Shows
Small Scale Life PodcastMerry Christmas: Time to Shine Like the SunThe last Small Scale Life Podcast Episode was posted on September 9, 2022. This was two days before Danny passed away, and after a long road, we are back to say Merry Christmas and begin to shine our light once again.
In this episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, your host Tom talks about the past three months including losing Danny and the long road since September 11, 2022. Tom reads a beautiful Christmas letter written by Julie. At the end of the episode, Tom discusses future episodes and closes with the Small Scale Life offering.
Remember, friends...2022-12-1518 minSmall Scale Life PodcastChicken Chat with Amy DingmannIn this 203rd Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I have a Chicken Chat with my good friend Amy Dingmann. Julie and I are chicken newbs, so we wanted to learn from someone who has done all things chicken!
Amy Dingmann is from A Farmish Kind of Life where she talks about her life on a little 5-acre farm in Central Minnesota. Amy is a writer, podcaster, blogger, YouTuber, and also has a snail mail paper newsletter (called The Farmish Papers).
During this episode, we discuss what is happening on our farms, all things...2022-03-311h 22Small Scale Life PodcastHow to Start a Small BusinessOn this 202nd Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, Julie and Maria the Intuitive Energy Healer are back on the Small Scale Life Podcast to talk about How to Start a Small Business. Both Maria and Julie have owned their own businesses:
Maria owns and operates a dog grooming business and her intuitive energy healing business in Lake City, Minnesota.
Julie operated her own wedding floral design business in Minnesota and Illinois.
We discuss a number of topics including the following:
How to prepare to start the small business and side hustle
Where do...2022-03-251h 07Small Scale Life PodcastFull Moon Energy and 2022 Guiding WordsIn this episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, Julie and I talk with Maria the Intuitive Energy Healer about the Full Moon Energies, the importance of community, and our 2022 Guiding Words.
Who is Maria the Intuitive Energy Healer?
Maria the Intuitive Energy Healer has been practicing over 6 years and helps people heal naturally and coaches people to achieve their goals and live their best life. Julie and I have been meeting with Maria since the Fall of 2020, and she has helped us work through decisions and issues. In a way, Maria helped us see...2022-02-2458 minSmall Scale Life PodcastTop 10 Surprises Moving to the CountryFor our 200th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, Julie and I talk about the Top 10 Surprises Moving to the Country from the City/Suburbs.
For links to the recent appearances and to learn more about Driftless Oaks Farm, head over to smallscalelife.com .
As a reminder, you can now buy high quality grass fed meat (raised using Regenerative Agriculture protocols and principles) at the following site: https://www.amodernfrontier.com/
Use code SMALL (in all caps) and you will get $25 off and beef, pork or chicken box. That’s right, use co...2022-02-1736 minSmall Scale Life PodcastOur Journey to Driftless Oaks FarmIn our first Small Scale Life Podcast of 2022, Julie and I discuss our journey to Driftless Oaks Farm. We discuss Eagles Ridge, why we started looking for property again and finding Driftless Oaks Farm.
Of course, it is also a special birthday episode for the Small Scale Life Podcast (7 years) and your humble host Tom!
For more information and links, please head over to smallscalelife.com!2022-01-0749 minSmall Scale Life PodcastGo with the Flow; Our 10 Step Plan for Difficult TimesIn this episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, Tom talks about "going with the flow" and how he is developing a 10 step plan to navigate the rapids, waterfalls and log jams in life.
We can spend a lifetime chasing dollars and cents, yet we don’t have the sense to take care of the Small Scale Life Basic 10 Core Principles. We have become addicted to consumerism, screens, and Modern Western Culture that pumps out garbage at an incredible rate. That is where we get into trouble: too much debt, not enough savings, few prospects, no connection to...2021-05-2837 minSmall Scale Life PodcastHomestead Hunting and Liberty All Day Long with Letti LooOn this 189th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I am talking homestead hunting, Roberts Rules, grounding and gardening with Letti Loo from the Liberty All Day Blog, Podcast and Vlog.
Letti is a busy person! She is married and has a busy little boy, and along with her own platform, she is a co-host on the 80’s Mom Podcast and has her own virtual assistant company called Parli Pro Consulting as well.
Like Julie and I, Letti and her family are escaping Chicago and returning to the land. They want to get back to...2021-03-251h 07Small Scale Life PodcastRaise Your Vibes with Maria the Energy HealerThis episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast is all about How to Raise You Vibes with Maria the Energy Healer. As with many interviews, we had a plan and scripted questions for Maria, but we swerved into some really important topics that will serve as way stones for what Small Scale Life is becoming.
For all of our knowledge and understanding, there are things in this world that humans don’t know or have forgotten during our evolution. The fact of the matter is that there are energies and vibrations at work all around us.
...2021-02-171h 33Small Scale Life PodcastGrounding with Hannah from The Wisconsin Homestead PodcastJulie and I had a great conversation about wellness, homesteading and grounding with Hannah from The Wisconsin Homestead Podcast. Topics include clean eating (Keto and Whole30), grounding, spirituality (energy and the Drum Wash) and of course The Wisconsin Homestead Podcast.
What is Grounding?
For those who may not know what “grounding” is, grounding is a practice where you walk barefoot, sit, or work outside to contact with the Earth's surface. By grounding, you are actually connecting your body to the earth’s energy, and at the same time, you are transferring the earth’s energy from the...2021-01-1944 minSmall Scale Life PodcastUrban Homesteading with Hannah from The Wisconsin Homesteading PodcastPressing forward into 2021, we are starting the New Year off right! In this 183rd Podcast Episode, we are talking about gardening, urban homesteading and future homesteading plans with Hannah from The Wisconsin Homestead Podcast.
