Vintage Americana

Today we're going to talk about looking down the road. Way, way down the road. The Barn GeekWoodlot Management by Coppicing Sproutlands, by William Bryant LoganBrent Hull is carrying the torch for building better, historically informed homes. Without foam. See his new series "New House, Old Soul." Regenerative Farmers of America Livestock Breed Conservancy Free Farm House Plans by Jay Osbournewww.vintageamericanapodcast.comVisit the blog at www.brambleberrymeadow.com instagram.com/vintagemaericanapodcastinstagram.com/brambleberrymeadow

How and why to treasure carbon on your farmsteadVintage Americana Podcast Ep. 2 - Coppice, Pollard, and HedgeVintage Americana Podcast Ep. 36 - Hedged in: An Interview with Jim Jones Hugulkultur in Permaculture Shaun and Beth Dougherty's Website - Beth is the queen of carbon hoardingwww.vintageamericanapodcast.comwww.brambleberrymeadow.cominstagram.com/vintageamericanapodcastinstagram.com/brambleberrymeadow 

Tolkien might have been the first to articulate what is so awful about The Machine. Let's explore the concept and how to resist.James Poulos's SubstackPaul Kingsnorth - The Tale of the MachineThe 2023 Front Porch Republic ConferenceJames Kunstler's website. (Not always entirely safe for work or other environments)vintageamericanapodcast.cominstagram.com/vintageamericanapodcastbrambleberrymeadow.com 

Let's explore the inherent value in being nonconformist.The early page for Ridge Runner's new Appalachian developments Tales From the Green Valley on YouTubeA Q&A on The Benedict Option Janie's Mill vintageamericanapodcast.combrambleberrymeadow.cominstagram.com/vintageamericanapodcastinstagram.com/brambleberrymeadow

Let's talk about setting some goals. We're going to focus less on "resolutions" and more on growth and learning. The Prairie Homestead Cookbook Raising Heritage Livestock Knit Like a Latvian Lost Art Press on Hand Tool WoodworkingDon't forget to grab a journal and make your own list! vintageamericanapodcast.combrambleberrymeadow.cominstagram.com/brambleberrymeadowinstagram.com/vintageamericanapodcast

Let's make some cocoa, and explore Christmas traditions around America. Bright Morning Star Apple Stack CakeSt. Lucia Celebration at Gustavus AdolphusSwedish woven heart basketsStraw Ornaments Mexican Wedding Cakes Joe Froggers Bronners instagram.com/vintageamericanapodcastinstagram.com/brambleberrymeadowbrambleberrymeadow.com

Let's have a little chat about vernacular architecture, why it's important, and how to conserve it.A list of references on American Vernacular Architecture, just to get you started.Sound issues persist, and I promise I'm working on it. I hope to have my DAW working correctly soon.

A reading of the seasonal story by L. M. MontgomeryI apologize for some glitchy sound. My sound set-up is fighting with me since the last Windows update. I'm doing my best to get it fixed!

Let's explore some of the concepts put forth by The Front Porch Republic. Up first: Is Localism inherently agrarian? "Where Roots Run Deep" - Vintage Americana Podcast on local historySome thoughts on "I'll Take My Stand" "Staying Put" by Scott Russell Sanders is easily available from used booksellers.The same is true of "Thomas Jefferson's Farm Book" vintageamericanapodcast.combrambleberrymeadow.cominstagram.com/vintageamericanapodcastinstagram.com/brambleberrymeadow

The choice for this year is M.R. James' "Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad."instagram.com/vintageamericanapodcastinstagram.com/brambleberrymeadowwww.vintageamericanapodcast.comwww.brambleberrymeadow.com

Let's talk today about day trips and how they help you come to better appreciate place. A few things I mentioned in today's podcast: Travel Photography TipsRestless Viking YouTube Channel Barn Quilt Trails Michigan One Room Schoolhouse Association Hocking Hills Orchard Come visit me:www.vintageamericanapodcast.comwww.brambleberrymeadow.cominstagram.com/brambleberrymeadowinstagram.com/vintageamericanapodcast

Let's talk about why (and how!) to go to a craft retreatSome to check out: Ohio Quilt Retreat Center Knitting Traditions Retreats The Inn At East Hill Farm Cross Stitch Retreats Christmas in Williamsburg Retreats Co. - Quilting and Knitting RetreatsThis is just a small sampling of the events that happen every year.

