Call To Farms
- Épisodes
- 105
- Parution
- hebdomadaire
- Dernier épisode
- 9 Nov 2026
À propos du podcast
The Call To Farms podcast is dedicated to the pursuit of self-sufficiency, self reliance, and sustainability. Tim and Sophia Eng are a military family, both born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, and are self-taught first generation regenerative farmers who are building a homestead in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachian mountains. Their multi-generational family have been actively homesteading on a 60-acre piece of land. This podcast is dedicated to their journey and is a call for others to join them in pursuing self sufficiency, self reliance, and sustainability.
Épisodes 105
Episode 104: November 2026 Housing Market Update with Tim and Sophia
Would your family be ready if you had to leave home in ten minutes tonight, or get through a layoff next month? Tim and Sophia are back with their first housing market update in two months. Tim explains why the …
Notes de l’épisode
Would your family be ready if you had to leave home in ten minutes tonight, or get through a layoff next month?
Tim and Sophia are back with their first housing market update in two months. Tim explains why the sellers on a couple of his current homestead deals are paying the buyer’s closing costs and agent fees, which he hadn’t seen in years of bidding wars. Sophia makes the case for opening a HELOC before you need one.
Then they unpack their go bag, from the LifeStraw to the butane stove from the Asian grocery store (plus an extra-underwear story the kids still won’t let go), and give a candid homestead update after losing Hawi, their bull calf. This is the time of year to get caught up on your homestead projects and begin planning for next year.
Be prepared with your Go Bag - Our Recommended Items
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Ready to speak to Tim on next steps for your homesteading journey? Book time with Tim here.
Episode 104: Moving Your Family to Real Food with Christine Muldoon
We flew to Dallas to sit at Christine Muldoon’s kitchen table, where she served us picanha (Tim’s favorite cut, the one we only ever order at Brazilian steakhouses), sourdough zucchini bread, and a Caesar salad …
Notes de l’épisode
We flew to Dallas to sit at Christine Muldoon’s kitchen table, where she served us picanha (Tim’s favorite cut, the one we only ever order at Brazilian steakhouses), sourdough zucchini bread, and a Caesar salad with dressing she made from scratch, and it was so delicious. Christine co-hosts Modern Ancestral Mamas with Corey Dunn and is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner with four kids, and her youngest, Nico, was seven months old and made a cameo partway through.
Christine found Weston A. Price through her mom. Her mom is an immigrant who grew up in a coastal city eating bone marrow, pig’s feet and plenty of shellfish, and she let most of that go after moving to the US. When Christine’s dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, her mom started cooking those foods again to nourish him. About a year after he passed, her mom handed her a copy of Nourishing Traditions and said, “You might be interested in this.” Christine read it cover to cover, took her mom to the 2017 Wise Traditions conference in Minneapolis, came home fired up, and enrolled with the Nutritional Therapy Association. That’s where she read Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, which she thinks should be required reading for everyone.
We also talk about the months before her fourth pregnancy. Her husband works in finance and travels a lot, so his weeks were full of restaurant dinners and drinks. From January into spring of 2025 he ate only meat, gave up coffee and alcohol, and went to the gym and the sauna regularly. Christine got pregnant quickly at 39, and it turned out to be one of her easiest pregnancies, with no morning sickness. She shares what she’s been reading about how much a father’s health before conception shapes a pregnancy.
If your pantry still runs on boxed food, Christine’s advice is to eat what you have, and when the cereal box is empty, don’t buy another one. She explains how the five-ingredient rule from 100 Days of Real Food took a huge part of the grocery store off her list. She also tells us why she skipped the grain chapter of Nourishing Traditions for years (soaking and fermenting grains scared her more than organ meats ever did), and how she now mills her own flour for sourdough, while still texting Corey for baking help more often than she can count.
Be sure to follow Christine at Nourish The Littles.
Tune in to her top performing podcast, Modern Ancestral Mamas where she co-hosts with Corey Dunn.
Check out Sophia's interviews on Modern Ancestral Mamas below:
Food Freedom Starts in the Soil: An Ancestral Asian Approach
Episode 42: Nourishing Asian Food with Sophia Eng
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Our book, published by Chelsea Green was just released! 📖 Order The Nourishing Asian Homestead
🌱 Join the free Call To Farms community
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!
Episode 103: Impactful Life Lessons After Nearly 30 Years, with Rick Shinn
Nearly 30 years ago, Sophia walked into Rick Shinn’s 9th grade Honors English class at Independence High School in San Jose, her first honors class ever, and within a few weeks he was her favorite teacher. Six …
Notes de l’épisode
Nearly 30 years ago, Sophia walked into Rick Shinn’s 9th grade Honors English class at Independence High School in San Jose, her first honors class ever, and within a few weeks he was her favorite teacher. Six months in, he told the class he was leaving to become a school counselor, and she was devastated, right up until she spent the next three years slipping into his counseling office whenever things got hard at home, then walking back to class with a note he’d written for her.