Hannah and her husband AJ are fellow travelers in the Homesteading space. Like us, Hannah and AJ are living close to their parents in an urban area. In an effort to live healthier lives and break patterns of the American consumption lifestyle, they started gardening, growing fruit trees and making things from scratch. They have branched off to document their story on The...2021-01-1442 minSmall Scale Life PodcastEagle's Ridge: Discovering Our HomesteadIn our historic 180th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, Julie and I talk about Discovering our Homestead that we have named Eagle's Ridge! We tell the story and walk you through the following topics:
Hall of Heroes - Gratitude
Chaos in the Time of COVID
Consolidation and Remote Working
Homeschooling
Our Crazy 2020
Discovering Star Prairie, Wisconsin
"I blame Jules"
Each river has its own tune and song
Finding and Buying Eagle's Ridge
The Universe is Talking to Us and....
"I blame Jules"
Our Vision for Eagle's Ridge
"Let the River take Ya where it takes Ya!"
...2020-12-0351 minSmall Scale Life PodcastMeditation Stream: Tree of LifeIn this Small Scale Life YouTube video and Podcast Episode, I publishing Meditation: Tree of Life. My hope is that this will help you during the chaotic holidays. With new restrictions and rules stressing families at the holidays, I thought this was the right time to say “thank you” to our great audience and give you something that will soothe nerves and allow you to relax.
What is the Tree of Life?
For those of you unfamiliar with the Tree of Life concept and icon, it is a symbol in many world religions. For a quic...2020-11-2558 minSmall Scale Life PodcastPracticing Gratitude for the Good, Bad and the Ugly.In this 5 Year Anniversary of Small Scale Life Podcast episode, I am going to be talking about Practicing Gratitude for the Good, Bad and the Ugly. There is so much to be thankful for after starting this project 5 years ago.
I recently posted the following quote on the Small Scale Life Instagram feed:
“It’s hard to have a bad day when you START your day with gratitude.”
Truth be told, I didn’t just develop this quote out of thin air. Julie says it around the house (now around the apartment) a lot, and...2020-10-1534 minSmall Scale Life PodcastRelaxing Wind Chimes, Wind and Birds in MinnesotaThis is Tom from Small Scale Life. I am glad you are here today listening to this podcast episode or watching this YouTube video! This is another member appreciation video and podcast episode where I am going to do just a little talking at the start and let you relax or meditate to wonderfully calming Wind Chimes, wind and birds in Minnesota. For those of you who want these chimes (like I do), these are Woodstock Chimes' "Chimes of Neptune."
Special thanks to Small Scale Life member Danielle for her video and her windchimes. They are a...2020-04-2917 minSmall Scale Life PodcastStarting an Urban Farm from Scratch with Michael BellHave you ever started a project, loved every minute of it, and then had to start over from scratch in less than optimal conditions? That is the exact challenge my friend Michael Bell faced with his Dallas Half Acre Farms. In this episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, we are going to discuss how Michael Bell is Starting an Urban Farm from Scratch.
The last time we had Michael on the show, I talked with Michael about the Soup Gardening Concept that I used to plan my garden in 2019. My goal, at the time, was to...2020-04-2356 min
The Contrary FarmsteadSimply Complicated w Tom & Julie DomresFinding balance in life can be tricky sometimes. Even a simple life can be extrodinarily complicated. How can we support eachother when our passions, goals and dreams don't neccessarily align with our spouses? How do we help our partner grow and fullfill their calling? Join us as we learn, do, grow and be a little better everyday with Tom and Julie Domres!
Check out the Small Scale life at all the social media stops and here at their website:
https://www.smallscalelife.com
Be sure to download their FREE Seed Starting Guide!
https://www.smallscalelife.com/garden/free-seed-starting-guide/
Looking for...2020-04-1300 minSmall Scale Life PodcastRelaxing Stream of MeditationHappy Easter! As a gift to you, dear listener, this podcast episode is simply a way for you to decompress while listening to a relaxing stream of meditation near Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota.
In many religions and practices, the folk would go to a stream, river or lake in order to meditate and pray to their gods. Water is life, and chants and prayers seem to resonate in the forest and along the shores of streams, rivers or lakes.
In these uncertain times, I wanted to provide a way for people trapped in quarantines...2020-04-121h 04Small Scale Life PodcastAdapting, Adjusting and Overcoming ObstaclesIn this podcast episode, I talk about the frustrations and pressure that seems to be mounting in this State of Quarantine and how adapting, adjusting and overcoming obstacles is the path forward. Can we do things better once this over?
As things are changing, now is the time to do some thinking and introspection. We need to come up with new ways to do things. Going back to “normal” might not be an option. We need to come up with new ideas to do things: education, business, socializing, finance, etc.
For more on this topic, chec...2020-04-1120 minSmall Scale Life PodcastModern Victory Gardens in 2020What is a Modern Victory Garden in 2020? For this special episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast and Small Scale Gardening Podcast, I have assembled a panel of gardeners, farmers and homesteaders who have grown food for a living and to prepare for tough times. Our panel hails from California, Colorado, Wyoming and Minnesota, and through our combined experience, we provide some thoughts and information for folks who might be starting their gardening journey in 2020.
History of Victory Gardens
Looking at history, one thing is clear: when times get tough, people get gardening! During World...2020-04-011h 04Small Scale Life PodcastWhat is Resilience?This is our 167th episode of the show, and for this one, I ask the question: What is Resilience?
As we watch the country’s systems (financial systems, banking, supply chains, health care system, education and entire industries) grind to a halt with this global pandemic, it begs the question: how fragile is our system?
The answer seems to be: very!
Although I don’t act like it at times, I am an engineer. I look at problems and issues and look for solutions. Our country’s systems are impossibly complicated. It is almost...2020-03-2426 minSmall Scale Life PodcastWhole30 Challenge Results and ThoughtsI completed the Whole30 Challenge on March 2, 2020. How did it go? In this post and podcast episode, I discuss Whole30 Challenge results a week after completing the challenge and answer the next question: "Whats next?"