Today, let's talk about how to pass on those skills you've sent so much time acquiring. Come visit me:brambleberrymeadow.cominstagram.com/vintageamericanapodcastinstagram.com/brambleberrymeadow

Using your craft skills and found things to decorate for cooler weather Pinecone and Acorn Wreath Knit Pumpkins Waxed Leaf Fall Garland Acorn Quilted Table Runner Pattern www.brambleberrymeadow.comwww.vintageamericanapodcast.cominstagram.com/brambleberrymeadowinstagram.com/vintageamericanapodcast

Why Craftsmanship involves attention to tools and materials.Absolute History, on Youtube, has all the episodes of Victorian Farm, Edwardian Farm, and the other shows.Alexander Langlands' Craeft www.vintageamericanapodcast.comwww.brambleberrymeadow.cominstagram.com/brambleberrymeadowinstagram.com/vintageamericanapodcast

Let's talk about the difference, and why both are important.For learning to sew, Gertie is still an excellent resourceAnd for heirloom sewing, Martha Pullen is still the queen Inspirations magazine The Embroiderer's Guild of America American Quilter's SocietyThe Internet Archive

Small batch thinking to use up the last of the garden's glory. Vanilla Strawberry Shrub Making Fruit Vinegar Fruit Kvass Blueberry Syrup (with canning instructions) Green Tomato Mincemeat Cherry Conserves "Fix the Pumps" book "River Cottage Preserves Handbook"Some tips on the jellying point Fermented Berries

Let's talk about some vintage ways to enjoy the last golden days of summer. Horseshoe Rules Croquet Rules Sweet Corn Ice Cream White Mountain, the classic hand-crank ice cream maker

Unlike last week, this show has lots of links. Explore the options below for helping you build a slow fashion wardrobe.Of the national brands you might recognize, your best bets might be Brooks Brothers, L.L. Bean, or Duluth Trading. Hit outlets or clearance sales if you can. For jeans, if you're looking for well made, genuine denim, I have a couple of suggestions. or men, Texas Jeans.For men and Women, Williamsburg Garment Company.If you're looking for custom linen items, try Earthen Threads Co.Etsy sources for fabric: Linen Dream Shop - Lithuanian LinenZeleNava- Ukrainian LinenCody's Kit Fabric - A selection of wools and cottons in hard-to-find weavesSigrid's Fabrics - Cotton Lawns from the same plant that makes Liberty LawnsSources for Indie PatternsDandelion D Designs - If you love the Japanese sewing books, you'll like theseStitch Maiden - Patterns with a distinct Vintage feelPatterniN - A Korean shop with some very worthwhile choicesAtelier Serenia - A Dutch shop with vintage choicesKnitwear Designers:Tin Can Knits - Classic, seamless sweaters and accessoriesSister Mountain - nice designs, AND a workshop on designing your own knitwearHandmade Life by Olivia - One of my favorite sock pattern designers

This week, we'll talk about the pursuit of hard things - and why you shouldn't stop at learning the basics.

What does it mean, and why do you need it for successful homestead livestock husbandry? South Poll Cattle Idaho Pastured Pigs The Pasture ProjectSome Livestock Conservancy Breeds for Grass Fed Dairy production\www.brambleberrymeadow.comwww.vintageamericanapodcast.comwww.instagram.com/brambleberrymeadow/www.instagram.com/vintageamericanapodcast/

Today's episode is more science and less sociology. Let's talk about soil microbiomes. Genesis No-Till DrillA primer on seed drills by Johnny's Selected SeedsA Permies forum on Seed DrillsAlways visit Permies when you have these kinds of questions Zili Jab Seeder Soil Health Academy Millborn Seeds - one of many good sources for cover crop seeds

Today's episode is more of the "rant" format. Let's talk about visually stunning social media accounts, aspirations, and whether such content can be "toxic." I don't really have much in the way of links for you this week. But I do invite you to leave me a comment on the site, or on my instagram account and tell me what you think.