On a trip back to the Bay Area, Tim and Sophia sat down at Rick’s dining room table, after a sukiyaki dinner he and his wife Christine made for them, to talk about 39 years of teaching and counseling. He’s newly retired now and studying to become a pastor, and he still remembers the phone call Sophia made to him on 9/11, a couple of weeks into her freshman year at George Washington University, asking whether she should take her camera over to the Pentagon (she went anyway).
Rick tells the story of a student who slammed her books down on test day and swore at him, and what he learned when he asked her what was wrong instead of writing a referral. He also tells about the bowl of pho he bought a freshman for pulling an F up to a C. He talks openly about growing up Chinese American with a dad who told everyone else he was proud of Rick but never said it to Rick, and how that changed the way he raised his own daughter. Sophia went on to study clinical psychology partly because of him, and in this episode she finally gets to say thank you.
They also get into ChatGPT in the classroom, and Rick’s advice for young people who’ve been told to “find your passion” and can’t pick just one: start with what you’re good at.
Tim and Sophia recorded this one partly for their daughters, so they could meet the man who looked out for their mom when she was the same age their oldest is now.
If a teacher ever showed up for you the way Mr. Shinn showed up for Sophia, we’d love to hear about them. Come tell us their name in the free Call To Farms community at calltofarms.com, and if you can, call that teacher and tell them too, because as Rick says in this episode, teachers almost never get to hear it.
Until next time, stay healthy.
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Our book, published by Chelsea Green was just released this week! 📖 Order The Nourishing Asian Homestead
🌱 Join the free Call To Farms community
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!
Thinking of purchasing your first home? Join Tim and Sophia at our next Free Home Buyer's Workshop on Oct 29th at 4pm PST / 7pm EST. Save Your Seat Here!
Episode 102: How Do You Keep Homesteading Without Burning Out? Justin and Rebekah Rhodes
Justin Rhodes told us, about ten minutes into this conversation, that after 20 years of homesteading they’re burnt out, then admitted it depends on the day, since every other day they’re selling the farm.We …
Notes de l’épisode
Justin Rhodes told us, about ten minutes into this conversation, that after 20 years of homesteading they’re burnt out, then admitted it depends on the day, since every other day they’re selling the farm.
We recorded this one at the Rhodes farm after 6:30 a.m. chores with both of our families, pulling bush beans and hanging a pole bean trellis before breakfast, and then sat down in the barn Justin’s grandpa built without power tools. Justin talks about the ten years he lived with Lyme disease, the 28-day water fast he credits with healing it, and the strange place he landed afterward, 47 years old and not sure who he was without the illness he’d built his life around. Someone once asked Joel Salatin about burnout in that same barn, and his answer wasn’t more sleep or a smaller operation, it was to find a bigger why, which is the thing Justin keeps coming back to.
Rebekah is just as honest that her hardest stretch wasn’t really about the homestead. A remodel ran double on everything, Hurricane Helene hit, and she lost her mom, and last year she gave herself permission to walk away from the tomatoes while they were still ripening on the vine.
We also get into how Justin uses AI to plan amendments for a 20-acre hay field, and why Rebekah is wary of it. Justin explains his four levels of responsibility for kids on a homestead, and why Lily, still wants her dad to tuck her in after years of milking cows beside him, mostly in silence. They talk about why they both tear up when they harvest a bull they moved every day for seven years, and about the question they get asked more than any other, how do you get your spouse on board. Rebekah answers it in two words: you don’t.
You can find Justin and Rebekah under Justin Rhodes on every social platform and at Abundance Plus. If you want to keep talking about this with other families working out their own homesteads, come find us in the free Call To Farms community at calltofarms.com.
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Be sure to follow and subscribe to The Justin Rhodes Show to stay up to date.
The Justin Rhodes Show on YouTube
Our book, published by Chelsea Green was just released this week! 📖 Order The Nourishing Asian Homestead
🌱 Join the free Call To Farms community
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!
Thinking of purchasing your first home? Join Tim and Sophia at our next Free Home Buyer's Workshop on Oct 29th at 4pm PST / 7pm EST. Save Your Seat Here!
Episode 101: What Bees Can Teach Us About Health, Soil and Homesteading with Kaylee Richardson
What if some of the most useful plants for your family's home apothecary are already growing in your backyard?In this episode of the Call To Farms Podcast, Sophia sits down with Kaylee Richardson of The …
Notes de l’épisode
What if some of the most useful plants for your family's home apothecary are already growing in your backyard?
In this episode of the Call To Farms Podcast, Sophia sits down with Kaylee Richardson of The Honeystead, beekeeper, herbalist, homesteader, and author of The Beekeeper's Apothecary, to explore the forgotten skills of herbal medicine, beekeeping, and nourishing your family from the land.
Kaylee spent years working in hospitals, from CNA to surgical first assistant, before stepping away from the operating room and returning to her Appalachian roots.
Today, she's helping families rediscover the value of medicinal plants, raw honey, and the remarkable connection between bees, healthy soil, livestock, and our food.