By the way, if you want to try the Whole30 Challenge, we are just starting Round 2! You can join Team Rhino and get this done! It is not too late. Nothing stands in the way of a rhino!
To join Team Rhino, get the Small Scale Life 24 Hour Plan or see the show notes, please see the article titled "Whole30...2020-03-1828 minSmall Scale Life PodcastSSG-Growing Mushrooms and Gardening in VirginiaToday’s Small Scale Gardening Podcast episode is a real treat. When I started Small Scale Life Podcast, my good friend Mr. Tactical Jay was my initial cohost on the show. We have remained friends for a few years, and he is our guest on the Small Scale Gardening Podcast! In this episode, Mr. Tactical Jay and I discuss growing mushrooms and gardening in Virginia.
Even though the homestead appears to have a lot of space, the property is on the side of a mountain and slopes away from the house. Mr. Tactical is looking at different ap...2020-02-2749 minSmall Scale Life PodcastWhat is Whole30? How to Reset Your Body and MindWhat is Whole30? Julie and I have been talking a lot about it recently in the Small Scale Life Facebook Group and on Instgram. For many of you, our focus on Whole30 came out of the blue, and you are scrambling to figure out what we are up to this month! Don’t worry, friends! In this post and podcast episode, I discuss developing a healthy lifestyle at Small Scale Life, what is Whole30, what we are doing here at Small Scale Life this month and provide resources for Whole30.
You might feel that you have blown your...2020-02-1346 minSmall Scale Life Podcast9 Tips to Start Your $1000 Emergency FundThe one year anniversary of the record-setting Government Shutdown happened on January 25th, 2020. The anniversary came and went without fanfare by most, but for those of us who were impacted by that particular Shutdown, we remember it all too well. Last year, Julie and I breathed a sign of relief as the Shutdown ended and we realized that we had enough money in our Emergency Fund to survive.
This weekend, I toasted Julie as we took a few moments to remember where we were and how far we have come in a year! We have a fully...2020-01-3040 minSmall Scale Life Podcast2019 Year in Review: Top 10 Podcast Episodes and Blog PostsHappy New Year, Lifers! 2019 is now in the rearview mirror, and I have to say it was an interesting year here at Small Scale Life. I am writing this 2019 Year in Review to wrap up the year and close this chapter in the history of the blog and podcast.
I have to say: what a year it was!
In this post and podcast, I am going to talk about three major topics of Small Scale Life in 2019: Health and Fitness Renew You, Financial Freedom and Gardening. I will also share 2019 Year in Review: Top 10 Podcast...2020-01-0956 minSmall Scale Life Podcast11 DIY Christmas GiftsThere is nothing like putting together or receiving Do It Yourself (DIY) Christmas Gifts. This is a special gift that someone made with you in mind. At the same time, if you create a DIY gift, you are using your resources (time, skills and materials) to create something special for friends or family. It can be a great experience when it all turns out! Yes, I am not including Pinterest fails here!
If you want to buy something from a company or vendor, time IS running out, friends! If you have been following Small Scale Life, you...2019-12-1938 minSmall Scale Life PodcastA Long Road Home - Giving ThanksIn this podcast, I am going to talk about my November travels, and then we are going to talk about the future of Small Scale Life. As a Life Alchemist, I am mixing together equal parts of my own content, content from people in our community, content I find interesting and some good old fashioned fun.
For more information and the show notes, check out smallscalelife.com.
SMALL SCALE LIFE SHOW NOTES: https://www.smallscalelife.com/giving-thanks
SMALL SCALE LIFE COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallscalelifepodcast2019-12-0524 minSmall Scale Life PodcastKombucha and Importance of MentoringAs we close in on our 100,000th download of the Small Scale Life Podcast on our current host Fireside, I wanted to get some bonus material out to our Lifer Community. This is one of those pieces of content.
I took a great kombucha class on Saturday from a gentleman who's great tasting kombucha got me interested in making the drink back in late October 2018. Taking the class highlighted the need and importance of mentoring. Often we start projects or efforts and get lost in the complexity and minutia. What if we got a mentor in our...2019-11-0515 minSmall Scale Life Podcast10 Kitchen Thrifty Thursday TipsLife for all of us gets crazy and out of control. We are on the run and go, and it can feel like we are getting out of control and stressed out. It is when we are out of control that we find ourselves making snap decisions that can cost us in the long run. Our Lifer Community on Facebook has been providing some great tips and ideas for saving money all year. In this episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I am going to discuss 10 Kitchen Thrifty Thursday Tips from our members, and hopefully you can use...2019-10-3150 minSmall Scale Life PodcastIt’s Your Life: Do Something PositiveWelcome to the Small Scale Life Podcast! I like to call it the “Half Hour Happy Hour,” and today is no different! I am usually selling Good Vibes to the audience, and I hope this episode inspires you to make a difference in your neighborhood and community. After all, our time on this earth is limited. It’s your life; do something positive with it! I am going to talk about some people doing positive things in their community, and I am going to talk about a new project and direction for the Small Scale Gardening project.
Topics...2019-10-2442 minSmall Scale Life PodcastSSG: 6 Lessons Learned from the End of My Garden Season 2019As promised earlier this week, I am following up on my last podcast episode covering How to Extend My Garden Season. If you can tell from the title of this episode, I had some big failures and learned some valuable gardening lessons last Friday night and Saturday morning. In this episode, I am going to talk about the 6 Lessons Learned from the End of My 2019 Garden Season, and hopefully you will pick up a thing or two that you can use in your own garden!
You can find out more at smallscalelife.com including show notes, pictures...2019-10-1822 minSmall Scale Life PodcastSSG: Frost is Coming: How to Extend My Garden SeasonWell, my gardening friends, they say "all good things must come to an end." My question is: do they have to come to an end this early? Frost is coming this weekend, and I don’t want the party to end. I am wondering how to extend my garden season? Should I try to push the limits and test my luck a bit longer?
