of The Awakening — Why Homesteading Matters Today, discover why the real solution to food insecurity, rising prices, and modern burnout may not be escape, but a return — to the land, to the soil, and to sustainable living. This episode is your gateway into the world of homesteading, offering a practical, empowering guide to organic gardening, backyard farming, and self-sufficiency.
Whether you're in a city high-rise or a rural homestead, this immersive how-to dives deep into the systems of small-scale farming, permaculture, composting, and urban homesteading. You'll learn how to grow your own food, store clea...
