Call To Farms

Winter storms, market shifts, and major decisions all collided at once, and this episode is a reminder that homesteading is about preparation, adaptability, and stewardship when life feels uncertain.
In this episode of the Call to Farms Podcast, Tim and Sophia Eng share how they prepared their homestead for extreme cold, ice storms, and a bomb cyclone, along with lessons learned after moving from California to Tennessee. They also break down what is happening in the housing market, including interest rates, the Federal Reserve’s latest decisions, and what recent leadership changes could mean for homeowners, buyers, and land seekers.
You will hear practical insight on homestead readiness, land and buyer activity, using home equity wisely, and why physical assets like land continue to matter. The episode also includes updates on upcoming books, workshops, and speaking events.
If you are navigating uncertainty or considering your next move toward land or homeownership, this conversation offers clarity and perspective.
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Get your ⁠Tickets Here⁠ to the Seeking Whole Health Conference on April 16-18 in Wooster, OH .
⁠Click Here⁠ to the Prairie Roots Homesteading Summit held on May 15-16 in Watford City, ND.
⁠Get Your Early Bird Tickets ⁠to the Modern Homesteading Conference in Coeur d'Alene, ID on June 26-27.

Join Tim and Sophia at the ⁠Chelsea Green Food & Farming Convergence⁠ at Polyface Farms on September 25-26, 2026.

Join our waitlist for our 2026 Homesteaders United Conference, which will be hosted on our property in East Tennessee. ⁠⁠⁠Sign Up Here⁠⁠⁠

Check out our Call to Farms Community where you have access to farm and cooking courses along with direct access to us as you build out your homestead! ⁠⁠⁠Join Here⁠⁠⁠

Are you a veteran or active duty service member looking to make a move? Join our live VA Home Buying workshop to understand how to make the most of your VA loan. ⁠⁠⁠Register Here⁠⁠⁠

Don't miss out on another off-market listing! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Be sure to sign up here.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tune in now and join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Call to Farms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date with the latest happenings!

Most people assume regenerative farming and homesteading cannot work in places where winter lasts half the year and conventional agriculture dominates the landscape.
In this episode of The Call to Farms Podcast, Tim and Sophia Eng sit down with Daniel Stenberg, founder of the Prairie Roots Homesteading Summit, to challenge that assumption and explore what is actually happening on the ground in North Dakota and the Northern Great Plains.
Daniel grew up on land originally homesteaded by his great grandparents in the early 1900s, one of the last regions settled under the Homestead Act due to its harsh conditions. After spending years away, he returned home with a renewed vision of reconnecting people to land, food, and community in a place most have written off as too hard.
This conversation explores:
The real tension between conventional agriculture and regenerative practices in the Dakotas

Why farmers markets became the spark for a larger homesteading movement

What homesteading looks like with a 100 day growing season

How newcomers, young families, and returning locals are reshaping rural communities

The role of grit, adaptation, and knowing when to pivot

Why local, regional events matter for resilient food systems

The vision behind launching the first Prairie Roots Homesteading Summit in North Dakota

Rather than selling a lifestyle fantasy, this episode focuses on reality. Short growing seasons, challenging soil, and the deep fulfillment that comes from producing food, stewarding land, and rebuilding local networks anyway.
If you have ever wondered whether regenerative homesteading can work anywhere, especially in hard places, this conversation will expand your perspective.
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Click Here to the Prairie Roots Homesteading Summit, early bird tickets, and event details.

Join our waitlist for our 2026 Homesteaders United Conference, which will be hosted on our property in East Tennessee. ⁠⁠Sign Up Here⁠⁠

Check out our Call to Farms Community where you have access to farm and cooking courses along with direct access to us as you build out your homestead! ⁠⁠Join Here⁠⁠

Are you a veteran or active duty service member looking to make a move? Join our live VA Home Buying workshop to understand how to make the most of your VA loan. ⁠⁠Register Here⁠⁠

Don't miss out on another off-market listing! ⁠⁠⁠Be sure to sign up here.⁠⁠⁠

Get your copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Becoming Your Own Banker⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be sure to bring your questions to our live workshop!

Interested in learning more about protecting and securing your homestead and family? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our live, online workshop on Thursday, January 29th at 4pm PST / 7pm EST.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tune in now and join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Call to Farms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date with the latest happenings!

What does it really mean to secure your home, your homestead, and your family’s future?
In this special episode of The Call to Farms Podcast, Tim and Sophia Eng sit down with their trusted financial advisor and friend, Kurt Berry of Stillwater Financial, to unpack the Infinite Banking Concept and why it has become a cornerstone of true financial resilience for families who want control, clarity, and long-term security.
Tim was first introduced to the idea more than a decade ago through Becoming Your Own Banker by R. Nelson Nash. While the concept made sense on paper, it wasn’t until meeting Kurt, someone who lives it with integrity, patience, and real-world experience, that the strategy fully clicked. Together, Tim, Sophia, and Kurt move beyond theory and into practical application.
In this conversation, they cover:
What the Infinite Banking Concept actually is (and what it is not)

Common misconceptions about whole life insurance

Why cash flow matters more than income

The difference between “or” assets and “and” assets

How families can build a parallel financial system they control

Why financial preparedness is a critical part of homestead security

How this strategy works alongside real estate, mortgages, HELOCs, and long-term planning