I know what you hardened and veteran gardeners are saying: “Don’t stop now; keep growing!”
I know exactly how you feel! I am feeling that way too!
The problem comes...2019-10-1438 minSmall Scale Life Podcast10 Tips to Successfully Plan and Host an EventSuccessful events and failed events do not just happen. The success or complete failure is set in motion long before the actual event. This past weekend, my family, Julie and I experienced both. I am going to tell a tale of those two events and give you 10 Tips to Successfully Plan and Host an Event. By following these tips, I think you will be well equipped to successfully plan and host your own event!
For show notes, links and the 10 Tips for How to Successfully Plan and Host an Event InfoGraphic, please go to the Small Scale Life...2019-10-0338 minSmall Scale Life PodcastHappy Fall Equinox 2019!In this episode, I discuss a great Fall Equinox weekend including:
Danny and David's Toughest Mudder Race in Dallas, TX;
Exploring River Falls, WI;
Canning and preserving the harvest from my garden;
A very special and powerful lantern lighting ceremony at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN;
Celebrating the Fall Equinox with a "Domres Special" Dinner;
Happy Half Hour - Being Positive and Inspiring you to Learn, Do, Grow and Be a Little Better Everyday;
Canning and Preservation Links on Small Scale Life;
What's coming next on Small Scale Life!
For all the links and show notes for...2019-09-2530 minSmall Scale Life PodcastSSG: How to Grow 1 Million Meals with Drew DemlerHow does a company grow 1 million meals in a place with incredibly high temperatures in the summer and cold temperatures in the winter? On top of that, this company has no tillable soil, no heavy farm equipment (i.e., traditional tractors or combines) and only asphalt and concrete to grow food. In addition, this company needs to move garden beds for new attractions and exhibits, so these raised beds need to be mobile.
Impossible, you say?
It is not only possible, it is happening right now in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In fact, it is...2019-09-111h 06Small Scale Life PodcastBack to School - Preparing for the Next Phase of LifeIn last week's News from Around the Bend on smallscalelife.com, I opened the article by talking about kids going back to school. In some cases, our friends are taking their young adults to college for the first time. Julie and I have been there and done that. After all, both of our boys left our house and went to the US Army (Danny) or college (Ryan). We just took Ryan back to Winona, Minnesota, for the next phase of his college career. Whether you are taking your young adult to college for the first time, to kindergarten for...2019-08-2824 minSmall Scale Life PodcastSmall Scale Gardening Podcast: Start with the WhyIn this episode, I am trying something new! This is the pilot episode of the new Small Scale Gardening Podcast. In this podcast, I am focusing on gardening and food preservation, which are my passions. As I learned from my good friend Greg Burns, I need to "Start with the Why" as I begin this effort.
I talk about the following topics in this podcast including:
Why I started blogging, podcasting and vlogging in the first place
Our elders and their knowledge and experience
Important Questions:
Why start this podcast?
Why split it out from Small...2019-08-2015 minSmall Scale Life PodcastFinding Folk - July 2019July was a great month full of time spent with family and friends. We need to be part of our community and strengthening existing relationships while making new ones. It isn't always about the money; it's about building social capital!
This is a Just Tom Show while I am on the road from Duluth, MN, to Minneapolis, MN. As I worked on the shores of the great Lake Giche Gume (Lake Superior for everyone not in Minnesota), I had time to reflect on July. We had a great time with family at our house and on the...2019-08-0228 minSmall Scale Life Podcast9 Steps to Creating Your First BudgetIn this podcast, Julie and I talk about How to Budget Your Way to Financial Freedom. We unpack the 9 Steps to Creating Your First Budget (with an additional bonus step at the end).
This is the podcast you have been waiting for!
After recording this podcast, Julie and I realized that there was a lot to this topic. Budgeting so important to your future success, but creating your first budget can be overwhelming and stressful. Julie and I have done a lot of thinking about how to present this material and share our process with...2019-07-3152 min
Small Scale Life PodcastHow to Dream Big, Set Goals and Take Steps to Achieve Them
"Your goal is your destination; your budget is your roadmap." - Julie Domres
Do you have dreams and goals? Are you making progress towards achieving those goals? For some people, it is difficult to dream. Others have big plans and goals, but they do not execute and take steps towards making those dreams a future reality. In this podcast, Julie and I discuss How to Dream Big, Set Goals and Take Steps to Achieve Them.
Dreaming big and setting those goals are the "Secret Sauce" behind budgeting. You are developing powerful "whys" for those times...2019-07-1527 minSmall Scale Life PodcastLast Runner Standing UltramarathonHave you ever thought you were climbing a mountain? Huge obstacles in life take on different forms and shapes. They can be finances, health issues, clutter, relationships, work or just life in general! Those obstacles have a tendency to start as molehills and become mountains. Many times, we do not put those mountains in our lives on purpose; they just seem to happen.
What happens when we do put those mountains in front of us on purpose?
Last weekend, Julie, Savannah, the Old Trapper and I got to witness what happens when 110 souls put running...2019-06-1934 minSmall Scale Life PodcastLeaving a Legacy - Tribute to Larry HallLast week, the gardening world and I got some sad news that made me think about leaving a legacy. Larry Hall passed away. For those of you who do not know who Larry Hall is, he is the creator of the Rain Gutter Grow System that I have experimented with in the past (and will be experimenting with this year). Larry was from Brainerd, Minnesota, and he created a low-cost way for people to successfully grow food no matter where they lived.
We are all going to die someday. It might be today, tomorrow or years in...2019-06-0117 minSmall Scale Life PodcastStart by Taking Inventory and Tracking ExpensesIn this episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, Julie and I discuss taking the first steps towards Financial Freedom. To do this, you need to start by Taking Inventory and Tracking Expenses.
In previous episodes of the Small Scale Life Podcast, Julie and I have told our story about making mistakes and doing stupid with zeros on it. In order to break out of the box and go from Survive to Thrive, we needed to change our habits and our mindset.