In this episode, you'll discover:
Why Kaylee left her medical career to pursue homesteading and herbalism
How to start a home apothecary, even if you're a complete beginner
Why dandelions and other common backyard plants deserve a second look
Practical ways to use raw honey, beeswax, propolis, and herbs
How bees contribute to a healthier, more resilient homestead
Simple herbal preparations, from teas and salves to honey ferments and oxymels
Why traditional food knowledge matters for the next generation
What Kaylee would do first if she were given one acre of land
You don't need a large farm or years of herbal training to begin. Sometimes the first step is learning to recognize the abundance that's already around you.
Connect with Kaylee Richardson:
The Honeystead | The Beekeeper's Apothecary | Sweet Medicine Course📖 Pre-order The Nourishing Asian Homestead (out October 20):
🌱 Join the free Call To Farms community
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!
Thinking of purchasing your first home? Join Tim and Sophia at our next Free Home Buyer's Workshop on Oct 29th at 4pm PST / 7pm EST. Save Your Seat Here!
Episode 100: From California to Tennessee and Our New Book!
A huge Thank You to our Listeners!! =) We reached a major milestone with you with Episode 100. This podcast grew up right alongside our move from California to East Tennessee. In our 100th episode we look back …
Notes de l’épisode
A huge Thank You to our Listeners!! =) We reached a major milestone with you with Episode 100.
This podcast grew up right alongside our move from California to East Tennessee. In our 100th episode we look back at how the show changed as we settled in and found our people, from the neighbor who showed up with a chicken tractor to the friends who sat with us after we lost our first cow, and why community has been at the heart of every step of homesteading for us.
We also announce our new book, The Nourishing Asian Homestead, which comes out October 20, and talk about what's ahead for the next 100 episodes.
If you don't have neighbors like ours down the road yet, come find them in our free Call To Farms online community.
We want to hear from you! Send us your questions and comments, and tell us which topics and guests you'd like to hear on the show.
📖 Pre-order The Nourishing Asian Homestead (out October 20):
🌱 Join the free Call To Farms community
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!
Thinking of purchasing your first home? Join Tim and Sophia at our next Free Home Buyer's Workshop on Oct 29th at 4pm PST / 7pm EST. Save Your Seat Here!
Episode 99: We Adopted Our High School Teacher & Counselor as Our Parents | A Story of Mentorship, Service & Chosen Family
"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." — Henry AdamsSome people come into your life as a teacher and never leave. In this deeply personal episode of The Call to Farms, Tim …
Notes de l’épisode
"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." — Henry Adams
Some people come into your life as a teacher and never leave. In this deeply personal episode of The Call to Farms, Tim and Sophia sit down in Gilroy, California with Jonathan and Debi Kerrick, Tim's former US History teacher and high school counselor at Independence High School in San Jose, who became so much more. Jonathan has been there for every milestone: high school graduation, pinning on Tim's second lieutenant bars, West Point graduation, deployment, the wedding, and now as "Lolo" and "Ba-Nana" to Tim and Sophia's children.
Jonathan shares his journey from a draft lottery number of six during Vietnam, to serving as an armor officer and psyops intelligence officer with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, to building a 34-year teaching career shaped by a simple philosophy: see every kid heart to heart, eye to eye. Debi opens up about her own path from special education teacher to guidance counselor and the challenge of getting every student across that graduation stage.
Together they talk about what's changed in education, why technology is outpacing our sociology, and the secret to raising kids who actually want to come back and spend time with you: listen, don't judge, and trust them to think. Jonathan also shares his battle with an aggressive lymphoma the doctors called "stage death," walking 167 miles on the Camino de Santiago, and why every day on the right side of the dirt is a good one.
This one's for anyone who's had a teacher, mentor, or chosen family member who changed the trajectory of their life.
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Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!
Secure your copy of our forthcoming book, The Nourishing Asian Homestead.
Want some more resources to jumpstart your homestead? Join our Call to Farms Community.
Need to build a fence on your homestead? Build it once by using Gallagher! Use code: HOMESTEAD to save 10%
Tune in now and join the Call to Farms! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
Episode 98: Return to Ancestral Nutrition w/ Julia Mitchell at Ancestral Supplements
What if the nutritional value of your food begins long before it reaches your plate?In this episode of the Call to Farms podcast, Tim and Sophia sit down with Julia Mitchell, lead educator at Ancestral …
Notes de l’épisode
What if the nutritional value of your food begins long before it reaches your plate?
In this episode of the Call to Farms podcast, Tim and Sophia sit down with Julia Mitchell, lead educator at Ancestral Supplements, clinical nutritionist, and grass-fed bison rancher, to explore the connection between healthy soil, healthy animals, and healthy people.
Julia shares her family’s journey into bison ranching and explains why the plants animals graze, the diversity of the soil beneath them, and the way they are raised can directly influence the nutrient density of the meat we eat.
Together, they discuss why organ meats were once prized by traditional cultures, how liver compares with conventional multivitamins, and why nose-to-tail eating may help restore nutrients that are often missing from the modern diet. They also examine the realities of food labeling, grass-fed sourcing, animal welfare, declining soil fertility, and the growing need to rebuild local food systems.
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Try it for yourself and Save 15% on your order with Ancestral Supplements use code: CALLTOFARMS
Need to build a fence on your homestead? Build it once by using Gallagher! Use code: HOMESTEAD to save 10%
Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!