Last weekend, I went to the Homestead Festival in Columbia, TN. This is my review - and some advice if you opt to go to next year's festival. The Homestead FestivalJill Winger's The Prairie HomesteadDr. Temple Grandin's Autism InformationDr. Grandin's Animal Handling InformationJustin Rhodes of Abundant Permaculture Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Let's muse today on trying to escape the clutches of coporatized consumerist culture and live lives on a human scale. Farmhouse Fabrics Barnyard KnitsBe cautious of local cleaning products. Lots of people sell "homemade laundry detergent," that's basically grated soap with a couple other ingredients. Soaps are a bad idea in modern washing machines. There is a fundamental difference between "soap" and "detergent." For the longevity of your washer, stick with detergents. And I don't know of any that aren't made by some flavor of mega-corp or some sort of multi-level marketing scheme (Amway or Melaleuca). I do like Le Blanc laundry detergent and linen water. (I'm weird. I also have an unhealthy obsession with household linens). They're pricey, but they are a joy to use. If you're just modifying your practices for a month - you could do worse than just indulging in one bottle.My favorite family-owned source for makeup and skin care is Toups and Co. Organics

A discussion of mills, some history, some typology, and some thoughts on baking with freshly milled flours. Westwind Milling Co. Janie's Mill Grainmaker Mill Pleasant Hill Grain

Make room in your life for wild things. And reconnect with them yourself. It's not just about "touching grass," it's about touching reality.Native Michigan Grasses and BlendsOntario Rural Skills Hedgelaying WorkshopsIdentifying Bird Calls and SongsWildflower ID Tool

This episode covers the various factors that affect the flavor of cultured dairy products, and where those cultures came from.Video on Cheesemaking from Townsends Youtube ChannelPasteurized milk and purchased culture cheddar recipe Reinventing the Wheel Positively Probiotic

Let's talk about kit homes - the original concept, where to find more information on YOUR kit home, and what the modern equivalent is - or could be. Shoppell's Modern HousesMcMansion Hell's Guide to Kit Homes Resources on Sears Kit HomesA Round-Up of Blogs about Kit HomesThe Kit House HuntersA Flicker set of the 1936 Aladdin Kit House CatalogYou can also search archive.org for various kit house catalogs Gold Country Kit Homes - Panelized kits Zip Homes Kit HousesJay Osborne's Free Farmhouse Instagram

This week, we'll cover a brief history of the oven, and how we've returned to a love for wood-fired baking. Below, you'll find some resources to help you out if you're interested in building and using one yourself. A digitized version of the Quebec Bread Oven book can be found here.A brick oven article from Masonry MagazineOne DIY oven articleAn excellent blog by William Rubel that frequently discusses the finer points of baking bread in a wood fired oven.My favorite book on the topic is "Bread Builders: Hearth Loaves and Masonry Ovens"

Today, we're going to take up the topic of "Farm-Fluencers" - those beautiful "homestead" accounts we follow on Instagram and Youtube.Are they setting an impossibly high standard? Presenting a fake vision of the Homesteading Movement? Is it doing a disservice to people who are just starting to make first steps into slow living? Jill Winger of The Prairie Homestead voices some concerns on her podcast, "Old Fashioned on Purpose." I think slavish devotion to cooking like Mrs. Crocombe, or setting up a genuine Victorian Farm a la the BBC might, indeed, be carrying things too far. But might there, at the same time, be some genuine value in those gorgeous images - even if there IS a filter making those eggs look so blue?Have an opinion? Leave a comment, or share your thoughts on Instagram, and tag me! www.brambleberrymeadow.comwww.vintageamericanapodcast.com

Let's explore the variaties of traditional Easter baked goods, from Hot Cross Buns to Paska. Paasbrood with Apricots and PistachiosAn Alsatian Lamb Cake moldJudas Buns Osterzopf Koulourakia Bunny BunsDon't forget to share your favorite Easter bakes, and tag me on Instagram brambleberrymeadow.comvintageamericanapodcast.com

Today is a discussion of farmland preservation, land use issues, and how they impact rural culture.The Change.org petitionUSDA NRCS Farmland Protection Policy American Farmland Trust Farmland Information CenterAn Example of Local Farmland Preservation Initiatives from Wake County, NC Farm Bureau Michigan Centennial Farm Program Regenerative Farms of America Joel Salatin, of Polyface FarmGabe Brown, of Understanding Ag, LLC Emmet Van Driesche (who I called Ethan on the podcast. Sorry, Emmet)