To start down this path, you need to get a clear picture of...2019-05-2242 minSmall Scale Life PodcastHappy Mother's Day 2019In this episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I discuss a great Mother's Day Weekend with a full house. There was a lot of family and community building last week, and there is a big garden update as well. It's another action-packed episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast!
I discuss the following topics in this episode:
Happy Mother's Day 2019!
Great Mother's Day Meal
About Last Week....Community Building Social Events
Garden Update....World War III
Lesson of the Week
For more information, check out the post titled "Happy Mother's Day 2019" at https://smallscalelife...2019-05-1532 minSmall Scale Life PodcastBonus Episode: Calling in the ExpertsWhen a day starts out wrong and poorly, you might need to call in the experts to help out! In this Bonus Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I talk about how my Friday started off wrong and went sideways in a hurry. When your YouTube University experience turns out to be a Pinterest Fail, you need to call in the experts to put it all back together again. It almost set the tone for the whole weekend, but I was able to recover while completing one of my favorite inspection tours on a gorgeous day!
...2019-05-0626 minSmall Scale Life PodcastOur Journey towards Financial FreedomJulie and I are on vacation and podcasting on location! In this episode, Julie and I discuss our journey towards financial freedom. We talk about the good, the bad and the ugly, and we hope to inspire you as you begin or continue on your own journey!
For show notes and more resources, check out the article titled Our Journey towards Financial Freedom on Small Scale Life!2019-05-0153 min
Living Free in Tennessee - Nicole SauceBuilding The Life You Want with Small Scale LifeToday, we have an interview with a wonderful couple who are working together to build the life they want with a homesteading mentality but in an urban environment. Tom and Julie Domres of a Small Scale Life are a big part of our LFTN community and today, we get to talk about how they are accomplishing the best life they can build together. Direct Download Tom and Julie in the Web SmallScaleLife.com Instagram: @smallscalelife Make it a Great Week! Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical R...2019-04-1956 minSmall Scale Life PodcastStarting to Build CommunityIn today's podcast, I talk about a number of subjects including the following:
Wishing listeners and the Lifer community a Happy Easter!
Weekend 3 Things on the Small Scale Life Facebook Group
Working through our busy week
Gardening and Demo Day of the old raised beds
Starting to build community online and in person!
Remember:
Start small where you are and start with a couple people.
Over time, develop 5 close friends that have your back, and you have theirs.
Develop and Abundance Mindset.
For more information, check out the article titled "Starting to Build...2019-04-1941 minSmall Scale Life PodcastSoup Gardening with Michael BellEven with the snow falling and wind howling today, it is Gardening Season! What did the story at the start of the podcast have to do with today's topic? Well, in today's podcast, I am circling back around to a discussion I had with Michael Bell about a new garden planting concept that some of us are experimenting with this year. We call Soup Gardening!
What is Soup Gardening?
That is the topic of today's show, so stay tuned!
For a lot more information on this podcast, check out the article titled "Soup...2019-04-1237 minSmall Scale Life PodcastRenew You Q2: Introduction to Financial FreedomIn this 136th voyage of the Small Scale Life Podcast, Julie and I hit the road and record a podcast. We are kicking off the Quarter 2 Renew You: Introction to Financial Freedom!
Money is a tool, and having enough money can help you develop that life you love. Not having that enough money tends to lead to poor decisions, stress and relationship problems with your significant other.
Americans have had a love affair with debt: we take loans for our houses, our cars, our cell phones, and buy lots of stuff using credit cards. We...2019-04-0351 minSmall Scale Life PodcastLiving in the Analog with Terrance LayhewAs a content creator, there are times when we are on a crazy race to put up the next piece of content for our friend, followers and fans. We are in a mad dash to keep the dopamine hits coming and the fans liking our photos, blog posts, podcasts, videos, tweets and pins. At times, we are doing things to just DO things, and we are completely missing out on what is happening around us.
Terrance Layhew from the Intellectual Agrarian Blog and Podcast and I had a chance to sit down and talk about this very...2019-03-281h 05Small Scale Life PodcastHealth and Fitness Renew You with Karen MangieriFor this 133rd Small Scale Life podcast, Julie and I talked about the Health and Fitness Renew You Kickstart with Karen Mangieri. Karen is Julie's sister living in Georgia. For those of you not in the Small Scale Life Facebook Group, Karen was our most active member during the Health and Fitness Renew You Kickstart. In fact, Karen had the title of "Uncrustable Queen" prior to the kickstart, and she has made considerable progress on planning her meals, prepping food and staying consistent using the 24 Hour Plans!
We have talked about Karen on previous Small Scale Life...2019-03-0754 minSmall Scale Life PodcastDay 7: Leveling Up and Next StepsWhat a week it's been! Julie and I have been so excited to bring you the Renew You Kickstart, and now that we are rolling down the tracks with the basics, it is time to talk about Leveling Up and Next Steps on this journey. Julie & I discuss tips and ways to continue to improve as you get stronger physically & mentally.
For more information on this topic, please go to the article titled Leveling Up and Next Steps at Small Scale Life.
You can also join the free 7 day Health and Fitness Renew You Kickstart...2019-01-1653 minSmall Scale Life PodcastDay 6: Meal Planning and Food Prep for SuccessHey, Lifers! Do you want to know a little secret Tom and I have figured out that is absolutely KEY to setting us up for success to meet our health and fitness goals??? Actually, beyond the 24 Hour Plan and sticking to the basics of drinking enough water, getting enough sleep and doing some kind of daily intentional movement, this is THE most important thing you can do. Yup, you guessed it (really smart of you, based on the title of the post!)....It's Meal Planning and Food Prepping!
To get useful tips and information for your Health...2019-01-1350 minSmall Scale Life PodcastDay 3: Basic Nutrition with Michael BellIt's Day 3 of the Renew You Kickstart, and today's topic is Basic Nutrition. Michael Bell returns to walk us through this topic, and he gives some great advice for folks starting on their journey with the Renew You Kickstart.