Secure your copy of our forthcoming book, The Nourishing Asian Homestead.
Want some more resources to jumpstart your homestead? Join our Call to Farms Community.
Tune in now and join the Call to Farms! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
Episode 97: How to Build Community When You Move to the Country
Everyone says they want a village—but are we willing to become villagers?In this episode of the Call to Farms podcast, Tim and Sophia share how they built a trusted community after moving across the country …
Notes de l’épisode
Everyone says they want a village—but are we willing to become villagers?
In this episode of the Call to Farms podcast, Tim and Sophia share how they built a trusted community after moving across the country from California to rural East Tennessee, where they initially knew almost no one.
They discuss why community should be one of your highest priorities when choosing where to live, especially if you are pursuing homesteading, food security, homeschooling, preparedness, or a more self-sufficient lifestyle. They also share what it was like to enter an established rural community as Asian American transplants, why shared values can matter more than shared backgrounds, and how trust is earned through consistency, contribution, humility, and showing up.
You’ll hear practical strategies for researching a community before moving, finding the people who may not be visible online, starting meaningful conversations as an introvert, and identifying the skills you can offer—even when you are still learning.
Tim and Sophia also share real-life examples of community in action: trading raw dairy products for hay during a drought, learning to raise dairy cows alongside experienced neighbors, stewarding additional pastureland, teaching chicken processing and fermentation workshops, and growing a small game night into a gathering of dozens of local families.
Because true preparedness is not simply having enough supplies. It is knowing who you can call—and becoming someone others can call too.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why community is one of the most valuable forms of insurance
• How to find like-minded people before relocating
• Why rural trust cannot be rushed
• How introverts can build meaningful local relationships
• What newcomers often misunderstand about country communities
• Why giving more than you take opens unexpected doors
• How to turn your knowledge, interests, and skills into community leadership
• Why everyone wants a village, but few people are willing to become villagersWhether you are planning a move, starting a homestead, feeling isolated where you currently live, or realizing that the community you need does not yet exist, this episode will challenge you to stop waiting for an invitation—and begin building the relationships you hope to find.
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Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!
Secure your copy of our forthcoming book, The Nourishing Asian Homestead.
Need to build a fence on your homestead? Build it once, go with Gallagher! Use code: HOMESTEAD to save 10%
Want some more resources to jumpstart your homestead? Join our Call to Farms Community.
Tune in now and join the Call to Farms! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
Episode 96: Homesteading in 2026 - Land, Water, AI, and Community
After speaking at the Modern Homesteading Conference in Idaho, Tim and Sophie sit down to reflect on the biggest questions they heard from future homesteaders, young families, retirees, and land buyers across …
Notes de l’épisode
After speaking at the Modern Homesteading Conference in Idaho, Tim and Sophie sit down to reflect on the biggest questions they heard from future homesteaders, young families, retirees, and land buyers across the country.
In this episode, they discuss why water security, natural springs, wells, rainwater collection, data centers, AI, and land due diligence are becoming major concerns for anyone searching for homestead property. They also talk about creative ways to afford a homestead, including owner financing and thinking beyond the traditional lending path.
Tim and Sophie also share why community is one of the most important forms of security on the homestead. From bartering milk, butter, hay, honey, and skills to hosting game nights and building trust through food, they explain what it really means to stop just wanting a village and start becoming a villager.
They also share highlights from watching their daughters sell handmade pottery and earrings at the conference while learning real-life entrepreneurship, pricing, marketing, and customer service.
If you are dreaming of homesteading but feel stuck, this episode will help you think through your next step.
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Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!
Secure your copy of our forthcoming book, The Nourishing Asian Homestead.
Want some more resources to jumpstart your homestead? Join our Call to Farms Community.
Tune in now and join the Call to Farms! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
Episode 95: Real Food for Busy Families with Corey Dunn
Sophia sits down with Corey Dunn of For Nutrient’s Sake for an honest, encouraging conversation about making real food doable for everyday families. As fellow Weston A. Price chapter leaders, Sophia and Corey …
Notes de l’épisode
Sophia sits down with Corey Dunn of For Nutrient’s Sake for an honest, encouraging conversation about making real food doable for everyday families. As fellow Weston A. Price chapter leaders, Sophia and Corey talk about the gap between ideal ancestral nutrition and the reality of busy schedules, picky eaters, tight budgets, and overwhelmed moms.Corey shares her own journey from growing up with real food and a “’90s butter mom” to rediscovering nourishing traditions after her daughter struggled with severe eczema. Together, Sophia and Corey discuss what it looks like to feed a family well without perfectionism, from cutting out seed oils and simplifying home-cooked meals to handling picky eating with trust instead of pressure and rethinking the modern snack culture that often sabotages family meals.This conversation is full of grace for the mom who wants to do better but does not know where to start. You will walk away with practical ideas, encouragement, and permission to make real food simple again.In this episode, Sophia and Corey talk about:* Corey’s journey into real food and ancestral nutrition* How food played a role in her daughter’s eczema healing journey* Why “doable real food” looks different in every season of motherhood* The first food swaps that make the biggest difference* Why cutting out seed oils is a powerful place to begin* How to approach picky eating without hiding food or creating distrust* The “division of responsibility” at the dinner table* Why snacks may be sabotaging meals* Simple ways to make burgers, tacos, pizza, and family favorites more nourishing* Corey’s cookbooks, podcast, and work through For Nutrient’s SakeFor the mom who feels overwhelmed, Corey leaves listeners with a simple place to start this week: get enough sleep, go outside in the morning, read something enjoyable with your kids, and make one meal you truly love using the best ingredients you can manage.
Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!
Secure your copy of our forthcoming book, The Nourishing Asian Homestead.
Want some more resources to jumpstart your homestead? Join our Call to Farms Community.
Tune in now and join the Call to Farms! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
Episode 94: What Memorial Day Taught Me About Homesteading, Family, and Freedom
This week, Tim shares a solo episode reflecting on Memorial Day, a recent family trip to North Dakota, and the inspiring people he met at the Prairie Roots Homesteading Conference.From visiting Theodore …
Notes de l’épisode
This week, Tim shares a solo episode reflecting on Memorial Day, a recent family trip to North Dakota, and the inspiring people he met at the Prairie Roots Homesteading Conference.
From visiting Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the Badlands, and Mount Rushmore to watching families build businesses together and teach practical skills to the next generation, this episode explores the values that continue to shape strong communities across America.
Tim shares personal reflections as a West Point graduate, stories of veterans who impacted his life, and why he remains optimistic about the future despite the challenges facing families today.
In this episode:
- Memorial Day reflections and the meaning of service
- Lessons from Theodore Roosevelt and the American frontier
- Highlights from the Prairie Roots Homesteading Conference
- Why family entrepreneurship matters
- What gives Tim hope for the future of homesteading
- The real mission behind Call to Farms
Whether you're building a homestead, growing a business, raising a family, or simply looking for encouragement, this episode is a reminder that there are still plenty of good people building good things.
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Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!
Secure your copy of our forthcoming book, The Nourishing Asian Homestead.
Want some more resources to jumpstart your homestead? Join our Call to Farms Community.
Get Your 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.
Tune in now and join the Call to Farms! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
Episode 93: Why Serious Homestead Buyers Should Not Sit Out This Market
In this May housing market and homestead update, Tim and Sophie share reflections from their trip to the Prairie Roots Homesteading Summit in North Dakota, where they keynoted alongside Justin and Rebekah …
Notes de l’épisode
In this May housing market and homestead update, Tim and Sophie share reflections from their trip to the Prairie Roots Homesteading Summit in North Dakota, where they keynoted alongside Justin and Rebekah Rhodes and spoke with their children about entrepreneurship on the homestead. They also recap family highlights from visiting Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park before returning home to spring garden work, fencing, and new Korean Natural Farming test plots.
Then they dive into what buyers and sellers need to know right now: interest rates are creeping back up, buyer hesitation is increasing, and the window for serious homestead buyers may actually be opening. Tim explains why now is the time to do recon, understand your target area, and be prepared to move when the right property appears. They also discuss why lowball offers can backfire, especially in Tennessee and other Southern markets where trust, honor, and seller relationships matter.
For sellers, Tim and Sophie talk about the importance of professional marketing, quality photos, strong listing descriptions, and working with an agent who understands acreage, land, and homestead properties. Whether you are buying, selling, or simply preparing for the future, this episode will help you think strategically about the current market and build the right team before you make your next move.
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Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!
Secure your copy of our forthcoming book, The Nourishing Asian Homestead.
Want some more resources to jumpstart your homestead? Join our Call to Farms Community.
Get Your 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.
Tune in now and join the Call to Farms! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
Episode 92: What Every Veteran Should Know About the VA Loan
If you served our country, you earned this benefit, and it may be one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available to veterans today.In this episode of the Call to Farms Podcast, Tim and Sophia Eng …
Notes de l’épisode
If you served our country, you earned this benefit, and it may be one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available to veterans today.
In this episode of the Call to Farms Podcast, Tim and Sophia Eng break down the truth about the VA loan, why it is often misunderstood, and how veterans can use it to purchase a home with 0% down, lower interest rates, no PMI, and even build on land using the VA One-Time Close Construction Loan.
As a veteran, REALTOR®, and military family, Tim and Sophia share real stories from helping veterans purchase homes in some of the most competitive markets in the country, from the San Francisco Bay Area to rural homesteads across America.
They cover:
• Common myths about VA loans
• How veterans can compete against cash offers
• VA loan benefits most people do not know about
• Using your VA entitlement more than once
• Buying multi-unit properties with a VA loan
• VA assumable loans
• VA IRRRL refinance options
• VA construction loans for land and home builds
• Why choosing the right lender and realtor matters
• How military families can build long-term stability and cash flow through real estateWhether you are active duty, transitioning out of the military, retired, or a disabled veteran, this episode is designed to help you better understand the benefits you earned through your service.
This conversation is about more than mortgages. It is about legacy, freedom, stability, and bringing families home.
If this episode helped you, please share it with a veteran or military family who needs to hear it.