Kurt also shares his personal journey from city life to homesteading in Tennessee, how Infinite Banking transformed his own financial approach, and why this strategy has quietly been used by the wealthiest families and institutions for generations.
This episode is for anyone who:
Feels uneasy relying solely on traditional banks

Wants to build generational wealth with intention

Is planning ahead for a stronger, more resilient 2026

Believes financial literacy is a form of stewardship

If this episode sparks questions, Tim and Sophia will be hosting free live workshops with Kurt to walk through the concept step by step and answer questions openly.
Links to the workshop, the book Becoming Your Own Banker, and additional resources are below.
This episode isn’t about selling products. It’s about restoring clarity, ownership, and confidence around money so families can protect what they’re building and pass on a lasting legacy.
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Get your copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Becoming Your Own Banker⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be sure to bring your questions to our live workshop!

Interested in learning more about protecting and securing your homestead and family? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our live, online workshop on Thursday, January 29th at 4pm PST / 7pm EST.⁠⁠⁠

Are you a veteran or active duty service member looking to make a move? Join our live VA Home Buying workshop to understand how to make the most of your VA loan. ⁠⁠Register Here⁠⁠

Don't miss out on another off-market listing! ⁠⁠⁠Be sure to sign up here.⁠⁠

Tune in now and join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Call to Farms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date with the latest happenings!

A new year does not mean starting from scratch. It means building wisely from where you already are.
In this episode of Call to Farms, Tim and Sophia reflect on the transition out of a Sabbath year of rest and into a season of intentional rebuilding, both on the homestead and in everyday life. They share what slowing down revealed, why rest is not the same as stagnation, and how clarity often comes only after space is created.
This conversation offers practical ways to think about food planning, land stewardship, and home systems as the year begins, without overwhelm or unrealistic goals. It focuses on rhythms, readiness, and resilience. How to prepare your household, property, and mindset for the year ahead using small, thoughtful steps that compound over time.
Whether you are managing acreage, dreaming of a future homestead, or simply trying to live more deliberately where you are, this episode helps reframe planning as an act of stewardship rather than pressure.
Topics covered include:
Transitioning out of a season of rest with purpose and clarity

Why doing less can prepare you to do better

Practical food and home planning for the year ahead

Building resilient systems instead of chasing resolutions

Aligning home, land, and family rhythms for long-term sustainability

This episode is for anyone who wants to move forward in a grounded and intentional way.

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Join our waitlist for our 2026 Homesteaders United Conference, which will be hosted on our property in East Tennessee. ⁠Sign Up Here⁠

Check out our Call to Farms Community where you have access to farm and cooking courses along with direct access to us as you build out your homestead! ⁠Join Here⁠

Thinking about purchasing a home in the near future? Join us for our next live home buyer's 101 workshop! ⁠Register Here⁠

Are you a veteran or active duty service member looking to make a move? Join our live VA Home Buying workshop to understand how to make the most of your VA loan. ⁠Register Here⁠

Don't miss out on another off-market listing! ⁠⁠Be sure to sign up here.⁠⁠

Get your copy of ⁠⁠⁠Becoming Your Own Banker⁠⁠⁠ and be sure to bring your questions to our live workshop!

Interested in learning more about protecting and securing your homestead and family? ⁠⁠⁠Join our live, online workshop on Thursday, January 29th at 4pm PST / 7pm EST.⁠⁠⁠

Tune in now and join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Call to Farms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date with the latest happenings!

As 2025 comes to a close, we are sitting down for an honest, unfiltered conversation about what this year really demanded of our family.
This was not a year of shortcuts or easy wins. It was a year that asked more of us financially, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. A year that exposed weak systems, clarified priorities, and forced hard decisions around land, money, work, health, and how we steward what we have been given.
In this episode, we reflect on
• The unexpected challenges that shaped 2025
• Lessons learned about resilience, family leadership, and responsibility
• What worked, what did not, and what we would do differently
• How pressure revealed what truly matters
• Why preparation is not about fear but about faith and stewardship
• What we are carrying forward and what we are leaving behind as we head into 2026
This is a quiet but grounded year end reset. Not a highlight reel. Not predictions. Just clarity earned the hard way.
If you are a family thinking seriously about your future, your home, your finances, your children, and the systems you rely on, this conversation is for you.
Thank you for walking alongside us this year. We are grateful for this community, and we are stepping into 2026 with intention, humility, and resolve.
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Join our waitlist for our 2026 Homesteaders United Conference, which will be hosted on our property in East Tennessee. Sign Up Here

Check out our Call to Farms Community where you have access to farm and cooking courses along with direct access to us as you build out your homestead! Join Here

Thinking about purchasing a home in the near future? Join us for our next live home buyer's 101 workshop! Register Here

Are you a veteran or active duty service member looking to make a move? Join our live VA Home Buying workshop to understand how to make the most of your VA loan. Register Here

Don't miss out on another off-market listing! ⁠Be sure to sign up here.⁠

Get your copy of ⁠⁠Becoming Your Own Banker⁠⁠ and be sure to bring your questions to our live workshop!

Interested in learning more about protecting and securing your homestead and family? ⁠⁠Join our live, online workshop on Thursday, January 29th at 4pm PST / 7pm EST.⁠⁠

Tune in now and join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Call to Farms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date with the latest happenings!