As Julie and I have been saying over and over in previous podcasts and articles: this is about starting where you are. Some of us have been medicating ourselves with cheeseburgers, fries and beer (or Diet Coke) for many, many years. As we start to pay closer attention to what we are eating, we will find that there...2019-01-0919 minSmall Scale Life PodcastDay 2: Basic Movement with Michael BellIt's Day 2 of the Renew You Kickstart, and today's topic is Basic Movement. As Julie and I have been saying over and over: this is about starting where you are. Some of us live in cube farms and are keyboard warriors; we are not ready for triathalons marathons or lifting heavy weights.
To help discuss this topic, I brought in my friend Michael Bell to discuss Basic Movement. Michael is a husband, dad, urban farmer, PE teacher, competitive bodybuilder and a fitness coach. Michael has coached more than 300 people over 20 years, and he spent some time with...2019-01-0819 minSmall Scale Life PodcastDay 1: How to Complete the 24 Hour PlanIn this episode, Julie and Tom are here to provide you with realistic and doable steps to kickstart your year and set you up to finally achieve your health and fitness goals this year. And it all starts with the 24 Hour Plan. The plan is a one-page document that allows you to plan out:
What you are going to eat
How you will exercise
3 mediation/prayers
3 things you are grateful for
3 things you want to get done during that day.
We complete a sheet before the day begins (night before or morning of), and we will...2019-01-0735 minSmall Scale Life PodcastWelcome to 2019: Time to Renew You!Welcome to 2019! It's time to Renew You! In this 122nd Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, Julie and I discuss the holidays (including my birthday), the rebranding of Small Scale Life, rebuilding the website and the Renew You Kickstart.
Topics Discussed
Julie and I discussed the following topics during this podcast:
Holiday Update
Rebranding and the Website Upgrade
Renew You Kickstart
More Information
To get more in-depth information, please see the post titled "Welcome to 2019: Time to Renew You" on Small Scale Life.
Also, sign up for the...2019-01-0626 minSmall Scale Life PodcastRenew You in 2019 KickstartIn this 121st episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, Julie and I are announcing the Renew You in 2019 Kickstart! This is a FREE 7-day event that will provide tools, tips and a community that will help get us improving our mindset, nutrition and movement in 2019.
Julie and I want want you, the Small Scale Life Community and others, to join us in starting 2019 off on the right foot. With this Kickstart, we are developing a foundation for success to be the best you (and the best us) in 2019.
We are really focusing being intentional...2018-12-1416 minSmall Scale Life PodcastHappy Thanksgiving 2018!Happy Thanksgiving, Lifers! I hope you have a great Thanksgiving planned. If you have been to Small Scale Life this week, you know Julie and I have been busy trying to get recipes posted up on the website to help you with your Thanksgiving preparations.
Check out the blog at smallscalelife.com for the following recipes:
A super quick/super good cheesy au gratin potatoes recipe,
How to cook a turkey and
How to cook a ham
Thanksgiving should be a lot of fun and bring people together, so we are helping you get ready...2018-11-2118 minSmall Scale Life PodcastMinimizing Time Commitments while Maximizing LifeDo you feel stressed out? Does it seem that there is too much noise and information out there? How do you sort through what is important and what is not? In today’s fast paced world, there are incredible demands on our most precious resources: our time, our energy and our money. How do you prioritize your time commitments and focus on what is real and what is important?
In this episode, Julie and I discuss how to minimize time commitments while maximizing life. We talk about the following topics:
Move-Ember
Upcoming Small Scale Life Health Ch...2018-11-1457 minSmall Scale Life PodcastMinimalism: Decluttering Questions and AnswersDo you feel stressed out? Does it seem that there is too much noise and information out there? How do you sort through what is important and what is not? In today’s fast paced world, there are incredible demands on our most precious resources: our time, our energy and our money. As we go through life, we seem to collect more and more stuff. We have closets, basements, garages and storage lockers full of stuff! Do we need it all? How can you decide what to keep and what to give away?
In this episode of Sm...2018-11-061h 06Small Scale Life PodcastMy Weekend Three ThingsThis truly is a verbal potpourri episode, so grab a cocktail or your coffee, settle in and enjoy the ride. This is a comfy little podcast full of stories and tales. The point of this podcast is to stay grounded using the Weekend Three Things threads, have some adventures on the weekend and of course learn, do and grow!
In this episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I am discussing the new weekly post in the Small Scale Life Facebook Group called my "weekend three things." I also include a summary of the Zac Brown Band Con...2018-08-2158 min
Small Scale Life PodcastStarting My 2018 Vegetable Gardening SeasonThis past month has been ridiculously busy, but Julie and I took some time last week to work in the garden. This podcast is all about starting my 2018 vegetable gardening season, and if you think that everything is rainbows and unicorns, you are wrong. I had immediate trouble including rotting raised beds, dead plants and rabbits. Can anyone relate to this?
Even when there are troubles and challenges, there is no place I would rather be. Digging in the dirt and planting new seedlings is therapeutic and relaxing, and these small setbacks are easily overcome. A rabbit...2018-05-2234 min
Small Scale Life PodcastHow to Declutter to Make a Simple and Intentional LifeIn Season 3, Episode 14, we had a very special guest for our 80th episode: my wife Julie. We had a great discussion about the 5 Steps to Developing a Simple and Intentional Life, and you, the listeners, responded! We had 1000 downloads of this podcast, and we had a lot of engagement from the audience. Julie wanted to come back to build on that podcast, and in this episode, we are coming back to discuss one of the 5 steps in more detail. We are going to discuss how to declutter to make a simple and intentional life.