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Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!
Secure your copy of our forthcoming book, The Nourishing Asian Homestead.
Want some more resources to jumpstart your homestead? Join our Call to Farms Community.
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
Tune in now and join the Call to Farms! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
Episode 91: The Art of Clabber with Katya Luniova
What if milk was never the problem?In this episode of the Call to Farms Podcast, Sophia sits down with Katya Luniova to explore a forgotten tradition that challenges everything we’ve been taught about …
Notes de l’épisode
What if milk was never the problem?In this episode of the Call to Farms Podcast, Sophia sits down with Katya Luniova to explore a forgotten tradition that challenges everything we’ve been taught about dairy.Most of us grew up hearing that milk is hard to digest, inflammatory, or even harmful. But Katya offers a radically different perspective. The issue isn’t milk itself—it’s what we’ve done to it.Together, they dive into the ancient practice of clabbering: simply allowing raw milk to ferment naturally on the counter. No additives. No special tools. Just time. What results is a deeply nourishing, probiotic-rich food that traditional cultures relied on for generations.In this conversation, you’ll discover:- What clabber actually is and why it’s considered the “original” fermented dairy- Why so many people today struggle with dairy—and how fermentation changes everything- The connection between clabber, yogurt, kefir, and other cultured foods- How ancestral cultures (from Eastern Europe to Asia) viewed food as something sacred, not disposable- Practical ways to use every part of milk—from cream to whey—in a sustainable, nourishing waySophia also shares her own journey from avoiding dairy to running a micro-dairy on her Tennessee homestead—and how fermentation has transformed the way her family nourishes themselves.This episode is an invitation to rethink modern food systems, reconnect with ancestral wisdom, and rediscover how simple practices can radically improve gut health and resilience.If you’ve ever questioned what’s really happening to your food—or you’re ready to bring your kitchen back to life—this conversation will open a door you didn’t know existed.
If you purchase a Slavic Beauty cream separator and use the code: CALLTOFARMS, you receive a free book!
Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!
Secure your copy of our forthcoming book, The Nourishing Asian Homestead.
Want some more resources to jumpstart your homestead? Join our Call to Farms Community.
Tune in now and join the Call to Farms! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
Episode 90: What You May Not Know About Soil, Health and Food with David Stelzer of Azure Standard
What if the food you trust the most is not actually nourishing you?Not because it is fake, but because something essential has been lost long before it ever reaches your table.In this episode of Call to Farms …
Notes de l’épisode
What if the food you trust the most is not actually nourishing you?Not because it is fake, but because something essential has been lost long before it ever reaches your table.In this episode of Call to Farms, we sit down with David Stelzer of Azure Standard, one of the largest independent distributors of organic and regenerative foods in the country, to talk about what is really happening behind the labels.We go beyond the surface conversation of “organic” and into the deeper questions many families are starting to ask.Can you truly trust the modern food system, even when it is labeled clean?What does it take to source food with integrity at scale?How do soil health, farming practices, and distribution decisions impact your family’s health?What does it actually look like to rebuild a parallel food system rooted in stewardship instead of profit?This conversation is not just about food. It is about responsibility, systems, and reclaiming your role in how your family eats and lives.If you have ever stood in a grocery aisle wondering if organic is enough, this episode will challenge how you think about nourishment from the ground up.
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Be sure to check out Azure Standard to see if there is a drop near you! Click Here
Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!
Secure your copy of our forthcoming book, The Nourishing Asian Homestead.
Want some more resources to jumpstart your homestead? Join our Call to Farms Community.
Tune in now and join the Call to Farms! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
Episode 89: The Spring Shift in Housing, Fuel, and Food Right Now
After 8 weeks off the mic, we’re back and a lot has changed.This episode was recorded just a week and a half ago and already the landscape is shifting again. Mortgage rates have started to improve. The Strait …
Notes de l’épisode
After 8 weeks off the mic, we’re back and a lot has changed.
This episode was recorded just a week and a half ago and already the landscape is shifting again. Mortgage rates have started to improve. The Strait of Hormuz opened, then closed again. Fuel prices, fertilizer, and food systems are all moving fast.
In this conversation, we break down what we are seeing in real time across real estate, lending, and on the ground with families making moves across the country.
We talk about:
- What is actually happening in the housing market right now and why this spring feels different
- Why global events like the Strait of Hormuz matter more than people realize
- The ripple effect on fertilizer, food supply, and what that means later this year
- What we have been doing on our own homestead after stepping back for the past 8 weeks
- What you should be doing right now if you are buying, holding, or preparing
We are not sharing this from theory. We are seeing it play out across clients in all 50 states and on our own land.
If you have been waiting, this episode will give you clarity on what is changing and what to pay attention to next.
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Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!
Secure your copy of our forthcoming book, The Nourishing Asian Homestead.
Want some more resources to jumpstart your homestead? Join our Call to Farms Community.
Tune in now and join the Call to Farms! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
Episode 88: Beef vs Dairy Cows with Janelle Anderson
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 …
Notes de l’épisode
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.
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Be sure to follow Janelle!
Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly 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!
