040: Rockbridge Farmstead with Greg and Marrianne Russell

As my family enters our second year of homesteading, I’ve been able to look back over that first year and realize that we really are on a journey.  It feels great to plan for the year ahead knowing that we’re no longer starting from the beginning, but actually building on and continuing our efforts.  I can imagine that in several years, after growing, building and learning valuable lessons, the feeling will be even more profound.  

On today’s episode, I welcome Greg and Marrianne Russell of Rockbridge Farmstead.  They’ve been on their property now for almost 9 years and seem to have figured out what works for them on their homestead.  Through trial and error they’ve found the things they enjoy, the things that can bring in revenue, as well as the things that they really just don’t want to mess with.  Over the past 3 years, they have taken a deep dive into the world of beekeeping and found something that, not only makes them money, but brings them joy and satisfaction and, well, I imagine they never run out of honey.

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

* How they found themselves on their homestead in Kentucky

* The story of their first few years on their homestead and some of the early lessons learned

* The challenges of adding young children to the mix and how they got through it

* Their experiences with raising pigs and goats and why they ended up moving on from those projects

* How beekeeping became their primary revenue model for their homestead and their long term plans for that project

* How they saved money by building their own beehives

* How they quickly grew to 42 hives and lost half of them to a flash flood

* Their use of bee products to produce value added products such as balms and candles to sell

* The need for homesteaders to not try and take everything on and just focus on what they really need and enjoy

* Their advice for new homesteaders just starting out on their journey

LISTEN TO THE ROCKBRIDGE FARMSTEAD PODCAST:

https://www.rockbridgefarmstead.com/podcast/

VISIT THE ROCKBRIDGE FARMESTEAD WEBSITE:

https://www.rockbridgefarmstead.com/

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https://www.instagram.com/rock_bridge_farmstead/

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https://plansandprovisions.com/HR2023

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