Topics Discussed on thi...2018-04-041h 02Small Scale Life PodcastStart Seeds Indoors for Spring GardensWelcome to Spring 2018! Believe it or not considering it was snowing on the first day of Spring. It is only a matter of time before we can get into the yard and get into the garden. Before you can do that, you need to plant seeds and grow some seedlings! In this post and episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I am going to discuss setting up an indoor gardening area and starting seeds indoors for spring gardens.
Have you planted seeds yet? I did on St. Patrick’s Day, and I have some great news to sha...2018-03-2734 min
Small Scale Life Podcast5 Steps to Developing a Simple and Intentional LifeThis is our 80th Episode! Whoo hooo! For this episode, we are shifting gears a bit on this episode, and you are going to get to learn a lot more about our story. My guest and I (and other celebrities who stop by) are going to talk about going from high paying, fast-paced lifestyles to slower-paced, more simple lives with less stuff. How does one achieve that? Where does one begin? My guest and I have some ideas, and in this episode, we are going to discuss the 5 Steps to Developing a Simple and Intentional Life.
In this...2018-03-061h 15
Small Scale Life PodcastMidweek Motivation: The Greatest Showman - Friends, Creativity and DriveMidweek Motivation is a weekly episode featuring the wisdom and stories of host Tommy Cakes. This episode is all about the lessons learned from the life of PT Barnum and the movie “The Greatest Showman.” There are some great lessons learned about friends, creativity and unstoppable drive from the life of PT Barnum, and Tommy Cakes tells you some of those lessons in his own unique way. In case you are having trouble understanding the audio file, the following is a translation of the audio file from host Tommy Cakes.
Who is Tommy Cakes?
Live on t...2018-02-2208 min
Small Scale Life PodcastFour Lessons Learned from Starting Seeds – S3E10We have hit mid-February! It is time to get planting seeds for our 2018 garden! As many of you know, I have been starting seeds in my basement for a few years now. I learn something new each year, and last year was no different. Like everything in life, you learn the most from your failures, and I had a couple last year. I am not afraid to admit it! In this episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I am going to discuss Four Lessons Learned from Starting Seeds in my basement last year.
Happy Valentine's Day!
2018-02-1933 min
Small Scale Life PodcastHow To Develop A 2018 Garden Plan - S3E8It has been an incredible two weeks. Julie and I moved all of our gear out of a storage locker and into this little house in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I am glad to be back on track with a Tuesday Gardening Show, and I think I have a good show for you today. After a couple weeks of short posts and podcasts, including the introduction of a new regular show called Midweek Motivation by the Coastal Cosmopolitan Tommy Cakes, we are gearing up for Garden Season 2018!
In this post and podcast episode, I am going to discuss How...2018-02-0734 min
Small Scale Life PodcastOur Five Christmas TraditionsThis time of year, we gather and celebrate the holidays with family and friends. For members of our family, this is a particularly meaningful Christmas: this is the first Christmas without Barb Taylor and without Mary Cicero. Two great ladies that made our world a brighter and better place. While these wonderful women left us too soon, we continue to practice Holiday and Christmas Traditions that bring family and friends together. We will build on these Christmas Traditions in the future as we celebrate each other, our lives, our history and our heritage. In this post, I will discuss...2017-12-2347 min
Small Scale Life PodcastCooking Turkey and Making SoupThanksgiving seems to be a distant memory now, but I did want to circle around and talk about cooking a turkey using the tips discussed in Episode 29 and also talk about making turkey noodle soup with the leftover carcass and meat. This goes beyond Thanksgiving, and I hope you use this episode and the recipes/tips discussed when you cook a turkey in the future.
In case you are new to Small Scale Life, we are living simply by growing, exploring and living healthy. To put it simply, we are focused on:
list text hereGardening,
list...2017-12-0627 min
Small Scale Life PodcastThanksgiving Cooking Tips and FailuresHappy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you are well on your way to enjoying the holiday with family and friends. In this post and podcast, we are going to talk about cooking for Thanksgiving. I’ll talk about turkey, trimmings, funny failures and other ways to prepare your turkey, stuffing and appetizers.
While you are probably already hustling preparing for your Thanksgiving feast and have a plan in motion, this post might spur a few ideas for future meals and give you a few chuckles about some of our past failures. After all, people will sleep off their turkey...2017-11-2436 min
Small Scale Life PodcastCongratulations, Jay and Andrea!Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to celebrate the joining of two souls in holy matrimony: Jay and Andrea.
Congratulations, my friends! Your friends from the frozen tundra in Minnesota celebrate this glorious event with you!
As I woke up this morning, I was thinking about this event and your wedding. I woke up thinking about what I would say to you both as you begin this phase of your lives together. I have been married for almost 24 years, and I have learned some things along the way that I would be happy to pass alon...2017-11-1105 min
Small Scale Life Podcast7 Steps to Winterize Your GardenA chill is in the air. The winds have blown the leaves off the trees, and the nights are getting short. Here in Minnesota, we are getting our first snowfall today! The garden season is over, and it is time to prepare for winter. In this episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I am going to discuss how I will winterize the garden, tools and other gardening gear for winter.
Fall in Minnesota
We have been having a gorgeous fall here in Minnesota. The temperatures have been perfect, and the leaves on the trees have...2017-10-2828 min
Small Scale Life PodcastFall Garden UpdateYaaaarrrrrr! This is Captain Tom from the Small Scale Life! Time to walk the plank, maties! It's National Talk like a Pirate Day this week at Small Scale Life, and it's time to tell ye landlubbers a tale about the garden that will feed me crew. Yes, me maties, this is what ye call...a thing! Tis true that dead men tell no tales, but tis is a good one, eh? So, take a seat on yonder stool and grab a pint of grog as I give ye a fall garden update for the week.