Episode 87: You Don’t Have to Wait for Retirement to Start Homesteading
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 …
Notes de l’épisode
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.
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Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly 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
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!
Episode 86: Winter Storms, Interest Rates, and the 2026 Housing Market Update
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 …
Notes de l’épisode
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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Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly 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
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!
Episode 85: Regenerative Homesteading in North Dakota with Daniel Stenberg
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 …
Notes de l’épisode
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.
Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly 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!
Tune in now and join the Call to Farms! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
Episode 84: Securing Your Homestead with Infinite Banking and Cash-Flow Strategy with Kurt Berry
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 …
Notes de l’épisode
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!
Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly 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!
Episode 83: From Rest to Readiness How to Plan Your Home and Land for the New Year
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 …
Notes de l’épisode
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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Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly 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!
Tune in now and join the Call to Farms! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
Episode 82: What 2025 Taught Us About Money, Land, and Raising Resilient Families
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 …
Notes de l’épisode
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 2026This 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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Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly 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
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!
Tune in now and join the Call to Farms! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
Episode 81: Off-Market Listings in Tennessee and Virginia
In this episode, Tim and Sophie open the vault.They are sharing a curated selection of off-market homestead properties in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. These are land and homes that are not …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode, Tim and Sophie open the vault.
They are sharing a curated selection of off-market homestead properties in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. These are land and homes that are not publicly listed and are being shared quietly with serious buyers who are looking to build a resilient life.
This episode is for those who understand that the best homesteads are rarely found on Zillow. The most functional land often changes hands through relationships, timing, and local knowledge long before it ever reaches the open market.
Tim also explains why these regional spotlights will expand over time. As more sellers across the country reach out looking for a discreet and values aligned way to sell their homesteads, future episodes will feature off market opportunities in additional states.
If you are actively searching for land or planning ahead, this is one of the clearest paths to finding high-quality homestead properties before competition increases and compromises follow.
To receive these listings as they become available, subscribe to the High Ground Newsletter, where off-market opportunities are shared directly with our community.
These properties move quickly. Access matters.
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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!
Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly here!
Tune in now and join the Call to Farms! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
Episode 80: Debt Consolidation and Buying a Home in Today’s Market
In this special midweek episode of The Call to Farms Podcast, Tim and Sophie sit down to share a timely December housing market update and the real conversations they are having every day with families across …
Notes de l’épisode
In this special midweek episode of The Call to Farms Podcast, Tim and Sophie sit down to share a timely December housing market update and the real conversations they are having every day with families across the country.
This episode goes beyond headlines and rate talk. It pulls back the curtain on what is actually happening right now in lending, home buying, refinancing, and debt consolidation, especially for first time home buyers, veterans, and single income families feeling the pressure of today’s economy.
You will hear why mortgage rates are not reacting the way many people expect, why debt consolidation has become one of the most urgent needs this season, and how strategic tools like HELOCs, cash out refinances, and VA loan programs can be used responsibly to create breathing room instead of stress.
Tim and Sophie also share real client stories that highlight why working with an advisor who educates and advocates matters, how buyer concessions are showing up across the country, and why preparation now can make a significant difference heading into 2026.
This episode is also an invitation.
If you are thinking about buying your first home, planning a move, or simply want clarity on the process, join Tim and Sophie for their First Time Home Buyer Class this Thursday at 7:00 PM Eastern. This free class will walk through the home buying process step by step, explain current market conditions, and help you understand your options clearly and confidently.
If you are looking to protect your family, reduce financial stress, and learn how to become more resilient long term, you are also invited to their Life Insurance and Infinite Banking Workshop on Thursday, January 29th at 7:00 PM Eastern. This session breaks down how families can use whole life insurance strategically, not as a product pitch, but as a financial tool for stability, control, and legacy.
Whether you are a first time buyer, a homeowner feeling stretched, a veteran planning your next move, or a family looking to live more intentionally, this episode will give you practical insight and a clear next step.
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Looking for property? Download my free Dealbreaker Checklist. It's a compilation of what I look for.
Have questions on buying or selling real estate? Reach out to Tim directly 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!
Episode 79: Intention, Bread, and the Hungry Ghost with Jonathan Stevens
What does it mean to devote your life to one thing and do it with care, humility, and soul?In this episode of The Call to Farms, Sophie sits down with Jonathan Stevens, baker and author of Hungry Ghost Bread …
Notes de l’épisode
What does it mean to devote your life to one thing and do it with care, humility, and soul?
In this episode of The Call to Farms, Sophie sits down with Jonathan Stevens, baker and author of Hungry Ghost Bread, the award-winning book that is part recipe collection, part meditation, and part poetic devotion to sourdough. Jonathan is the founder of Hungry Ghost Bread in Northampton, Massachusetts, where for over two decades he has shaped hundreds of loaves by hand, fired a wood fueled oven daily, and fed a living sourdough culture that quite literally sets the rhythm of his life.
This conversation is not about scaling, optimization, or hustle. It is about intention.
Jonathan shares what it means to be a wild yeast farmer, why he does not count loaves, how regional grain and living fermentation shape both bread and community, and why real food work resists shortcuts, technological or otherwise.
