Call To Farms

There is a difference between liking the idea of homesteading and living a life where animals depend on you every single day.
In this episode of Call to Farms, Sophia Eng sits down with Janelle Anderson of Haven Farmstead for an honest conversation about what livestock stewardship truly requires beyond the highlight reel.
Janelle shares her experience moving from beef cattle to dairy cows and explains why feeding animals well is a daily responsibility, not a convenience. They discuss how nutrition affects milk quality, why soil health matters, and the most common mistakes new homesteaders make when bringing home a family milk cow.
This conversation also explores mentorship, why online advice can be misleading, and how caring for animals builds discipline, consistency, and humility in the farmer.
Answering the call to farms is not a one-time decision. It is something you recommit to season after season.
If you have ever wondered what this life actually asks of you, this episode offers practical insight, quiet wisdom, and a realistic look at farm life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Be sure to follow Janelle!
Janelle Anderson Instagram
Janelle Anderson FaceBook
The Haven Farmstead Website

Have questions on buying or selling real estate? ⁠Reach out to Tim directly here!⁠

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

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

What if you did not have to wait until retirement to live the life you want. What if homesteading did not mean quitting your job, going off grid, or putting your dreams on hold until your kids are grown.
In this episode of the Call to Farms Podcast, Tim and Sophia share how they are building a meaningful life now through modern homesteading, homeschooling, entrepreneurship, and shared family responsibility. They talk honestly about why waiting for “someday” is a myth, how the events of 2020 reshaped their priorities, and why small, intentional steps matter more than perfect timing.
You will hear how homesteading can start anywhere, from a condo to a quarter acre, how to involve children as capable contributors rather than burdens, and why modern homesteading is not about suffering or doing everything yourself. They break down what hybrid living really looks like, balancing career, income, technology, land, and resilience without burnout.
This episode also dives into building community from scratch, especially for introverts, redefining education as preparation for real life, and giving yourself permission to start before everything feels ready.
If you have been quietly dreaming of a different way of living but feel stuck by finances, age, family stage, or fear of getting it wrong, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to take the next step right where you are.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!

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!

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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? ⁠Reach out to Tim directly here!⁠

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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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!