Yes, dear...2017-09-2127 min
Small Scale Life PodcastGratitude for Small VictoriesGratitude for Small Victories - S2E17
Welcome to August! Today in Season 2 Episode 17 of Small Scale Life, we are going to be talking about small victories, and I am truly grateful to have them. This is the first time since the end of June that I am posting up a new podcast. It was a CRAZY July, and we got a ton of work done. Between Danny’s birthday on the 4th and Julie’s birthday on the 24th, we packed up our house, moved out of the St. Louis Park house and moved in to the...2017-08-0345 min
Small Scale Life PodcastBecoming Debt FreeLIVE FROM MINNEAPOLIS! This is the Small Scale Life Podcast, and I am your host Tom Domres. Since we are Livestreaming on YouTube, I would like to welcome all of our listeners and viewers there. Thank you for tuning in, and welcome to the show!
Today, we are going to discuss one topic that hangs around like a bad skunk smell: debt. We haven’t done a show completely focused on debt before, but it folds right in with our Frugal Living focus here at Small Scale Life.
A lot of us have debt, and yo...2017-06-3054 minSmall Scale Life PodcastWhat is Square Foot Gardening?What is Square Foot Gardening? S2E13
Do you remember the days of old when your parents or grandparents had a garden in the backyard? Do you remember how the weeds used to pop up and eventually overwhelm the garden? Did you ever have to try to weed a garden like that (and how much you absolutely hated it)? What if you could create a garden that didn’t suffer from this weed problem? What if you could create an organized garden that maximizes your yield? This is exactly what Square Foot Gardening does for you!
LIV...2017-06-0838 min
Small Scale Life PodcastRemembering Barb Taylor Part 2Taylor's Celebration of Life on February 20, 2017, David and Julie did an excellent job writing and delivering a powerful eulogy in remembrance of their mom. They used quotes from family and friends on Social Media and cards to create a beautiful tribute for their mother. Both spoke, and they delivered it with grace and love.
I posted the text of the eulogy below. The sub-headings below are the sections written and spoken by David and Julie. On the podcast, I used MercyMe's song "I can only imagine" as the final song because it was part of the eulogy. For informatio...2017-03-0313 min
Small Scale Life PodcastRemembering Barb Taylor Part 1February is over, and we are exhausted and drained. It has been a brutal month, as my mother-in-law Barb Taylor completed her final journey in her battle against lung cancer. My wife Julie, her dad Dan, her sister Karen, her brother David and her aunt Karen worked around the clock to help her on this final journey. Spouses like me were home, trying to keep "normal" household operations going. Unfortunately, small cell lung carcinoma is an aggressive cancer, and it finally took Barb's life on February 16, 2017. This is the first of two articles and podcasts dedicated to Barb Taylor. Part 2 can be foun...2017-03-0222 min
Small Scale Life PodcastGreg Burns on Tribe and HomesteadingDeep in the woods in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Ohio roams a bearded hillbilly man. He is carving out his existence on his homestead, providing for his family and growing a community of like-minded families. This man is Greg Burns. He is a dedicated husband, dad, homesteader, promotor of Old Ways and leader of tribes called the Lumbersquatches and Get Stuff Done Crew.
I have been looking forward to this interview. Greg, his wife and his family have boldly gone where Julie and I want to go: to a homestead in a rural location. Through...2017-01-261h 19
Small Scale Life PodcastDebt and Real Estate Part 1Debt and Real Estate Part 1 - S1E17
If you have been listening to the Small Scale Life Podcast or the Healthy Lifestyle Podcast lately, you have heard me talking about moving out of the city to the country. Julie and I have decided that this is a critical element in our journey to develop a simpler, more sustainable life. Why do we want to leave the urban area? We want some rural real estate in order to have a sustainable life through developing relationships and skills in the rural areas.
Julie and I are not alone...2016-10-1928 min
Small Scale Life PodcastFailing Forward: Losing Weight, Gaining Muscle, Having Discipline - HELP 5Failing Forward: Losing Weight, Gaining Muscle, Having Discipline - HELP 5
It is October and it is time for the Healthy Lifestlye Podcast! In this Episode, Drew and I start by discussing losing weight and gaining muscle. We both have been struggling in our weight loss challenges, and we discussed perfectionism and discipline (or lack thereof). Drew brought our friend Scott Hebert into the conversation about half way through the podcast, and we has a great discussion about journaling, meditation, routines and discipline. It is great listening to and learning from Scott since he lost 60-70 pounds right afte...2016-10-0751 min
Small Scale Life PodcastCowbells and Kettlebells Part 1Cowbells and Kettlebells Part 1 - S1E7
My friend Jay is back on the Small Scale Life Podcast! Jay and I recorded a two-part series called "Cowbells and Kettlebells," and in this episode, we discuss Jay's vision of buying and owning rural property. Specifically, we discuss the following topics:
Why purchase rural property?
What is your vision for this property?
What are you looking for as you start to look at rural property (i.e., features and characteristics)?
Will you need to commute to your job? What kind of a commute are you...2016-04-2135 min
Small Scale Life PodcastHow to Grow Seeds IndoorsSeason 1, Episode 5: How to Grow Seeds Indoors - Small Scale Life Podcast
In an effort to maximize our potential harvest and start planning spring planting, I have started some tomatoes, lettuce, kale and lettuce in the basement. I discuss my techniques for how to grow seeds indoors in Season 1, Episode 5 of the Small Scale Life podcast.
Why Start Seeds Now?
Spring is right around the corner, everyone! Depending where you live in the world, it might not feel like it as February comes to close. In our house, we have started thinking forward...2016-02-2728 min
Small Scale Life PodcastIntroduction to the Small Scale LifeIntroduction Podcast to Small Scale Life
This is a "reboot" of the introduction podcast for Small Scale Life. In April of 2016, I adjusted the sound quality and cleaned up the podcast.
Small Scale Life is a podcast and blog dedicated to learning, doing, and growing. We hope to inspire you to learn new skills, complete projects and grow mentally, and physically. We are all about getting stuff done, particularly when it comes to fitness, weight loss, finances, gardening, preserving the harvest and adventure.
In this Podcast....
In this podcast, Jay and...2016-01-0227 min