Together, Sophie and Jonathan explore hungry ghost mythology, cultural memory, poetry, economics, and the quiet spiritual discipline of feeding people well.
They also discuss:
Why bread made with care still matters for culture and health
The humility required when working with living systems
What modern food has lost and what local bakeries can restore
Poetry as a form of nourishment
Why every town needs a bakery
Whether you are a baker, farmer, fermenter, or simply someone longing to live with greater alignment, this episode is a reminder that how we do something matters and that meaning is often found in the most ordinary acts.
Flour, fire, time, and trust.
Step into the fire and meet Jonathan Stevens.
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Interested in learning more about home buying? Join our live, online workshop on Thursday, December 18th 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!
Episode 78: 20 Years After West Point with Tim Eng (Part 2) - Taking a Different Path
In this powerful continuation of Tim’s return to West Point, he takes listeners deeper into the halls, fields, and memories that shaped him as a young cadet. Revisiting these places twenty years later opened up …
Notes de l’épisode
In this powerful continuation of Tim’s return to West Point, he takes listeners deeper into the halls, fields, and memories that shaped him as a young cadet. Revisiting these places twenty years later opened up a surprising reflection on purpose, identity, and calling.
Walk with Tim through Bradley Barracks, the new library, and the charged atmosphere of a Corps football game. Follow him into Arvin Gym, where the echoes of the IOCT and the sharp chlorine drifting from Crandall Pool brought back the intensity of survival swimming classes and the pressure he once pushed through as a young leader in training. As he reconnects with classmates, many now Full Bird Colonels, Tim gains new clarity on the path he ultimately chose.
This episode explores the truth Tim discovered: the leadership forged at the Academy did not lead him into the career he once imagined. Instead, it became the foundation for the life he built in homesteading, lending, real estate, and serving veterans across all 50 states.
It is a story of ambition, redirection, and learning to appreciate the unexpected ways a calling can unfold. At the heart of the episode is one question:
If Tim could do it all over again, would he still choose West Point?
Listen in as he shares the answer and what it means for anyone navigating their own path of service and purpose.
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Interested in learning more about home buying? Join our live, online workshop on Thursday, December 18th 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!
Episode 77: Sea Minerals, Soil Health and Real Food Nutrition with Michael Sileck of Baja Gold Salt Co. and Sea-90 Ocean Minerals
Is the salt in your kitchen actually nourishing your body, or quietly doing damage?In this episode, Sophia interviews Michael Sileck, Chief Mineral Officer at Baja Gold Salt Company and Sea-90 Ocean Minerals …
Notes de l’épisode
Is the salt in your kitchen actually nourishing your body, or quietly doing damage?
In this episode, Sophia interviews Michael Sileck, Chief Mineral Officer at Baja Gold Salt Company and Sea-90 Ocean Minerals, to uncover the truth about salt. From lead testing and mineral reports to microplastics and modern processing, this conversation cuts through fear and misinformation with science and clarity.
You will learn why table salt is not real food, how mineral rich sea salt is harvested, how to read lab reports properly, and why ocean minerals are now being used to rebuild depleted soils and strengthen livestock naturally.
Michael also shares the forgotten work of Dr. Maynard Murray and how his research laid the foundation for restoring soil using sea minerals, a story that reshapes how we understand health from the ground up.
Whether you are new to real food or already deep into regenerative farming, this episode will change how you see salt forever.
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Save 10% on Baja Gold by Using Code: GOODSOIL
Save 10% on Sea-90 by Using Code: GOODSOIL
Tune in now and join the Call to Farms! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
Episode 76: 20 Years After West Point with Tim Eng (Part 1)
When Tim Eng, a West Point graduate, Iraq veteran, and now “The Homesteading Agent,” returned to the U.S. Military Academy for his 20-year reunion, he thought it would be just another family trip. But standing …
Notes de l’épisode
When Tim Eng, a West Point graduate, Iraq veteran, and now “The Homesteading Agent,” returned to the U.S. Military Academy for his 20-year reunion, he thought it would be just another family trip. But standing once again on those storied gray grounds, watching the cadets march in precision, something deeper began to unfold.
In this powerful and vulnerable episode of Call to Farms, Tim and his wife, Sophia, open up about how West Point shaped him—the discipline, the grit, the scars, and the transformation that followed. They talk candidly about what it means to be forged by fire, about the tension between the soldier he became and the homesteader he is now, and how revisiting his past became an unexpected path toward healing, faith, and rediscovering love.
This is not a typical reunion story. It’s part therapy, part testimony, and a look into legacy, sacrifice, and the cost of leadership.
In this episode, Tim shares why he chose West Point and what it really takes to get in, the unspoken mental and physical toll of elite military training, and how war, family, and faith reshaped his definition of service. He also talks about the healing power of storytelling and returning to his roots.
If you’ve ever wrestled with your past or wondered how to find purpose after seasons of duty and endurance, this episode will hit home.
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Be sure to secure your ticket for the 2026 Homesteaders United Conference! Join Waitlist Here
Tune in now and join the Call to Farms! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
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