Spindles and Wheels for yarn making at home. Change.org petition to protect Michigan's Farmland Straddle Creek Spins The Spanish Peacock Kromski Spinning Wheels Athena Spinning Wheels For used wheels, your best bet is one of the many social media groups set up for buying and selling them. Canadian Production Wheels Twisted Sister Sock Workbook The Mitten Handbook Shave 'Em to Save 'Em

Today's episode is a brief survey of American barn styles, construction methods, and the cultural aspects of barns in community.And we'll even touch a little on reclaimed barn wood. Barn Plans and Outbuildings Book Louden Barn Plans Book Sears and Roebuck Barn Kits An Early Dutch Barn Everybody's Paint Book Barn Geek Linseed Oil Paint, in Barn Red A recipe for a homemade version, from Sweden

A little conversation about folkways, and why we shouldn't surrender them to the blandification of the overculture. Martin Shaw Rosemaling MastersFolk Schools Visit the blog: www.brambleberrymeadow.com

Genetics, breeding systems, and are EPDs all they are made out to be? A Breed Apart, by Adam Henson Best Yet AI Dutch Creek AngusA more in-depth look at EPDsPodcast website: vintageamericanapodcast.comBlog: brambleberrymeadow.com

How can you try to go home in a homeless world.And why you need to. Homestead Festival 2023Russel Kirk's essay on Mecosta, MIAaron Renn Where Should I Live?Blog post on Domicide and the Resistance to Rootedness

Does what you wear while you homestead matter? Who is "really working" and who is "just cos-playing"?Some pattern lines to get you started if you are interested:Fig Leaf PatternsBlack Snail PatternsFolkwear Patternswww.vintageamericanapodcast.com

Back onto the topic of education - I know, me and everybody else. Today, we'll talk about options outside the standard public schools. Abeka Academy Bob Jones University Time4Learning Memoria Press Well Trained Mind Hillsdale Homeschool Resources Christopherus Lavender's Blue Sonlight Ambleside Online List of Charlotte Mason Curricula

Culture is dissolving into "liquid modernity" and us with it. Let's talk about using your hands to ground your mind and soul in reality, instead. Working With Your Hands Does Wonders For Your BrainThe Experience Machine Thought ExperimentHow To Split WoodEstonian Lace Knitting: Nupps Video (in case you want to learn that which has - thus far - defeated me)Spoon Carving Book by Emmet Van Dreische

Let's talk about collections. What to collect, where to find new items to add, and how to incorporate them into your home.If you have a collection, post a photo on social media and tag me!

Living an agrarian life with intention, and without neglecting the life of the mind. Hillsdale College Video CoursesMemoria CollegeHenry Home Kane's The Gentleman Farmer

Practical Tips and Tricks for staying warm when it's Midwest Cold out.My favorite source for wool/silk thermalsL.L. Bean Maine Twill BlanketFairbault Mill Washable Wool BlanketClassic Stanley ThermosDuluth Fire Hose Pants

Savoring the time between Christmas and New Years to make new plans and dream new dreams.Journals for the HomesteadDr. Meggan's Farm BookPlanning your Orchard (Ep. 54)Great Books Reading List

This week's episode is my annual reading of a Christmas Eve Ghost story.This year, enjoy "Between the Lights," by E.F. Benson. I thought it fitting, especially because it's set on Christmas Eve.

Do you miss that cozy quiet? The delightful shiver of anticipation? The fairy-glow of Christmas lights and candles? I'll share my thoughts on rediscovering some of the magic of Christmas. Greenglass House A Soul as Cold as FrostThe Door On Half-Bald HillRiders in the Sky Christmas Nativity Patterns on Etsy

Recreating lost family recipes, rediscovering food culture, and passing on favorite flavors

An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving, by Louisa May Alcott

A little discussion on gleaning - both literally and figuratively.USDA Gleaning toolkit:https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda_gleaning_toolkit.pdfSociety of Saint Andrewhttps://endhunger.org/